Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
It is the responsibility of every driver in Chicago to know and to follow the traffic laws in the city as well as those that apply to Illinois generally. Even if it has been decades since you learned to drive or since you attended driver’s education class, your duty to know the letter of the law does not diminish. Failing to know, understand, or follow these rules may lead a driver to violate local laws and can trigger punishment ranging from an official warning to a traffic citation or even a criminal charge. However, if the actions of a motorist are to blame for a car accident that results in injuries, the potential consequences may be much more severe.
Some laws are easy to remember and generally are followed: stop at a stop sign, proceed on a green light, drive on the right side of the road, etc. Others are widely known but violated with more regularity. For example, Illinois mandates that all drivers involved in a collision remain at the scene until cleared by police. Limited exceptions to this rule exist but every day, drivers who are in the state leave the scene of accidents without legal justification. Being a victim of any type of collision is unfortunate but those unlucky enough to be involved in a hit-and-run crash may suffer more severe injuries or the permanency of an injury that otherwise may have been treated successfully. Sadly, many of these victims are unable to call for or obtain the immediate help they need after a crash, and when no one else is on the scene, their suffering can intensify.
Injury victims may not be able to erase the damage done to them but in many cases, they can recoup the financial toll that they were forced to endure due to the actions of another. From lost wages to medical expenses to payment for pain and suffering, victims can be placed in the right position financially if they take specific steps to preserve their rights and to seek the compensation they deserve. Speaking with a personal injury attorney in Chicago may help you move forward with such a claim if you have been injured or if your loved one was hurt or killed in a car accident.
On Friday evening, shortly before 10:00 p.m., police in Elgin were informed of a five-car collision near the intersection of Seneca Street and Spring Street. According to witnesses, an SUV traveling at a high rate of speed ran a stop sign and collided with a second vehicle in the intersection. The SUV then collided with a car that had just parked nearby while the second vehicle struck two parked cars.
The parked car that was hit by the SUV had five people inside, two adults and three children in the backseat. One of the children was a baby who was restrained in a car seat. The vehicle began to smoke after the crash and witnesses ran to assist, pulling the children one-by-one from the rear seat and helping the adults as well. Emergency crews responded to the scene and transported all five of those injured victims to area hospitals for treatment.
The second vehicle, the one initially struck by the SUV, had only a driver inside. That individual was also hurt in the crash and also was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Witnesses reported two men fleeing on foot from the inside of the SUV, including the driver, who was unavailable to speak with police as a result. Authorities are still looking for those men and anyone with information is asked to call the Elgin Police Department.
If you have been injured in a hit-and-run accident or another type of car crash in the greater Chicago area, the personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. want to help you get the relief you deserve. We offer a free case consultation without obligation to all victims who call us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally and (312) 924-7575 and we always have a lawyer available to take your call, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you have questions, if you need help, or if you simply do not know where to turn, look no further. The attorney at Abels & Annes, P.C. have experience representing numerous car accident victims and we are ready to fight for the best possible outcome in your case. Call us now and let us help you move forward after your car accident by getting you the money that you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Dan Ryan Expressway Accident Leaves Driver in Critical Condition, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published April 24, 2015.
Resource:
Police: Driver fled on foot after hit-and-run accident in Elgin, by Gloria Casas, Elgin Courier-News/Chicago Tribune, published April 25, 2015.