Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Two priests in Joliet, Illinois have been removed for allegedly sexually abusing a student in the 1970s, according to the Herald-News. The abuse allegedly occurred at different times while the victim was a student at Providence Catholic in New Lenox and Joliet Catholic High School, which is now called Joliet Catholic Academy. The victim is now in his 40s and resides in Florida. The names of the victim or the priests have not been made public.

On Friday a news conference was held by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) in Joliet. The investigation was made public a that time and Snap demanded more action be taken regarding the priests.

After the news conference, the Joliet diocese announced that the priests had been removed from the ministry.

SNAP is alleging that the abuse took place with one of the priests during a span of several years in many hotels, a rectory, and out of state. The abuse alleged against the other priest was for a single incident.

The victim has retained a lawyer, however a lawsuit has not been filed.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Southtown Star.

An Illinois car vs. pedestrian accident has taken the life of a 10 year old boy in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood. CBS News is reporting that the driver is suspected of DUI, as he was found slumped over at the wheel.

The boy was crushed to death as he walked between two parked cars just before 6:00 a.m. on Saturday. As the child was waiting for traffic to clear and cross the street in the 6900 block of North Ashland, the at fault driver hit a parked SUV with his van, causing a chain reaction accident that crushed the boy. The victim was walking with his father, brother and sister.

The Chicago Police Department is reportedly questioning the driver and they believe alcohol may have played a roll.

The 10 year old was rushed to St. Francis Hospital ER in Evanston and he past away at 7:41 a.m.

The Chicago Police Department's Major Accidents Investigation Unit stayed on the scene for several hours, and the investigation continues.

Click here to read the story as reported by WGN News.

Gov. Pat Quinn, Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation have proclaimed May Motorcycle Awareness Month and urge motorists to be vigilant in looking for motorcycles.

Our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog recently reported a pair of serious Chicago motorcycle accidents in April as riding season begins in earnest and we encourage all motorists and riders to ride and drive safely.

"Start Seeing Motorcycles" will be the primary message geared toward motorists as the state seeks to continue the decrease in Illinois motorcycle accidents and traffic fatalities. Overall traffic fatalities decreased last year to 911, from the 1,043 reported in 2008, while fatal motorcycle accidents dropped slightly, to 130 compared to the 135 recorded in 2008.

"We are very encouraged to see a drop in the number of motorcycle fatalities on our roads and would like to see that trend continue,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. “This campaign reinforces the importance of motorcycle safety. We urge every motorist on the road to be on the lookout for motorcycle riders and to ‘Share the Road’ with them.”

Celebrities backing the Illinois campaign include mixed martial artists and motorcycle riders Matt Hughes and Gray Maynard, as well as Stephanie Reaves, the first woman to earn a professional drag racing license through the American Motorcycle Association.

“Motorcycle safety is a fundamental topic close to my heart and thousands of riders in Illinois and across the nation,” Reaves said. “Whether I am racing on the track or traveling on the road, I make sure to wear the proper riding gear and am always aware of my surroundings.”

Additionally, officials are pushing all riders to take advantage of free riding courses being offered to beginning and intermediate riders. Last year, IDOT trained 16,701 students in its Cycle Rider Safety Training Program.

“The Illinois State Police is committed to sustaining the downward trend of traffic crash fatalities in Illinois, and ensuring the safety of motorcyclists,” said Acting Illinois State Police Director Jonathon Monken. “Troopers throughout the state will continue to monitor speed limits, check license endorsements, and enforce “Fatal Five” moving violations.”

State Police offer the following safety tips:

- Don’t drink and ride.

- Wearing a helmet, protective body wear, boots and gloves is strongly recommended.

- Wearing brightly colored clothing can improve your visibility during the day -- wear reflective clothing at night.

- Ride within your skills and capacity. Riding beyond 80 percent of capacity leaves no margin for error, or for the unexpected.

