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.

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 " »

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.

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.

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.

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).

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).

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.

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.

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 " »

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 " »

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. The plaintiff was represented by the Chicago firm of Cogan & McNabola, P.C., and it looks like they did a great job at trial.

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

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 " »

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 the 27 year old defendant 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.

The DUI driver 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.

The defendant 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.

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 " »

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. The driver, age 25, and his passenger, age 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 there was only one 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 " »

A Wheaton, Illinois Accident Attorney has received a good jury verdict in a premises liability case, according to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. The plaintiff fell and was hurt while bowling. It was alleged that the oil used to condition the bowling lane was too close to the foul line and the warning signs were not adequate. The plaintiff sustained a right broken leg. The defendant argued that the accident probably occurred because the plaintiff went over the foul line and then slipped.

Prior to trial, the plaintiff demanded $36,000 to settle and the defendant offered $24,000. The jury awarded $99,600 (after 40% off of $166,000 for comparative fault).

Taking this case to trial took a little "chutzpah" on the part of the plaintiff's attorney. Slip and fall, premises liability cases are often difficult to win at trial. Further, this verdict was in DuPage County where verdicts tend to be a little conservative compared to Cook or Will County. A lot of lawyers would have taken this case, but not many would have been thrilled about taking it to trial.

The verdict was in Shirley Mills v. Manfred's Bierstube Inc., d/b/a Wood Dale Bowl, DuPage County Case No. 05 L 172. The plaintiff was represented by George L. Acosta of Wheaton, and the defendant was represented by Matthew Burke of Heineke & Burke in Chicago. (I should add that the result is also impressive because Matthew Burke is a very good defense lawyer.)

Continue reading " DuPage County, Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer Gets Good Verdict in Slip And Fall Case " »

In Chicago, Illinois a motorist was hurt in an auto accident on the West Side, according to CBS News. The accident happened near Chicago Avenue and Kilbourn Avenue when the injured person drove into a pole around 2 a.m.

The driver was alone in the car and he was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital. The Chicago Police have indicated that a van may have been involved in the accident as well, but no further details have yet been made.

We will have to wait and see if the accident was just weather related, or if a van somehow caused the accident and personal injury lawyers get involved.

Continue reading " Chicago Car Crash Leaves Man Injured and In Critical Condition " »

An Illinois State Police Trooper was injured in a car crash on Sunday night about 10 miles North of Bloomington Normal, Illinois on Interstate 39, according to CentralIllinoisProud.com. The trooper, Brian Masters, was parked on the shoulder of the Northbound lanes when 19 year old Amelia Delee lost control of her car on ice and rear ended the squad car. She had 4 passengers in her car.

All parties in the accident were taken to St. Francis Hospital in Bloomington, Illinois. The driver was cited by police for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

From an injury lawyer's view, besides having a job related injury, the Trooper has a civil case against the driver that hit him. There should really be no issue as to liability, and the only issue will be damages. The passengers also have an injury claim against the driver that lost control. Hopefully Delee has good and valid insurance to cover the loss.

Continue reading " Auto Accident Injures Illinois State Police Trooper on Interstate 39 " »

In the Chicago Area Suburb of Barrington Hills a teen died in a car crash on early Saturday morning, according to the Chicago Tribune. The driver, a 17 year old Carpentersville resident, was killed when his car crossed the center line and struck an oncoming vehicle. The accident happened on Highway 62 just before 4 a.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two passengers in the other car were injured and taken to Sherman Hospital in Elgin. There were no signs of drug or alcohol use involved, but toxicology results are not yet known.

Weather conditions were very poor for driving last Saturday, and it is very possible that ice and snow contributed to the crash.

Continue reading " Kane County, Illinois Auto Accident Kills Teenager " »

In Chicago, Illinois a Saturday night auto accident seriously injured at least five people, including three children. A Buick lost control, hit a Hyundai and crashed into a median, according to the Chicago Sun Times. The auto collision occurred around 10:30 pm near 31st Street, and the Illinois State Police were the responding officers to the crash.

The only people reported injured were in the Buick. Four were taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County, and one was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. All injuries are reportedly not life threatening.

The Illinois State Police cited the driver with improper lane usage and no valid drivers license. They say that bad weather conditions (snow and ice) played a role in the accident.

From a Chicago personal injury lawyer's perspective, it is likely that the passengers in the Buick and the occupants of the Hyundai will have injury claims against the driver of the Buick, that is assuming the driver of the Buick had valid insurance. The Buick appeared to be traveling too fast for conditions in ice and snow.

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

En Cook County, Illinois abogados de accidente de Abels & Assoc. han alcanzado un arreglo del choque de auto para un residente local. Él estuvo implicado en un accidente en el área de Chicago y llevado a Gottlieb Memorial Hospital en Melrose Park, Illinois por ambulancia. El visitó luego a otros médicos para seguir el cuidado. El caso colocó para $20,500. El demandado fue asegurado por State Farm. El sostuvo las heridas "suaves del tejido" a su espina dorsal lumbar en el accidente, significa torceduras y esfuerzos, y él no tuvo protuberancias de disco ni herniations.

