Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog
A teenager was recently killed in an early morning wreck when he rear-ended a tractor-trailer on the South Side of Chicago. The 16-year-old boy was reportedly headed north in a Chevrolet Blazer around 3:45 am on South Ashland Avenue when he struck the back of a semi that was parked along the roadway near 31st Street. The force of the impact allegedly caused the Blazer to become pinned beneath the trailer of the big rig. Tragically, the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision. According to police, no one else was in the vehicle at the time of the fatal accident.
The exact cause of the wreck is currently under investigation. Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Veejay Zala stated it was unclear what caused the young man to hit the parked commercial vehicle. Police reportedly hope an autopsy will offer more clues into the cause of the fatal crash. Zala also said it is unknown whether the 16-year-old who was killed possessed a valid operator’s license.
Sadly, motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of serious injury and death for teenagers throughout the nation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of seven American teens between the ages of 16 and 19 are killed in a car crash each day. In 2010, almost 300,000 young people were wounded in a preventable traffic accident. Teenagers are reportedly three times more likely to die in a car accident than people who are over the age of 20 and male teens are allegedly twice as likely die in a collision as female teens.
Illinois graduated driver license laws were reportedly created in an effort to reduce the number of catastrophic and fatal accidents involving teens in our state. In Illinois, motorists who are under age 18 are required to complete an approved driver education course before obtaining an operator’s license. In addition, the hours during which a minor may operate a vehicle in Illinois are also restricted. Any motorist who is under age 18 is prohibited from operating a vehicle between 10 pm and 6 am Sunday through Thursday and 11 pm and 6 am on Friday and Saturday. Minor drivers in Illinois also face restrictions against using a cellular telephone with or without a hands-free device while driving except in case of extreme emergency.
If you were hurt or lost a loved one in an unexpected car accident, you should give the attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. a call at (312) 475-9596. Our committed Chicago car accident lawyers are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to answer your questions and help you file your personal injury or wrongful death case. Our hardworking attorneys have years of experience advocating on behalf of clients who were injured in unexpected motor vehicle accidents throughout the Chicago Metro. To speak with a capable personal injury lawyer today, please contact Abels & Annes, P.C. through our website.
More Blogs:
Off Duty Chicago Police Officer Charged in Connection With Logan Square Bicycle Accident, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, December 14, 2012
Illinois Lawmakers Consider Allowing Illegal Aliens to Obtain Temporary Driver’s Licenses, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, December 7, 2012
Additional Resources:
Victim in fatal crash identified as boy, 16, Staff Report, Chicago Tribune