Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

A Chicago police officer was hurt on Wednesday morning after being involved in an Illinois pedestrian accident, according to the Chicago Tribune. A driver allegedly struck the officer while turning his vehicle in an attempt to avoid a traffic safety check. After the collision, the motorist fled the scene of the accident.

The police officer, a 19 year veteran who works out of the near north police district, was in the middle of a traffic stop when he was hit around 2:10 AM in the 1500 block of N. Sheffield Ave. The offender was driving a Jaguar in the Goose Island neighborhood near several nightclubs and taverns.

The injured officer was taken by ambulance to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he received medical care for serious injuries to his legs.

The at fault driver was taken into police custody after a police chase that ended in the 3000 block of S. Princeton Ave., more than 5 miles from the scene of the accident. Police reportedly discharged their weapons during the chase, but it has not been reported if the motorist was hit by gunfire. The driver was injured, but a Fraternal Order of Police spokesperson on the scene said the injuries might have been from a shattered car window.

Criminal charges have not yet been filed. Depending on the severity of the injuries, it is very possible that the state's attorney's office could file felony charges.

Hit-and-run accidents continue to be an issue in the Chicago area and throughout the State of Illinois. Drivers flee accident scenes for variety of reasons, some because they have no auto insurance, some because they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, some because they are just scared and panic.

In this case, the decision to avoid a routine safety check was very poor judgment on the driver's part. If he had stopped for the safety check, he most likely would have received a minor traffic citation, if even that. But his decision to flee now will have serious consequences, and even a possible incarceration. Further, the injured police officer will likely pursue a civil claim against the driver and his insurance carrier.

If involved in an accident where you are at fault, it is always the smart move to stay and exchange information with the other driver and make a police report, as required by law. When drivers flee the scene of an accident, it only makes matters worse. What starts as a minor moving violation and a claim against your insurance carrier can sometimes turn into a significant crime.

Just this week the Illinois car crash lawyers at Abels & Annes signed on to represent a pedestrian that was injured in a Chicago hit-and-run accident. The accident took place on June 12 just after 1:30 AM in the 4300 block of N. Mozart St.

Our client had just exited the vehicle when in impatient driver try to pass by without waiting, and struck our client with his vehicle. Unfortunately, the pedestrian sustained significant injuries.

He was seen at Swedish Covenant Hospital for severe neck pain. Several CAT scans were taken, which showed he sustained a spinal fracture collision. The client is now following up with an orthopedic physician in Chicago.

STORY UPDATE: 6/15/2011, the Chicago breaking news center is reporting that the hit-and-run driver, a 32-year-old Chicago man, is been charged with attempted murder of a police officer, aggravated battery to a police officer, aggravated fleeing the scene and eluding police, resisting arrest and many other moving violations.

Chicago police were performing a seat belt check when they saw the defendant was not properly belted and instructed him to pull over. The defendant then drove his Jaguar into a police officer that was in uniform. The officer was thrown onto the hood and held on as the vehicle pulled away. The Jaguar then made a sudden turn and the officer was thrown into the street.

The hit-and-run driver had an outstanding warrant on a bribery and weapons charge, and was also driving on a suspended license. This is likely the reason why he tried to flee the scene.

A Chicago area pedestrian accident has resulted in injuries to an eight-year-old boy from Chicago and criminal charges against an Oak Park man. Trib Local is reporting that the incident took place just after 4:30 PM on Saturday in Oak Park.

Police are stating that a vehicle turning on the 1000 block of S. Taylor Ave. hit the child after failing to stop for stop sign. The driver then fled the scene.

Approximately 20 minuntes after the accident, a 29-year-old Oak Park resident was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving injury, a felony. He was also ticketed for driving on a suspended license and disobeying a stop sign. Luckily several witnesses saw the accident which enabled police to track the driver down.

The boy was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, but the exact nature of his injuries are not known. However, his injuries are not supposed to be serious.

As far as a civil claim is concerned, the boy's family will be able to pursue a negligence claim against the at fault driver. However, in my experience as a Chicago injury lawyer, most hit-and-run drivers do not possess valid auto insurance. If this is true here, the attorney that gets involved will look to pursue an underinsured motorist claim against the boy's parents' auto insurance policy (assuming his parents are insured).

Click here to read more about Illinois uninsured motorist claims.

That being said, the newspaper story did not indicate the driver was uninsured, so hopefully the vehicle is covered.

A man is been killed in a Chicago pedestrian accident, and now police are asking for help in finding the driver that fled the scene, this according to the Chicago breaking news center. The accident occurred on the South Side on Tuesday around 7:54 PM at 449 E. 35th Street. The victim, a 50-year-old male, was only two blocks from his home when he was killed.

