Illinois Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Trucking Company

Lawsuit alleges a truck driver failed to remain in his lane and did not slow down before a tractor-trailer struck a 25-year-old man’s vehicle from behind.

An Illinois family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a trucking company and the truck driver they blame for a fatal crash on Interstate 80 in Austintown. According to the complaint, the truck driver failed to remain in his lane and did not slow down to avoid striking the victim’s vehicle.

The 25-year-old victim was killed when the tractor-trailer struck his vehicle from behind in December. The lawsuit asserts claims against both the truck driver and the trucking company, including allegations that the company negligently hired and trained the driver.

Quick Answer

The family’s lawsuit alleges that negligent driving caused the fatal rear-end collision. The truck driver has disputed allegations of impairment and said he experienced a medical condition that caused him to lose consciousness before the crash. The case raises questions about driver negligence, trucking-company responsibility, medical events, and whether additional toxicology testing should have been performed.

What Happened in the Interstate 80 Crash?

The Truck Was Traveling on Interstate 80

The crash occurred in Austintown while the defendant driver was operating a tractor-trailer on Interstate 80.

The Victim’s Vehicle Was Struck

According to the lawsuit, the tractor-trailer struck the 25-year-old victim’s vehicle from behind after the truck allegedly failed to stay in its lane and slow down.

The Victim Was Killed

The 25-year-old victim died as a result of the collision, leading his family to pursue wrongful death and survival claims.

The Family Filed Suit

The victim’s parents brought claims against both the truck driver and the trucking company.

The Driver’s Sentence and the Family’s Push for Change

The truck driver was sentenced to 30 days of house arrest, two years of probation, and 50 hours of community service. The victim’s family expressed anger that the driver would not serve time in jail, according to their attorney.

In addition to pursuing civil claims, the family and their attorneys have advocated for legislation that would require truck drivers to undergo drug testing following fatal crashes. They also want the Department of Transportation to take a larger role in investigating fatal trucking accidents.

Why Did the Family Want Mandatory Toxicology Testing?

The family questioned why the driver did not receive a full toxicology examination after the fatal collision. They have argued that a more comprehensive testing requirement could provide additional information in serious commercial-vehicle crashes.

What Changes Did the Family Seek?

The family has pushed for drug testing after fatal trucking crashes and for greater involvement by the Department of Transportation in investigating fatal commercial-vehicle collisions.

Questions About Drug and Alcohol Testing

Reports indicate that the hospital performed a blood test on the truck driver after the collision, but a full toxicology examination was not ordered. The driver’s attorney said the hospital blood test came back clean.

An Illinois prosecutor reportedly explained that the blood screen performed at the hospital was different from the broader testing that would have been conducted if a full toxicology screen had been ordered. Police officers at the scene reportedly did not observe signs of impairment, and additional toxicology testing was therefore not ordered at the time.

Important Distinction

The absence of a full toxicology report does not, by itself, establish that a driver was impaired. Likewise, a hospital blood screen and a comprehensive toxicology examination are not necessarily the same type of testing. The evidence in a particular crash must be evaluated as a whole.

The Driver Said He Suffered a Medical Event

The driver told the court that he had never used drugs or alcohol while driving. He also maintained that on the day of the crash, he experienced a medical condition that caused him to lose consciousness and lose control of the tractor-trailer.

A driver’s claim that a sudden medical event caused a crash can raise complicated questions about foreseeability and responsibility. Investigators and attorneys may need to examine the driver’s medical history, prior symptoms, medical records, employer knowledge, licensing information, and whether there were warning signs before the collision.

Was the Medical Event Foreseeable?

One important issue may be whether the driver had prior symptoms or a medical history that should have prompted additional evaluation or restrictions before operating a commercial vehicle.

What Records Could Matter?

Relevant evidence could include medical records, prior treatment, prescription information, commercial driver’s licensing materials, employer records, and post-crash medical evaluations.

