Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

A client of David Abels & Associates, P.C. was recently injured on the North Side of Chicago just after he parked his car on Montrose Avenue. After he exited his vehicle, he closed the door and began to walk towards the front of his car, and as he walked a passing vehicle drifted too close to his parked car and hit him.

After the accident the plaintiff was taken by ambulance to Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, Illinois with severe neck pain. In the weeks following the accident his neck pain persisted and his medical doctor ordered an MRI. The MRI showed that he had sustained a herniated disc in his cervical spine as a result of the pedestrian vs. car accident. He has not yet had surgery and still has pain on a daily basis.

The Chicago Police Department investigated the accident and issued citations to the driver that hit our client. The defendant is insured by Allstate.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Back and Neck Injuries , Pedestrian Accident , Personal Injury

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A 62 year old Chicago resident was killed on Wednesday in Lakeview as she crossed a street in a crosswalk, according to the Chicago Tribune. The hit-and-run accident happened at the intersection of Sheridan Road and Belmont Avenue when a U-Haul rental truck ran a red light and hit a car headed south on Sheridan. The truck then hit a pedestrian in the crosswalk, and then the occupants of the truck fled the scene on foot. A witness at the scene said the truck was out of control.

The pedestrian, Anca Ramniceanu, 62, who lived in the area of the accident was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and died shorttly after arrival at the hospital.

The only description of the two men that fled the scene was that one was wearing a red shirt and a baseball hat. Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact the Chicago Police Department. Police should also be able to track down who rented the truck by obtaining records from U-Haul.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Hit & Run Accident , Pedestrian Accident , Wrongful Death

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David Abels & Associates, P.C. is currently acting as co-counsel with the firm of Hilfman, Martin & Barr P.C. in a lawsuit against the Archdiosese of Chicago relating to the sexual misconduct of Father Daniel McCormack. Last week the Court heard the Plaintiff's Motion To File an Amended Complaint Seeking Punitive Damages against the defendants. This motion was argued by Bill Martin. The Honorable Jeffrey Lawrence denied the motion, but Judge Lawrence said that he would be willing to hear the motion again after the parties complete some discovery.

The Court focused on the information contained in the report of the Archdiocese's consultant, Defenbaugh, and specifically commented on 1999 reports from Sister Mary Therese Cusack to the Archdiocese relating to improper conduct by McCormack. The court indicated that the allegations in the plaintiff's motion may be sufficient to allow the plaintiff to pursue punitive damages, but that these allegations required additional legal evidence in the form of depositions or affidavits. Plaintiff's counsel intends to take the depositions of Archdiocesan personnel and to resubmit this motion to the court.

Daniel McCormack has plead guilty in criminal court to abusing five boys. He is serving a five year prison sentence.

Continue reading "In Dan McCormack Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Archdiosese, Judge Denies Punitive Damages Motion - Willing To Reconsider Issue After Further Discovery" »

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Posted In: Injuries to Children & Minors , Legal News , Sexual Abuse

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Abogados pedestres de accidente en Chicago de David Abels & Associates, P.C. han alcanzado un arreglo de limites de poliza de seguro en un reclamo de automovilista sin seguro para uno de nuestros clientes. El accidente sucedió en Mayo de 2006 cuando el demandante fue golpeado por un Cadillac en el Sur de Chicago en 1908 W. 74th Street después de que él salió de un autobús de CTA.

El demandante fue llevado a Holy Cross Hospital con una fractura pélvica. El permaneció en el hospital sobre una semana y entonces fue transferido a una facilidad de rehabilitación para varias semanas. El contrajo más de $50,000 en cuentas médicas.

El conductor culpable no tuvo seguro para el Cadillac tan nosotros seguimos un reclamo de automovilista sin seguro en la póliza de seguro de automóvil de nuestro cliente. El portador del seguro ofreció los límites de la póliza de seguros en el reclamo.

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Posted In: Fractures / Broken Bones , Se Habla Español , Settlements & Verdicts

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A client of David Abels & Associates, P.C. was recently injured in February, 2008 at a Bally Total Fitness when she slipped and fell on a freshly mopped floor in a locker room. A cleaning service that had been hired to perform janitorial services at the club had mopped, and they and the health club both failed to errect wet floor warning signs.

After the accident the plaintiff was taken by ambulance to Adventist Glen Oakes Hospital in Glendale Heights, Illinois. She sustained a broken wrist and later underwent surgery. The surgery was performed by Anup Bendre, M.D. at DuPage Orthopaedic Surgery Center. She has incurred over $20,000 in medical bills and is still in treatment.

The health club is so far denying liability, and if they fail to change their position a premises liability lawsuit will have to be filed in DuPage County to resolve the matter.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Fractures / Broken Bones , Personal Injury , Premises Liability

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A pedestrian was killed on the South Side of Chicago on Sunday in a hit and run accident, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The collision occurred around 4 a.m. at 85th Street and Stoney Island. When police came to the scene they found the pedestrian lying in the street.

