Tractor-trailers are among the most dangerous vehicles on the road. The sheer size of them can make them extremely destructive if involved in an accident. Additionally, truck drivers are on the road for several hours at a time, and if they become tired, it can put others on the road at risk. Sadly, a serious truck accident left two people dead in Kansas City yesterday.
According to a report from the Kansas City Star, a couple was merging onto Interstate 49 yesterday morning when they collided with a tractor-trailer. After the initial collision, the couple’s vehicle spun out of control and under the truck’s trailer. Although the car was eventually pushed out from underneath the truck, both the driver and his wife died in the crash.
As of right now, it is unclear which driver caused this fatal accident. The family members of this couple, however, are likely hoping for a better picture of what exactly happened. Fortunately, there are ways to investigate whether a truck driver or trucking company was at fault in an accident like this.
With the help of an attorney, a grieving family can look at how long a truck driver had been on the road without a break, whether a truck had undergone regular maintenance checks and whether the company that owns the truck has had a history of violating federal trucking regulations. By obtaining this information, a family can better determine whether a wrongful death lawsuit is something they want to pursue. The loss of a loved one, let alone two, is extremely difficult to cope with. Holding a negligent driver accountable for the deaths, however, can help a family feel that justice has been served.
Source: The Kansas City Star, “South Kansas City couple killed in I-49 crash,” July 25, 2013