The fatal car crash took place Tuesday, November 12th around 12PM, at which time Rudd was headed eastbound on Interstate 74 just north of Morton, IL.
In front of their vehicle was a semi-truck, which at one point started to reduce their speed due to traffic. Rudd followed suit and began to break as well. Unfortunately, another 2017 semi-truck driven by 62-year-old Mark Elbus of Kewanee was coming up behind Rudd’s 2011 Honda Accord and did not reduce speed, leading to a violent rear-end accident. Rudd’s vehicle was forcibly pushed off the roadway and the front semi-truck was also struck.
Less than an hour after the time of the incident, Rudd was pronounced dead. It is not known at this time whether the drivers of either semi-truck suffered any injuries in the accident.
Elbus was cited by officials for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
An honorable contributor to The Legal Herald and experienced 18 wheeler accident attorney Guy D'Andrea offered the following insight for the families of victims who suffered injuries or may have been killed in a truck crash:
“An event as unexpected as a death due to a truck crash can undoubtedly change the life of the family members and loved ones who are left behind. When any of us goes out on the road, we are always thinking that we’ll be making it back home safely. When this doesn’t happen, it’s more than normal for those left grieving to want to pursue justice.
When a truck accident happened due to another driver’s negligence, those who suffered from the injuries or death that resulted from the incident can seek compensation through a truck death lawsuit.
Via this legal proceeding, the family members of the victim as well as dependents (in some cases) can fight for an award that will help pay for funeral and burial costs as well as other damages such as loss of companionship or loss of income.
It’s always important for victims to find the right attorney to represent them in a court of law. There are many types of law, and if a lawyer specialized in these cases is not used, then the case is likely to fail. An experienced truck accident attorney will have access to industry experts who may testify in the victim’s favor, along with other resources that may be vital to a case.
Victims who may find themselves in these kinds of situations should consult their case with an attorney as soon as possible, given the fact that statutes of limitations for filing lawsuits are different across all states.”