North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates
A string of recent truck crashes have plagued the Chicago area. A dump-truck crash in Bartlett caused injuries to eight people. An Elk Grove Village man driving the dump truck rear-ended two vehicles in front of him. He then crossed into oncoming traffic, striking a pickup truck and causing it to careen into another vehicle. Fortunately, the five-vehicle crash didn’t claim any lives. The police charged the dump-truck driver for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
A three-vehicle collision caused by a big rig on I-90 somehow avoided fatal consequences. The accident occurred near Gary when the truck driver believed he saw a deer on the interstate and over-corrected his semi. The 18-wheeler crashed through the median before blocking off the entire expressway – bringing morning commuters to a halt. The drivers of the two other vehicles struck by the semi went to the hospital but had no life-threatening injuries. The police stated that the deer was actually a paper bag.
In Stevenson, a semi truck made an illegal turn in a construction area and crushed a worker, accidentally killing him. After exiting the expressway, the driver disobeyed the signs forbidding right turns. The truck turned into the narrow bridge-construction area and the construction worker was pinned between the truck and a metal barricade. The driver received several traffic tickets and may still face prison time under Illinois law.
Crashes involving large vehicles such as 18-wheelers, dump trucks, cement trucks, school buses, CTA buses, and even RVs are especially devastating. These large motor vehicles have extra size and weight coupled with longer braking distances and less mobility. When these vehicles are involved in crashes, the probability of severe damages, injuries and even death is much higher than crashes involving only traditional passenger vehicles.
Insurance alone is usually inadequate to compensate victims and their families. If you or a loved one has been injured by an oversized vehicle, it is crucial to contact a Chicago personal injury attorney experienced in trucking and bus accidents. A lawyer can discuss your legal rights and potential claims.