Chicago Car Accident Attorneys Blog

A Chicago woman is dead following a deadly Des Plaines car accident on Sunday. Josefa Salgado, 51, was riding in a 1997 Ford Escort driven by Anais Bahena, also a Chicago resident, when Bahena failed to yield the right of way while turning left. A 1998 Honda CRV hit the car Bahena was driving.

According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, Salgado, who was transported to Elk Grove Village where she was treated at Alexian Brothers Medical Center, died f several injuries. The driver of the Honda, Homer Glen resident Patricia Lindquist, received medical attention at Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago and was later released.

Bahena was charged with failure to yield and will appear in court in April. Meantime, Des Plaines police are considering whether to install a red light camera at the intersection where the deadly Illinois auto accident occurred.

Failure to Yield Accidents
A “failure to yield” traffic crash involves a motorist failing to give way to the driver that has the right of way.

Examples of failing to yield include:
• Failure to yield to approaching traffic when turning left.
• Failure to stop the vehicle at a stop sign and let the driver who has the right of way cross the intersection.
• Failure to yield to a pedestrian at an intersection or a crosswalk.
• Failure to yield to an ambulance, a fire truck, a police vehicle, or another emergency vehicle during an emergency situation.
• Failure to yield at a flashing light.
• Failure to yield when merging onto a road or entering the freeway.
• Failure to yield to any traffic that has the right of way.

Failing to yield can be grounds for an Illinois personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit if a motorist, passenger occupant, or pedestrian gets hurt as a result.

Des Plaines accident kills Chicago woman, Daily Herald, March 9, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Illinois DMV Guide
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration