Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

As authorities continue to investigate a bus accident that claimed 14 lives in New York City, the incident has put the spotlight on the risk of bus accidents in Chicago and elsewhere involving tour buses and discount bus operators. The Wall Street Journal reports one of the crashes that first brought the growing industry to the attention of authorities occurred in 2007, when a bus traveling from New York to Chicago crashed in Pennsylvania, killing two passengers.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers frequently discuss the need to seek legal representation when dealing with an accident involving commercial trucks or buses. Multiple claims, multiple at-fault parties and state and federal regulations can make dealing with such claims a complex process.

Records indicate the bus company had previously been cited for driver fatigue by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It's buses had also been involved in several accidents. Still, the company managed to receive a "satisfactory" rating from inspectors. The bus was traveling from a Connecticut casino to New York City when it flipped over in Manhattan and skidded 480 feet into a guardrail. Fourteen riders were killed.

The Chicago Tribune reported the crash has renewed scrutiny of bus companies offering cheap, convenient fares on older buses. Such services are in the fifth year of a boom that has been no stranger to fatal accidents. Just last September four riders died when a Megabus missed an exit in Syracuse. And just one day after the accident in New York City killed 14, a driver and passenger were killed when a bus drove off the New Jersey turnpike.

Megabus launched a few years ago in Chicago, which has become a thriving hub. Some services offer rides from Philadelphia to Chicago for $22, or trips from Boston to New York for $10 or $15, compared to the $70 or more Amtrak would charge. Critics ask if they keep those fairs low by cutting costs when it comes to safety.

Continue reading " Discount bus services face scrutiny over potential for Chicago accidents in wake of New York tragedy " »

The Illinois Department of Transportation is teaming up to promote safe driving among seniors in an effort to reduce the risk of Chicago car accidents to aging drivers.

A state proclamation declared March 21 to 31 as Senior Driving Awareness Weeks.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys have discussed here before the risks facing senior drivers. The dangers of an older driver being involved in a car accident rise steadily after retirement. Those over the age of 75 face higher risks than any drivers on the road, including teenagers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports more than 5,000 seniors are killed in traffic crashes each year and more than 180,000 are injured.

In 2008, 163 seniors were involved in fatal Illinois traffic accidents. The issue is expected to become increasingly critical as the baby boomer generation retires.

“IDOT is dedicated to traffic safety in Illinois and encourages all seniors to take advantage of the refresher courses made available statewide,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. “Through the use of strategic partnerships, effective programs and motorist compliance to state law, Illinois has experienced record lows in roadway fatalities and an all-time high in statewide safety belt usage rate. We strongly support the importance of Senior Driving Awareness Weeks and look forward to its success in promoting senior safety.”

The partnership includes Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White's Office and theIllinois Department of Aging, as well as the AARP. The agencies aim to improve training and review of older drivers in an effort to prevent traffic accidents.

“We want senior drivers to maintain their mobility and independence while continuing a lifetime of safe driving,” said Secretary White. “Last year my office provided free Rules of the Road classes at 320 locations throughout the state. The Super Seniors Program, combines Rules of the Road instruction, a vision screening and a driver safety component, providing seniors with the knowledge needed to obtain or renew a driver’s license. This program, allows seniors to brush up on their driving knowledge in an effort to help them continue driving safely."

There are more than 3.5 million licensed drivers in Illinois over the age of 50.

Click here to review a Rules of the Road class schedule.

Continue reading " Senior Driving Awareness Weeks aim to reduce risk of Chicago car accidents " »

An Illinois car versus pedestrian accident has resulted in the death of a man in northwest suburban Lake Zurich, according to Trib Local. The collision involved three vehicles and occurred at southbound US Route 12 and Honey Lake Road.

Police are reporting that a vehicle moving south on Route 12 around 3 PM drove off the roadway and struck a second vehicle and a person standing outside that vehicle. The second vehicle was knocked into a third unoccupied vehicle. The pedestrian standing outside the vehicle was about to get in the car at the time of the collision, and was tragically killed in the accident.

A Lake Zurich Fire Department ambulance transported the driver of the first vehicle to Good Shepherd Hospital due to injuries sustained in the collision. Reportedly that driver will be asked to give a blood sample to determine if drugs or alcohol played a role in the deadly accident. 2 other people involved in the accident were also taken to Good Shepherd Hospital.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Department's major crash assistance team will help the Lake Zurich Police Department in their investigation.

