Micah McAfoose, 18, of Cypress, Killed In Corrigan Tractor Trailer Truck Accident On U.S. Highway 59 by Plant Road —> GoFundMe Created To Support Victim’s Family
CORRIGAN, TEXAS (January 23, 2022) – An 18-year-old Stephen F. Austin State University student identified as Micah McAfoose died in a Corrigan truck accident on US Highway 59.
Polk County officials are saying that the collision took place on Friday afternoon. Micah McAfoose was in a Nissan Versa with a passenger when the vehicle was hit by an 18-wheeler truck making a left-turn.
The force of the impact caused the Nissan Versa to become Wedged under the trailer of the truck. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victims.
Sadly, Micah McAfoose died due to the severity of his injuries. A 19-year-old passenger from Austin was transported to the hospital with critical injuries.
You can help support the family of the student that died through GoFundMe. According to the GoFundMe, “Micah passed away 1/20/2023 in a car accident with an 18 wheeler while driving home from SFA to come home for the weekend. Please please keep his family in your everlasting prayers as well as the passenger who is in critical condition.”
Police officers cited the truck driver with failure to yield to an oncoming vehicle.
Liability For Corrigan Semi-Truck Accidents
Commercial trucks can be particularly dangerous for passenger vehicles for a number of reasons. They have large blind spots on their sides that can obscure the presence of passenger vehicles before turns. They also have a high ground clearance which can make underride collisions more likely. One of the ways that truck companies can protect against underride collisions is to install side-skirts on their vehicles. There are a number of factors that could contribute to a semi-truck accident:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Poor driving habits
- Inclement weather
Truck drivers must exercise due care to avoid collisions. Many truck accidents are due to truck drivers that fail to yield the right-of-way to oncoming vehicles. Pursuant to Texas Transportation Code Sec. 545.103, the driver of any motor vehicle intending to turn left must first yield the right-of-way to all drivers traveling from the opposite direction that are close enough so as to pose a hazard. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that makes an abrupt turn in front of another vehicle prior to an accident.
The company that a truck driver worked for could be held at fault for a collision. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a truck driver may have been transporting goods when they crashed. However, truck companies will often try to evade liability for crashes by classifying their drivers as “independent contractors.” There are a number of steps that should be taken after any semi-truck accident.
- Surveillance footage of the accident should be sought.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- The truck’s event data recorder (EDR) should be examined.
- The truck driver’s work logbook should be reviewed for possible violations.
It can be hard to know where to begin after any collision. But it is important for accident victims to know that they do have rights. They have the right to hold any negligent truck driver accountable through a civil claim. A civil claim can help cover many of the expenses that can come with the sudden loss of a loved one. Sadly, though, it is common for truck companies to fight hard to deny all liability for any collision. This is why it is so important that all evidence is properly preserved after a crash.
Investigating A Corrigan Semi-Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Micah McAfoose. It is our sincere hope that the passenger injured in this crash will be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of all who have lost so much.
Do you need more information about a Corrigan semi-truck accident? Our team of consumer safety advocates are here to answer any legal questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
