Michael Zaitz Injured In Crystal Lake Car Accident At Buffalo Wild Wings

Automobile Accidents - March 29, 2023

Michael Zaitz Injured In Crystal Lake Collision After Car Drove Into Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurant —> GoFundMe Created To Help Victim

Michael Zaitz Injured In Crystal Lake Car Accident At Buffalo Wild Wings

CRYSTAL LAKE, ILLINOIS (March 29, 2023) – A man identified as Michael Zaitz was seriously injured in a Crystal Lake car accident at a Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurant.

McHenry County officials are saying that the collision took place on Thursday. The driver of a Nissan Altima was attempting to park inside the parking lot of the Buffalo Wild Wings on Carlemont Drive.

At some point, the car veered off of the sidewalk and went through a glass window at the restaurant. A total of four people were hit by the Nissan Altima.

Michael Zaitz was able to courageously push his wife out of harms way. But he ended up being pinned underneath the vehicle and was seriously injured in the process.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims. Multiple people were taken to the hospital.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help Michael Zaitz with medical expenses. A full investigation into the cause of the collision at the Buffalo Wild Wings remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Car Accidents At Buffalo Wild Wings

Accidents involving vehicles that go into storefronts may seem like freak occurrences, but they are actually very 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 common causes of vehicles going into storefronts.

  • Drivers may experience “pedal confusion” whereby they mistake the accelerator for the brakes.
  • Drivers may be fatigued and not paying adequate attention to the road.
  • Drivers may also be intoxicated by alcohol, illicit drugs or prescription medications.

Drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid a collision. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that goes into a storefront. Depending on the facts of any case, a restaurant or property owner could be liable for an accident where a vehicle drives into a storefront. Storefront collisions are actually preventable in many circumstances when the right safety protocols are in place.

A restaurant can install bollard posts to prevent storefront collisions. Bollard posts are sturdy concrete or metal structures that prevent vehicles from entering into certain areas. When there is a history of storefront collisions at a particular store or chain of restaurants, this should prompt the restaurant to take additional safety measures like installing bollard posts. If a restaurant fails to take any action to prevent storefront collisions, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Victims of car accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries including:

  • Broken bones
  • Head injuries
  • Lacerations
  • Spinal cord injuries

The convenience store chain 7-11 was recently ordered to pay a $91 million settlement after a driver pinned a man to the store while lurching forward with his vehicle. At trial, it was revealed that there was a long history of similar collisions at 7-11 stores. Any person that is injured in a car accident with a vehicle that drives into a storefront may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. It is extremely important that all evidence and any medical records are properly preserved after any such collision.

Investigating A Crystal Lake Storefront Collision

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to Michael Zaitz and the other victims as they continue to recover. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. This was a preventable collision that should not have taken place. It is our sincere hope that Buffalo Wild Wings will take additional measures to help prevent similar incidents in the future. 

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Crystal Lake storefront collision? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of consumer safety advocates are here for you. 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 a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.