Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

It's official: Chicago car accidents and accidents elsewhere in Illinois are one again on pace to hit record lows, the Illinois Department of Transportation reported.

As our Chicago injury attorneys have reported both here and on our sister site, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, the numbers of fatal traffic crashes are at record lows across the region. And the 928 fatal Illinois crashes in 2009 were already the fewest in nearly a century of reporting.

IDOT reports the overall number of Illinois traffic fatalities is down by 16.8 percent for the first six months of the year, from 434 in 2009 to 361 in 2010. Safety advocates point to increases in seat belt use and enhanced safety measures, including the state's new law against text messaging while driving.

However, as we have reported both here and on our sister site, Chicago Car Accidents Lawyers Blog, many experts cite the economic downturn as the main reason for fewer traffic accidents being reported nationwide.

“We are extremely proud of the dedication, hard work and diligence shown by IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety, our partners, and Illinois motorists whose positive efforts have made this historic achievement possible,” said IDOT Secretary Gary Hannig.

The state reports a dramatic improvement in seat-belt usage rates since 2003, from 76.2 percent to 92.6 percent. Only 16 states report seat-belt compliance rates that are as good or better than Illinois'.

Meanwhile, the number of fatal Illinois traffic accidents has steadily declined.

2003: 1,454
2004: 1,355
2005: 1, 363
2006: 1,254
2007: 1,248
2008: 1,043
2009: 928

Continue reading "State continues to report decline in number of Chicago car accidents, fatal accidents throughout Illinois" »

A woman who caused a fatal Chicago motorcycle accident while painting her fingernails has been sentenced to "periodic jail time," NBC Chicago reported.

The 49-year-old defendant was convicted of reckless homicide in connection with the Lake Zurich accident and sentenced to 18 months of periodic imprisonment, followed by 30 months of probation. The victim was sitting on her bike at an intersection when the defendant's Chevy Impala slammed into her at about 50 mph. She was thrown several hundred feet and later died at the hospital.

"We appreciate Judge Foreman's acknowledgment of the epidemic of distracted driving, and the need to apply a sentence that will serve as a warning for all motorists," said the victim's son.

Our Chicago accident attorneys frequently report on the dangers of distracted driving, both here and on our sister site, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog. While authorities largely focus on the dangers of cell phones and text messaging while behind the wheel, other common forms of distraction include applying makeup, dressing, grooming, smoking, eating and drinking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 6,000 people a year are killed and more than 500,000 are injured in accidents caused by distracted driving.

During the trial, her attorney had argued that other motorists around the cyclist went through the yellow light. When the rider stopped, the defendant had no time to react.

We frequently report on the dangers of following a motorcycle too closely. Motorcycles require about the same amount of time to stop as a passenger car -- rear-end accidents are one of the leading causes of serious and fatal Illinois motorcycle accidents.

The jury took just three-and-a-half hours to find her guilty in the case.

ABC7 reported that the May 2009 crash happened in unincorporated Lake County at Route 9 and Old McHenry Road.

A Chicago taxi cab accident injured at least four people after a cab crashed into a downtown convenience store, the Breaking News Center reported.

The accident happened about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night. The taxi was involved in a two-car accident at the corner of Adams Street and Wabash Avenue when the Crown Victoria crashed through the 7-Eleven's front windows.

A Toyota Camry was also involved and slammed into a large newspaper vending machine nearby. No one was struck inside the store, according to the Chicago Fire Department. The taxi came to a stop near a display inside the store.

Both drivers were transported to area hospitals in fair-to-serious condition. The city's Department of Buildings was called to the scene to assess the severity of the building's damage.

Our Chicago accident attorneys see these types of accidents on a fairly regular basis. As we reported last month on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, eight people were hospitalized after an SUV jumped a curve and slammed into Petterino's Restaurant on North Dearborn Street downtown.

It was the third time the restaurant was struck in little more than a year.

Last July, we reported an accident that occurred when a motorist drove through the front of a Curves Fitness Center.

Continue reading "Chicago car accident sends taxi careening into downtown convenience store" »

The idea of creating pedestrian plazas is back in vogue as a way to create appealing greenspace and reduce the risk of serious and fatal Chicago pedestrian accidents.

Our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog reported recently that one-third of the city's fatal accidents in 2008 -- 52 of 156 -- involved pedestrians being struck by a vehicle in Chicago. And city planners recently cited reducing serious and fatal pedestrian accidents as among the most pressing goals for traffic safety within the city.

A recent piece in the Chicago Tribune questioned why street closures for events like Taste of Chicago don't occur more often. It cites New York City's bold decision to permanently close several blocks of Broadway to create permanent plazas in Times and Herald Squares.

A recent request for opinions about possible closures in downtown Chicago brought forth a number of proposals: Monroe between Michigan Avenue and Columbus, Rush Street, Taylor Street between Racine and Ashland and East 53rd Street east of Blackstone.

