Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

As the year winds down, it's time to start thinking about the holidays and the year's year-end shopping blitz. It's also a good time for a reminder to check with the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) for defects and recalls, especially when dealing with products for children.

Recalled items are defective and can result in serious injury in Chicago and elsewhere. It's important for consumers to check out the recall list from the CPSC year round. Many items on this list are common household products or are popular children's toys.

Our Chicago defective product attorneys understand that consumers may not always know about recalls. The CPSC is charged with protecting consumers from products with known defects. The agency notifies the public about products that pose mechanical, chemical, electrical, fire and other various hazards. But too many defective products go undetected. Others must injure or kill consumers before a recall is issued.

Recent recalls that may affect your family:

Children's Frog Masks

Nearly 3,500 masks have been recalled from Target stores around the country. When the frog mask is on your child's face, the CPSC has determined that it poses a serious suffocation threat. This item has the UPC code 06626491474, which can be found on the tag that is attached to the mask. They were sold at Target stores from August to September of 2011.

Lithium-Poly Battery Pack from Electric Motion Systems, LLC

This item has been recalled because it could cause a potential fire hazard because the battery can overheat. About 70 were sold. The batteries that fall under this recall have the EMS# 11819-101 and have a serial number between 10001 and 10200. The items were sold at bike shops around the country and on the company's website. They were sold from October of 2009 to November of 2010. They cost between $900 and $2,700.

Twist ‘n Sort Toys by Guidecraft

These items were recalled because they can be a choking hazard for small children. Nearly 1,000 were sold from specialty stores, online and from catalogs from September of 2009 to November of 2010. The toys cost about $20.

LittleLife Baby Carriers by Lifemarque

LittleLife Discoverer Child Carriers is recalling carrier because they were sold without the proper bolts used to attach the main frame to the metal stand. Without these bolts, the two can disconnect and pose a fall hazard to children. The items were sold in 40 states and in Canada. The recall applies to models LS55060. This number can be found on the care label. They were sold from January 2011 to July of 2011.

Many more items are on the list and parents and consumers of all ages are urged to check the CPSC website, particularly when making a new purchase.

Continue reading "Check CPSC Recall List before Christmas Shopping to Prevent Injury in Chicago from Defective Products" »

Amid the continued fallout at Penn State University over the sexual abuse of minors scandal that has recently come to light, football coach Joe Paterno has been dismissed, according to the Washington Post and many other media outlets. The decision was made last night by the school's board of trustees and the move was made public at a news conference and a Happy Valley area hotel.

The Board of Trustees also decided to dismiss the university president as well. So far four school administrators have been fired due to the scandal which started when Jerry Sandusky was recently arrested on allegations of sexually abusing at least eight boys between 1994 and 2009. Sandusky was Penn State footfall's defensive coordinator for many years under Joe Paterno, until he unexpectedly retired in 1999 at age 55.

After the announcement was made, large groups of students took to the streets of campus, tearing down lampposts and knocking over a news van. Another more subdued crowd gathered in front of the coach's house just off of campus.

Paterno had been head coach at Penn State since 1966 and has won an NCAA record 409 games, including two national titles.

While the horrific events that went on at the University involving sexual abuse are still unclear and many of the reports differ, Chicago sex abuse attorneys at our firm hope the story shines a spotlight on the issue and the tragic consequences for the victims.

According to the American Academy of Children & Adolescent Psychiatry, sex abuse of a child has been reported up to 80,000 times per year, however the number of unreported abuse cases is far greater. This is often due to a child being afraid to report what has occurred.

After being abused, a minor can develop many different problems and negative behaviors. Victims often develop low self-esteem, become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults, and can also become suicidal. Later in life abused children are much more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, and experience many different issues regarding their sexuality.

The Penn State scandal also highlights the need to come forward and report suspected child sex abuse to the proper authorities. If you see something, say something. Often, the person reporting the abuse will be taking a great step forward in preventing other children from suffering the same consequences. Most often an abuser will not have one victim, but will have many victims over many years.

Illinois priest abuse lawyers at our firm often hear from victims that they feel like their childhoods were taken away from them. Our office is currently working on several sex abuse cases, most of them against the Chicago Archdiocese.

Continue reading "Joe Paterno fired due to Penn State child sex abuse scandal" »

Halloween is right around the corner and as our little witches and zombies prepare their costumes for the big night, parents are urged to talk with their little ones about the dangers they'll face on this spooky night. Have fun, but stay safe. It's important to remember that your child is four times more likely to be involved in a pedestrian accident in Chicago on Halloween night than during any other night out of the year.

As children make their rounds through our neighborhoods collecting candy, motorists are asked to be extremely careful on our roadways. Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that young children are oftentimes unable to understand the dangers they face on our roadways. It is up to adults to make sure that these little goblins make it back to their haunted house safely this Halloween.

Drivers should keep a heads up, drive slowly through neighborhoods and curb all distractions to help keep our trick-or-treaters safe this year.

Here are some simple tips from the Rush University Medical Center to help keep all little monsters safe during this year's Halloween adventures:

-Make sure everyone is wearing comfortable shoes.

-Alter costumes so that they're not long enough to cause a trip and fall hazard. The National Safety Council reports that falls are the number one cause of unintentional injury on Halloween.

-Make sure your costume is flame-retardant. All loose ends should be removed to help prevent a fire.

-Try to avoid a costume with a sword or a knife, but if you're going to carry one with you all night make sure that it's soft enough to not cause injury.

-You should wear face makeup or paint instead of a mask. Masks are dangerous because they can obstruct a person's line of vision and could potentially lead them into the line of danger.

-When purchasing costume makeup, be sure to get the kind that's marked hypoallergenic makeup. Parents are urged to test makeup on a small portion of your child's skin before covering their face.

-Wear light-colored clothing while trick-or-treating to help make sure that motorists can see you.

-All small children should either carry a flashlight or wear reflective tape on their costume.

-Young children should only be allowed to trick-or-treat under the supervision of a responsible adult.

-Feed your child dinner before going out to trick-or-treat. This way they're less likely to snack on candy that you haven't inspected.

-Once you're all home, inspect everyone's treats. Throw away any candy that has been opened or appears to have been tampered with.

-Make sure your child knows not to go into a stranger's house or get into a stranger's car.

-Remove all candies that may be a choking hazard for your small child.

-Motorists are urged to be extra cautious when pulling into or backing out of a driveway. Children are overlooked in these circumstances all too often.

-If you're dropping off a child, always to do on the curb side of the sidewalk. Never let someone out of your vehicle on the traffic side of the car.

Our Illinois injury attorneys and the staff at our law offices would like to wish you and your family a safe and Happy Halloween!

Continue reading "Have a Happy and Injury-Free Halloween! -- From Our Chicago Injury Attorneys" »

We just concluded National Child Passenger Safety Week, but the enforcement of child-related safety tips doesn't stop there. At the Loyola University Health System in Maywood, safety experts recently offered up several tips on how to keep your child safe in the car, according to NewsWise.

Now a new animated series is aiming to provide your child with a little more than entertainment -- safety tips! Chugginton is partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in an attempt to teach your child important lessons on how to be safe when inside or around cars.

