Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Chicago, Illinois premises liability, accident injury lawyers from David Abels & Associates, P.C., working with the firm of Trobe & Babowice of Waukegan, Illinois have been awarded $86,000 ($172,000, reduced to $86,000 for 50% comparative fault) in a premises liability arbitration. The arbitration had low of $5,000 and a high of $100,000 (meaning the most the plaintiff could be awarded was $100,000 and the least the plaintiff could be awarded was $5,000).

The case stems from an accident that happened in the defendant's home where the plaintiff was helping work on a kitchen. The plaintiff was using an electric saw to cut a board and the defendant was holding the board still. The defendant lost his grip and dropped the board, causing the saw to slice off the end of two of the plantiff's fingers. The defendant denied he was anywhere near the plaintiff when the accident occurred.

The defense also retained an expert to testify that the plaintiff was using the saw improperly as a grinder, and that the improper use was the cause of the injury. The plaintiff argued that improper use was irrelevent and that the accident only occurred because the defendant dropped the board.

The arbtration took place at ADR Systems of America in Chicago, Illinois. To learn more about personal injury arbitrations and mediations, please click here to visit our website.

A Morrison, Illinois man faces driving while intoxicated charges after he hit a house with his car, according to the Quad City Times. The Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department is reporting that the accident happened at Henry Road and Deer Trace Road just outside Morrison. Karl R. Schmidt, 20, was westbound on Deer Trace Lane when he lost control of car, went through the intersection of Henry Road, and struck the home of Jean Reed at 15459 Heny Road.

Both the home and the car were damaged. The driver fled the scene and was later stopped by sheriff's deputies. He was arrested and has since posted bond and been released.

While this seems like a bizarre accident, it has not been such a rarity in Illinois lately.

Ealier this month in Downstate Illinois, a 15 year old girl crashed a car into a house in the town of Shiloh. After the auto accident police discovered a woman dead in the house. Sheriff investigators believed that the woman was struck and killed in the car crash. The girl, who had another teenage passenger with her, was taken to the sheriff's department to be interviewed.

The girl was soon released to her parents when the Sheriff's Department determined that the woman was already dead at the time of the car crash. They are not exactly sure when she died, but at least several hours before the crash.

Further, David Abels & Associates, P.C. recently settled a personal injury case where a woman was at home in bed when her elderly neighbor lost control of her car, drove through a wall of the house, and struck our client's bed. The plaintiff only incurred minor injuries and the case settled for $10,000.

If this trend continues, could Illinois homes soon come equipped with seatbelts and airbags?

Two Chicago area Metra trains hit a minivan on Monday evening in the western suburb of Hinsdale, Illinois after the driver got stuck on the tracks and left his vehicle. Franciszek Chudzik, 72, of Aurora, Illinois allegedly crossed two sets of tracks and tried to make a left turn onto a third set of tracks when his vehicle got stuck, according to TheDoings-Hinsdale.com.

Witnesses actually tried to move the van before an eastbound train hit it. People had to yell at the driver to get out of the van before it was struck. The driver then exited the vehicle, put his keys in his pocket and walked away. The minivan was also hit by a second train heading westbound. One witness stated that the van tuned into a fireball after it was hit. The minivan was practically obliterated by the impacts. Click here for Hinsdale, Illinois van vs. train crash photo.

Chudzik was arrested at the scene of the train / car crash and charged with DUI. He allegedly had a blood alcohol content of greater than .08. The police officers conducted sobriety tests at the scene.

David Abels & Associates, P.C. has been contacted by a west suburban resident who was on the westbound Metra train. He sustained headaches and neck injuries as a result of the Illinois train / car collision. He had no idea what caused the accident when he contacted our office. This same passenger was also on last week's Metra train that hit an automobile where the car had driven several hundred feet down the tracks. He was not injured in that accident.

A Chicago, Illinois resident who rear-ended a semi-truck, killing her passenger, has been sentenced to prison by a judge in Van Buren County, Michigan, according to mlive.com. The car / truck crash happened by the Interstate 94 westbound entrance ramp in Mattawan, MI. on February 23, 2007.

The car accident occurred when the driver, a Chicago, Illinois resident, drove around a police roadblock and then struck the back of a truck that was stopped in traffic. Her passenger, Karl L. Shaw, 27, also from Chicago, was killed in the auto collision. Traffic was backed up because of a truck fire.

