When walking, it may become necessary to cross a street or to otherwise enter a roadway normally used by automobiles. When this happens, pedestrians usually have the right-of-way, or the priority to use the area over cars, and cars must yield until the pedestrians are clear of the street. The most common example of this is in a crosswalk designated for use by pedestrians. If pedestrians have a green light to cross a street at a crosswalk, in nearly all circumstances, cars must yield to the pedestrians.
But every year, pedestrian accidents occur in Chicago as a result of drivers failing to yield the right-of-way. Many of these collisions begin when a driver attempts to turn right but fails to look for pedestrian traffic first. In other accidents, a driver may attempt a left hand turn but focus only on oncoming vehicular traffic, failing to look for people walking in a crosswalk until it is too late. Yet other accidents are caused by a driver running a red light or a stop sign and placing his or her vehicle in the same path as a pedestrian.
When a collision with a vehicle leaves a pedestrian injured, that pedestrian may be entitled to legal relief through the use of a civil claim for damages. In these cases, the pedestrian who is hurt may be able to recover compensation to pay for medical and surgical expenses that have been incurred or will be incurred in the future as well as other losses, like lost wages and payment for pain and suffering. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer who handles pedestrian accidents is a good way to learn about what legal options may be available after a collision occurs.
Yesterday afternoon, police in Chicago were called to respond to the scene of a collision between a pedestrian and a taxi cab on the city’s Near North Side. The crash happened near the 1400 block of North Clark Street sometime between 1:00 p.m. and 1:20 p.m. When they arrived, police were able to determine that the driver of the taxi ran a red light at an intersection and collided with a second vehicle. The force of that collision caused the taxi driver to lose control of the vehicle, which then collided with a woman walking in a crosswalk. The woman was thrown approximately 40 feet before being hit by the taxi a second time.
The pedestrian hit was a 66-year-old woman and she was seriously injured in the accident. Emergency authorities responded and transported the victim to an area hospital in serious to critical condition for treatment of her injuries. The driver of the cab was also injured in the accident and transported for medical care and has been cited in the accident for running a red light and striking a pedestrian.
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If you have been injured as a pedestrian or if you loved one has been killed, make sure you understand your legal options, including whether you are entitled to relief. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we have experience helping the victims of pedestrian crashes and we are standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to help you as well.
We offer a free case consultation to all injury victims who call us at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and there is no obligation on your part for speaking with us. All information discussed will remain confidential. If you prefer to meet with us in person but you are too injured to travel to our offices, we also offer free in-home and in-hospital consultations to help you get the answers you deserve. If an accident has left you injured, call us today and let us help you.
Prior Blog Entry:
Pedestrian in Aurora Hit and Killed by Passing Car, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published March 6, 2014.
Resource:
Woman struck by taxi, seriously injured on Near North Side, by Liam Ford, Chicago Tribune, published March 12, 2014.