Do you drive in the Chicago area? If so, do you think about your safety each and every time you get behind the wheel? If you possess the traits of a typical motorist, your actions may be on autopilot when it comes to safety checks while driving. Sure, you always put on your seat belt and you always wait to proceed until you have the right of way. But those actions are so ingrained in your driving skills that you perform them out of habit – you do not conduct a running check list in your mind of the actions you must take to act safely.
Yet even if you are always a safe motorist and if you always are aware of your surroundings, you still are at a very significant risk for being the victim of a car accident if you drive in Chicago or if you ride in a car as a passenger. Tens of thousands of collisions occur within the city’s limits annually and far too many of those cause serious injuries or even death.
If your own actions cannot guarantee your safety, then what hope do you have if you want to remain free from harm? Experts agree that the best thing you can do to limit your exposure to the risk of a collision is to drive in a defensive manner. Refrain from speeding, always yield where appropriate, and keep an eye on changing traffic conditions. Remember that those drivers around you pose a threat and assume that they may not be operating with safety as their top priority.
If you drive appropriately and are still injured, the legislature of Illinois has determined that you should not be forced to suffer further by bearing the financial burden that accompanies your injuries. Instead, it should be an at-fault driver who is forced to pay those bills – not an innocent victim. If you have been injured or if your loved one was killed, there is a possibility that you have a valid claim to be brought against a responsible driver, the owner of a vehicle, or one or more insurance companies and that claim can provide you with monetary payment for your damages. Speaking with a personal injury attorney can help you realize what options exist for you and whether you are entitled to relief if you have been victimized in a Chicago traffic accident.
The early reports on a Sunday car accident suggest that an innocent woman lost her life due to the actions of another motorist. Officials confirmed that a 34-year-old male was driving westbound on I-80 near Morris when he abruptly changed lanes, cutting off a second vehicle that was forced to take evasive action to avoid a collision. The driver of the second vehicle lost control as a result of the first vehicle’s improper lane change and the second car crossed a median and entered the eastbound lanes of traffic where it was struck by oncoming cars. At least four vehicles in the eastbound lanes were involved.
The driver of the second vehicle, a 66-year-old woman from Chicago, died as a result of the crash.
While an investigation is still ongoing into this incident, police have confirmed that the first driver has been cited for his actions in the collision and that the result of the investigation may lead to additional charges.
When a driver acts in a negligent manner and causes a collision, it is often those who did nothing wrong that are left to suffer the consequences. If this has happened to you or to your loved one, make sure that your rights are protected under the law and that you receive the compensation that you deserve.
If you have questions, know that the personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. are standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to take your call toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 so that we can provide you with a no-cost, no-obligation case consultation. Plus, if we represent you, we will never charge you a fee unless we make a recovery on your behalf.
If tragedy has harmed you, call Abels & Annes, P.C. now so that the wrongdoers in your accident will be forced to pay for their actions.
Prior Blog Entry:
2 Dead After Motorcycle, 3 Cars Involved in I-290 Crash, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published June 30, 2015.
Resource:
1 cited in fatal 6-vehicle crash on I-80 in Morris, Chicago Tribune, published June 29, 2015.