Chicago police officers found the victim lying in the street. At first they thought he might have fallen due to a medical condition. However, the Medical Examiner's Office indicated he suffered head trauma due to an accident. The Chicago Police Department's major accident investigation unit then started an investigation due to the apparent hit and run fatality. Police have no description of the vehicle involved.

Anyone with information regarding accident is being asked to call Chicago police at 312-745-4521.

If the hit-and-run driver is never located, the victim's family should be able to pursue an Illinois hit and run claim against his own auto insurance policy.

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.

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.

Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers at Abels & Annes have signed on to represent a woman that was hit by a taxicab on February 12, 2011 in front of 3209 N. Halsted Street. The cab driver never stopped to help her and fled the scene of the accident.

The pedestrian victim, a woman from the North Side, had just been dropped off by another taxicab at the time. As her taxi pulled away, she was immediately struck by another cab passing by that was white in color. While there were several witnesses to the accident, no one was able to take down the cab number or license plate.

Our client remembers nothing immediately after the accident, was knocked unconscious and woke up over three hours later at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. She sustained head, neck and back injuries in the accident. She is also experiencing severe headaches, facial bruising and left leg swelling. She was kept in the hospital for two days after the incident.

Our client is hoping that any witnesses to the Chicago hit-and-run accident would contact either the Chicago Police Department or her Illinois personal injury lawyers at 312-924-7575.

A deadly Chicago-area auto accident has resulted in two deaths in the Northwest suburbs, according to WLS 890 AM. The collision occurred Thursday night in Hoffman Estates and the Illinois state police are reporting that a motorist involved fled the scene.

Hoffman Estates Police responded to an accident involving at least two vehicles on Golf Road just after 7:30 PM. At the scene they found one of the automobiles engulfed in flames. One victim, a 62-year-old Hoffman Estates resident, died at the scene. A second victim, age 32 of an unknown address, was pronounced dead less than an hour later at St. Alexis Medical Center in Hoffman Estates.

Autopsies on Friday found both victims died of multiple injuries sustained in a car accident, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Shortly after the accident on Friday evening the Illinois state police issued an alert for a blue four-door Subaru that was involved in a hit and run accident in Hoffman Estates. Anyone with information regarding the accident should immediately call the Hoffman Estates Police Department or the Illinois state police.

The cause of the deadly Chicago-area car accident has not been reported.

A deadly Illinois pedestrian accident has left one person dead and police searching for the driver that fled the scene, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center. The accident occurred Saturday morning in Gage Park, according to police.

Chicago Police were called to the 5200 block of S. Western Ave. just after 3:30 AM. There they found the pedestrian victim, a 21-year-old resident of the 6300 block of S. Kostner Avenue, lying on the ground. Police believe he been struck by a car behind the collision threw him into the air, landing on a parked car and then coming to rest on the ground.

The victim was rushed to Cook County Hospital and was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

Chicago police are looking for a green vehicle with possible headlight damage. The vehicle may also have damage on the front and right side, according to a police spokesperson.

The Chicago Police Department's major accidents investigation unit is handling the investigation. Anyone with information should immediately contact the team at 312-745-4521.

In a case like this, our condolences go out to the victim and his family. As far as a civil case is concerned, the chances of catching the driver and that driver having valid insurance is very remote. Typically, once a Chicago personal injury lawyer gets involved in the case, they will explore the option of setting up a hit and run / uninsured motorist claim against the pedestrian victim's own auto insurance policy. Click here to read more about Chicago hit-and-run claims and Illinois uninsured motorist cases.

A Michigan man, age 30, died early Sunday morning in a Illinois hit-and-run accident, according to WGN news. The deadly collision occurred in west suburban Aurora around 4:30 AM.

Aurora police received a 911 call about a hit-and-run accident and proceeded to Butterfield Road just W. of Eola Rd. Police investigated and learned that a pedestrian was walking eastbound with another person on Butterfield Road when he was struck from behind by a motor vehicle heading east on that same street. The driver stopped briefly, but then fled the scene before the police and fire department arrived.

The vehicle is being described as a dark-colored sedan and was last seen traveling eastbound on Butterfield. The driver is a Caucasian male, approximately 5 foot 9 inches, 165 pounds, dark hair, and in his early to mid 20s. He has multiple tattoos on his arms and neck, and a pierced right ear.