While permanently closing sections of downtown streets would require unprecedented cooperation among traffic planners, city leaders, business owners and residents, the idea has its early supporters.

The Chicagoist quickly jumped on the bandwagon. As Street Fest season enters full season, pedestrians are already bemoaning the season's end. "Who doesn't love the respite from traffic parking and noise when the fest is in your hood," The Chicagoist wrote. "Why not make those happy feelings permanent in places throughout the city."

One thing seems certain: With one-third of the city's traffic fatalities resulting from pedestrian accidents, such dynamic proposals are at least worthy of consideration.

Continue reading "Plazas could reduce risk of Chicago pedestrian accidents" »

Police are looking for the vehicle responsible for a Chicago car accident that injured nine people over the weekend, the Sun-Times reported.

The three-car accident injured nine motorists Saturday night on the Bishop Ford Freeway (I-94) on the city's South Side, according to Illinois State Police. The crash happened about 10 p.m. near 130th Street when a vehicle struck another vehicle in the northbound lanes. The second vehicle collided with a third vehicle before being pushed into a ditch with five motorists inside.

The vehicle that started the accident fled the scene. No one was taken to the hospital in the third vehicle; four people were treated for minor injuries at the scene.

Among the passengers in the car forced into the ditch: One person was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in serious to critical condition; two were taken to Metro South Medical Center and one was transported to Roseland Community Hospital.

Elsewhere over the weekend, an Illinois motorcycle accident claimed the life of a rider in Will County. The accident happened on Center Point Drive in Elmwood when the motorcycle veered off the roadway and crashed shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday. The rider was taken to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where he was pronounced dead.

A Chicago semi accident claimed the life of a 92-year-old woman on Friday afternoon in Riverside, the Breaking News Center reported.

Police responded to the crash at First and Forest avenues at about 1:30 p.m. Police found a heavily damaged 2001 Chevy Impala sitting in the intersection and a semi sitting in a nearby wooded area. A 92-year old passenger in the Impala was transported to Loyola University Hospital in Maywood, where she was pronounced dead. Several other occupants were also transported to the hospital.

Cause of the accident remains under investigation.

While the number of fatal car accidents continues to decline, you may be at increased risk of a Chicago car accident caused by distracted driving, according to a new report by the Governor's Highway Safety Association.

Through July 13, a total of 431 traffic fatalities have been reported in Illinois, 50 fewer than the 481 reported during the same period of 2009, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. And, as we reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog in January, the 928 Illinois traffic fatalities recorded in 2009 were the fewest in a century of reporting.

But the new report by the Governor's Association highlights the increase in accidents blamed on distracted driving. The total number of traffic fatalities has declined nationwide, from 42,836 in 2004 to 37,261 in 2008. However, the number of fatal accidents blamed on distracted driving has increased by about 25 percent, from 4,978 in 2004 to 5,870 in 2008.

"Distracted driving is an emerging problem but a significant highway safety issue," said Vernon F. Betkey Jr., chairman of the Governor's Association. "Certainly most of the attention has been on texting and driving but there are a host of other distractions including cell phone calls (both handheld and hands-free) as well as more traditional ones such as eating, adjusting the radio, using the CD player or talking to passengers. Drivers need to be reminded to manage these distractions safely."

Among the studies findings:

-The advent of Blackberry's, Smart Phones, GPS devices and electronic notebooks has led to more potential driver distractions than ever before and such devices continue to be invented at a pace difficult to match by lawmakers and safety advocates.

-The number of drivers using cell phones at any given point has increased by 50 percent in the last six years (from 1 in 25 to 3 in 50).

-Only 34 states collect specific information on cell phone use at crash sites.

-About half of states do not provide information on distracted driving to teenagers.

-28 states (including Illinois) now ban text messaging by drivers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 6,000 motorists are killed each year and more than 500,000 are injured in accidents caused by distracted driving. The Governor's Association notes the actual number is probably much higher because of the lack of mandated data collection regarding distracted driving.

"We need to develop a traffic safety culture that does not condone driving while distracted much like we have done with drunk driving," Betkey said.

Continue reading "Motorists may be at increased risk of Chicago car accidents caused by distracted driving " »

A suburban Chicago car accident killed an 81-year-old man near Wheaton on Sunday night, the Daily Herald reported.

Authorities report that a 2004 Dodge Dakota was heading east on Butterfield Road near Arrowhead Drive at about 8:40 p.m. Sunday when the victim's Mercury Grand Marquis tried to turn out of the golf course to travel west. The truck struck the driver's side front end of the Mercury.

The victim was taken to Central DuPage Hospital in Windfield, where he was pronounced dead at 1:49 a.m. The 23-year-old driver of the truck was treated for minor injuries and released.

