Articles Posted in Pedestrian Accident

An 89-year-old woman from Palos Park was killed on Friday in an Illinois pedestrian accident, according to WLS-AM 890. She was struck by her neighbor’s minivan.

The Chicago area car vs. pedestrian accident occurred in the area of Southwest Highway and Route 83. The elderly woman was taken by ambulance to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn were she was pronounced dead a short time later.

The accident occurred as the victim was going to her mailbox at her housing complex. At that time she was struck by an 80-year-old neighbor who was driving a Dodge Caravan. The elderly driver, who lives in the same housing complex, did not see the pedestrian walking. Both the driver and the pedestrian reside at Edelweiss on the Lake.

Parking lot safety and pedestrian accidents in Chicago are in focus as shoppers prepare for Black Friday and the holiday season beyond.

As we reported earlier this month on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, early dark and the arrival of winter weather both increase the risk of Chicago pedestrian accidents. Nationwide, 4,378 pedestrians were killed in accidents in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Fatal Illinois pedestrian accidents claimed 135 lives.The holiday shopping season and parking lot hazards carry their own risk of injury. Parking lot pedestrian accidents, backover accidents and slip and fall accidents are a few of the common dangers. Premise liability accidents may also occur from overcrowding, wet and slippery floors and merchandise falling from high shelves.

Shopping and Parking Lot Tips for Illinois Drivers:

-Park in a well-lit area as close to your destination as possible.

-Close your windows and lock your doors.

-Do not leave presents or valuables in plain view.

-Remember where you parked your car.

-Shop with a friend or family member.

-Condense items into one or two bags instead of carrying many bags through the parking area.

-Purchase most expensive items at the end of the day to avoid carrying them around or leaving them in the car.

-Have keys ready when walking to your car.

-Be aware of your surroundings.

-Lock doors after getting into the cars.

-Pay particular attention when backing up.

-Follow parking lot signs and pavement markings — go with the proper flow of traffic.

-Beware loose shopping carts.

-Pay particular attention to small children.
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A Chicago area pedestrian vs. car accident has claimed the life of the 58-year-old Joliet woman. She was struck and killed while out on her morning walk early Thursday morning, according to Tribune Local in Joliet. The collision occurred around 6:45 AM as the pedestrian was crossing N. Larkin Ave. in the area of Mayfield Avenue on the west side of Joliet.

At that time a 23-year-old male driver in a pickup truck collided with her, according to a spokesperson from the Joliet Police Department. The driver was not cited after the accident, however the case is still under investigation. It is being reported that neither drugs, alcohol and/or speeding played a role in the accident.

The motorist was northbound on Larkin at the time of the collision. The victim was rushed by ambulance to Provina Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet where she was pronounced dead within hours of the accident.

The Chicago Police Department is asking for the public’s help in tracking down a hit-and-run driver who was involved in an Illinois pedestrian accident on Monday evening around 10:15 PM. The incident occurred when a driver cut through a gas station on the southwest side to avoid a traffic light, according to WGN news. As the driver was cutting through he hit a pedestrian and then fled the scene.

The accident occurred in the 6200 block of S. California Ave., which is considered part of the Chicago Lawn neighborhood. The victim was about to enter his minivan on the driver side when he was struck by a red SUV heading northbound. The hit and run vehicle also had a roof rack.

Anyone with information regarding the accident and/or the identity of the at fault driver is being asked to contact the Chicago Police Department immediately at 312-745-4521.

We encourage parents to take the Safe Routes to School survey offered by the Chicago Department of Transportation as safety advocates attempt to reduce the risk of Chicago bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents and school bus accidents.

Our Chicago child injury lawyers frequently talk about the dangers children face — traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for kids ages 3 to 14, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. State traffic statistics show that more than 5,500 kids under the age of 14 were injured in traffic accidents last year. Illinois pedestrian accidents injured nearly 1,000 students, while bicycle accidents injured nearly 700.

Many students choose to walk or bike to school. In other cases, they walk or ride a bicycle to a bus stop. Tragically, many Chicago school bus accidents occur to bicyclists or pedestrians who are preparing to load or unload from a school bus. Last year, a total of 1,537 Illinois school bus accidents were reported. Two people were killed and 482 were injured, including 78 bus drivers and 164 bus passengers.

