Articles Posted in Hit-And-Run Accident

Hit and run accidents can often be extremely traumatic. Not only has a person been in an accident, but the responsible party also fled the scene. Because of this, individuals are often confused about what to do next and how to pursue compensation for their injuries. Although Chicago hit and run crashes should be treated like regular car accidents – in that the plaintiff still needs to prove they were not at fault – there are actions that potential plaintiffs and their attorneys should take after they have been in a hit and run crash.

Attempt to Identify the Driver

Although it is often difficult to find the driver in a hit and run, an individual can increase their chances of finding the responsible party if they write down relevant information directly after the crash. This is because they are likely to remember the accident best at that moment. Information that could help a police investigation includes: the license plate and make and model of the other vehicle; any damage sustained by the other vehicle; which direction the other vehicle was headed; photos of the damage to the vehicle; and the location, date, and time of the accident.

Drivers who are involved in an accident are required by Illinois law to stop at the scene of the crash and alert authorities if the accident caused any injuries or property damage. A driver is being sought by Chicago authorities after he struck a man in a crosswalk in the city’s Brighton Park neighborhood recently and failed to stop. According to a local news report, the auto-pedestrian crash occurred when the driver of a red SUV hit a 73-year-old man while he was crossing a crosswalk at the intersection of South California Avenue and West 44th Street. After hitting the pedestrian, the driver sped off without stopping to render aid or alert authorities. The report stated that other witnesses to this Chicago car accident called 911, and the pedestrian was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for several fractures and a head injury.

Pedestrian Accidents Are Common in Chicago

Auto-pedestrian accidents are common throughout Illinois, but they are especially prevalent in busy Chicago neighborhoods and the surrounding suburbs. Although drivers are required by law to yield the right of way to pedestrians who are crossing at a marked and active crosswalk, negligent drivers often fail to do so and hit pedestrians, sometimes causing serious injuries or death. Because of the high danger posed by auto-pedestrian crashes, it is recommended that pedestrians establish eye contact with drivers of vehicles that may cross their path, even when the pedestrian has the right of way.

After a car accident takes place in Chicago, it may not be immediately apparent why a crash occurred. Investigators and local police may attempt to recreate the conditions prior to an impact to determine what led to the loss of control and whether a driver’s actions played a role. When multiple cars are involved in a collision, things can be more complicated as each motorist’s role must be understood in its entirety for the authorities to properly deduce the cause of a crash.

Victims of these incidents may be left waiting for weeks or even months as all the data is reviewed, and in that time, these victims may need medical help for any injuries they sustained. Fortunately, in Chicago, the rights of a victim are not controlled by the outcome of a police investigation into an accident and rather exist independent of a police review. Those who are hurt in a car crash in Illinois have the right to seek financial compensation for their injuries against an at-fault motorist or another responsible entity, like an insurance company, corporation, city, or even the state. These claims are possible whether or not an at-fault driver is ticketed for his or her role in an accident and regardless of the outcome of any traffic charges. As these claims must be brought in accordance will all local laws and within a time period specified by law, it is a good idea to speak with a personal injury attorney if you have been injured in a collision or if your loved one was hurt or killed.
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Nationally, it is estimated that 11 percent of all traffic accidents involve a hit-and-run driver despite the fact that it is illegal in almost all cases to flee the scene of a crash. Some areas, like Chicago, experience an even higher percentage of drivers that flee the scene and, according to recent data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the city of Los Angeles may be the worst in the nation. That city had 48 percent of its traffic accidents involve a hit-and-run driver in 2009 alone – a staggering number compared to the 11 percent national average.

While Chicago is not Los Angeles, the number of fleeing drivers involved in serious accidents and even fatal collisions annually should give pause to those who call the city home. With every incident of a hit-and-run crash, the potential exists for an at-fault driver to escape the consequences of her actions but it also increases the probability that a victim will be harmed and will be unable to receive help in a timely manner. When a collision leaves a driver or a passenger hurt and that victim cannot call for help independently, the attention of another motorist may be the thing that brings emergency aid to the scene. When the second motorist flees, that avenue towards help is eliminated, potentially exacerbating any harm done in the initial impact.
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The rules that apply to every driver in the city of Chicago are written out in several places including the Municipal Code of Chicago and laws enacted at the state level. Some rules may seem obvious and others more obscure but the visibility, location, or implication of a law does not matter when it comes to the knowledge charged to drivers – every driver in Chicago must follow all traffic laws. Failure to follow one or more rules, regulations, or laws likely is a violation or a crime and can have substantial fallout including the issuance of fines or fees against a responsible motorist. More significantly in some cases, ignoring a rule can lead to a car accident and that can cause injuries and/or death to the drivers and passengers involved.

