Tractor-trailer crash near Goreville Illinois results in traffic ticket issued to truck driver
Illinois troopers were called to a major semi-truck crash that took place in Johnson County Illinois just before rush hour this morning. Responders report that the collision occurred on Interstate 57 just south of the town of Goreville. 22 year-old Christopher Tracy was operating his light blue brand new Freightliner tractor-trailer southbound on I-57. Tracy's truck collided with another semi-truck that was parked on the shoulder of the road. Tracy, of the state of Missouri, did not report any personal injuries at the scene.
64 year-old Patrick McDaniel was in his parked 2006 tractor-trailer on the shoulder when it was struck from behind. The left rear corner of his truck sustained the majority of the impact, as Tracy's truck slammed into it, and then slid down a hill on the side of southbound I-57. Tracy was issued a traffic ticket by Illinois State Police for improper lane usage. Coincidentally, a conviction for improper lane usage is a "serious safety violation" according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Tracy will be required to disclose this conviction to his employer. If he is an independent contractor or "owner operator", he is still required to disclose this violation in the annual driving record review as required by federal safety regulations.
Trucking accidents often involve two or three tractor-trailers and no passenger vehicles. Drivers can still sustain serious injuries, although statistically, truck drivers are less likely to sustain the severity of injury often incurred by drivers/passengers of smaller vehicles. Take for example this crash on I-57 which involved a high rate of speed and violent impact. Both truck drivers refused medical attention at the scene. That does not mean they are not seriously hurt however. Most soft-tissue injuries, which can end up requiring surgery, do not manifest themselves for hours or days after a collision.
A tractor-trailer accident lawyer can provide victims of a commercial motor vehicle crash with helpful advice on how to file claims with an insurance company for property damage, personal injury, lost wages, and other harms caused by a collision. Truck crash litigation can be complex, expensive, and time-consuming. Because federal and state law both apply to these case types, many lawyers are not fully capable of providing the experienced legal representation necessary to ensure a favorable result. As such, it is recommended that victims research the credentials of their lawyer or law firm to determine whether they have the specific knowledge necessary to win your case.
64 year-old Patrick McDaniel was in his parked 2006 tractor-trailer on the shoulder when it was struck from behind. The left rear corner of his truck sustained the majority of the impact, as Tracy's truck slammed into it, and then slid down a hill on the side of southbound I-57. Tracy was issued a traffic ticket by Illinois State Police for improper lane usage. Coincidentally, a conviction for improper lane usage is a "serious safety violation" according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Tracy will be required to disclose this conviction to his employer. If he is an independent contractor or "owner operator", he is still required to disclose this violation in the annual driving record review as required by federal safety regulations.
Trucking accidents often involve two or three tractor-trailers and no passenger vehicles. Drivers can still sustain serious injuries, although statistically, truck drivers are less likely to sustain the severity of injury often incurred by drivers/passengers of smaller vehicles. Take for example this crash on I-57 which involved a high rate of speed and violent impact. Both truck drivers refused medical attention at the scene. That does not mean they are not seriously hurt however. Most soft-tissue injuries, which can end up requiring surgery, do not manifest themselves for hours or days after a collision.
A tractor-trailer accident lawyer can provide victims of a commercial motor vehicle crash with helpful advice on how to file claims with an insurance company for property damage, personal injury, lost wages, and other harms caused by a collision. Truck crash litigation can be complex, expensive, and time-consuming. Because federal and state law both apply to these case types, many lawyers are not fully capable of providing the experienced legal representation necessary to ensure a favorable result. As such, it is recommended that victims research the credentials of their lawyer or law firm to determine whether they have the specific knowledge necessary to win your case.