As winter weather approaches, now is a good time to remind your child about the importance of bicycle and pedestrian safety, as well as school bus safety.

Here you can find more information on Illinois’ Safe Routes to School program.

The Chicago Safe Routes to School Survey is available here.
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The end of daylight savings time over the weekend can lead to an increased risk of Chicago pedestrian accidents and other traffic accidents during the afternoon commute, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

While Chicago car accidents are always a concern during the morning and afternoon commute, it is the often serious or fatal injuries caused by pedestrian accidents that has safety advocates most concerned as the clocks go back an hour and darkness comes to the evening commute.Last year, 4,092 pedestrians were killed and more than 59,000 were injured. The government reports that 25 percent of fatal pedestrian accidents occur between the hours of 4 and 8 p.m. Another 13 percent occur in the hours around dawn. As drivers get used to once again commuting home in the dark, there may be an increased chance of distraction and a greater risk of involvement in all types of traffic accidents, including pedestrian and bicycle accidents.

Motorists are being urged to use extra caution and pedestrians are encouraged to carry flashlights and use reflective tape or other visible gear.

Other safety tips for motorists and pedestrians include:

MOTORISTS -Slow down. Less light means a greater reaction time is necessary to see a pedestrian in your path.
-Remember pedestrians may not hear your approach, especially if wearing hats or earmuffs.
-Keep windows and mirrors clean. Make sure defrosters and windshield wipers are in good working order and make sure your windshield wiper fluid is filled and working properly.

PEDESTRIANS -Carry a flashlight and/or use reflective tape to make yourself more visible.
-Don’t rely on traffic lights or signals to keep you safe. Make sure the path is clear before proceeding.
-Don’t jaywalk or cross the street between parked cars –use crosswalks whenever possible.
-Walk on the sidewalk.
-Walk facing traffic.
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Illinois schools have scheduled 184 Walk-to-School events during the month of October as part of an education and awareness campaign that hopes to teach elementary and middle-school age children across the state, nation and globe about the benefits of walking or riding their bike to school, Walk To School reports.

Events kicked off on Oct. 6, when students across the state participated in International Walk to School day, marking the 14th year students from Chicago and beyond have taken to the streets to hoof it to school.Our Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers support the goals of the campaign which encourage children – including the disabled – to engage in some physical activity by walking or biking to school. Additionally, partnerships between participating parents, teacher and students provide a safe environment for students to sharpen their traffic safety skills. From an environmentalist perspective, there is a final lesson: walking to school also reduces both fuel consumption and air pollution.

Since 2005, the Illinois Department of Transportation Safe Route to School program has awarded more than $23.5 million to districts around the state. In 2009 alone, $13.1 million was distributed to fund 171 projects ranging from sidewalk repairs to purchasing equipment for law enforcement and crossing guards.

Getting a kid interested in walking or biking to school is one thing. Keeping them safe is another. To prevent pedestrian or bicycling accidents, the Children’s Medical Center provides the following safety tips:

Avoiding a Chicago Pedestrian Accident:

~ Until a child is age 10 or older, they should always be accompanied by an adult when walking anywhere. Holding hands is the safest way to cross streets or parking lots when walking anywhere with a younger child.

~ Always use crosswalks and sidewalks when they are available. Never enter a roadway without first stopping and looking left and right TWICE. Never step onto the road if you see a car coming your way.

~ If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic. Put as much space between yourself and traffic as possible.

~ If you have to have to walk in darkness, wear reflective clothing and carry a flashlight. Even in daylight, bright clothing can help make you more visible to drivers.

Avoiding a Chicago Bicycle Accident:

~ Always wear a helmet and make sure both the helmet and the bike fit the rider.

~ Obey all traffic laws and ride with traffic, not against it. Put as much space between yourself and traffic as possible.

