Worker Killed, Second Worker Injured In Lombard Bucket Truck Accident

Truck Accident - March 18, 2024

DuPage County Officials Investigating Fatal Lombard Semi-Truck Accident That Involved Bucket Truck By Route 53 and North Avenue

LOMBARD, ILLINOIS (March 18, 2024) – One worker has died and another was injured in a Lombard bucket truck accident near Route 53 and North Avenue.

DuPage County officials are saying that the accident took place around 8:29 p.m. on Saturday. A semi-truck was traveling down the road when it collided with a boom truck.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victims. Two workers were injured in the collision and taken to the Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.

Despite life-saving measures, one worker died at the hospital. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For DuPage County Truck Accidents

Car accidents remain one of the leading causes of serious injury and death for workers in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “In 2020, 1,038 U.S. workers driving or riding in a motor vehicle on a public road died in a work-related crash (22% of all work-related deaths). Among these 1,038 deaths, the Transportation and Warehousing industry had the highest share (43%), followed by Construction (14%), Wholesale and Retail Trade (9%), and Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (6%).” Truck companies should take a number of measures in order to prevent collisions.

• Truck companies should ensure that their drivers are well trained to handle all of the different scenarios that they will encounter.
• Truck companies should ensure that their fleet of vehicles is periodically inspected and well-maintained.
• Truck companies should ensure that their trucks are properly loaded. A large portion of truck collisions involve trucks that were either overloaded or loaded improperly.
• Truck companies should implement policies and systems in order to combat driver fatigue.

Driving a commercial truck is substantially more difficult than driving a passenger vehicle. All truck drivers must maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead of them and take measures to prevent collisions. According to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-601, no person shall operate a motor vehicle at a speed greater than would be reasonable or prudent given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. If a truck driver fails to slow down in order to avoid hitting another vehicle, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

If the driver of a semi-truck was working at the time of a collision, their employer could be held at fault. In general, employers are liable for the negligent actions of their employees. But those employees must have been working within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a semi-truck driver may have been transporting goods when they were involved in a crash. It is important that evidence related to any semi-truck accident is properly preserved.

• The work logbook for the semi-truck driver should be reviewed.
• The event data recorder of the semi-truck involved should be reviewed.
• Photos of the accident site should be taken.
• Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.

At the end of the day, evidence can help paint a clear picture of what caused any truck accident. For example, a lack of skid marks on the roadway can help establish that a truck driver didn’t attempt to brake before a collision. It is important for accident victims to understand that they do have rights. The family of any person who is killed in a semi-truck accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim.

Investigating DuPage County Semi-Truck Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of the worker who died in this Lombard collision. It is our sincere hope that the other worker will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.

Do you need more information about a Lombard truck accident? Our team of worker’s rights advocates is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any collision, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.