Chuggington will be targeting audiences aged 2- to 7-years-old. The campaign includes activities and downloadable tips for parents to use with children as well as a kid-focused safety pledge for your child to agree to, sign and practice. These tips and activities, if practiced, can help to reduce the risks of child injury in Chicago and elsewhere.

"Educating children at an early age about the importance of wearing bicycle helmets, looking both ways when crossing the street and buckling up leads to a lifetime of good traffic safety habits," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers understand that traffic accidents remain the number one cause of death for children under the age of 15. As a matter of fact, there were approximately 1,300 individuals in this age group who were killed because of traffic accidents in the U.S. in 2009. Another 179,000 were injured. According to NHTSA statistics, more than 200 child pedestrians were killed and another 115,000 were injured because of accidents that involved a motor vehicle. The new campaign hopes to improve safety by offering important tips to children about bicycles, school buses, pedestrians and car seats.

According to Dick Rothkopf, a creator of the show, Chuggington and his animated friends will learn important safety tips as they earn safety badges as a reward for practicing safe habits. He and the other creators are pushing the "The 'Think Safe, Ride Safe, Be Safe!' concept. This theory is the motive of the traffic safety pledge that will be taught to your child.

The announcement of the new series was released to supplement the recent National Child Passenger Safety Week. Child passengers have been the subject of numerous recent studies, including research products from Safe Kids USA and the NHTSA. A number of updates to the child car seat recommendations were recently released to help ensure that parents are properly buckling up children during each and every car ride.

According to NHTSA Administrator David Strickland, child car seats have been proven in numerous studies to have the ability to protect children and save lives in the event of a car accident. But adults need to have the knowledge of how to properly use these devices for the seats to work. As National Child Passenger Safety Week has come and gone, you can still have an inspector check out your car and child's car seat by simply scheduling a child seat inspection appointment.

Parents are responsible for buckling in child passengers during each car ride. If you're busted with an unbuckled child in your vehicle by an officer in the state of Illinois, you can face a $75 fine.

Continue reading "Animated Series Targets Young Ones to Help Prevent Child Injuries in Chicago and Elsewhere" »

According to MSN, more than 5,000 children in the United States are hospitalized every year after falling out of a window. A quarter of these injuries are serious enough to have the child be admitted. These statistics haven't seen much of an improvement either. Researchers report that there has only been a slight decrease in the number, making it a significant cause of child injury in Chicago and elsewhere over the last 19 years.

“We continue to see this problem, especially in younger kids, despite the fact that we know how to prevent it," Dr. Gary Smith at the Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Our Chicago premises liability attorneys are aware that there have been nearly 100,000 children under the age of 18 treated in hospitals in the U.S. because of injuries that were sustained after falling out of a window in recent years. This means that about 7 injuries are sustained for every 100,000 children. These accidents can easily be prevented with proper supervision -- particularly when the appropriate precautions are taken by building owners and landlords.

Most of these falls occur from a second-floor window. About half of the children who are injured sustain injuries to their head and face. About two in every 1,000 incidents is fatal.

Toddlers are the most vulnerable for these types of accidents. The young children account for about two-thirds of all of these accidents. This is most likely because they're so curious and can oftentimes be found wandering around and exploring the unknown and because they've got such a high center of gravity. This means that toddlers oftentimes fall head first.

“As they lean over, their high center of gravity will make them topple,” says Smith.

Dr. Smith is encouraging his researchers to look further into the problem. He wants more cities and more locations to be included in the data.

He goes on to encourage parents to take the proper safety precautions to help prevent these accidents from happening to their child or at their home.

Dr. Smith's safety tips:

-Make sure that kids do not have access to any windows in your home, no matter which floor they may be located on.

-Keep furniture away from windows. This will stop children from climbing on it to gain access to any window nearby.

-Consider window stops or window guards. Some cities already have these guards mandated. In New York, for example, all apartment buildings are required by Health Code to have guards on every window in the home if there is a child under the age of 11 living in it.

-Don't rely on window screens. Window screens should never be used as a substitute for a window guard. Screens are oftentimes not strong enough to prevent a child from falling out of a window.

Continue reading "Children Falling out of Windows -- A Preventable Child Injury in Illinois and Elsewhere" »

School is back in session and young students are waiting on street corners for the big, yellow bus to come pick them up. As students lace up their new shoes and head out to the bus stop, it's time for motorists to be watchful to help prevent school bus accidents in Chicago.

Our Chicago injury attorneys ask that all motorists use caution on our roadways throughout this school year, but especially through schools zones and residential neighborhoods. Remember that there are a number of laws in our state that drivers must abide by while sharing the roadways with school buses.

Road laws pertaining to school buses, provided by the Illinois State Board of Education:

-If you see that the lights on the bus are flashing red and you see the stop arm extended, then you're required to stop. These signals mean that students are either getting on or off the bus. You can earn yourself a $150 fine if you neglect to stop for these buses. Do it more than once and you can face fines of roughly $500. In addition to the fines, state law says that drivers who neglect to stop for these buses will have their license suspended for three months on their first conviction and a year for their second.

-When a bus stops to pickup/drop off children on a two-lane road, drivers are required to stop at least 20 feet away from the bus. This will help to allow students to cross the road safely.

-When a bus stops on a four-lane road where two of the lanes travel in the same direction, then only the vehicles heading in the same direction of the bus are required to stop.

-On one-way streets, all motorists are required to stop.

-According to Illinois state law, drivers of school buses must stop at all railroad crossings. They are required to do so even when there are no students riding on the bus.

-Drivers should hold off on using their cell phones while traveling near a bus. As of January 2010, all drivers in the state of Illinois were banned from using a hand-held cell phone while they're traveling in a school zone. Drivers are still allowed to use hands-free devices.

-Don't speed through school zones. If you're busted for having a lead-food in a school zone then you could earn yourself a minimum fine of $150.

The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that approximately 25 million students use a school bus to get to and from school each year. Unfortunately, a number of students are injured and killed in school bus-related accidents every year. In 2005, the NSC recorded more than 130 deaths resulting from school bus-related accidents on U.S. roadways. They also recorded another 11,000 injuries from these incidents during that year.

The number of these injuries and deaths can be reduced with an increased effort from motorists throughout the state. Remember to follow state ruled regarding travel around our schools buses and to be extra cautious when passing through school zones.

Continue reading "Drivers Urged to Help Prevent School-Bus Related Traffic Accidents in Illinois" »

As the school year gets underway, we can expect a large number of students to be walking to school this year. More than 40,000 children in the northwest suburban School District U-46 relied on school buses to get them to and from school each day. But more and more of them will be forced to make the journey to school on foot. As a result of drastic budget cuts, $14 million to be exact, all high school students that ride a bus will be required to walk to the nearest elementary school or middle school to catch a bus ride the rest of the way to school, according to ABC 7. Increasing the number of walking students near our roadways increases the risks for Chicago pedestrian accidents.

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys understand that this plan is expected to save more than $1 million for each school year it's in effect, but hopefully saving school budgets won't put any child's life in danger. Although officials of the school district encourage students to either walk together or to carpool, much of their safety relies on motorists in the area.

