Drunk Semi-Truck Driver Responsible for Causing Several Injuries to Hockey Team

Lawsuits have been filed against a drunk semi-truck driver who crashed into a school bus carrying a boy’s hockey team, according to a recent article. Police say that the semi-truck driver ran a red light crashing into the school bus. They allege that he was drunk at the time of the incident. He is being charged with more than two dozen counts related to the incident. The crash injured 16 players and three adults who were on the bus at the time of the accident.

Lawsuits have been filed against the driver and the trucking companies that he worked for. In this article, the Champaign, IL truck accident attorneys at Patel Law, PC will discuss truck accident lawsuits and how they work.

If the driver was drunk, the company is liable 

Police say that the accident occurred when the drunk semi-truck driver ran a red light and crashed into the school bus carrying the hockey team. The driver is facing charges related to operating his vehicle while intoxicated. He is facing individual charges for every person who was injured aboard the bus.

Commercial truck drivers are held to a different standard than regular commuters. In a drunk driving suit, prosecutors must establish that the individual’s BAC was .08 or greater. The same rule does not apply to truck drivers. They must operate their vehicles with a BAC of .04 or less.

Companies that employ truck drivers are vicariously liable for any injuries they cause. In these cases, lawsuits can be filed directly against the trucking company that employed the driver at the time of the accident. The allegations against the trucking company will include negligent entrustment and negligent hiring. In a case like this, the defendants can face serious liability.

At present, there are 17 plaintiffs who are all claiming that they were injured in the accident. Each of these plaintiffs will likely need to be paid for the trucking company to settle the suit against them. It doesn’t help that truck driver slammed into a school bus carrying a youth hockey team. When children are involved in accidents, the state tends to take the matter more seriously.

Trucking companies have a duty of care to vet their drivers. It is likely that this wasn’t the first time the driver was driving his rig while under the influence of alcohol. Someone could have noticed that their driver was intoxicated and fired him or otherwise remedied the situation before it turned into a dangerous crash. No one did and this created a dangerous situation for others on the road.

Talk to a Danville, IL Truck Accident Attorney Today 

The Danville, IL truck accident attorneys at Patel Law, PC represent the interests of those injured in trucking accidents. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation and we can help you recover damages related to your medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced quality of life.

Source:

wsbt.com/news/local/semi-hit-school-bus-warsaw-indiana-lawsuit-change-venue-st-ignatius-college-prep-hockey-team-illinois