- Stay alert to what's ahead. Don’t become fixed on what’s just beyond your front tire. Be alert to what's 12-16 seconds ahead, including vehicles, potholes, roadway obstructions, and other potential hazards.

- In an emergency, remember that motorcycles have a far better stopping capacity than larger vehicles. As you avoid a hazard, scan for a safe escape route and keep watch for vehicles approaching from behind.

- At intersections, check left, check front, check right, and check left again. Checking left first and last is important because it is the first lane of oncoming traffic. Continue to scan the intersection in a clockwise pattern. Take special care to watch for vehicles approaching from the front, in case that vehicle turns left in front of you -- 77% of motorcycle crashes involving another vehicle occur when a vehicle makes a left turn in front of an approaching rider.

To learn more about the Cycle Rider Safety Training Program visit www.startseeingmotorcycles.org.

Continue reading " State officials launch Motorcycle Awareness Month in effort to reduce Illinois motorcycle accidents " »

Police are questioning a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run Chicago pedestrian accident that occurred shortly before midnight Friday, according to the Southtown Star.

A 38-year-old Indiana woman was struck while crossing 95th Street after leaving a bar to buy cigarettes at a nearby gas station. Witnesses told police she was dragged 50 or 60 feet down 95th Street by a Suburban that then turned onto Ridgeland Road, the Sun-Times reported.

She was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she was pronounced dead at 12:58 a.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

Chicago Ridge police say they have released a man without charges after questioning. Police say the man was a relative of the owner of a black Chevrolet Suburban that was found in Oak Lawn, about eight blocks from the scene of the accident.

The vehicle was found with front-end damage and remains in police custody, where it is undergoing forensic analysis. At least one witness reported the SUV involved in the accident was dark blue, not black.

Illinois State Police are assisting the Chicago Ridge police with the investigation.

As we reported earlier this month on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, more than 150 people are killed each year in Illinois pedestrian accidents, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Lawmakers are considering several new laws aimed at improving safety and reducing the number of serious and fatal pedestrian and bicycle accidents in Chicago and throughout Illinois.

A 32-year-old Near West Side man died on Saturday as a result of injuries sustained in a Chicago taxi cab accident, the Tribune reported.

Authorities say the victim was leaning in the window, perhaps arguing with the cab driver, when the cab took off, dragging him for more than a block and running over his legs. He was pronounced dead at 5 p.m. Saturday by the Cook County medical examiner's office.

His parents say the victim was a full-time MBA student and a die-hard Cubs Fan. He was hospitalized at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center for more than a week before dying as a result of his injuries.

Family members are pleading with the public to help find the cab driver, who fled the scene. The cab is white with blue stripes. Authorities say the University of Chicago student had been trying to hail a cab outside his house when the argument started, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Family and friends are offering a $20,000 reward for anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the cab driver.

Friends say the victim was always ready to help, and had been nicknamed "Batman" after tackling a burglar who was looting a neighbor's home this year and chasing down a mugger who stole an elderly woman's purse.

Police are reviewing nearby surveillance video with the hope of identifying the cab driver. Anyone with information is asked to call the Chicago Police Department at (312) 745-4521.

Through early May, a total of 258 people have been killed in fatal Illinois car accidents, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Forty-five deaths involved drunk driving accidents, while another 36 fatal crashes involved unlicensed drivers. To date, 13 fewer fatal crashes have occurred this year than during the same period a year ago.

Mother's Day weekend Chicago car accidents included:

A rollover accident on I-57 near 99th and Halsted streets sent six people to the hospital on Mother's Day. The accident occurred in the Far South Side's Washington Heights neighborhood at about 3 p.m., the Breaking News Center reported.

Three of the victims were transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, while the remaining victims were taken to other area hospitals. The accident involved at least one overturned vehicle, according to Illinois State Police.

-On that same weekend, a 62-year-old Evanston man was killed after his vehicle crashed in the southbound lanes of I-57. State police report the vehicle struck something in the roadway before crashing into a concrete median about 2 p.m.

