A 20-year-old man was killed and another was hurt in a recent single-vehicle crash on South Michigan Avenue in Chicago. According to police, the night-time accident occurred when a southbound motorist attempted to pass another automobile at a high rate of speed and instead struck a light pole. The force of the impact reportedly caused the young man’s Mitsubishi sedan to split in half. After the driver was extricated from the car, paramedics reportedly transported him to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with severe head injuries. Sadly, the 20-year-old was pronounced dead about 30 minutes after the crash occurred. His passenger, also a 20-year-old male, was taken to the same hospital for an alleged leg injury. He was reportedly treated and subsequently released.
The exact cause of the fatal traffic wreck is currently under investigation by Chicago police. At this time, it is unknown whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash. It is also unclear whether either vehicle occupant was wearing a seat belt at the time of the wreck.
Tragic single-vehicle collisions like this one commonly occur in Chicago. Speeding, driver impairment, a malfunctioning automobile, road hazards, swerving to avoid a wreck, and inclement weather are frequent causes for such crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 532 people died in single-car collisions in Illinois in 2011. That means more than half of the 918 fatal traffic accidents throughout the state involved only one vehicle. Additionally, most of those crashes occurred in cities like Chicago.
If you were hurt in a crash while riding as a passenger, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your medical expenses, physical therapy, pain and suffering, any resulting disability, lost wages and benefits, and more. Illinois is a comparative negligence accident state. This means you may be entitled to recover damages for any injuries you sustained in a single-vehicle crash even if you failed to wear your seat belt or were otherwise partially to blame for your harm. If you have questions about your rights following a car accident injury, you should contact a quality automobile collision attorney as soon as you are able.
If you were injured or a family member died in a single-vehicle or other crash, contact the competent lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. Our dedicated Chicago Metro car accident attorneys are available every day of the week to answer your questions and help you file your personal injury or wrongful death case. Our experienced lawyers have years of experience advocating on behalf of clients who were hurt by a negligent driver throughout the Chicago area. To speak with a diligent personal injury attorney today, please do not hesitate to give Abels & Annes, P.C. a call at (312) 475-9596. You may also contact us through the law firm’s website.
More Blogs:
Research Claims Drivers in Illinois and Across the Continent are More Likely to be Hurt in a Crash While Taking High Doses of Opioid Painkillers, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, January 26, 2013
Three Killed, One Critically Injured in Crash in Chicago’s Roseland Neighborhood, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, January 24, 2013
Additional Resources:
Fatal Car Crash Leaves Vehicle Split in Half, by Darryl Holliday, dnainfo.com
Man dies in auto accident that left car split in half, Chicago Tribune