The victim, a 36 year old Chicago resident, was transported to Jackson Park Hospital and pronounced dead within an hour of the accident. The Chicago Police Department Major Accidents Investigation Unit is handling the matter. Chicago police state that the vehicle that hit the pedestrian fled the scene and that they put a description of the vehicle out over police radio. Tinley Park police stopped the vehicle on Sunday morning and there is now a woman in custody. No charges had been filed as of Sunday night.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Hit & Run Accident , Pedestrian Accident , Wrongful Death

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The parents of a teen killed when a semi truck slammed into a CTA train station in Chicago have filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Cook County against the truck driver and trucking company, according to the Associated Press. The lawsuit alleges that the 64 year old truck driver was driving too fast for conditions, ran a red light, and failed to use his horn to warn of impact.

The driver, who is from Metamora, Michigan, received a traffic ticket for the April 25 accident, but no criminal charges have been filed.

The accident happened when the driver crashed his semi truck into the CTA Red Line train station at Cermak Road on the South Side during the evening rush hour. One other woman was killed and twenty one others were injured, according to the Chicago Tribune and various other news sources.

The truck had just come off the Dan Ryan Expressway near Chinatown when it crashed into the train station and traveled several steps up an escalator. Some witnesses believed the truck was going 40 - 50 mph when it hit the station. Chicago Police Department officials have stated that the two women killed were pedestrians walking near the CTA station.

The cause of the truck crash is still unknown. The truck driver was taken to Stroger Hospital where he tested negative for alcohol, but then he refused a urine test and asked to be discharged from the hospital, stating that he had no insurance to cover treatment. He was then released into the custody of the Chicago Police Department.

A Chicago Fire Department official stated that twenty one injured were taken to area hospitals, and eleven of those were in critical condition. Four people had to be cut out of the escalators at the station by rescue workers.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Legal News , Pedestrian Accident , Personal Injury , Truck Accident , Wrongful Death

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On the North Side of Chicago, Illinois three people were hurt on Friday morning in a three vehicle accident involving two small trucks and a van, according to the Chicago Tribune. Two involved were seriously injured. The van was operated by MV Transportation out of Niles, a private company contracted by Pace to transport passengers.

The accident occurred at 1600 N. Clark Street and was reportedly caused when one of the trucks involved in the accident ran a red light and struck the van. No Pace passengers were in the van at the time. The van driver was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital along with one of the truck occupants. Another person was taken to Lincoln Park Hospital. Two people involved in the crash did not immediately go to the hospital.

The crash was investigated by the Chicago Police Department and it has not been reported if any tickets were issued.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Personal Injury , Truck Accident

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Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached an insurance policy limits settlement in an uninsured motorist claim for one of our clients. The accident happened in May of 2006 when the plaintiff was hit by a Cadillac on the South Side of Chicago at 1908 W. 74th Street just after he exited a CTA bus.

The plaintiff was taken to Holy Cross Hospital with a pelvic fracture. He stayed at the hospital for over a week and was then transferred to a rehab facility for several weeks. He incurred over $50,000 in medical bills.

The at fault driver did not have insurance for the Cadillac so we pursued an uninsured motorist claim on our client's own auto insurance policy. The insurance carrier tendered the limits of the insurance policy on the claim.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Lawyers Make Policy Limits Uninsured Motorist Settlement In Pedestrian Accident" »

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Posted In: Auto Accident , Pedestrian Accident , Settlements & Verdicts , Uninsured Motorist Claim

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On Wednesday afternoon five people, including two children, were injured in a three vehicle accident in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, according to the Sun-Times News Group. The accident happened on Nerge Road just west of Rohlwing Road when a 2002 Jeep Cherokee entered a left turn lane driving too fast for conditions and rear-ended a 2001 Toyota Corolla. The Corolla was then knocked forward into a Ford Windstar minivan. The Jeep was moving fast enough that it reportedly flipped over and landed on top of the Corolla.

Four involved in the accident were taken to Alexian Brothers Medical center in Elk Grove Village. The fifth person was taken to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. All five have been treated and released and all five were wearing their seatbelts.

It has not been reported if traffic citations have been issued. The crash remains under investigation.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Personal Injury

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In Chicago, Illinois workers' compensation attorneys from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have settled a case for a worker who injured himself on the job in April of 2006. He injured his low back carrying heavy buckets of chemicals up a flight of stairs. He had a herniated disc in his lumbar spine and had to undergo surgical intervention. AIG Insurance paid on the claim.

Continue reading "Chicago Work Injury Lawyers Reach Settlement" »

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Back and Neck Injuries , Settlements & Verdicts , Work Injuries

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In Kane County, Illinois David Abels & Associates, P.C., working in conjunction with the firm of Karchmar and Lambert, have filed a lawsuit against a resort in St. Charles, Illinois due to injuries sustained by our client when she bit into and swallowed pieces of glass that were in her dinner salad.

Our client was attending a business conference when the food was being served. The glass lacerated her throat, which later became infected. The plaintiff incurred around $15,000 in medical bills as a result of the infection.

The case gives knew meaning to the phrase "watch what you eat".

Continue reading "Kane County Lawsuit Filed: Sometimes You Have To Watch What You Eat ...........Literally." »

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Personal Injury , Premises Liability

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