Four Chicago area teenagers were killed in a tragic car accident last week, when their car plummeted into a rain-filled creek.The victims left their homes early Monday evening. Their bodies were found in an overturned car in Forked Creek, near Wilmington. Police arrived at the creek around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, after a school bus driver had reported a broken guard rail and a wheel sticking out of the water. Authorities had been searching for the group since one family had reported their child as missing late Monday evening, when the teens did not return.
The Will County Sheriff’s spokesman said in a statement that it appears the accident was weather-related. He speculated that there may have been a significant amount of runoff on the roadway right before the bridge, which could have been the cause for the horrific crash.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, even though deadly crashes have been on the decline for years, traffic accidents remain the leading cause of death for people ages 13-19. Statewide, car accidents remain the main cause of death to teenagers. Nationwide, total deaths have dropped from 8,748 in 1975 to 3,115 in 2010, according to the Insurance Institute. Yet, the risk of even being involved in a car accident is three times higher for teens than for older drivers.
Illinois, like other states, has graduated driver’s license laws in place, which restrict the hours during which a minor may operate a motor vehicle on the roadways. Illinois’s laws also prohibited those under 18 from using a cell phone while driving except in case of extreme emergency. Additionally, regardless of a driver’s age, texting while driving is prohibited in Illinois.
If you have been hurt or lost a loved one as a result of another motorist’s negligence, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation for your damages. These can include things such as pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, and the like. If you were injured in an car accident, you should contact an experienced car accident lawyer in order to discuss your potential personal injury claim.
If you were injured or a family member was killed in a Chicago area traffic accident, you should contact the experienced attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. Our dedicated area Chicago area car accident lawyers are available any time, day or night, to answer any questions you may have, and in order to help you file your personal injury or wrongful death claim. Our committed attorneys have many years of experience advocating on behalf of clients who have been hurt or have lost a family member in a Chicago area traffic collision. To speak with one of our hardworking car accident attorneys today, please give the lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. a call at (855) 529-2442 or contact us through our website.
More Blog Posts:
Unlicensed Driver Charged in Chicago DUI Accident that Killed Pedestrian, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published March 18, 2013
One Killed, Two Others Hurt in Negligent Calumet Heights Single-Vehicle Crash, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published March 15, 2013