Motorcyclist Killed In Elk Grove Semi-Truck Accident By Busse Road and Touhy Avenue

Wrongful Death - July 12, 2022

33-Year-Old Arlington Heights Motorcyclist Died In Elk Grove Semi-Truck Accident By The Intersection of Busse Road and Touhy Avenue

ELK GROVE, ILLINOIS (July 11, 2022) – A 33-year-old motorcyclist has tragically died in an Elk Grove semi-truck accident by Busse Road and Touhy Avenue.

Cook County police officials are saying that the accident took place around 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday. A man was riding his motorcycle when he was involved in a collision with a semi-truck under unclear circumstances.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. Despite life-saving measures, the motorcycle rider died at the scene of the collision.

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

Liability In Elk Grove Semi-Truck Accidents

Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured every year in semi-truck accidents. According to the IIHS, “A total of 4,014 people died in large truck crashes in 2020. Fifteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 68 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 16 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.” There are a number of ways that semi-trucks can be particularly dangerous for motorcyclists.

Semi-trucks have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of motorcyclists and smaller vehicles.
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-trucks have a wide turning radius and a high center of gravity. This increases the odds of under-ride collisions.

Semi-truck drivers must get a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Many collisions are due to truck drivers that make dangerous left turns. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-902), the driver of any vehicle intending to turn to the left must first yield the right of way to any vehicle traveling from the opposite direction that is close enough to pose a hazard. Truck drivers often fail to check their blind spots and cause accidents by making dangerous left turns.

If the driver of a semi-truck was working at the time of a collision, their employer could be held at fault. 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. For example, a truck driver may have been delivering packages when they were involved in a crash. There are many steps that should be taken after any semi-truck accident.

Photos of the accident site should be taken.
Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
Medical records should be preserved.
The truck’s event data recorder should be examined.
The employment status of the truck driver should be determined.

When a truck driver is negligent and kills a motorcyclist, they can be held at fault through a civil claim. Family members of the deceased can seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, though, truck companies will often fight hard to deny liability for any collision. A wrongful death attorney can investigate your case free of cost and get to the bottom of what caused a collision.

Investigating A Cook County Semi-Truck Accident

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of the Arlington Heights man killed in this collision. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the victim’s family.

Do you need more information about an Elk grove motorcycle accident? Our team of motorcycle safety advocates 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, independent investigation into an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.