Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog
An Illinois pedestrian accident lawyer at Abels & Annes is representing a woman who was hit by a taxi cab on the North Side of Chicago. The collision which took place on February 12, 2011 at approximately 12:50 a.m. The cab driver fled the scene of the accident.
The plaintiff was on Halsted Street in Chicago, Illinois just north of its intersection with Belmont. She exited a taxi that she was riding in and began walking toward the sidewalk adjacent to Halsted. A second, unknown taxi was driving northbound on Halsted at the same time. The taxi was traveling at a high rate of speed and struck the pedestrian, who was walking toward the Halsted sidewalk. The force of the impact was so great that it threw her airborne and caused her to land on the pavement. The unknown taxi continued northbound on Halsted and fled the scene.
The Chicago Police Department responded to the scene of the collision. Three witnesses confirmed that the hit-and-run taxi was at fault and that it fled the scene of the collision. The responding officer determined that the taxi caused the incident by failing to reduce his speed to avoid a collision.
Based upon the facts and circumstances surrounding the occurrence at issue, it is clear that the sole proximate cause of the collision was the negligent conduct of the hit-and-run driver. If anyone has any information regarding the identity of the taxi driver, you are encouraged to contact the Chicago Police Department or this office.
This case illustrates the importance of contacting an Illinois injury lawyer after being involved in an accident. So often injured pedestrians, bicycle riders, etc. call our office not really knowing if they have a case, or thinking they have a case for the wrong reasons. When the person calls us, it gives lawyers the opportunity to evaluate the situation and at least get the victim pointed in the right direction.
For example, in this case the pedestrian had no idea she could make a claim on her auto policy. She contacted us for help in trying to track down the taxi driver. We did make an effort in that regard. Requests were made to the City to preserve traffic videos and photos in the area. Unfortunately, the accident was not caught on film. It has been over a year since the accident, so it is highly unlikely that the driver will be brought to justice.
Due to the fact that the defendant fled the scene of the occurrence, our law office is pursuing an Illinois uninsured, hit-and-run motorist claim on behalf of our client with her own auto insurance carrier, State Farm. If the plaintiff didn’t contact our office, she never would have known that she had a claim and she would’ve lost out on collecting thousands and thousands of dollars.
Following the collision, the plaintiff had an immediate onset of face, back and left leg pain. She was placed in a cervical collar and on a backboard by paramedics at the scene. She was transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital’s Emergency Department, where she complained of severe body pain, especially in her left leg, left side of her face, and her back. A history was taken, she was examined, and diagnostic tests were performed. She was dizzy with even the slightest movement and had numerous abrasions. The left side of her face was visibly swollen from the collision and she was nauseated. On exam, she had pain and tenderness to her left leg and her paraspinal muscles as well as the left side of her face. She also had tachycardia.
Our client underwent CT scans of her brain and cervical spine, which were inconclusive. She also underwent x-rays of her chest, pelvis, and left knee and leg, which were inconclusive. Due to the severity of the collision and the potential for life threatening injuries, she was admitted to the hospital for treatment and observation.
While in the hospital, the hit and run victim’s pain intensified. She experienced total body spasms and continued to have pain in her left leg. She was given morphine for her pain but she received no relief. She was discharged on February 13, 2011, prescribed pain medication, and instructed to seek follow up treatment as necessary.
Due to the injuries she suffered as a result of the negligence of the hit-and-run taxi, she lost income she would have otherwise earned. Over a three week period, she had to reduce the number of hours and shifts she could work because of severe pain in her back and left leg. She sustained a financial loss of over $1000.
She also incurred over $21,500 in medical bills due to the negligent actions of the taxicab driver.
Contact the Illinois pedestrian collision lawyers at our office if you have been hit by a motor vehicle in the Chicago area. Contact us online or call us 24/7 at 312-475-9596. Our consultations are free, and there is no attorney’s fee unless a financial recovery is made on your behalf.