In Cook County, Illinois a Lisle resident has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident after he struck a police officer and then fled the scene on late Sunday, according to WBBM News Radio. The pedestrian accident happened in the Lake View neighborhood on Chicago’s near north side at the intersection of Belmont and Cambridge.
Robert A. Heinzelman, 33, of Lisle was arrested by Chicago Police several hours after the crash. The car involved in the incident was found parked in a garage parked next to Heinzelman’s apartment and it was registered in his name.
The Chicago Police Major Accident Investigation Unit arrested the defendant without incident and stated that he may be charged with DUI as well. He was driving a blue Ford Focus and was seen driving South on Cambridge after the alleged occurrence. The officer was on foot at the time of the injury accident and he was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
As far as a personal injury claim is concerned, the officer has a third party case against the driver that fled the scene. The officer does not have a work comp case, as Chicago Police Officers’ on the job injuries are covered by a union contract.
While I am not a criminal defense lawyer, I am a former assistant state’s attorney. The problem the police could have with prosecuting the defendant is witness identification, unless the officer got a good look at the driver, or the defendant admitted what happened at the time of arrest.
These comments were posted by David Abels, a personal injury lawyer who represents clients throughout the Chicago area and the entire State of Illinois. Many of his clients come from Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County, McHenry County, Kane County, and Will County, as well as nearby neighborhoods and towns such as Lake View, Wrigleyville, Lisle, Naperville, Downers Grove, Westmont, Wheaton, Country Club Hills and Homewood.
Auto accident lawyers from his firm handle all types of injuries from motor vehicle collisions, including fractures, back and neck injuries, lacerations, and severe head injuries. They also handle wrongful death cases for people who have lost loved ones because another person was negligent and caused a fatal car accident.