Hit-and-Run Accident in St. Charles, Illinois

School Bus Laws in Illinois

ST. CHARLES, Ill. — Police cast a wide net to capture the suspect they believe ran away from a pedestrian accident that left a young girl clinging to life. According to NBC Chicago, the police found the person they think is responsible for nearly killing the seven-year-old girl. Police say the 42-year-old man whom police charged with the crime surrendered himself to Kane County law enforcement authorities on Monday, May 13, 2019. The man turned himself in to police around 12:15 p.m. on Monday afternoon. He now faces several criminal charges. *

Law enforcement investigators reported that a black Dodge pickup truck driving on Geneva Avenue in the unincorporated township of St. Charles located in Kane County struck the seven-year-old girl. The girl was riding a bicycle at the time of the collision. Medics airlifted the badly injured child to Lutheran General Hospital. Authorities said her injuries were possibly life-threatening. 

Sheriff’s deputies said that the driver of the truck involved in the crash drove from the scene. The driver stopped the truck and ran away on foot. Deputies said he jumped into a nearby river and ran through several backyards. Officers examined the truck and determined that it belonged to the person whom they charged. Investigators sought the public’s help apprehending the suspected hit-and-run driver. Accordingly, they released a mug shot of the suspect from 2017 to the media.

The 42-year-old driver of the pickup truck faces a slew of criminal charges including driving with a revoked license, driving an uninsured vehicle, failing to slow down to avoid a crash, fleeing the scene of an accident, and also refusing to report an accident that caused injuries. 

The latest information about the injured victim is that she is on the mend. According to NBC Chicago, a relative of the child posted an update on social media and said that the girl suffered a couple of broken bones but is otherwise expected to make a full recovery.

*Source:https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/brian-quartuccio-st-charles-township-hit-and-run-crash-person-of-interest-509846001.html

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Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Chicago

Chicago Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Pedestrian Accidents in Chicago Can Happen in Many Ways

Pedestrians walking in Chicago experience danger coming from all directions. Without warning, pedestrians in Chicago can find themselves in perilous situations because of the action, or inaction, of a careless motorist. Some locations are more dangerous than others to be sure. However, any time pedestrians and motor vehicles must share the same space the situation can become deadly in an instant.

Although there are an unlimited potential ways a pedestrian could get hit by a vehicle, there are some categories of pedestrian accidents that frequently occur. For example, walking in a parking lot exposes pedestrians to the risk of getting hit by a car from inattentive drivers. It is no less dangerous because people tend to drive more slowly in a parking lot. The pedestrian who is hit by a car is exposed to severe injury, even in a low-speed collision.

When pedestrians walk along the roadside, they are exposing themselves to tremendous risk of death or injury, especially when walking in reduced lighting or the dark. Any pedestrian who walks on the side of the road should walk facing traffic and as far off to the side as possible. Walking on the left side of the road gives the pedestrian a chance to see cars coming head-on and hopefully make an evasive maneuver to avoid getting hit.

Crossing highways and busy streets are dangerous. Pedestrians must cross with the light and always in a crosswalk to make it safely across. Walking when the light permits and crossing in a crosswalk, or at an intersection if no crosswalks are available, will minimize the potential risk of being struck by a car.

Pedestrians must always be wary of turning vehicles. When trying to cross a street, pedestrians can sometimes unwittingly walk into the path of a turning car. Pedestrians must maintain a constant watch for turning cars and anticipate that cars will turn in their direction even if the driver failed to signal a turn. 

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Personal Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0500.

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Pedestrian Accidents in Chicago Can Happen in Many Ways

Pedestrians walking in Chicago experience danger coming from all directions. Without warning, pedestrians in Chicago can find themselves in perilous situations because of the action, or inaction, of a careless motorist. Some locations are more dangerous than others to be sure. However, any time pedestrians and motor vehicles must share the same space the situation can become deadly in an instant.

Although there are an unlimited potential ways a pedestrian could get hit by a vehicle, there are some categories of pedestrian accidents that frequently occur. For example, walking in a parking lot exposes pedestrians to the risk of getting hit by a car from inattentive drivers. It is no less dangerous because people tend to drive more slowly in a parking lot. The pedestrian who is hit by a car is exposed to severe injury, even in a low-speed collision.

When pedestrians walk along the roadside, they are exposing themselves to tremendous risk of death or injury, especially when walking in reduced lighting or the dark. Any pedestrian who walks on the side of the road should walk facing traffic and as far off to the side as possible. Walking on the left side of the road gives the pedestrian a chance to see cars coming head-on and hopefully make an evasive maneuver to avoid getting hit.

