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Fatal truck accident leads to lawsuit

On Behalf of | Feb 28, 2014 | Truck Accidents

Trucks can be seen every day on roads and highways across Illinois transporting and delivering various goods. Truck drivers are professionals who undergo considerable training before they are allowed to operate on the open road. They are expected to exercise due care at all times while driving because collisions between trucks and other vehicles can have devastating consequences.

An accident just after Christmas led to the recent lawsuit filed against a truck driver and his employer, Illini State Trucking Company, on behalf of the estate of a the truck accident victim.

According to the lawsuit, a woman died on December 26 on Illinois Route 3 near Dupo east of St. Louis when the truck ran a red light and struck her vehicle at an intersection. The lawsuit filed in the St. Clair County Circuit Court on her behalf is seeking $100,000 in damages and additional costs.

In the event of a truck accident, injured parties and surviving family members have the right to obtain compensation if the accident was the result of someone else’s negligence.

In these cases, a plaintiff will receive compensation if the defendant is proven negligent. The plaintiff must present substantial evidence to bolster the chances of winning the lawsuit. A traffic citation or criminal charges could bolster the suit’s chances. A judge or jury will then examine evidence and the plaintiff’s claims. The amount of compensation awarded will be presumed fair and just and thus sufficient in satisfying the plaintiff’s suit.

Insurance companies often try to settle truck accident cases by offering compensation to victims in the days immediately following an accident. Before accepting such an offer, it is a good idea for a victim or surviving family members to consult with an attorney to ensure that compensation will be fair and just.

Source: Madisonrecord.com, “Illini State Trucking sued over fatal accident,” Kelly Holleran, Feb. 17, 2014

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