-Also, an Englewood car accident injured four people, one of them critically, after a minivan and a car collided on South Carpenter Street, shortly before 1 a.m., according to the News Center.

Police report the 22-year-old driver of a Ford Thunderbird disobeyed a stop sign on Carpenter Avenue at 64th Street, where he collided with a Plymouth Voyager.

-Finally, a 5-year-old boy was killed when a car driven by his mother's boyfriend crashed into a tree in a south suburban neighborhood, the News Center reported. The Chicago Heights car accident occurred about 3:30 a.m. at Steger Road and Carpenter Street. The boy was pronounced dead at St. James Hospital and Health Centers.

Authorities have not determined whether alcohol was involved; the 22-year-old man was treated for minor injuries and given a blood test, the results of which were pending.

A man from Aurora, Illinois has been found guilty in a criminal court bench trial of reckless homicide and aggravated drunk driving for hitting and killing a pedestrian and his dog in Batavia in 2009, according to the Daily Herald . He was found not guilty of first degree murder. The sentence on the DUI charge is 3 to 14 years and sentencing is scheduled for July 23rd.

The defendant had reportedly drank and smoked marijuana prior to taking a car without permission. The car belonged to the girlfriend of a friend.

The victim was walking his dog before going to work at an auto parts store when he was hit. He was taken to St. Charles Hospital and died a short time later.

The Batavia police officer that did the accident reconstruction estimated at trial that the defendant was going 50-56 mph when he skidded onto a sidewalk and hit the pedestrian. The car then came back on the street and struck an SUV.

After the accident, the defendant fled on foot but was arrested by police a short time later.
Police obtained a blood sample from the defendant that showed his BAC was .106, which is above the Illinois legal limit.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Breaking News.

It has been a week since a Chicago pedestrian was seriously injured when he was dragged by a taxicab for 40-50 yards, according to WGN News. The accident happened in front of the victim's residence near 1600 North Honore Street around 3:30 in the afternoon last Friday. The Chicago pedestrian was leaning into a taxi when the cab suddenly accelerated without warning.

The victim was rushed to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago. CT scans are showing he has sustained brain damage and may not recover, and may be in a permanent vegetative state if he survives.

Witnesses state that before the accident the victim and cab driver were involved in an argument right before the accident. At some point the driver attempted to leave the scene while the victim's body was still half way inside the cab. There was reportedly a blood trail from the scene where the pedestrian was dragged.

The victim was on his way home from the Cubs game at the time of the accident and about to head out to class as an MBA student at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

The cab driver fled the scene of the accident and has not been located. The taxi was white with blue stripes. If anyone has any information regarding the accident they should contact the Chicago Police Department immediately.

Click here to watch the news video on WGN TV.

An anonymous donor has posted bond for a North Shore teenager accused in a hit-and-run Chicago pedestrian accident that critically injured a fellow student, ABC7 reported.

The 18-year-old allegedly left the scene after striking a 16-year-old girl outside New Trier High School at Green Bay and Winnetka roads. She was stopped by police about half-an-hour later. The victim suffered a brain injury and is in critical condition.

The judge set bail at $500,000, saying the high bail reflected the fact that the accused teenager admitted that she smoked marijuana the night before the crash. Toxicology results are pending, which could affect the case.

The teen's attorney said there was no way the family could post that kind of a bond. An anonymous donor posted $50,000, the 10 percent required to get the girl released from jail. The family said they do not know the donor. The attorney said the benefactor was horrified by the prospect of the teenager being confined to the Cook County Jail and decided to post the bond.

The girl had been held in the jail's hospital wing after concerns about housing the 18-year-old North Shore teenager in general population. The Chicago Tribune reported that the woman was the mother of two teenage daughters and felt sympathy for the defendant and her family.

The defendant was required to surrender her passport and must wear an electronic monitoring bracelet. Her attorney noted the girl was an honor student at one of the best schools in the country and expressed concern that the incident could impact the rest of her life.

