John Espino, Liliana Vargas Injured In Effingham County Semi-Truck Accident on Interstate 57-70
Truck Accident - July 23, 2022
John Espino, Liliana Vargas, 14-Year-Old Girl, all from Fort Worth, Texas, Injured In Effingham County Semi-Truck Accident Along Interstate 57-70
EFFINGHAM COUNTY, ILLINOIS (July 23, 2022) – John Espino, Liliana Vargas and a 14-year-old girl were injured in an Effingham County multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 57-70.
Effingham County police officials are saying that the accident took place on Sunday. John Espino, Liliana Vargas and a teenage girl were in a Nissan Murano and traveling down the roadway in heavy rain.
The driver of the Nissan was then involved in a collision with a Chrysler Pacifica. The force of impact caused the Nissan to slide out of control before being hit by a white Freightliner truck.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victims. John Espino, Liliana Vargas and the teenage girl were all taken to the hospital in order to receive treatment.
A full investigation into the collision remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Effingham County Semi-Truck Accidents
Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured every year in truck accidents across the United States. According to the National Safety Council, “Also in 2020, 107,000 large trucks were involved in crashes resulting in an injury, a 10% decrease from 2019. Since 2016, the number of trucks involved in fatal crashes has increased 5% and the involvement rate per 100 million large truck miles driven has remained steady at 35.” There are a number of factors that make semi-trucks particularly dangerous.
- Semi-trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs and can take the length of two football fields to come to a stop.
- Semi-truck drivers are often pushed to work long hours and may become dangerously fatigued.
- Semi-trucks have a wide turning radius which can make under-ride collisions more likely.
Illinois adopted a modified comparative negligence standard for civil claims under (735 ILCS 5/2-1116). Insofar as any accident victim is less than 50% at fault for a collision, they can still recover damages. Damages are simply reduced proportionately. Truck drivers are held to a high standard in terms of safety. They must scan the road ahead of them and take action to avoid hitting any vehicle. If a truck driver fails to exercise due care and collides with another vehicle, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Victims of semi-truck accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Organ damage
The FMCSA requires commercial trucks to carry between $750,000 – $5,000,000 worth of liability coverage. Any person that is injured in a semi-truck accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Unfortunately, truck companies will often fight incredibly hard to deny any responsibility for a collision. A truck accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know if you have a valid claim that can be pursued.
Investigating An Effingham County Semi-Truck Accident
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to John Espino, Liliana Vargas and the girl injured in this crash. It is our sincere hope that they will all be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators.
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 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.
