Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

A 15-year-old Bowen High School freshman is dead following a weekend Chicago pedestrian accident after being struck by as many as three vehicles, including a drunk driver, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Chicago police said the teenager was struck by a drunk driver while walking home, thrown into the path of a second vehicle and hit again. Police are investigating reports that a third vehicle may also have been involved.

The girl had just stepped onto East 87th Street near King Drive when she was run down at about 11:15 p.m. Saturday. She died Monday morning at Advocate Hope Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn.

Her death was ruled an accident by the Cook County medical examiner's office, which reported that she died of multiple injuries sustained in the accident.

The first driver was charged with DUI and ticketed for striking a pedestrian as well as a plate registration violation. The second driver has not been cited and the accident remains under investigation.

The victim was a popular student who had earned a place on her school's honor role. She worked on the school's yearbook and took part in the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, according to a school spokesperson. Family said she was an aspiring beautician who had just recently landed a job at a beauty salon.

A total of 156 people were killed in fatal Illinois pedestrian accidents in 2008, the vast majority in and around the Chicago metro area, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

As reported earlier this week on Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, one-third of traffic fatalities in Cook County are blamed on Chicago drunk driving accidents.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information, visit www.focusdriven.org.

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

Several Chicago car accidents on the Eisenhower Expressway seriously injured at least nine people last week and caused long delays for motorists.

Last Tuesday, three lanes of the Eisenhower Expressway extension near I-355 were closed for several hours after a three-vehicle Chicago car accident seriously injured a driver, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center.

The crash happened on the inbound expressway about 1 p.m. A medical helicopter transported one person to Lutheran General Hospital.

-Drunk driving and child endangerment charges are pending against a motorist driving a van on the Eisenhower Expressway that flipped over early a week ago Monday in a Chicago car accident that sent six passengers -- including two teenagers -- to the hospital.

The Sun-Times reported that the 19-year-old driver and another passenger fled on foot after the crash but were later apprehended. The remaining six passengers in the van were injured.

Three passengers were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital and three others were taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

The driver is facing a DUI charge and two child endangerment charges related to the injury of two teenage passengers, ages 16 and 17.The one-vehicle accident occurred when the van flipped over on the outbound Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) near Cicero Ave. shortly before 2:30 a.m.

-Also a week ago Monday, a dismembered body was found lying in the outbound lanes of the Expressway. Police were investigating whether the death could have been the result of a Chicago pedestrian accident, foul play or suicide.

A Chicago motorcycle accident claimed the life of a 47-year-old man on Saturday -- two years after he was struck by an SUV driven by a man whose felony drunk driving case is still pending, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center.

The 47-year-old victim had been living at the Imperial Grove Pavillion nursing home, where he died Saturday. The medical bills in such cases can be astronomical and the pain and distress placed on families is devastating.

While it will be several months before motorcycles take to the roads again in Illinois, motorists are reminded that Chicago bicycle accidents and Chicago pedestrian accidents also often result in serious injury or death because of the vulnerability of such accident victims.

While overall traffic fatalities are down nationwide, the number of pedestrian and bicycle fatalities have not shown significant improvement and fatal motorcycle accidents have risen each year for more than a decade. As reported last fall on Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, Illinois motorcycle accidents were up 22 percent last year. Nationwide, 5,290 riders were killed in 2008. Fatalities increased for the 11th straight year and accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

And, as is alleged in this case, more than one-third of Chicago car accidents are caused by a drunk driver.

The driver is facing nine felony counts as a result of the alleged Chicago drunk driving accident. Police say it is uncertain whether the 48-year-old driver will face additional charges as a result of the victim's death.

The Sept. 2, 2007 crash occurred just before 9 p.m. at the intersection of Lawrence and Elston avenues, Chicago police reported. The victim was headed south on Elston on a 1991 Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he was struck by a Chevrolet TrailBlazer, which attempted to turn left in front of him.

