Evan Powers Injured In Amboy Dump Truck Accident

Truck Accident - November 12, 2023

18-Year-Old Bicyclist Evan Powers Injured In Amboy Dump Truck Accident By Sterling Road and Franklin Road Near Dixon

DIXON, ILLINOIS (November 11, 2023) – An 18-year-old bicyclist identified as Evan Powers was injured in an Amboy bicycle accident with a dump truck by Sterling Road and Franklin Road.

Lee County officials are saying that the accident took place on Tuesday. Evan Powers was riding a bicycle when he was struck by a dump truck.

Emergency First Responders were called to the scene in order to help the victim. Evan Powers was airlifted to Javon Bea Hospital in order to receive treatment.

It remains unclear if the dump truck driver will be cited for the crash. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Amboy Dump Truck Accidents

Dump trucks weigh substantially more than passenger vehicles and can be incredibly dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. According to the Engineering News Record, “Dump truck accidents severe enough that the vehicle had to be towed away rose 9%, hitting 8,206 in 2016, the latest year statistics are available.” One of the major contributing factors behind dump truck accidents is poor driving habits. There are many steps that dump truck companies should take a number of steps in order to avoid collisions.

• Dump truck companies should ensure that their fleet is properly maintained
• Dump truck companies should make sure that all of their drivers are well trained.
• Dump truck companies should ensure that they are following all safety regulations.

Dump truck drivers are required to get a commercial license and must do everything within their power to avoid collisions. Accidents are much more likely to occur when dump truck drivers ignore safety regulations. According to Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1),  “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian, or any person operating a bicycle or other device propelled by human power and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary.” If a driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting a bicyclist, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

Liability for a dump truck accident could extend beyond any driver. If a dump truck driver was working at the time of a collision, their employer could be held at fault. In general, employers are vicariously liable for the wrongful actions of their employees This is typically true as long as the negligent employee was  working within the course and scope of their job duties. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after car accidents.

• Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
• Photos of the accident site should be taken.
• Surveillance footage should be sought.
• The truck drivers logbook should be reviewed.

Regardless of what any person claims, evidence is what will ultimately be used to determine liability for any collision. For example, if there is a lack of skid marks in the roadway, this can indicate that a truck driver failed to brake to prevent a collision. Any person that is injured in a dump truck accident may have legal recourse through a civil claim. Sadly, though, dump truck companies will often fight hard to deny liability for any collision involving  their driver.

Investigating Amboy Dump Truck Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to Evan Powers as he continues to recover. Any person that may have more information about what happened should come forward and speak with police. There are so many questions that still need to be answered. It is our sincere hope that there is some accountability for the victim and his family.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in an Amboy dump truck accident? Our team of bicycle safety advocates are 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 support after a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.