SEMI TRUCK RUNS RED LIGHT IN ST. CHARLES, ILLINOIS AND CAUSES ACCIDENT
Post Date: October 10th, 2009
On August 27, 2009, a semi truck caused an accident on East Main Street in St. Charles, Illinois. St. Charles police spokesperson, Paul McCurtain, gave details of the incident. The driver of the tractor trailer was Brent Collins Cooper of Tracy, Minnesota. Apparently he was driving his big rig east on Main Street when he ran a red light at the intersection. In doing so, he drove into the side of a Ford F-350. The driver of the pick-up truck suffered minor injuries but was treated by paramedics at the scene. The semi truck driver, Cooper, was issued a ticket for running the red light and not wearing a seat belt.
Often, as an Illinois tractor trailer accident attorney, I have to prove that the semi truck driver was negligent. However, in cases where they are issued a ticket, we can proceed on a theory of negligence per se. What this means is that we can reference a specific law, such as that trucks must stop at red lights. And then we show that they failed to obey that law. In cases where truck drivers are issued a ticket and then found guilty, there really is no wiggle room for the jury. The case then becomes about the extent of the plaintiff’s injuries.
The negligence per se route is a very helpful route in handling Illinois semi truck accident cases. Because it is such an effective method, truck drivers and their insurance companies try to avoid this by getting out of the ticket. Generally however, if there are injuries involved, the prosecuting attorney will not amend the ticket. Thus, it is my strong advice to anyone involved in a semi truck wreck, to contact the prosecuting attorney and make sure that they do not amend the truck driver’s ticket.
If you have been injured in an accident with a tractor trailer and would like to speak with an Illinois tractor trailer injury lawyer, please feel free to call Josh Myers at 888-956-2487. It is always free to discuss your case and there is never any fee until and unless we recover on your behalf.
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