Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

A Chicago police officer has been charged with DUI after an expressway auto accident on Christmas Eve, according to the Chicago Tribune. The car crash happened on the Dan Ryan at 43rd Street in the express lanes around 11:30 pm. The police officer was off duty and heading southbound when he struck a tow truck.

The officer was in critical condition after the car collision and he was taken to Stroger Hospital. The tow truck driver was hurt in the accident as well. He was taken to Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn. The Illinois State Police investigated the accident and charged the off duty officer with DUI.

Believe it or not, this is the third time in the last couple of months I have written about off duty Chicago police officers involved in DUI personal injury auto accidents. In late November an off duty Chicago police officer involved in a fatal motorcycle accident in June, 2007 was charged with DUI. Next, a Chicago, Illinois car crash early Thanksgiving morning resulted in the death of 2 people, and an off duty Chicago police officer that caused the collision was charged with DUI.

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Posted In: Auto Accident

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Chicago injury attorneys from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a premises liability settlement in DuPage County, Illinois. Our client was injured when she tripped and fell on a pothole in the parking lot at the Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook, Illinois. She sustained a mild wrist fracture in the fall. She was taken to Adventist Bolingbrook Medical Center and followed up with Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. She incurred around $5,000 in medical bills. The DuPage County trip and fall case settled for $15,000. The defendant was insured by the Hartford.

The photo below shows the condition of the parking lot. The pothole was not that wide, but it was over eight inches in depth. If you look closely at the photo, the pothole is filled with water. That made it hard for my client to see the dangerous condition.

Continue reading " DuPage County, Illinois Premises Liability Settlement Reached by Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers " »

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Posted In: Fractures / Broken Bones , Premises Liability , Settlements & Verdicts , Slip and Fall

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Después de que un accidente de auto que dejo a un residente de Chicago muerto, la policía del estado de Illinois busca un Cadillac blanco, según WBBM Newsradio 780. El choque injusto de la muerte sucedió en el I-90 en State Street/Illinois 30 rampa en Elgin, Illinois.

El Cadillac blanco entró la carretera e inmediatamente desvió en la senda mediana y causó que un Honda Cívico se cambiara a la senda izquierda. El Cívico entonces choco con un Nissan, y entonces un autobús de transbordador de O'Hare se estrelló contra el Cívico, matando al conductor del Cívico, de 24 años de edad David Nazario de Chicago.Nazario tuvo su cinturón de seguridad puesto en el tiempo del choque. Nadie más fue herido en el accidente.

Cualquiera con información con respecto al choque debe llamar la policía del estado de Illinois en (630) 241-6800.

De una perspectiva personal de abogado de herida, es probable que el conductor del Cadillac no será encontrado. Si el conductor nunca es agarrado, la familia de la víctima entonces podrá hacer un golpe y corre, no asegurado reclamo de automovilista en la propia póliza de seguro del víctima.

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After an auto accident that left one Chicago resident dead, Illinois State Police are searching for a white Cadillac, according to WBBM Newsradio 780. The wrongful death crash took place on I-90 at the State Street / Illinois 30 entrance ramp in Elgin, Illinois

The white Cadillac entered the highway and immediately swerved into the middle lane and caused a Honda Civic to move into the left lane. The Civic then crashed into a Nissan, and then an O'Hare shuttle bus slammed into the Civic, killing the driver of the Civic, 24 year old David Nazario of Chicago. Nazario was seat belted at the time of the collision. No one else was injured in the accident.

Anyone with information regarding the crash should call the Illinois State Police at (630) 241-6800.

From a personal injury lawyer's perspective, it is likely that the driver of the Cadillac will not be found. If the driver is never caught, the family of the victim will then be able to make a hit & run, uninsured motorist claim on the victim's own insurance policy.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

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

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In Chicago, Illinois there was a multiple vehicle pile up on Lake Shore Drive during the Friday morning rush. Five people were hospitalized, according to CBS News.