The state attorney's office reported that the victim suffered a severe brain injury.

As we reported on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers ages 15 to 19 years old. One in every 7 traffic fatalities nationwide involves a teenager, leading to more than 5,000 deaths a year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Another 250,000 teenagers are seriously injured each year in car accidents, pedestrian accidents and other traffic crashes.

Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes have entered into an agreement to represent an Illinois woman who was injured recently in a bike accident on the North Side of Chicago. The crash took place at Chicago Ave. & Sangamon. The plaintiff was bicycling eastbound on Chicago when the defendant who, was westbound, failed to yield while turning left and hit our client.

The bicyclist was taken by ambulance to Illinois Masonic Medical Center. There she was treated for multiple injuries and lacerations. She has since followed up for treatment with a medical doctor.

As warm weather arrives in Illinois, Chicagoans are again riding, and the Chicago bicycle accident attorneys at Abels & Annes are receiving more and more phone calls regarding accidents. Drivers in the Chicago area, especially when Downtown, need to be on the lookout for bike riders.

For good safety tips for both drivers and bicyclists, visit the Illinois Secretary of State's website. The site has a "tips for motorists" section that specifically mentions the dangers of left turns and that drivers need to look out for bikes and let them pass before making the turn.

If you have been injured in a Chicago area bike accident, contact Abels & Annes for a free consultation at (312) 924-7575.

Preliminary numbers for 2009 show what might be the first significant decline in motorcycle accidents in more than a decade, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Authorities cite the economy as a primary factor for the reduction.

The Governors Highway Safety Association reports a 10 percent decline in 2009, to a total of 4,762 fatal accidents, based on preliminary statistics. Fatal Chicago motorcycle accidents were down 18 percent, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

As we reported recently on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, spring is a dangerous time for Chicago motorcycle accidents. New riders hit the road alongside veteran riders who are gearing up for the summer riding season. Motorists need to use extra caution in watching for motorcyclists and are urged to give them the space and respect they need and deserve to stay safe on the road.

In the six-county Chicago area, deaths fell to 47 in 2009, compared to 57 in 2008 and 68 in 2007. Statewide, motorcycle accidents declined to 130 in 2009, compared to 135 in 2008.

Nationwide, accidents have increased with the popularity of motorcycling. The number of registered motorcycles has nearly doubled in the last decade, from 4 million in 1998 to more than 7 million this year. Illinois motorcycle accidents killed 121 riders in 2008. Nationwide, 5,290 riders were killed and more than 100,000 were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the overall number of fatal traffic accidents has declined in recent years, the number of fatal motorcycle accidents had increased each year for more than a decade until last year. In 1998, 2,294 fatalities and 49,000 injuries were reported.

Every rider can benefit from a rider safety course. Free courses are offered through Northern Illinois University.

Continue reading " Chicago motorcycle accidents decline; tough economy cited as primary reason " »

Police are looking for two hit-and-run vehicles involved in striking elderly pedestrians crossing Cottage Grove in separate accidents on Wednesday.

An 80-year-old man has been killed after being run down in a Chicago pedestrian accident by a driver who fled the scene, CBS2 reported.

Residents near Cottage Grove and 53rd Street said the area is a dangerous crossing for pedestrians, particularly the elderly. He was killed less than a block from his apartment as he tried to cross the street. Police say the accident happened shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday. The victim, who used a cane, was thrown onto the hood of the vehicle for a short distance before the driver fled the scene in a vehicle police believe was either gray or white.

Residence say the area near the CTA stop lacks a stop sign or a marked crosswalk and pedestrians and bus passengers face the danger on a daily basis. Police say drivers have a responsibility to yield to pedestrians whether or not there is a marked crosswalk.

Earlier Wednesday, an 89-year-old woman was seriously injured after being struck in a hit-and-run pedestrian accident in the 6700 block of Cottage Grove Avenue. That accident involved a female driver and a maroon vehicle, possibly a Buick. Police report the woman was hit about 1:40 p.m. Wednesday, according to ABC 7.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chicago Police Department Major Accident Investigation Unit at (312) 745-4521.

