Truck Driver Charged with Vehicular Homicide in Fatal Crash

The Columbia County District Attorney in Wisconsin has filed criminal charges against a semi-truck driver in connection with a truck accident that killed a woman and injured several others in August near Randolph, Wis. According to news reports, the 40-year-old truck driver from Wisconsin has been charged with one count of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.

Stop Sign Violation
Prosecutors say the driver was hauling potatoes eastbound on Highway E on Aug. 11 when his truck blew through a stop sign and crashed into a Nissan van headed north on Highway 72. The van, driven by a 40-year-od woman, was pulling a camper with seven juvenile family members in it. The van did not have a stop sign, but the truck did. First responders pulled the woman from the wreckage. Three other victims were also injured and transported to the hospital. The female driver of the van died later from her injuries.
The fatal crash was captured on the truck’s dash cam, which clearly showed the truck driver had been driving at 55 mph as his truck passed the stop sign and then 54 mph as it crossed the stop line, just before ramming into the van. Police said they knew it was an “at-fault accident” ruling that there was no intent, but that the truck driver had been negligent.
Officials also said their investigation looked at other factors including driver response and potential distractions. After this fatal crash, Columbia County officials installed rumble strips for vehicles approaching the intersection on Highway E because drivers tend to zone out or lose track of where they are as they approach the area. There was another serious injury crash at the same intersection on Oct. 24 in which two people were hurt.
Why Truck Accidents Occur
There are a number of reasons why large truck accidents occur. Here are some of the most common causes:
• Distraction or inattention: Distracted driving is causing thousands of crashes nationwide including accidents involving large trucks. Distracted driving may range from cell phone use, texting or using in-vehicle electronic devices to eating, drinking or grooming while driving.
• Drowsy driving: Truck drivers are subject to federal hours of service regulations, which require them to take adequate rest breaks between shifts and travel days. Trucking companies are required to have their drivers maintain logs that document the number of hours they work as well as the length of breaks they take. Sleepy truck drivers cause some of the most devastating accidents on our highways.
• Speeding: Excessive speed can be deadly, especially when one of the vehicles involved is a large truck. When a truck driver is traveling at dangerous speeds, it may become difficult for him to control the vehicle. Rear-end crashes in particular – cases where the large truck rams into the back of a smaller passenger vehicle – can be devastating.
Compensation for Victims
In cases involving truck driver negligence, injured victims or families of deceased victims can seek compensation for the damages sustained. Most truck companies have a liability insurance policy of $1 million or more depending on the type of commodities they transport. In fact, it is not unusual for trucking companies to have policies totaling more than $5 million. Several parties may be held accountable for such incidents including, but not limited to, trucking firms, retailers that own trucks, truck maintenance shops, drivers, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 46 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: http://www.wiscnews.com/portagedailyregister/news/article_fd91d4ff-dc42-570c-a1de-1be8cf1049f2.html