Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

In Chicago, Illinois personal injury lawyers were recently awarded a nice verdict in a premises liability wrongful death case, according to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. The fatality happened as a result of a fire in an apartment building owned by the defendants. The deceased, a tenant in the building, died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The Cook County lawsuit alleged that the defendant failed to have smoke detectors in common areas of the building. The defense argued that the decedent was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol at the time of the fire.

Prior to trial the Estate demanded $910,000 to settle the case, and the defendants made no offer. The jury awared $1,353,249 (10% off 1,503,610 for comparative fault). The trial was in front of the Honorable Susan Ruscitti Grussel, Cook County Case No. 03 L 11032.

Continue reading " Chicago, Illinois Premises Liability Attorneys Receive Good Verdict " »

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Premises Liability , Settlements & Verdicts , Wrongful Death

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In Peoria, Illinois two men were injured in a strange auto accident where one man jumped from his car, and then his car crashed into another vehicle, according to the Daily Pekin Times. The car accident occurred at Illinois Route 116 just east of U.S. Route 24 on Thursday.

According to Illinois State Police, a 21 year old resident of Elmwood, Illinois was driving east on Illinois Route 116 when for reasons unknown he jumped from his car. The vehicle was reportedly moving at a high rate of speed during heavy rainfall. The unoccupied car then crossed the median into oncoming traffic and struck a vehicle being driven by Mark P. Neptun, 56, of East Peoria, Illinois.

Both men were taken to area hospitals. The Illinois State Police are investigating the accident.

Continue reading " Illinois Auto Accident Caused When Man Jumps From Car " »

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Personal Injury

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In Winnebago County, Illinois a woman was killed in a car crash when the vehicle she was a passenger in lost control and flipped over, according to NBC 13 News. David Garrison, 59, of Rockford was driving south on Springfield Avenue on Thursday night when he lost control of his car, left the roadway, and rolled over.

Darcie Eckhardt, 45, of Rockford was the passenger. She reportedly died at the scene. Garrison has been ticketed with improper lane usage and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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In Chicago, Illinois an accident involving two trucks and a car has resulted in serious injuries to four people, according to ABC 7 News. The auto accident took place Monday on the Dan Ryan Expressway ramp connecting the inbound Dan Ryan to outbound Interstate 290. The crash took place around 6:30 p.m. A spokeman for the Chicago Fire Department reported that a semi truck rear-ended a small car and then hit another semi truck. The specific injuries and what hospitals people were taken to has not been reported.

The occupants of the car should have a good negligence claim against the driver and the trucking company that caused the accident. Under Illinois law, a driver has a duty to not drive too fast for traffic conditions, and to keep a proper and sufficient look out for other vehicles on the road.

Injuries resulting from truck accidents can be very serious. The difference in weight between a semi truck and an average car can cause sever injuries to the occupants of the smaller vehicle. The U.S. Department of Transportation has reported that in 2003 there were 4,986 motorist fatalities and 122,000 injuries in large truck accidents throughout the U.S.A.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Personal Injury , Truck Accident

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On Friday two lawsuits were filed in Cook County, Illinois stemming from Wednesday's SUV Accident that happened in South Suburban Crestwood that left fifteen people injured, according to the Southtown Star. One of the lawsuits was filed by an Oak Lawn couple.

The car vs. pedestrian accident happened around 11:45 a.m. at the Tri-State Auto Auction when a 2000 Range Rover sport-utility vehicle that was going on auction accelerated without warning, drove through a crowd inside the auction house, hit a minivan, exited the building, and then ran into a second crowd of people.

Robert Schutzenhofer, 61, is being represented by Parente & Norme, P.C. and is still in critical condition with severe and life-threatening injuries. He is in intensive care unit at St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields, Illinois.

The Illinois State Police are reportedly investigating whether the vehicle had a mechanical problem. The auction driver was taken to the Crestwood Police Department for interview and it is unknown if any type of charges will be filed. Attorneys for Schutzenhofer plan on investigating both driver error and a mechanical problem as they move forward in the case, however they feel that a mechanical failure is not likely.

Continue reading " Lawsuits Filed In Chicago Area SUV vs. Pedestrian Car Auction Crash " »

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Legal News , Pedestrian Accident , Personal Injury

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An auto accident on the Southwest Side of Chicago claimed the life of four people early Wednesday morning, according to the Chicago Sun-Times and various other news sources. The car accident took place in the 2800 block of Columbus Avenue just after midnight.

Otis Thomas, 46; his son, Otis Jolliff, 28; and his nephew, Theodore Jolliff, 28 were killed when a car crossed the center line and hit their vehicle head on. Thomas was driving his Toyota Camry eastbound on Columbus at the time of the crash.

The car that crossed the centerline was being driven by Sir Albert Cole, 21, who was also killed. Five other people in Cole's car, including his 20 month old son, were injured. The child was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago.

Thomas and his son and nephew all worked together at McCormick Place as forklift operators and they were on their way home from an evening shift. All three men were members of Teamsters Local 714.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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In the Southwest Chicago Area Suburb of Crestwood, Illinois a total of twelve pedestrians were injured when an SUV driver lost control and ran into a group of people at an auto auction on Wednesday morning, according to the Chicago Tribune and several other news outlets. Three people were very seriously injured with leg and head trauma.

The car accident happened around 11:45 am at the Tri-State Auto Auction when a 2000 Range Rover sport-utility vehicle that was going on auction accelerated without warning, drove through a crowd inside the auction house, hit a minivan, exited the building, and then ran into a second crowd of people.

