North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates
On Oct. 13, police in Round Lake Beach, Illinois, say that a crash between a tractor-trailer and an SUV sent two men to the hospital. The accident occurred at Route 83 and Engle Drive around 8:42 a.m. According to news reports, the semi-truck was heading northbound along route 83 when the SUV traveling in the opposite direction attempted to make a left turn onto Engle Drive when the two vehicles collided. Neither driver has yet been cited at the time of this report.
The Deputy Police Chief of Round Lake Beach said that the driver of the SUV is a 64-year-old man from Lake Villa, Illinois. The origins of the truck driver were not reported, though he is a 53-year-old male. First responders took both drivers to Condell Hospital in Libertyville. The truck driver is reported to have suffered only minor injuries but the injuries to the driver of the SUV were described as significant.
The crash scene remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police and the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team.
Due to their enormous size and weight, almost any collision between a tractor-trailer and a motorist can be fatal or result in serious injuries and permanent disabilities. The odds of even surviving such an encounter are incredibly low for motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians.
Despite their danger, commercial tractor-trailers are an economic necessity in the modern world. All Illinois manufacturers, farmers and other producers rely on trucks to get their goods and products to market. Their utility ensures that tractor-trailers are an ever-present hazard throughout our state and particularly in the Chicago metro area.
Many truck drivers lack adequate training to operate these potentially dangerous vehicles. Some of them are also chronically fatigued from driving long hours. If you have been injured in a truck accident you may be entitled to recover money to help pay for your medical costs. You may also be able to sue the driver and their employer to help recoup your lost salary. Contact our Chicago truck accident lawyers today.
Source: My Suburban Life, “Driver severely injured after Round Lake Beach semi-truck crash” Oct. 13, 2014