Many Illinois highways are divided by median strips. They are designed to keep motorists in opposing lanes of traffic as safe as possible. However, many motor vehicle accidents occur because a driver veered out of his or her lane, through the median and into oncoming traffic.
Such an accident occurred on a recent Saturday on Interstate 80. A westbound truck is said to have left its lane near mile marker 19, careened across the median and crashed head-on into a truck that was traveling eastbound. The impact of the collision was so severe that both vehicles burst into flames.
Sadly, the man behind the wheel of the truck that veered off-course was pronounced dead on-site. The other accident victim was transported for medical care. Many other Illinois families have also suffered devastation in similar median-related incidents in the past. Excessive speed, drunk driving and distracted driving are often causal factors in such situations.
Motor vehicle accidents that result in injuries or death often lead to litigation. A surviving victim or the immediate family member of a deceased victim can seek full accountability against anyone deemed negligent in a particular incident. In situations like this one, where the person believed to have caused the accident was pronounced dead at the scene, a claim may be filed against his or her estate. All record owners of the vehicle operated, if any, may also be named as defendants. Human lives cannot be replaced; however, families may be entitled to compensation for damages to help them cover expenses associated with their losses.