One particular rule that applies to drivers in the Chicago area requires them to remain at the scene of a crash if they were involved in the collision until they are excused by police that respond to the accident. There are some very limited exceptions to this rule and generally they apply in the case that a driver needs immediate medical attention; yet often, drivers ignore this rule and leave the scene for reasons other than an emergency or something that is excused by the law. Commonly caused hit-and-run car accidents, estimates conclude that nearly 11 percent of all traffic accidents involve a hit-and-run driver and, unfortunately, about 18 percent of all pedestrian fatalities have a fleeing driver.
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Chicago boasts walking paths, wide sidewalks, and a public transportation system that enables many in the city to walk on a regular basis. Whether a pedestrian walks their entire trip or starts out in a car or on a bus before walking, chances are that most people hit the streets at some point in any given day. Everyone is a pedestrian sometimes, yet drivers do not always respect the rights of those who are walking. When a driver fails to pay attention or otherwise acts in a negligent manner, a collision between a car and a pedestrian may result.

Pedestrian accidents in Chicago are the cause of thousands of injuries every year, many of which require hospitalization or other medical treatment, and some of which claim the lives of the pedestrians involved. The fact remains that when compared to the large, heavy, and dense nature of a car, truck, or van, a pedestrian does not stand much of a chance – the pedestrian usually receives the majority of the force in a collision and is the one most likely to suffer injuries.

When a pedestrian accident occurs and injuries result, though, the pedestrian may have legal recourse to ensure that expenses are covered, including medical and surgical bills, lost wages, and other damages like pain and suffering. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer who regularly represents victims of pedestrian collisions in Chicago may help you understand whether you have a valid claim and whether you are entitled to relief.

Unfortunately a tragic accident happened and cost a pedestrian her life on Sunday in the North Austin neighborhood of the city. Police have reported that a 64-year-old woman was walking in a crosswalk along West North Avenue at approximately 9:40 p.m. when a car approached the area, traveling westbound. For reasons that are not yet known, the driver of the car allegedly failed to stop or yield to the woman and instead struck her, causing serious injuries that eventually claimed the woman’s life.

The driver of the car involved in the crash then fled the scene, according to police. Leaving the scene of an accident in Illinois is against the law and can lead to serious traffic or criminal charges, especially in the event where someone was injured in the crash and in need of medical assistance. At this time, police have not yet apprehended the individual responsible and are still investigating the incident.
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Fleeing the scene of an accident is a crime in Chicago and the rest of Illinois, yet too often, drivers involved in a crash choose to leave the scene. The reasons for fleeing may vary in each crash but often, driver’s later report that a fear of potential punishment for involvement in an accident caused them to leave. In truth, a driver who fails to remain at the scene of an accident and instead leaves before being cleared by police will likely face additional and greater charges than had the driver remained, leading to the potential for increased fines, punishments, and potentially incarceration.

In many cases, a driver involved in a hit-and-run accident is later identified and apprehended by police. Once that driver has been identified, a victim who was injured by the at-fault driver’s negligence or recklessness may be able to seek a recovery against the responsible driver. Such a recovery can provide compensation for damages including medical and surgical bills incurred, lost wages, and time missed from work. But even if a hit-and-run driver is never located, the victims of an accident may still be entitled to relief. These victims may be able to recover against a provision in their own auto insurance known as an uninsured claim. In the worst accidents, a victim involved loses his or her life. A financial recovery can never adequately compensate a family for their losses in these cases but a recovery can help ease some of the financial damages that family is forced to endure. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer is a good place to start if you have suffered injuries in a car accident and you want to learn about your legal rights.

This weekend, Illinois State Police officers responded to a collision on I-94 near Touhy Avenue. Two vehicles were involved, an Audi and a Chevrolet, and both vehicles were forced into the right ditch after impact occurred. Through their initial investigation, police have determined that both vehicles were traveling in the center lane of southbound I-94 with the Chevrolet in front of the Audi. Police believe that the driver of the Audi rear-ended the Chevrolet, sending both vehicles out of control and causing them to enter the right ditch. The driver of the Chevrolet was trapped inside his car and sustained severe injuries which led to his death. The driver of the Audi needed medical attention and received it at a nearby hospital; the driver of the Audi has since been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident and first degree murder. It is not clear if the driver attempted to leave the scene in his car or on foot at this time but police have alleged that the driver failed to remain at the scene as required by law, leading to one of the two charges.

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Chicago police are searching for the driver of a silver truck that is believed to have been involved in a hit -and-run accident early Sunday morning.

The crash occurred in the 1600 block of North Kostner Avenue on the northwest side of the city and involved three vehicles, including the silver truck that has been described as a Toyota, possibly a Tacoma. Police believe that the driver of the Toyota truck collided with a Toyota Camry and a Hyundai Elantra, causing a significant crash that seriously damaged at least one of the vehicles.

A 25-year-old man was behind the wheel of the Camry and died at the scene of the crash. There was a 17-year-old male passenger in the Camry who was injured but is expected to survive after being transported and treated at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Reportedly, there were two people in the Hyundai and neither appeared to sustain injuries.

The driver of the Toyota truck fled the scene after the crash without providing his information to the other drivers or the police. In Illinois, leaving the scene of an accident that causes death or serious bodily injury is a felony and police are searching for that driver at this time.