Before the accident, the two pedestrians were walking back to their car after running out of gas. The victim was rushed by ambulance to Provena Mercy Hospital where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

Anyone with information regarding the accident should immediately call the Aurora Police Department at 630-256-5330, or call Aurora area crime stoppers at 630-892-1000. The call to crimestoppers is anonymous and callers can qualify for a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

This was the second fatal Illinois pedestrian hit-and-run accident that occurred on early Sunday morning. As our Chicago pedestrian accident attorneys reported yesterday, a woman who was walking home from a store in downstate East St. Louis was struck and killed. The driver fled the scene and is currently being sought by police.

The Chicago Police Department is asking for the public's help in tracking down a hit-and-run driver who was involved in an Illinois pedestrian accident on Monday evening around 10:15 PM. The incident occurred when a driver cut through a gas station on the southwest side to avoid a traffic light, according to WGN news. As the driver was cutting through he hit a pedestrian and then fled the scene.

The accident occurred in the 6200 block of S. California Ave., which is considered part of the Chicago Lawn neighborhood. The victim was about to enter his minivan on the driver side when he was struck by a red SUV heading northbound. The hit and run vehicle also had a roof rack.

Anyone with information regarding the accident and/or the identity of the at fault driver is being asked to contact the Chicago Police Department immediately at 312-745-4521.

The exact nature and extent of the pedestrian victim's injuries has not been reported.

Unfortunately, in most cases hit-and-run drivers are never located. As far as a civil claim is concerned, once a Chicago injury lawyer gets involved in the case, the attorney will look to set up a hit-and-run / underinsured motorist claim against the pedestrian's own auto insurance policy.

Click here to read more about Chicago hit-and-run accidents and Illinois uninsured motorist claims.

A Chicago pedestrian accident that occurred on Saturday in the 6200 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue has injured three children and one woman, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. An 11-year-old girl is in critical condition.

The Chicago car vs. pedestrian accident happened when a stolen 1999 Chrysler hit the pedestrians, then struck a parked car and a brick wall. After that, several people jumped out of the car and fled the scene of the accident. They left behind the car that has Indiana plates.

All four injured pedestrians were hospitalized. The children, including the 11-year-old that is in critical condition, were all taken to the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. The injured woman, age 35, was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center and is reportedly in stable condition.

The vehicle involved in the hit-and-run accident was stolen from the 5000 block of S. Cottage Grove Ave. Police are still searching for the driver and passengers involved in the accident. Anyone with information regarding this pedestrian accident should immediately call the Chicago Police Department at 312-745-4521.

It is not been reported if Chicago injury lawyers are involved in this case yet. However, due to the fact the Chrysler was stolen, the vehicle will be uninsured.

Hopefully the injured pedestrian victims and their families have their own auto insurance policies. If they do, they will be able to pursue uninsured motorist claims against their own auto insurance carriers.

Click here to read more about Chicago uninsured motorist claims and Illinois hit-and-run accident claims.

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

Police are searching for a hit and run driver that killed a bicyclist in Stone Park, a northwest suburb of Chicago, according to Chicago Breaking News. The victim, a 47 year old woman who lives in the 1700 block of North Mannheim Road was struck and killed Monday night.

The accident occurred in the 1800 block of Mannheim when she was hit by a southbound vehicle. The driver fled the scene of the accident. It is being reported that police are possibly looking for a Chevy with front end damage.

The victim, Marina Gonzalez, was rushed to Loyola University Hospital in Maywood and was pronounced dead a short time later.

CBS News is reporting that Stone Park detectives have interviewed several persons of interest.

Anyone with information regarding the bike accident should immediately contact the Stone Park Police Department at 708-450-3215.

Authorities responded to a number of hit-and-run crashes and fatal car and pedestrian accidents in the Chicago area over the weekend -- even as state statistics show that fatal Chicago car accidents have declined by more than 50 percent so far this year.

A hit-and-run Chicago car accident injured five people, including two police officers, in the Lawndale neighborhood on the West Side, according to the Breaking News Center.

The crash happened Sunday afternoon about 3 p.m. when a police cruiser and a civilian vehicle were stopped at an eastbound light on Roosevelt Road at Kedzie Avenue. A car traveling south on Kedzie lost control as it turned right and collided with the civilian vehicle, which collided with the cruiser.

Police say the at-fault vehicle turned out to be stolen. The driver fled on foot and is still be sought by authorities. Two officers and three others were all treated at area hospitals.

An 18-year-old woman was killed Saturday night in a Chicago pedestrian accident. The Tribune reported the woman was attending a graduation party when she was struck by a car and dragged 30-40 feet. Family members say the woman was to start community college on Monday and was a graduate of Proviso West High School in Hillside, where she was a member of the cheerleading, track and swimming teams.

