Five people have died as a result of an car accident in McLeansboro, Illinois on Saturday evening around 10:30 p.m. The Hamilton County Sheriff said six people were inside the Chevy Trailblazer when it lost control and flipped several times. Five people were ejected from the Trailblazer when it flipped with one person was trapped inside wearing a seatbelt.
The police said three of the people killed were family members: a 49-year old man, a 42 year-old woman and a 23-year old woman from Collinsville, Illinois. The fourth victim, a 23 year old woman and a 16 year-old student from Collinsville were also killed in the accident.
Authorities say a sixth passenger, a 49 year-old man was airlifted to the hospital and the nature of his injures are yet unknown. The Illinois State Police said only one passenger was wearing his seatbelt.
McLeansboro, Illinois is approximately 110 miles from southeast St. Louis and the accident occurred in Hamilton County Road 750E. Police are still investigating the rollover accident.
Rollover accidents are more common among sport utility and light trucks. Each year, we see approximately 280,000 rollover accidents in the United States. Some SUV's are more prone to rollover due to the center of gravity of the vehicle. Rollovers all too often are caused by another mechanism such as the design of the car or the design of the tire. Some of the questions, I ask anyone who has been involved in a rollover or lost a loved one in a rollover accident is "Where you a restrained driver or passenger?" "What was the speed at which the vehicle was traveling?" and "How did the vehicle get into the situation where it started to roll?"
A huge problem in rollover auto accidents is what we call "crush". The crush factor involves the roof of the vehicle in which the occupants are riding. Often times, the design of the vehicle allows too much room, meaning the crush point may be too low and allow the roof to come down onto the passengers.
In each auto accident, the scenario and facts are different and unique. If you have been involved in a rollover accident, it is critical that the automobile not be destroyed. A tragedy such as the McLeansboro, Illinois accident will need extensive investigation. Accident reconstruct experts will have to thoroughly examine the physical terrain of the accident site and thoroughly examine the Chevy Trailblazer for evidence. Looking at the crash site and examining the vehicle will not be a top priority for the family of those killed in the accident or for the family friends of the victims simply because they are more focused on the loss and/or injuries to worry about gathering evidence. No family experiencing such a loss can be expected to keep track of investigations and gathering evidence. Simply dealing with the shock of loss and injuries are the top most priority. However, in the following weeks and months after the initial shock has been absorbed, family and friends of the victims will want to know all of the factors causing such a tragedy. A personal injury attorney can help. A personal injury attorney negotiates with the insurance company on the victim's behalf so that the family or victim do not have to do so. Letting a professional take care of the paperwork so you can concentrate on the business of family is crucial. Also, an experienced personal injury attorney makes certain that investigation is completed thoroughly and that the vehicle is preserved for investigation.
Recovering from such a traumatic accident is one of the most difficult things to happen to a family and you should not have to go through it alone. Getting information from an experienced personal injury attorney is free and does not require a commitment to file a personal injury lawsuit or a wrongful death claim. If you do not call The Cagle Law Firm, we hope you will contact an experienced personal injury attorney right away so that you get all of the information that you need to make the best decisions regarding you and your family. Our attorneys are available seven days a week to visit with you whether you are in Missouri or Illinois. Call (314) 2761681 or toll free (800) 685-3302
Sources: Eisele, E & Baumer, S. Collinsville teen, 4 others killed in rollover accident KMOV. 11/24/13
