FedEx Truck Driver Killed In Northbrook Guardrail Accident on I-294

Truck Accident - February 28, 2024

Illinois State Police Investigating Fatal FedEx Truck Accident Along Interstate 294

NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS (February 28, 2024) – A FedEx truck driver tragically died after his vehicle collided with a guardrail and caught fire in Northbrook.

Cook County officials are saying that the accident took place around 2:33 a.m. on Tuesday. A FedEx driver was traveling down Interstate 294 by Lane Cook Road when their vehicle collided with a guardrail.

The force of the impact caused the FedEx semi-truck to catch fire. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim.

The man was taken to Glenbrook Hospital in critical condition. Despite life-saving measures, he later died at the hospital. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Northbrook Guardrail Accidents

Thousands of people are seriously injured or killed every year in car accidents involving guardrails. According to the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, “Guardrails are designed to protect vehicle occupants from trees, poles, side slopes and other hazards their vehicle may encounter in run-off road crashes. Unfortunately, a guardrail is not always a forgiving object to strike. In the United States in 2005, there were 1,189 fatal crashes and 35,000 injurious crashes into guardrails [NHTSA, 2006a].” Government entities should take a number of measures to prevent people from being injured in guardrail accidents.

• Regular Inspections: Government agencies should perform regular inspections to ensure that guardrails are in good condition and adhering to safety standards.
• Proper Installations: Government agencies should ensure that guardrails are installed correctly and according to design specifications.
• Collaboration: Government agencies should collaborate with transportation agencies and safety organizations in order to create and implement best practices for guardrail safety.

Driving a commercial truck is one of the most difficult and dangerous occupations out there. When a worker is injured on the job, they will typically have recourse through the worker’s compensation system. Worker’s compensation in Illinois operates through a no-fault insurance scheme. A third-party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from a worker’s employer contributed to an accident. There could be numerous sources of third-party liability for any guardrail accident.

The company that manufactured a guardrail could be held at fault. Companies have a legal obligation to create products that are reasonably safe. They can be liable for the design defects associated with their products. A number of guardrail manufacturers have faced lawsuits after their guardrails penetrated vehicles or caused them to stop abruptly. A number of these claims have targeted the ET-Plus guardrail end terminal manufactured by Trinity Industries.

The government agency that installed a guardrail could also be held at fault. Generally speaking, guardrail manufacturers do not install the guardrails that they make. This is typically left to transportation agencies. If a guardrail is not installed properly, this can cause it to become a lethal hazard. In some situations, a transportation agency may fail to repair a damaged guardrail. Several steps should be taken after any guardrail accident.

• Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
• Surveillance footage should be sought.
• Maintenance records for the guardrail involved should be reviewed.
• A thorough investigation should be conducted.

It can be hard to know where to begin after a fatal collision. To make matters worse, guardrail companies will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if one of their guardrails is involved in a collision. When a guardrail functions properly, it should slowly bring a vehicle to a stop and not direct it back into traffic. The family of any person who died in an accident with a guardrail may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim.

Investigating Northbrook Guardrail Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of the FedEx truck driver killed in this guardrail accident. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong for the sake of the victim’s family. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other tragedies like this.

Do you need more information about a Northbrook guardrail accident? Our team of guardrail 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 transportation agencies are working to keep our roads safe. 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.