Police say she tripped and fell and was dragged beneath a four-door vehicle.

As we reported on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, police are looking for a van involved in a hit-and-run pedestrian accident that killed a 24-year-old man Friday night. The man was hit crossing the street at 9100 S. Stony Island.

On Friday night, a Chicago woman died in a highway accident just over the state line in Indiana, the Sun-Times reported. The 52-year-old woman died on the Indiana Toll road near East Chicago after a vehicle she was riding in pulled out in front of another car and was rear-ended, according to police.

Through Sunday, a total of 318 fatal Illinois crashes have claimed 349 lives -- 46 fewer than during the same period a year ago, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

In Chicago, 64 people have died in traffic accidents compared to 141 during the same period last year.

Chicago car crash lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. have reached a policy limits $100,000 settlement for a woman that sustained injuries in an Illinois hit-and-run accident. The automobile collision which took place on October 4, 2009 at approximately 2:40 a.m. The plaintiff riding as a passenger in a vehicle being driven by a friend.

The vehicle had been heading northbound on Wood Street near its intersection with 31st Street in Chicago, Illinois. When they reached the intersection the driver stopped for the stop sign. He then began to make a left turn to proceed westbound on 31st St. Another vehicle heading westbound on 31st St. failed to stop for his stop sign and struck the passenger side of Jason’s vehicle, right where our client was sitting. After the other vehicle came to a rest the hit-and-run driver exited his vehicle and fled the scene of the collision on foot.

The hit-and-run driver failed to stop for a stop sign, failed to keep a proper lookout, was driving at an excessive rate of speed, and failed to exercise due care for the safety of those in the area, including the claimant.

The plaintiff had an immediate onset of left ear pain and neck pain along with abrasions and bleeding to her left ear. She was transported from the scene of the collision by ambulance to the emergency department at the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center.

Continue reading "Chicago injury attorneys settle hit-and-run car accident claim for $100,000" »

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Click here for pedestrian safety tips.

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

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.

An Alsip man was pronounced dead Sunday morning following a fatal Chicago car accident in the Morgan Park neighborhood, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

The 54-year-old South Karlov Avenue man was pronounced dead at 1:22 a.m. at MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.

Police reported the man hit a car near the intersection of 110th Place and Hoyne Avenue. The Chicago police major accident unit is investigating the crash.

A hit-and-run driver struck and killed a 55-year-old woman in a Chicago pedestrian accident Friday evening in the Austin neighborhood. The North Parkside Avenue woman was pronounced dead at 8:29 p.m. Friday at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the medical examiner's office.

The woman was killed in the Chicago hit-and-run accident while walking westbound and attempting to cross the street in the 1300 block of North Central Avenue at about 7:30 p.m. She was struck by a white Cadillac southbound on Central. The Cadillac, possibly as 1995, kept going. The woman died of her injuries after arriving at the hospital.

A Thursday night Chicago car accident in the South Side's Englewood neighborhood killed an 18-year-old teenager, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Two others were injured in the 9 p.m. crash between a car and a truck. The driver of the car was attempting a left turn when it collided with the truck in the intersection, according to police.

Police reported the driver of the car was ticketed for failure to yield to right of way. The driver and a second passenger were taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County.

A $10,000 reward is being offered for the driver responsible for a north side hit-and-run Chicago car accident on Nov. 1.

The parents of the young waitress who was killed at Lincoln and Cullom avenues announced the reward, according to WGN9News. She was walking home from her nearby bartending job when she was struck by a vehicle that did not stop, according to police.

Surveillance video from Bowman's Bar and Grill may have captured the vehicle seconds before the accident that killed Rachel Gilliam, WGN9News reported.

In addition to making an appeal for the driver to turn himself in, the victim's mom is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the driver responsible.

ABC7 reported that police are looking for a silver four-door car that struck the 25-year-old DePaul University graduate without stopping as she walked home from work at about 3:30 a.m. on Halloween Night.

The young woman's co-workers and friends at Bowman's have been active in raising reward money and have hired a private investigator in the hunt for the runaway driver.

Chicago car accident lawyers blog recently chronicled a rash of hit-and-run Chicago pedestrians accidents being looked into by police.

If you think you can help, contact the Chicago Police's Major Accidents Division, at 312-745-4521. Please reference case #HR-619777.

Police continue to look for a vehicle involved in a fatal hit-and-run Chicago car accident.

