Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

A 48-year-old man is accused of being under the influence of alcohol and drugs when he struck and killed a 6-year-old girl in a Chicago car accident.

The man had cocaine in his system and admitted to smoking marijuana and buying beer before the crash, which also injured the girl's 21-year-old aunt, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center.

The defendant was held on $500,000 bail after a hearing in Cook County Criminal Court. He is charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence. His defense attorney denies his client was under the influence during the accident, which occurred a week ago Tuesday evening as the victim and her aunt were crossing Ashland Avenue near 74th Street.

The State Attorneys office reports that the defendant failed field sobriety tests at the scene and subsequent tests revealed he had cocaine in his system. They also say the man admitted to smoking marijuana and had bought a 40 ounce bottle of beer that was found in the van.

Police report the South Damen Avenue man has more than 40 traffic tickets on his record. The victim and her aunt had gone to a nearby dollar store to buy candy when the girl was killed in the Chicago pedestrian accident.

The defendant was driving a Dodge Caravan at high speed, southbound on Ashland Avenue, when he struck the two victims waiting in the median to cross to the other side, according to authorities. The girl hit the van's windshield and was thrown into the street. Her aunt was thrown across the northbound lanes of traffic and landed near a curb.

The aunt remained in the hospital nearly a week after the accident, after undergoing surgery for a fractured skull, broken leg and fractured shoulder blade.

The defendant's attorney claims the drug tests could have been a false positive due to medication the man is on following a work accident. The defense also tried to blame the victims for the accident by saying the defendant tried to stop and help "the people who were running across the street, through traffic, and across the median where they shouldn't have been," the attorney told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Four people were critically injured in a Valentine's Day Chicago car accident, after a motorist blew a red light, according to WBBM News Radio.

Police responded to the car accident on Michigan Avenue in Grant Park shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday, the Sun-Times reported.

Four people were critically injured and several refused treatment, fire officials reported.

Two motorists were taken to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County in critical condition. A third motorist was taken in critical condition to Mount Sinai Hospital; and a fourth was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

The at-fault driver was cited for disobeying a red signal, according to News Radio.

Red-light violations are one of the leading causes of serious and fatal traffic accidents. In 2007, more than 900 people were killed and 153,000 injured in traffic accidents involving red light running, according to the National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running.

The organization puts the economic costs of running red lights at $14 billion a year and reports that half of fatalities involve pedestrians or other motorists.

As reported last week on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, 1 in 4 fatal Chicago car accidents occurs at an intersection.

Running red lights or disobeying traffic-control devices is the primary cause of the 250 fatal Illinois traffic accidents that occur at intersections each year, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

A motorist was killed and another seriously injured over the weekend in a Chicago car accident after both were struck while standing outside a disabled vehicle early Sunday morning, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The accident occurred at about 2:40 a.m. on Illinois Route 394 and East Joe Orr Road in Chicago Heights. The 39-year-old man was struck by an automobile after his car broke down, according to Illinois State Police.

It is the second time in a week that a motorist was killed while stopped with a disabled vehicle. As Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer reported, a 36-year-old woman was struck and killed by a semi after pulling over to check for a flat tire.

In this case, a friend had arrived to help the man and both were standing outside of his disabled Pontiac when they were struck by a passing sports-utility vehicle. The victim was killed and his friend was transported in critical condition to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.

The Sun-Times reported that the driver of the SUV was taken into custody and was being questioned; he initially left the scene but later called 911 to report the accident.

In 2008, more than 5,000 people were injured and 137 people were killed in Illinois pedestrian accidents, according to the Department of Transportation.

As reported last fall on Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, police have launched a program stationing undercover police officers in crosswalks and other high-traffic areas in an effort to reduce Chicago pedestrian accidents.

A 36-year-old woman was struck and killed by a semi early last Tuesday morning, after stopping her vehicle on the Tri-State Tollway to check for a flat tire, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

The Chicago trucking accident occurred shortly after midnight. The victim was southbound on I-294 when she pulled over at Rexford Road in Alsip to check for a flat tire on the passenger side of her vehicle, according to the Illinois State Police.

Moments later, a semi struck her and side-swiped the driver's side of her vehicle, police reported. The Frankfurt woman was identified by the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Police reported that drugs or alcohol are not believed to be a factor in the accident, which remains under investigation. The semi driver was being questioned on Tuesday but was not under arrest.