As we reported last month on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, spring and summer is a deadly time for Illinois pedestrian accidents. A total of 135 people were killed in Illinois pedestrian accidents in 2008, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Click here for pedestrian safety tips.

In 2008, pedestrian accidents killed 4,378 people and injured more than 69,000, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Insurers are gearing up to seek reimbursement from embattled automaker Toyota and motorists who believe a defective vehicle was responsible for an Illinois car accident may also be entitled to collect for damages, the Associated Press reported.

Anyone involved in a Chicago car accident involving a defective vehicle can contact Abels & Annes for a free and confidential appointment to discuss their rights.

Toyota has recalled more than 8 million vehicles worldwide this year for a series of problems including sticking gas pedals. The company agreed last month to pay a $16.375 million fine, the largest ever levied by the federal government in connection with defective vehicles, after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found Toyota failed to notify consumers of the safety defect in a timely manner.

“By failing to report known safety problems as it is required to do under the law, Toyota put consumers at risk,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “I am pleased that Toyota has accepted responsibility for violating its legal obligations to report any defects promptly. We are continuing to investigate whether the company has lived up to all its disclosure obligations.”

And the problems continue for Toyota as Consumer Reports issued a rare "Don't Buy" rating this month on the 2010 Lexus GX 460, an SUV in Toyota's flagship luxury line, after concerns that the vehicle was prone to rollover accidents. Toyota issued a recall after the report.

Now, some of the nation's largest auto insurance companies, including Allstate, Geico and State Farm, are seeking to recoup money paid on claims involving the sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles.

A spokesperson with the Insurance Information Institute said not every accident involving a Toyota will be eligible. "Just because you drive one of the cars that was recalled doesn't mean the accident was caused by the faulty accelerator," she said. "It would have to be determined that the cause of the accident was because of the defect."

Federal authorities have linked 52 deaths to sudden acceleration in Toyotas and more than 100 personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits have been filed against the company.

Older drivers may reduce the chances of a Chicago car accident and sharpen their driving skills using "DriveSharp," a computer program aimed at aging motorist, the Sun-Times reported.

Motorists over the age of 65 are less likely to drive drunk or use cell phones while driving, however their risk of being involved in an accident begins to increase at age 70 and jumps sharply after the age of 80, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As we reported last month on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, Illinois law requires drivers ages 81 to 86 to be pass a driving test every two years. Beginning at age 87, drivers are required to pass an annual examination. That report came following a fatal Illinois bicycle accident involving three Chicago college students who were struck by an 86-year-old motorist.

The "DriveSharp" program has helped 78-year-old Bob Parmacek, who told the Sun-Times he wanted to take a proactive approach to remaining sharp behind the wheel.

"I live in Highland Park, and we get deer on the road every so often, and I'm able to see them much quicker than I did before," Parmacek said. "I don't want to give up my driving, so anything I can do, I'm all for it."

The DriveSharp program works on the premise that cognitive skills can be sharpened with training, just as muscles can be built with lifting weights. The program, developed by Posit Science, consists of two computer games. One game involves tracking jewels hidden behind swimming fish; the other has a user locate road signs and identify cars within a circle.

Posit Science CEO Steven Aldrich told the Sun-Times that the games are designed to improve reaction time and a driver's ability to notice things on the edge of peripheral vision. "It focuses on your divided attention, which is a key piece of driving because you have cars around you and cars behind and in front of you," he said.

The company claims that independent research has shown improvement among older drivers who use the program, saying 10 hours of practice can cut the risk of an at-fault car accident in half.

Allstate Insurance has offered the games to 100,000 Pennsylvania drivers over the age of 55 as part of a pilot program. The insurer reported "significant improvement" in the driving of customers who used the product.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety also recommends the product to members, offering it at a discount of $69, compared to the $89 retail price.