Beyond the fact that the defendant was driving while intoxicated, a speed-sensing device in her 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt showed she was moving at 103 mph just before the impact.

On January 2, 2008, the driver pleaded no contest to operating a vehicle while intoxicated, causing death. She was sentenced to a term of 22 months - 15 years in prison by Circuit Judge William Buhl, and she will receive credit for time already served.

Un residente de Chicago fue matada en un golpe pedestre de accidente de auto en el Norte el martes pasado, segun el Chicago Sun-Times y el Chicago Tribune. El accidente de auto sucedio en la esquina de Foster y la Avenida Lincoln. El conductor giraba supuestamente a la derecha de Lincoln para ir hacia el este en la Foster cuando la peatón alegada caminó del encintado y fue golpeada por el coche que daba vuelta. Angelina Romero, del 2400 oeste de la Avenida Winona fue la peatón que fue golpeada en el choque. Ella fue apresurada para Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center en Chicago en la condición crítica, donde ella murió el martes en la noche.

El conductor del coche no fue publicado ninguna multa y la Policía de Chicago ha sido citada por el Tribune diciendo "El conductor tuvo el derecho de vía. ... Ella dio un paso en el sendero del vehículo".

Aquí está el problema: Según miembros de la familia de la víctima, no hay testigos independientes al accidente. La policía parece haber tomado inicialmente la palabra del conductor como la verdad, pero el Departamento de Policía de Chicago la Unidad Mayor de Accidentes esta investigando el choque, y será interesante saber lo qué se contiene en el informe.

Aún más, si este asunto acaba en la corte civil, el conductor del coche será impedido de testificar a cómo el accidente sucedió bajo el Acto de hombre Muerto de Illinois. También, bajo la ley de Illinois, un conductor tiene un deber para mantener una mirada fuera para peatones y para rendir a peatones en una caminata cruzada. Este accidente sucedió en un cruce de Chicago que tiene el tráfico pedestre pesado.

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the family of a Chicago Area woman who died from injuries sustained in a November 25, 2007 Arkansas bus crash, according to the Times-Herald of Forrest City, Arkansas. The bus was traveling from Chicago, Illinois to Dallas, Texas. The lawsuit was filed earlier this month in Brownsville, Texas by Alfonso Macias Sr., the husband of Maria del Carmen Fuentes Macias of Plano, Illinois. She past away in a Memphis , Tennessee hospital on December 16, 2007 from injuries sustained in the bus crash. The lawsuit lists Dallas based Tornado Bus Co. and the driver of the bus as defendants.

Earlier this month the bus driver was arrested by the Arkansas State Police and charged with 4 counts of Reckless Homicide after toxicology reports from Tapia showed evidence of amphetamine use at the time of the bus crash.

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 on a rainy night on Interstate 40 in northern Arkansas 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.

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.

A friend of CBS morning news anchor Randy Salerno has been charged with a crime in connection with the Eagle River, Wisconsin snowmobile accident that ended Salerno's life. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Scott D. Hirschey, 44, was charged with one count of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, a felony in Wisconsin. Hirschey's blood alcohol content has not yet been reported. The legal limit is .08 in Wisconsin.

The accident happened around 11:30 p.m. on Thursday night just outside Eagle River, Wisconsin and Salerno was pronounced dead at the scene. Salerno was a passenger on a snowmobile driven by Hirschey. Hirschey reportedly hit an embankment which launched the vehicle in the air, striking several trees.

Once the sheriff's department finishes their investigation, the case will most likely be handed off to Vilas County District Attorney Albert Moustakis for prosecution. Moustakis is a former Chicago area lawyer who has a reputation of being tough but fair. Moustakis was also well known in Evanston, Illinois as the head coach of the high school's varsity hockey team for several years. He relocated to Eagle River in the 1990s.

Salerno, 45, had been with CBS News since 2004. He was previously a reporter and anchor with WGN for 12 years. He also worked at stations in Albany, New York and Peoria. He won a local Emmy Award for his work on the 2004 broadcast of the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

Salerno is from Crystal Lake, Illinois. He lived there with his wife Irene, and their 3 children.