~ Avoid ride a bicycle when it is dark, foggy or in other low-visibility conditions.
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Noticias NBC en Chicago informa de que un accidente de carretera y gestión en el noroeste de Indiana ha conducido la muerte de un pedestre. Los policías hicieron un descubrimiento horrible cuando pararon un camión por exceso de velocidad sólo para encontrar partes de cuerpo colgando del vehículo.

El oficial se acercó a la camioneta Chevy S10 después de pararlo el sábado por la noche. En aquel momento el oficial notó restos parciales de una persona sobre la puerta trasera. El vio piernas y pantalones azules.

El conductor del camión, un residente de Hobart Indiana, le dijo a la policía que se habia tomado una caja de cerveza esa noche y entonces había golpeado al peatón. La víctima fue un hombre de 52 años de edad, del noroeste de Indiana.

Our Chicago injury lawyers urge you to stay safe during Halloween week, which historically has been among the nation’s most dangerous for car accidents and other types of injury mishaps.

Authorities will be looking for drunk drivers during a nationwide “Over the Limit. Under Arrest” campaign from Oct. 25-31. In the past 10 years, drunk drivers have caused more than half of the nearly 5,000 traffic fatalities during the week of Halloween, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And, while nighttime is always a dangerous time to be on the road, Halloween night is frequently one of the year’s deadliest.Children, teenagers and adults are also at high risk of being injured in a Chicago pedestrian accident or premises liability claim involving anything from a slip and fall accident to a dog bite.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reports that Halloween is among the holidays with the highest number of emergency room visits. Finger and hand injuries are the most common, while the most likely to be injured are those ages 10 to 14.

The following safety tips may help you and your family stay safe this Halloween:

-Use knives specifically designed for pumpkin carving — not kitchen knives. And never let a child carve pumpkins.

-Be mindful of fire hazards when lighting jack-o-lanterns. Use non-flammable light sources, such as glow sticks.

-Keep Halloween costumes light and bright so children are easily seen by motorists and other pedestrians. Use reflective tape for even better visibility.

-Costumes should fit properly and be flame resistant. Be sure masks, hats and face paint do not obstruct vision. Costumes may present a trip hazard if they are too long and should be trimmed appropriately.

-Trick-or-treaters should only approach houses that are well lit. Children and parents should carry flashlights.

-Be aware of dogs.

-Carry a cell phone in case of emergencies.
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As our Chicago injury lawyers continue to publish traffic data from the 2009 report by the Illinois Department of Transportation, we look at the issue of serious and fatal pedestrian and bicycle accidents.

While the tendency with such statistics is to focus on the number of people who were killed, state statistics show that more than 50 pedestrians were injured for every pedestrian fatality last year — A total of 5,233 pedestrians were injured and 113 were killed in traffic accidents.

Many of those were the result of Chicago pedestrian accidents with urban accidents accounting for the vast majority, 4,984, of all serious and fatal pedestrian crashes.

Those killed and injured in Illinois pedestrian accidents by age:
Under 10: 3 killed/467 injured Age10-19:6 killed/1,072 injured Age 20-24: 5 killed/513 injured Age 25-34: 16 killed/764 injured Age 35-44: 16 killed/657 injured Age 45-54: 26 killed/655 injured Age 55-64: 16 killed/488 injured Ages 65 or older: 23 killed/427 injured
Likewise, Chicago bicycle accidents were responsible for many of the state’s serious and fatal cycling accidents, almost all of which occurred in urban areas. More than 150 riders were injured for every rider killed in a crash — Illinois bicycle accidents killed 20 riders and injured 3,100 in 2009. Fewer than 150 accidents occurred outside urban areas.

Those killed and injured in Illinois bicycle accidents by age:

Under 10: 1 killed/202 injured Age10-19: 4 killed/911 injured Age 20-24: 1 killed/395 injured Age 25-34: 14 killed/532 injured Age 35-44: 4 killed/346 injured Age 45-54: 3 killed/382 injured Age 55-64: 1 killed/182 injured Ages 65 or older: 2 killed/80 injured
Unlike pedestrian accidents, however, the vast majority of cycling accidents involved men. In particular, middle-aged men ages 25-34 were most at risk after teenage boys, who reported the most accidents.
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