Click here to measure your accident risk through the AAA Foundation.

Continue reading " Older drivers may reduce the risk of a Chicago car accident through computer simulation " »

The deadly assault of a Chicago customer in a CVS drugstore is under investigation and the store manager will not be allowed to return to work until the probe is completed, the Breaking News Center reported.

The customer was suspected of shoplifting.

"We are investigating this unfortunate incident and are fully cooperating with police," CVS spokesman Michael DeAngelis said. He refused to discuss company policy regarding the handling of customers suspected of shoplifting, according to the Tribune. The store manager declined to comment.

Chicago police have indicated they will not charge the employee, who put the 35-year-old customer in a chokehold. The customer's death has been ruled a homicide by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

The victim's ex-wife expressed anger and frustration over his death as a result of a minor shoplifting allegation. She said the man was accused of stealing toothpaste and crayons and disagreed with the decision by police not to press charges.

"How's it accidental?" Balboa said. "You're choking the [expletive] out of somebody. He should be fired. He should be facing criminal charges. You don't take someone's life over toothpaste."

The incident occurred at about 11 a.m. Saturday at the CVS Pharmacy located in the 2600 block of South Pulaski Road. Authorities say he was chased out of the store and fell unconscious during a struggle with the employee in an alley next to the building.

Our law firm recently settled a case against a Chicago area store in a similar incident. In our case, a store employee chased down an alleged shoplifter outside the store and repeatedly struck our client with a blunt object. Our plaintiff sustained multiple facial fractures and head injuries.

It has not been reported if the victim's family has yet retained a Chicago injury lawyer to pursue a civil case against CVS.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times and NBC News.

A driver has been accused of driving while intoxicated and reckless homicide after causing a fatal Illinois auto accident that killed a woman and injured 3 others, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. One of the injured was an 11 month old child.

The defendant, a 36 year old Chicago resident, reportedly ran several stop signs at a high rate of speed and rear-ended another car. When police arrived at the scene they had to use a Taser to take the driver into custody, and he is now hospitalized under police watch.

The accident occurred at 30th and Drake Street on the Southwest Side around 2 p.m. on Friday. Two of the injured were taken by ambulance to Stroger Hospital and two others were taken to Mount Sinai.

Alicia Pedroza, age 58, of Chicago was pronounced dead shortly after the accident at Stroger Hospital. She was one of the four in a Kia that was rear-ended and knocked into a 3rd vehicle. The driver of the 3rd car was not hurt.

The Chicago Police Department's Major Accidents Investigation Unit and Harrison Area detectives are handling the investigation.

Click here to read the story as reported by WGN News.

One person was killed and two others seriously injured last Monday in a Chicago train accident on the South Side after a Metra Electric train struck a car, the Breaking News Center reported.

It is the latest in a series of high-profile train accidents plaguing Chicago. As we reported last month on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, malfunctioning gates are believed to be the cause of a fatal accident involving an Amtrak train. The train struck a vehicle at the crossing, killing a popular local dance instructor. In yet another incident, a train killed two Chicago pedestrians, including a small child.

In this case, the accident at 71st Street and Merrill Avenue occurred shortly before 10 p.m. Monday. A 30-year-old man was killed and two others were transported in serious-to-critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

NBC Chicago reported the 347 train hit a vehicle at the intersection and pushed it for a block, before the car rolled over. Two passengers managed to escape but could not free the trapped driver. Emergency crews cut the driver from the wreckage but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cause of the accident remains under investigation.

The train involved did stop. Train traffic was interrupted: The 10 p.m. inbound 93rd Street/South Chicago was canceled and the outbound trains departing Chicago for 93rd Street did not travel beyond Bryn Mawr Monday night.

Each year, approximately 80 people die in Illinois train accidents, according to the Illinois Commerce Commission. The vast majority of deadly crashes involve motorists and pedestrians who are injured or killed after being struck by trains at railroad crossings. The commission reports that motor vehicle accidents involving trains are 40 times more likely to be fatal.