The defendant remains free on $20,000 bail. He is next scheduled to appear before Cook County Judge Catherine Haberkorn at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 8, according to court records.

A Chicago man faces serious criminal charges for a New Year's Chicago drunk driving accident that claimed the life of a 20-year-old woman, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The Cook County sheriff's office reported the Oak Forest car accident was caused by a 22-year-old man who is a business partner of a former Chicago Blackhawks player.

The defendant's 20-year-old ex-girlfriend, a local college student, was killed in the one-car Chicago car accident. He was tested with a blood-alcohol level of .236, almost three times the legal limit, according to media reports.

He was charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence.

The one-car Chicago car accident occurred at about 4:20 a.m. Thursday on 147th Street near Oak Park Avenue, when the defendant's Mercedes SUV struck a light pole before careening into a ditch and rolling over, according to police.

The defendant was treated at Advocate Christ Medical Center for a broken wrist and other injuries. He was being held in custody over the weekend, pending a bond hearing at the Markham courthouse.

The Sun-Times reported bond was later set at $200,000.

The Tribune reported the victim's parents spent New Year's Day planning funeral arrangements for their middle child.

As reported recently on Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, one-third of fatal Illinois car accidents involve drunk drivers. Last year in Illinois, 1,043 people killed in traffic accidents; one in three (362) were legally drunk and one in four (252) had a blood alcohol level of almost twice the legal limit (.15) or higher, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

As it makes a final push through the Holiday season, Illinois' Operation Save 100 reported that 204 agencies had arrested 1,814 people for drunk driving and issued almost 10,000 seat belt citations. The Chicago car accident lawyers at Abels & Annes remind motorists that the new year's weekend is typically one of the deadliest on the roads as heavy traffic, winter driving accidents, and Chicago drunk driving accidents pose a danger to holiday motorists. As reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, the state launched the program Nov. 11 and hopes to reduce Illinois traffic fatalities by 100 lives through the end of the year. At launch, 781 had died on Illinois roads in 2009, compared to 883 during the same period last year. The statewide enforcement effort focuses on the deadly nighttime hours and includes roadside safety checks, safety belt enforcement zones and police patrols looking for impaired drivers and safety belt law violators, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. “There is no doubt that many serious crashes occur at night,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. “This high visibility enforcement effort comes at a time of year when lots of people are traveling across the state and nation, so it is a good time to focus on safety, especially during the holidays.” IDOT reports nearly 7 of 10 Illinois traffic fatalities occuring between midnight and 3 a.m. involve a drunk driver. Saving 100 lives would also save $100 million -- the state estimates each road fatality costs about $1.2 million. While fatal Illinois traffic accidents have been declining -- from 1,248 in 2007 to 1,043 last year -- Illinois is one of only 10 states to log more than 1,000 traffic deaths per year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Continue reading "Authorities hope for fewer fatal Illinois car accidents" »

December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. Raising awareness about the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs this holiday season, could reduce the number of serious and fatal Chicago car accidents.

The Chicago drunk driving accident lawyers and the personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Abels & Annes have posted here and on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog about recent stepped-up enforcement efforts aimed at combating drunk driving and other holiday car accidents in the Chicago area and across the country.

In 2007, nearly 1,500 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving's Tie One On for Safety campaign joins increased enforcement by local law enforcement through the holiday season, including sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols.

To show support, motorists are encouraged to tie a red ribbon on their antenna or display a window decal as a pledge to drive safe, sober and buckled up during the holidays and throughout the year. Red ribbons and red ribbon window decals are available by contacting your local MADD affiliate.

MADD encourages all drivers to obey the following safety tips:

-Designate a sober driver before celebrations begin.
-Never serve those under the age of 21 alcohol.
-Plan safe parties, including providing non-alcoholic drink options to guests and not serving alcohol the last hour of the gathering.
-Be prepared to get everyone home safe in case your plans or individual circumstances change.