The 36-year-old West Cullerton Street woman died Tuesday after being hit by a car on South Halsted Street, according to The Sun-Times. The car left the scene and the woman was struck again by a Chicago Transit Authority bus.

Authorities report the woman was struck by the car while crossing the street shortly after 5 p.m. The force of the impact propelled her into the path of a northbound CTA bus.

Police are looking for a purple or blue, four-door car with a chrome center grill. The car has damage to the hood near the driver's side headlight area.

Harrison-area detectives have joined the Major Accident Investigation Unit in the search.

Police hope a street surveillance camera will help identify the fleeing driver, according to ABC7.

Witnesses reported the driver of the car never stopped after striking her. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Family members say the woman was married with two teenagers.

In a 2004 report conducted by AAA, 1,557 people were killed by hit-and-run drivers -- or more than four people a day. For every one killed, 72 more were injured.

Some of the most common reasons drivers flee the scene of an accident include drunk driving, driving without a license, self-preservation and road rage. Hit-and-run drivers face serious criminal charges for their actions in addition to any civil action to recover damages on behalf of the victims and their families.

In this type of case, most of the time the hit-and-run driver is never caught by police. If that happens here, the family of the victim will be able to pursue a hit-and-run claim against the victim's own auto insurance policy.

Anyone with information regarding the accident is encouraged to contact the Chicago Police Department immediately.

In the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois eight people were injured early this morning in a hit-and-run car crash, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The auto accident took place in the 3600 block of West Augusta Boulevard just after 4 a.m. when a Chrysler Voyager struck a Lincoln Navigator. After the accident the people inside the Vovager reportedly fled the scene.

A Chicago Fire Department spokesperson has stated that 8 people were transported to area hospitals in critical condition. Three went to Mount Sinai Hospital, three to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, one to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and one to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

Chicago Police Department Harrison Area detectives are investigating the accident.

Hit-&-Run accidents are very common in the Chicago area. In a case such as the one being reported, the injured parties will be able to make uninsured motorist claims on the auto insurance policy for the Lincoln Navigator. If the Navigator had no insurance, or not enough insurance, the injured parties can also look to their own auto policies for coverage.

Also see the story as reported by the Chicago Breaking News Center.

In Seaside Heights, New Jersey, a well known American Idol contestant, Alexis Cohen, was killed over the weekend in a pedestrian vs. car accident, according to MSNBC. The man who hit her fled the scene and was later caught by police. Cohen's body was found in the street after the collision.

CBS News is reporting that Cohen, age 24, sustained abdomen, chest and head injuries after she was struck by the car early Saturday.

The person who allegedly hit her, Daniel Bark, age 23, has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving. He was arrested on Sunday in New Jersey and is being held on $35,000 bail. If found guilty, he could receive up to 15 years in prison.

Cohen was not known for her vocals, but for her audition antics. She lost her temper after she was rejected by the judges, and Simon Cowell said she was "a bit possessed" like she was channeling voices. Click here to see her audition from American Idol Season 7.

See also Arrest Made in Hit-and-Run Death of Ex-'American Idol' Contestant as reported by Fox News.

A 58-year-old Lincolnwood man has died in a Chicago car accident after being rear-ended by a hit-and-run driver Tuesday afternoon on the Kennedy Expressway.

William Nanz, was involved in a crash on the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) near North Kostner Avenue and was pronounced dead at 2:49 p.m. Tuesday at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Nanz suffered a heart attack following the crash. However, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported the coroner has determined that Nanz died as a result of spinal injuries suffered in the crash.

That report said Nanz had a history of heart disease which the medical examiner's office said contributed to his death, but he died primarily from injuries from the crash, according to results of the completed autopsy.

Nanz was driving north Kennedy when he slowed for traffic and was rear-ended, causing his vehicle to hit the wall, according to Illinois State Police.

The vehicle that rear-ended Nanz reportedly slowed down before striking the vehicle Nanz was driving, but it did not stay on the scene and State Police are investigating the incident as a hit-and-run.

Witnesses reported seeing a black sport-utility vehicle leaving the crash site and state police are investigating whether it was involved in the crash.

In this instance, the family could seek the assistance of a Chicago car accident attorney to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the hit-and-run driver. If the driver is not located, the family could seek compensation through Nanz's own insurance policy by making a hit-and-run claim.

The at-fault driver also faces possible criminal charges for leaving the scene of an accident.

A Chicago Police Officer has been charged with the hit and run death of a teenage bicycle rider, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The charges include reckless homicide, leaving the scene of an accident involving death or injury, and aggravated DUI.

