Police believe that the driver of a minivan mistook the gas pedal for the brake outside an elementary school on Wednesday, sending the van crashing through the school’s entrance. The incident occurred in the afternoon at Woodland Middle School in Gurnee. The driver of the minivan, described only as a 67-year-old, was reportedly attempting to back the vehicle when the crash occurred.
An 11-year-old boy was inside the school with his father before the crash occurred. The two were attempting to exit as the minivan came crashing through the door. The van struck the boy, who is a 6th grader, and pinned him underneath the car. Emergency crews responded and had to use the Jaws of Life to remove the car from on top of the child. He was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment and reportedly has since been released. Fortunately, the boy’s injuries appear to be non-life threatening and consist mostly of scrapes and cuts.
Wednesday was orientation day at the school and it appears that the young boy and his father were at the school for that purpose. What should have been an exciting day to start the new school year turned tragic when a driver was negligent. While it may sound like an innocent mistake when the driver used the gas instead of the brake, in fact it was careless and sent a young boy to the hospital.
It is the responsibility of every driver to put safety first. This includes the safety of their passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians in the area. Drivers are obligated to remain focused while driving and to avoid distractions. Here, if the allegations of the accident are proved correct, the driver was negligent and was responsible for the accident, including the injuries sustained by the 11-year-old.
Police have not yet stated whether the driver of the minivan will face any charges related to the accident. In addition to potential charges, the driver may face a civil claim by the boy and his family for the injuries caused by the driver. Illinois law allows victims of accidents to recover for their medical bills and other damages that are due to the negligence of another. In auto accidents or other crashes that involve a car, often a claim can be brought against the driver’s insurance policy or even the victim’s insurance policy is some cases.
After an accident, it may seem like no one is on your side. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we are here to change that belief. We are Chicago car accident lawyers with experience representing accident victims and their families. We know how to fight for our clients and we will work to get you the greatest recovery possible. If you have been the victim of an accident, call us today toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and let us provide you with a free telephone consultation. There is never a fee unless we make a recovery on your behalf and we have a lawyer standing by 24 hours a day to take your call, so please call us now.
Prior Blog Entries:
Cab Driver Injured by Passenger Who Threw Bleach in Driver’s Face, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published August 6, 2013.
Drunk Driver Causes Rollover that Injures 9 Children, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published August 5, 2013.
Resources:
11-Year-Old Boy Injured When Minivan Crashes Into Gurnee School, CBS Chicago, published August 7, 2013.