An East Chicago man is facing four felony counts of drunk driving and leaving the scene, in the wake of a car accident in a construction zone that has claimed the life of an Indiana man.

A judge on Tuesday denied a request by the defendant to be released from jail to take a final exam, according to ABC 7.

As we reported earlier this week on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, the worker was flown by medical helicopter to Loyola University Medical Center in critical condition with head and leg injuries. He died Sunday as a result of his injuries. Charges against the defendant have since been upgraded as a result of the worker's death.

The defendant's mother called police after seeing his car had been involved in an accident. Illinois State Police found him passed out on the couch. The driver reportedly told police he had drank a lot and then drove home and thought he had hit a construction barrel.

The road worker had been filling cracks along westbound I-94 near Burns Harbor at about 3 a.m. when he was hit by a red Chevy Cavalier, which fled the scene. The temporary construction zone was well posted with message boards, construction barrels and signs.

It's the second time in less than a month that an arrest has been made in connection with a serious highway construction zone accident. We reported on our Chicago Injury Lawyer Blog earlier this month that a Gary Indiana man had been arrested for hitting a road crew member on the Dan Ryan Expressway.

The Illinois Department of Transportation is urging drivers to obey the law -- move over and slow down for construction workers as summer road work begins in earnest.

Scott's Law requires Illinois motorists to move over whenever possible and to slow down for all emergency and construction vehicles. The law provides for a fine of up to $10,000 for violations and motorists who are cited must appear in court and face a license suspension. The law is named for Chicago Fire Department Lt. Scott Glenn, who was struck and killed by a drunk driver while working an accident scene on the Dan Ryan Expressway.

If it has two wheels, watch out for it in May.

As state and federal officials gear up to promote May as Motorcycle Awareness Month, city officials are reminding motorists it is also National Bike Month and are urging motorists to do their part in reducing Chicago bike accidents.

Last month, we reported on Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog that the city has been named one of the nation's best for cycling. But Illinois bicycle accidents killed 27 riders in 2008 and seriously injured 3,385. BicycleSafe.com offers a number or rider safety tips to help cyclists enjoy the spring and summer riding season as safely as possible.

On May 1, KMart stores in the Chicago area will be working in conjunction with Mayor Daley's Safe Routes Ambassadors program to educate parents and children about safe riding skills. Each store will also be holding a sweepstakes for a chance to win a children's bike.

Click here for more information and a list of participating stores.

Summer is prime riding season for kids. The Chicago Department of Transportation offers an online safety booklet for parents and children.

Safety tips for children include:

-Slow down and say "excuse me" or ring a bell or horn to avoid scaring or colliding with people you approach from behind while riding a bike.

-Ride one in front of the other when riding with friends.

-Take special care when approaching alleys and driveways. Look left, right, left. Slow down and stop if you can't see whether anything is coming. Look left first and last because that is the direction of oncoming traffic.

-Make sure a driver sees you before proceeding into the path of a vehicle.

-Never cross a street in the middle of the block.

-Before entering the street, stop at the curb and make sure parked cars are not about to move. Look left, right, left for oncoming traffic and make eye contact with any drivers before proceeding.

-Always ride in the same direction cars are traveling.

-Ride three feet from parked cars to avoid being hit by an opening car door.

-Never ride against traffic; it's the easiest way to get hit.

-Don't ride in the street unless a parent has determined it is ok.

-Ride in a straight line, don't zig-zag or move in an out of traffic or parked cars.

-The safest way to cross a busy street is to get off a bike and push it across in a marked crosswalk.

-Keep an eye on what's behind you.

-Watch for potholes, sewer grates or other road hazards.

Parents are encouraged to review the entire manual with their young riders as spring and summer riding season begins.

Continue reading " Officials to promote safe cycling in effort to reduce Chicago bicycle accidents " »

As prom season begins, Illinois is considering reducing the amount of time that teenagers can drive on weekend nights, the USA Today reported. The Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes urge parents to talk to their children about prom safety.