In 2008, a total of 135 pedestrians were killed in Illinois traffic accidents and more than 5,400 were injured --accounting for about 15 percent of all Illinois traffic fatalities.

A total of 14,632 Illinois trucking accidents were reported in 2008. More than 12,000 occurred in large urban areas, primarily Chicago. Illinois accidents involving semi tractor-trailers killed 115 and injured 2,940. Eight of the deaths and 30 of the injuries involved Illinois pedestrians, according to IDOT.

As reported earlier this month on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, Scott's Law mandates that motorists move over for stopped law enforcement or safety vehicles.

Moving into an outside lane whenever possible is also a good way to help ensure the safety of motorists in or around stranded or disabled vehicles at the side of the road.

Authorities are investigating several serious Chicago expressway traffic accidents.

Four people were critically injured last Saturday in a Chicago car accident on the Kennedy Expressway, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The multiple-vehicle accident occurred about 3:30 a.m. on the Near Northwest Side in the northbound lanes of I-90 near Chicago Avenue. Three vehicles were involved. Fire personnel responded to I-90 and West Augusta Boulevard after receiving a report of a pin-in accident.

Victims of the Chicago expressway traffic accident were taken in critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

Six motorists, including two children, were seriously injured a week ago late Thursday in a three-vehicle accident on the inbound Eisenhower Expressway, the Sun-Times reported.

The Near West side accident occurred at about 1:15 a.m. and involved three vehicles on the inbound Eisenhower Expressway at Racine Avenue. Six people were transported to local hospitals, according to the Illinois State Police.

Two of the vehicles were eastbound on I-290 when one rear-ended the other. A third vehicle struck one of the disabled vehicles in the roadway. Injured motorists were transported to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Rush University Medical Center and University of Illinois Medical Center.

The cause of both accidents is under investigation and citations are pending.

High speeds and heavy traffic increase the dangers of a serious or fatal expressway accident. Large numbers of commercial vehicles also contribute to frequent Chicago trucking accidents. Earlier this month, a crash involving three vehicles and a semi caused the closure of two lanes on the Dan Ryan Expressway, WBBM News reported.

The Chicago Personal Injury Law Firm of Abels & Annes has filed a civil lawsuit against a 67-year-old Gompers Junior High School bus driver and First Student Bus Company, in connection with the December sexual assault of a female student.

CBS2 reported Wednesday that the driver was working at First Student despite being dismissed from his job as a Joliet Township bus driver. A police reported from that 2004 incident cites "complaints by student females for sexual harassment."

The 67-year-old bus driver was charged in December with battery of a 14-year-old girl after being accused of offering the girl candy, touch her chest and buttocks and giving her $3 not to tell.

Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Dave Abels and his partner Gary Annes filed a civil lawsuit against the driver and First Student Bus Company.

"I think that any parent would be shocked, horrified to hear that First Student is allowing people to, with these types of backgrounds, to drive their children," said Annes. Another police report says the defendant offered a girl candy, adusted his miror to stare at her and repeatedly asked for hugs.

"Someone dropped the ball here," Abels said.

Four other First Student drivers were in trouble with the law last year: One was arrested for exposing himself to a female student; one was caught with child pornography; and another driver was shot and killed by police after a high-speed chase in Riverdale.

The fourth driver was arrested for child endangerment and DUI after losing control of his bus on the Edens Expressway. That driver had been hired despite being fired from a previous job for driving erratically and failing a drug test, according to CBS2.

"I think private citizens have to stand up and say, 'Enough is enough. We're not going to allow our children to be subjected to this sort of danger,'" Annes said.

Continue reading " Chicago Injury Firm of Abels & Annes appear on CBS News for filing a sexual abuse lawsuit against Illinois school bus company " »

Police have issued an arrest warrant for a 23-year-old former West Rogers Park man in connection with a Halloween hit-and-run Chicago car accident that claimed the life of a 25-year-old DePaul University student.

The suspect, who doesn't have a driver's license, may have fled to Mexico, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

As reported last fall on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, the woman was struck at Cullom and Lincoln avenues, as she walked home about 3 a.m. on Nov. 1 after a long night of work bartending at Bowmans Bar & Grill.

