Minivan Involved In Palatine Fire Truck Accident By Palatine Road and Quentin Road
Truck Accident - February 16, 2022
Multiple People Injured In Palatine Fire Truck Accident Near The Intersection of Palatine Road and Quentin Road
PALATINE, ILLINOIS (February 15, 2022) – Multiple people were injured in a Palatine fire truck accident by the intersection of Palatine Road and Quentin Road.
Cook County police officials are saying that the collision took place around 9:33 a.m. on Thursday. A fire truck and minivan collided in the intersection causing the fire truck to flip onto its side.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims. Photos of the accident site showed the minivan with major damage.
A full investigation into the Palatine fire truck collision remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Illinois Fire Truck Accidents
Fire trucks can be particularly dangerous, especially for smaller passenger vehicles. According to one study from the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, “Firetruck crashes, occurring at a rate of approximately 30,000 crashes per year, have potentially dire consequences for the vehicle occupants and for the community if the firetruck was traveling to provide emergency services.” There are a number of factors that make fire trucks especially dangerous.
- As authorized emergency vehicles, fire trucks are allowed to break traffic laws during emergencies.
- Fire trucks have large blind spots, which can make smaller vehicles and pedestrians less visible.
- Fire trucks can weigh 20 times more than passenger vehicles, making even low impact collisions possibly catastrophic.
Depending on the specific facts of any case, the municipality that owned a fire truck could potentially be liable for a truck accident. Fire truck drivers must respond to emergencies in a speedy manner. To that end, they are allowed to break common traffic regulations for speeding and right of way. But they must warn other drivers and pedestrians about their presence with lights and sirens. When a fire truck driver is not responding to an emergency, they must exercise due care to avoid hitting other vehicles.
Consider, for example, the Illinois Supreme Court case of Harris v. Thompson. The Illinois Vehicle Code imposes duties for both public and private drivers of emergency vehicles. They must refrain from acts that could be considered negligent. The court found that the municipality that owned the fire truck had immunity from civil claims through the Tort Immunity Act. However, a municipality could face liability for a fire truck accident if the driver of the fire truck engaged in willful and wanton conduct that could preclude any claim of immunity. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any fire truck accident.
- Photos of the accident site should be taken.
- It should be determine if the fire truck was responding to an emergency.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- An experienced fire truck accident attorney should be consulted.
Any person that is injured in a fire 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. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after an accident. A fire truck accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know if you have a valid claim that can be pursued.
Investigating An Illinois Fire Truck Accident
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of the people who were injured in this collision. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened. Anyone that may have witnessed the crash should reach out to investigators. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent additional collisions like this one.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a fire truck accident? Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. 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 investigation into any collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
