Traffic collisions involving pedestrians are a growing problem across the United States. Pedestrian deaths reached a 30-year high in 2019. That’s despite the number of vehicular crashes and fatalities going down.
Cars pose enough of a danger to pedestrians. That’s because pedestrians don’t have the same protection as drivers (seatbelts and airbags). They are more likely to sustain severe and life-threatening injuries than other road users.
Large commercial trucks pose an even greater risk to pedestrians than cars due to their size and weight. In addition, large commercial trucks have more blind spots, making it more difficult for truck drivers to see pedestrians.
Like other types of truck crashes, those involving pedestrians are often the result of:
- Inexperienced or unqualified truck drivers
- Distracted driving
- Tired driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
- Speeding and aggressive driving
How many Chicago pedestrians died in 2020?
According to a story in StreetsBlog, a pedestrian was recently struck and killed by a semi-truck on North Avenue in Humboldt Park.
Bystanders reportedly flagged the truck driver down after the pedestrian was dragged under the rear passenger wheels. The incident occurred after the truck driver proceeded through an intersection while the pedestrian was crossing the street.
The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Police cited the truck driver for failure to yield. The truck driver was also taken to a nearby hospital for observation.
This incident marked the 14th pedestrian death on surface streets in Chicago during 2020. In addition, four bicyclists died this year on surface streets. StreetsBlog took these figures from local news sources and preliminary data from Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Department of Transportation.
In 2019, 40 Chicago pedestrians were killed in collisions, a slight decrease from 41 in 2018. That’s despite a 20 percent decrease in overall citywide traffic fatalities in 2019 from the previous year.
Contact a Chicago law firm if you were hurt in a pedestrian accident
Truck drivers have a duty to stay attentive, sober, alert, and operate large commercial trucks with care. It’s also the duty of trucking companies to hire safe, responsible and qualified drivers, as well as ensure that all trucks are properly maintained and inspected.
When the negligence of a truck driver or trucking company leads to someone’s injury or death, they should be held accountable. Victims and their families should be compensated to the fullest extent for their injuries and losses.
That’s where the experienced Chicago attorneys at Coplan + Crane come in. Our legal team will aggressively investigate the crash that caused your injury or the loss of a loved one. We’ll also fight to recover all economic and non-economic damages you’re entitled to.
To learn more, contact our law firm online and schedule your free and confidential case evaluation.
