Robin Brown Killed In Cook County Semi-Truck Accident On I-294
Truck Accident - October 4, 2024
Robin Brown, of South Bend, Indiana, Died In Cook County Tractor Trailer Truck Accident on Chicago Tri-State Tollway By The Hindsdale Oasis
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (October 3, 2024) – A pedestrian identified as Robin Brown has tragically died in a Cook County semi-truck accident along Interstate 294.
Cook County officials are saying that the incident took place around 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday. A passenger vehicle was disabled in the third lane of traffic on Interstate 294 by Milepost 24.
Robin Brown was outside of the vehicle when a semi-truck failed to slow down and hit both him and the car. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim.
Despite life-saving measures, Robin Brown died due to his injuries. It remains unclear if the truck driver involved will face any charges or citations for the collision.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Chicago Semi-Truck Accidents
Car accidents remain a leading cause of serious injury and death for people in Illinois. According to one report by the Illinois Department of Transportation, “In 2021, there were 1,217 fatal crashes on Illinois roads resulting in 1,341 deaths. This represents a 12.2% increase in traffic-related deaths from 2020. We also saw an increase in the number of total crashes and injuries at 19.8% and 17.0%, respectively.” Pedestrians are uniquely vulnerable to the hazards posed by commercial trucks.
- A fully loaded truck can weigh 80,000 lbs and take the length of two football fields to come to a stop.
- Semi-trucks have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of pedestrians.
- Semi-trucks have a high center of gravity that may lead to pedestrians being pulled underneath the trailer.
Semi-truck drivers must obtain a commercial license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. They must operate their vehicle with a great deal of care in order to avoid collisions. Among other things, truck drivers must constantly scan the road ahead of them and drive at a safe speed. 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.
There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that collides with a vehicle in their own lane of traffic. This is typically true even if a vehicle is stopped in the middle of the roadway. These accidents are nearly always preventable when truck drivers are operating their vehicles in a safe manner. Depending on the facts of any case, there could be numerous liable parties for any truck accident.
- The company that owned or operated the truck could be vicariously liable for the actions of their driver.
- The company responsible for maintaining a truck could be held at fault.
- The company responsible for loading a truck could be held at fault if it was overloaded.
It is crucial that evidence is properly preserved after any truck accident. The vast majority of commercial trucks have event data recorders (EDRs). These devices offer a great deal of insight into what a truck driver was doing prior to a collision. For example, it may reveal that a truck driver was speeding. At the end of the day, evidence can help paint a clear picture of what went wrong, regardless of what any person may claim.
Investigating Cook County Semi-Truck Accidents
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Robin Brown. Any person who may have more information about what took place should reach out to the police. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place.
Do you need more information about a Cook County semi-truck accident? Our team of roadway safety advocates is here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to working to make our roadways and communities safer through advocacy. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular incident, we are here for you. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we may be able to help. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.