Deer Carcass Causes Fatal Car Accident on I-55
On behalf of Brown & Crouppen, P.C. posted in Motor Vehicle Accident on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Highway driving is not without dangers. When you are travelling at 100 feet per second, (68 mph) distant objects can suddenly become close in no time. A car or truck can change lanes unexpectedly right in front of another vehicle or debris can blows across a road and cause a car accident.
Sometimes debris may already be on the road, such as a large chunk of blown tire tread from an 18-wheel truck, or something that fell off a vehicle. Depending on the shape and color, it may be difficult to know if it is just discoloration of the highway surface, or a real object, until you are dangerously close.
A report from the St. Louis Press-Dispatch tells of the driver of a car Thursday morning, who had the misfortune of coming across the carcass of a deer on I-55. He attempted to steer around the carcass, but went off the interstate, hit a bridge and died at the scene.
Families after this type of accident are left with many questions and few answers. In addition to grieving at the loss of their husband or father, they may be struggling to get by after losing the earnings of the person who died.
Depending on the source of the debris, it may be possible to recover compensation for your loss. Was it something that fell off a truck because it was negligently loaded? Had the deer in this case been reported and did the Department of Transportation have a duty to remove it?
A personal injury attorney can help sort through the details and help your determine if you have a viable case.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “Imperial man killed after swerving on I-55 to avoid deer carcass,” November 15, 2012