Last week, a devastating crash at a Portillo’s restaurant in Oswego, Illinois, claimed the life of a 2-year-old child and injured 13 others when a car drove through the front entrance of the building. Eight people, including the driver, were hospitalized. Authorities report that the cause of the crash is still under investigation, but it appears to have been accidental.

Storefront crashes like these may seem like rare events, but in reality, they are disturbingly common. The Storefront Safety Council, which is dedicated to preventing vehicle-into-building crashes, stated that there have been more than 100 of these crashes in the Chicago area alone since 2023. Nationwide, there are around 100 incidents each day, with 24% involving retail stores, leading to about 16,000 injuries and 2,600 deaths each year.

In fact, the tragic crash at Portillo’s echoes a case handled by our firm only a few years ago. In 2023, we represented a young man who suffered catastrophic, life-altering injuries after an accident outside a 7-Eleven in Bensenville. In that case, a driver who was attempting to park in a forward-facing parking space mistook the gas pedal for the brake, leading the vehicle to accelerate over the curb and pin our client, who had just purchased his morning coffee, against the storefront. The resulting injuries necessitated a double above-the-knee amputation.

Multiple facts pointed to 7-Eleven’s culpability. Not only had there been thousands of recorded crashes at 7-Eleven storefronts between 2003 and 2017, but there had even been one at the very same storefront where our client was injured just 16 months prior. Despite this, 7-Eleven failed to take preventive measures, such as implementing angular parking or installing bollards.

We secured a record-setting $91 million settlement on behalf of our client, the largest pretrial recovery for a single injury victim in Illinois history. It was a recognition not just of the harm done, but of how preventable it was. Nose-in parking just feet away from storefronts poses a clear danger, and yet all too often, that danger is ignored by property owners.

We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the young boy who lost his life in Oswego. Their pain is unimaginable, and their grief will never fully heal. But we believe in honoring that loss by calling attention to what went wrong and what must change.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a storefront crash or any incident involving unsafe commercial property, Power Rogers is here to help. Our team has recovered more than $5 billion for our clients since 1993. We have the experience, resources, and proven results to hold negligent businesses accountable.