One Person Died In Grand Rapids Head-On Semi-Truck Accident By The Intersection of 14 Mile Court and 14 Mile Road
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN (November 15, 2022) – A woman was killed in a Grand Rapids semi-truck accident near the intersection of 14 Mile Court and 14 Mile Road.
Kent County officials are saying that the accident took place on November 12. A semi-truck carrying 80,000 lbs of corn was heading down the road when the driver tried to pass another vehicle.
The semi-truck driver side-swiped the vehicle and lost control before going into opposing lanes of traffic and hitting an SUV head-on. Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victims.
A woman in the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. An ambulance took a passenger in the SUV to the hospital with serious injuries.
Liability For Grand Rapids Semi-Truck Accidents
Semi-trucks are much more difficult to handle than passenger vehicles. They also pose a much greater risk of causing serious injury or death when they are involved in collisions. According to the National Safety Council, “In 2020, 4,842 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash, a 4% decrease from 2019 but still a 33% increase since 2011. The involvement rate per 100 million large-truck miles traveled is down 5% from 2019, but up 18% since 2011. ” Accidents have creeped back up in the past two years as pandemic restrictions have eased. There are a number of steps that truck drivers should take to avoid collisions.
- Truck drivers should be well rested before the start of their shift.
- Truck drivers should ideally plan their route ahead of time and use a commercial GPS system to navigate.
- Truck drivers should abstain from alcohol and other intoxicating substances.
Truck drivers will typically need to get a commercial license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. They must also abide by all rules set forth in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Many truck accidents are due to drivers that make dangerous lane changes and cross into opposing lanes of traffic. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any truck driver that crosses into opposing lanes of traffic and hits another vehicle head on.
Depending on the facts of any case, 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. The company that loaded a truck could also potentially be liable for a crash. Trucks have weight limits and when those limits are exceeded collisions are more likely to happen. There are a number of steps that should be taken after a truck accident.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- The truck’s event data recorder should be examined.
- The truck driver’s logbook should be reviewed.
When a truck driver is negligent and causes an accident, they can be held at fault through a civil claim. The family of any person that is killed in a semi-truck accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help with many of the expenses that can come with the sudden loss of a loved one. However, it is common for truck drivers to deny liability for collisions. This is why it is so important that evidence is properly preserved after a crash.
Investigating A Michigan Semi-Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of the woman killed in this crash. It is our sincere hope that the passenger in the SUV will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of all of the victims. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place.
Do you need more information about a Grand Rapids semi-truck accident? Our team of consumer safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims get the information and support that they deserve. 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.
