North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates
Semi-trucks can weigh 80,000 pounds or more. They are much heavier than a typical passenger car and can cause major damages and serious injuries when involved in an accident. In many cases, they even cause fatalities. Fortunately, all six people involved in a Chicago truck accident are expected to survive.
The crash occurred on the Chicago Skyway on the afternoon of Dec. 11. The Skyway is a toll bridge that is nearly eight miles long and connects Indiana to Chicago. According to the Chicago Fire Department, the accident was caused when a semi-truck rear-ended another vehicle. The crash involved three vehicles, including two semi-trucks. An SUV was wedged under one of the trucks. All of the vehicles were traveling on the South Side of Chicago.
Six people were involved and all have survived. Two people had to be removed from their vehicles by emergency crews. Three of the victims are in critical condition.
It is unknown what caused the semi-truck to rear-end another vehicle. Was there unexpected traffic? Was speed a factor? It is possible that the truck driver could have been distracted. In any case, a full investigation should be conducted in order to determine the cause of the accident.
Typically, the driver of the vehicle that rear-ends another is the one considered at fault. This is because a person should always leave enough space between themselves and the vehicle in front of them. If they are able to rear-end someone, it is typically because they are either following too closely or speeding.
This means that the driver of the first semi-truck could be held liable for the truck accident. Because he caused injuries to so many people, he could face multiple lawsuits. Even though he may not have received any citations yet, he could still face criminal charges for the damages and injuries he caused as well
Source: Previously published news article – Examiner.com, “Chicago Skyway crash involves several vehicles including 2 semis” Scott Paulson, Dec. 11, 2013.