Monica Soto Killed In Chicago Motorcycle Accident on South Archer Avenue
Wrongful Death - December 1, 2022
Monica Soto (Full Name: Monica Alcantar Soto) Died In Chicago Motorcycle Accident After Hitting Pothole Along South Archer Avenue
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (December 1, 2022) – A female motorcyclist identified as Monica Soto died in a Chicago collision after hitting a pothole on South Archer Avenue.
Cook County officials are saying that the accident took place around 5:07 p.m. on Monday. Monica Soto was driving a motorcycle when she hit a pothole in the roadway which caused her to fall off.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the woman. Sadly, Monica Soto was beyond medical aid and pronounced dead at the scene.
It remains unclear if city officials are working to fix the pothole that caused the deadly collision. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Chicago Pothole Accidents
Accidents involving potholes may seem like freak occurrences, but they are actually quite common. According to the AAA Newsroom, “15 percent of U.S. drivers (16 million motorists) report sustaining vehicle damage that required repair as a result of [hitting] a pothole at least once in the last five years.” In addition to damaging vehicles every year, many people are hurt or seriously injured in car accidents caused by potholes. Bicyclists and motorcyclists tend to be the most at risk from potholes. There are a number of common causes of potholes.
- Water that seeps into the roadway can get into a cycle of freezing and thawing that can make cracks in the roadway bigger.
- The grade of the pavement used to create a roadway may be insufficient for the weight of the traffic that appears on the roadway.
- Roadways age over time and begin to naturally fragment. Potholes may form due to neglect when those roadways are not sufficiently repaired.
Depending on the facts of any case, a municipal entity like the city of Chicago could be liable for a motorcycle accident caused by a pothole. According to the Illinois Supreme Court, “A municipal corporation acts judicially or exercises discretion when it selects and adopts a plan in the making of public improvements, but as soon as it begins to carry out that plan it acts ministerially and is bound to see that the work is done in a reasonably safe and skillful manner.” (Johnston v. City of East Moline, 405 Ill. 460, 91 N.E.2d 401) As such, a local government may be liable for the negligent repairing of a pothole which later contributed to a collision. Victims of pothole accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Organ damage
It can be difficult to know where to begin after any serious motorcycle accident. To make matters worse, it is common for police officers and government agents to blame motorcyclists for collisions caused by dangerous road conditions. Accident victims are protected by a number of laws and they may have legal recourse for collisions involving potholes. It is extremely important that all evidence is properly preserved after any collision.
Investigating A Chicago Pothole Accident
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Monica Soto. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong for the sake of the victim’s family. Chicago city officials should do the right thing and repair the pothole involved in this collision so that other tragedies may be prevented.
Do you need more information about a Chicago pothole accident? Our team of roadway 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 city officials are doing everything they can to keep our roadways safe. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free investigation into a particular incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
