George Laughlin Killed In East Alton Car Accident On Illinois Route 140

Unsafe Premises - August 14, 2023

George Laughlin Died In East Alton Collision With Pickup Truck on Illinois Route 140 Near South Stanley Road

EAST ALTON, ILLINOIS (August 14, 2023) – A male pedestrian identified as George Laughlin was killed in an East Alton car accident along Illinois Route 140.

Madison County officials are saying that the accident took place around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday. George Laughlin was crossing the road when he was hit by a pickup truck.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. Despite life-saving measures, George Laughlin died due to the severity of his injuries.

A full investigation into the collision remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For East Alton Pedestrian Accidents

Far too many pedestrians are killed or seriously injured every year in car accidents. Pedestrian collisions are much more likely to occur on the weekend. According to the National Safety Council, “The largest number of pedestrian deaths occur on Fridays (1,248), closely followed by Saturdays (1,220), and the majority of these deaths happen during dark conditions.” There are a number of steps that drivers should take in order to avoid hitting pedestrians.

• Drivers should slow down on roads that are poorly illuminated.
• Drivers should check their blind spots before making turns.
• Drivers should continuously scan the road ahead of them for potential hazards.

All drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care to avoid hitting pedestrians in the roadway. According to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-601, no person shall operate a motor vehicle at a speed greater than would be reasonable or prudent given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. When a driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

If the driver of a pickup truck was working at the time of a collision, the company that they were working for could be held at fault. Pickup trucks are often used for commercial purposes. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees –  insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any car accident.

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

The vast majority of accidents involve some amount of negligence. A driver may have been distracted or not properly paying attention to the road ahead of them. The family of any person that died in a pedestrian accident may have legal recourse through a civil claim. Sadly, though, insurance providers will often do everything that they can to evade responsibility for a collision.

Investigating East Alton Pedestrian Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of George Laughlin. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be some accountability for what happened.

Do you need more information about an East Alton pedestrian accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. 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.