Brian Stotts Killed In Joliet Hit-And-Run Semi-Truck Accident

Truck Accident - June 10, 2024

Brian Stotts, 51, of New Lenox, Died In Joliet Hit-And-Run Semi-Truck Accident By The Intersection of Washington Street and Ottawa Street

JOLIET, ILLINOIS (June 10, 2024) – A man identified as Brian Stotts tragically died in a Joliet hit-and-run semi-truck accident by Washington Street and Ottawa Street.

Will County officials are saying that the incident took place on Saturday. Brian Stotts was an inmate who had recently been released from the Will County Jail at 3:36 p.m., according to county records.

Around 4:05 p.m. that same day, he was hit by an electric semi-truck. That driver did not stay and fled the scene of the collision.

Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. Despite life-saving measures, Brian Stotts was later pronounced dead due to his injuries.

Joliet police officials were eventually able to locate the semi-truck thought to be involved in the collision. The truck driver indicated to the police that he had no knowledge of running anyone over.

No criminal charges or traffic citations have been issued in connection with the incident. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Joliet Semi-Truck Accidents

Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured in hit-and-run collisions every year in the United States. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, “In 2016, there were 1,980 fatal hit-and-run crashes resulting in 2,049 fatalities. This is the highest annual number of hit-and-run fatalities or crashes recorded since NHTSA began compiling statistics on fatal motor vehicle crashes in 1975.” Semi-trucks can be particularly dangerous to pedestrians for a number of reasons.

• Semi-trucks have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of pedestrians.
• Semi-trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs, which can make even a low impact collision potentially catastrophic.
• Semi-trucks have a high center of gravity, which can lead to pedestrians being pulled under the vehicle.

Semi-truck drivers must get a commercial license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Truck drivers must follow all rules and regulations laid out in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, every driver must exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian. They must also use their horns when necessary and exercise the proper precautions to avoid colliding with any child or obviously confused person.

The company that a truck driver worked for could also be liable for a collision. Generally speaking, employers are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course of their job duties. However, truck companies will often try to evade liability for collisions by hiring their drivers as “independent contractors.” Several steps should be taken after any truck accident.

• The truck driver’s logbook should be reviewed.
• The truck’s event data recorder (EDR) should be examined.
• Surveillance footage for the collision should be sought.
• Photos of the accident site should be taken.

The vast majority of pedestrian accidents are completely preventable. Part of the problem is that truck companies will often push their drivers to complete their deliveries as fast as possible. This can lead to unsafe driving habits that make pedestrian accidents more likely. In fact, nearly 10% of all fatal truck accidents involve truck drivers who said that they felt under pressure from their carrier. The family of any person who died in a truck accident may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.

Investigating Joliet Hit-And-Run Semi-Truck Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Brian Stotts. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened and some accountability. It is deeply concerning that so far no citations have been issued for what is a fatal hit-and-run. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators.

Do you need more information about a Joliet hit-and-run car accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.