Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog
An elderly woman died after she was allegedly struck by a vehicle that was backing out of a private driveway in Palatine. The 77-year-old was reportedly walking with her husband along North Hicks Road near Northwest Highway when the couple was struck by a Chevrolet Malibu. According to local police, the 42-year-old motorist claims she was backing out slowly and did not see the couple until they were on the ground. The driver reportedly did not feel an impact or realize she had hit someone.
Following the collision, emergency responders from the Palatine Fire Department purportedly transported the 77-year-old woman to Northwest Community Hospital for treatment. Police stated the woman was later taken by medical helicopter to Lutheran General Hospital where she died. The pedestrian accident is currently under investigation by the Palatine Police Technical Accident Reconstruction Unit. According to investigators, it appears the deceased woman hit her head on concrete when she fell.
Walking in the Chicago Metro can be a dangerous proposition. A total of 918 people were killed in traffic accidents across the State of Illinois in 2011. During the same year, 135 pedestrians died and almost 5,000 were hurt in a wreck that involved a motor vehicle. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 117 of the 135 fatal pedestrian accidents occurred in a city or other urban area like Chicago. This means that nearly 87 percent of deadly pedestrian crashes occurred in a city. In contrast, only about 55 percent of fatal traffic accidents that killed a vehicle driver or passenger happened in an urban area. Sadly, more than one-fifth of pedestrians killed throughout the state in 2011 were 65 or older.
In Chicago, individuals traveling on foot must remain aware of their surroundings at all times in order to avoid an unexpected injury or untimely death. Unfortunately, pedestrians run the risk of becoming the victim of a reckless, distracted, or otherwise negligent driver every time they step outside. Approximately 80 percent of traffic wrecks that involve a pedestrian in the Chicago area occur near an intersection and about half of those crashes happen on an arterial roadway. In addition, most pedestrian accidents involve a vehicle that is in the process of turning. If you were hurt or a loved one was killed while walking in Chicago, you are advised to contact a skilled pedestrian accident lawyer to help you ensure your rights are protected.
If you were injured or a close family member died in a Chicago pedestrian accident, you may be eligible to recover compensation for your harm. Contact the hardworking attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. today if you were hurt in an unexpected traffic accident. Our dedicated Chicago area car accident lawyers are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to answer your questions and help you file your personal injury or wrongful death claim. Our capable attorneys have years of experience advocating on behalf of clients who were harmed by a motorist throughout the Chicago Metro. To speak with an experienced car accident lawyer, please give the attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. a call at (312) 475-9596 or contact us through our website..
More Blogs:
Former Cubs Player Sentenced to Serve Four Months in Jail Following Second DUI Arrest in 15 Months, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, February 16, 2013
Two Killed When SUV Plunges Off of Lyons Overpass Near Forest View, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, February 14, 2013
Additional Resources:
Woman dies after Palatine driveway accident, Chicago Tribune