Damien Legassick Killed In Penkin Semi-Truck Accident On Route 29 by South 2nd Street

Damien Legassick Died In Penkin Truck Accident Along Route 29 Not Far From South 2nd Street

Damien Legassick Killed In Penkin Semi-Truck Accident On Route 29 by South 2nd Street

PENKIN, ILLINOIS (April 4, 2022) – A toddler identified as Damien Legassick has tragically died in a semi-truck accident on Route 29 by the 1900 block of South Second Street.

Tazewell County police officials are saying that the accident took place just before 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. A semi-truck struck Damien Legassick under unclear conditions.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. Life-saving measures were taken in order to save Damien Legassick.

Sadly, he was beyond medical aid and pronounced dead at the scene. State Route 29 was temporarily shut down for several hours as an investigation continued.

Liability In Penkin Semi-Truck Accidents

Pedestrians are uniquely vulnerable in car accidents. They lack the protection of enclosed vehicles and are more likely to be overlooked. According to the CDC, an estimated 137,000 pedestrians were killed in car accidents in 2017. Nearly 6,000 pedestrians were killed in 2017. Elderly pedestrians and young children were statistically the most likely to be involved in collisions. More than 22% of the children involved in pedestrian accidents were between the ages of 5 and 9. There are a number of steps that drivers can take in order to prevent pedestrian accidents.

  • Drivers should slow down when there are children nearby.
  • Drivers should scan the road ahead of them for potential hazards.
  • Drivers should abstain from alcohol or other medications that could impair them.

Fatigue, in particular, is one of the most common contributing factors in pedestrian accidents. Truck drivers work long hours and at all times of the day. It’s therefore not uncommon for them to become dangerously fatigued. The CDC estimates that staying awake for only 18 hours can reduce a person’s driving ability equivalent to driving with a BAC of 0.05%. Staying awake for 24 hours further degrades a person’s driving ability equal to driving with a BAC of 0.1%.

Truck drivers must get a commercial license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. According to Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1), all drivers must exercise due care in order to avoid hitting pedestrians or person operating a bicycle in the roadway. They must also use their horn when necessary to give warning of their presence. They must also use the proper precaution upon observing “any child or any obviously confused, incapacitated or intoxicated person.” Children and intoxicated persons can act in erratic and unpredictable ways. Truck drivers must take this into account when driving near them.

If a truck driver was working at the time of a collision, the company that they were working for could be held at fault. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the negligent actions of their employees – assuming that the employees were working within the scope of their job duties. For example, a truck driver may have been delivering packages for a distributor. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any truck accident.

  • Photos of the accident should be taken.
  • The truck driver’s work records should be examined.
  • Surveillance footage should be sought.
  • The truck’s event data recorder (EDR) should be recovered.

The family of any victim that died in a truck accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover some of the expenses associated with the sudden loss of a loved one. Sadly, though, truck companies will fight hard to deny any responsibility for an accident. More often than not they will do everything in their power to blame the victim. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating a Penkin Semi-Truck Accident

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Damien Legassick as they are going through such a difficult time. Any person that may have witnessed the collision should reach out to officers. There needs to be a thorough investigation into the conduct of the truck driver leading up to this collision. No family should ever have to go through something like this.

Do you need more information about a truck accident that took place in Penkin? Our team of consumer safety advocates are here to answer any legal questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that negligent drivers are held to account for their actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation  into an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.