Cab Separates from Tractor-Trailer, Seriously Injuring the Driver and Causing Havoc on Kennedy Expressway

Chicago station WGN9 reported in early spring 2017 that the cab of tractor-trailer combination struck a wall on the Kennedy Expressway and fell 15 feet onto Kimball Avenue. Witnesses helped extricate the driver from the cab and transported him to a nearby hospital where his critical injuries could be treated.

Meanwhile, the trailer hung precariously on the Expressway above Kimball Avenue. Traffic on both roads came to a standstill, concurrently fearing that the trailer would fall down to Kimball Avenue and that the trailer was leaking gasoline. It took the police hours to control the situation. The diesel fuel that spilled had to be washed, tow trucks had to move the trailer, and cranes were required to lift the wrecked cab away from the roads.

The truck belonged to Taylor Truck Line. FMCSA records showed that Taylor Truck Line vehicles had been involved in 29 truck accident causing two deaths and multiple injuries. No cause for the accident has be determined.

Liability issues in this type of Illinois truck crash

There are many reasons this accident could have happened. Experienced truck accident attorneys will work with investigators and the police to determine the cause. Lawyers will also conduct extensive discovery to understand the truck driver’s route and every place he stopped immediately prior to the accident. Some of the possible causes for the truck crash include:

• Driver fatigue
• Driver distraction
• Drunk driving
• Speeding
• Violation of the Illinois traffic code
• Having an unsecure or overweight cargo load
• Negligence under the circumstances, such as going through a curve too fast

The possible defendants, if some other driver had been injured, in this type of case are:

• The driver of the tractor-trailer
• The estate of the tractor-trailer driver if the driver does not survive the accident
• The Taylor Truck Line company

Any vendor that may have served alcohol to the driver while he was visibly intoxicated could also be liable. The case could be brought in Illinois, even though Taylor Truck Line is based in Minnesota, because the accident happened in Illinois.

At Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, our Chicago truck accident attorneys understand how dangerous truck accidents can be. We also understand the complexities of truck accident cases, such as where lawsuits can be brought, which local and federal laws apply, and assigning responsibility. For clear guidance and tough representation, please phone us at 312-600-9585 or complete our contact form.