Yamileth Cienfuegos Killed In Glenview Box Truck Accident on East River Road By Central Road
Truck Accident - March 12, 2022
Yamileth Cienfuegos, of Des Plaines, Died In Glenview Box Truck Accident By East River Road and Central Road
COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS (March 12, 2022) – A woman identified as Yamileth Cienfuegos has died and her six-month-old child were injured in a Glenview box truck accident near the intersection of East River Road and Central Road.
Cook County officials are saying that the collision took place around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday. A box truck was heading south on East River Road when it made a left in front of a car driven by Yamileth Cienfuegos.
The box truck struck the passenger vehicle heading northbound causing it to sustain major damage. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim.
Yamileth Cienfuegos and her six-month-old child were transported to Lutheran General Medical Center in Park Ridge. Despite life-saving measures, the mother died due to her injuries and the infant was released to a family member.
No citations have been issued at this time.
Liability In Glenview, Illinois Box Truck Accidents
Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured in collisions with trucks every year. According to one report by the FMCSA, “In 2019, on average, there were 1.12 fatalities in fatal crashes involving large trucks. In 91 percent of those crashes, there was only one fatality. The majority, 82 percent, of fatalities were not occupants of the large truck.” There are a number of ways that commercial trucks can be much more dangerous than passenger vehicles.
- Trucks have a high ground-clearance, making underride collisions more likely.
- Trucks have large blind spots that can easily obscure the presence of smaller vehicles.
- Trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs. Even a low-impact collision can be catastrophic.
Semi-truck drivers often work long hours at all times of the day. It’s common for them to become dangerously fatigued. In fact, around 18% of all truck drivers have reported falling asleep behind the wheel at some point. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that staying awake for only 18 hours can reduce a person’s ability to drive safely equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05%. Staying awake for 24 hours further degrades driving equivalent to driving with a BAC of 0.1%.
Commercial truck drivers will need to get a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Many truck accidents are due to drivers that make dangerous left turns. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-801), a vehicle shall make a left turn or u-turn in the roadway unless such a turning movement can be made with reasonable safety. If a truck driver makes an unprotected left turn and is hit by a vehicle, there is a good chance they could be held at fault.
Depending on the facts of any case, liability for a truck accident may extend beyond a truck driver. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the negligent actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their employment. However, many companies will try to evade vicarious liability for truck accidents by hiring their truck drivers as independent contractors. It is important to determine the employment status of any truck driver involved in a collision. There are a number of other steps that should be taken.
- The truck driver’s work records should be examined.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
The family of any victim that died in a semi-truck accident may have legal recourse through (740 ILCS 180/), the wrongful death statute in Illinois. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and funeral expenses. Potential beneficiaries in a civil claim will include a victim’s children and spouse. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Glenview, Illinois Box Truck Accident
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Yamileth Cienfuegos. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of her child and the rest of her family. The vast majority of left turn collisions are totally preventable. There needs to be some accountability for this crash which may have been avoidable.
Do you need more information about a truck accident that took place in Glenview, Illinois? Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to answer any legal questions that you may have. We understand how hard it can be dealing with the aftermath of a serious collision. That’s why we work hard to get victim’s the information and resources that they need so that they can make informed choices. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into a crash we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256. Se habla español.
