Two People Injured In Marion Semi-Truck Accident On Route 148 By Route 37

Truck Accident - March 26, 2022

Marion Truck Accident Seriously Injured Two People By The Intersection of Route 148 and Route 37

Two People Injured In Marion Semi-Truck Accident On Route 148 By Route 37

MARION, ILLINOIS (March 26, 2022) – At least two people were seriously injured in a Marion truck accident by Route 148 near Route 37.

Williamson County police officials are saying that the accident took place around 9:20 a.m. on Friday. A semi-truck and a passenger vehicle were involved in a collision under unclear conditions.

A photo of the accident appears to show the truck in the middle of a turn when the crash took place. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims.

Two people were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. A full investigation into the Marion truck collision remains ongoing at this time.

Liability In Williamson County Semi-Truck Accidents

Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured in truck accidents every year. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), “A total of 4,119 people died in large truck crashes in 2019. Sixteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 67 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 15 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.” There are a number of factors that could potentially contribute to a truck accident.

  • Trucks can weigh 80,000 lbs and are more difficult to stop.
  • Trucks have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of small vehicles.
  • Trucks have high centers of gravity thereby making underride collisions more likely.

Truck drivers work long hours at all times of the day. It’s very common for them to become fatigued. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that staying awake for only 18 hours reduces a person’s driving ability to driving with a BAC of 0.05%. For comparison, it is illegal for truck drivers to operate their vehicles with a BAC of 0.04% or higher. Staying awake for 24 hours reduces a person’s driving ability equivalent to driving with a BAC of 0.1%.

All truck drivers must get a commercial driver’s license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Many collisions are due to drivers that make dangerous turns. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-801, no driver shall make a left turn in the roadway or a U-turn unless such a movement can be made with relative safety. If a truck driver attempts an unprotected left turn and is hit by another driver, they will typically be held at fault.

If the truck driver was working at the time of a collision, the company that they were working for could be held at fault. In general, employers are vicariously liable for the negligent actions of their employees – insofar as the employee was working within the course and scope of their job duties. However, many truck companies will try to evade liability for collisions by hiring their drivers as “independent contractors.” There are many steps that should be taken after a truck collision.

  • The employment status of the truck driver should be investigated.
  • Surveillance footage should be sought.
  • Medical records should be preserved.
  • Eye witnesses should be interviewed.

The FMCSA requires commercial trucks to carry between $750,000 – $5,000,000 worth of liability coverage. Trucks that carry hazardous materials will typically need higher policy limits. Any person that is injured in a truck accident may be able to seek aid through a bodily injury claim. Damages can help with lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. An Illinois truck accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating A Williamson County Semi-Truck Accident

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of those injured in this crash on Route 148. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent similar collisions along this road.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Marion truck accident? There are a number of laws designed to help you. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the support and justice that they are entitled to under the law. You’re always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.