"When you're making these changes, it's very difficult. This was a last minute change because of a last minute action that affected funding," said U-46 safety coordinator John Heiderscheidt.

To help keep our students safe, talk with your child about the following safety recommendations for walking to school, provided by the National Safety Council:

-Make sure you walk to school in a group.

-Make sure you always use a sidewalk if one is available.

-If there's no sidewalk for you to use, make sure you always walk facing traffic.

-Make sure you always cross the street at either an intersection or at a street corner.

-Make sure that no child under the age of 10 walks to school without an adult.

-Look both ways to make sure no cars are coming before stepping off a curb to cross a street.

-Continue looking left and right as you cross the street.

-Always walk across the street. Running makes you more likely to trip and fall.

-Never run out from behind a parked car. Oncoming traffic may not be able to see you.

For students who choose to make the journey by bicycle, follow these safety tips:

-Make sure you always wear a helmet when riding your bike to school.

-Never ride in traffic. Again, travelers under the age of 10 should not bike without a responsible adult.

-Make sure that you ride in a single-file line with your friends and in the same direction as traffic.

-Come to a complete stop before you cross the road.

-Wait for a driver to signal to you that it's okay to cross the street before doing so.

-Get plenty of biking practice so that you're more confident while riding.

Budget cuts are also effecting school worker salaries, cutting office jobs, reducing health insurance benefits and cutting funding for school supplies.

The district would like to point out that if there isn't a school within a mile and a half of your student's home or if there is a hazard then the district will find a way to make a neighborhood stop for them.

Continue reading "Budget Cuts sending more Students to School on Foot Increasing Risks for Child Injury in Chicago" »

Late last week officials marked the start of a new generation for child cribs. Back in December of 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted to approve a new set of mandatory crib standards. These new standards are the most stringent crib safety standards in the world. All importers, distributors, manufacturers and retailers are now required to offer only cribs that meet the CPSC's new full-size and non-full-size crib standards.

From now on, cribs should be safer and cause less injury to children in Chicago and elsewhere. For decades, dropside cribs have caused death and injury to hundreds of children - an issue the government was monumentally slow in tackling.

Our Illinois personal injury attorneys understand that these regulations are supposed to be some of the strictest rules to date. They reportedly require the manufacturer to stop the sale of dangerous traditional drop-side cribs, to strengthen mattress supports and crib slats, to require that all crib hardware be more durable and to make sure that safety testing is more rigorous.

"A safe crib is the safest place for a baby to sleep. It is for this reason that I am so pleased that parents, grandparents and caregivers now can shop with confidence and purchase cribs that meet the most stringent crib standards in the world," said Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "From the start, our goal has been to prevent deaths and injuries to babies in cribs, and now the day has come where only stronger and safer cribs are available for consumers to purchase."

Since 2007, the CPSC has recalled more than 11 million dangerous cribs. Drop-side cribs with detaching side rails were reportedly the cause of approximately 32 infant suffocation and strangulation deaths since 2000. A number of other deaths happened because of faulty or defective crib hardware. These new standards look to prevent these fatal accidents and to keep children safer in their cribs.

Starting in December of 2012, a number of places will be required to use only cribs that comply with the new crib standards. This applies to family child care homes and infant Head Start centers, other child care facilities and places of public accommodation, including hotels and motels and rental companies.

Baby cribs aren't the only product that has been in trouble with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Last month, the CPSC announced that Macy's Inc., of Cincinnati, Ohio, has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $750,000.

The settlement is the result of CPSC staff allegations that accused Macy's of knowingly failing to report to CPSC immediately, as required by federal law, that it sold children's sweatshirts, sweaters and jackets that had drawstrings at the neck between 2006 and 2010.

The child clothing that is the subject of the penalty agreement was reportedly sold by Macy's and Macy's-owned stores, including Bloomingdale's and Robinsons-May. According to the CPSC, the store chain knowingly sold the clothing after a recall had been issued.

Back in 1996, the CPSC issued a new set of drawstring guidelines that were meant to help prevent children from strangling themselves or getting entangled in the neck and waist drawstrings of clothing. Once a recall has been issued, all sales of the affected product must be halted.

Continue reading "CPSC Cracks Down on Dangerous Products that Pose Injury Risks to Children in Chicago " »

A horrific head-on collision devastated a family, killing both parents and leaving the two sons paralyzed from the waist down. Despite intense therapy, doctors are unsure if the boys will ever regain use of their legs. The 9- and 8-year-old boys were on their way home with their family from a road trip when the family suffered a tragic car accident in Colorado. The accident happened on Highway 285 in Fort Stockton when an SUV swerved into the lane that the family's minivan was traveling in and collided with the vehicle head on. In addition to the brothers injuries, the parents died and their 6-year-old sister's arm was broken, according to Huffpost Impact.

After the accident, the boys were taken to the Covenant Health System's Women's and Children's Hospital in Lubbock. Later on they were airlifted to the Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital because of the severity of their spinal cord injuries. They were then transported to Chicago’s Shriners Hospital. Our Chicago personal injury attorneys understand how fortunate we are to have facilities like this in our area. The Shriners Hospital is a facility renowned for its work in pediatric spinal cord rehab. The boys will continue their treatment here in Illinois. Spinal cord and neck injuries can and do occur in serious car accidents.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the spinal cord column consists of more than 31 bones (or vertebrae), 7 cervical vertebrae (neck), 12 thoracic vertebrae (upper and middle back), 5 lumbar vertebrae (lower back), 5 sacral vertebrae (sacrum) and 2 fused coccygeal vertebrae (coccyx). Also in the spinal cord is the central bundle of nerves in charge of sending signals to and from the brain and the rest of the body. Damage to the spinal column can be detrimental to these functions.

Roughly 200,000 people have to live with SCI in our country. It is estimated that there are anywhere between 15 and 40 cases per million people every year. This means anywhere between 12,000 and 20,000 new patients are treated for SCI every year.

Motor-vehicle accidents contribute to nearly 50 percent of these injuries. Men are most likely to be the victim of SCI as they account for 80 percent of all patients. Most of the new SCI cases are of people 30-years-old or younger. It's estimated that approximately 60 percent of these new cases occur in those ages 15- to 35-years-old.

This is no cheap injury either. The CDC estimated that the lifetime cost for this injury can be more than $3 million. This means a patient could potentially have to fork over anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000 a year if they suffer from SCI.

Insurance companies understand the liability and can sometimes move quickly toward a settlement -- even offering a check claiming to be the maximum available under the policy limits of the at-fault driver. If a loved one suffers a spinal cord injury, seeking the immediate representation of an Illinois injury lawyer can be vital to protecting your rights. An accident lawyer will charge you nothing for a confidential consultation -- and will often come to your home or hospital room.

Do not make any statements to opposing insurance representatives. Do not sign any paperwork and do not accept any payment. Choosing a lawyer can be an important first step toward ensuring that the necessary resources for rehabilitation and long-term care will be made available to you and your family.

