Early Saturday morning, a taxi cab driver and three passengers were injured when they became unwilling victims in a Chicago hit-and-run accident. The crash occurred at the intersection of Congress Parkway and Ogden Avenue at just after 2:00 a.m. and witnesses say a Ford pickup truck was to blame.
The truck was reportedly traveling east on Congress Avenue in the early morning hours as it approached Ogden Avenue. There is a stop sign controlling eastbound traffic but the truck allegedly failed to stop and entered the intersection, striking the rear passenger door of the taxi. After the collision, the driver of the truck fled the scene without stopping to check on the other car or without speaking to police, who responded to the crash. Ambulance crews transported the passengers of the taxi and the driver to area hospitals for treatment will all expected to survive.
Police officers are looking for the driver of the Ford pickup truck that caused the crash as part of their investigation.
If the facts stated so far prove to be true, the driver of the truck in this accident was a danger to himself and others. Not only did he fail to stop at a stop sign but he also fled the scene of an accident without checking on those in the other car. Both of these are serious crimes in Illinois and can carry a jail sentence, depending on all the factors involved, if a driver gets convicted.
No one knows why the driver in this accident fled the scene after causing a crash, and that is the case in most hit-and-run accidents. Experts believe that some of the most common reasons drivers flee are that the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the driver did not have a valid driver’s license or insurance, or running from police for another offense. Occasionally we see accidents where a driver did not even realize that he caused a crash or that the driver was not wearing necessary eye glasses and so was unable to see a car in his path. Regardless of the reason, any driver that causes a collision and then leaves the scene before being cleared by police is in violation of the law.
After a hit-and-run accident leaves an injured victim behind, it can be difficult to find help. When the driver cannot be located and you are hurt, it may feel like no one is on your side. That does not have to be the case because Illinois law provides options to victims of these crashes. If the driver is eventually apprehended, you may be able to bring a claim for your damages against that driver that can include claims for your medical bills and pain and suffering. Sometimes the police never locate the at-fault driver, though, and in those cases you still may have a claim. Many drivers have coverage for hit-and-run accidents through their own insurance polices. This is a special type of coverage known as uninsured/underinsured coverage and is designed to provide you with relief when you are involved in a crash due to another person’s negligence.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we are Chicago auto accident attorneys with decades worth of experience representing victims of hit-and-run crashes. We know how devastating these accidents can be and how they can affect and entire family. That is why we have a lawyer standing by 24 hours a day to take your call and provide you with a free, no obligation telephone consultation. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we want to help you on your path to recovery, so please call us and let us help you today. You can reach us locally at (312) 924-7575 or toll free at (855) 529-2442.
Prior Blog Entries:
Crash Near Joliet Leaves 1 Man Dead, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published July 26, 2013.
Preteen Killed Crossing the Street in Harvey, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published July 24, 2013.
Resources:
Four Injured In Near West Side Hit-And-Run Crash, CBS Chicago/Chicago Sun-Times Media Wire, published July 27, 2013.