Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

24 injured in separate Chicago traffic accidents Sunday afternoon

2010-03-10T14:27:58Z

Two dozen people were injured in separate Chicago traffic accidents Sunday afternoon.

Eleven people, including 7 children, were injured Sunday afternoon in a Chicago traffic accident when two vans collided on the South Side, WBBM News reported.

The accident happened shortly before 3 p.m. Sunday at South Racine Avenue and West 68th St.

Seven children were transported to area hospitals in serious condition. Four adults were also taken to the hospital in serious-to-critical condition.

Cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Thirteen people were injured in a Chicago bus accident involving a semi, the Breaking News Center reported.

The accident involving the Chicago Transit authority bus happened late Sunday afternoon on the West Side and left on person critically injured. Rescue personnel were called to the intersection of Loomis Street and Cermak Road at 4:45 p.m.

One woman was taken in critical condition to Stroger Hospital.

Two were transported to Mount Sanai in fair to serious condtion; and two were taken in good condition to the University of Chicago Hospital. The driver of the semi was also injured but refused medical treatment.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the semi rear-ended the bus before crashing into a minvan.

Cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Chicago work accident fatally injures Peoples Energy employee, critically injures co-worker

2010-03-08T11:11:42Z

A worker was killed last week and another injured in a Chicago construction accident that occurred in the Loop, ABC 7 reported.

The victims are employees of People's Energy and were conducting an underground test at Jackson and Wacker Drive when the Chicago work accident occurred shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday afternoon. They were testing a 20-inch main when a steel pipe slipped and struck both workers, who were in a construction hole across the street from the Willis Tower.

Three ambulances responded to the scene at 1:45 p.m. after reports of workers trapped following an explosion, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Initial reports of a gas explosion were countered by a Peoples Energy representative, who said the employees were using compressed air when the accident happened and that no natural gas was involved.

The Chicago fire department said both employees were critically injured and were transported to Cook County Hospital.

"The two employees were in the performance of their duties, they were testing a pipe and an accident occurred," Peoples Energy representative Bonnie Johnson told ABC7.

Witnesses at the scene said the fire department apparently extracted the surviving victim quickly but had to work feverishly to extract the worker who was fatally injured after being trapped in the hole.

The surviving victim remained in critical condition at Cook County Hospital.

Federal government pushes states to ban texting while driving to combat fatal car accidents

2010-03-06T17:43:13Z

The federal government has unveiled sample legislation for states crafting laws to prohibit texting while driving, the latest move by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to combat distracted driving.

As reported earlier this year on Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, Illinois is a leader in reforming driving laws to combat serious and fatal Illinois car accidents: Two new laws took effect Jan. 1, making it illegal to text while driving or to talk on a cell phone while traveling in a school zone or construction site.

Drivers have been forbidden from using cell phones while driving within the City of Chicago since 2005.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 1 in 4 police-reported traffic crashes are the result of some form of driver distraction. An estimated 6,000 people died last year in fatal crashes caused by distracted or inattentive drivers. Research continues to show that young, inexperienced drivers under 20 -- who are more likely to be involved in a serious or fatal car accident -- are also more likely to text message while behind the wheel.

"Texting while driving, like talking on cell phones while driving, is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening practice," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This language, which we created with a variety of safety organizations, is another powerful tool in our arsenal to help the states combat this serious threat.”

In recent months, President Obama issued an executive order prohibiting all federal employees from texting while driving and the federal government issued new guidelines making it illegal for drivers of commercial vehicles to text while driving.

Currently, 19 states have texting laws on the books. Nationwide, some 200 distracted driving laws were considered by state lawmakers. Though many did not make it into law, legislative activity is expected to remain strong this year.

Safety advocates content texting is particularly dangerous because it involves three forms of driver distraction: visual (eyes off the road), manual (hands off the wheel) and cognitive (mind off the road).

]]> If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, the Chicago car accident attorneys and the personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes offer free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.

Children at high risk of Chicago pedestrian accidents

2010-03-04T14:22:58Z

When it comes to Chicago pedestrian accidents, children are at high risk. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14. Every day in the United States, an average of 5 children under 14 are killed and more than 500 injured by a motor vehicle.

The Chicago child injury attorneys and the Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers at Abels & Annes urge parents to discuss traffic safety with their children early and often.