The auto accident happened at Addison and Lake Shore Drive in the Southbound lanes just after 6 am. Seven cars were involved. All of the injured were reported to be in fair condition. Two people were taken to Saint Joseph Hospital, one person was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, one went to Thorek Hospital, and one went to Weiss Memorial Hospital. The crash caused a big traffic back up. The names of the parties involved, and what caused the car crash have not yet been reported.

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Posted In: Auto Accident

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En Chicago, Illinois, abogados de accidente de auto de David Abels & Associates, P.C. han alcanzado un arreglo de choque de coche para un residente local. El fue implicado en un accidente en el cruce de Central & Augusta en Chicago y fue a UIC Médico Central para heridas de espalda. La responsabilidad fue disputada en el caso. Fue un "él dijo", "ella dijo" caso de la luz roja. Ambos partidos reclamaron que ellos tenían la luz verde. Para complicar más el caso, la Policía de Chicago entrevistó a dos testigos en la escena del accidente. Un testigo tomó el partido del demandante, mientras el otro tomó el partido del acusado.

El caso se asentó por $10,000 el día antes del ensayo. El acusado fue asegurado por United Automobile Insurance Company.

Los abogados de la Compensación de trabajadores de nuestra firma habían asentado previamente un caso de la herida del trabajo para el demandante basado en el mismo accidente. Nuestro cliente estuvo en el trabajo en el tiempo del choque. Pudimos convencer el portador del seguro de la Compensación de Trabajadores a reducir su gravamen por aproximadamente 80% en permitir el arreglo. (Nosotros sólo fuimos permitidos a una 25% de reducción del gravamen del comp por la ley).

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In Chicago, Illinois, auto accident attorneys from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a car crash settlement for a local resident. He was involved in an accident at the intersection of Central and Augusta in Chicago and went to UIC Medical Center for back injuries. Liability was very contested in the case. It was a "he said, she said" red light case. Both parties claimed they had a green light. To further complicate the case, the Chicago Police Department interviewed 2 witnesses at the accident scene. One witness sided with the plaintiff, while the other sided with the defendant. The case settled for $10,000 the day before trial. The defendant was insured by United Automobile Insurance Company.

Workers' compensation lawyers from our firm had previously settled a work injury case for the plaintiff based on the same accident. Our client was on the job at the time of the crash. We were able to convince the work comp insurance carrier to reduce their lien by approximately 80% to enable the settlement. (We were only entitled to a 25% comp lien reduction by law).

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Posted In: Auto Accident , Settlements & Verdicts , Work Injuries

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A Chicago Area woman has died from injuries sustained in a November 25, 2007 Arkansas bus crash, according to the Chicago Sun Times. She is the second Fox Valley resident to die as a result of the wrongful death bus crash in route from Chicago to Dallas, Texas.

Arkansas State Police have reported that Maria Del Carmen Fuentes past away on Saturday in a Memphis, Tennessee hospital. Raul Lopez of West Chicago, Illinois was also on the bus and died at the accident site. They were on a Tornado Bus Co. bus with 45 other people.

The fatal motor vehicle collision happened in the rain on Interstate 40 in northern Arkansas around 10 pm on a Sunday night when the bus crossed a median, hit a pickup truck, and then hit a larger commercial truck. Lopez, another passenger, and the driver of the pickup truck died on the scene.

Raul Lopez was a father of 4, grandfather of 5, and worked in manufacturing. His mother lives in Mexico, and he usually drove there, but no one was available to make the trip with him. Lopez thought his vision was not good enough to drive at night, so he took the bus.

Another Chicago area man, Marcos Valencia, of south suburban Crete, Illinois was also seriously injured in the bus crash. He was taken to a Memphis hospital for surgery.

