IDOT Workers Injured In Chicago Semi-Truck Accident on Bishop Ford

Truck Accident - July 19, 2023

Two IDOT Workers Injured In Semi-Truck Accident On The Bishop Ford Freeway In Chicago

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (July 19, 2023) – Two IDOT workers were injured in Chicago after a semi-truck collided with three IDOT maintenance trucks on the Bishop Ford Freeway.

Cook County officials are saying that the collision took place around 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday near 130th Street. A semi-truck collided with three IDOT trucks on the inbound lanes of the freeway.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims. Two IDOT workers were taken to the hospital so that they could receive treatment.

The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time.

Liability For Chicago Semi-Truck Accidents

Semi-trucks account for a relatively small number of the total vehicles on the roadway. But they are involved in a disproportionately large number of serious injury collisions. According to the IIHS, “A total of 4,714 people died in large truck crashes in 2021, a 17 percent increase compared with 2020. Sixteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 68 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 15 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.” There are a number of steps that semi-truck drivers should take in order to avoid collisions.

Truck drivers should slow down when pedestrians are nearby.
Truck drivers should be well rested before the start of their shift.
Truck drivers should maintain a safe distance with the vehicle ahead of them.

Semi-trucks are very difficult vehicles to operate. They take much longer to slow down than passenger vehicles. 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. If a semi-truck driver fails to slow down and hits another vehicle or pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

Depending on the facts of any case, liability for a truck accident could extent beyond a negligent driver. If a truck driver was working at the time of a collision, their employer could be held at fault. Generally speaking, employers are liable for the tortious conduct of their employees – insofar as those employees were operating within the scope and course of their job duties. Victims of semi-truck accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:

Broken bones
Head injuries
Lacerations
Spinal cord injuries

Any time a worker is injured in Illinois, they will typically have recourse through a worker’s compensation claim. They may also have recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help with many of the expenses that often come with a serious injury. Many victims may not realize the full extent of their injuries until some time after an accident.

Investigating Chicago Semi-Truck Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the two IDOT workers injured in this truck accident on the Bishop Ford Freeway. It is our hope that they will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a semi-truck accident? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of truck accident attorneys 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 any type of help after an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.