Commercial vehicles travel Connecticut roads every day by the hundreds. Not only is Connecticut home to thousands of businesses, but it also neighbors large cities where commercial vehicles often travel. In the dead of winter, when roads are slick and visibility often an issue, the combination of large commercial vehicles and bad weather can result in tragedy. Unfortunately, even absent harsh weather, drivers of commercial vehicles are occasionally negligent and may cause terrible car accidents.
Recently an accident that occurred on a Connecticut highway resulted in three individuals hospitalized. At approximately 4:30 pm on Tuesday, January 15, a box truck and a tractor trailer traveled southbound on Interstate 95. During rush hour on this Connecticut road, the box truck apparently rear ended the tractor trailer. The incident trapped two occupants of the box truck inside the vehicle. Firefighters worked to free the individuals from the vehicles, arriving at the site of the crash by traveling the wrong way on the exit 40 ramp.
Ultimately, two of the box truck occupants and the driver of the tractor trailer were transported to a local hospital. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. If the driver of the box truck is found to be negligent, the other injured parties are likely entitled to bring a lawsuit in the state to recover compensation for the medical expenses, wage loss and pain and suffering that will inevitably ensue as a result of this crash.
It is also possible the employer of the box truck could be brought into the lawsuit as a defendant if the driver was acting within the scope of employment at the time of the incident. Such a claim is brought under a theory of vicarious liability whereas the employer is held responsible for the reasonably foreseeable acts of its employees.
Whatever the case, injured victims in an accident have the right to bring a claim against any negligent party. Such an act permits for a victim to cover substantial bills and move on with his or her life in a non-stressful manner.
Source: Connecticut Post, “Three hospitalized in I-95 truck crash,” Jan. 15, 2013.