Continue reading " Plano, Illinois Resident Dies as Result of Arkansas Bus Crash " »

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Posted In: Auto Accident , Bus Accident , Wrongful Death

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Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers from David Abels & Associates, P.C. just settled a work injury case for an Oak Park resident who was injured while unloading a truck at work. He injured his right shoulder and received a settlement value for 30% of an arm. He has fully recovered and the case has been settled for just under $14,000. The settlement has already been approved by the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Wausau Insurance insured the defendant.

David Abels & Associates, P.C. is a personal injury law firm that represents injured workers from throughout the Chicago area and the entire State of Illinois. Many of his clients come from Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County, McHenry County, Kane County, and Will County, as well as nearby neighborhoods and towns such as Garfield Park, Wicker Park, Logan Square, Bucktown, Oak Park, Cicero, Maywood, Broadview, Westchester, Stone Park and Oakbrook.

Workers' compensation lawyers from his firm handle all types of job related injuries, including fractures, back and neck injuries, lacerations, and severe shoulder injuries.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Settlements & Verdicts , Work Injuries

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In Cook County, Illinois a Lisle resident has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident after he struck a police officer and then fled the scene on late Sunday, according to WBBM News Radio. The pedestrian accident happened in the Lake View neighborhood on Chicago's near north side at the intersection of Belmont and Cambridge.

Robert A. Heinzelman, 33, of Lisle was arrested by Chicago Police several hours after the crash. The car involved in the incident was found parked in a garage parked next to Heinzelman's apartment and it was registered in his name.

The Chicago Police Major Accident Investigation Unit arrested the defendant without incident and stated that he may be charged with DUI as well. He was driving a blue Ford Focus and was seen driving South on Cambridge after the alleged occurrence. The officer was on foot at the time of the injury accident and he was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Continue reading " Chicago, Illinois Hit and Run Pedestrian Auto Accident Injures Police Officer " »

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

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

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In Chicago, Illinois an auto accident on the Dan Ryan critically injured 3 on Sunday, according to the Chicago Sun Times. The car rolled over at 43rd Street just after 10:00 a.m. The injured were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, John Stroger Hospital of Cook County, and Mount Sinai Hospital.

The Illinois State Police report that 2 people were ejected from the vehicle and one was pinned inside and had to be removed by emergency workers. Troopers further indicated that speed may have played a role, and that some of the injured were not seat belted. None of the injuries are supposed to be life threatening. The names of the parties in the car accident have not been released.

Continue reading " Chicago, Illinois Roll Over Injury Car Crash on Dan Ryan " »

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Posted In: Auto Accident

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A Cook County, Illinois Accident Attorney has received a good jury verdict in a negligence case, according to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. The plaintiff was injured when he was leaving the Chromium nightclub located at 817 W. Lake Street, in the River West Neighborhood. Someone threw a bottle into the club, striking a bouncer employed by Chromium.

After getting hit, the bouncer threw the bottle back in the direction from which it came. The bottle hit a pillar and it shattered, and pieces of glass struck the plaintiff in his eye. He sustained permanant eye injuries. The defendant denied the plaintiff's version of events.

Prior to trial, the plaintiff demanded $500,000 to settle and the defendant would only offer $300,000. The jury awarded $881,238.

The verdict was in Freddie Stinson v. 817 West Lake Street, Inc. and Chromium Club Inc., Cook County Case No. 04 L 010416.

Continue reading " Chicago, Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer Gets Good Premises Liability Verdict " »

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Premises Liability , Settlements & Verdicts

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In a Chicago, Illinois auto accident a person was killed and another was seriously injured when a motor vehicle struck a building near the Lincolnwood and Chicago border on Friday, according to the Chicago Suntimes. The car hit a building located in the 3800 block of West Devon Avenue. The Chicago Police Department, Major Accident Investigations were called to the scene.

No further information as to how the accident happened, or the identities of the driver and victims has been released. It was reportedly a "pin-in crash".

In this type of case the family of the deceased will have a wrongful death claim against the driver who struck the building. The second injured person would have a personal injury claim as well.