The car vs. bike accident occurred in the 8000 block of South Ashland on Friday at 1:30 am. The victim, 13 year old Trenton Booker, was riding his bicycle when he was hit by an off duty police officer who was driving his Dodge Charger the wrong way on a one-way street.

The officer has been relieved of his police powers and he was arrested after the accident. Further, a Chicago Police Department internal investigation has begun. The officer is a 39 year old narcotics officer who has been with the police department for 17 years.

The victim was going to graduate from 8th grade in June.

In Chicago, Illinois a deadly car crash early Friday morning has resulted in criminal charges against an off duty detective from the Chicago Police Department, according to chicagobreakingnews.com. The auto accident happened on the Dan Ryan and resulted in the deaths of two people after their car burst into flames.

The collision occurred when Joseph Frugoli, 41, rear-ended a vehicle that was disabled on the side of the expressway. His blood alcohol content was allegedly three times the legal limit of .08. He has been charged with reckless homicide, aggravated driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident. He is scheduled to appear for his bond hearing Sunday morning and in currently in police custody.

The police department has started an internal investigation and the detective has been relieved of his police powers. Reportedly, the detective was walking away from the crash scene when he was apprehended.

Andrew Cazares, 23, of Summit, Illinois and Fausto Manzera, 21, of Chicago were the victims in the accident. The crash took place around 3:30 a.m. near 18th Street in the southbound lanes of the Dan Ryan. Cazares had pulled his Dodge over to the side of the highway, possibly for a flat tire, when a Lexus SUV driven by the detective slammed into them.

Click here for an accident photo.

This is the second deadly hit-and-run car crash in the news over the past several days where the at fault driver tried to walk off from a deadly accident. In California, a minivan ran a red light and killed LA Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart. The defendant fled the scene on foot and was captured by police a short time later.

A Chicago motorist that was involved in two separate auto accidents last Wednesday night has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, according to Chicago Breaking News. The first car accident occurred on the Edens Expressway and the second crash was on Touhy Avenue a short time later.

The driver, a 53 year old Chicago resident, hit a car on I-94 near Gross Point Road in Skokie as he was turning his vehicle around to drive the wrong way down the interstate. The defendant then fled the scene of the accident moving southbound in the northbound lanes.

The driver then was in a second car accident on Touhy and his car was disabled at that time. He was arrested by Illinois State Police and a breath test was refused.

The article indicates the driver was also charged with leaving the scene of an injury accident. State police reported that the injuries were not serious or life-threatening.

The victims have a good civil case for their injuries and damages against the alleged DUI driver. They will be able to recover for their property damage, personal injuries, medical expenses, lost wages (if they miss work due to the accident) and loss of normal life.

Also, in a case like this, the fact that the police believe the victims were not seriously injured does not make it so. Often our law firm handles cases for plaintiffs that first appear to have minor injuries, and later the pain is not going away or the pain gets worse, and doctors diagnose serious injuries that require surgery.

If injured in an Illinois car crash, contact Abels & Annes for a free consultation at 312-924-7575.

In the Chicago suburb of Burbank, Illinois a bicyclist has been killed in a hit-and-run accident. The accident happened on September 28, 2008 at about 3 a.m. in the 6300 block of West 87th Street.

The victim, Richard Horvath, 53, was struck while riding his bike just 3 doors away from his residence. A witness thought the offender was driving a white Chrysler, however, Burbank police have recovered pieces of what they believe is part of a white Dodge Ram pickup truck at the scene.

Horvath was rushed to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and when he arrived he had no vital signs. He was resuscitated and lived about 23 hours before passing away.

The Burbank Police Department is investigating the accident and anyone with information regarding the hit-and-run should contact them at (708) 924-7300.

Early Sunday morning a man who was changing a tire on the shoulder of the Ontario Street feeder ramp was hit by a car, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The driver that hit him then fled the scene of the accident without stopping.

The injured person, a 31 year old male, was the passenger in a Ford Explorer with a flat. The driver of the stopped car did not see the accident happen.

The Illinois State Police were the first to respond and reportedly the pedestrian was bleeding heavily when they arrived. He was taken by ambulance to Northwestern Hospital.

The police believe the vehicle that fled the scene was a black Mercedes. Apparently, the police found pieces of the car at the scene and they hope to match up the pieces to the offending vehicle. The Illinois State Police are investigating and anyone with information regarding the accident should call (217) 782-5423 or askisp@isp.state.il.us.

As far as an injury case is concerned, if the hit and run driver is not caught, the injured person will be able to make a hit and run, uninsured motorist claim against the insurance policy for the Ford Explorer or his own insurance policy.

