Elderly Woman Injured in Ingleside, Chicago Pedestrian Accident on Big Hollow Road

Pedestrian Accident - August 17, 2025

Authorities Suspect Victim May Have Wandered From Caretaker Prior to Accident in Ingleside, Chicago

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (August 16, 2025) – A 79-year-old woman was critically injured in an Ingleside, Chicago pedestrian accident on Big Hollow Road near Leonard Avenue.

Cook County officials are saying that the accident took place around 1:50 p.m. on Wednesday. A 79-year-old woman was walking in the roadway when she was hit by a Nissan Altima.

Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision to help the victim. She was taken to a hospital with critical injuries.

Authorities believe the victim may have memory problems and wandered from the home of her caretaker. A full investigation into the Ingleside, Chicago pedestrian accident remains ongoing at this time.

Driver Liability for Chicago Pedestrian Accidents

Drivers could face civil liability if they are involved in a collision with a pedestrian. Pursuant to 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, all drivers must exercise due care when approaching any pedestrian in the roadway. Drivers must be particularly cautious around any child or person who appears to be confused. Even if a pedestrian is in the middle of a roadway, their presence does not absolve a driver of using caution to avoid colliding with them. Pedestrian collisions may happen for a variety of different reasons.

• Speed: Speeding remains one of the major causes of pedestrian collisions. Even driving the speed limit could be dangerous if there is a pedestrian nearby.
• Driver Distraction: It is common for drivers that hit pedestrians to be distracted by their phone or other objects.
• Left Turns: Pedestrian accidents are substantially more likely when drivers are making left turns. Drivers may be focused on oncoming traffic and not notice a pedestrian crossing.

The vast majority of pedestrian accidents are completely preventable. They tend to involve drivers that are committing one or more traffic infractions. When drivers simply slow down, many of these collisions can be avoided. Depending on the facts of any case, there could be numerous sources of liability for any pedestrian accident. This is particularly true if an elderly person was in the care of a nursing home or other long-term care facility.

Caretaker Liability for Chicago Pedestrian Accidents

Nursing homes and long-term care facilities must protect residents from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. This necessitates that these residents are properly monitored at all times, particularly for residents that have any neurological issues. Despite this, many elderly people have been injured after wandering from care facilities. According to The Washington Post, “regulators have cited facilities more than 200 times since 2018 for failing to properly report missing residents — that’s 1 in 10 of the walkaways identified by The Post.” These incidents can be prevented when certain safety measures are followed.

• Physical Safety Measures: Long-term care facilities can install keypads and delayed-egress locks on exterior doors to prevent residents from simply leaving without being noticed.
• Monitoring: Residents with neurological impairments that are at heightened risk of wandering can be given bracelets that track their location.
• Adequate Staff: All long-term care facilities should be adequately staffed with workers that are well trained.
• Individualized Care Plans: Every resident at a long-term care facility has different medical needs. These facilities should create individualized care plans for residents that take into consideration their unique risk factors.

If a long-term care facility allows a resident to wander before they are injured in a car accident, this may be construed as negligence. Consider, for example, Ende v. West Bend Mut. Ins. Co., No. 2023CV000182 (Wis. Cir. Ct. Kenosha Cnty.). An 89-year-old care facility resident suffering from dementia was allowed to wander off premises and froze to death. A jury found that care facility staff were negligent and disregarded safety protocols.

Investigating Cook County Pedestrian Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the victim of this Ingleside, Chicago pedestrian accident. It is our sincere hope that the injured woman will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Many questions remain unanswered at this time. Was the victim in the care of some facility? If so, why was she allowed to wander away?

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in an Ingleside, Chicago pedestrian accident? You may have legal recourse. Our team of pedestrian safety advocates is here to help in any way that we can. 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 particular incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.