A Chicago resident was hit and killed by a car in Skokie on Thursday night, according to the Chicago Tribune. The pedestrian vs. auto accident happened after dark at 7:30 p.m. in the 3900 block of Golf Road near the Springfield Avenue intersection.

No traffic tickets were issued by the Skokie Police, as they say the pedestrian crossed in the dark without a crosswalk. The driver never saw the pedestiran, and did not know what he hit until after he pulled over.

The pedestrian was Jaime Villanueva, 44, of Rogers Park. He was taken to Evanston Hospital and pronounced dead at 9:08 p.m. Police state that location is very dark at night and they are still trying to determine why the pedestrian was in the road.

While the newspaper report indicates the police blame the pedestrian for this auto accident, it will be interesting to see if further investigation shows anything different, or if personal injury lawyers get involved on behalf of the pedestrian's family. While it was dark out, and there is no crosswalk at that location, the pedestrian obviously cannot give his side of the story.

Continue reading " Skokie Illinois Pedestrian Accident Kills Chicago Resident " »

In Chicago, Illinois a truck crash has forced the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to close the Bishop Ford Expressway in both directions at 115th Street, according to nwi.com. Vehicles are being forced to exit the highway at 115th and re-enter at a different location.

Apparently a large dump truck hit the 115th Street bridge, and inspectors are now evaluating the damage to the structure. How the accident happened and whether people were injured has not been reported.

IDOT is recommending drivers take alternate routes such as the Chicago Skyway, Interstate 57 and Halsted Street.

A Chicago area resident was killed in a car vs. train collision on Tuesday when his pick up truck got stuck on ice at a train crossing in Gary, Indiana. He was hit by a South Shore Line commuter train, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The man killed has been identified as Charles Jones of Gary, Indiana. It has been reported that the gates at the crossing were down and Jones went around them to beat the train. The train crash occurred at U.S. Highway 12 and County Line Road at about 5:30 a.m. between the Portage/Ogden Dunes and Miller stations. The train was headed to downtown Chicago.

It has not been indicated if there were injured train passengers, or if there was any negligent conduct on the part of the train operator. The train was supposed to be very crowded and standing room only.

2 separate Greyhound buses traveling between Chicago, Illinois and Indianapolis have crashed in Indiana. People were injured in both bus accidents.

A Greyhound bus traveling to Chicago, Illinois from Indianapolis has collided with a pick up truck on Snowy Interstate 65, according to the Indystar website. Two people were injured and taken to a hospital in Boone County, Indiana. The Boone County Sheriff's Department reported that the highway was slippery after several inches of snow fell. The Northbound lanes on I-65 were briefly closed after the accident. There were 38 passengers on the bus. It has not determined which driver caused the accident. There were several accidents in the same area of Indiana this morning, most likely due to snow and ice conditions.

Earlier in the morning another Greyhound bus on Interstate 65 traveling from Chicago to Indy was involved in an accident outside Lafayette, Indiana. 23 passengers were injured an taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital and Home Hospital in Lafayette, according to CBS News. Indiana State Police report the bus spun out of control, no other vehicles have been reported to be involved.

Indystar.com also reported that the Boone County Sheriff said "every time you have the first or second snowfall of the year, people just forget how to drive". From my experience as a personal injury lawyer, the sheriff is absolutely right.

A Cook County Resident was seriously injured when a motor vehicle drove onto a sidewalk at Cumberland Avenue and Summerdale Avenue, in Chicago, Illinois. Chester Doboszewski was the pedestrian who was hurt. He was waiting on the sidewalk for a walk sign to cross the street. The accident happened right in front of a Chicago Fire Department Firehouse.

The at fault driver did not stop and fled the accident scene. Chicago Fire Department Paramedics rushed Chester to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. He was diagnosed with multiple left leg fractures and a skull fracture.

Normally, a pedestrian struck by a hit & run driver would have a good uninsured motorist claim against his own insurance company. His insurance company would "step into the shoes" of the hit and run driver, and the pedestrian would recover monetary damages. Here, unfortunately Mr. Doboszewski has no auto insurance and no one in his household has auto insurance. His only hope to recover is against the at fault driver.

If anyone has any information regarding this pedestrian accident, please contact the Chicago Police Department, or contact our office.

In Cook County, Illinois, accident attorneys from Abels & Assoc. have reached a car crash settlement for a local resident. He was involved in an accident in the Chicago Area and taken to Gotlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park, Illinois by ambulance. He later visited other doctors for follow up care. The case settled for $20,500. The defendant driver was insured by State Farm. He sustained "soft tissue" injuries to his lumbar spine in the accident, meaning sprains and strains, and he had no disc bulges or herniations.