Continue reading "Car Accident Survivors Sent to Chicago Hospital - Two Dead, Two Paralyzed, One Seriously Injured" »

A Chicago-area Baptist minister has been convicted in a child sexual abuse case in Lake County, Illinois. He told the judge that God would punish those who bore “false witness” against him in a trial that resulted in him being sentenced to 18 years for aggravated criminal sexual abuse and predatory criminal sexual assault against an 11 year-old girl, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The minister had preached at Baptist churches in North Chicago and Zion. The victim testified that the minister had told her that whatever they did would stay between them and she did not come forward until 11 months later because she was scared and embarrassed. After the girl’s mother first confronted the minister about the assault, he swore on the bible that he didn't abuse her.

The minister had signed a confession to the sexual assault at the Waukegan Police Department, but his defense attorney challenged the confession as the minister maintained his innocence. He never took the stand in his own defense, stating that he would rely on his faith to clear his name.

“I want this court to know when I am out, I will go back to trying to help people turn their life around,” the minister said before sentencing. “Whatever time is given to me, I will walk it upstandingly. I will walk it as God would have me.” He also prayed for mercy before the sentencing.

The assistant state's attorney prosecuting the case noted that the defendant asked for mercy at at the time of sentencing, but at the same time he had taken no responsibility for his actions.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the minister had a criminal history from the late 60s and early 70s for charges related to being in possession of stolen checks. The charges were out of the State of California where he served 18 months.

The minister’s attorney plans to appeal the conviction, stating that since the time of his arrest he has been helping others and has been a good influence on other jail inmates in Lake County.

Sexual abuse of minors by religious figures is an all too common news story in Chicago. According to one study, the Tribune reports that more than half of Chicago’s Roman Catholic Parishes have been served by a priest credibly accused of sexually abusing a child. This abuse is not limited to any one denomination, however, and instances of abuse have spread across many faiths.

Illinois sex abuse lawyers at office currently represents several young men who were abused by a Catholic priest when they were minors.

Unfortunately, many of the abused never come forward and do not get the psychological help they need to properly deal with the traumatic event. Often victims suffer from depression, abuse drugs and alcohol, and they are more likely to attempt suicide. Nationally, almost half of all sex abuse victims are under the age of 18, and over 90% of minor victims know their abuser.

Continue reading "Chicago-area Baptist minister sentenced to 18 years for sexual assault on a minor" »

Fewer motorists are expected to hit the roads this Fourth of July weekend than last, but it's all relative; with AAA estimating 39 million Americans on the road you are still at greater risk for a Chicago car accident through the long travel weekend.

The Chicago Tribune reports higher gas prices and the shaky economy are to blame for the 1 million fewer drivers expected to travel at least 50 miles from home.

AAA Chicago estimates 1.9 million drivers will hit the road in Illinois -- 3.3 percent fewer than last year. While gas in the Chicago area has fallen by 29 cents in recent weeks -- to an average of $3.93 a gallon -- that's still 37 cents more than the national average and nearly $1 a gallon higher than last year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 32 Illinois traffic fatalities over the 2009 Fourth of July holiday period.

While our Chicago personal injury lawyers wish each of you a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend, we also would like to remind you of risks away from the road.

Chicago fireworks injuries: Last year, 135 people were seriously injured in Illinois fireworks accidents, according to the State Fire Marshal Even those fireworks people often think of as harmless were responsible for serious injuries, including sparklers (13) and bottle rockets (16). Seventy-eight people suffered serious burns, 10 suffered loss of eyesight and six suffered dismemberment.

More than half of those injured in Illinois fireworks accidents were under the age of 21. Injuries to the hands, fingers and eyes were most common.

Illinois Boating Accidents: Independence Day is the height of the summer boating season in Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources reports a total of 102 boating accidents in 2009 -- claiming 25 lives and injuring 70. Common causes are drinking and boating, lack of training and failure to wear life vests or follow other established safety procedures. If your weekend plans involve being out on the water, please stay safe and take responsibility for making sure those around you are safe as well.

Chicago swimming pool accidents: Family gatherings this time of year often occur at the home with the pool. As such, many are not familiar with pool safety. Children are at particularly high risk. An adult should always be assigned to watch children. Even those using small backyard portable pools. CNN recently reported that more than 244 submersion accidents involving small portable pools have been reported in the last decade. In 209 cases, the incident resulted in a fatality.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Attorneys Wish you a Safe and Enjoyable Fourth of July" »

A 34-year-old Naperville woman has been charged with sexually abusing four students while she was employed as a teacher at a Christian school on the Northwest Side, according to the Chicago Sun-Times and several other media outlets. She has been charged with four counts of criminal sexual assault.

A Cook County Judge set bail on Tuesday at $1.5 million. The defendant is to appear in court next on June 27.

The teacher's brother, age 27, who was also employed at the school has been charged with one count of criminal sexual abuse.

The defendant teacher was employed as a teacher at Dayspring Christian Academy, which is located in the 5100 block of W. Fullerton Ave. She was employed there up until March of 2011, according to a spokesperson for the Cook County State's Attorney's office. It is being alleged that she sexually assaulted three girls and a boy several years ago. The four children were all students and members of a church next door called the Daysping Church.

Chicago police officials are stating that the sexual abuse began in the late 1990s but was not reported until April, 2011. It is being alleged that the former teacher gave the minors alcohol and performed sexual acts on them in her home, in the children's homes and in her car.

It Is being alleged that she had sexual intercourse with the male victim for about a year when he was between the ages of 15 and 16. At one point she babysat for him and his sister when their parents were out of town.

The abuse of one of the female victims started in 1998 when the girl was 15 years old. The defendant had taught her in the seventh and eighth grade. The abusive relationship lasted until 2001.

In 2003, when the teacher was age 26, she allegedly abused another 15-year-old girl while her parents were away. That sexually abusive relationship lasted until 2006.

She next allegedly abused a 14-year-old girl who was a church member and the teacher's student in the sixth and eighth grades. The abuse lasted until March, 2007 when the victim's family moved away.

The Academy where teacher was employed enrolls students from pre-K to 12th grade. School officials have made no comments regarding the allegations.

NBC news is reporting that a third person was questioned by police, but later released with no charges filed.

The Chicago Tribune is stating that the ages of victims were between 13 and 17. Further, they report that the defendant's brother allegedly abused a student who is now age 23.

The teacher supposedly has no past criminal history. The defendant's husband stated outside of court that his wife has had some psychological problems in the past, but recently started treating with a therapist.

The consequences of sexual abuse to a child can be devastating and last long into adulthood. There can be both emotional and psychological issues, and the abuse can cause negative behavioral changes at home and at school. Victims are more likely to suffer from depression, think about suicide, and become an alcohol and drug abuser. According to the federal government, over 40% of sex abuse victims are under the age of 18 and over 90% of child victims know the abuser.

Lawyers at our firm have become very familiar with the effects of sex abuse, as we currently represent several victims in lawsuits against the Chicago Archdiocese. Our firm also represents a student that was sexually abused by a suburban school bus driver, and a downstate teenager that was abused by a church employee.

A semi truck vs. car accident that occurred in downstate Illinois has resulted in the death of two girls and injuries to six others, according to herald-review.com. Illinois state police are saying that the victims fatally injured were ages 12 and 15 years old, both from Mattoon. The collision occurred on Illinois 316 just west of Loxa on the morning of June 1.

