A 59-year-old Chicago man recently died after he was struck by a tow truck while crossing the street in the South Deering neighborhood. The man killed was reportedly walking in a crosswalk on East 95th Street near South Jeffery Boulevard around 8 am when a 63-year-old truck driver turned onto the roadway and hit him. Following the crash, the critically injured victim was transported by emergency crews to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, the man died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the collision the following morning.
The fatal accident is currently under investigation by the Chicago Police Department’s Major Accident Investigations Unit. Officer John Mirabelli said the tow truck driver was ticketed for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. The driver was also cited for his alleged failure to exercise due care.
Walking in cities like Chicago can be a dangerous proposition. In 2011, 918 people were killed in traffic accidents throughout the State of Illinois. During the same year, 135 pedestrians died and almost 5,000 were hurt in an accident with a car, truck, motorcycle, or other motor vehicle. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 117 of the 135 fatal pedestrian accidents occurred in an urban area like Chicago. This means that almost 87 percent of pedestrian fatalities occurred in a city. In contrast, only about 55 percent of wrecks that killed the driver or passenger of a motor vehicle happened in an urban area. In addition, about six percent of fatal pedestrian accidents involved a child under the age of 15 and more than one-fifth killed someone who was 65 years of age or older.
Pedestrians in Chicago must be careful to remain aware of their surroundings in order to avoid injury or untimely death. Despite their vigilance, pedestrians still risk becoming victim of a distracted, reckless or otherwise negligent driver. About 80 percent of pedestrian crashes that occur in Chicago happen near an intersection and approximately half of those accidents occur on an arterial roadway. As occurred in this sad case, most pedestrian crashes involve a vehicle that is in the process of turning. If you were injured by an automobile while walking in the Chicago Metro, you should contact a skilled pedestrian accident attorney to help you protect your rights.
If you were hurt or lost a loved one in an unexpected traffic accident, give the lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. a call at (312) 475-9596. Our dedicated Chicago Metro pedestrian accident attorneys are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to answer your questions and help you file your personal injury or wrongful death case. Our committed lawyers have years of experience advocating on behalf of clients who were injured in an unexpected accident with a negligent motorist throughout Chicago. To speak with a competent personal injury attorney today, contact Abels & Annes, P.C. through our website.
More Blogs:
Off Duty Chicago Police Officer Charged in Connection With Logan Square Bicycle Accident, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, December 14, 2012
Illinois Lawmakers Consider Allowing Illegal Aliens to Obtain Temporary Driver’s Licenses, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, December 7, 2012
Additional Resources:
Man Struck By Truck In South Side Crosswalk Dies, Chicago.cbslocal.com
Pedestrian Dies After Being Hit by Truck at Crosswalk, by Tanveer Ali, dnainfo.com