Crossing highways and busy streets are dangerous. Pedestrians must cross with the light and always in a crosswalk to make it safely across. Walking when the light permits and crossing in a crosswalk, or at an intersection if no crosswalks are available, will minimize the potential risk of being struck by a car.

Pedestrians must always be wary of turning vehicles. When trying to cross a street, pedestrians can sometimes unwittingly walk into the path of a turning car. Pedestrians must maintain a constant watch for turning cars and anticipate that cars will turn in their direction even if the driver failed to signal a turn. 

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Car Accident Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0500.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
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Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0500

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Pedestrian Accidents Caused by Cyclists in Chicago, Illinois

Call 312-422-0500 if injured in an accident.

Pedestrian Accidents Caused by Cyclists in Chicago

Now that the weather is finally warmer, people will emerge from their winter seclusion to enjoy the spring in Chicago. The warmer weather brings out many people who like to walk or job in the city, especially along the waterfront. Bicycle riders also emerge at this time. Bike riders occupy some of the same spaces that pedestrians occupy. Thus, collisions between pedestrians and bicycle riders are inevitable.

Crashes involving bicycles and pedestrians can be serious. Both pedestrians and bike riders can sustain severely, and sometimes fatal, injuries in these types of collisions. Bikes on bike paths can reach high speeds, especially considering the threat of a collision with a motor vehicle is greatly reduced. Experienced bike riders on surfaces in good repair can reach 25 miles per hour or more. Thus, any contact between a bicycle rider going 25 miles per hour and a person walking is likely to cause significant injuries.

The necessary question that follows is: who is to blame for the injuries caused by the crash? The answer, of course, is: it depends. Pedestrians and bike riders owe each other a duty to act safely. Thus, if a person stepped in front of a cyclist and the cyclist crashed causing serious injuries, the pedestrian could be liable. Conversely, the cyclist who carelessly rides on a bike path into a group of walkers and causes them injuries will be responsible under Illinois’ law of negligence.

In nearly every respect, there is a great similarity between an accident in which a pedestrian is hit by a car and a crash when the pedestrian was hit by a bike. The lone exception is the lack of insurance to cover the accident. Since no cars are involved, there is no auto insurance to fall back on. However, if the party responsible for the collision owns a home, other real property, or has other assets, then the accident victim could satisfy a judgment by attaching and forcing the sale of the property owned by the responsible party in limited circumstances.

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Car Accident Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0500.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0500

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Fatal Pedestrian Accident Wrongful Death Claim Lawyers in Illinois

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The death of any loved one in an accident is devastating. The sudden and unexpected loss creates a void in the victim’s family’s lives. The news of the tragic event sparks powerful emotions and inexplicable grief. Once the grief slowly starts to subside, then the harsh reality strikes for many people. Questions arise like how will I survive financially without my loved one’s salary? How can I care for our children? What will my kids do now that one of their parents is gone? These questions may be asked of children who lost their parents, or parents who have lost their children in pedestrian accidents in Illinois. Accordingly, pursuing a wrongful death claim could help ease the financial burden you experienced from the death of your loved one.

Illinois law does not permit every family member to file a wrongful death claim. Only the next of kin of the person who died can file a wrongful death claim in Illinois. Illinois law determines who the next of kin should be if the answer is not obvious. The next of kin files suit in a representative capacity and might not be the individual who receives any financial award. 

Damages in Illinois pedestrian wrongful death cases are wide-ranging. Illinois law allows the estate of the person who died to collect for medical bills as well as pain and suffering the person who died experienced from the incident before expiring. Additionally, Illinois’ wrongful death statute permits recovery of damages to family members for certain types of losses. One of those losses is the future financial loss created by the pedestrian’s death. Another measure of damages is the emotional loss a spouse or a child will experience as a consequence of the pedestrian’s death. Importantly, Illinois law allows the family to recover funeral and burial costs in addition to any out-of-pocket expenses the family experienced from their family member’s tragic demise.