Two siblings from Elgin, Illinois were killed in an auto accident on Thursday when their car was hit by a semi-truck in Huntley, Illinois, according to the Chicago Tribune. Sergio Espinosa, 52, was driving with his sister, Rosalinda Rodriguez, 57, westbound on Oak Creek Parkway at Illinois 47 just after 2:30 p.m. when a truck heading north on Illinois 47 struck the driver's side of their car. The vehicles came to rest around 200 feet from the intersection which is controlled by a traffic light. The police are trying to determine who had the green light and if speed played a role in the accident.

If there are no independent witnesses to the accident, and determining who had the green light could be difficult to do.

A Chicago, Illinois news anchorman has died from injuries sustained in a snowmobile accident, according to several news outlets, including CBS News in Chicago. Randy Salerno, a morning anchor for CBS News, was killed Thursday night in a snowmobiling accident in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Salerno was a passenger on a snowmobile when the driver lost control and struck several trees. Investigators are stating that alcohol and speed may have contributed to the accident.

The accident happened around 11:30 p.m. in the Township of Blum Lake, Wisconsin and Salerno was pronounced dead at the scene. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Vilas County Sheriff's Department and the Vilas County Coroner's office are investigating the accident. The driver of the snowmobile was taken to an area hospital, but no other information has been released on the driver's condition.

Salerno, 45, had been with CBS News since 2004. He was previously a reporter and anchor with WGN for 12 years. He also worked at stations in Albany, New York and Peoria. He won a local Emmy Award for his work on the 2004 broadcast of the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

Salerno is from Crystal Lake, Illinois. He lived there with his wife, Irene, and their 3 children.

In Winnebago County, Illinois a woman stepping on a toothpick has resulted in a $250,000 medical malpractice settlement, according to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. The woman reportedly stepped on a used toothpick at home and then sought out medical treatment from a doctor. The defendant doctor failed to identify and treat a developing infection which subsequently resulted in nerve damage. The case was settled without having to file a lawsuit.

The settled case was captioned Pam Shult v. Jerome Randall. The plaintiff was represented by Devon C. Bruce of Chicago.

David Abels & Associates, P.C. is currently working on a similar medical malpractice issue that happened in Chicago, Illinois where a seemingly minor injury led to serious medical complications. Our client's big toenail on his left foot was rubbing up against his 2nd toe and an infection developed. The infection was not properly diagnosed by a Chicago area emergency room, the infection spread, and our client's leg was partially amputated below the knee.

A Chicago resident was killed in a pedestrian knock down auto accident on the North Side this past Tuesday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune. The auto accident happened at the corner of Foster and Lincoln Avenue. The driver was reportedly turning right from Lincoln to go Eastbound on Foster when the pedestrian allegedly stepped off the curb and was hit by the turning car. Angelina Romero, of the 2400 block of West Winona Avenue was the pedestrian that was struck in the collision. She was rushed to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago in critical condition, where she died Tuesday night

The driver of the car was not issued any tickets and the Chicago Police Department has been quoted by the Tribune as saying "The driver had the right of way. ... She stepped in the path of the vehicle."

Here is the problem: According to family members of the victim, there are no independent witnesses to the accident. The police seem to have initially taken the word of the driver as the truth, but the Chicago Police Department Major Accident Unit is investigating the crash, and it will be interesting to find out what is contained in the report.

Further, if this matter ends up in civil court, the driver of the car will be barred from testifying as to how the accident happened under the Illinois Dead Man's Act. Also, under Illinois law, a driver has a duty to keep a look out for pedestrians and to yield to pedestrians in a cross walk. This accident happened at a Chicago intersection that has heavy pedestrian traffic.

The police might initially side with the driver, but it is a pretty safe bet that Chicago personal injury lawyers are going to get involved in this case.

A Cook County Resident, Lester Cooperwood, 48, died on Sunday night when the car he was riding in as a passenger lost control and struck a steel CTA viaduct near 4600 West Lake Street in Chicago, according to the Chicago Tribune. Cooperwood was riding in the front seat of a Dodge Stratus that was being driven by a 41 year old man who lives at the same address as the victim in the 1700 Block of North Lorel Avenue.

The driver suffered lacerations and bruising and was taken to a Chicago area hospital. The driver was also charged by the Chicago Police Department with with DUI, improper lane usage, driving without a license and no insurance.

Cooperwood was pronounced dead at Mt. Sinai Hospital, Chicago, Illinois a short time later due to injuries sustained in the accident.

