Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Pedestrian vs. car accidents in Chicago are a big issue as warm weather arrives. Due to a large increase in Chicago pedestrian fatalities in 2008, the Police Department is stepping up their efforts to protect people on foot from cars. They are running a sting operation to catch people who fail to yield to pedestrians, where undercover officers pose as civilians in crosswalks. Further, the Illinois legislature is considering a new law that would require drivers to stop for pedestrians rightfully crossing the street (not just yield).

On Sunday, Chicago accident attorneys from Abels & Annes appeared on CBS News in Chicago to discuss a pedestrian injury case that they are currently working on. The client was hit and severely injured while crossing in a crosswalk at Irving Park and Austin on the Northwest Side. The 38 year old driver of a 2006 Audi A4 failed to notice her crossing.

The Chicago resident was transported by ambulance to Lutheran General Hospital with severe head trauma. Emergency surgery was performed and the client remained in a coma for over two weeks.

Late last week, medical doctors at the hospital were able to wake her. She is in good spirits, however, her road to recovery is long from over. She is expected to remain in the hospital for an extended period of time.

The injured pedestrian has retained Abels & Annes to pursue a civil claim against the driver's auto insurance carrier. Witnesses to the accident should contact Abels & Annes, or fill out the contact form on our website.

Click here to view the CBS story.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Fractures / Broken Bones , Legal News , Pedestrian Accident

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Chicago accident attorneys from Abels & Annes, P.C. have settled a trip and fall claim against a Jewel Food Store in Highland Park, Illinois for a fall down injury that occurred on June 22, 2008. Our client had just parked her car and was about to walk into the store when her foot got caught in a broken and/or significantly uneven portion of the sidewalk that lead into the grocery store, causing her to fall forward onto her left hand and sustain injuries.

Our client did not see the uneven sidewalk because it was obscured in the shadow of a pillar holding up the overhang in front of the store. She was also looking forward towards the entrance doors of the store, and was distracted by the heavy congestion of scattered shopping carts in the area and other patrons entering and exiting the store. After her fall, a store manager came outside to talk to her. The manager admitted that this was not the first time someone had tripped on this area of the uneven sidewalk.

Our client went to a local hospital for left hand, wrist, and shoulder pain. After history and examination diagnostics tests were ordered, x-rays were conducted, which indicated a displaced fracture at the base of the proximal phalanx of the small finger on her left hand (fracture at the base of her left pinky finger). She was placed in a splint, her arm was placed in a sling, and she was prescribed pain medications and instructed to seek follow up care.

A couple days later, our client continued to suffer from severe pain in her left hand and sought follow up care. During her follow up, another x-ray was performed which again identified a displaced left pinky finger fracture. She was then placed in a cast over her left hand, wrist, and forearm. As the fracture began to heal, our client was eventually taken out of the cast, placed in a splint and began a course of physical therapy. Our client incurred over $4,000.00 in medical bills. The case settled for $15,500.

Often, premises liability cases can be complicated and difficult to prevail in. The fact that our client fell and was injured was not enough to have a claim. Liability was created here because the property owner had actual notice of the uneven or broken sidewalk and failed to act to fix it.

Chicago slip and fall lawyers from our firm handle all kinds of injuries resulting from Illinois premises liability cases, including broken bones and back and neck injuries. If you have sustained a slip & fall injury, please contact Abels & Annes, P.C. for a free consultation.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Fractures / Broken Bones , Premises Liability , Settlements & Verdicts , Slip and Fall

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Car Accident Lawyers from Abels & Annes, P.C. have settled an injury claim for a Chicago resident who was injured after being hit by a car while standing in front of his house when a car crash occurred.

On the evening of the occurrence our client was standing in his front yard when the defendant was driving westbound on 71st Street approaching its intersection with Lafayette. The intersection of 71st Street and Lafayette was controlled by a traffic light. There was a red light for westbound traffic. The defendant ran his red light and crashed into a southbound vehicle. The force of the impact knocked the other vehicle into a fence and yard on Lafayette and into the plaintiff, who fell to the ground.

Our client was seen at St. Bernard Hospital’s emergency room right after the accident complaining of shoulder, back, hip and knee pain. He was diagnosed with a fracture to his left clavicle, acute low back sprain and left knee contusion. Pain medications and physical therapy were prescribed. Despite this treatment he continued to suffer from pain and discomfort in his left shoulder, left hip, low back and left knee. However, our client sought no follow up treatment.

The case settled against State Farm Insurance for $15,000. The claim was resolved without having to file a lawsuit.

