A 28-year-old Chicago man was killed and another man was thrown from a sport utility vehicle (SUV) in a tragic one-car accident that happened in the westbound lanes of Route 30 in Matteson. According to Illinois State Police, the crash occurred just after 11 pm on a ramp from the highway onto northbound Interstate 57. Following the wreck, the man who was ejected from the SUV was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for treatment.
An accident reconstruction team reportedly closed the ramp for most of the night in an effort to determine the cause of the fatal accident. According to police, neither occupant of the SUV was wearing a safety belt when the accident occurred.
With few exceptions, all drivers and passengers are required to wear a seat belt whenever riding in a car, truck, or other vehicle in the State of Illinois. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belts saved more than 12,000 lives in 2009. In 2011, about 84 percent of Americans reportedly fastened their safety belt when riding in a vehicle. Seat belt use is purportedly higher in primary enforcement states like Illinois. Primary enforcement means a law enforcement officer may stop a vehicle based solely on a seat belt violation.
Utilizing a seat belt allegedly decreases the risk of serious injury and death for individuals in the front seat of an automobile by at least 45 percent. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims that an average of 90 people died in a car accident every day in 2009. More than half of those killed were not wearing a safety belt. Motorists and passengers are allegedly more likely to travel in a vehicle without using a restraint at night and fatal accidents like this one are three times more likely to occur when it is dark outside. About half of all traffic deaths happen at night even though only about one quarter of all motor vehicle miles are driven in the dark. In addition, single-vehicle accidents are more likely to take place at night.
If you were hurt in an unexpected traffic accident, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation for your pain, suffering, medical costs, lost wages, temporary or permanent disability, and more. Certain family members of someone who was killed in a car wreck may also be entitled to recover for wrongful death. Contact a qualified Chicago car accident attorney to discuss your rights.
If you were injured in a single-car or other collision, you should contact the lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. Our experienced Chicago Metro car accident attorneys are available every day of the week to answer your questions and help you file your personal injury claim. Our capable lawyers have years of experience advocating on behalf of clients who were injured in an unexpected motor vehicle or other accident throughout the Chicago Metro. To speak with a hardworking and dedicated personal injury attorney today, please give Abels & Annes, P.C. a call at (312) 475-9596.
More Blogs:
Communities Throughout Chicago Metro Participating in Holiday Safety Crackdown, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, December 29, 2012
High School Honors Student Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver in Schaumburg, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, December 17, 2012
Additional Resources:
One Person Dead, Another Hurt In I-57 Crash, Chicago.cbslocal.com
Chicago man dies in Matteson car accident, by Peter Nickeas, Chicago Tribune