In Cook County, Illinois, accident lawyers have already filed a train accident lawsuit on behalf of a family that was on the Amtrak train that crashed into a freight train on the South Side last Friday, according to the Chicago Sun Times. The lawsuit was filed against Amtrak and the Norfolk Southern Freight Company.

John Hamstra and his family were headed to Chicago for a weekend of holiday shopping when the Chicago bound train, that was reportedly speeding, crashed into a freight train. Hamstra sustained a fractured shoulder and a concussion.

The lawsuit is alleging negligence against both train companies, and the personal injury lawyers for the plaintiffs will be seeking a protective order for all documents related to the accident.

The Amtrak train was allegedly going 25 miles in excess of the speed that track signals indicated was safe, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. 71 people, including several Amtrak employees, went to 12 area hospitals as a result of the crash near 52nd and Shields.

A Rockford, Illinois auto accident has resulted in the death of a 13 year old girl, and others were also injured, according to Rockford's NBC 13. The accident occurred in icey conditions on Sunday near the Rockford Chicago Airport around 11:30 on Eastbound Kishwaukee Road. A 20 year old woman lost control of her car and slid into a vehicle traveling the opposite direction. Her 13 year old sister was in her car and died at the scene.

A mother and daughter in the other car were seriously injured, but they are expected to be ok. They were taken to Swedish American Hospital. Police are saying that this weekend's weather played a factor in the accident.

From a personal injury lawyer perspective, the Estate of the 13 year old will have a claim against the sister. The fact that they were family members in no way bars wrongful death claims in the State of Illinois. The injured women in the other vehicle also have a claim against the driver that hit them. Bad & icey weather is also not a defense. A driver in Illinois has a duty to not drive too fast for road conditions.

Chicago, Illinois accident attorneys could be busy this week after our area was hit with ice and snow over the weekend. Usually the first few nasty snows of the season result in a lot of car crashes. It seems like every year people forget how to handle their vehicles in winter conditions and many cars are sliding all over the roads.

Here are a few suggestions if involved in a motor vehicle accident:

AT THE COLLISION SITE:

Stop, and do not leave the accident locations. Criminal charges can result from fleeing the accident site.

Make sure no one in your car is seriously injured.

Call the police to report the car crash, and let them know if anyone is injured. Make sure a police report is made, as you will need it later.

Get your car off the road (if you can do it safely).

Use your hazard lights, and flares if you have them.

Do not argue with any of the other parties involved in the accident.

Obtain information from the other persons involved (name, address, insurance information) and obtain witness info. as well.

Do not accept fault for the accident.

Talk to police, make sure to give your side of the story.

If hurt, let the police and paramedics know. Do not refuse medical care if you are in pain, and take the ambulance ride to the hospital to get checked out.

AFTER THE ACCIDENT:

Call us ASAP after the accident. The sooner we know what is going on, the better we can advise you. Call 312-399-8988 24 hours to speak to an accident lawyer.

Seek medical treatment if you have been injured.

Do not get tricked in to giving a written or recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company before consulting with an accident lawyer.

Report the accident to your own insurance company.

If the police never came to the scene of the accident, go to the nearest police station and make a report.

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, CONTACT OUR OFFICE IMMEDIATELY, AS EVERY ACCIDENT IS DIFFERENT AND WE MAY HAVE IMPORTANT ADVICE THAT IS NOT LISTED ABOVE. Call 312-399-8988 for 24 hour injury attorney assistance.

In DuPage County, Illinois, accident attorneys from Abels & Assoc. have reached a car crash settlement for a local resident. He was involved in an accident in Darien, Illinois and taken to Hinsdale Hospital by ambulance for back injuries. He later followed up with Hindsdale Orthopaedics and Athletico for physical therapy. The case settled for $11,300. The defendant driver was insured by State Farm. He sustained "soft tissue" injuries to his lumbar spine in the accident, meaning sprains and strains, and he had no disc bulges or herniations.

In the wrongul dealth lawsuit of the Estate of Keith Magnuson v. Rob Ramage, the jury in St. Louis County, Missouri has awarded 9.5 million in favor of the plaintiffs, according to the Canadian Press. The case stems from a fatal drunk driving accident that occurred in 2003 and resulted in the death of former Chicago Blackhawk Keith Magnuson. The two former NHL players were traveling from a funeral together outside of Toronto, Canada when the accident took place.

In closing arguments the personal injury lawyer for Magnuson's family asked for an award ranging from 25 to 33 million. One of the defense lawyers recommended a lesser figure of 2.5 million. After the verdict, the accident lawyer for Magnuson's family stated that the result was fair.

Ramage was also recently found guilty of various forms of DUI charges in criminal court and is scheduled to be sentenced in January, 2008. Ramage himself underwent hip surgery as a result of the motor vehicle collision.

Magnuson played in the NHL from 1969-1979, and all of his 589 career games were with the Chicago Blackhawks. He went to the Stanley Cup twice with the Hawks in 1971 and 1973, both times losing to the Montreal Canadiens. He was also captain of the Blackhawks for several years.