The Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes have recovered $255,000 on an underinsured motorist claim for a woman who was struck by a car leaving church following Good Friday services.
The client was hit in a crosswalk at Irving Park and Austin as she left Polish Jesuit Fathers. A driver turning left did not see the client, who was crossing the street on a walk sign.
Chicago attorney David Abels said the driver’s insurance carrier, Allstate, paid $50,000. The firm then collected an additional $200,000 on an underinsured claim from the client’s insurance carrier, which were the limits of the policy, as well as $5,000 in medical payment coverage.
Abels said timely recovery of the $255,000 will assist the woman in recovering from serious injuries.
The woman was rushed to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge with severe head injuries and underwent emergency surgery, Abels wrote in a previous blog. The client had a large piece of her skull temporarily removed and spent time in a coma.
“In reality, no amount of money is ever going to change the situation for our client. This is a lifelong injury that is going to affect her for the rest of her life,” Abels told CBS2 in Chicago about pending legislation that would require motorists to come to a complete stop when someone is crossing the street.
The serious injury or death of pedestrians who are struck by motorists continues to be a serious problem — more than 4,600 pedestrians were killed in 2007, including 171 people in Illinois.
The Chicago Department of Transportation is stepping up enforcement in conjunction with the Chicago Police Department. The operation puts undercover officers in crosswalks posing as civilians. Drivers who fail to yield face fines of $50 to $500.
“Providing a safe pedestrian environment is our No. 1 goal,” said CDOT Commissioner Thomas G Byrne. “This initiative is designed to increase awareness among motorists about the importance of stopping for pedestrians. People should be able to safely cross the street in their neighborhoods.”
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured or killed in a pedestrian accident, there are things you can do to help protect your rights. The Chicago pedestrian accident attorneys and car accident lawyers at Abels & Annes offer free appointments to discuss your rights. There is no fee unless you win.