The two victims were traveling in a van that was involved in a collision with a semi truck. The van rolled over in the accident, ejecting seven people. The driver of the van, a 26-year-old woman from Mattoon, was reportedly in a hurry and passed a vehicle traveling east bound. The driver lost control of her van and then entered the westbound lane.
When the van crossed the center line, a semi truck was passing by in the opposite direction. The trucker was unable to avoid striking the van, making contact with the rear passenger side the vehicle. The van then rolled into a ditch on the North side of the highway.

Troopers ticketed the van driver for improper lane usage, no valid drivers license, driving an uninsured vehicle, speeding, and not wearing a seat belt. The accident is still being investigated. At least 5 of the occupants were not wearing seat belts. Due to the fatalities and seat belt violations, it is possible that the Coles County State's Attorney's office could upgrade the charges against the at fault driver.

One of the girls fatally injured was helicoptered to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, and the other was taken by Mattoon Fire Department ambulance to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. The others injured were taken to the same to hospitals by ambulance.

While our hearts go out to the victims and their families, a case like this raises several issues.

First, there is a basic safety issue. A crash like this reminds us of the need to wear seat belts. There is the possibility that lives might have not been lost and injuries to others might not have been as severe if everyone was belted in the van.

According to the Illinois Secretary of State's office, nationally in 2008 child restraints and safety belts saved the lives of over 13,000 vehicle occupants over the age of 4. If properly used, child car seats reduce the risk of death by 54% for toddlers and by 71% for infants. Front seat shoulder belts reduce the risk of death by 45%, and reduce the risk of serious injuries by 50%.

In 2008 over 90% of drivers and passengers wore seat belts. Further, over 90% of children were placed in child passenger safety seats.

In 2009, 130,223 people were cited and convicted in Illinois for not wearing safety belts, and 5388 people were convicted for not properly placing their child in a car seat.

As far as a civil claim is concerned, it appears that the driver of the van was uninsured. If an Illinois personal injury lawyer gets involved in the case on behalf of one of the victims, he or she might explore the possibility of an uninsured motorist claim. There, the injured passenger can make a claim against his or her own family's auto insurance policy. Click here to read more about Illinois uninsured motorist claims.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving has issued a warning to parents that our Chicago personal injury attorneys urge you to take to heart: The next 100 days are the deadliest of the year for teen drivers.

We frequently report the risk young people face when it comes to Chicago car crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that car accidents are the leading cause of death for those ages 15 to 20.

Put another way, it's a statistic that bears repeating: Your child is most likely to die in a traffic accident this summer. Your child. This summer. Our Illinois wrongful death attorneys are all too familiar with such tragedies. Dealing with the death of a young person in a car accident is among the most horrific cases a law firm can handle.

In 2009, about 3,000 teenagers were killed and more than 350,000 were treated in emergency rooms as a result of traffic accidents. Nine of the 10 deadliest days for teens are between the months of May and August.

Please speak to your child early and often this summer.

-MADD reports 28 percent of Illinois teens between the ages of 12 and 20 report using alcohol within the past month and 20 percent -- or 1 in 5 -- admit to binge drinking in the last 30 days.

-Teens are among the worst offenders when it comes to distracted driving. MADD recommends banning the use of electronic devices, including cell phones, while behind the wheel. The government's Distracted Driving Website reports that 16 percent of those under 20 are distracted at the time of a crash.

-Limit night driving.

-Limit the number of passengers your teen is permitted to have in the vehicle.

-Set clear consequences for violating the rules.

-Consider using an Illinois teen driving contract with your teenager -- which will outline the expectations and penalties for violations.

-Set firm rules about seat belt use. Statistics show teens are among the worst offenders when it comes to not buckling up.

-Invest in insurance. While teen car insurance premiums can be a shock in their own right, buy a policy with limits as high as you can reasonably afford. Basic policies or mandatory minimums are a joke in the event of a serious accident -- you can spend $10,000 or more before the ambulance even gets you to the hospital.

Continue reading "MADD Calls for Parental Involvement to Reduce Teen Car Accidents during 100 Deadliest Days" »

The State of Illinois and other states around the country and urging businesses and communities to join the celebration of National Safety Month. The entire month of June will focus on various safety topics. This awareness month is being put on by the Illinois-based National Safety Council (NSC) in an attempt to increase the awareness of the top five causes of preventable injuries and death from accidents in Chicago and elsewhere.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers understand that there are a number of things that we can all do to help this world be a safer place for everyone, but preventable injuries continue to happen because of the negligence of others. Residents are urged to participate in the activities of this safety month and encourage friends, family and coworkers to get involved to help reduce the risks of these types of accidents.

Top 5 causes of preventable injury or death:

-Injuries in the summer time (June 1-4). Injuries and fatalities during this time of year usually see an increase as more residents are out of school, vacationing or are outside enjoying the summer weather.

-Overexertion (June 5 to 11). These types of injuries are the third leading cause of unintentional injuries as they typical result in sprains and strains in various areas of the body, especially in the lower back.

-Teen Driving Safety (June 12 to 18). The NSC feels that promoting safe teen driving on our roadways is critical as more than 5,500 people are killed every year in traffic accidents that involve a teen driver.

-Slips, Trips and Falls (June 19 to 25). These accidents are among the top causes of unintentional injuries that leave residents in emergency departments throughout the nation.

-Cell phone use by drivers (June 26 to 30). Traffic accidents are the number one cause of unintentional deaths in the United States and a large number of these accidents are caused by distracted drivers using cell phones. The NSC estimates that nearly 25 percent of all traffic accidents involve distracted driving.

These awareness weeks in the month of June come with supplemental safety material to help spread the word about the ways you can help to prevent these unnecessary injuries and deaths.

The NSC reports that the United States witnessed 50 percent more of these types of injuries last year, compared to 1992 -- nearly 87,000 unintentional injuries and fatalities. These preventable accidents cause residents and employers nearly $700 billion, an average of roughly $6,000 per American household.

Residents are urged to join "A Million Acts of Safety" to share your stories and to learn about new ways to help keep you and your loved ones safe in your home. These stories and advice are shared with those around the world.

An NSC safety calendar, found on their website, shows you all of the safety events that take place throughout the year.

Continue reading "National Safety Month Aims to Halt to Top Five Preventable Accidents in Chicago and Elsewhere" »

An information technology worker used to be employed at Lockport Township High School District 205 was arrested on Thursday morning for his alleged sexual abuse of a student in 2009, according to the Chicago Tribune. The defendant, a 39-year-old Darien resident, was charged yesterday with aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He has since been released on bail.

The charge is a class 2 felony that carries a 3 to 7 year prison sentence if convicted. A spokesperson for the Lockport Police Department is stating the alleged victim was a 17 year old minor at the time of abuse and is a Lockport resident.

The charges reportedly alleged that defendant abused his position of trust, authority or supervision with a minor in April, 2009 while he was employed as a senior network administrator for the school district. Police only learned of the alleged sexual abuse earlier this month after the victim told the family friend about what happened.

It has not been reported if an Illinois sex abuse attorney is involved in the case or if a civil lawsuit has been filed. Why the defendant is no longer employed with the school district was also not reported.

Read the story as reported by the Chicago Breaking News Center here.

