Nothing is more tragic than when a child is killed in an accident. The suffering that stems from those incidents reaches not only the child’s immediate family but also aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, friends, neighbors, and classmates, to name a few. Often, an entire community feels the devastating loss that occurs when a young person is seriously injured or is killed and no amount of action against those responsible can ease the pain.
The laws in the Chicago area and in Illinois understand that the last thing families should have to worry about is how they will move forward financially when such an accident occurs. If the harm is caused when a child is involved in a car crash, the parents or guardians of that child may be able to seek compensation for the child personally and for additional expenses that are incurred depending on the facts surrounding a particular collision. Speaking with a personal injury attorney may help you understand the options that exist for you if your child was injured or killed in an accident and if you have questions about what relief may be possible.
Officials with the State of Illinois confirmed that a collision on Saturday morning claimed the life of a 10-year-old boy and left at least one other child in serious condition. Authorities have confirmed that seven people were inside a van heading to a church retreat in Wisconsin when the driver of the vehicle allegedly lost control while passing, crossed four lanes of traffic and struck a concrete median. The impact caused the 10-year-old victim and his 11-year-old cousin to be ejected from a rear window where the 10-year-old reportedly struck his head on concrete. Officials say that the 11-year-old boy remains in serious condition due to this injuries and an additional child and four adults, including the driver, were also harmed in the crash.
It is not clear what caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle but reports have confirmed that the motorist, a 50-year-old female, is the aunt of the 10-year-old victim. She has been cited for improper lane usage as well as failing to have minor children properly restrained in her vehicle as it appears that neither the 10-year-old nor the 11-year-old were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more than 9,000 children were killed in car accidents in the United States between 2002 and 2011 and that many of these children – nearly one out of every three – were not buckled or otherwise properly restrained. In every state in the nation, there are laws requiring children to remain buckled within a vehicle but the ages to which these laws apply vary depending on a specific state.
If you have experienced the tragic death of a child who was killed in a car accident or if your child was hurt in a collision, the personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. want to help you by providing you with the answers you deserve, whenever you need them. We have a licensed lawyer standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to take your call toll free and to provide you with a free case consultation without any obligation on your part.
Our firm is comprised exclusively of personal injury attorneys and our team has decades’ worth of experience fighting for victims and their families. If you have questions, if you need help, or if you are simply trying to understand where to turn, call Abels & Annes, P.C. today toll free at (855) 529-2442 or reach us locally at (312) 924-7575 and let us get to work for you.
Prior Blog Entry:
DUI Enforcement Planned for Memorial Day Weekend, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published May 22, 2015.
Resource:
Reeve Matthew, 10, Dies In I-94 Crash Near Gurnee, by John Garcia, ABC7Chicago.com, published May 24, 2015.