Hit-and-run drivers break the law when they leave the scene of a crash, but despite the risk of serious charges against them, many Illinois drivers continue to flee and leave behind victims of crashes, many who may be unable to seek medical help themselves. If a fleeing driver leaves an unconscious or seriously injured victim behind, the chances that medical help will arrive in a timely manner decrease, putting the victim at a much higher risk of death or permanent injury. It is also every driver’s duty to act with care and caution towards others on the road and leaving an injured victim without assistance directly violates this principle, further threatening public safety.

With the addition of street side cameras and other recording devices, more of these hit-and-run accidents are being captured on film and more offenders are being apprehended. These drivers may be prosecuted for criminal violations, traffic offenses, or both, but that is not always the extent of their liability. In many cases, the victim of a hit-and-run crash may be able to bring a civil claim for their personal injuries against an at-fault driver so that compensation can be obtained. These civil cases generally seek monetary payments to cover expenses like medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages.

Even in a hit-and-run accident where the fleeing driver is never found, a victim may still have a valid claim for their damages. Here, a victim or a victim’s family may be able to bring a claim against their own insurance company for their losses through a type of claim known as an uninsured motorist claim. This protects Illinois drivers in instances where an unknown or an uninsured driver causes an accident that results in injuries.
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Just before 5:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, police received a call about an unresponsive man in the road in Lincoln Square. Now, police believe the man was the victim of a hit-run-driver. The victim’s injuries were so severe that he died at the scene.

The incident occurred in the 2100 block of West Wilson Avenue on the city’s far north side. Police stated that no driver was present on the scene when they arrived to explain the incident and the man was unresponsive before he died. An autopsy on Sunday confirmed that victim died as a result of multiple injuries sustained in a collision with a car but at this time, it is not clear the type of car or who was driving at the time of the crash.

In Illinois, leaving the scene of an automobile accident that results in death or serious bodily injury is a felony charge, meaning that in addition to having a driver’s license revoked and fines imposed, anyone found guilty of the offense can face serious time in prison. The laws are very harsh because when an uninjured person leaves the scene and leaves another behind who is too hurt to call for help, the authorities may not be alerted and that victim may die while awaiting needed medical care.

In addition to a charge for leaving the scene of an accident, a driver that causes a fatal crash might face traffic offenses brought by the State of Illinois. Often, these include failing to reduce speed to avoid a collision, failing to yield the right of way, and failing to exercise due care for others. Sometimes, multiple charges are treated as separate offenses for sentencing purposes meaning that a driver may face even greater time behind bars or an even greater financial fine.

If the threat of criminal and traffic prosecution weren’t enough, offenders who leave the scene of an accident may also face civil claims for the injuries they inflict on others. These claims can include assertions for medical bills and treatment as well as time missed from work. Where a victim is killed, a claim can still be brought by the victim’s surviving family members and can be made for the losses they suffer, which is massive.

With all that is placed at stake, it may be surprising that hit-and-run crashes are relatively common in both Chicago and Illinois. Some drivers flee after an accident because they do not have valid insurance or a driver’s license. Others are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and get scared of the charges they will face. Still other drivers just get scared and take off because they are afraid of what they’ve done. Regardless of the reason, there is never a valid excuse to leave the scene of an accident and leave victims behind to suffer.
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A 27-year-old woman from West Pullman has been arrested and charged in a fatal hit-and-run crash that left a 77-year-old man dead. The woman appeared in court on Wednesday where the judge ordered that she be held on $250,000 bail.

The incident occurred on July 17, 2013 around 7:00 a.m. The prosecutor in the case alleges that the victim was crossing in the 8300 block of South Racine on foot when the defendant approached him in a black Mercedes, traveling northbound. The woman struck the victim with her car and fled the scene without stopping to check on the man’s condition or without speaking to police.

There were witnesses to the collision who notified the authorities. When paramedics responded, the male victim was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center but was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. Meanwhile, local police interviewed several suspects who had a description of the responsible vehicle. The officers also obtained security footage from an area establishment that reportedly caught the collision on film, including the car striking the victim and then fleeing the scene. According to authorities, two eye witnesses have identified the defendant as the woman that was driving the Mercedes at the time of the crash.

With the information gathered from their investigation, police arrested the 27-year-old woman on Monday in her home. She reportedly works in medical billing, is a mother to an 11-year-old son, and is studying to be an x-ray technician.

It is not clear exactly what charges the woman is facing in connection with the crash, but under Illinois law, it is a felony to leave the scene of an accident that results in death or serious bodily injury to another. Therefore, this woman could be facing the possibility of extended jail time as well as becoming a convicted felon if the alleged facts against her are proved at trial.

If the potentially serious criminal and traffic offenses faced are not enough, this woman may also face a civil claim brought by the surviving family members of the victim on his behalf. This type of civil claim, often referred to as a wrongful death suit, may allow a victim’s family to seek compensation for the loss of their loved one.
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