Prominent Chicago Chef Killed in Auto Accident

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Car Accidents

In April this year, a 15-car pileup occurred on I-290, the Eisenhower Expressway, killing one and injuring three others. The one fatality was a renown Chicago chef and restaurateur, famous in the French restaurant community. The victim, who was 71-years old, was returning to his Oak Park home from his Bucktown restaurant when he was struck by another vehicle. Illinois State Police indicated that snowy and icy conditions caused a chain reaction accident that ultimately led to the series of car collisions.

With the number of cars in the Chicago metro area, multiple-car accidents are a frequent occurrence. Just this month, another person was killed and one injured in a four-vehicle crash that occurred during Friday rush hour on the Kennedy Expressway when a Dodge Caravan collided with a car, forcing that car to hit another, which caused that car to hit another. A 20-year-old Plainfield woman was killed near Pontiac in May after her car struck another vehicle, and several others were injured when debris from the initial accident struck their cars.

Common Causes of Multi-Car Accidents

While accidents can have several causes, crashes involving multiple vehicles are often the result of one or more of the following:

• Icy or Snowy Conditions: In many cases, poor weather conditions cause additional cars to become involved in what may have been simply a two-car accident, as in the collisions that caused the chef's death. Heavy fog can also cause impaired visibility, leading drivers to crash into already existing accidents they may not see;
• Distracted Driving: Failing to stay alert on the road can cause drivers to be unaware that an accident has or that cars are stopped on the road ahead, especially during congested rush hour periods;
• Driving under the Influence: Like distracted driving, impaired driving causes motorists to fail to perceive what is happening around them, including accidents on the road. In addition, drugs and alcohol slow response times, so even if drivers are able to see a collision ahead, they may not be able to react in time to avoid becoming a part of it;
• Speeding: Traveling at unsafe speeds reduces the amount of time a driver has to react to a situation. If another driver makes a mistake, however minor, a speeding driver may not be able to slow down in time or swerve quickly enough to avoid becoming involved in the accident. High speeds can also cause more serious consequences that may lead to additional car involvement. In a slow-moving collision, a sideswipe may be a relatively minor occurrence, but at higher speeds, even a minor clip can cause another car to spin out and potentially strike other vehicles in close proximity; and
• Rear-Ending: In some circumstances, one car may rear-end another car, causing a chain reaction of each car ahead rear-ending the next one.

Have You Been Injured in an Accident?

In accidents involving multiple vehicles, it is often difficult to determine who caused the initial collision and who is at fault. In many cases, more than one party may be at fault. If you or a loved one has been injured in a multi-car pileup, contact the experienced Lake County accident attorneys at Salvi & Maher, LLP for help. We have represented injured Illinois motorists for decades, and we can provide the representation you need. Contact us at 847-662-3303 to schedule your free case consultation today.

Sources:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-chef-jean-claude-poilevey-killed-in-car-crash-20160409-story.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-1-dead-in-13-car-crash-on-eisenhower-20160408-story.html

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/4-Vehicle-Crash-Shuts-Down-Inbound-Kennedy-378408201.html

http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/update-new-details-in-4-car-crash-that-killed-bradley-student