A woman has been charged in connection with a fatal motorcycle accident in Maywood. The collision took the life of a young man from Bellwood, and police say the woman fled the scene. She later turned herself in, reportedly after hearing that police were looking for her.
The accident happened in Maywood at about 10:00 p.m. on July 7, and the 24-year-old motorcyclist was pronounced dead several hours later at Loyola University Medical Center.
Maywood police received a tip linking the accident to the vehicle of the 33-year-old woman now facing charges. Police say the Wisconsin resident failed to yield, drove while her license was revoked and fled the scene of a crash that caused a death. Pending further investigation, she could be charged with other crimes in connection with the alleged hit and run.
Too often, drivers whose licenses have been suspended or revoked end up driving anyway. When they get into car accidents, some of them panic and flee the scene, sometimes leaving behind seriously injured people.
In this case, the family of the deceased cyclist may have recourse to the law beyond a criminal conviction of the other driver. In fact, sometimes the penalties for a criminal conviction appear too lenient to the grieving family of a deceased victim.
Wrongful death lawsuits are civil court actions, giving families the opportunity to seek the full measure of justice after losing a loved one. These lawsuits can lead to compensation for damages such as loss of companionship, lost wages, funeral expenses and medical bills.
Source: Chicago Tribune, “Wis. woman charged in fatal Maywood motorcycle crash,” July 10, 2013