It has not been reported if an Chicago pedestrian accident lawyer is involved in the case yet.

A man is been killed in an Illinois truck versus car crash that occurred in downstate Murphysboro, Illinois on Tuesday, CBS news is reporting. The collision occurred at the intersection of Country Club Road and Route 13 in front of a Walmart around 9:30 AM.

After the truck crash, the 72-year-old driver of the car involved in the accident, who is a Murphysboro resident, was transported by ambulance to an area hospital and pronounced dead less than an hour later. The driver of the box truck was not seriously hurt.

The accident reportedly occurred when the car turned left in front of the truck, however the traffic signals at the intersection were not described in the news story. Further, it's being reported that the truck driver was cited by the Illinois State Police for logbook violations.

The Illinois State Police, Murphysboro Police Department, Murphysboro Fire Department, and Jackson County Sheriff's Department all responded to the scene of the accident and assisted in the crash investigation. Traffic on Route 13 had to be narrowed to one lane due to the accident.

Click here to read the story as reported by NBC news.

Chicago sexual abuse attorneys continue to follow the recent lawsuits being filed on the East Coast. CNN is reporting that a third lawsuit has been filed this month against the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and other archdiocese officials.

There is been several new lawsuits since February when a grand jury report was released and charges were brought soon after against 4 priests and a schoolteacher. Since then the alleged victims of sex abuse have filed the lawsuits because the report claims the archdiocese withheld the identity of known predator priests.

In a lawsuit filed last Wednesday, allegations claim that Rev. John Kline, who was assigned to St. Francis Xavier Parish and who was a teacher at a Roman Catholic high school, sexually abused the plaintiff sometime between 1968 and 1969 while on a family vacation. The victim, who is now 49 years old, is saying he repressed the memories of the sexual contact until around three years ago. The alleged abuser retired from church duties in 1981 has since passed away, according to the plaintiff's attorney, Marci Hamilton.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has not commented on the new lawsuit.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Canadian Press.

Motorists are at high risk of fatal injuries in Chicago car accidents involving rear-end collisions with tractor-trailers, according to new research released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Our Chicago trucking accident attorneys understand the risk posed to motorists by large commercial trucks on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that large commercial trucks are involved in nearly 400,000 accidents each year. More than 4,000 motorists were killed in such crashes in 2008; in three-quarters of those cases the victims were occupants of passenger vehicles or non-occupants, such as bicyclists and pedestrians.

Now the IIHS reports antiquated underride guards may result in serious or fatal injuries to motorists involved in rear-end collisions with commercial trucks; 80 percent of the rear-end collisions examined in the study resulted in underride, which substantially increases the risk of injury to occupants of passenger cars. In just 1 in 5 cases did rear-end collisions not result in a car being forced beneath the semi.

"Cars' front-end structures are designed to manage a tremendous amount of crash energy in a way that minimizes injuries for their occupants," says Adrian Lund, Institute president. "Hitting the back of a large truck is a game changer. You might be riding in a vehicle that earns top marks in frontal crash tests, but if the truck's underride guard fails — or isn't there at all — your chances of walking away from even a relatively low-speed crash aren't good."

The Institute has been studying the issue since the 1970s; the latest report found rules had not been updated since 1996 and most guards did not protect the entire rear of a truck, leaving motorists particularly vulnerable to underride crashes when striking a trailer at an angle. As a result, the group is petitioning the NHTSA to mandate better protection.

"Underride standards haven't kept pace with improvements in passenger vehicle crashworthiness," Lund said. "Absent regulation, there's little incentive for manufacturers to improve underride countermeasures, so we hope NHTSA will move quickly on our petition."

Continue reading " Underride accidents increase risk of fatal injuries in Chicago trucking accidents " »

As Chicago auto accident lawyers from Abels & Annes reported to yesterday, an Illinois hit-and-run pedestrian accident has caused the death of a man in his 30s on the Stevenson Expressway on Thursday evening. It is now being reported by the Chicago Tribune that the at fault driver has been caught by police and charged with DUI.

The defendant, a 40-year-old Chicago resident from the 5400 block of S. Ellis Ave., was allegedly headed northbound on the interstate near Damen Avenue around 10:10 PM when he drove onto the right shoulder and hit a pedestrian who was standing by his disabled vehicle. The victim was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital and pronounced dead at 11:34 PM.