From 2003 to 2008, a total of 1,563 fatal Illinois car accidents involved teen drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Only California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas reported more teen driving deaths.

WQAD reports that many schools throughout Illinois are using "Operation Prom Night" as a tool to warn teenagers of the dangers of drinking and driving as prom season enters full swing.

"Operation Prom Night" is a graphic display of a drunk driving automobile accident involving serious and fatal injuries and is sponsored by a number of organizations, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

MADD is also promoting "The Power of Parents: It's Your Influence" to promote safe teenage driving.

Parents can help teenagers make the right choices by:

- Establishing clear rules and consequences for underage drinking and monitoring your child's activities.

- Acknowledging that the choice to be drug and alcohol free isn't easy.

-Signing a contract allowing a limo driver to phone parents if alcohol is detected.

-Insisting that only registered passengers be allowed transportation.

-Never serving alcohol to an underage person.

Continue reading " Prom safety critical to avoiding Chicago car accidents involving teenagers " »

A Gary Indiana man was arrested recently and charged because of his involvement in a Chicago car crash that injured a construction worker last summer, WGN News reported.

The Chicago construction zone accident occurred when an SUV slammed into a highway worker closing the gate on his truck along the Dan Ryan Expressway. The defendant was ticketed but failed to appear in court. A warrant issued for his arrest in Cook and four surrounding counties failed to locate him until media reports were broadcast nationwide.

The highway worker was severely injured. A year later he is finally walking again. The worker said he hopes his story provides a lesson to law enforcement and is pushing for nationwide warrants to be issued in cases where highway construction workers are injured.

As we reported in April on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, 31 people died and nearly 2,000 were injured in Illinois road construction accidents in 2008.

Scott's Law, named for a firefighter who was killed after being struck by a motorist at an accident scene on a Chicago expressway, requires vehicles to slow down and move over whenever possible for emergency, construction or maintenance workers. Violators face a mandatory court appearance, driver's license suspension and a fine of up to $10,000.

Illinois law lowers speed limits in construction zones from 65 mph to 55 mph or from 55 mph to 45 mph, although lower speed limits may be posted. Construction workers do not have to be present for motorists to receive a speeding ticket in a construction zone.

Court appearances are mandatory for motorists cited with a work-zone violation and photo-enforcement may be utilized to increase work-zone safety. Motorists who cause a fatal accident in an Illinois work zone may be charged with reckless homicide, which carries a penalty of up to 14 years in prison.

As we reported on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, Illinois is gearing up for road-construction season, with a series of major summer construction projects, including roadwork on I-290, the Congress Street Bridge and the upper and lower levels of Wacker Drive.

An Illinois man is suing Pope Benedict XVI and senior Vatican officials, claiming they failed to protect him from sexual assault as a teenager from a Wisconsin priest they knew was a possible child molester, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

The case is the latest in a long string of claims against the Catholic Church in the Chicago area and across the nation. As we reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog last summer, the church paid $3.9 million to settle with six victims who reported sexual abuse by priests.

Identified in court papers as John Doe 16, the man said he was repeatedly molested by a priest while a student at St. John's School for the deaf in the Milwaukee area.

The lawsuit claims the abuse occurred over a number of years and included incidents in which the priest solicited sex in the confessional. The priest taught at the school from 1950 until 1974. He died in 1998 and stands accused of sexually abusing some 200 boys at the school.

The charges against the priest recently drew renewed scrutiny after documents suggested that a Vatican office headed by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger failed to aggressively discipline Murphy. Ratzinger is now the Pope.

John Doe 16 reported that he wrote two letters to the Vatican asking for help. Court documents suggest Vatican officials failed to discipline Murphy because he was a successful fundraiser.

A Vatican spokesman said previously that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was not informed of the Murphy case until 20 years after the diocese knew of the allegations. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is the office charged with investigating sex crimes by members of the clergy.