Fatal Truck Crashes Garner Media Attention

A recent spate of court decisions involving fatal truck-car collisions has brought some attention to the tragic results of these accidents. Semi-truck operators spend enormous amounts of time on the road, but even a single moment of carelessness can have horrific results. Judging by the jury verdicts in some recent cases, truck drivers will be held accountable for their mistakes.

In Will County, Illinois, jurors handed down a $24 million verdict in favor of the families of two men who were killed by a semi-truck. The truck smashed into a row of cars, killing the two men and seriously injuring another.

As we noted earlier this week, A 21-year-old woman in Florida recently received $65 million for injuries she sustained in a 2007 crash. Her collision with a tractor-trailer put her into a coma and kept her hospitalized for several months. She still requires 24-hour care and supervision. A college student who once spoke six languages, she now has difficulty simply walking.

Near Calgary, Canada, a cement truck driver smashed his vehicle into a car containing five people. The car was completely decimated and all five occupants were killed. An open bottle of vodka was discovered in the truck, though the driver denies drinking from it. According to the driver, he was in a hurry to get home when he struck the victims’ car. He is currently on trial for manslaughter.

These are just a few examples of recent court cases dealing with fatal and near-fatal truck accidents. The Lansing, Michigan, area has seen its share of tractor-trailer accidents in recent months, as well. Ordinary passenger vehicles are no match for huge semi-trucks, and the consequences of these collisions are often catastrophic for those involved. Remember to drive carefully to keep you and your loved ones out of headlines like these.