A car-pedestrian accident in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, has resulted in a wrongful death lawsuit against a cab company and a cab driver. Nearly a year ago, an 86-year-old woman was struck while attempting to cross the street within the crosswalk. The cab driver had received a number of prior traffic citations, all of which had been dismissed. This fatal crash resulted in two citations against the driver for lack of due care for a pedestrian within a crosswalk and failure to yield.
The wrongful death suit was filed by the woman's brother and seeks compensation for loss of companionship. The claim is against the driver and against the cab company, Yellow Cab Affiliation Inc.
Liability in a case like this may seem pretty clear. The woman was in a crosswalk and the driver was cited for failing to yield to her. In addition, an investigation by a newspaper shortly after the accident found that the cab driver had been issued several traffic tickets prior to the accident. However, because they had all been dismissed, they were not brought to the attention of state regulators and the driver was not punished for any of them.
Anytime a car accident results in injury or death, the victims and their families need to be able to consult with a trusted advisor in order to decide whether a lawsuit should be brought. Lawsuits not only can provide compensation to those left behind but help deter careless conduct and serve as a warning to all.
Source: Chicago Tribune, "Brother of victim files wrongful-death suit in Lakeview taxi accident," Naomi Nix, July 10, 2012
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