Nicholas West Killed In Alton Lumber Truck Accident While Riding Motorcycle By East Broadway and Main Street

Truck Accident - April 5, 2022

Motorcyclist Nicholas West, of Wood River, Died In Alton Lumber Truck Accident By East Broadway and Main Street —> GoFundMe Created For Victim’s Family

ALTON, ILLINOIS (April 4, 2022) – Nicholas West, 32, of Wood River, died in a motorcycle accident with a lumber truck by the intersection of East Broadway and Main Street.

Madison County officials are saying that the accident took place on Saturday. Nicholas West was traveling westbound along East Broadway on a motorcycle when a flatbed lumber truck began turning left onto East Broadway.

The motorcycle rider was not able to avoid the collision and hit the side of the lumber truck. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim.

Paramedics began life-saving measures to help Nicholas West. But he was beyond medical aid and died due to the severity of his injuries.

It remains unclear if the driver of the semi-truck will be cited following the accident. You can help support the family of Nicholas West through GoFundMe.

According to the online fundraiser, Nicholas is survived by his wife and three young sons. You can also help support the family if you were a witness of this crash by reaching out to the Alton Police Department at (618) 463-3505.

Liability In Alton Lumber Truck Accidents

Driving a motorcycle safely is substantially more difficult than operating a passenger vehicle. On top of that, motorcyclists are more likely to be overlooked by other drivers and thus involved in more accidents. In the event of an accident they are also more likely to be seriously injured or killed. According to the National Safety Council, “Although motorcycles make up only 3% of all registered vehicles and 0.6% of all vehicle miles traveled in the United States, motorcyclists accounted for 14% of all traffic fatalities, 17% of all occupant fatalities, and 3% of all occupant injuries in 2019.” There are many steps that drivers can take to avoid hitting motorcyclists.

All drivers should check their blind spots before making turns.
All drivers should keep a safe distance from motorcycles and other vehicles.
All drivers should operate their vehicle at a safe speed for the prevailing conditions.

Truck drivers must get a commercial driver’s license CDL and are therefore 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 a vehicle intending to make a left turn shall yield the right of way to all vehicles traveling from the opposite direction close enough so as to constitute a hazard. Truck drivers that make unprotected left turns into traffic will typically be held at fault in the event of an accident.

Truck drivers are trained to check their blind spots before making turns. But this does not always happen. Many truck drivers simply aren’t familiar with how large their blind spots are. This is something that comes with experience. The FMCSA has found that driver training and experience were major factors in predicting the likelihood of crashes. Truck drivers with less experience were far more likely to be involved in collisions. It is extremely important that evidence is properly preserved after any truck accident.

Surveillance footage should be sought.
Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
Medical records should be preserved.
A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.

The family of any victim that died due to the negligent actions of a truck driver may be able to seek some measure of justice through Illinois Civil Code (740 ILCS 180). A wrongful death claim may be brought when, had the plaintiff survived, they would have been able to pursue an action to recover damages. Beneficiaries in a civil claim will typically include the plaintiff’s next of kin such as their spouse or children. Sadly, though, truck companies will often fight hard to deny any responsibility for an accident.

Investigating An Alton Lumber Truck Accident

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Nicholas West. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the Alton Police Department. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the victim’s family.

Do you need more information about an Alton truck 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 negligent drivers are held to account for their actions. Whether you have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into a collision we are here for you. You’re always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.