What Kills People in Car and Truck Accidents?

 Posted on August 25, 2025 in Car Accidents

When a loved one dies in a crash, the grief is usually compounded by tough, unanswered questions. Families want to know not only how the accident happened but why it proved fatal. Understanding what kills people in car and truck accidents is an important step toward seeking accountability through a wrongful death claim.

As of August 2025, Illinois law continues to allow surviving family members to bring a wrongful death case under 740 ILCS 180, giving them a chance to recover damages for medical bills, lost income, and emotional suffering. Having guidance from an experienced firm of North Shore wrongful death attorneys can make all the difference in getting the compensation you deserve after losing a loved one.

What Causes Fatal Car and Truck Accidents?

Fatalities in motor vehicle crashes are usually the result of force and impact. Cars, and especially large trucks, generate tremendous momentum, even driving at relatively low speeds. Common causes include:

• Head-on collisions, which often lead to catastrophic brain or spinal cord injuries.

• Side-impact crashes, sometimes called T-bone accidents, which can crush the body and cause severe internal bleeding.

• Rollovers, which can trap victims and cause traumatic injuries to the head, chest, or limbs.

• Truck underride accidents, where a smaller vehicle slides under a trailer, often leading to instant death.

Sometimes, even the most well-designed vehicle safety features like airbags and crumple zones are not enough to protect the human body from these forces.

What Happens When Death from a Car Accident Is Not Immediate?

Not every wrongful death happens at the crash site. Many victims survive the initial collision but later die from their injuries. In these cases, family members may have days, weeks, or even months to witness their loved one suffer before passing away.

Medical complications that often lead to delayed death include organ failure, brain swelling, infections, and blood clots. In legal terms, these cases still qualify as wrongful death if the injuries sustained in the accident are the direct cause of death. Families are often also able to recover damages for the medical expenses and pain their loved one endured before passing.

In addition, truck accident claims often involve unique questions of liability, complex insurance negotiations, and the emotional weight of proving damages for a family’s future loss of support and companionship. A Glenview attorney who understands wrongful death law in Illinois can investigate crash details, work with medical experts, and pursue full compensation on behalf of grieving families.

Contact a Glenview, IL Wrongful Death Lawyer

If you have lost a loved one in a car or truck accident, you do not need to carry the burden alone. A North Shore personal injury attorney at Gruzmark Law, Ltd. can stand with your family, explain your rights, and fight for justice.

Families navigating wrongful death cases come from many backgrounds. Our firm makes legal support accessible by serving clients in multiple languages. Мы говорим по-русски. Бид Монгол хэлээр ярьдаг. Hablamos español. Call 847-729-7660 today to schedule a free consultation.