An Illinois pedestrian accident on Saturday in the Gold Coast neighborhood has resulted in several pedestrians getting hurt, including a toddler and some models in a wedding photo shoot, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The crash occurred when a city worker lost control of a truck.

The child, age 2, only suffered none-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Children’s Memorial Hospital. Six other pedestrians were hit, and unfortunately 2 were critically injured. One of the critically injured was the toddler's caretaker. She was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

The incident took place around 12:20 p.m. at the three-way intersection of Cedar, Rush and State Streets. An employee of the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation was driving a city owned white Ford F150 pickup truck when he lost control and drove onto the sidewalk, hitting the pedestrians on the southeast corner.

It is not known what caused the driver to lose control, but he was on duty at the time of the accident. He was emptying trash baskets and picking up liter in the area.

Some of the injured were taken to Northwestern, and others were taken to Illinois Masonic.

It has not been said if a Chicago injury lawyer is involved in the case yet.

Click here to read the story on Fox News.

STORY UPDATE: 5/23/11 - It is now being reported by the Chicago breaking news center that the city driver has been charged with DUI and other offenses. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

An Illinois bus crash in north suburban Evanston resulted in the hospitalization of 20 students and one adult on Tuesday morning, Tribune Local is reporting. One school bus rear-ended another after one of the bus drivers was momentarily distracted.

The students were from Rowe elementary school and were on a field trip at Northwestern University. The collision took place around 11:15 AM as the 2 school buses were heading northbound on Chicago Ave. near Davis Street. There were a total of 50 students on the two buses.

Evanston police are stating that the at fault bus driver may have been looking in his side view mirror at the time of the accident.

The injured students were taken to Evanston Hospital, Rush and St. Francis Hospital. Ambulances from several communities, including Winnetka and WIlmette assisted. None of the injuries were reportedly life threatening. One child had neck & back injuires while another had chest pain.

The uninjured students continued on with the field trip.

Read the story as reported by ABC News and ABC News here.

A Chicago area semi-truck crash in southwest suburban Channahon has resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to 2 children on Tuesday afternoon, according to WGN-TV.

Channahon Police are saying that a white SUV heading west on Eames Street was hit by a truck as the SUV tried to make a left turn onto Bell Road around 3:30 p.m. The truck crashed into the passenger side of the SUV, knocking it into a light pole and killing the female driver.

Two girls, ages 4 and 7 months were riding in the backseat. It took 40 minutes to remove the 4 year old from the vehicle. Both were taken to hospitals, one airlifted to Advocate Good Samaratin Hospital in Downers Grove. Police are saying the children's injuries were not life threatening.

The truck driver was not injured and no traffic tickets have been issued so far. The accident is still under investigation, and the Illinois State Police are handling the crash reconstruction.

People that live in the area are saying that several deadly accidents have occurred at that intersection.

Read the story as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times here.

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.

An Illinois teacher in the northern suburbs has been charged with sexually abusing 4 children under the age of 13, according to Fox news. The defendant was arrested at his home in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Saturday by Round Lake Beach Police on a warrant charging him with the sexual abuse of minors.

The defendant has been employed as a teacher for six years and was working as a third-grade teacher at Raymond Ellis Elementary School in Round Lake Beach. School and police officials would not state where the alleged abuse took place.

School District 116 made telephone calls alerting parents of the charges and also sent letters home with students. The teacher is expected to wave extradition and appear in Lake County bond court this Friday.

It has not been reported if a civil lawsuit has been filed or if a Chicago area sexual abuse attorney is involved in the case.

UPDATED STORY, 4/8/2011: CBS news is reporting that a Lake County judge set bond for the defendant at $250,000 after prosecutors informed the court that there could be additional victims. The teacher is accused of inappropriately touching four girls, ages 9 and 10, between August 18, 2010 and March 23, 2011. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison for each count filed against him.

A three-year-old boy from Dalton has died in an Illinois premises liability accident on Saturday after falling from a children's roller coaster, according to the Naperville Sun. The accident occurred around 7 PM at an establishment called Go Bananas, which is described as a family entertainment center located at 4516 N. Harlem Ave. in Norridge, Illinois. The toddler was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy was performed on Sunday and it showed that the boy died of multiple injuries sustained in the accident. Further, his death has been ruled an accident.

Is being reported that the victim and his twin brother were riding a small roller coaster when the child somehow freed himself from a safety bar and then became stuck between two cars, and then fell 3 or 4 feet from the moving coaster.

The owner of the facility, who was not present at the time of the accident, as stated that he plans on cooperating 100% through the investigation.

It has not been reported if a Chicago premises liability lawyer is involved in the case or if a civil lawsuit has been filed by the victim's family.

Click here to read the story as reported by Fox news and the New York Daily News.

A Chicago area school bus accident has resulted six children being injured and hospitalized, according to Tribune Local. The collision occurred Tuesday morning in North Suburban Vernon Hills, and all children have since been released from Advocate Condell Medical Center.

It is being reported that a vehicle was trying to avoid hitting a school bus that veered into its lane when it slid on a snow-covered highway and struck the bus. The school bus involved was from District 73 and was carrying approximately 20 students to Aspen Elementary School. The incident took place around 7:40 AM.

Police are stating that the bus driver may have entered the other driver's lane to avoid a snow pile. The Vernon Hills Police Department and the Countryside Fire Department responded to the scene of the accident. In addition to the six children transported to the hospital, three kids were treated and released at the scene. Both drivers involved in the Illinois bus crash were reportedly uninjured.

The police investigation is ongoing. It was not reported if any traffic citations were issued.

Chicago premises liability attorneys at our office reported last week that a toddler was seriously injured in Joliet after falling down an elevator shaft in a hotel. The Naperville Sun is now reporting that a switch that was used by the child to open the elevator door should have been locked at the time of the accident.

The safety issue was disclosed by Joliet's chief building inspector, who is stating that the failure to have the switch locked was a code violation. He also stated that the switch should have been shielded or should have required a key to work.

Elevators in Joliet are reportedly inspected by private companies that are licensed by the state, and not inspected by the city itself. Due to this accident, the fire marshal has temporarily suspended the licenses of two inspectors as it continues to investigate this Joliet elevator incident.

The two-year-old boy was injured when he walked out of a room, got into the elevator and began pressing buttons. At some point he flipped emergency switch and the elevator stopped between floors and the doors opened. This created an opening that the boy went through and then fell 30 feet into the basement.

The child survived and is being treated for his injuries at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

It is not been reported if a Chicago personal injury lawyer is involved in the case yet or if a civil lawsuit has been filed.

An Illinois premises liability accident has resulted in severe head injuries to a toddler that were suffered in a fall down an elevator shaft at a Joliet Hotel, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting. The boy, who fell approximately 30 feet on Sunday afternoon at a hotel located at 26 W. Clinton St., was airlifted from Joliet’s Silver Cross Hospital to Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and is expected to survive.

Guests heard the boy crying from the elevator and the desk clerk called the police for help. The elevator was stopped between the first and second floors and was not moving.

Video footage shows the child left his third floor room and went to the elevator, followed by his mother who brought the boy back to the room. A few minutes later, the video shows the boy going to the elevator and pressing the call button. He entered the elevator and began pushing buttons.

