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Nov 19, 2008

 

Southern Illinois Firefighter Struck By Bus And Killed On I-57

Greyhound says it will fully cooperate with an Illinois State Police investigation into why one of its buses struck and killed a southern Illinois firefighter along Interstate 57. Authorities say the Sesser firefighter died at the scene at about 4:20 this morning. His name hasn't been released. State police say the victim and other firefighters had finished putting out a tractor-trailer fire about three miles north of Benton when the Greyhound hit him. State Police Trooper David Sneed says the bus driver will face several citations. He says some bus passengers reported that the driver appeared sleepy before the crash. A Greyhound spokeswoman says the bus was headed to Chicago from Memphis and was carrying 51 passengers and the driver. No one on the bus was hurt.

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As a Paducah bus crash attorney, Daryl T. Dixon is fully aware of the dangers of traveling I-57. It is a road frequently traveled by all who live in or around this area. I-57 has high levels of commercial traffic, as well as traveling families. It is important to know what to do, and who to contact in these types of situations.

In this case, it has been alleged that the Driver was sleepy or inattentive. Driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of Bus Accidents around the country. The facts in this case are very similar to the March Bus Crash of the Ohio Baseball team down in Atlanta, Georgia. In that case a sleepy driver mistaked an off ramp for an HOV lane and then the bus plunged some 10-15 feet.

It is clear that family of the firefighter involved in this Bus Crash on I-57 have a Wrongful Death Claim against the bus driver and Greyhound. In this case it can take weeks, months or even years to discover exactly what happened.

The State Police will have to open a Death Case on the deceased. Sometimes the result of these investigations can stay open for months.

At Daryl T Dixon Law, we do these type of investigations everyday for our clients as an alternative to the State Police. As a Kentucky Car Wreck Lawyer and a Kentucky Bus Crash Lawyer, many times I must uncover unknown facts that the State Police do not uncover in their investigation.

Truck or Bus accidents that cause injury or death are handled differently under the law compared to car and motorcycle accidents. Because trucks and busses are commercial vehicles owned by and the responsibility of companies rather than individuals, a truck or bus driver’s conduct behind the wheel is held to more stringent standards of care than other drivers using public roadways. This means that when an accident does occur, truck and bus accident attorneys have the ability to obtain higher awards for their clients from trucking companies and their insurers.

Because most trucks and busses conduct interstate travel, they are governed by the regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). With public dollars, the FMCSA is tasked with defining, enforcing and fining for violations among drivers and/or owners of trucks, busses, large vans and other large vehicles.

One thing is for sure, if you or a family member has been involved in a case such as this, you will want to hire a Lawyer as soon as practicable. The sooner the Paducah Bus Crash Attorney can start their investigation the better the chances of the outcome.

Paducah Kentucky Personal Injury Attorney Daryl T. Dixon answers questions about Car Wreck Injury and Interstate Trucking Injury cases on daily bases.
When federal government policies fail to protect citizens from inattentive, intoxicated, reckless or even unconscious truck and bus drivers; from improperly loaded trucks, big rigs and 18-wheelers; or defects in the wheels, tires, brakes or other part of a truck itself, Daryl T. Dixon can help those injured obtain justice. For help with a truck accident injury claim in Kentucky, contact Daryl today.

You may ask questions at this website by clicking the Quick Contact Form or you may call the offices directly at TOLL FREE (866) 529-7745. Calls and emails will be returned in less than 24 Hours.

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