From a Chicago personal injury lawyer's perspective, the family of the Cook County passenger has a right to bring a wrongful death claim against the driver of the car, but here it appears the at fault party had no liability insurance. If the victim, or a household family member had a valid auto insurance policy, then the family should be able to make an uninsured motorist claim.

Continue reading " Chicago, Illinois Passenger Killed When Car Hits CTA Viaduct " »

In Henry County, Illinois a fatal single vehicle car crash has left 2 people dead, according to Galesburg.com. A 61 year old male lost control of his car on a slick road while driving north on Illinois 82 near Illinois 17 on Monday afternoon. He drove into a ditch and hit a tree. The driver and his 57 year old wife, who was a passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene. The couple's 10 year old grandson was also in the car and was not seriously injured. He was taken to OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, Illinois. The couple was reportedly headed to Geneseo, Illinois. The Henry County Sheriff's Department is investigating the deadly accident.

U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman has dismissed a lawsuit that challenged the constitutionality of the City of Chicago's method of using cameras to ticket drivers who fail to obey red lights, according to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. Judge Gettlemam ruled that the plaintiffs complaint failed to state claims based on equal protection and substantive due process.

How does this ruling affect Chicago personal injury lawyers? I think the law could resolve a lot of disputed liability personal injury claims and lawsuits. A contested red light case is hard and problematic to prove up in court. It is a "he said, she said" case and you never know who a jury is going to believe.

Last month I settled a red light personal injury car accident case from a 2004 accident. The plaintiff and an independent witness said the plaintiff had the green light, but the defendant and a different independent witness said the defendant had the green light. I recommended that my client settle the case, as he only had a 50% chance of getting past the jury on the issue of liability. If this case happened in front of a traffic camera, I could have subpoenaed the City for the photos, and the case could have resolved years ago.

Continue reading " Federal Judge Throws Out Traffic Camera Lawsuit - Good Result For Chicago, Illinois Personal Injury Lawyers? " »

Illinois car crash deaths are way down this year, according to an article recently published by the Chicago Tribune. 16 people have died in fatal Illinois auto accidents as of January 11, 2008, which is down from 37 last year. As of today's date of January 21, 2008 the number of fatals is 38, which is down from 71 at this time in 2007, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). There have been 12 fatal auto accidents in Chicago and 15 deadly car crashes in all of Cook County, Illinois.

Last year 1,245 people were killed in motor vehicle collisions in Illinois, which is actually the lowest number of fatal accidents since 1924. That is an amazing statistic if you consider how few cars were on the road back then as compared to 2007. The state's goal is to keep the number of auto accident related deaths in Illinois below 1,000. Illinois is currently on pace for only 660 fatalities.

Continue reading " Illinois Auto Accident Deaths Down So Far This Year " »

En Chicago, Illinois abogados de accidente de trafico, de David Abels & Associates, P.C. ha alcanzado un arreglo para un residente de la zona. El fue implicado en un choque de trasero en la rampa de acceso de la calle 79 a Interestatal 94 en Chicago. El y el vehículo detrás de él aflojaron para el tráfico, y el tercer vehículo en la línea golpeó el segundo vehículo, quién alternadamente fue golpeado hacia adelante en nuestro cliente.

El fue llevado al St. Bernard Hospital para heridas de cuello. El trató luego con un medico y un fisioterapeuta para sus heridas. El caso se asentó para $17,000. El acusado fue asegurado por AAA.

Nuestra pasajera del cliente más fue herida gravemente y su caso está todavía pendiente.

Estos comentarios fueron anunciados por David Abels & Associates, P.C., un bufete de abogados personal de la herida que representa a clientes a través del área de Chicago y el Estado entero de Illinois. Muchos de nuestros clients vienen del Condado de Cook, Condado de Lake, Condado de DuPage, Condado de McHenry, Condado de Kane, Condado de Will, bien como los pueblos y los vecindarios tales como Hyde Park, Bucktown, Logan Square, Joliet, Wheaton, Elgin, Saint Charles, Aurora, Skokie, Evanston, North Chicago y Waukegan.

Los abogados del accidente de nuestra firma manejan todas clases de las heridas que resultan de choques de coche, inclusive fracturas (algún que requiere la reparación quirúrgica) desgarros, las heridas de espalda y cuello, y las quemaduras severas. Ellos manejan también los casos injustos de la muerte para las familias que han perdido los adorados porque otra persona fue negligente y causó un accidente fatal de automóvil.

