Fatal Truck Crash on I-80 Outside of Chicago Just One of Many

ABC Eyewitness News reported, in August of 2016, that a horrific chain reaction truck accident occurred on I-80, involving at least four trucks. The first truck was a tractor-trailer that belonged to a company based in Denver, Colorado – though the truck had Utah license plates. The other three, all from Illinois, included a back trailer, a rig, and a small truck that got crunched in-between the other trucks. The accident happened in rural LaSalle County, near Chicago.

According to ABC, Illinois is one of the leading states in the country for truck accidents. Over the past five years, there has been an average of nearly 130 truck fatalities each year.

Practical issues from the case

A case like this one raises many questions. Some of the issues that will and are likely still being explored are:

• How did the accident happen? Traffic accident reconstruction experts use their knowledge, tools, and experience to try to determine the exact path of the vehicles. Traffic experts examine the roads and vehicles, the police reports, and speak to witnesses to try to determine how the accident started and which vehicles collided into which. Understanding how the accident began and played out is crucial to determining which companies and which drivers were responsible for any injuries and for the deaths of the victims.
• Where should the lawsuit be brought? Once it is determined how the accident occurred, the question of where the lawsuit can be brought can be addressed. Since the accident happened in LaSalle County, the case would likely be brought in the state court of LaSalle County. If the Colorado company was responsible for the accident, then the case could also be brought in the federal court for LaSalle County.
• What are the damages? Individuals who were injured can bring a claim for the cost of their treatment, pain and suffering, and other damages. For those who were tragically killed in the accident, the family can also bring a wrongful death claim—unless the deceased was the one who caused the accident—on behalf of the family members.
• Were any trucking rules violated? Truck drivers are limited in the number of hours they can drive. Truck companies are responsible to ensure that their drivers adhere to rest regulations and other requirements. If they do not, and the driver causes an accident, the truck company will be liable.

ABC Eyewitness News also reported that, in this case, the out-of-state trucking company was under federal investigation for letting an unauthorized driver behind the wheel.

At Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, our Chicago truck accident attorneys have experience representing the families of loved ones killed in truck accidents and other personal injury-causing events. We work aggressively to hold all responsible parties accountable and to get significant recoveries. For help now, please phone 312-600-9585 to make an appointment. You can also fill out our contact form.