Click here to read the entire story.

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.

In Chicago, Illinois a local resident was seriously injured in a hit-and-run auto accident on the North Side this past Thursday. She has retained Abels & Annes, P.C. to represent her.

The car crash happened at the intersection of Bryn Mawr and Luna. As the Chicago resident was driving across the intersection she was hit by a vehicle traveling in excess of 60 mph in a residential area. The force of the impact flipped the victim's car.

While our client was wearing her seatbelt, her window was rolled down and when her car rolled over her forearm was dragged on the pavement. She will likely have disfiguring scars covering much of her arm. She also sustained a wrist injury. She was taken by ambulance to a local emergency room and she is having follow up treatment with a medical doctor in Arlington Heights. She also plans on consulting with a plastic surgeon.

After the accident, the at fault driver fled the scene on foot. The Chicago Police Department is investigating the collision. They were able to determine who owns the vehicle, but they do not yet know who was driving at the time of the occurrence.

This type of Chicago car accident illustrates why it is so important to have auto insurance with significant uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage. While the police know who owns the other car involved, the driver was likely not insured. When a hit-&-run driver flees the scene of an accident, it has been my experience that they usually do not have insurance. Fortunately, our client has decent auto insurance. If it ends up that the defendant is uninsured, the plaintiff's auto insurance carrier will pay on the injury claim.

In Chicago, Illinois a pedestrian was killed early Sunday morning in a hit and run accident. The accident happened at 68th Street and Stoney Island, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The pedestrian, a 35 year old Chicago resident, was crossing the intersection on foot when he was struck by a dark vehicle around 1:30 p.m. The vehicle then fled the scene. The pedestrian was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead a short time later.

TheChicago Police Department is investigating the hit and run accident and they have made no arrests. Anyone with information regarding the fatal collision should contact the Chicago Police Department.

Click here to read entire story.

A 62 year old Chicago resident was killed on Wednesday in Lakeview as she crossed a street in a crosswalk, according to the Chicago Tribune. The hit-and-run accident happened at the intersection of Sheridan Road and Belmont Avenue when a U-Haul rental truck ran a red light and hit a car headed south on Sheridan. The truck then hit a pedestrian in the crosswalk, and then the occupants of the truck fled the scene on foot. A witness at the scene said the truck was out of control.

The pedestrian, Anca Ramniceanu, 62, who lived in the area of the accident was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and died shortly after arrival at the hospital.

The only description of the two men that fled the scene was that one was wearing a red shirt and a baseball hat. Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact the Chicago Police Department. Police should also be able to track down who rented the truck by obtaining records from U-Haul.

A pedestrian was killed on the South Side of Chicago on Sunday in a hit and run accident, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The collision occurred around 4 a.m. at 85th Street and Stoney Island. When police came to the scene they found the pedestrian lying in the street.

The victim, a 36 year old Chicago resident, was transported to Jackson Park Hospital and pronounced dead within an hour of the accident. The Chicago Police Department Major Accidents Investigation Unit is handling the matter. Chicago police state that the vehicle that hit the pedestrian fled the scene and that they put a description of the vehicle out over police radio. Tinley Park police stopped the vehicle on Sunday morning and there is now a woman in custody. No charges had been filed as of Sunday night.

A woman from Elgin was killed in a pedestrian accident on the South Side of Chicago early Sunday morning, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Ashley Brown, age 23, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead just before 2 a.m.

Brown was involved in an accident around 1:20 a.m. at 75th and State Street in Chicago. Brown and another woman were struck by a vehicle as they were crossing the street on foot, according to Chicago Police. Both were taken to Northwestern Hospital and the other woman reportedly suffered a broken leg.

The women were reportedly struck by a Dodge Magnum, which is a large sport wagon. The vehicle fled the scene of the Chicago accident. The Chicago Police Department major accident investigation unit is working on the case. The Dodge Magnum is not a common vehicle, and anyone with information regarding the accident should contact the Chicago Police Department.

Continue reading "Chicago, Illinois Hit & Run Pedestrian Accident Claims Life Of Elgin Woman" »

Cook County car accident lawyers from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a $40,000 bodily injury settlement with USAA Insurance as a result of an auto accident that occurred in July of 2006. The car crash happened on the Southbound Edens Expressway near Willow Road, Northfield, Illinois when the defendant rear ended a car that was then knocked into our vehicle. The defendant fled the scene of the Interstate 94 auto accident.

