82-Year-Old Man Injured In Joliet Cattle Truck Accident On Interstate 80

82-Year-Old Man From Chicago Injured In Joliet Cattle Truck Accident Along Interstate 80

82-Year-Old Man Injured In Joliet Cattle Truck Accident On Interstate 80

JOLIET, ILLINOIS (April 20, 2022) – A man from Chicago was injured in a car accident with an intoxicated cattle truck driver on Interstate 80 near Joliet.

Will County officials are saying that the accident took place around 3:40 p.m. on Tuesday. The driver of a cattle truck left the roadway by Houbolt Road and crashed into a disabled truck.

At some point, the truck driver reentered the roadway and hit a car before crashing into the median wall. Multiple cattle were ejected into the roadway.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene to help everyone who was injured. An 82-year-old man from Chicago was listed as one of the victims. He was taken to a local hospital in order to receive treatment.

The driver of the cattle truck has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs, improper lane usage and failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision.

A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Liability In Joliet DUI Cattle Accidents

Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured in car accidents with intoxicated drivers every year. According to the Office of Traffic Safety, “In the United States, 6,058 people were killed in drug-involved collisions in 2016, a 9.5 percent decrease from 6,696 in 2015, and a 7.6 percent increase from 5,630 in 2012. In 2016, among fatally injured drivers with known drug tests, 42.7 percent were positive for legal or illegal drugs.” What many people don’t realize is that even prescriptions could potentially impair them. Some of the medications that could impair a person’s ability to drive safely include:

  • Opioid pain relievers
  • Anti-seizure drugs
  • Medications with codeine
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Anti-psychotic medications

Truck drivers are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Many collisions are due to truck drivers that violate traffic regulations. Improper lane usage is a common contributing factor in truck accidents. According to Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-709), a vehicle shall be driven entirely within a single lane of traffic and shall not be moved from that lane unless such a movement can be made with reasonable safety. If a truck driver makes an unsafe lane change prior to a collision, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

Pursuant to Illinois Civil Code (625 ILCS 5/11-500), no person shall drive a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs or intoxicating compounds. They must not have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher. Commercial drivers are held to an even higher standard. They must not have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04% or higher. If a truck driver causes an accident, they can be held liable through a civil claim.

Liability for a truck accident could also extend to a truck driver’s employer. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the negligent actions  of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. However, many truck companies will try to evade liability for crashes by hiring their drivers as “independent contractors.” The employment status of a truck driver involved in a collision should be determined. Many other items should be investigated including:

  • The speed of a truck at the time of the collision.
  • The substances that any truck driver may have taken.
  • The traffic conditions at the time of the collision.
  • Maintenance records for the truck.

The FMCSA requires commercial trucks to carry between $750,000 – $5,000,000 worth of liability coverage. Any person that is injured in a truck accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Unfortunately, truck companies will fight hard to deny liability for any collision involving their drivers. A truck accident attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating A Joliet DUI Car Accident

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the victim of this Joliet cattle truck accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened for the sake of the victim. Someone could have easily been killed.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured due to the negligence of a truck driver? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of consumer safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.