Pedestrians getting hit while in the area of auto accidents is not common, but it does happen on occasion. This is the second case we have resolved this year where a pedestrian was collateral damage to a car crash. Our other client was injured while waiting at a CTA bus stop. A car accident took place in front of him, a wheel flew off one of the cars and hit him, and he sustained injuries.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Fractures / Broken Bones , Pedestrian Accident , Settlements & Verdicts

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Car Accident Lawyers from Abels & Annes, P.C. have recovered insurance policy limits for a Chicago pedestrian injured by a motor vehicle in a September, 2006 accident. The claim was initially denied by the insurance company until our law firm got involved earlier this year.

The car vs. pedestrian accident happened when the defendant was driving northbound on Martin Luther King Drive in Chicago, Illinois as our client was planning to cross King Dr. from the east side to the west side. There was a parking lane for northbound traffic, on the east side of the street. The plaintiff was standing in front of, and to the north of, cars parked in this parking lane. As he was standing in the parking lane waiting for traffic to clear the defendant swerved into the parking lane and struck our client.

The defendant was issued several traffic citations by the Chicago Police Department and plead guilty to failing to exercise due care and driving on a suspended or revoked license.

The plaintiff was transported by ambulance from the scene of the crash to Advocate Christ Hospital. Upon arrival at the hospital emergency room his most significant complaints were of right leg pain as well as injuries to his head, right wrist and right hand. He was diagnosed with displaced right tibia and fibula fractures. The fibula fracture was comminuted, segmental, with multiple components.

Continue reading "Injured Chicago Pedestrian Collects Policy Limits From Driver's Insurance Company" »

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Fractures / Broken Bones , Pedestrian Accident , Settlements & Verdicts

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In Chicago, Illinois a bicycle rider has been injured as a result of a collision with a car in Logan Square. The accident happened when the bicyclist was southbound on California Avenue crossing Logan Blvd. on a green light. At that time the defendant, who was eastbound on Logan, ran the red light, hit the bicyclist, and then struck another southbound car. The driver was ticketed for failing to obey the red light.

The bike rider, who is a Chicago resident, was taken by ambulance to Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center. At the hospital she was diagnosed with a spinal fracture. The bicyclist is having further treatment with an orthopaedic surgeon in Chicago.

The injured bike rider has retained Abels & Annes, P.C. to pursue an injury claim against the at fault driver.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Back and Neck Injuries , Bicycle Accident , Fractures / Broken Bones , Personal Injury

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In Chicago, Illinois a teenager has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after he struck a 73 year old pedestrian on the Northwest Side of Chicago this past Wednesday night, according to the Chicago Tribune. The pedestrian was crossing the street in the 6700 block of West Addison Street when he was hit by the teen who was driving a minivan. The driver fled the scene of the accident and was later pulled over after being involved in a second accident in the 3400 block of West Belmont.

The victim was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. He sustained fractured legs and ribs, and internal bleeding.

The teen driver was also ticketed with driving without insurance, driving without a driver's license, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and leaving the scene of an accident.

From an injury lawyer's view, hopefully the 73 year old pedestrian had his own policy of auto insurance. Many clients I talk to do not realize that if you are a pedestrian, and you are hit by a driver that has no valid insurance, you can make an uninsured motorist claim on your own insurance policy.

Click here to read more about uninsured and under-insured motorist claims.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Fractures / Broken Bones , Hit & Run Accident , Pedestrian Accident , Personal Injury , Uninsured Motorist Claim

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In Chicago, Illinois auto accident attorneys from Abels & Annes, P.C. have reached an insurance policy limits settlement for a Berwyn resident stemming from a February 17, 2008 collision. Our client was northbound on Interstate 94 on the South Side of Chicago at the Stoney Island exit. A car in front of the plaintiff missed the exit at Stoney and instead of going to the next exit, the defendant tried to stop and back up on the highway. Our client could not react in time and slammed into the defendant.

She was taken by ambulance to Northwestern Hospital in Chicago, Illinois with a badly broken leg. She had to have surgery the next day to repair the fracture. The car accident case settled without having to file a lawsuit. The defendant's insurance company initially denied the claim, arguing that our client failed to stop in time and should have avoided the accident. The insurance company changed it's position after our law firm got involved in the case.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Lawyer Reaches Policy Limits Car Accident Settlement" »

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Fractures / Broken Bones , Settlements & Verdicts

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In Joliet, Illinois work injury attorneys from Abels & Annes, P.C. have reached a settlement for a client who was injured on the job in December, 2006. She slipped and fell on a bathroom floor and fractured her right tibia. The client recovered well and did not undergo surgery. The bodily injury portion of our client's work injury case settled for just over $14,000. Our client also received disability pay of $8,000 and her medical bills have been paid for by the employer's insurance carrier. GAB Robins North America, Inc. paid on the claim for the employer.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Fractures / Broken Bones , Settlements & Verdicts , Work Injuries

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Abogados pedestres de accidente en Chicago de David Abels & Associates, P.C. han alcanzado un arreglo de limites de poliza de seguro en un reclamo de automovilista sin seguro para uno de nuestros clientes. El accidente sucedió en Mayo de 2006 cuando el demandante fue golpeado por un Cadillac en el Sur de Chicago en 1908 W. 74th Street después de que él salió de un autobús de CTA.

