News outlets are reporting that 19-year old Marium Lidia Ibarra of Wonder Lake, Illinois has been charged with hitting a ten-year old girl on her bike and then fleeing the scene. Even worse, the reports indicate that the driver has also been charged with drunken driving. The allegations against Ms. Ibarra are the basis of every parent's worst nightmare when their child leaves home on their bike.
According to a statement by the injured girl to police, Ibarra backed her vehicle over the girl on her bike and dragged the bike 8 to 10 feet. Ibarra then fled the scene only to be apprehended after a witness noted the color of her vehicle and her Illinois license plates. She reportedly asked the police officer if she hit something when he approached her vehicle. An hour after she was apprehended her blood alcohol level was still .095 meaning she most likely had a blood alcohol level above .10 at the time of the collision.
Ibarra now faces
criminal felony charges of second-degree reckless endangerment and hit and run
causing injury as well as misdemeanor charges of drunk driving.
Due to the fact that Ibarra is an Illinois resident, this means that a civil lawsuit against Ibarra can be brought in Illinois for the personal injuries sustained by the 10-year old girl. The lawsuit could also most likely seek punitive damages where Ibarra could be forced to pay a financial penalty to the little girl above and beyond just her medical bills and personal injuries. Illinois' laws and courts have historically been a more favorable place for an injured person to bring their case than Wisconsin. This is due to Illinois laws and customs regarding cases like these as opposed to Wisconsin's system which is much more conservative from a legal standpoint.
Illinois Bicycle Lawyer Michael Keating of Keating Law Offices is licensed to practice not only throughout Illinois, but also in the District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Mr. Keating is a graduate of Marquette University in Milwaukee. He has tried cases in State and Federal Courts in Illinois and in Wisconsin.
If you have any questions regarding this post or questions regarding the laws surrounding bicycle accidents or bicycle crashes, please call the bicycle accident lawyers at Keating Law Offices at 312-239-6787 or email at mkeating@keatinglegal.com. The bicycle accident attorneys at Keating Law Offices are leaders in the field of bicycle-related litigation and can answer any questions during a consultation. All initial consultations are always free and with no obligation.
Keating Law Offices are the premiere personal injury lawyers representing bicyclists injured in an accident in Illinois. The firm offers free consultations and there are no fees unless we win for you. Our attorneys have a long history of success representing clients injured in bike accidents in Chicago, the suburbs and throughout Illinois. The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers are committed to advocating for the rights of bicyclists and fighting for bicyclists injured in bike accidents.