A Joliet police officer noted that there was an emergency switch inside the elevator that stops the car as soon as it is pushed. The doors to the elevator car open when the emergency button is triggered but the doors to the outside hallway do not. Authorities believe the two-year-old pushed the emergency button between floors one and two.

An officer noted that there was a 10-inch gap between the elevator and the shaft when the emergency button was used. It is believed that the boy fell approximately 30 feet down this gap to the bottom of the shaft in the basement.

The incident is under investigation but no charges have been brought at this time.

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

Illinois accident attorneys at Abels and Annes have signed on to represent a teenage student that was recently injured in Chicago area bus crash. The collision occurred at the intersection of Oakwood and 197th Street in Lynwood Illinois on December 9, 2010 at around 6:45 PM.

Our client was riding in a school bus that was moving northbound on Oakwood. At that time the driver of a southbound Ford Escape sideswiped the driver side of the school bus. The Lynwood Police Department handled the accident investigation and witnesses confirmed the above version of events.

Shortly after the accident, our client started experiencing severe neck, head and back pain. She was seen at the Ingalls Memorial Hospital emergency room the same day. Over the next week her pain did not resolve and the teenager is now undergoing further medical care with an orthopedic physician in the Chicago area.

If your child is been injured in an Illinois school bus crash, contact the Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for a free case evaluation. Call 312-924-7575 to speak directly to an attorney.

A Chicago area school bus crash has resulted in injuries to two students, according to the Lagrange Patch. The Illinois bus accident took place Friday morning just before 8 AM in Western Springs.

The school bus was rear-ended by a Chevy van after the bus stalled at the intersection of Howard Avenue and 40th St. The vehicle was from Lyons Township and was transporting 24 students from LTHS North Campus to the Technology Center of DuPage. Two students were injured and sent to an area hospital.

The injured children sustained back injuries in the accident and were taken by ambulance to Adventist Lagrange Memorial Hospital. They were released later the same day. None of the other students were reportedly injured.

The driver of the van that caused the accident was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. The Western Springs Police Department handled the crash investigation.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Chicago Breaking News Center.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced new rear-window visibility rules aimed at reducing the risk of pedestrian accidents in Chicago and elsewhere, particularly those involving young children or the elderly.

Our Chicago injury lawyers frequently report on the dangers of pedestrian accidents in the city. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports more than 4,300 people died in pedestrian accidents in 2008 and 69,000 were injured.

Illinois pedestrian accidents claimed 135 lives -- 52 of those in Chicago. The Illinois Department of Transportation reports another 3,379 people were injured in Chicago pedestrian accidents in 2008.

"There is no more tragic accident than for a parent or caregiver to back out of a garage or driveway and kill or injure an undetected child playing behind the vehicle," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "The changes we are proposing today will help drivers see into those blind zones directly behind vehicles to make sure it is safe to back up."

In 2008, a total of 270 children under the age of 14 died in pedestrian accidents, accounting for about 1 in 5 fatalities for the age group. Pedestrian accidents claimed more than 800 people over the age of 65.

The new government regulations would expand the field of vision for all passenger cars, pickups, minivans and buses. Manufacturers would likely achieve compliance by installing backup cameras and in-car monitors in all new vehicles by 2014.

"The steps we are taking today will help reduce back-over fatalities and injuries not only to children, but to the elderly, and other pedestrians," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "And while these changes will make a difference, drivers must remember that no technology can, or should, replace full attention and vigilance when backing up. Always know where your children are before you start your car and make sure you check that there is no one behind you before you back up."

The government estimates nearly 300 deaths and 18,000 injuries occur each year as a result of backover accidents. About half of those crashes involve children under the age of 5, while one-third involve an elderly adult over the age of 70.

Continue reading "New government rules could reduce risk of Chicago pedestrian accidents involving children, the elderly" »

Our Chicago injury lawyers urge you to stay safe during Halloween week, which historically has been among the nation's most dangerous for car accidents and other types of injury mishaps.

Authorities will be looking for drunk drivers during a nationwide "Over the Limit. Under Arrest" campaign from Oct. 25-31. In the past 10 years, drunk drivers have caused more than half of the nearly 5,000 traffic fatalities during the week of Halloween, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And, while nighttime is always a dangerous time to be on the road, Halloween night is frequently one of the year's deadliest.

Children, teenagers and adults are also at high risk of being injured in a Chicago pedestrian accident or premises liability claim involving anything from a slip and fall accident to a dog bite.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reports that Halloween is among the holidays with the highest number of emergency room visits. Finger and hand injuries are the most common, while the most likely to be injured are those ages 10 to 14.

The following safety tips may help you and your family stay safe this Halloween:

-Use knives specifically designed for pumpkin carving -- not kitchen knives. And never let a child carve pumpkins.

-Be mindful of fire hazards when lighting jack-o-lanterns. Use non-flammable light sources, such as glow sticks.

-Keep Halloween costumes light and bright so children are easily seen by motorists and other pedestrians. Use reflective tape for even better visibility.

-Costumes should fit properly and be flame resistant. Be sure masks, hats and face paint do not obstruct vision. Costumes may present a trip hazard if they are too long and should be trimmed appropriately.

-Trick-or-treaters should only approach houses that are well lit. Children and parents should carry flashlights.

-Be aware of dogs.

-Carry a cell phone in case of emergencies.

Continue reading "Chicago car accidents, pedestrian accidents just two of the many dangers during Halloween Week" »

Parents need to become more involved in talking to teenagers about the role poor driving decisions play in their risk of being involved in a serious or fatal Chicago car accident, according to a new study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

The New York Times was among the first media outlets to report on the new study as soon as it was released Tuesday -- National Teen Driver Safety Week is next week as safety advocates preach the message in advance of the upcoming homecoming and holiday seasons.

Our Chicago accident attorneys frequently report the dangers teenagers face behind the wheel. Car accidents are the number one cause of death for teens ages 15 to 19, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Name a poor driving habit and teens are the worst offenders: Drunk driving, failure to wear seat belts, text messaging while driving, distracted driving, speeding, and riding with too many passengers in the vehicle.

The new study found that parents are not giving their teenagers enough experience behind the wheel, particularly in challenging situations like heavy traffic, night driving or bad weather. Illinois' graduated driver's licensing program is a national leader -- and the extra training helps. But it is no substitute for time behind the wheel with a parent.

Nearly half of all parents who participated in the study reported that, even after their teen spent a year in the learner's stage, there was at least one driving condition with which a parent was not comfortable with their child's skills. Still, more than one-third of all parents allowed their child to get their driver's license within a month of being eligible.

The study -- which used video cameras and is among the first to look at the interaction of parent and child during the driver's education process -- found that parents were most likely to give instruction on the handling of the vehicle (like speed) and least likely to convey other important driving instructions, such as defensive driving techniques like anticipating the actions of another motorist.

This gap was so pronounced -- more than half of all instructive comments (54 percent) involved vehicle handling, while less than 5 percent dealt with visual scanning or other defensive driving techniques -- that it was among the study's most surprising findings.

The study also revealed that the amount of time parents spend practicing with teenagers varied greatly -- and only 1 in 4 parents mentioned the need to accompany their teenager for practice in a variety of driving conditions.

