Plainfield, IL – Early Friday morning, a semi-truck transporting ham was involved in a collision on Interstate 55 in Plainfield, Illinois, sending three people to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The crash transpired around 4:15 a.m. at the intersection of I-55 and Plainfield Road when a northbound semi-truck lost control, crossed the median, and collided with a southbound semi-truck.
The collision caused one semi-truck to spill over 1,000 gallons of fuel along the road and a second truck to litter the street with the ham it was transporting.
Cleanup and investigation efforts are ongoing.
Investigation Needed to See if Fatigue and Distraction Contributed to This Accident
Given this accident took place early in the morning, the truck driver may have dozed off behind the wheel. Fatigue is a common occurrence for truck drivers. This can happen for any number of reasons, including employer pressure, poor route management, or general disregard for safety. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that about 8,000 large truck accidents occur each year due to fatigue. This is why federal law is strict on how many hours a truck driver is allowed to drive daily. Unfortunately, many truck drivers drive past the legal hours allowed, increasing the likelihood of accidents. When tired drivers drive past their limits and cause injuries or deaths, they must be held accountable for their negligent actions.
Employers may also share in some responsibility for drivers who drive fatigued. Employers have a duty to ensure drivers are rested and responsible. They must provide their employees with proper road safety training and implement safety rules that their drivers can follow. Trucking companies cannot shift blame to their drivers when an accident happens when they fail to uphold their duty to the motoring public.
While not stated, the condition of the truck should also be investigated. Although not as common as driver error, approximately 10% of truck accidents involve a mechanical issue of some type. When this happens, truckers may lose control of their trucks and crash into innocent motorists. Manufacturers and repair companies may be responsible for these types of accidents.
A detailed investigation into this accident by trained professionals will determine the exact cause and all parties who must be held accountable in this crash.
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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.