Holidays bring increased risk of serious or fatal accidents on Illinois roads, according to 2008 statistics from the Illinois Department of Transportation:

Memorial Day: 8 killed 726 injured in
Fourth of July: 15 killed and 805 injured
Labor Day: 15 killed and 803 injured
Thanksgiving: 9 killed and 961 injured
Christmas: 8 killed and 841 injured
New Year's: 10 killed and 575 injured

Last year, almost half -- 44 percent -- of fatally injured Illinois drivers tested positive for alcohol. Forty percent of all Illinois traffic fatalities in 2008 occurred in the 5 county area around Chicago.

Continue reading "Drunk driving awareness month aimed at reducing Chicago car accidents, drunk driving accidents nationwide" »

The National Safety Commission has issued a comprehensive plan for staying safe and avoiding car accidents as the perennial biggest travel holiday of the year begins Wednesday.

The Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes wish you and your family a happy and safe Thanksgiving and urge you to do your part to keep the roads safe throughout the upcoming holiday season. Earlier this week we posted on Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer's blog the first of a series of safe-holiday advisories, including AAA's estimate of 41 million American travelers hitting the road.

And please designate a driver. Chicago drunk driving accidents and DUI accidents nationwide are responsible for significant numbers of traffic fatalities, particularly among young people.

In Illinois during the 2007 Christmas-New Year's Holiday, 92 of the 214 young drivers who were killed during the holidays were impaired.

The commission reminds motorists that Thanksgiving is not only be busiest travel holiday of the year, but also the deadliest. The Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog reported that almost 1,000 people were seriously injured or killed during the Thanksgiving holiday last year in Illinois.

The National Safety Commission has the following tips:

Seat Belts
-Of the fatalities during the 2008 Thanksgiving weekend;
-More than two-thirds (67%) of the total fatalities did not have their seat belts fastened.
-40 percent of the fatalities in daytime crashes were not wearing seat belts.

Speed
Speeding is the major reason for traffic crashes; speed reduces reaction time and increases the force of a collision.

Wednesday
-Long-distance travel will be heaviest after work on Wednesday, extending normal rush-hour delays and causing congestion in more rural areas where traffic is typically lighter.

Fatigue and Frustration
-Fatigued and frustrated drivers may tempt drivers to take chances they otherwise would not take.
-Sleepy drivers may nod off at the wheel and are just as dangerous as drunk drivers.

Sunday
Most drivers will wait until Sunday afternoon to return home where they will face many of the same driving conditions that they faced on Wednesday evening.

Drunk Drivers
-Drivers are more likely to face drunk drivers following Sunday football games and other celebration.

The Commission recommends these actions to remain safe on the road:

-Try to leave on Tuesday and return either on Saturday or Monday when traffic is lighter and safer
-Give yourself plenty of time
-Allow for plenty of rest
-Share driving duties with a fellow traveler and stop every couple hours for at least a short break
-Don't depend on caffeine or energy drinks
-Understand that traffic will be heavy and don't let your frustrations tempt you to take chances
-Watch the weather and adjust travel to accommodate road conditions
-Wear your seat belt
-Use safety seats for children
-Don't speed
-Use your cruise control to prevent speeding
-Don't phone and drive- pull over when using cell phones
-Don't drink and drive

Continue reading "Thanksgiving plan for avoiding holiday Chicago car accidents" »

The year-end holiday season will kick off with more than 41 million Americans hitting the road for trips of 50 miles or more during the Thanksgiving weekend, according to AAA estimates, and authorities are preaching caution during the final two months of the year as holiday travel, shopping and congestion too often clash with drunk drivers and winter weather.

The Chicago car accident lawyers and drunk driving accident attorneys at Abels & Annes urge motorists to head safety warnings, designate a driver, and enjoy the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

While the "Don't Drink and Drive" message may be at its loudest when it comes to New Year's Eve, more people were seriously injured in Illinois car accidents on Thanksgiving (961) and Christmas (841) last year than during any other holiday.

