Carrie Hinderer Injured In Crawford County Semi-Truck Accident On Interstate 44 Near Cuba

Truck Accident - March 8, 2022

Carrie Hinderer, of Mahomet, Injured In Crawford County Tractor-Trailer Truck Accident On Interstate 44

Carrie Hinderer Injured In Crawford County Semi-Truck Accident On Interstate 44 Near Cuba

CRAWFORD COUNTY, ILLINOIS (March 7, 2022) –  A woman identified as Carrie Hinderer was injured in a semi-truck accident in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 44.

Illinois State Police are saying that the collision took place on Monday afternoon. Carrie Hinderer was in a Ford Focus that became sandwiched between two semi-trucks after one semi-truck rear-ended another.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims. Carrie Hinderer was taken to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan.

It remains unclear if any of the truck drivers involved in the crash will receive citations.

Liability In Crawford County Semi-Truck Accidents

Commercial trucks can be especially dangerous to passenger vehicles. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), “A total of 4,119 people died in large truck crashes in 2019. Sixteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 67 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 15 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.” The vast majority of truck accidents are due to driver error which can come in many forms including:

  • Speeding
  • Drunk driving
  • Distracted driving
  • Inclement weather
  • Mechanical failures

A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh 80,000 lbs and take a long time to stop. In fact, a semi-truck traveling at 60 mph can take the length of two football fields to completely slow down. 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 driver shall follow a vehicle more closely than would be reasonable and safe given the hazards of the roadway.

If a truck driver was negligent and caused an accident, the company that they work for could be held at fault. 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 hire their drivers as “independent contractors” to avoid liability for crashes. It is important to determine the employment status of any truck driver involved in an accident.

The company that loaded the cargo onto a truck could also potentially be held at fault. All trucks have weight limits and when these limits are exceeded this can cause problems. An overloaded truck takes much longer to stop. The brakes on that truck are more likely to fail. There are a number of items that should be investigated after any truck accident.

  • Surveillance footage should be sought.
  • Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
  • Medical records should be preserved.
  • A thorough independent investigation should be conducted.

Any person that is injured in a truck accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. The FMCSA requires commercial trucks to carry between $750,000 – $5,000,000 worth of liability insurance. A truck accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating A Crawford County Semi-Truck Accident

We at  Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to Carrie Hinderer as she continues to recover. 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.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a truck accident? Our team of personal injury attorneys 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 more information about an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.