The driver fled the scene after the collision, but occurrence witnesses described his vehicle to Illinois state troopers and he was arrested a short time later near his home. Blood-alcohol testing after arrest showed the driver had a BAC of .161, just over twice the Illinois legal limit. The defendant reportedly admitted consuming alcohol prior to the incident.

Judge Peggy Chiampas has set bail for the defendant at $1 million. It is also being reported that the driver has been convicted of DUI three prior occasions, and had just completed probation in August from an Aggravated DUI. It is likely that the criminal charges in this matter will be upgraded to felonies by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office due to the fatality and the defendant's driving history.

It has not been reported if an Illinois pedestrian accident lawyer is involved in the case yet.

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

Recently out Chicago car accident lawyers reported on the dangers of intersection accidents in Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois.

The ink wasn't even dry on that blog yet when the National Safety Council released a report saying crashes at intersections equipped with traffic lights have decreased by 17 percent in the last five years, while those involving red-light runners have dropped by 27 percent.

Part of the reason could be the economic downturn, during which many states, including Illinois, have reported record-low numbers of fatal traffic accidents. And part of the reason could be the increasing use of red-light cameras.

The study used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to review accident rates in all 50 states.

“This report shows that we are making large strides as a nation in reducing crashes at intersections,” said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council.

Yet intersections remain among the most dangerous places on the road for all sorts of accidents, including bicycle and pedestrian accidents in Chicago. The report still found 12,396 fatal crashes occurred at intersections during the five-year period, including 4,394 crashes involving red-light runners.

"While we are making progress, the 13,266 fatalities from these crashes remind us that we have much more to do," Froetscher said. "Each of us should consider these statistics and the measures we can take to protect ourselves, our families and our communities.”

Illinois was one of few states that reported little change in the percentage of fatal crashes occurring at intersections, in fact the total increased from 8 percent in 2008 to 10 percent in 2009, compared to the 11 percent reported when the study began in 2005.

As we have reported, the economic downturn has led to back-to-back years of record-low fatalities for the first time in nearly a century of reporting. Advocates of the city's camera program also contend that Chicago's 200 red-light cameras are having a positive impact. A recent study suggested 22 fewer fatal Chicago crashes were blamed on red-light runners from 2004 to 2008, than the 69 deaths reported in a similar period from 1992 to 1996.
Recent Blogs:

Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog:

Red-light cameras reducing number of fatal Chicago car accidents.

Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog: Are red light cameras increasing the risk of Chicago car accidents?

Continue reading " Red-light cameras, economic downturn, possible reason for fewer Chicago car accidents at intersections " »

In an effort to reduce Chicago area car crashes, the Libertyville, Illinois Police Department is running special patrols this St. Patrick's Day week, according to Tribune Local. They are taking a zero tolerance stance against impaired drivers.

Police chief Clint Herdegen is stating that if you drink and drive in Libertyville on St. Patrick's Day, you lose. The chief is recommending that you select a designated driver before you start celebrating, and to act responsibly or risk getting arrested.

The Tribune article goes on to state that, according to IDOT, over the past five years an average of 15 people lose their lives in Illinois car crashes on St. Patrick's Day. Over that same time span, over 1200 people were injured in an Illinois auto accidents.

The article also gave the following safety tips for party hosts:

Make sure all of your guests have designated drivers.

Provide non-alcoholic beverage options and serve food.

Have phone numbers available for local taxicab companies.

Take the keys away from anyone you believe is impaired at your party.

If you've been involved in a Chicago area DUI car crash, contact an Illinois personal injury attorney at Abels & Annes for a free case evaluation. Call 312-924-7575 to speak directly to a lawyer now.

Chicago work injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, working with co-counsel Christopher Johnson, have resolved two claims on behalf of a local resident for just over $231,000.

The first claim stems from a accident that occurred back in 2006 when our client was injured at work while lifting heavy boxes from a shipping door. He injured his left arm in the accident.

As our client underwent medical treatment, physicians determined he needed an MRI as his condition was not improving. The scan showed he had sustained a left rotator cuff tear.

The claimant was injured again at work in 2007 as he was repairing molding. At that time he re-tore for his left rotator cuff and sustained a right rotator cuff tear as well.

