Injury Lawyer News: Reckless Lane Change and Truck Accident Cause Separate Fatal Crashes

 

Chicago Car Accidents

Reckless lane changes are far too common on highways in the United States. We’ve all seen it happen: A driver realizes he or she is about to miss an exit and swerves across multiple lanes to reach it in time. There are many stretches of highway where a missed exit means a 10- to 20-minute detour, but that doesn’t justify reckless driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, 4 percent of all car accidents involve an unsafe lane change or merge. That may not seem like much, but that means there were approximately 224,600 reckless lane-change accidents in 2013. These types of crashes are more likely to involve a motorcycle because the negligent driver often fails to check their blind spots.

Off-Duty Police Officer Killed

The Chicago Tribune reports that a reckless driver who was trying to get to an exit struck and killed an off-duty police officer last week. In the early afternoon, Officer Tito M. Rodriguez was riding his motorcycle on the highway when the car crash occurred. The driver of the vehicle that caused the accident remained at the scene.

Police Have Cited the Driver for Causing the Car Crash

Police say Dennis Anderson noticed that he needed to switch lanes twice to make an exit. Without looking, he instinctively swerved to the next lane, in which Rodriguez was riding.
He cut the motorcycle off, and Rodriguez was unable to slow down before striking the back of Anderson’s car. EMS rushed him to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Investigators arrived at the scene to determine whether or not criminal charges were appropriate. Meanwhile, officers cited Anderson for driving without insurance and recklessly changing lanes.
An injury lawyer from Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates can help anyone planning to file a lawsuit against a negligent driver. We’ve helped our clients seek compensation in civil courtrooms since 1924, and we offer free initial consultations. If you are interested in scheduling a meeting with a Chicago injury attorney, please call us at (800)-985-1819.

Truck Accident Kills Four People

Quick lane changes are even more dangerous when the driver is behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer. The Chicago Tribune reports that Francisco Espinal-Quiroz was speeding when he tried to merge into a lane of slowing traffic.
He swung his tractor-trailer into the lane, striking a vehicle and causing a pileup. Four people died in the accident, and four others suffered serious injuries. During the ensuing investigation, police determined that Espinal-Quiroz failed to maintain an accurate logbook. Every truck driver must keep a logbook to prove they are adhering to federal rest guidelines.
If you’ve suffered an injury in an accident with a driver who recklessly changed lanes, contact us. At Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, we are a team of attorneys who are committed to getting results for our clients. To speak with a personal injury lawyer in Illinois about your car crash, call us at (800)-985-1819.