Omar Cortes-Aguilar Injured In DeKalb County Semi-Truck Accident

Truck Accident - October 20, 2023

Omar Cortes-Aguilar, Passenger Injured In Cortland Township Collision With 2002 Gravel Hauler Semi-Truck By Somonauk Road and Fairview Road

CORTLAND TOWNSHIP, ILLINOIS (October 20, 2023) – A man identified as Omar Cortes-Aguilar and a passenger were injured in a DeKalb County semi-truck accident.

DeKalb County officials are saying that the accident took place  around 7:09 a.m. on Thursday. A Ford F-250 pickup truck was heading down Fairview Drive under heavy fog.

Due to the heavy fog, the pickup truck driver failed to stop at the crossing and  collided with a Chevy van driven by Omar Cortes-Aguilar. After the collision he and a passenger in the van exited the vehicle in order to evaluate the damage.

A 2002 gravel hauler semi-truck failed to slow down at the intersection and collided with the Chevy van. The impact seriously injured Omar Cortes-Aguilar and his passenger.

Both were taken to Kishwaukee Hospital with major injuries. Police officers cited the semi-truck driver for failure to reduce their speed to avoid an accident.

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

Liability For Dekalb County Semi-Truck Accidents

Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured in truck accidents each year. According to Forbes, “A total of 310,000 of the collisions in 2020 involved property damage alone. Unfortunately, the bad news is, that still means 101,000 truck crashes caused injury over the course of that year with another 4,444 causing fatalities.” The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that roughly 40,000 crashes each year are fog related. There are many other factors that could contribute to a semi-truck accident.

• Truck accidents are more likely to occur when truck drivers are fatigued.
• Truck accidents are more likely to occur when trucks are poorly maintained.
• Truck accidents are more likely to occur during periods of inclement weather.
• Truck accidents are more likely to occur along poorly maintained roads.

All drivers are supposed to maintain a safe speed in order to avoid collisions. According to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-601, no person shall operate their vehicle at a speed greater than what would be reasonable or safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. Driving the speed limit could be considered reckless under certain conditions. For example, drivers will need to slow down significantly during foggy conditions. If a truck driver fails to slow down to avoid a collision, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

The company that owned and operated a semi-truck could also be liable for a collision. In general, employers are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. However, truck companies will often hire their drivers as “independent contractors” in order to avoid liability for collisions. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any truck accident.

• Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
• Medical record should be preserved.
• Surveillance footage of the crash should be sought.
• The police report for the crash should be reviewed.

A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh 80,000 lbs. Even a low impact collision can have catastrophic consequences. Victims of truck accidents may not realize the full extent of their injuries for several weeks or months after a collision. It is important that accident victims understand that they do have legal rights. Any person that is injured in a semi-truck accident may be able to seek aid through a civil claim.

Liability For DeKalb County Semi-Truck Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to Omar Cortes-Aguilar and the passenger injured in this crash. It is our sincere hope that both victims will be able to fully recover. This was a preventable collision that should not have taken place. There needs to be accountability and transparency about what went wrong.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured due to the negligent actions of a semi-truck driver? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to getting accident victims the support that they need to make a full recovery. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.