The New Year's holiday reported the fewest injuries (575) but the most fatalities (10) of the trio of year-end holidays. Nine people were killed on Christmas and 8 died over the Christmas holiday, according to figures recently released by the Illinois Department of Transportation as part of its 2008 traffic study. More information from the study is available by visiting the Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog.

Chicago drunk driving accidents and drunk drivers nationwide are responsible for large numbers of holiday fatalities.

On average from 2001 to 2005, about 40 percent of Christmas and New Year fatalities nationwide involved a drunk driver compared to 28 percent during the rest of December, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In 2007, drunk driving accidents made Thanksgiving the deadliest holiday of the year, claiming 548 lives, followed by Labor Day (519), Memorial Day (491), Christmas (468), New Year's (391) and Fourth of July (200).

At particular risk are young people, according to federal statistics. More than 300 young drivers ages 21 to 24 are involved in fatal crashes during the last half of December each year. One-third of the 1,710 deaths from 2002-2007 were the result of drunk driving accidents that claimed 649 lives.

In Illinois during the 2007 Christmas-New Year's Holiday, 214 young drivers were killed and almost half --92--were impaired.

Nationwide, an average of 36 people a day are killed by a drunk driver, compared to 54 per day during the three-day New Year's Holiday and 45 per day during Christmas.

Continue reading "Year-end Holidays a dangerous time for Chicago car accidents" »

A total of 11,773 of the nation's 37,261 traffic fatalities were caused by drunk drivers, according to a comprehensive look at drunk driving released in time for the holiday driving season by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Chicago drunk driving accident lawyers and the personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Abels & Annes encourage everyone to do their part in preventing drunk driving accidents as we head into the heart of the holiday season.

In Illinois, of the 1,043 people killed in traffic accidents, one in three (362) were legally drunk and one in four (252) had a blood alcohol level of almost twice the legal limit (.15) or higher.

While drunk driving deaths decreased nearly 10 percent from the 13,041 deaths recorded in 2007, the new statistics are startling confirmation that one-third of all traffic deaths are the direct result of drunk driving.

The statistics represent an average of one drunk driving death every 45 minutes.

Included in the deaths were 692 non-occupant fatalities, which usually means a bicyclist or pedestrian death.

Over 70 percent of drunk driving fatalities occurred at night and 55 percent occurred during the weekend.

One in every 7 drivers killed in a drunk driving accident were under the age of 21 (and thus not even old enough to drink). One-third of drivers ages 25 to 34 who were killed in fatal accidents were intoxicated. One in four drivers 35 to 44 who were killed were intoxicated.

In recent months, the Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog at Abels & Annes has reported on the dangers of nighttime driving, the increasing number of women arrested for DUI, and a report that found 1 in 7 weekend nighttime drivers tested positive for alcohol or drugs.

Continue reading "One drunk driving death every 45 minutes -- Illinois drunk driving accidents a continuing problem" »

A Cicero man was sentenced to 7 years in prison this week for causing a fatal Chicago car vs. bicycle accident last year while driving drunk, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center.

The 50-year-old man pleaded guilty at the Cook County courthouse in Maywood in connection with the Chicago drunk driving accident. He had been charged with one count each of aggravated DUI and leaving the scene of an accident involving death or injury.

He admitted to running a red light in his van on Roosevelt Road about 8:30 p.m. on July 23, 2008, where he struck a 49-year-old woman crossing Roosevelt on her bicycle. He left her lying in the street, severely wounded with broken bones and a head injury and fled the scene because he did not have a driver's license, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The victim, Wilma Bradford, 49, of Cicero, survived for six months in a coma before dying in January as a result of her injuries.

Police found the hit-and-run driver in the attic of his home about an hour after the crash. Blood and urine samples taken four hours after the crash showed he had cocaine in his system and a blood-alcohol content of .06, just under the legal limit of .08.

His license was suspended because at the time of the accident and he had just been convicted of misdemeanor driving under the influence, according to Assistant State's Attorney Jamie Santini.

