Ryszard Stebnicki, Zofia Chruszcz Killed In Chicago Pedestrian Accident

Wrongful Death - March 1, 2024

Ryszard Stebnicki, Zofia Chruszcz Died In Garfield Ridge, Chicago Pedestrian Accident Involving Pickup Truck on South Archer Avenue

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (March 1, 2024) – An elderly couple identified as Ryszard Stebnicki and Zofia Chruszcz were killed in a Garfield Ridge, Chicago pedestrian accident on South Archer Avenue.

Cook County officials are saying that the accident took place around 8:50 a.m. on Sunday. Ryszard Stebnicki and Zofia Chruszcz were crossing the road in order to go to church when they were hit by a Ford F-150 pickup truck.

Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victims. The male pedestrian was taken to Christ Hospital, and the female pedestrian was taken to Loyola Hospital.

Sadly, both Ryszard Stebnicki and Zofia Chruszcz later died at the hospital due to the severe nature of their injuries. The driver of the pickup truck was cited for “Pedestrian in the Roadway – Due Care.”

A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Chicago Pedestrian Accidents

Thousands of pedestrians are killed or seriously injured every year in the United States. The number of fatal collisions has continued to rise over the past several decades. According to National Public Radio, “Pedestrian deaths have been climbing since 2010 because of unsafe infrastructure and the prevalence of SUVs, which tend to be more deadly for pedestrians than smaller cars, according to Martin.” There are a number of steps that cities and municipal entities should take in order to prevent pedestrian accidents.

• Cities should study which roads and intersections have a high prevalence of accidents.
• Cities should install infrastructure designed to separate pedestrians from traffic. This could include the use of tunnels and pedestrian bridges.
• Cities should ensure that all roadways and intersections are properly illuminated.
• Cities should heavily enforce traffic violations likely to lead to collisions.

All drivers have a legal obligation to observe all traffic laws necessary to prevent accidents. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, every driver must exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian. They must also use their horns when necessary and exercise the proper precautions to avoid colliding with any child or obviously confused person. 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, a city or municipal entity could be liable for a pedestrian collision if it was due to a defect with a public roadway. Cities have a legal obligation to create and maintain roadways that are in reasonably safe condition. When a city has actual or constructive notice that a road is in a dangerous condition, they must act to correct any defects. It is important that certain steps be taken after any pedestrian accident.

• Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
• Medical records should be preserved.
• Photos of the accident site should be taken.
• The police report for the accident should be collected.

Car accidents can be very complex events. The factors that may contribute to any accident can take place hours, days, or weeks prior to a collision. When there is a long history of pedestrian accidents at particular locations, this could point to an underlying defect with the roadway. This is one of the reasons why it is important that all evidence is properly preserved.

Investigating Chicago Pedestrian Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the families of Ryszard Stebnicki and Zofia Chruszcz. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There are many questions that remain unanswered. It is our sincere hope that city officials will consider comprehensive measures to make this stretch of road safer so that other tragedies can be averted.

Do you need more information about a Chicago pedestrian accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates is 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 working to help keep our streets safe. 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.