Pedestrian fatality in Illinois shows dangers of pedestrian accidents
A Chicago pedestrian died after being hit by a car near his home in May 2014. The accident shows how dangerous pedestrian-auto accidents are.
On May 24, 2014, a Chicago man died as a result of being hit by a car while walking less than a block away from his home. The accident shows how dangerous motor vehicles can be to pedestrians and how easily tragedy can strike when drivers do not watch out for pedestrians.
Pedestrian accident in Chicago
The 61-year-old man was walking on the Northwest Side of Chicago in the Logan Square neighborhood at about 6:30 p.m. when he was struck by an automobile. Emergency responders brought the man to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, but they were too late to save him. Doctors pronounced the man dead about 7:00 p.m. The 51-year-old man who was driving the vehicle that struck the pedestrian remained at the scene of the auto accident, and police issued two traffic citations to the driver.
Dangers of pedestrian accidents
The death of the Chicago pedestrian illustrates what a serious issue pedestrian accidents are on Illinois roads. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pedestrians are disproportionately represented in traffic accident fatalities. Pedestrians account for about 14 percent of traffic fatalities, but only travel about 10 percent of the total miles traveled on roads by pedestrians, bicycles and motor vehicles. NHTSA data shows that 4,743 pedestrians died as a result of being struck by motor vehicles in 2012, the most recent year for which data is available. The NHTSA also reported another 76,000 people suffered injuries after being hit by automobiles while walking in 2012 – which averages out to about one injury every seven minutes. Safety officials note that these statistics probably do not represent the entire extent of the problem of pedestrian injuries, as police often record only a portion of auto accidents that cause pedestrian injuries.
Recovering for losses from a pedestrian accident
An automobile can cause serious injuries to a pedestrian such as bone fractures, traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injuries when moving as slowly as 10 m.p.h. When a motor vehicle is traveling 30 m.p.h. or faster and strikes a pedestrian, it can easily cause a fatal accident. The costs associated with such injuries can be exceedingly high, with medical bills, lost wages, physical therapy and other similar expenses mounting up quickly.
The victims of these accidents should not have to bear the costs of others’ negligence. Those who are responsible for the damage should pay for their carelessness. If you or a loved one has been injured by an automobile while walking, it is crucial to seek the assistance of a seasoned auto accident attorney with experience handling pedestrian accidents to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Keywords: pedestrian accident; auto accident; motor vehicle accident