In addition to obtaining a six-figure settlement on behalf of the client, we worked to ensure that he received disability pay while off work and reasonable medical care related to the accident.

If you've been injured on the job in Illinois, contact a Chicago work comp attorney at Abels & Annes for a free case evaluation. Call 312-924-7575 to speak to a lawyer now.

Knowing how to handle aggressive drivers can prevent you or another motorist from becoming the victim of road rage of being involved in a Chicago car accident.

As our Chicago personal injury lawyers have reported, both here and on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, that road rage typically involves a criminal offense, such as assault, while aggressive driving includes many of the more mundane activities of which we are all unfortunately guilty of from time to time, including speeding, tailgating and changing lanes without signaling.

Just last month we reported on our Personal Injury Lawyer Blog when a Chicago road rage incident led to the shooting of a pedestrian.

Yahoo News reports that a study sponsored by AAA found more than 10,000 crashes were caused by violent driver aggression between 1990 and 1996. The accidents killed more than 200 people and injured more than 12,000.

A new Road and Travel Magazine survey found half of all drivers respond with aggression when they get the finger or are cut off in traffic.

The report on aggressive-driving reactions found:

-34 percent honk their horn at the aggressor.

-27 percent yell.

-19 percent give the finger.

-17 percent flash their lights.

-7 percent mimic the aggressive behavior of the other driver.

-2 percent admit to trying to run the aggressive driver of the road.

"Road rage is a two-way street," noted Ray Palermo, of Response Insurance. "It takes two people to fight. So, if you are subjected to aggressive driving, often the best way to ensure it does not get any worse is to just ignore it."

The report found men were more likely to respond with aggression than men, but not by much (54 percent to 46 percent). Young drivers were much more likely to become aggressive than older drivers (67 percent to 30 percent). Perhaps surprisingly, drivers with children were more likely to be become aggressive (59 percent) than drivers without (45 percent).

Continue reading " Aggressive driving a common cause of Chicago car accidents " »

A Chicago woman has been arrested due to her alleged involvement in an Illinois pedestrian accident that seriously injured two women crossing the street at State and Monroe in the Loop back on February 8, 2011, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center. As Chicago pedestrian accident attorneys from our office previously reported, the victims were hit by a southbound SUV as they were crossing the intersection with a walk sign.

The vehicle was described as a Mitsubishi Montero which reportedly ran a red light and was speeding. After the crash the SUV fled the scene.

The Chicago Tribune reported after the accident that one victim, a 53-year-old woman, sustained a pelvic fracture and a large laceration on her leg, and that the other pedestrian, age 70, incurred broken ribs and a fractured collarbone.

The defendant, a 40-year-old south side woman, has been charged with leaving the scene and other offenses. She was stopped by police for an unrelated crime and was identified as a suspect in the hit and run pedestrian accident.

It has not been reported if an Illinois pedestrian accident lawyer is involved in the case at this time.

The results of the first ever bicycle-count study have been released as officials prepare for the spring riding season and work to reduce the risk of Chicago bicycle accidents.

The Chicago Department of Transportation reports Milwaukee Avenue is the most heavily biked road in the city. Bicycles made up less than 2 percent of traffic on most roads, compared to between 8 percent and 20 percent of traffic on Milwaukee Avenue. And, while 17 of 26 locations studied reported about 200 bicycles daily, the 600 block of North Milwaukee Avenue reported more than 3,000.

Wells Street also recorded some of the city's heaviest bicycle traffic.

The study was conducted during the summer and fall of 2009. Results were released last week. As our Chicago bicycle accident attorneys reported recently on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, bike lanes that share space with motorists increase the risk of a serious or fatal injury. Incoming Mayor Rahm Emanuel has proposed adding 100 miles of Chicago bicycle trails by the end of his first term.

Heavy bicycle traffic was found in the following areas:

-640 N. Milwaukee Avenue: 3,121

-1616 N. Milwaukee Avenue: 1,065

-1325 N. Wells Street: 1,501

-2225 W. Lawrence St.: 644

-2710 S. Halsted St.: 889

The city's master bicycle plan, Bike 2015, aims to increase bicycle use to 5 percent of all trips under 5 miles. Of the 26 areas studied in this first count, 19 were dedicated bile lanes and four were city streets with shared lanes. The other three locations included a bus/bike lane and two streets without marked bike lanes.

