Fatal Illinois truck accident not forgotten

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Truck Accidents

In January, an Illinois tollway worker was killed as a result of a semi-truck crash. Although the tragedy of the accident may have worn off for many, the victim&s family is far from forgetting their loss. The family has now filed a lawsuit against the truck driver charged in the man&s death.

On the night of the accident, the 39-year-old victim stopped his emergency vehicle to assist a disabled truck. At this point, a semi-truck crashed into the emergency vehicle, killing the worker. An Illinois State Police trooper was injured in the accident as well. The trooper had also pulled over to help with the disabled truck. The accident occurred on I-88 near Aurora.

Law enforcement filed criminal charges against the truck driver for felony violation of certain trucking laws. The laws at issue are those that regulate logbooks and how many hours a commercial driver can drive before taking a break. According to authorities, the driver had been on duty, working and driving, for over 36 hours with less than four hours of sleep. The driver may have also falsified his logbook.

Now, the driver faces civil charges in addition to the criminal charges. The family is suing the driver and the driver&s employer on allegations of negligence. A wrongful death lawsuit of this nature will be successful if the victim&s family can prove such negligence. Victims who suffer injuries also may have a cause of action. An Illinois truck accident attorney can answer questions for victims, families and friends who are curious about the process of filing a lawsuit against a responsible driver. Often, it is not about money, but for victims to feel that justice will be served.

Source: Chicago Tribune, "Family of tollway worker killed in accident sues truck driver," Clifford Ward, March 10, 2014