A personal injury auto accident lawyer from Waukegan, Illinois has made a nice pre-litigation settlement, according to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. The case stems from an auto accident that happened in Gurnee, Illinois. The defendant allegedly ran a red light and struck an elderly plaintiff's vehicle which then flipped over. The Lake County driver sustained multiple injuries, including spinal fractures. The Gurnee passenger sustained a torn rotator cuff and multiple fractures. The Lake County car crash case settled for a combined $1,100,000. The driver received $700,000 and the passenger received $400,000.

What makes this settlement nice is it happened without having to file a lawsuit. Typically, the average insurance company is not going to offer this kind of money unless a lawsuit is filed and a significant amount of discovery has been completed (interrogatories, depositions). This type of pre-litigation is great for clients, as they save the cost of litigation which can run thousands of dollars. Further, most plaintiff attorneys work on a one third fee before litigation, but most have the contractual right to take a 40% fee after a lawsuit is filed. Here, the lawyer most likely took a one third fee, saving the plaintiffs over $75,000.

Continue reading " Lake County, Illinois Injury Lawyer Makes Good Settlement " »

Less than 2 months after a jury awarded the family of former Chicago Blackhawk Keith Magnuson 9.5 million in a wrongful death auto accident lawsuit, the at fault party, former NHL player Rob Ramage was sentenced to 4 years in prison. The case stems from a fatal drunk driving accident that killed the former Chicago Blackhawk in 2003. The two former NHL players were traveling from a funeral together outside of Toronto, Canada when the accident took place.

A judge in Ontario, Canada sentenced Ramage for impaired driving causing death, and banned him from driving for five years after his release. Ramage played 15 years in the NHL as a defenseman with eight teams, and was on Stanley Cup winners with the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens.

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.

In Chicago, Illinois car accident attorneys from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a settlement for a local resident. He was involved in a rear end collision at the 79th Street entrance ramp to Interstate 94 in Chicago. He and the vehicle behind him slowed for traffic, and the third vehicle in line struck the 2nd vehicle, who in turn was knocked forward into our client.

He was taken to Saint Bernard Hospital in Chicago, Illinois for neck and back injuries. He later treated with a medical doctor and a physical therapist for his injuries. The case settled for $17,000. The defendant was insured by AAA.

Our client's passenger was more seriously injured and her case is still pending.

Continue reading " Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Reaches Auto Accident Settlement " »

En Chicago, Illinois abogados de accidente de auto de David Abels & Associates, P.C. han alcanzado un arreglo de accidente pedestre para un residente de la zona. Ella fue implicada en un golpe pedestre hacia abajo en el cruce de Pulaski y Fernando en Chicago. Ella fue golpeada por un coche cuando ella cruzaba la calle en el paso de peatón por un conductor que daba vuelta a la izquierda y no la vio.

Ella fue llevada a.Mount Sinai para heridas de cuello. Ella trató luego con un médico y un médico osteopático (D.O.) para sus heridas. El caso se asentó para $8.000. El acusado fue asegurado por Avis Budget Group.

Continue reading " Abogado de choque de coche de Chicago Alcanza un Arreglo de Accidente pedestre " »

A construction worker was killed on Monday at the Trump Soho in New York City when a wooden mold used to set concrete collapsed and he fell 42 floors to his death, according to the New York Times. The worker who died in the construction accident was decapitated in the fall and landed in an alley on the west side of the site. Another worker was thrown from the 42nd floor, but was caught by a safety net on the 40th floor.

The cause of the work accident is still under investigation. The New York City Buildings Department has issued a stop work order on the project until the General Contractor, Bovis Lend Lease, can show that work will continue in a safe manner. Bovis was issued four safety violations as a result of the accident. There have been 11 previous building code violations at the project site.

This accident happened just weeks before the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago is scheduled to open. Five floors of the hotel are scheduled to open on January 30, 2008, according to the Chicago Tribune. The hotel will occupy floors 14-27, and the remaining levels are supposed to gradually open through the spring.

What is interesting is that as the hotel operates, there will still be a large construction project going on overhead as crews work to complete the 92 story tower. You have to question if Chicagoans will feel safe entering the hotel in light of the N.Y.C. accident. The hotel was originally scheduled to open December 3, 2007 but Trump was delayed in obtaining a city occupancy permit due to still having to complete fire safety work.

