Jamie McDonald Killed In Carpentersville Car Accident By Route 25 and Helm Road
Wrongful Death - August 12, 2022
Jamie McDonald, of Streamwood, Died In Carpentersville Car Accident With Ford Pickup Truck By The Intersection of Route 25 and Helm Road
CARPENTERSVILLE, ILLINOIS (August 12, 2022) – A 27-year-old man from Streamwood identified as Jamie McDonald died in a Carpentersville car accident by Route 25 and Helm Road.
Kane County officials are saying that the accident took place around 6:58 p.m. on Tuesday. The driver of a Ford F-150 hit numerous vehicles that were stopped at a red light.
The force of the impact caused a chain reaction crash that involved six other vehicles. One of the victims who sustained serious injuries was identified as Jamie McDonald.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victims. Jamie McDonald was transported to the hospital but later died due to the severity of his injuries.
Friends and families of the victim gathered in order to hold a candlelight vigil and lay flowers at the accident site. Authorities issued a citation for the driver of the Ford F-150 pickup truck.
A full investigation into the crash remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Carpentersville Car Accidents
Car accidents remain one of the leading causes of injury and death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “more than 32,000 people are killed and 2 million are injured each year from motor vehicle crashes. In 2013, the US crash death rate was more than twice the average of other high-income countries.” The vast majority of car accidents involve some amount of human error. This error could come in many forms including:
- Driver distraction
- Speeding
- Drug use
- Alcohol use
- Following other vehicles too closely
Every driver has a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid collisions. The vast majority of rear-end collisions are due to drivers that are speeding or following the lead vehicle too closely. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-601, no person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed greater than what would be reasonable or safe given traffic and the prevailing conditions of the road. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that rear ends another vehicle in their own lane.
Pickup trucks are often used for commercial purposes such as construction and landscaping. If a pickup truck driver was working at the time of a collision, the company that they were working for could be liable. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course of their job duties. For example, a driver may have been delivering materials at the time of a crash. There are many steps that should be taken after any collision.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- The purpose of the at-fault drivers trip should be determined.
- A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.
Depending on the facts of any case, the driver of a car that causes a fatal accident could face criminal prosecution. The family of any person that is killed in a car accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and funeral costs. However, in order to win any civil claim, plaintiffs will have to demonstrate negligence.
Investigating A Carpentersville Car Accidents
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jamie McDonald. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place.
Do you need more information about a Carpentersville car accident? Our team of consumer safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims get the information and support that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
