Six Injured In Jefferson County Semi-Truck Accident on Interstate 57

Truck Accident - August 9, 2024

Investigation Underway After Six People Were Injured In Jefferson County Tractor Trailer Truck Accident Along Interstate 57 Near Dix

Six Injured In Jefferson County Semi-Truck Accident on Interstate 57

JEFFERSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS (August 9, 2024) – At least six people were injured in a Jefferson County semi-truck accident along Interstate 57, not far from Dix.

Jefferson County officials are saying that the incident took place around 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. A pickup truck was towing a boat trailer and stopped in traffic.

A semi-truck failed to stop in time and rear-ended the vehicle. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victims.

Both vehicles caught fire. A total of six people were injured and taken to the hospital.

Liability For Illinois Truck Accidents

Semi-trucks account for a relatively small number of the total vehicles on the roadway. But they are involved in a disproportionate number of fatal collisions. According to the IIHS, “A total of 4,764 people died in large truck crashes in 2022. Seventeen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 66% were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 16% were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.” There are several reasons why trucks can be particularly dangerous.

  • Semi-trucks can weigh 20 – 30 more than passenger vehicles. Even low impact collisions can be catastrophic.
  • Semi-trucks can take the length of two football fields to come to a stop at freeway speeds.
  • Semi-trucks have large blind spots that can easily obscure the presence of smaller vehicles.

Semi-truck drivers are required to get a commercial license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Many collisions involve truck drivers who are speeding or otherwise traveling too fast. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-601), no driver shall operate a vehicle at a speed greater than what is reasonable or safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver who fails to stop for a vehicle in their own lane. Several steps should be taken after any semi-truck accident.

  • Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
  • Medical records should be preserved.
  • The truck’s event data recorder should be collected.
  • An experienced truck accident attorney should be contacted.

Depending on the facts of any case, liability for a truck accident could extend beyond any driver. A truck driver’s employer could be held at fault. Generally speaking, 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 try to evade liability for collisions by hiring their truck drivers as “independent contractors.”

Investigating Jefferson County Semi-Truck Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Jefferson County semi-truck accident. It is our sincere hope that all of the victims will be able to make a full recovery. This was a preventable collision that should not have taken place.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Jefferson County semi-truck accident? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to helping accident victims get the support and justice that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.