Illinois residents may have heard about the deadly highway accident that occurred in Florida in early January 2019. It was a chain-reaction crash that claimed seven lives, and its cause may have been the driver of a commercial truck. Florida Highway Patrol made a preliminary accident report but will need three to four months to complete its investigation.

According to the report, the 59-year-old driver of the truck in question was traveling down I-75 near Gainesville, Fla., when he inexplicably moved left from the right lane, colliding with a 2007 Honda sedan. The two vehicles went through the median guardrail, causing accidents on both the north and southbound lanes.

The truck collided into a 2006 Chevrolet passenger van, causing it to flip and eject some of its 12 occupants. The van, the report continues, was traveling to Disney World. It is unknown how many were ejected or how many were wearing seatbelts at that time. The truck then collided with another semi tractor-trailer, which was driven by a 49-year-old man from New Mexico, and a fire erupted.

A total of seven people were killed, including both truck drivers and five children who ranged from 9 to 14 years old. Florida Highway Patrol have already ruled out alcohol as a factor in the crash.

Trucker negligence can take many forms. For example, truckers can overwork themselves and grow drowsy, or they can distract themselves on the phone. The truck may have defective parts, or the cargo may be over the weight maximum. Whatever form of negligence is behind a fatal truck crash, the family or other dependents of the decedent could file a wrongful death suit. However, they may want help from a lawyer who could negotiate a fair settlement.