Boy, 14, Injured In Hinsdale Car Accident At Fontano’s Subs
Automobile Accidents - July 18, 2023
14-Year-Old Boy Among 5 Injured In Hinsdale Car Accident After Jeep Drove Into Fontano’s Subs & Deli
HINSDALE, ILLINOIS (July 18, 2023) – A 14-year-old boy was one of 5 people injured in a Hinsdale car accident at Fontano’s Subs & Deli on 9 S Lincoln Street.
DuPage County officials are saying that the collision took place around 2:36 p.m. on Monday. A Jeep leaving a nearby parking lot collided with the front of Fontano’s Subs & Deli.
A 14-year-old ended up on the hood of the Jeep before falling under the vehicle. In all, four other people were also injured in the crash.
Paramedics were called to the scene to help all of the victims. The 14-year-old boy was airlifted to the Comer Children’s Hospital.
Over 200 people gathered at St. Isaac Jogues Church to pray for the victim. A full investigation into the accident in Hinsdale remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Hinsdale Car Accidents
Car accidents where vehicles go into storefronts may seem like freak occurrences, but they are actually quite common. According to the Storefront Safety Council, there are around 100 incidents every day where vehicles drive into storefronts. These accidents result in around 16,000 injuries annually. There are a number of factors that could contribute to a storefront collision.
- Drivers may experience “pedal confusion” whereby they confuse the brakes for the accelerator.
- Many storefront collisions involve drivers that are intoxicated by alcohol or prescription drugs.
- Drivers may enter storefronts after they get distracted by something.
Many storefront collisions are also due to speeding. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-601), all drivers must not operate their vehicle at a speed greater than what would be reasonable or safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. If a driver fails to slow down and hits someone after entering a storefront, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
A property owner could also potentially be liable for a car accident. Property owners must maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. This includes protecting guests from the possibility of being hit by errant vehicles. When there is a history of these types of collisions at a certain location, property owners must take action. There are a number of steps that can be taken to protect pedestrians from vehicles.
- Property owners can install bollard posts to prevent vehicles from entering storefronts.
- Property owners can remove parking spaces directly in front of storefronts.
- Property owners can move dinning areas away from traffic around a store.
Victims of car accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries. Even after a person’s physical injuries have healed, survivors are often left with long term PTSD. Any person that is injured in a car accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. A civil claim can help make victim’s whole after a serious collision. It is important that all evidence is properly preserved after any accident with a pedestrian.
Investigating Hinsdale Storefront Collisions
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of the victims injured at Fontano’s Subs & Deli in Hinsdale. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Hinsdale car accident? Our team of highly experienced consumer safety advocates are 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 a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.