Bicyclist Injured In Chicago Car Accident After Police Pursuit
Pedestrian Accident - April 25, 2024
Cyclist Critically Injured In Chicago’s South Side After A Vehicle Involved In a Pursuit Hit The Victim During Their Getaway
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (April 25, 2024) – A bicyclist was critically injured in a car accident on Chicago’s South Side as the driver was attempting to evade police.
Cook County officials are saying the accident took place around 3:15 p.m. on Friday. The incident began in the 700 block of West 87th Street in Auburn Gresham.
Chicago Police Department officials attempted to stop the driver of a Chevy for a traffic infraction. But the driver fled as police approached the vehicle.
That driver later hit a cyclist. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. The 37-year-old cyclist was taken to the hospital with critical injuries.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Chicago Police Pursuit Accidents
Police chases are one of the most dangerous actions that officers can engage in. They put everyone on the roadway in jeopardy, and the victims are often innocent bystanders. According to the Injury Prevention Journal, “approximately 300 lives are lost each year in the United States from police pursuit related crashes and one third of these are among innocent people, not being pursued by police. These crashes occur in the dark at high speed often on local roads.” There are a number of rules relating to when officers in Illinois may initiate and continue pursuits.
- Generally speaking, pursuits should only be initiated when (a) the suspect is attempting to avoid being arrested or (b) when the suspect presents a serious danger to the public.
- A supervisor must continuously review incoming information to determine if a pursuit should be terminated.
- A pursuit should be terminated if the suspect’s identity has been determined and they are able to be captured at a later date, provided there is no ongoing threat to the public.
A police department could be liable if a person is injured during a police pursuit. Consider, for example, Stehlik v. Village of Orland Park. In that case, the court held that a police department could be liable for the ‘willful and wanton’ conduct of their officers. An officer’s conduct can be considered willful and wanton if pursuing officers consciously disregarded the safety of the public. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any collision.
- Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Surveillance footage should be reviewed.
- Fragments of the fleeing vehicle should be sought.
It can be hard to know what to do after a collision. Victims often sustain very serious injuries and may be left with extensive medical bills. To make matters worse, police departments will do everything in their power to deny liability if one of their officers is involved in a collision. Any person who is injured in a car accident may have legal recourse through a civil claim. A personal injury attorney can examine the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Chicago Car Accidents
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the cyclist injured in this collision. It is our sincere hope that they will be able to make a full recovery. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Chicago bicycle accident? Our team of bicycle accident attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we may be able to assist you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