Continue reading " Deadly Construction Accident at the Trump Soho in N.Y.C. - Should Chicago Be Nervous? " »

In Chicago, Illinois auto accident attorneys from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a pedestrian accident settlement for a Cook County resident. She was involved in a pedestrian knock down in Chicago at the intersection of Pulaski and Ferdinand. She was struck by a car as she was crossing the street in the crosswalk by a driver who was turning left and did not see her.

She was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago for neck and back injuries. She later treated with a medical doctor and an osteopathic doctor (D.O.) for her injuries. The case settled for $8,000. The defendant was insured by the Avis Budget Group.

Continue reading " Chicago Car Crash Lawyer Reaches Pedestrian Accident Settlement " »

We previously wrote about a teen from Carpentersville who died in a Barrington Hills head-on collision car crash. The Kane County Coroner is now stating that the teen was drunk at the time of the crash where he swerved into oncoming traffic, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Edgar Rico, 17, was killed on December 8, 2007 in a 2 vehicle crash on Illinois Highway 62 near Autumn Trail. To other people in the car were treated for injuries at Sherman Hospital in Elgin. Rico did not have a valid drivers license according to the Barrington Hills Police Department. He also reportedly was driving a friend's car that was borrowed without permission.

According to the coroner, the teen's blood alcohol level (BAC) was .24, which is 3 times the .08 legal limit in Illinois. It was originally thought that the crash was just caused by bad weather, as it was very icey and snowy at the time.

Continue reading " Teen Driver Killed In December Barrington Hills Auto Accident Was Intoxicated " »

The Governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius, has named Melissa Taylor Standridge to the Kansas Court of Appeals, citing her extensive litigation and court experience, as well as her involvement in the community and commitment to the children of Kansas. “Melissa’s years of experience with the judiciary and her work in private practice will be beneficial as she joins the Court of Appeals,” Sebelius said. “With strong ties to her community and a breadth of legal experience, I am confident Melissa will serve the people of Kansas well.”

There are only 13 Court of Appeals Judges in the State of Kansas. Standridge fills a new position created by the Legislature in 2007.

Melissa has practiced law for 14 years and has served as chambers counsel for U.S. Magistrate Judge David J. Waxse in Kansas City, KS, since October 1999. In the 8 years with Judge Waxse, Standridge has been responsible for analysis and resolution in hundreds of cases, and has written over 300 proposed opinions, activities which prepare her well for the duties of the Kansas Court of Appeals. Prior to that she practiced four years with Shook, Hardy & Bacon in Overland Park, Kansas. She also worked as chambers counsel to the Honorable Elmo Hunter in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri from 1993-1995.

She graduated law school in 1993 from the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law. There she was editor-in-chief of the school's law review. She attended undergrad at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

Melissa Taylor Standridge, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer, and David Abels.

Melissa was the 2004 recipient of the American Inns of Court’s Sandra Day O’Connor Award for her great work in the areas of public service and pro bono activities. Below she is pictured at the American Inns of Court banquet in Washington D.C. with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer and David Abels. She later met with Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in chambers and then was a guest for that morning's oral arguments in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Congressman Dennis Moore (Third District – Kansas) recently nominated Melissa for 2007 Angels in Adoption for her hard work on behalf of foster children. Melissa is a licensed foster parent and has fostered four children. She has adopted 3 foster children when parental rights of the birth parents were terminated. She also serves as chairperson of the Alternative Care Review Board.

In the Abels family, we will always remember Melissa's tireless efforts to help find my brother, Ben Abels, who was lost in the 2004 Tsunami. During the weeks following the disaster, she dropped everything she was doing in Kansas and traveled to Chicago to help in the search. Melissa is a first cousin of Dave Abels.

Melissa Taylor Standridge and U. S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

En Chicago, Illinois abogados de accidente de auto de David Abels & Associates, P.C. han alcanzado un arreglo del choque de coche para un residente de la zona. El fue implicado en un accidente en el cruce de la North Avenue & Central en Melrose Park y fue llevado a Gottlieb Memorial Hospital para heridas de espalda y cuello. El trató luego en el May Clinic y el Midtown Clinic. El caso se asentó para $20,500. El acusado fue asegurado por State Farm.

