The afternoon commute in Chicago became particularly dangerous for one woman when she attempted to cross the street near City Hall.
The 51-year-old woman was crossing West Washington Street at around 4:30 in the afternoon when she was struck by a mail truck turning right from LaSalle. As a result of the accident the woman suffered catastrophic injuries and was taken to the Northwestern Memorial Hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. The woman is expected to survive the ordeal.
The 41-year-old male driver of the mail truck may face a criminal citation for causing the accident that contributed to the woman’s personal injury. Investigators closed parts of the intersection for several hours as they examined the scene for evidence and to determine how the pedestrian-mail truck crash occurred.
This scary situation happens all too often here in Chicago as well as in other Illinois communities. Pedestrians who attempt to navigate the city on foot are often the victims of negligent and reckless drivers who fail to yield to them or who are simply too distracted to see them. Though they often must deal with physical injuries and psychological pain, victims of pedestrian-car accidents have legal rights.
Many victims have the right to sue those who injure them for damages. Damages can include lost wages, medical expenses and other costs. For victims who are struggling to get by on their incomes, an accident can be crippling to them and their families and compensation from lawsuits can be necessary to keep their lives afloat.
People who have suffered personal injuries at the hands of others can choose to work with legal professionals and they can tell those attorneys about their accidents and their associated damages. As this victim begins to recover from her violent ordeal, she too may seek out the counsel of an attorney to determine where her legal options stand.
Source: Chicago Tribune, “Woman hit, critically injured by postal truck near City Hall,” Jan. 10, 2014