It has not been reported if the family of the victim is pursuing a civil wrongful death action against the driver.

Continue reading "Cicero driver sentenced to prison for killing bicyclist in Chicago drunk driving accident" »

A majority of motorists favor mandating high-tech devices that would prohibited people from driving vehicles under the influence, according to the results of a new study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

About 180,000 interlocks -- devices which test an operator's blood-alcohol level before allowing a vehicle to be operated -- are mandated for use by some drunk driving offenders. Widespread use of interlocks by all motorists has been increasingly debated as a way to lower road fatalities caused by drinking and driving.

The Chicago drunk driving accident lawyers and the personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Abels & Annes continue to monitor enforcement and safety issues surrounding the prevention of drunk driving, which accounts for about one-third of all traffic fatalities

Nationwide, the number of fatal drunk driving cases dropped slightly in 2008, to 11,773 compared to 13,041 in 2007. But alcohol-related fatalities still account for about 1 in every 3 of the nation's 37,261 road deaths in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In Illinois, 362 people were killed by drunk drivers last year of the 1,043 traffic fatalities.

About 3 of 4 survey respondents were aware of interlocks being required for some people with DUI convictions. Connected to a car's ignition system, the devices keep vehicles from starting if an operator's blood-alcohol level registers above a predetermined level, usually set below the legal threshold of .08.

While the Insurance Institute says the devices have been successful in reducing the risk posed by prior drunk-driving offenders, the group contends that most fatal crashes involve drunk drivers who have not had a prior offense in the past 3 years, and so would not be subject to mandatory use of the devices under various existing state laws.

The group contends 8,000 lives could be saved by equipping all vehicles with such devices and points to the study's results as proof the general public might be receptive to the idea.

"The results are clear-cut and a bit surprising," says Anne McCartt, Institute senior vice president for research. "We didn't expect to find support across the board for the idea of detecting alcohol in everybody, but this survey tells us people are ready to crack down on all impaired drivers, not just those who've had DWI convictions."

Technology would have to be improved so that the devices could be invisible and maintenance free-- current interlock devices are large, visible, "unwieldy and obstructive," according the the group.

However, the Institute reports that a partnership between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, is exploring new detection technologies that could be developed for widespread use.

"The idea is to stop anyone from operating a vehicle if the BAC registers 0.08 percent or higher, not to prevent drivers from having any drinks at all before getting in their cars," McCartt said.

Sixty-four percent of survey respondents said the devices would be a good idea in all cars if the technology proves reliable. Only 30 percent said it's a bad idea.

Continue reading "Study claims majority of motorists would support mandatory ignition interlocks on all vehicles to avoid drunk driving accidents" »

A 35-year-old man faces numerous charges after a fatal weekend Chicago DUI accident.

The accused driver faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless homicide, leaving the scene of an accident, driving without insurance and failure to stop at a red light, according to the Chicago Tribune.

ABC7 reported the victim, a 30 year old man from Chicago, died as a result of his injuries after his vehicle was struck by the defendant's truck at about 2:30 a.m. The crash happened at West Cermak Road and South Damen Avenue on the city's Southwest Side.

Authorities say the victim was pronounced dead at Stein Institute. The accused drunk driver and a 20-year-old female passenger in his truck were treated for injuries at a local hospital, according to the Tribune.

The accident was investigated by the Chicago Police Department.

Earlier this month we blogged about the high numbers of nighttime DUI accidents reported by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Seven in ten Illinois drunk driving accidents are reported between midnight and 3 a.m.

In August, a federal study found 1 in 7 nighttime weekend drivers were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

An alarming new federal report shows the battle against drunk driving is far from over: 1 in 10 binge drinkers got behind the wheel of an automobile the last time they drank heavily, driving away from a bar, restaurant or nightclub after downing five or more drinks and putting everyone in their path in danger.