Butterfield Road was closed for about three yours as authorities conducted the investigation. The accident remains under investigation and no citations have been issued.

Elsewhere on Monday, a Chicago man died in a traffic accident at the border of the city and Elmwood Park, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office reported. The 40-year-old driver was pronounced dead at 12:51 p.m. at University of Illinois Medical Center following an accident at 2300 N. Harlem Ave., the Sun-Times reported.

No other information about that crash was made available.

Through Monday, a total of 293 fatal Illinois traffic accidents had claimed 431 lives in 2010, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. A total of 481 fatal accidents were reported in Illinois during the same period a year ago.

A Chicago motorcycle accident injured a 33-year-old Aurora man Friday night after his bike collided with a vehicle that failed to yield while turning left, the Daily-Chronicle reported.

Our Chicago accident attorneys continue to report about the high number of serious and fatal motorcycle accidents that occur each summer in the Chicago area. Motorists who fail to yield to a motorcycle are a primary cause of crashes.

Nearly 1,000 motorcycle accidents occurred in Chicago in 2008, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Twenty three riders were killed and 463 were seriously injured.

In this case, police report the motorcyclist was riding his Suzuki eastbound on Chicago Road, shortly before 6 p.m. Friday, when he was struck by a westbound Chevrolet van that turned left in front of him. The rider was taken to Valley West Community Hospital. The 54-year-old driver of the van was not injured.

Nationwide, a total of 5,290 riders were killed in 2008 and 96,000 were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Riders will be out in force through the last half of summer, enjoying the Illinois riding season before the weather turns crisp in the fall. Motorists are urged to do their part to avoid being involved in a serious or fatal Illinois motorcycle accident. IDOT provides a wide range of resources through startseeingmotorcycles.org, including a list of safety classes and resources for bikers and motorists alike.

According to its "Share the Road" brochure:

-Intersections: Are the most dangerous place for crashes. Most often the motorcycle is proceeding straight when the vehicle makes a left turn in front of the rider (which is exactly what happened in this case). Yield the right of way and always use your turn signal.

-Lanes: A motorcycle lane is the same size as a car lane; a motorcycle is entitled to its own lane of travel and should never be crowded. Don't attempt to share a lane.

-Following Distance: Allow at least two second following distance between any vehicle, especially a motorcycle.

-Stopping Distance: Motorcycles can sometimes stop quicker than cars, but a lot depends on weather and road conditions and a rider's training and experience. Make sure to leave plenty of room between you and a motorcycle in the event it becomes necessary to stop suddenly.

-Drive Aware: Motorcycle registrations account for little more than 3 percent of the vehicles on the road. However, they are involved in almost 13 percent of fatal motor vehicle accidents. Motorists need to be aware of motorcycles and share the road.

The Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, working as co-counsel with the law firm of Hilfman & Martin, have filed a church sex abuse lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Catholic Bishop of Chicago and Cardinal Francis George.

The lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of James C. Doe to protect the identity of the victim, accuses Catholic officials of failing to relieve Father Daniel McCormack of his official duties despite having information that McCormack had a history of abuse complaints dating back to his time in the seminary. The abuse in this case is alleged to have occurred while the boy was a middle-school student from 1999 to 2002 and continued through 2006 while the boy was in high school.

McCormack pleaded guilty in 2007 to charges that he abused five boys. He was sentenced to five years in prison and had been scheduled for release but officials have filed a lawsuit to keep him confined as a sexually violent person, ABC7 reported.

The lawsuit also accuses the Archdiocese, the Cardinal and the Catholic Bishop of failing to report McCormack's behavior to the police or to warn the public. And of destroying notes and records of McCormack's abuse of minors and fellow seminarians.

Instead, officials allowed him to be ordained as a priest and promoted through the system until he was named pastor of St. Agatha's Parish in 2000. The parish included a daycare program and a school campus that is part of Our Lady of the West Side. While at the parish, he was also a teacher and boy's basketball coach.

During his time at the church, McCormack sexually abused boys; church leaders failed to properly investigate complaints about the priest's behavior and did not inform authorities or parents of the allegations, according to the lawsuit. Church leaders also failed to notify school administrators and permitted McCormack to continue working with young boys.

Despite being arrested in 2005, Church leaders did not remove him from his position as pastor at St. Agatha's. A review board recommended to the Cardinal that McCormack be removed in mid October 2005, which the Cardinal rejected. He was finally removed in January 2006 when he was arrested a second time.

The lawsuit accuses the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Catholic Bishop of Chicago and Cardinal Francis George of 28 instances of breach of duty and failure to provide reasonable care.

Gov. Pat Quinn signed a law into effect today aimed at reducing the number of serious and fatal Chicago bicycle accidents and cycling accidents elsewhere in Illinois, the Examiner reported.