The 12 injured were all taken to area hospitals. The Illinois State Police are reportedly investigating whether the vehicle had a mechanical problem. The driver was taken to the Crestwood Police Department for interview and it is unknown if any type of charges will be filed.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Pedestrian Accident , Personal Injury

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Chicago, Illinois auto accident attorneys from David Abels & Associates, P.C., working in conjunction with Elman & Elman, have reached a $9,000 bodily injury settlement with Unique Insurance as a result of an auto accident that occurred at 74th and State Street in Bedford Park, Illinois. The Chicago area car crash happened when the defendant rear ended our client, who in turn was pushed into a vehicle in front of him. The defendant was ticketed with DUI.

Our client was taken to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn with back and neck pain injuries. The case was resolved after the plaintiff received a $9,000 non-binding mandatory arbitration award in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

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

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Back and Neck Injuries , Personal Injury , Settlements & Verdicts

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Los abogados de accidente de coche en Chicago de David Abels & Associates, P.C. han alcanzado un arreglo de $21,000 con el Seguro de Geico a consecuencia de un accidente de auto que ocurrió menos de 2 meses el 19 de Enero de 2008. El choque del coche sucedió en Interestatal 90/94 cercano de la Avenida California, Chicago, Illinois cuando el acusado golpeó de refilón el coche de nuestro cliente.

Nuestro cleint fue llevado a Illinois Masonic Medical Center en Chicago con el dolor lumbar bajo, el dolor de hombro y dolores de cabeza. El siguió también para el tratamiento adicional con un Neurólogo Certificado y tuvo la fisioterapia también.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

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Chicago car accident lawyers from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a $21,000 bodily injury settlement with Geico Insurance as a result of an auto accident that occurred less than 2 months ago on January 19, 2008. The car crash happened on Interstate 90/94 near California Avenue, Chicago, Illinois when the defendant sideswiped our client's vehicle.

Our client was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago with low back pain, shoulder pain and headaches. He also followed up for additional treatment with a Board Certified Neurologist and underwent physical therapy as well.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Back and Neck Injuries , Personal Injury , Settlements & Verdicts

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A woman from Elgin was killed in a pedestrian accident on the South Side of Chicago early Sunday morning, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Ashley Brown, age 23, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead just before 2 a.m.

Brown was involved in an accident around 1:20 a.m. at 75th and State Street in Chicago. Brown and another woman were struck by a vehicle as they were crossing the street on foot, according to Chicago Police. Both were taken to Northwestern Hospital and the other woman reportedly suffered a broken leg.

The women were reportedly struck by a Dodge Magnum, which is a large sport wagon. The vehicle fled the scene of the Chicago accident. The Chicago Police Department major accident investigation unit is working on the case. The Dodge Magnum is not a common vehicle, and anyone with information regarding the accident should contact the Chicago Police Department.

Continue reading " Chicago, Illinois Hit & Run Pedestrian Accident Claims Life Of Elgin Woman " »

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Hit & Run Accident , Uninsured Motorist Claim , Wrongful Death

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In Chicago, Illinois a South Loop resident has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol stemming from a hit and run pedestrian accident that happened on the near north side, according to the Chicago Tribune. The victim in the Chicago pedestrian vs. car accident was Ruben Zarco, 51. He was paying cab fare in the 1500 block of North Kingsbury when the DUI driver sideswiped the cab, hit Zarco, and then fled the scene.

Zarco was injured and taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago in reportedly stable condition. The driver was ticketed with DUI, striking a pedestrian in the roadway and leaving the scene of an accident. The accident happened early Friday morning just after 2 am. The location of the accident has a very active nightlife with several clubs and restaurants in the immediate area.

From a Chicago injury lawyer's view, Zarco could potentially have multiple claims to look into. First, there is a strong negligence case is against the driver that hit him. Once Zarco retains an injury lawyer, the first thing counsel will do is investigate who the DUI driver had auto insurance with, and then move forward with an injury claim from there.

Continue reading " Chicago, Illinois Resident Charged With DUI In Hit & Run Car vs. Pedestrian Accident " »

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Pedestrian Accident , Personal Injury

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Cook County car accident lawyers from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a $40,000 bodily injury settlement with USAA Insurance as a result of an auto accident that occurred in July of 2006. The car crash happened on the Southbound Edens Expressway near Willow Road, Northfield, Illinois when the defendant rear ended a car that was then knocked into our vehicle. The defendant fled the scene of the Interstate 94 auto accident.

The impact was not heavy and only caused about $300 in property damage, but our client sustained a shoulder injury when he was knocked into the steering wheel. Our client, who is actively serving in the military, was treated at the North Chicago VA Hospital and followed up for additional treatment at the Great Lakes Naval Base and Health South for physical therapy.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Hit & Run Accident , Personal Injury , Settlements & Verdicts , Uninsured Motorist Claim

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Here is some solid free legal advice from a Chicago Injury Lawyer: If you are going to drink and drive (bad idea) and crash into another car (even worse idea), I would strongly suggest that you do not hit a police car. And yet that is exactly what happened this past Friday night on the South Side of Chicago.

An alleged DUI driver was involved in a head on car accident with a marked Chicago police car at Pershing Road and Morgan Street at about 10 p.m., according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Ramiro Salgado of Chicago, Illinois has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended license, no prooof of insurance and driving with open alcohol in his vehicle. Bond has been set at $25,000 by Cook County Judge Laura Sullivan.

Salgado was allegedly driving in an SUV eastbound on Pershing Road while intoxicated when he collided with the squad car at Morgan Street. The Chicago police officer was reportedly injured and taken to Rush University Medical Center. The SUV driver was not injured.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Legal Advice , Personal Injury

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