Family of the victim said the arrest was a relief. Police said at a press conference that the defendant quit his job at a North Side food store after telling his boss he was leaving for Mexico to care for a sick mother.

Police served a search warrant on the defendant's home in December, following a tip about the suspect's possible identity from someone watching the news.

Authorities reported finding a silver vehicle with front-end damage and physical evidence linking the defendant to the scene.

The defendant, who obtained a driver's permit in 2003, has a previous accident and a citation for driving without a license on his record, according to the Illinois Secretary of State's Office.

Illinois car accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have reached an insurance policy limits settlement for a Chicago pedestrian that was hit by a car on the South Side in December, 2009. The accident took place at 1750 W. 119th Street where our client was crossing and was was hit by an 83 year old woman driving a 2006 Honda Accord.

The Chicago Police Department responded to the accident scene, along with an ambulance. After investigating the accident they ticketed the elderly driver with failing to yield to a pedestrian.

The plaintiff was rushed to Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn. There he was diagnosed with several fractures, included a broken left leg which required surgery to repair. He remained hospitalized for several days.

The defendant was insured by State Farm Insurance. The case was resolved without having to file a lawsuit.

With severe winter weather in the Chicago area, drivers are urged to keep a vigilant lookout for pedestrians crossing the street. With so much snow on the ground, it takes drivers longer to stop and pedestrians longer to get out of the way.

Continue reading " Chicago pedestrian accident lawyer reaches $100,000 insurance policy limits settlement " »

One person was critically injured in a Chicago bus accident involving the congressional campaign bus of Republican Robert Dold, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Dold was not aboard the bus when it crashed in Glenview late on Friday, January 29th. He was the eventual winner for the nomination in Illinois' 10th Congressional District, which stretches from Chicago's northern suburbs to the Wisconsin border.

Glenview police reported that the bus was eastbound when a westbound BMW turned into its path. The driver of the BMW was taken to Advocate Lutheran Hospital in Park Ridge. Cause of the Illinois bus accident remains under investigation.

The bus is rented to the campaign and was returning home for the night. No one from the campaign was involved in the accident, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

While initial reports are that the car turned in front of the bus, and perhaps caused the accident, commercial buses and bus drivers are heavily regulated because of the danger an accident poses to other motorists. Getting into an accident with a bus can be as serious as being involved in a Chicago trucking accident.

Statistics on Illinois school bus accidents in 2008 show that 2,418 crashes claimed six lives and injured 341 people. All six deaths occurred outside the bus, including three occupants of other vehicles, and three pedestrians.

A total of 136 large trucks and 12 buses were involved in fatal crashes in Illinois during 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Another 3,337 were injured in Illinois trucking accidents while 963 were injured in accidents involving buses in Illinois.

Toyota announced last week that it is halting sales of eight different models of cars and trucks sold in the U.S. amid concerns of a vehicle defect that could result in sticking accelerator pedals, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Vehicle defects can lead a Chicago car accident. Anyone who suspects they or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed by a vehicle defect in Illinois, should contact the Chicago car accident attorneys at Abels & Annes to discuss their rights.

The Japanese auto maker will cut production at seven Toyota plants in North America after announcing the recall of 2.3 million vehicles. Meanwhile, there are questions about how long Toyota knew of the problem after the manufacturer reportedly admitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it was aware of the issue as far back as 2007.

Worldwide, the unprecedented recall is expected to reach 9 million vehicles, The New York Times reported.

The models, including the Camry and Corolla, account for 56 percent of Toyota's U.S. sales last month. In all, the company has recalled more than 4.8 million vehicles in recent months to address problems with faulty floor mats and/or gas pedals that can result in uncontrolled acceleration.

Safety advocates have linked the problem to more than 2,000 complaints and 19 deaths, the Tribune reported.

Toyota owners with questions are advised to go to Toyota's website or call their local dealership.

Continue reading " Defective vehicles can lead to Chicago car accidents " »

An Illinois State Police trooper was nearly struck by a speeding car during a traffic stop on the Eisenhower Expressway last weekend, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center.

The Chicago car accident attorneys and the Illinois work injury lawyers at Abels & Annes urge everyone to obey the law and move over for stopped emergency vehicles, as well as work vehicles at construction sites. Additionally, please remain extra cautious from the time you see flashing emergency lights; highway accidents often occur when motorists react unexpectedly to what's in front of them and emergency vehicles often signal problems in the road ahead.