Elements of Negligence in a Truck Accident Lawsuit

The family’s lawsuit contends that the driver acted carelessly and negligently, causing the fatal collision. A negligence claim generally requires evidence concerning the driver’s duty, the conduct at issue, causation, and the damages that resulted.

Duty

Commercial drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles with reasonable care and follow applicable traffic and safety requirements.

Breach

The plaintiffs allege that the driver breached that duty by failing to remain in his lane and failing to slow or avoid the collision.

Causation

The plaintiffs must connect the alleged negligent conduct to the collision and the death that followed.

Damages

A wrongful death claim can seek compensation for losses connected to the death, depending on the applicable law and the facts of the case.

Can a Trucking Company Be Liable for a Fatal Crash?

The lawsuit names both the individual driver and the trucking company. In addition to claims based on the driver’s conduct, the family alleges that the company negligently hired and trained the driver.

Trucking companies may also face scrutiny concerning driver qualifications, training, supervision, scheduling, maintenance, safety procedures, and other records. The specific claims available depend on the facts and the law governing the case.

Hiring and Driver Qualifications

Investigators may examine whether the driver met applicable qualifications and whether the company properly reviewed relevant driving, employment, and safety information.

Training and Supervision

Depending on the circumstances, records concerning driver training, supervision, safety policies, and prior incidents may become relevant to a claim against the employer.

Electronic and Vehicle Records

Commercial crash investigations can involve electronic logging information, onboard vehicle data, maintenance records, photographs, dash-camera footage, dispatch records, and other evidence showing what happened before the collision.

Wrongful Death and Survival Claims

The victim’s parents are pursuing both wrongful death and survival claims. These claims can address different categories of loss and may involve different legal rules depending on the jurisdiction and the facts.

In a fatal truck accident case, attorneys may investigate the circumstances of the crash as well as the victim’s life, employment, relationships, financial contributions, medical history, and the losses experienced by surviving family members.

Why Truck Accident Investigations Matter

Commercial truck crashes can involve multiple sources of evidence and more than one potentially responsible party. Early investigation can help preserve vehicle data, electronic records, witness statements, photographs, surveillance footage, employment records, and other information that may become difficult to obtain later.

What Evidence May Be Important After a Fatal Truck Crash?

A thorough investigation may look beyond the police report to determine how the collision happened and whether additional facts support or contradict the allegations in the lawsuit.

Crash Scene Evidence

Photographs, measurements, roadway conditions, vehicle positions, debris patterns, skid marks, and other physical evidence can help reconstruct the crash.

Truck and Vehicle Data

Electronic logging data, onboard computer information, vehicle inspection records, maintenance records, and other commercial-vehicle data may provide insight into the driver’s activities and the condition of the truck.

Medical and Toxicology Evidence

Medical records, post-crash testing, treatment records, prior medical information, and any available toxicology evidence may become relevant when a driver claims a medical event or when impairment is alleged.

Witness and Video Evidence

Witness statements, traffic-camera footage, nearby surveillance video, dash-camera recordings, and other digital evidence can be especially valuable in reconstructing a fatal collision.

A Fatal Truck Crash Can Involve More Than One Legal Question

The circumstances described in this case raise several separate legal and factual issues. The plaintiffs allege negligent driving and negligent hiring and training, while the driver maintains that a medical event caused him to lose consciousness. Questions about impairment, toxicology testing, and commercial-driver safety may also become part of the broader investigation.

Those competing explanations make it especially important to distinguish between allegations made in a lawsuit, statements made by the driver, and facts established by evidence. A comprehensive truck accident investigation can help determine what happened and which parties may ultimately bear legal responsibility.

Talk to a Truck Accident Lawyer

The Decatur, IL truck accident lawyers at Patel Law, PC represent individuals and families affected by truck accidents and other commercial-vehicle crashes. Our attorneys can investigate the circumstances of a collision and help determine what legal options may be available.

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