Driver Critically Injured In Belleville Garbage Truck Accident
Truck Accident - January 26, 2025
Investigation Underway After SUV and Garbage Truck Involved In Belleville Collision by Mascoutah and South Green Mount Road
BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS (January 26, 2025) – A man was seriously injured in a Belleville garbage truck accident by Mascoutah Avenue and South Green Mount Road.
Belleville police officials are saying that the accident took place around 9:00 AM on Friday. A Buick Encore was struck by the garbage truck and sustained major damage.
A driver in the Buick Encore was taken to St. Louis Hospital with serious injuries. An investigation into the Belleville garbage truck accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Belleville Garbage Truck Accidents
Commercial trucks are involved in thousands of fatal collisions every year. There are a number of reasons that garbage trucks can be particularly dangerous. Garbage trucks operate in residential areas where there is a lot of pedestrian traffic. Their drivers also tend to work at hours when the sun might not yet be up. Like most other commercial vehicles, garbage trucks have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of smaller vehicles and pedestrians. There are a number of measures that garbage truck drivers should take in order to prevent collisions.
- Garbage truck drivers should check their blind spots before making turns on the roadway.
- Garbage truck drivers should ensure that their vehicles are properly maintained.
- Garbage truck drivers should continuously scan the road ahead of them for potential hazards.
Many garbage truck accidents are due to one or more drivers that were speeding. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code 625, “No vehicle may be driven upon any highway of this State at a speed which is greater than is reasonable and proper with regard to traffic conditions and the use of the highway, or endangers the safety of any person or property.” If a garbage truck driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting another vehicle, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. It is important that certain steps are taken after any garbage truck accident.
- Surveillance footage of the accident should be sought.
- Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records related to the incident should be preserved.
- The garbage truck driver’s logbook should be reviewed.
- An experienced garbage truck attorney should be contacted.
Liability for a garbage truck collision could extend beyond any driver. The company or municipal entity that hired a garbage truck driver could also be held at fault. Employers are vicariously liable for the wrongful actions of their employees who are working within their job duties. For example, a garbage truck driver may have been picking up trash on an official route. Any person injured in a garbage truck accident may have legal recourse through a civil claim.
Investigating Illinois Garbage Truck Accidents
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the driver injured in this crash. It is our sincere hope that they are able to make a full recovery. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the Belleville Police Department. City officials should consider if any measures can help make this particular intersection safer.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Belleville garbage truck accident? You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. Our team of garbage truck accident attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. 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 assistance, we are here for you. You could reach out to our office anytime at (312) 564-4256.