In 2007, a total of 1,670 children were killed and 200,000 were injured in Chicago car accidents. In many cases, the child is a pedestrian.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers excellent advice to parents and adults working with children to learn proper roadway and pedestrian safety.

Advice for parents and caregivers of elementary school children:
-Cross at the corner or at an intersection.
-Stop at the edge of parked cars, the curb, or other vehicles.
-Look left-right-left (left is most important because it is the traffic direction closest to you.)
-Continue looking left and right while crossing.
-Walk. Don't run in the street.
-Watch for signs (engine sound, car doors, brake lights) that a car is about to move.
-Use both your eyes and ears at all time for safety.

Preventing backovers in driveways
-Ensure children are supervised at all times, especially when vehicles are present.
-Teach children not to play around vehicles.
-Always assume the presence of children and check carefully before backing.
-Do not allow children to ever play in the driveway.
-Teach children never to play with a vehicle or attempt to put it in gear.
-Never leave a vehicle running and unattended.
-Know where children are located and have them in view before moving a vehicle.
-Keep an eye to the rear and your window down as you back slowly out of a drive.
-Talk to neighborhood parents and urge them to follow safety guidelines.

]]> If your child has been injured in an accident call the Chicago child injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys at Abels & Annes offer free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.

Man pleads guilty in Chicago drunk driving accident that claimed life of two friends

2010-03-02T15:02:02Z

A 26-year-old Aurora man has pleaded guilty to charges in connection with a fatal Chicago drunk driving accident that killed two of his friends back in 2007, the Examiner reported.

The Balmoral Court man agreed to plea to two counts of aggravated DUI and one count of DUI, according to the Kane County State's Attorney's office. He faces between 6 and 28 years in prison at his April sentencing.

The fatal Chicago DUI accident occurred in Aug. 2007. The defendant was driving two of his friends in a Nissan Sentra when he crashed into a tree near Sugar Grove. The two 21-year-old men were killed.

Investigators said the defendant had marijuana in his system at the time of the crash and a blood alcohol level of .01, above the Illinois limit of .08.

Illinois drunk driving fatalities are a primary cause of fatal Illinois traffic crashes. The Illinois Department of Transportation reports that nearly half of fatally injured drivers (including 49 percent of young drivers ages 16 to 24) had a positive blood-alcohol content at the time of the collision.

As reported earlier this month on Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, the state of Illinois will spend more than $11 million to combat drunk driving this year.

One-third of all fatal accidents in Illinois involve a drunk driver. The overall goal is to reduce Illinois traffic fatalities to 883 by 2011 from the 1,355 recorded in 2004. Last month, we reported here at Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog that the 928 traffic fatalities recorded in 2009 were the lowest in nearly a century of reporting.

Drunk driving blamed in Chicago car accident that killed 6-year-old girl

2010-02-28T10:58:31Z

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.

Red-light runner reportedly responsible for serious Chicago car accident

2010-02-26T12:32:39Z

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.

Two struck in Chicago car accident involving disabled vehicle

2010-02-23T13:37:10Z

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.

Chicago semi accident kills motorist pulled over for flat tire

2010-02-22T08:41:51Z

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.

Chicago expressway car accidents under investigation

2010-02-20T11:21:28Z

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.

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

2010-02-18T16:00:49Z

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.

]]> In January, Abels & Annes reported here at Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog that a driver at another private busing company, Jewel's Bus. Co., was charged with sexually assaulting a high school girl on his bus. In September, Abels & Annes reported yet another driver at that company faced civil and criminal charges for reportedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a boy on a Chicago school bus.

Click here for pictures and video of the CBS2 investigation.

Man wanted in connection with Halloween hit-and-run car accident that killed Chicago pedestrian

2010-02-15T15:36:19Z

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.

Chicago pedestrian accident lawyer reaches $100,000 insurance policy limits settlement

2010-02-12T16:49:42Z

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.

]]> If you or a loved one has been involved in a Chicago car accident or an Illinois pedestrian accident, contact Abels and Annes for a free consultation.

Chicago bus accident involving congressional campaign bus critically injures car driver

2010-02-10T16:05:01Z

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.

Defective vehicles can lead to Chicago car accidents

2010-02-08T15:50:49Z

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.

]]> If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident as a result of a defective vehicle, the Chicago car accident lawyers and the personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Abels & Annes offer free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.