Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog
Earlier this month, seven teenagers were transported to two area hospitals following an injury accident in Hinsdale. According to local police, a Toyota Sequoia carrying eight minors rolled and hit both a tree and a light pole after making a sudden turn near the intersection of Fourth and Park Streets. Hinsdale Police Department Deputy Chief Mark Wodka stated all but one of the eight teens riding in the vehicle was transported to either Adventist Hinsdale or Good Samaritan hospitals. Wodka said one of the teens allegedly suffered a head injury and four of the other juveniles hurt in the crash suffered from incapacitating injuries.
The cause of the injury accident is currently under investigation by the Hinsdale Police Department. The 16-year-old driver of the Toyota was reportedly charged with failing to appropriately reduce his speed and driving with too many other teens in the vehicle. According to Wodka, investigators are still attempting to piece together the facts and circumstances that led up to the unfortunate crash.
For the first 12 months of driving, Illinois motorists who are under the age of 18 are not allowed to operate a vehicle with more than one passenger under the age of 20 who is not an immediate family member in the car. Prior to obtaining a driver’s license, all teen drivers in the state must complete an approved driver education course. The hours during which a driver under the age of 18 may operate a vehicle on Illinois roadways is also limited. Additionally, minor drivers in the state may not use a cellular telephone with or without a hands-free device while driving except in case of extreme emergency. Texting while driving is always prohibited.
Automobile accidents are the leading cause of injury and death for teenagers in both Illinois and nationwide. In 2009, an estimated 75 percent of teens had a cell phone and 66 percent used their phones to send text messages. The Illinois graduated driver license laws described above are designed to protect young people and others on the roadway from being hurt as a result of distracted driving. Although any number of factors may contribute to distracted driving, talking on mobile phones, emailing, sending text messages, and talking to passengers are common sources of distraction for new drivers.
Anyone who fails to use reasonable care while operating a motor vehicle in Illinois may be guilty of negligence. Someone who was hurt as a result of that negligence may be eligible to receive financial compensation for damages such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and disability. Contact a skilled car accident attorney to help you file your personal injury claim.
If you were hurt by a distracted or otherwise negligent driver, you should call Abels & Annes, P.C. at (312) 475-9596. Our hardworking Chicago area automobile accident lawyers are ready and willing to answer your questions and help you file your personal injury case. At Abels & Annes, P.C., our dedicated attorneys are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to help you receive the compensation you deserve following a collision with a negligent driver. To speak with a diligent personal injury lawyer today, do not hesitate to contact Abels & Annes, P.C. through the law firm’s website.
More Blogs:
Retired Steger Firefighter Killed in Crete Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, November 16, 2012
Teen Driver, Two Chicago Police Officers Hurt in South Side Vehicle Accident, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, November 13, 2012
Additional Resources:
7 teens treated after car strikes tree in Hinsdale, by Annemarie Mannion, Chicago Tribune
Teens and Distracted Driving, by Mary Madden and Amanda Lenhart, PEW Research Center