Continue reading " Bike count aims to improve infrastructure, reduce risk of Chicago bicycle accidents " »

Spring is a particularly deadly time for Illinois traffic accidents involving teenagers as prom, spring break and graduation follow one after the other. In order to combat the dangers, a number of safety organizations are sponsoring safe-driving contests and other events aimed at warning teenagers about the dangers of distracted driving, speeding and drunk driving.

Recently, our Chicago car accident lawyers reported that Ford was expanding its teen driving safety program, which began in Chicago.

Now the Itasca, Illinois-based National Safety Council is raising awareness through its "On the Road, Off the Phone" PSA contest. Sponsored by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, the contest is seeking entries of less than 3 minutes, which discuss the dangers of cell phone use by drivers.

"Goodyear is a strong advocate of safety, particularly on the road. We expect our associates to set good examples, and that includes how cell devices are used while driving,” said Rich Kramer, CEO, president & chairman of Goodyear. “By sponsoring the On the Road, Off the Phone PSA Contest, Goodyear is taking our responsibility a step further and encouraging all drivers around the country to think about safety and put down their cell phones while driving."

Official contest rules are available here. Contestants are encouraged to use the organization's white paper on distracted driving. As we reported last June on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, the organization's research contends hands-free cell phones may be no safer than hand-held devices.

The contest is designed to put the emphasis on all cell-phone use by drivers, not just text messaging. While only about 1 percent of drivers are manipulating a hand-held device at any given time, about 10 percent are talking on the phone while driving. The NSC also reports that texting is involved in only about 2 percent of all crashes, while talking on the phone has been linked to 21 percent of crashes.

Continue reading " ALL cell phone use increases risk of Chicago car accident; contest urges Illinois teens to spread the word " »

A fatal Chicago area auto accident has resulted in the death of two women and DUI charges against the driver involved, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center. The DUI accident charges are reportedly marijuana related.

The accident occurred on Sunday in Crete Township of Will County. The alleged DUI driver was traveling east on Bemes Road near the Indiana – Illinois state line when he lost control of his vehicle on a patch of ice and struck a tree.

One passenger, a 21-year-old woman from Park Forest, was ejected from the car and died on the scene. Another passenger, a 21-year-old woman from Cedar Lake, Indiana was rushed by ambulance to St. Margaret Mercy Hospital in Dyer, Indiana where she was pronounced dead a short time later.

Immediately after the accident, police did not suspect drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash, but ended up filing charges after a follow-up investigation. The Will County Sheriff's Department handled the investigation.

It has not been reported if Illinois personal injury lawyers are involved in the case yet.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Chicago Tribune.

Chicago bicycle accidents remain a serious threat, particularly for middle-aged men, despite newly released statistics that show a significant decline in the number of fatal cycling accidents nationwide.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported this month that 630 cyclists were killed and 51,000 were injured in bicycle accidents in 2009. That's down 12 percent from the 718 who were killed in 2008.

Twenty riders were killed in Illinois bicycle accidents; that's down from 27 who died in 2008. The Illinois Department of Transportation reports Chicago bicycle accidents accounted for one-fourth of all fatal crashes, claimed five lives and injuries nearly 1,400.

Officials continue to look for ways to improve safety. Last fall, we reported on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog that officials were looking to expand the Lakefront Trail in an effort to reduce congestion and the risk of Chicago bicycle and pedestrian accidents.

The new data released by the government also confirms a growing trend as cycling for recreation and fitness has become increasingly popular: Middle-aged men are most at risk. The average age of cyclists killed was 41, while the average age of those injured was 31. More than 80 percent of those injured or killed were men and about one-third of all those fatally injured (244) were ages 35 to 54.

Cycling Safety Tips:

-Wear brightly colored clothing, and use reflective tape, lights and reflectors at night.

-Use hand signals and obey all traffic laws.

-Drivers need to share the road -- giving a rider at least 3-feet of clearance at all times.

-Drivers and riders alike should pay particular attention at intersections, where many crashes occur.

-Drivers need to watch for riders before opening car doors or pulling out of parking lots or parallel parking spots.

-Riders should ride in the same direction as traffic.

Continue reading " Riders remain at high-risk for Chicago bicycle accidents " »