Our firm recently handled a similar bizarre case where our client was at home in bed in a South suburb of Chicago when an elderly neighbor lost control of her car, crashed thourgh the wall of the house, and struck the plaintiff. The case settled out of court. The only issue in this type of case is typically damages, as there is no issue as to who is at fault.

Continue reading " Chicago, Illinois Pedestrian Accident - Car Crashes Into Building, Kills 1, Injures Another " »

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Pedestrian Accident , Wrongful Death

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A deadly Cook County car crash has resulted in a DUI guilty plea, according to the Southtown Star. The motor vehicle collision occurred on September 9, 2007 when Leonel Ortiz, 27, ran a red light at Western Avenue and 31st Street. He struck a car being driven by Minerva Santiago who died as a result of the crash.

Ortiz had a blood alcohol content of .194, more than twice the legal limit of .08. Prosecutors from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office allege the defendant had about 20 beers before the accident, and further has no valid driver's license.

Ortiz plead guilty to aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol without the benefit of a plea agreement with prosecutors. He can be sentenced anywhere from 3 - 14 years by Cook County Circuit Judge James Linn.

Minerva Santiago was a superintendent the Cook County Department of Corrections. After the accident she was dead on arrival at Mount Sinai Hospital.

From the view of a wrongful death attorney, here the estate of the victim can bring a claim against the defendant in civil court. However, the first question that comes to mind is whether Ortiz even has valid auto insurance to cover the crash. I ask this because the state's attorney's office indicated he did not have a valid driver's license. If the defendant had no insurance, a personal injury attorney would then look to make an uninsured motorist claim against Santiago's own policy.

Continue reading " Chicago, Illinois Wrongful Death Auto Accident Results in DUI Guilty Plea " »

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Posted In: Auto Accident , Wrongful Death

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A hit and run accident near Morton, Illinois caused a tractor-trailer roll over crash on Interstate 74 last Sunday, according to the Pekin Daily Times. A pick-up truck struck the larger truck, caused the driver of the truck to hit a guard rail and then flip over on it's side. The accident occurred during the ice storm that hit central Illinois this week.

Illinois State Police say the tractor-trailer was driven by Gregory Houston, 50, of Quincy. He was east-bound when a gray pick-up struck his vehicle. He also fell out of the truck when it rolled. The pick-up driver fled the scene after the collision.

The accident is still under investigation. The Morton Police Department and Morton Fire Department were also on the scene.

If injured, the driver of the truck can retain a personal injury lawyer and make two types of claims. He has a workers' compensation case because he was injured during the course of his employment. Under work comp the trucker would receive medical benefits, temporary total disability pay if he is off work because of the accident, and he will also be entitled to a bodily injury settlement. The claim would be filed with the Illinois Industrial Commission.

Continue reading " Illinois Roll Over Truck Accident Near Peoria " »

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Posted In: Auto Accident , Hit & Run Accident , Truck Accident , Uninsured Motorist Claim , Work Injuries

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2 Illinois residents died in a deadly auto accident last Saturday just South of Staunton, Illinois on Illinois Route 4, according to the State Journal Register. Jonathan Scott Bultema (driver), 25, and R. Derek Rauzi (passenger), 23, of Gillespie, Illinois were pronounced dead at the scene. The vehicle, a Pontiac Grand Am, was Southbound when it crossed the centerline, went into a ditch on the East side of the road, and hit a telephone pole.

The Madison County Sheriff's Office did state that speed was a factor in the accident, and that alcohol was not. The road was wet, but it is unknown if it was icey. Toxicology reports are still pending and Rauzi was the only passenger in the car.

While it is not fun to talk about when there are fatalities, from a wrongful death lawyer's view, the estate of the passenger has a wrongful death claim against the estate of the driver. If the driver was uninsured, the family of the passenger would be able to make an uninsured motorist claim against the passenger's own policy, or any household family member's policy.

Continue reading " Illinois Single Vehicle Car Crash Kills 2 " »

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Wrongful Death

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