There are many motorcyclists in the Chicago area. Although the weather is starting to turn colder and the number of bike riding days remaining in the year is quickly dwindling, there is still some time to enjoy the sense of freedom motorcycling can provide. Despite the fun riding a motorcycle can give, it can also be extremely dangerous even when done in the safest way possible. This is because negligent motorists abound, and it only takes a split second for them to make a mistake and cause a tragedy.
One Chicago-area family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit after one of these motorcycle accidents. According to reports, the victim, a 27-year-old man, died when he was struck by a FedEx truck. The lawsuit alleges that the truck driver failed to yield the right of way and turned left into the motorcyclist. The lawsuit further claims that the trucker failed to use his turn signal. In addition to seeking compensatory damages from the truck driver, the family also seeks recovery from his employer, FedEx. The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.
Losing a loved one under such unexpected and unfair circumstances can leave a family reeling emotionally and financially. They may struggle to cope with the loss and the fact that they may be confronted by enormous expenses. Fortunately, a truck accident lawsuit against both a trucker and the truck company for which he or she works may end in compensation for damages suffered.
It may seem daunting for this family to go up against a big company like FedEx, but civil lawsuits only require the plaintiff prove his claim by a preponderance of the evidence. This means that if he can show that his claim is even one percent more likely than the defenses claim, then he or she will win. Though the burden of proof is lower than the one in a criminal case, a truck accident victim still needs to ensure that he or she prepares the strongest claim he or she can muster under the circumstances.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times, “Suit: Motorcyclist hit, killed by FedEx truck in Hickory Hills,” Mitchell Armentrout, Oct. 17, 2016
