Interstate 39 Deadly Truck Accident
In the news, I read about yet another deadly interstate truck crash that claimed the life of a 74 year-old man. This accident follows the much publicized truck accident that seriously injured comedian, Tracy Morgan in New Jersey.
Wednesday afternoon at approximately 3 p.m., the Illinois State Police indicated that a semi-truck slammed into the back of a car in stopped traffic on Interstate 39 in Ogle County. The fatal accident occurred on a section of I-39 between Baxter Road and Route 72. Details coming from the news articles report that traffic was stopped on I-39 due to rush hour and a semi-truck going to fast was unable to slow down and crashed into a car pushing it into a ditch. The first car hit three more vehicles after that forcing them all over the southbound lanes.
The 55-year old truck driver has been cited fro failing to reduce speed. As well, it is not clear if any of the other passengers or drivers were injured other than the death of the 72 year-old passenger.
Unfortunately, this fatal accident is not as rare as it should be. I have blogged about several truck accidents including Interstate 74 in April near Ogden, Illinois;the multiple blog posts about the Interstate 88 semi-truck crash that killed a toll-way worker and seriously injured an Illinois State Trooper; and the recent truck accident involving comedian Tracy Morgan. In several of these reporting articles, truck drivers were cited for improper driving, failure to reduce speed and/or over Hours of Service thus driving while fatigued. The real danger of semi-truck drivers not driving at top performance is the likelihood of death or catastrophic injury when they are involved in a crash. A fully loaded tractor trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and a passenger vehicle can range in weight of 2,000 to 5,000 pounds but the disparity is dramatic when they collide.
Illinois Interstates- Crossroads of the Nation
The 23 interstate highways that crisscross Illinois are all linked to the 13 Illinois interstates that carry traffic across Illinois borders into surrounding states and throughout the country via the national interstate system. The accident yesterday on Interstate 39 beginning in Bloomington, Illinois and traveling directly north, intersecting the state and connecting with Interstate 90. In March of this year, a truck driver stood trial in a fatal crash on Interstate 39 that resulted in the death of a firefighter.
In 2012, when the state of Wisconsin unveiled a plan for expanding Interstate 39/90 corridor from the Illinois state line to Madison, they noted that 35 percent of the traffic on I-39 comes from heavy trucking. This is especially noteworthy to Illinois drivers.
Truck drivers do an important job. They transport nearly all of the goods that we purchase in Missouri and Illinois. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regulates the trucking industry to promote safe driving of truckers and to reduce the number of accidents resulting in serious injury and death. Like the rest of us, truck drivers work long hours to make a living, however, when a truck driver makes an error, it can be a life or death scenario in seconds as illustrated in yesterday’s accident. When drivers of any kind drive fatigued or do not follow the road signs, they endanger others. While the driver in yesterday’s accident has been cited, he has not been convicted thus I am talking in general terms of the dangers of trucking accidents and some driver behaviors that generally contribute to trucking accidents.
If You Have Been Involved in a Truck Accident
If you have been in an accident with a semi-truck, you are probably seriously injured. If not, then you are one of the blessed few. Often truck accidents result in tragic death and serious injury. Because of the traumatic and damaging nature of truck accidents, most are investigated by interstate authorities. If you have been involved in one of the accidents, seeking legal representation is critical. A rule of thumb: if your only damage is property damage, you probably do not need an attorney, however, if you have physical injuries or several injuries or have lost a loved one, legal representation is a must. When seeking legal assistance, be certain you have an experienced truck accident lawyer who is familiar with the many regulations and regulatory groups in the United States. Our attorneys at The Cagle Law Firm have represented many truck accident victims and truck drivers as well. Call one of our attorneys toll free 800.685.3302 or locally 314.276.1681.
