West Bend, Iowa – A man lost his life in a crash involving a semi-truck and a concrete truck.
According to reports, a semi-truck failed to yield the right of way at an intersection, crashing into a concrete truck.
The concrete truck driver, Taylor Chance, died due to his injuries, and emergency personnel airlifted the semi-truck driver to the hospital for medical attention.
This is a developing story.
Thoughts on Semi-Trucks that Fail to Yield
It is heartbreaking when an accident results in serious injuries and death to multiple drivers. Yet, while we are sensitive to the fact the trucker was injured, it cannot be ignored that the reports indicate he failed to yield and caused a fatal collision. The deceased was wrong, and wrongdoing cannot go unanswered.
First, the family of the victim deserves to know what caused this accident. Why did this driver fail to yield the right of way? Was he distracted? Driving too fast to stop in time? Inexperienced? Did the driver lack knowledge of basic traffic laws? Trained professionals must conduct an independent investigation to determine the answers to these questions.
In addition, it will be important to consider the trucking company’s responsibility in this crash. Failing to yield the right of way is a continuous problem plaguing the trucking industry. In 2018 alone, trucks failing to yield caused 226 fatalities ( Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). Trucking companies must train their drivers on safety, promote a culture of safety above profits, vet their drivers for red flags and repeated traffic violations, and provide optimized trucks for safety (sensors, properly installed mirrors for blind spots). When trucking companies fail to do this, and their drivers cause serious injuries or death, the trucking company may also share fault for the harm caused.
Lastly, an investigation may reveal if the semi-truck driver attempted to stop, but something such as a mechanical issue (which accounts for approximately 10% of all truck crashes) prevented him from doing so. If this is the case, this accident becomes more complicated, as the actions of third parties responsible for the truck’s maintenance and repair need to be considered.
My hope is for all wrongdoing to be brought to light and for the victim’s family to receive the answers they deserve.Bottom of Form
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The Ammons Law Firm represents clients nationwide in catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation, with extensive experience in complex auto/tire defect and commercial vehicle cases.
Disclaimer: This post is not legal advice. Information contained in this blog was compiled from third-party sources or is the opinion of the author. Please inform us immediately if false or misleading information is contained in this post.
