ZEELAND, Mich. — On Tuesday afternoon, at approximately 3:30 p.m., medical responders were dispatched to a crash at the intersection of Chicago Drive and 80th Avenue in Zeeland Township.
The incident occurred when a man driving a Pontiac Grand Prix was traveling eastbound on Chicago Drive, and a semi-truck also heading eastbound attempted a Michigan turn, entering the path of the Pontiac. The car collided with the side of the semi-truck trailer, trapping and pinning the driver inside the vehicle.
The Zeeland Township Fire Department extricated the driver from the vehicle, and he was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
Updates will be provided as they become available.
Thoughts on Semi-truck that Collided with Vehicle While Turning, Trapping Driver
Driving and maneuvering a semi-truck is not easy. Truckers need to have a demonstrated ability to handle their trucks safely before their employers allow them to take the roadways. This is the only way to keep the motoring public safe. In addition, truckers are responsible for driving with extreme caution, aware of the danger their trucks can pose to passenger vehicles, which are smaller in size. This means no speeding, distractions, or unsafe road driving practices.
Trucking companies may also have responsibility for their drivers’ actions on the roadways.
When truck drivers fail to follow basic road rules or lack the proper experience to operate their trucks and cause serious injuries or death on the roads, their employers may also be partially accountable for their employee’s negligent actions. Trucking companies have a duty to vet, train, and ensure their truckers drive safely, have experience, and obey traffic rules.
In addition, a truck’s design should not cause a person serious injury or death. The news reports state the crash victim traveled under the trailer and was trapped inside their vehicle. This is known as an underride accident. Underride accidents can happen when a truck has no safety bars in place, allowing a car to slide underneath the trailer’s body easily. If the truck’s design contributed to the victim’s severe injury, the semi-truck manufacturers may also have partial fault in the injuries the victim sustained.
An investigation into this accident by trained professionals will bring to light all parties liable for this senseless and tragic accident.
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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.
