On Sunday, an elderly man was killed in a pedestrian accident in Jacksonville, Illinois. At approximately 8:30 a.m., 86-year-old Homer Keltner attempted to cross South Church Street when he was struck by a vehicle. According to Jacksonville police, 72-year-old Gloria E. Lyles was traveling along South Church Street near West College Avenue when she failed to yield to Keltner crossing the street in a crosswalk. He was transported by ambulance to the hospital where he died from severe injuries to his head. Jacksonville police issued Lyles a citation for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
Walking was once considered to be one of the safest modes of transportation, but with an increase in pedestrian accidents it may be deemed dangerous. Pedestrians are one and a half times more likely to be killed in an auto accident than those traveling in passenger vehicles. Thousands of preventable pedestrian accidents occur each year and in 2012 4,743 pedestrians were killed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Negligent driving is one of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents and mostly demonstrated in the form of distracted driving. Advances in technology have increased the ways a driver can become distracted from cell phones to GPS devices. Regardless of the laws in place to encourage drivers to focus on the roadways, distracted driving continues to cause thousands of accidents. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, it is important to contact an experienced Illinois pedestrian accident attorney.
Deborah Besserman believes that your safety is important and when that safety is compromised by the negligence of another, they should be held accountable for their actions. The Besserman Law Office specializes in family law, contract law, will and estates, property disputes, personal injury and auto accidents. Deborah will work rigorously to hold the responsible driver accountable and recover the maximum financial compensation for your damages. Contact The Besserman Law Office today for a free consultation.