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Car Accident Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0500.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0500

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Chicago Police Driver in Hit-and-Run

Chicago Police Searching for Hit-and-Run Driver

CHICAGO, Ill. — Chicago police investigators from the Major Accident Investigation Unit have requested the public’s assistance in identifying the operator of a Dodge Journey sports utility vehicle that struck a pedestrian and took off from the scene of the crash. According to WGN 9 TV, the pedestrian who was hit is a 61-year-old woman. The victim sustained severe injuries and was listed in critical condition after the crash on Friday, April 5, 2019, in the 1200 South block area of Central Park Avenue.  Chicago PD has not made any arrests in the investigation. There is no update available concerning the current medical condition of the injured pedestrian. *

Chicago police investigators released a grainy still photograph pulled from a surveillance video. The photograph shows a red or maroon Dodge Journey SUV striking the female pedestrian. The contact between the vehicle and pedestrian occurs in a crosswalk and either the police or media have obscured the face of the victim. The crosswalk is located in the 1200 South block of Central Park Avenue in the Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago. After the pedestrian and vehicle collided, the driver of the Dodge Journey drove away from the location of the accident without stopping. Police say that the vehicle drove south on Central Park Avenue after hitting the victim. The still photo shows that the weather was wet and rainy Friday afternoon. However, police have not said whether the rainy and slick conditions contributed to the crash. CBS 2 reported that the crash happened around 2:00 p.m. Friday.

The victim is reportedly a 61-year-old woman. The last information available indicated that the victim remains in critical condition at the hospital. Investigators with the Major Accident Investigation Unit asked people with information to contact the Chicago police department and speak with investigators. The incident remains under investigation. 

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Personal Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0500.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
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Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0500

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*Source:https://wgntv.com/2019/04/06/search-for-hit-and-run-driver/ and https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/04/06/police-release-photo-of-vehicle-wanted-in-hit-and-run-in-north-lawndale/

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Technology Causes Spike in Pedestrian Deaths

Chicago Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Pedestrian deaths have reached their highest levels in thirty years and stakeholders, meaning states, cities, towns, and safety organizations are trying to figure out why. Many factors could play into the answer, but one element of society present today that was hardly a consideration a generation ago is the ubiquitous use of cellphones. Cellphone usage among drivers — and pedestrians as well — may be considered the most prominent factor in the increase in pedestrian accidents and fatalities from thirty years ago according to an article appearing in the Counsel and Heal magazine. The question that stakeholders should ask is whether technology may be able to turn the tide back to a time when roads in the U.S. are much safer for pedestrians than they are now.

Counsel and Heal recognize three factors that substantially contribute to the marked increase in pedestrian fatalities over the last three years. Cellphone use is the most significant factor. Distracted driving is a massive problem in the U.S., and there is no clear way to persuade people, motorists and pedestrians alike, to put down their phones. Many states have passed laws that seek to impose civil penalties for driving while using a cell phone or otherwise distracted by an electronic device. The attempt is noble but trying to legislate bad habits out of people is the proverbial finger in the dike.

Three complementary factors play a roll in the increased number of pedestrian crashes beyond distracted driving. One element is the increased population in the U.S. The number of motorist and pedestrians increases with the increase in population. Second, vehicles in the U.S. are overgrown, especially with the introduction of the sports utility vehicle into our stream of commerce. Third, crumbling infrastructure decreases safety on U.S. roads.

Technology might be the antidote for problems caused by technology. Inserting sensors in the road designed to send alerts when roads and bridges need repairs. Increasing the amount of autonomous braking and collision avoidance systems can hopefully counterbalance the peril in which pedestrians currently find themselves.

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Car Accident Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0500.

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Source:https://www.counselheal.com/articles/40081/20190401/why-pedestrian-road-deaths-surging.htm

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Occupants of Vehicle That Went into River Seriously Hurt

PONTIAC, Ill. — A bystander assisted Illinois State Police in pulling a woman from the wreckage of a Jeep sports utility vehicle that went off of Interstate 55 and into the Vermilion River. Callers to emergency lines reported the incident in the early afternoon according to NBC Chicago. A child suffered critical injuries in the event. Illinois State Police investigators are still trying to determine why the Jeep SUV went off of the highway and into the river. The crash forced the police to close all of the Interstate’s southbound lanes near mile marker 198 for several hours as crews pulled the smashed SUV up from the river below.  State Police officers tried to determine why the car flew off of the road and into the Vermilion River.* 

NBC Chicago reported that a good Samaritan jumped into the chilly waters to help save a mother and child who became trapped in the wreckage 10 to 15 feet below the bridge spanning the river. The good Samaritan reportedly pulled the mother to safety, and first responders removed the child from the partially submerged white Jeep SUV. Both the mother and child went to the hospital for treatment. OSF Saint Francis Medical Center listed the child as being in critical condition. The hospital did not disclose the nature of the child’s injuries nor the child’s prognosis to the media. 

