Rateb Arqan Killed In Elgin Township Car Accident By on St Charles Street

Pedestrian Accident - April 19, 2023

Good Samaritan Rateb Arqan Died In Elgin Township Pedestrian Accident With Chevrolet Express Van Along St Charles Street

ELGIN TOWNSHIP, ILLINOIS (April 19, 2023) – A Good Samaritan identified as Rateb Arqan has tragically died in an Elgin Township car accident on St Charles Street.

Kane County officials are saying that the accident took place around 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Rateb Arqan was helping to save a goose that was in southbound lanes of traffic.

While he was helping the goose he was hit by a 2012 Chevrolet Express Van. Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim.

Despite life-saving measures, Rateb Arqan was pronounced dead at the scene. As of Tuesday, no citations for the crash have been issued.

A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Elgin Township Pedestrian Accidents

Far too many pedestrians are killed or seriously injured in car accidents every year. According to the NHTSA, “At some point in the day, everyone is a pedestrian. Unfortunately, pedestrian injuries and fatalities remain high. In 2020, 6,516 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 55,000 pedestrians were injured nationwide.” There are a number of steps that driver should take in order to avoid hitting pedestrians.

Drivers should slow down in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic.
Drivers should check their blind spots before making turns.
Drivers should abstain from substances that could impair their judgement.

All drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid hitting pedestrians, even if they are in the middle of a road. 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. Drivers must also use caution to avoid hitting children or any confused person upon the roadway. If a driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

Depending on the facts of any case, liability for a pedestrian accident could extend beyond any driver. If the driver of a van was working at the time of a collision, their employer could be held at fault. Vans are often used for commercial purposes such as transportation services. In general, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any pedestrian collision.

Surveillance footage of the crash should be sought.
Medical records should be preserved.
It should be determined if the at-fault driver was in a commercial vehicle.
The police report for the crash should be examined.

The vast majority of pedestrian accidents are preventable and involve some amount of driver error. When a driver is negligent and hits a pedestrian, they can be held at fault through a civil claim. The family of any person that is killed in a pedestrian accident may have legal recourse through a civil claim. It is crucial that all evidence is preserved after any crash. Evidence is what will ultimately be necessary to determine liability for any collision.

Investigating An Elgin Township Car Accident

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Rateb Arqan. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of the victim’s family.

Do you need more information about an Elgin Township pedestrian accident? Our team of pedestrian 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 a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.