El demandante fue llevado a Holy Cross Hospital con una fractura pélvica. El permaneció en el hospital sobre una semana y entonces fue transferido a una facilidad de rehabilitación para varias semanas. El contrajo más de $50,000 en cuentas médicas.

El conductor culpable no tuvo seguro para el Cadillac tan nosotros seguimos un reclamo de automovilista sin seguro en la póliza de seguro de automóvil de nuestro cliente. El portador del seguro ofreció los límites de la póliza de seguros en el reclamo.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Fractures / Broken Bones , Se Habla Español , Settlements & Verdicts

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A client of David Abels & Associates, P.C. was recently injured in February, 2008 at a Bally Total Fitness when she slipped and fell on a freshly mopped floor in a locker room. A cleaning service that had been hired to perform janitorial services at the club had mopped, and they and the health club both failed to erect wet floor warning signs.

After the accident the plaintiff was taken by ambulance to Adventist Glen Oakes Hospital in Glendale Heights, Illinois. She sustained a broken wrist and later underwent surgery. The surgery was performed by Anup Bendre, M.D. at DuPage Orthopaedic Surgery Center. She has incurred over $20,000 in medical bills and is still in treatment.

The health club is so far denying liability, and if they fail to change their position a premises liability lawsuit will have to be filed in DuPage County to resolve the matter.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Fractures / Broken Bones , Personal Injury , Premises Liability

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Earlier this month an 88 year old woman crashed her car on the North Side of Chicago and in the process pinned two female pedestrians, ages 19 and 20, against a building, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The twenty year old pedestrian was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition. The driver and the 19 year old pedestrian were taken to Weiss Memorial Hospital.

The pedestrians injured in the Chicago accident reportedly suffered multiple broken bones. The accident happened in the 3900 block of North Ashland at its intersection with Byron. The two women were walking on Byron when they were hit.

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Fractures / Broken Bones , Pedestrian Accident , Personal Injury

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A personal injury auto accident lawyer from Waukegan, Illinois has made a nice pre-litigation settlement, according to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. The case stems from an auto accident that happened in Gurnee, Illinois. The defendant allegedly ran a red light and struck an elderly plaintiff's vehicle which then flipped over. The Lake County driver sustained multiple injuries, including spinal fractures. The Gurnee passenger sustained a torn rotator cuff and multiple fractures. The Lake County car crash case settled for a combined $1,100,000. The driver received $700,000 and the passenger received $400,000.

What makes this settlement nice is it happened without having to file a lawsuit. Typically, the average insurance company is not going to offer this kind of money unless a lawsuit is filed and a significant amount of discovery has been completed (interrogatories, depositions). This type of pre-litigation is great for clients, as they save the cost of litigation which can run thousands of dollars. Further, most plaintiff attorneys work on a one third fee before litigation, but most have the contractual right to take a 40% fee after a lawsuit is filed. Here, the lawyer most likely took a one third fee, saving the plaintiffs over $75,000.

Continue reading "Lake County, Illinois Injury Lawyer Makes Good Settlement" »

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Fractures / Broken Bones , Settlements & Verdicts

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Chicago injury attorneys from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a premises liability settlement in DuPage County, Illinois. Our client was injured when she tripped and fell on a pothole in the parking lot at the Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook, Illinois. She sustained a mild wrist fracture in the fall. She was taken to Adventist Bolingbrook Medical Center and followed up with Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. She incurred around $5,000 in medical bills. The DuPage County trip and fall case settled for $15,000. The defendant was insured by the Hartford.

The photo below shows the condition of the parking lot. The pothole was not that wide, but it was over eight inches in depth. If you look closely at the photo, the pothole is filled with water. That made it hard for my client to see the dangerous condition.

Continue reading "DuPage County, Illinois Premises Liability Settlement Reached by Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers" »

Posted by Dave Abels | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Fractures / Broken Bones , Premises Liability , Settlements & Verdicts , Slip and Fall

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