There are hundreds of factors that can lead to a car accident in the greater Chicago area, many of which will combine with one another to be blamed for the collision. Whether it is a speeding motorist, a driver who fails to yield the right-of-way, or even poor weather conditions, car accidents can happen in the blink of an eye and often with little warning.
Though there are several common fact patterns that lead to impacts, there is always the possibility that something very unique or even bizarre will occur and cause a collision. Reports out of Indiana indicate that a very strange series of events combined on Friday and that it may be just luck that no one was seriously injured.
According to reports, a woman entered her vehicle in a driveway in Syracuse, Indiana and her 9-year-old son entered the back seat. Officials in the area reported that the woman placed her vehicle in reverse before she noticed a spider on her shoulder. The sight of the spider allegedly caused the woman to jump from her car while the vehicle was reversing out of the driveway, startling her son and leading him to take action. The boy climbed from the back seat into the front and attempted to apply the brakes but was confused, instead pressing the accelerator and causing the vehicle to reverse into a school bus nearby.
The impact stopped the reversing car and caused substantial damage to it and to the school bus that happened to be in the area when the car was reversing. The 9-year-old child suffered minor injuries and was taken to an area hospital where he is expected to fully recover while the driver of the school bus did not appear to sustain any injuries in the crash. Fortunately, no children or other passengers were on board the bus at the time.
Officials are still reviewing the incident at this time but they do not anticipate any charges being issued against the woman who was operating the car and who fled at the sight of the spider.
Backing a car out of a driveway may seem like a routine activity and one that is unlikely to cause harm, but as was the case on Friday, injuries can still result if a collision occurs. Whether injuries are minor or severe, often automobile insurance is available to provide compensation for those damages and to help victims obtain the medical treatment that they deserve. This is true whether the victims are in the same car as an at-fault driver, a different vehicle, or are not even in a vehicle like in the case of a pedestrian or bicyclist.
If you were injured in a car accident or if someone you love was hurt or killed, make sure you have a full understanding of your legal options and whether you have a valid claim for you damages. If you have questions, know that the personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. are standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call and help you with your case.
We offer a no-cost, no-obligation case consultation to those victims who contact us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and we keep everything discussed during the consultation completely confidential. Further, if we represent you in your case, we will never charge you a fee unless we make a recovery on your behalf and we will advance all case-related expenses.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we make it our mission to help those who have been injured, and if you were hurt, we want to fight for you as well. Call us today to ensure that your rights are protected and your interests are represented.
Prior Blog Entry:
Major Automobile Manufacturers Commit to Automatic Braking, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published September 21, 2015.
Resource:
Woman leaps from car after spotting spider, leading to crash, AP/Yahoo! News, published September 21, 2015.