Estos comentarios fueron anunciados por David Abels & Associates, P.C., un bufete de abogados de herida personal que representa a clientes a través del área de Chicago y el estado entero de Illinois. Muchos de nuestros clientes vienen del Condado de Cook, Condado de Lake, Condado de DuPage, Condado de McHenry, Condado de Kane y Condado de Will, así como los pueblos y los vecindarios cercanos tales como Oak Park, River Forest, Maywood, Elmhurst, Berwyn, Cicero, Downers Grove, Naperville, Wheaton y Aurora.

Los abogados de accidente de nuestra firma manejan todas clases de heridas que resultan del choque de coche, incluyendo los huesos quebrados (algún que requiere la reparación quirúrgica), los desgarros, las heridas espinales, y las quemaduras severas. Ellos manejan también los casos injustos de la muerte para las familias que han perdido los adorados porque otra persona fue negligente y causó un accidente fatal de automóvil.

Last Thursday, January 3, 2008 in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago three people were injured when a semi truck lost control and rolled over shortly after it entered the Southbound lanes of the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) at LaGrange Road. The Cook County truck crash took place just after noon and blocked all South lanes of the highway. By 2:00 pm all but one lane had been re-opened. The three people injured in the motor vehicle accident were taken to Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital by ambulance.

David Abels & Associates, P.C. has been retained by one of the injured to pursue a negligence claim against the truck driver and truck owner. She sustained back and neck injuries and is seeing a Chicago doctor. She was driving in the far left lane and her vehicle was struck by a Ford Taurus that had been forced into her lane by the semi truck. The truck driver reportedly was not sure was caused him to lose control of the vehicle and thought that he may have hit a patch of black ice.

A Chicago rollover auto accident killed a 19 year old last Friday night on the Dan Ryan Expressway, according to several news sources. The accident happened at the Cermak exit near Chinatown just after 10 p.m.

The van in the Cook County motor vehicle accident reportedly had numerous occupants and Maria Hernandez, 19, was killed when the driver, age 27, lost control, rolled over and ejected Hernandez from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead shortly after the auto accident at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.

Illinois State Police have charged the driver with DUI, no insurance and no seat belt. The State Police indicate the DUI will be upgraded to a felony.

Four other passengers were taken to Michael Reese Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Continue reading " Chicago, Illinois Rollover Car Crash - Teen Dies On Dan Ryan " »

In Downstate Illinois, a 15 year old girl crashed a car into a house in the town of Shiloh on Saturday night, according to the Belleville News Democrat. After the auto accident police discovered a woman dead in the house. Sheriff investigators believed that the woman was struck and killed in the car crash. The girl, who had another teenage passenger with her, was taken to the sheriff's department to be interviewed.

The girl was soon released to her parents when the Sheriff's Department determined that the woman was already dead at the time of the car crash. They are not exactly sure when she died, but at least several hours before the crash.

The woman was in her 50s and lived with her boyfriend who was at work at the time of the crash. The investigation is ongoing but no foul play is suspected.

Continue reading " Illinois Car Accident - 15 Year Old Crashes Vehicle Into House, Later Cleared of Wrongful Death " »

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 North Avenue and Central in Melrose Park and was taken to Gottlieb Memorial Hospital for back and neck injuries. He later treated at the May Clinic and the Midtown Clinic. The case settled for $20,500. The defendant was insured by State Farm.

Continue reading " Chicago Injury Lawyers Reach Car Accident Settlement " »

A Chicago, Illinois car crash has left three police officers and one civilian injured, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The collision happened on Thursday night at the intersection of 65th and Cottage Grove. An unmarked police car struck a white Jaguar, and then the cars hit a building.

The Jaguar was Eastbound on 65th and the police vehicle was Southbound on Cottage Grove. The intersection was controlled by a stop light. The Chicago Police Department is stating that the officers had their siren on at the time of the accident on their way to an emergency call, but they did not say who had the green light.

Some witnesses at the scene are reporting that the Jaguar had a green light and that the police car did not have its siren on. There is also reportedly a traffic camera at the intersection and the police are going to be able to review the tape and determine what actually happened.