The legislation signed Monday at the Campbell Street Bicycle Shop in suburban Arlington Heights provides new consequences for motorists who travel carelessly or too closely to bikes on the road and will create a "Share the Road" license plate. Profit from the plates will go toward education campaigns.

As our Chicago injury lawyers recently reported, the city has been named the 10th best in the nation for bike riding by Bicycling Magazine. The city's bike plan aims to increase cycling infrastructure by 50 percent to 150 bike-lane miles. Overall, the system will grow to 500 miles.

But Illinois bicycle accidents continue to threaten the health and safety of riders. In 2008, 27 riders were killed and nearly 3,400 were seriously injured in bicycle accidents.

The League of Illinois Bicyclists hailed the new laws, which will make it a Class A misdemeanor or Class 4 felony to drive recklessly near or toward a cyclist. The penalties will depend on whether or not a rider was injured.

Continue reading "New law aimed at reducing Chicago bicycle accidents, cycling accidents throughout Illinois" »

Nine people were injured in a Chicago bus accident Monday afternoon on the West Side, FOX News reported.

The No. 53 Pulaski Chicago Transit Authority bus was southbound on Pulaski near Chicago Avenue when a northbound vehicle weaved into the southbound lanes, according to a CTA spokesperson, who said the bus driver was unable to avoid the crash.

Nine people were taken to area hospitals. The injured included the bus driver and eight passengers. The Breaking News Center reported that the accident involved an SUV.

As we reported recently on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, a significant number of accidents involving CTA buses have been reported in recent months.

-Eleven people were sent to the hospital in late June after a CTA bus and a car collided in Wicker Park.

-In April, the family of a man run over by a CTA bus filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city.

-Two serious CTA bus accidents occurred in May: A bus accident on the Northwest Side injured seven riders and 12 others were hurt when a bus crashed into a building.

Bus passengers choose public transportation for many reasons: To save money, for convenience or because they do not want to deal with the cost and responsibility of owning a vehicle and driving in the metro area. Passengers have a right to expect safe transportation. Chicago mass transit accidents, including bus accidents, subway accidents and train accidents can be complicated cases and we recommend that you contact a Chicago injury attorney if injured in this type of accident.

Almost 4,000 Illinois bus accidents were reported in 2008 -- killing six people and injuring more than 600, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Illinois school bus accidents killed six people and injured 349 that year.

The Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes wish each of you a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July weekend. In preventing injuries over the holiday, we encourage you to leave the fireworks displays to the professionals, drink responsibly and don't drink and drive, practice safe boating and driving habits and speak with your teenagers about staying safe and making good decisions.

Drink Responsibly and Don't Drink and Drive
As our Chicago accident lawyers report frequently, drunk driving is responsible for one-third of Chicago car accidents as well as accidents in Cook County and throughout Illinois. Nationwide, someone dies every 45 minutes in a car accident involving a drunk driver. In Illinois, 434 of 1,043 fatalities involved alcohol in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Safe Boating

The U.S. Coast Guard reported 4,789 accidents killed 709 boaters and injured more than 3,300 in 2008. The leading causes of boating accidents include careless and reckless operation, operator inattention, no proper lookout, operator inexperience and passenger/skier behavior. Alcohol use is a factor in nearly 1 in 5 boating fatalities. In 2008, a total of 119 Illinois boating accidents were reported, killing 19 boaters and injuring 79.

Visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for more information on safe boating and boater education.

Teen Driving Safety
We offer a host of safe teen driving information, both here and on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog. Please take the time to speak with your teenagers about the importance of making good driving decisions this summer.

Fireworks Injuries
The safest way to enjoy fireworks this weekend is by leaving the displays to the professionals. Fireworks injuries are not an abstract concept -- they are a tragically regular occurrence during the New Year's and Fourth of July Holidays.

-In 2006, 11 people were killed and more than 9,200 were treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

-More than two-thirds of fireworks injuries occur around the Fourth of July.

-One-third of those injured were children under 15. Young people under 20 sustained nearly half of all fireworks injuries.

-The most frequent injuries reported involved the hands (2,300), eyes (1,500) and the head, face and ears (1,400).

-More than half of all injuries involve burns. Other common injuries include contusions, lacerations and foreign objects in the eyes.

-Fireworks injuries are associated with blindness, third-degree burns and permanent scarring. Life-threatening residential and motor-vehicle fires are also reported.

-Firecrackers caused the greatest number of injuries (1,300) followed by sparklers (1,000) and rockets (800).

-More than one-third of fireworks related deaths involve professional devices that are illegally sold to consumers.

-Common causes of fireworks injuries include availability of high-grade fireworks to the consumers, being too close to fireworks, operator error and lack of coordination, child curiosity and experimenting with homemade devices.

Continue reading "Chicago injury lawyers wishing you a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July" »