An Illinois Medical District crash ended with Chicago’s sixth pedestrian death in 2022.
Building Struck in Crash
The fatal Illinois Medical District crash occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m. on May 6, 2022. At that time, a male was driving a Cadillac southbound on Damen Avenue when he reportedly ran a red light at its intersection with Roosevelt Road in Chicago’s Medical District area.
The driver of the Cadillac struck the front of an eastbound Toyota and veered southeast. He then hit a 33-year-old male pedestrian on the east sidewalk of Damen Avenue before crashing into a building.
The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene of the Illinois Medical District crash. Emergency responders transported the Cadillac’s driver to Stroger Hospital in good condition. The Chicago Police Department cited him for disobeying a red light, traveling the wrong way on a divided highway, failing to reduce his speed to avoid a crash, driving on the sidewalk, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
The Illinois Medical District crash marks the sixth pedestrian death in Chicago in 2022. Additionally, three bicyclists were killed in the area during the same period.
Pedestrians Vulnerable in Auto Accidents
Incidents like the fatal Illinois Medical District crash remain far too common in the United States. Each year, thousands of American pedestrians incur serious, sometimes deadly injuries in auto accidents.
While they are only involved in approximately 16 percent of traffic collisions, pedestrians face a far greater risk of being severely hurt or killed in these incidents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely than vehicle occupants to die in crashes, which has resulted in an average of one pedestrian death every 90 minutes across the country.
More troublingly, recent evidence suggests that the pedestrian mortality rate has been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The first six months of 2020 saw a five-percent spike in pedestrian deaths compared to the previous year, potentially expanding the number of surviving family members seeking the assistance of car accident attorneys.
Why are pedestrians so vulnerable in auto accidents? Even at low speeds, the injuries can be devastating if a human body absorbs the impact of thousands of pounds of metal. And when vehicles are traveling at higher speeds, both the likelihood and the severity of a pedestrian accident may grow dramatically.
Getting Justice for Injured Pedestrians
If a vehicle strikes you when you are on foot, your life could change in an instant. Soon you may find yourself overwhelmed by mounting medical bills and other expenses, all at a time when you may be physically unable to work. To help increase your chances of obtaining full and fair compensation for your injuries so that you and your family can step back from the brink of financial ruin, consider doing what so many others have done before you and reach out to the pedestrian accident attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers LLC.
With more than $2 billion recovered in verdicts and settlements, GWC is one of the premier Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation law firms in Illinois. Our dedicated car accident attorneys have the experience, the determination, the resources, and the reputation you need to get you the justice you deserve.
For a free, no-obligation consultation with a car accident attorney, contact GWC today. You may call our office at (312) 464-1234 or click here to chat with one of our representatives at any time.
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