Continue reading " Chicago Auto Accident, 3 Cops and 1 Other Driver Injured " »

Los abogados personales de herida de David Abels & Associates, P.C. alcanzaron un arreglo para un residente de Chicago que esforzo su hombro derecho al llevar un objeto arriba una escalera en el trabajo. El trató en Alexian Brothers Medical Center y siguió en la Ortopedia de Westgate en Oak Park. Su caso se asentó para $6,000 y sus cuentas fueron pagadas. El acusado fue asegurado por Frankenmuth Insurance Company.

Los abogados de la Compensación de trabajadores de nuestra firma alcanzaron también un arreglo para otro residente de Chicago que fue herido en el trabajo cuando él tropezó y cayó en el trabajo. El sostuvo espalda suave de tejido y heridas de cuello. El trató en el Hospital de Westlake y Chicago los Socios Ortopédicos. Nuestro cliente recibió la paga de la incapacidad mientras él estuvo fuera de trabajo para más de 11 semanas, sus cuentas médicas fueron pagadas, y negociamos un $5,200 en arreglo de herida para él también. El acusado fue asegurado por AIG.

Personal injury lawyers from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a settlement for a Chicago resident who strained his right shoulder while carrying an object up a latter at work. He treated at Alexian Brothers Medical Center and followed up at Westgate Orthopaedics in Oak Park. His case settled for $6,000 and his bills were paid for. The defendant was insured by Frankenmuth Insurance Company.

Work comp lawyers from our firm also reached a settlement for another Chicago resident who was injured at work when he tripped and fell at work. He sustained soft tissue back and neck injuries. He treated at Westlake Hospital and Chicago Orthopaedic Associates. Our client received disability pay while he was off work for over 11 weeks, his medical bills were paid, and we negotiated a $5,200 bodily injury settlement for him as well. The defendant was insured by AIG.

The two cases listed above are not big cases and do not involve the most serious of injuries, but we like to list results from big and small cases as all of our clients are important to us.

A deadly auto accident in Park Ridge, Illinois has led to a Chicago man being charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the Chicago Tribune. The collision resulted in the death of a passenger in another car.

A 28 year old Chicago resident was driving eastbound on Devon Avenue on Christmas Eve when he rear ended a Mitsubishi that was stopped at a red light. The crash happened on the border of Park Ridge and Chicago at Canfield Road and Devon. The at fault driver's car then struck a daycare center on Devon.

The passenger/victim was Justin Prendergast, 20, of Chicago. He was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where he died from injuries sustained in the accident. The driver of the Mitsubishi and two other passengers were taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Continue reading " Park Ridge, Illinois Wrongful Death Car Crash - Chicago Resident Charged With DUI " »

A personal injury lawyer in DeKalb County recently received a nice verdict in an auto accident case, according to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. The car crash happened when the defendant pulled out of a stop sign and failed to yield to the oncoming plaintiff who had the right of way. The plaintiff claimed he was traveling the posted speed limit on Perry Road in DeKalb, Illinois. The defendant admitted negligence at trial, but he contested the amount of damages sought.

Before trial, the plaintiff demanded the amount of the defendants insurance policy to settle the claim, which was 50,000. However, the defendant would only offer $20,000 to settle. The jury awarded the plaintiff $74,740. The verdict was in Cyril Ward v. Ronnie Davenport, DeKalb County Case No. 04 L 77. The defendant was insured by Allstate.

Continue reading " Personal Injury Car Accident Verdict in DeKalb County, Illinois Exceeds Insurance Policy " »

A 59 year old Chicago resident was killed in a pedestrian accident after she was hit by a CTA bus on Monday afternoon, according to the Chicago Tribune. Ludwika Szynalik of the 3300 block of North Natchez was struck on West Addison Street near her home. She reportedly was a passenger of the bus. The 152 Addison bus was westbound at the time of the accident.

The bus accident victim was taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and was pronounced dead later in the evening. The bus driver was ticketed, but it has not been reported what the ticket was for. No details have been released as to what caused the accident. A Chicago Police Department major accident investigation is underway. The fact that the driver was ticketed is a strong indication that a wrongful death claim may be investigated.

Personal injury lawyers always have to be careful when pursuing claims against the CTA. There is a one year statute of limitations and a six month CTA notice requirement. If involved in a CTA accident, it is best to hire an accident lawyer as soon as possible so they have adequate time to comply with the six month notice provision and the shortened statute of limitations.

Continue reading " Chicago Illinois Wrongful Death Accident - CTA Bus Hits and Kills Pedestrian " »