Car accidents are the leading cause of unintentional death among teens ages 15-19 in this country, but teens are far from the only victims who lose their lives in traffic incidents. Rather, car accidents claim hundreds of lives every year in Illinois and many of those come from Cook County accidents. If you live in, work in, or visit Chicago, you are at a risk for being involved in a collision and that crash may cause you to sustain injuries or even lose your life.
If you have been involved in a car accident or if your loved one was killed in a crash, you know how devastating these accidents can be. Often, a family will never fully recover from the damage caused when a negligent driver causes a collision even if a loved one survives. The laws in Chicago and in the State of Illinois enable victims to seek relief, though, even if no amount of relief can be considered adequate due to the loss of a loved one. Nonetheless, financial compensation can be obtained and can help these family members cover expenses following a crash. Speaking to a personal injury lawyer in Chicago about a wrongful death claim may help you understand your options if a collision has affected your life or if your family lost someone in a crash.
On November 22, 2014, an SUV traveling on I-57 rolled over, ejecting a female passenger and leaving her with critical injuries. Emergency crews responded to the scene and evaluated the 30-year-old woman, transporting her to an area hospital for treatment. Though she survived the accident and the month that followed, officials have now confirmed that the woman died on December 26, 2014 due to the injuries she sustained in the collision.
The incident that claimed the woman’s life occurred on I-57 southbound near 138th Street in the afternoon hours. For reasons that are not yet clear, the operator of the SUV, a 58-year-old man, lost control of the vehicle and it rolled over, ejecting the female passenger and leaving the driver with injuries. The driver was treated for injuries more minor than those of his passenger and previously was cited for improper lane usage in response to this accident. The death of the passenger may lead to additional charges, though no definitive announcement has been made at this time.
Car accidents affect hundreds of thousands of people in Chicago and in Illinois every year and many more when families, friends, co-workers, and loved ones are considered. These collisions cause injuries ranging from the minor to the critical and claim hundreds of lives. Additionally, the economic toll enacted by these accidents totals billions of dollars annually.
There is nothing worse than losing a loved one to the actions of another, especially when those actions are negligent or reckless. The personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. understand this and that is why we fight for victims’ rights in every case we handle. If a crash has affected your family or claimed your loved one, call us today and let us help you.
We have a lawyer standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and to provide you with a free case consultation. There is no obligation on your part for speaking with us and everything discussed will be kept confidential, so if you have questions or you need help, do not hesitate; call Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us fight for the relief you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
4 Workers Hurt when Steel Beam Collapsed in Chicago, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published December 30, 2014.
Resource:
Woman dies month after I-57 crash, Chicago Tribune, published December 30, 2014.