The Chicago car accident lawyers and drunk driving accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have blogged this year --both here and on our sister site www.chicagocaraccidentlawyersblog.com --about the increase in drunk driving cases against women, the high rate of night and weekend car accidents caused by drunk drivers, and the overall dangers of drunk driving.

One out of every three fatal crashes in 2008 was alcohol related, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In this latest study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 percent of 14,000 binge drinkers surveyed admitted to driving after their last bout of heavy drinking.

All had five or more drinks; half admitted to having seven or more drinks; 1 in 4 admitted to consuming at least 10 drinks before driving. The report highlighted the need to do a better job of preventing bars and restaurants from serving intoxicated patrons.

Illinois' Dram Shop laws permit injured parties to attempt to recover damages from restaurants or bars who serve intoxicated patrons who cause serious injury or death to an innocent party. in other words, Chicago car accident victims who are injured by a drunk driver can sometimes make a claim, not only against the at-fault driver, but against the establishment that severed the alcohol.

Dr. Timothy Naimi, of the CDC's alcohol program, attributes binge drinking to more than 11,000 deaths a year. He called Dram Shop laws "among the most disregarded laws in the country."

"The drinking location is really important," Naimi said. "We're trusting these licensed establishments to serve responsibly, and more than half of the intoxicated people who drive have been drinking in these places."

Continue reading "Binge drinking research - DUI drivers too often endanger Illinois residents" »

Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes often represent Illinois residents who have been injured by DUI drivers. One car accident case we are currently working on involves the death of two minor children.

The State of Illinois has announced a crackdown on drunk drivers that launches this week and runs through the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Robert Brasky, Illinois Traffic Safety Leaders president, announced officers from all departments will be out in force beginning Aug. 21 and cited motorcycle riders as being at particularly high risk through the holiday weekend.

The Chicago car accident lawyers and motorcycle accident attorneys at Abels & Annes blogged recently about the increase in motorcycle fatalities.

Police will join thousands of other law enforcement and highway safety agencies throughout the nation as they take part in the "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest" crackdown on impaired driving.

In 2007, nearly 13,000 people died in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. About 1 in 3 road fatalities involves drunk driving.

For motorcycle riders, 2007 statistics show a higher percentage (27 percent) had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher than any other type of motor vehicle driver.

The Chicago Sun-Times recently reported Illinois motorcycle accidents are up 22 percent, from 2,180 in 2007 to 2,663 last year.

“Make no mistake. Our message is simple. No matter what you drive—a passenger car, pickup, sport utility vehicle or motorcycle—if police catch you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions. No excuses,” said Brasky. “Driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal in every state. Yet we continue to see far a tragic number of people with debilitating injuries and deaths as a result of impaired driving. This careless disregard for human life must stop. To help ensure that happens, police are dedicated to arresting impaired drivers wherever and whenever they find them."

The national "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest." program is organized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and focuses on combining high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness and publicity.

For more information, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org.

Continue reading "Illinois announces crackdown on drunk drivers through Labor Day weekend" »

On the South Side of Chicago a single car accident has resulted in a nine-year-old's head being thrown into a windshield, and the child's mother being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, according to ABC News. The mother, Cheryl Ranae Reynolds, hit a viaduct Saturday night near East 83rd and South Jeffery after she allegedly reached down to pick up a bottle alcohol she dropped on the floor.

The mother has been charged with aggravated DUI and not wearing a seat belt. The Chicago Police Department is handling the investigation. The extent of the child's injuries have not yet been reported.

While the mother caused the accident, that fact does not bar an injury claim by the minor child against her mother and mother's auto insurance carrier. If the mother had valid auto insurance, the child will be able to pursue a claim.

In a similar case, personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes currently represent a father who lost his two daughters in an auto accident. The girls were in their mother's minivan when she crossed the center line and struck another vehicle head on.

The fact that the mother's actions caused the accident does not bar the childrens' estates from recovering against the mother's estate and her insurance company. Car accident lawyers at our law firm expect to recover the insurance policy limits on behalf of the childrens' estates over the next several weeks.