One Person Killed In Belvidere Semi-Truck Accident On Interstate 90

Truck Accident - August 12, 2022

One Person Died In Belvidere Car Accident Between Minivan and Two Semi-Trucks On The Jane Addams Tollway

BELVIDERE, ILLINOIS (August 12, 2022) – One person was killed in a Belvidere semi-truck accident involving a minivan on the Interstate 90 Freeway.

Boone County officials are saying that the accident took place around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday. A minivan was involved in a collision with two semi-trucks under unclear conditions.

A video by Boone County Fire Protection showed one of the semi-trucks in flames. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims.

Sadly, one person was pronounced dead at the scene. A full investigation into the Belvidere collision remains ongoing at this time.

Liability In Belvidere Semi-Truck Accidents

Semi-trucks pose a number of unique hazards to those in passenger vehicles. According to the National Safety Council, “in 2020, 107,000 large trucks were involved in crashes resulting in an injury, a 10% decrease from 2019. Since 2016, the number of trucks involved in fatal crashes has increased 5% and the involvement rate per 100 million large truck miles driven has remained steady at 35.” The vast majority of semi-truck accidents are preventable and involve some amount of human error.

• Truck drivers may be traveling too fast for the prevailing conditions.
• Truck drivers may make unsafe lane changes in the roadway.
• Truck drivers may fail to maintain a safe follow distance with the lead vehicle.

All truck drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid collisions. Semi-trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs and can take the length of two football fields to come to a stop. Many collisions are due to truck drivers that follow the lead vehicle too closely. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-710, no person shall follow a motor vehicle at a distance closer than what would be reasonable and safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway.

If a truck driver was working at the time of a collision, the company that they work for could be held at fault. In general, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. However, truck companies will often try to avoid liability for crashes by hiring drivers as “independent contractors.” There are a number of steps that should be taken after any semi-truck accident.

• The employment status of the truck driver should be determined.
• Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
• The truck’s event data recorder (EDR) should be examined.
• A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.

The family of any person that died in a semi-truck accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover many of the unexpected expenses that can come with the sudden loss of a loved one. Potential beneficiaries will typically include a victim’s spouse and children. In order to win any civil claim plaintiffs will have to demonstrate negligence.

Investigating An Illinois Semi-Truck Accident

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of the person that died in this Belvidere truck accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the victim’s family.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Belvidere truck accident? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the information and support that they are entitled to. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.