Pedestrian in Wheelchair Seriously Injured in Crosswalk Settles for $382,000

Sam Eddins was 81 and used an electric wheelchair to get around. He was in the process of crossing a street at a crosswalk in a controlled intersection. The defendant Eileen Jagger was driving her sedan when she turned left and crashed into Eddins in his wheelchair. Eddins suffered injuries including head trauma, shoulder dislocations and limb fractures.

He was taken from the scene to a nearby hospital where he later suffered cardiac arrest and died. His medical expenses totaled $879,900. He was survived by 3 adult children.

The Eddins family sued Jagger and her husband claiming that her choosing not to keep a proper lookout was the reason and the cause for the crash and subsequent injuries and death of Eddins.

Before the start of a jury trial, the case was settled for $382,000. The obvious rules of the road require motorists to give the right-of-way to pedestrians and especially those within the crosswalk of a street. Jagger violated that rule, which was the cause of Eddins’ serious injuries and subsequent wrongful death.

The attorneys representing the Eddins family were Brent Gordon and Don Gamble.

Eddins v. Jagger, No. 14-2897 (Idaho Dist. Ct. Bonneville County, Sept. 14, 2015).

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976. Kreisman Law Offices has been handling intersection automobile cases, motorcycle accident cases, bicycle accident cases, rear-end car crash cash cases, truck crash cases, pedestrian injury cases and catastrophic injury cases for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Crestwood, Blue Island, Calumet Park, Riverside, Hickory Hills, Alsip, Niles, Elk Grove Village, Chicago Ridge, Burr Ridge, Buffalo Grove, Bridgeview, Berkeley, Markham, Maywood, Orland Hills, Olympia Fields, Chicago (Kenwood, Koreatown, Greek Town, Garfield Park, DePaul University Area, South Chicago, South Loop, South Shore, University of Chicago, West Loop, Wrigleyville, New Town, North Town, Old Town Triangle, Portage Park), LaGrange Park and Northlake, Ill.