Illinois State Police investigators are struggling to figure out how or why this accident happened. Investigators did not discuss any further information about the status of their investigation. News crews did report that a heavy-duty tow truck secured the Jeep and hoisted it back onto the road surface of I-55. The white colored Jeep appeared to be heavily damaged. 

Authorities allow the traffic on I-55 northbound to continue flowing. Officials closed the southbound traffic for several hours. Police redirected southbound traffic off of I-55 and around the accident scene.

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Car Accident Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0500.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0500

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Source:https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/2-Taken-to-Hospitals-After-Car-Crashes-Into-River-Off-I-55-Police-506996051.html

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14-Year-Old Boy Tragically Killed in Gage Park by Big Rig in Chicago

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CHICAGO — A 14-year-old boy tragically died after getting run over by a semi-tractor trailer truck according to WGNTV.com.  WGNTV.com reported that the truck hit the teenager on 51st Street in Gage Park, located on Chicago’s South Side. Chicago law enforcement authorities say that the truck driver did not stop initially and drove away from the scene. Chicago police discovered the tractor-trailer trick a short distance away from the scene. The particulars of the tragic incident remain under investigation.

Chicago police announced to the media that investigators examining the fatal crash continue to look for witnesses who might have seen the collision. The preliminary investigation conducted by the responding officers reveals that the truck driver was driving his rig in a westerly direction on 51st Street. The operator attempted to make a left hand turn onto Western Avenue. Police believe the semi-truck hit the teenager while the truck executed the turn.

Emergency medical personnel raced the boy to a nearby hospital. Sadly, doctors pronounced the teenager deceased at the hospital.

Police investigators said that the driver of the truck drove away from the location of the crash. Officers spotted the semi-truck at the intersection of 33rd Street and Western Avenue. The driver was with the vehicle. However, WGNTV.com reported that police are trying to learn whether the driver even knew he hit the boy. The police said that the driver was cooperating with the officers. At this time, WGNTV.com stated that the police cited the driver of the semi-truck for failing to yield.

The police did not announce any additional charges. The police investigation is not yet complete. Police have asked that anyone with any information concerning the fatal accident come forward and speak with investigators or call 311 and report what they know.

Source:https://wgntv.com/2019/03/06/14-year-old-boy-struck-and-killed-by-semi-in-gage-park-identified/

Injured? Call Stein Shulman, LLC For Your Instant Case Analysis

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Personal Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0500.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0500

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Common Injuries Suffered by Pedestrians in Illinois Car Crashes

A pedestrian who is hit by a car is frankly lucky to survive. Anytime a 5,000-pound vehicle contacts a human, even at slow speeds, strikes a human, there is a potential for the pedestrian to sustain significant injuries that can be permanent, cause tremendous pain and suffering, and lead to a permanent alteration of one’s life. The risk of severe injury and death increases exponentially when the vehicle moves at higher speeds.

There are two mechanisms of injury in nearly all pedestrian versus motor vehicle accidents. The first mechanism of injury is the car hitting the person. The second mechanism is the person landing on the ground or other surfaces after contacting the pedestrian. Each mechanism of injury has the potential to cause severe damage on its own or in combination with the second mechanism of injury.

Several factors figure into the severity of the injuries the pedestrian sustains in an accident. The age, height, weight, overall health, and fitness of the individual play a role in the survivability of pedestrian accidents. Those factors can also figure into whether the person’s injuries are severe. Older pedestrians and younger pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to sustaining severe or catastrophic injuries in a collision with a motor vehicle. Also, the speed of the vehicle, the size of the vehicle, the angle at which the vehicle strikes the pedestrian, and where on the body the vehicle contacted the person are factors that could determine whether the pedestrian sustains an injury.

Injuries in pedestrian accidents are the product of all of the factors mentioned above. Injuries to pedestrians include damage to the chest, head, arms, and legs. Additionally, traumatic brain injuries, internal organ damage, spinal damage, broken bones, lacerations, and amputations.

Recovery from these severe injuries can be long and arduous, requiring surgery, painful rehabilitation, and healing. The victim might lose a substantial time out of work or school in addition to suffering tremendous physical and emotional pain.

Injured? Call Stein Shulman, LLC For Your Instant Case Analysis

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Personal Injury Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0500.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0500

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