Posted On: September 19, 2011

Yet Another Hit-And-Run Driver Kills Woman In Chicago

Two elderly women were run down in Chicago's Jefferson Park Neighborhood on Sunday, killing one woman on her 82nd birthday. The second hit-and-run victim remains hospitalized at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. The hit-and-run vehicle was described as a dark blue or black Ford-150 with a ladder in the rear.

The Chicago Department of Transportation reports that 41% of vehicle-pedestrian collisions that are fatal involve hit-and-run drivers in Chicago, which is twice the national average. Chicago averages two hit-and run collisions with pedestrians involving injury or death everyday. Even though there is a law on the books in Chicago requiring drivers to stop for pedestrians preparing to cross in the crosswalk, the law appears never to be enforced. Chicago personal injury attorney Peter Zneimer witnessed at least fifteen cars fail to stop at the crosswalk as he attempted to cross Belmont Avenue near Leavitt Street in Chicago on Sunday even though he happened to be standing next to a mother with a baby stroller who was also waiting for the cars to stop at the crosswalk. No car stopped. When a gap in traffic finally presented itself attorney Peter Zneimer and the mother with the stroller practically had to run to avoid the on coming traffic that did not appear to even slow down. This crosswalk is about 3 blocks from the Belmont police station. Until Chicago police start enforcing the crosswalk laws in Chicago and start obeying the crosswalk law themselves when they are driving, Chicago will remain one of the most dangerous cities in the country for pedestrians and will continue to have more pedestrian injuries than the national average.

Posted On: September 14, 2011

Chicago Pedestrian Critically Injured By Hit-And-Run Driver


An 87 year old Chicago man was struck by a hit-and-run driver and was left in critical condition the Chicago Tribune reported. Chicago police report that the accident happened at 3:50 p.m. near 4400 West Fullerton in Chicago. The hit-and-run driver drove a green Jeep Cherokee that then drove to a gas station near North Kostner Avenue and jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot. The critically injured pedestrian was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital.

A recent study by the Chicago Department of Transportation found that there there are an average of two hit-and-run pedestrian accidents that cause injury or death to the victim occurring every day in Chicago. Hit-and-run crashes account for 33% of all vehicle-pedestrian crashes that occur in Chicago. Additionally, hit-and run crashes account for 41% of the fatal vehicle-pedestrian crashes in Chicago which is twice the national average.

Chicago Transportation Commissioner expressed his concern: "I think we have this culture of speeding and reckless driving." As Chicago personal injury attorneys, the law office of Zneimer & Zneimer handle many such cases. Many times the injured pedestrian has no insurance to cover his or her hospital visits so the victim is not only stuck with a devastating injury but also devastating medical bills.

Posted On: September 7, 2011

Chicago Averages Two Hit-And-Run Pedestrian Crashes A Day

A study commissioned by the Chicago of Transportation has found that Chicago averages two hit-and-run crashes that cause injury or death everyday. Hit-and-run vehicle-pedestrian crashes account for 33% of all vehicle-pedestrian crashes according to this study. The Chicago personal injury law firm of Zneimer & Zneimer has seen first hand the damage these hit-and-run drivers do. Many injured pedestrians do not have any insurance coverage so they are not only hurt by the hit-and-run driver but they are also stuck with the medical bills and the consequences of not being able to work while they recover. Hit-and-run drivers are a major problem in Chicago with 5,534 incidents of hit-and-runs over a five year period resulting in 3,683 injuries or deaths according to the study.

Another striking finding was the study found that cabdrivers were involved in 28% of motorist-pedestrian crashes in Chicago, with most of these crashes occurring in downtown Chicago.