In this case, a trooper had a motorist pulled over about 2:30 a.m. on the eastbound Eisenhower exit ramp at Sacramento Boulevard on Chicago's West Side. He had brought two occupants to the rear of his vehicle, with the back door open and the emergency lights flashing, when a maroon four-door sedan sped onto the ramp, hit the squad car's open door, and continued south.

The motorist reportedly ran the red light before continuing southbound on Sacramento. Investigators hope surveillance video from the damaged squad car will help locate the sedan.

Scott's Law, Illinois' "Move Over" law, carries a fine of up to $10,000 and provides for an aggravated offense if alcohol or drugs are involved, which can result in 90 day license suspension and up to two years in prison if an accident results in injury or death.

The law requires Illinois motorists approaching an emergency vehicle with flashing lights to yield the right-of-way by moving to an outside lane whenever possible. The law was named after Chicago Fire Department lieutenant Scott Glenn, who was struck and killed by a drunk driver while assisting at a crash scene on the Dan Ryan Expressway.

Continue reading " Obey Scott's Law to reduce the risk of Chicago car accidents " »

Three people were killed this week in a hit-and-run Chicago car accident, after the driver of a Toyota Camry sped away from one accident and crashed into a car that contained a young mother and her infant, the Tribune reported.

The accident happened Monday night on Chicago's Northwest Side, when the driver slammed into the second vehicle, killing a toddler and two others inside.

The child's mother, who survived the accident, said she barely saw the speeding Toyota Camry, which had its lights off, as it slammed into her vehicle while turning left at Cicero and Parker avenues.

Her 13-month-old son and two family friends, ages 20 and 21, were killed in the accident, ABC7 reported. She was admitted to the hospital while her boyfriend, who was driving the victims' car, was not seriously injured.

The Camry's driver, a 55-year-old Skokie man, was being questioned by police. So far, he faces charges of negligent driving in the fatal wreck as well as leaving the scene of an accident and driving too fast for conditions for the first collision.

Police are also waiting on toxicology results on the driver.

No one was injured when the Camry rear-ended a Ford Expedition in the first collision. But before authorities could be notified, the driver sped off and slammed into the victims' Honda Civic, according to police.

The boy was in a car seat, according to his parents, but the collision sent him partway through the back window. He was pronounced dead shortly before midnight Monday at Children's Memorial Hospital. He was born on Christmas Day 2008.

The federal government is launching FocusDriven this month, the first nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Chicago car accident attorneys and the personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes have been advocates of raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. In October, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog published a report showing an increase of 25 to 50 percent in fatal accidents caused by distracted driving over the last five years.

In 2008, government statistics estimate 1 in every 6 fatal accidents were caused by distracted drivers -- killing almost 6,000 and injuring more than half a million motorists.

The new agency, FocusDriven, is an outgrowth of a distracted driving summit reported on by Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog in September.

“I first met several of the founding members of FocusDriven at our Distracted Driving Summit, and I’m deeply impressed by their commitment to turn these tragic events into positive actions that will help save lives,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Their stories are not just heartbreaking; they’re also a clear and compelling call to action.”

FocusDriven is modeled after Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), which has successfully changed society’s attitudes towards drinking and driving and sought the reduction of fatal drunk driving accidents.

“It is my hope that FocusDriven will serve as a valuable resource for those who have lost loved ones as a result of the senseless and preventable destructive practice of distracted driving,” said Jennifer Smith, President of FocusDriven, whose mother was killed by a driver talking on a cell phone in a 2008 car accident. “Secretary LaHood and the Department of Transportation’s attention to this topic have helped make it top safety issue. Their efforts have provided hope that we can quickly eliminate this threat and prevent other families from going through what we have experienced.”

FocusDriven also hopes to provide support for victims of distracted driving, educational services and evaluation of new technologies.

"Just as groups like MADD changed attitudes about drunk driving, I believe FocusDriven can help raise awareness and change the way people think about distracted driving," Secretary LaHood said. "Together, I hope we can put an end to this dangerous practice."

For more information, visit www.focusdriven.org.

Continue reading " New agency aims to reduce Chicago car accidents, traffic accidents caused by distracted driving nationwide " »