The impact was not heavy and only caused about $300 in property damage, but our client sustained a shoulder injury when he was knocked into the steering wheel. Our client, who is actively serving in the military, was treated at the North Chicago VA Hospital and followed up for additional treatment at the Great Lakes Naval Base and Health South for physical therapy.

A 66 year old unidentified Chicago man was hit and injured by a car last week in Vernon Hills, Illinois as he was walking on Butterfield Road near its intersection with Creekside Drive in the evening hours of January 30th, according to the Lake County News-Sun. The driver of the northbound motor vehicle fled the accident scene. The victim of the Vernon Hills pedestrian hit & run accident was taken to Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Illinois where he was listed in serious but stable condition.

Police are looking for witnesses to the hit and run accident. Anyone who who has information regarding the accident being asked to call the Vernon Hills Police Department's crime prevention office at (847) 247-4888.

Continue reading "Chicago Resident Hurt in Hit And Run Accident In Vernon Hills, Illinois" »

After an auto accident that left one Chicago resident dead, Illinois State Police are searching for a white Cadillac, according to WBBM Newsradio 780. The wrongful death crash took place on I-90 at the State Street / Illinois 30 entrance ramp in Elgin, Illinois

The white Cadillac entered the highway and immediately swerved into the middle lane and caused a Honda Civic to move into the left lane. The Civic then crashed into a Nissan, and then an O'Hare shuttle bus slammed into the Civic, killing the driver of the Civic, 24 year old David Nazario of Chicago. Nazario was seat belted at the time of the collision. No one else was injured in the accident.

Anyone with information regarding the crash should call the Illinois State Police at (630) 241-6800.

From a personal injury lawyer's perspective, it is likely that the driver of the Cadillac will not be found. If the driver is never caught, the family of the victim will then be able to make a hit & run, uninsured motorist claim on the victim's own insurance policy.

In Cook County, Illinois a Lisle resident has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident after he struck a police officer and then fled the scene on late Sunday, according to WBBM News Radio. The pedestrian accident happened in the Lake View neighborhood on Chicago's near north side at the intersection of Belmont and Cambridge.

Robert A. Heinzelman, 33, of Lisle was arrested by Chicago Police several hours after the crash. The car involved in the incident was found parked in a garage parked next to Heinzelman's apartment and it was registered in his name.

The Chicago Police Major Accident Investigation Unit arrested the defendant without incident and stated that he may be charged with DUI as well. He was driving a blue Ford Focus and was seen driving South on Cambridge after the alleged occurrence. The officer was on foot at the time of the injury accident and he was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Continue reading "Chicago, Illinois Hit and Run Pedestrian Auto Accident Injures Police Officer" »

A hit and run accident near Morton, Illinois caused a tractor-trailer roll over crash on Interstate 74 last Sunday, according to the Pekin Daily Times. A pick-up truck struck the larger truck, caused the driver of the truck to hit a guard rail and then flip over on it's side. The accident occurred during the ice storm that hit central Illinois this week.

Illinois State Police say the tractor-trailer was driven by Gregory Houston, 50, of Quincy. He was east-bound when a gray pick-up struck his vehicle. He also fell out of the truck when it rolled. The pick-up driver fled the scene after the collision.

The accident is still under investigation. The Morton Police Department and Morton Fire Department were also on the scene.

If injured, the driver of the truck can retain a personal injury lawyer and make two types of claims. He has a workers' compensation case because he was injured during the course of his employment. Under work comp the trucker would receive medical benefits, temporary total disability pay if he is off work because of the accident, and he will also be entitled to a bodily injury settlement. The claim would be filed with the Illinois Industrial Commission.

Continue reading "Illinois Roll Over Truck Accident Near Peoria" »

A Cook County Resident was seriously injured when a motor vehicle drove onto a sidewalk at Cumberland Avenue and Summerdale Avenue, in Chicago, Illinois. Chester Doboszewski was the pedestrian who was hurt. He was waiting on the sidewalk for a walk sign to cross the street. The accident happened right in front of a Chicago Fire Department Firehouse.

The at fault driver did not stop and fled the accident scene. Chicago Fire Department Paramedics rushed Chester to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. He was diagnosed with multiple left leg fractures and a skull fracture.

Normally, a pedestrian struck by a hit & run driver would have a good uninsured motorist claim against his own insurance company. His insurance company would "step into the shoes" of the hit and run driver, and the pedestrian would recover monetary damages. Here, unfortunately Mr. Doboszewski has no auto insurance and no one in his household has auto insurance. His only hope to recover is against the at fault driver.

If anyone has any information regarding this pedestrian accident, please contact the Chicago Police Department, or contact our office.