Pedestrian Injured In Decatur Car Accident on East Lake Shore Drive
Pedestrian Accident - January 28, 2024
Female Pedestrian Critically Injured In Decatur Car Accident By The Intersection of Martin Luther King Jr Drive and East Lake Shore Drive
DECATUR, ILLINOIS (January 27, 2024) – A woman was critically injured in a Decatur pedestrian accident by Martin Luther King Jr Drive and East Lake Shore Drive.
Decatur police officials are saying that the accident took place around 6:52 p.m. on Thursday. A Dodge Ram pickup truck was traveling west on East Lake Shore Drive when it hit a pedestrian in the roadway.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. Despite those efforts, she later died due to the severe nature of her injuries.
The driver of the pickup truck remained at the scene and cooperated with police.
Liability For Macon County Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians are uniquely vulnerable to the hazards posed by motor vehicles. According to Mickey Edwards, Ph.D., “Fatal pedestrian and pedal-cyclist crashes have been on the rise in the U.S. since 2009. This rise in fatalities coincides with the rise of large vehicles on American roadways, continuing a trend that began years earlier.” There are a number of steps that drivers should take in order to avoid hitting pedestrians.
- Drivers should check their blind spots before making turns in the roadway.
- Drivers should abstain from alcohol and other intoxicating substances.
- Drivers should continuously scan the road ahead of them.
All drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid hitting pedestrians. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, every driver shall exercise due care to avoid hitting any pedestrian or bicyclist in the roadway. Drivers must use extra care when approaching any child or obviously confused or intoxicated person. They must also use their horn when necessary to alert others of their presence. If a driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Victims of pedestrian accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
The vast majority of pedestrian accidents are preventable and involve some amount of driver error. This could include instances when drivers are speeding or not paying adequate attention to the road ahead of them. Any person that is injured in a pedestrian accident may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. A pedestrian accident attorney can examine the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Macon County Pedestrian Accidents
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the woman injured in this Decatur collision. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. Many questions about what happened remain unanswered. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to make this stretch of road safer.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Decatur pedestrian accident? Our team of pedestrian accident attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
