Seeking Compensation for a Wrongful Death Caused by a Distracted Truck Driver

 Posted on February 29, 2020 in Truck Accidents

By now, most people have heard about the dangers of distracted driving. Unfortunately, despite dozens of public awareness campaigns and increased consequences for distracted drivers, cell phone use and other forms of distracted driving continue to be a major problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that accidents caused by distracted driving take the lives of nine people every day in the U.S. If you have lost a loved one in a car crash involving a distracted truck driver, you may be eligible for compensation.

Fatal Traffic Accidents Caused by Truck Driver Negligence

Motorists of all kinds should keep their eyes and attention on the road while driving, but for drivers of semi-trucks and tractor-trailers, careful attention to the road is even more crucial. A fully-loaded 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 lbs and takes 40 percent longer to stop than a medium-sized car. Truck drivers taking their eyes off of the road for even just a few seconds can cause devastating accidents. In January of this year, two adults and a one-year-old child were killed on I-65 when a semi-truck collided with a line of slowing vehicles. The truck driver told police that at the time of the accident, he was looking down to put his coffee cup away. Another fatal truck accident that occurred last April involved a truck driver who was allegedly watching pornography on his cell phone at the time of the crash. The parents of an 18-year-old boy killed in the accident have filed a lawsuit against the company that owned the truck.

Wrongful Deaths Lawsuits

There is no amount of compensation that could ever fully make up for the tragic loss of a loved one. However, a wrongful death claim may help families receive financial compensation that lessens the financial burden caused by loss. A personal representative of the deceased person may bring a wrongful death claim against a party when that party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing caused the person’s death. Compensation for the deceased person’s medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income, and funeral and burial expenses may be available. In cases involving especially egregious conduct, the court may also award punitive damages, which is additional compensation intended to punish the wrongdoer.

Contact an Elmhurst Truck Accident Lawyer

Losing a loved one due to the careless actions of another is heartbreaking. At Schwartz Injury Law, we help families of individuals killed by negligence hold the at-fault party responsible and get the compensation they deserve. To learn more, call our office at 630-415-0500 and schedule a free consultation with an experienced Illinois wrongful death attorney from our firm.

Sources:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-family-files-lawsuit-after-teen-killed-by-distracted-driver-watching-porn-mother-says/

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2020/01/05/2-dead-9-vehicle-crash-65-boone-county/2819409001/

https://www.thetruckersreport.com/facts-about-trucks/