“One of the best things parents can do to reduce the risk is to spend as much time as possible with their children to provide guidance driving in a variety of situations so they can gain experience and competence,” said Peter Kissinger, the AAA Foundation's chief executive. “If they do, it will have a significant impact on the teenager’s later driving experience.”

Continue reading "Parental instruction crucial in reducing the risk of Chicago car accidents involving teenagers" »

Illinois injury attorneys at Abels & Annes have signed on to represent a 10-year-old minor that was injured in a Chicago area SUV vs. school bus crash. CBS news reported that the collision took place around 3 PM at hundred 147th St. and LaGrange Road on September 30, 2010.

The school bus was carrying around 20 students when a Cadillac Escalade may have ran a red light and struck the front end of the school bus. A total of nine students, including our client, were injured and taken to area hospitals. The bus was traveling with 3rd, 4th & 5th graders from High Point Elementary School in Orland Park.

Our plaintiff was transported to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn. She sustained right ankle, head and neck injuries in the collision. Her pain has been ongoing since the accident, and she has been treating with her pediatrician in Palos Hills, Illinois.

If your child has been injured in an Illinois school bus accident, contact a Chicago personal injury attorney at Abels & Annes for a free consultation. Call 312-924-7575. There is no attorney's fee unless a financial recovery is made for your child.

Sexual abuse lawyers at Abels & Annes, working with co-counsel Hilfman & Martin, are preparing to file a third lawsuit against the Chicago Archdiocese in regards to former priest Daniel McCormack. The abuse case will be filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County within the next week. The Archdiocese of Chicago, the Catholic Bishop of Chicago and Cardinal Francis George will be named as defendants.

The lawsuit will be filed on behalf of John M. Doe to protect the victim's identity. The plaintiff will allege that while he was in and around St. Agatha's parish and St. Agatha's rectory in Chicago from approximately eighth-grade (2002-2003) through his junior or senior year in high school (2005-2007), he was inappropriately and sexually touched, rubbed and abused by McCormack on multiple occasions.

It will allege that church officials failed to remove McCormack of his duties as priest after gaining information that he had a history of complaints against him for sexual abuse all the way back to his time in seminary.

It will also state that the archdiocese failed to report the priest's behavior to the police or warn the public, but instead ordained him as a priest and promoted them through the system until he was finally named Pastor of St. Agatha's in 2000. While at the parish, he was both a teacher and basketball coach.

It is alleged that during his time at the church, McCormack sexually abused children and church officials did not properly investigate allegations about the priest. They did not inform parents or police and instead they continued to let him work with young boys. Even after he was arrested and a review board recommended his removal in October of 2005, he was not removed until January 2006 when he was taken into police custody for the second time.

McCormack is currently incarcerated. In 2007 he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing five boys and he was sentenced to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes have signed on to represent a nine-year-old boy who was injured in an Illinois bicycle accident on July 19, 2010. The collision took place in the parking lot of M & M Quick Foods, which is located at the intersection of Austin Boulevard and Division Street in Chicago.

The boy was riding his bicycle eastbound in the parking lot when the defendant quickly pulled into the lot off the street, failed to observe the bicyclist, and struck him. The plaintiff was knocked off of his bike.

The child had immediate onset of back pain and bilateral leg pain. He was taken by Chicago Fire Department Ambulance to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park. There he was examined by doctors and x-rays were negative for fractures.

Over the next several days the boy's pain remained, so his mother took him to see a medical doctor. He is been undergoing treatment since the date of the accident.

The crash was investigated by the Chicago Police Department. The police report was actually written somewhat in favor of the driver that struck the bicyclist. The driver told police that the bike rider "darted out" in the parking lot. However, the police diagram clearly shows that the driver struck a bicyclist immediately upon entering the lot.

This brings up an interesting point about police reports. In this case (and in many other cases I've seen in the past), the injured party was taken from the scene of the accident before the police arrived. The officer interviewed the motorist, but did not take the time to interview the injured party, as he not at the scene of the accident and was on his way to the hospital.

Car accident lawyers run into this problem once in a while. I can tell you that just because the police write an unfavorable report, this does not affect our decision as to whether to take a case, and it certainly won't bar the plaintiff from recovering in this case. We look at the evidence in a particular case and make our own decision as to who we believe was at fault.

In this case, plaintiff was riding in the parking lot before the defendant entered. The defendant was driving too fast for conditions and failed to observe the bicyclist upon entering the lot.

Drivers in the Chicago area have to keep a lookout for bicycle riders, especially children on bikes. Chicago is now listed as one of the top 10 bicycling cities in the United States. In my experience, many drivers tend to only lookout for other vehicles and forget that there are bicycles on the road.

If you've been hurt in an Illinois bicycle accident, contact the injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for free consultation. Call 312-924-7575 speak directly to an attorney.

With the school year beginning, state officials are launching the 4th Annual Teen Safe Driving Program in an effort to reduce Chicago car accidents and traffic accidents involving teenagers elsewhere in Illinois.

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood joined state officials on Friday in launching the program, which has become a model for other states seeking to reduce the risks associated with poor teen driving decisions.

“In 2008, teens formed the largest proportion of distracted drivers in fatal crashes,” said Secretary LaHood. “Texting and talking on cell phones may feel like second nature to a tech-savvy generation, but the truth is, no one can talk or text while driving safely. I commend these young leaders and Operation Teen Safe Driving for helping to keep teens drivers safe.”

As we reported recently on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, officials are urging teens to submit a public service announcement aimed at the dangers of texting and driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 6,000 drivers are killed and more than 500,000 are injured each year in accidents caused by distracted driving.

Operation Teen Safe Driving is a statewide initiative sponsored by Ford Motor Company. It encourages teens to share safe-driving skills with their friends. The program has reached more than a quarter million students in the last three years.

Together with the state's Graduated Driver Licensing Program, the state has reduced teen fatalities by about 50 percent, according to the Illinois State Police.

“We are proud to launch the fourth year of the Operation Teen Safe Driving Program with the nation’s most prominent traffic safety advocate, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. “The Operation Teen Safe Driving (OTSD) Program has produced exemplary results across the state as it has helped cut teen fatalities by nearly half since 2006. IDOT is committed to teen safe driving and looks forward to a continued positive impact by this program.”

Any Illinois high school, public or private, is invited to apply. Students are asked to identify major traffic safety issues involving teenagers in their communities and to make creative proposals to help solve those problems.

Here is the online application for Operation Teen Safe Driving.

Continue reading "Teen Safe Driving Program credited with reducing Chicago car accidents" »

A former Roman Catholic Priest has received a four-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting boy from St. Charles when the child was 12 to 13 years old, according to the Daily Herald. Alejandro Flores, age 37, of Shorewood, Illinois pleaded guilty on Wednesday to Class I felony criminal sexual abuse.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office alleged that defendant sexually abused the boy that he met while working at St. Mary's Church, which is located in West Chicago. The child was reportedly abused on multiple occasions in the priest's car and in the boy's home. It was also alleged that the priest attempted to have sexual relations with the victim's older brother.

Due to this conviction, the former priest must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and he will likely face deportation to his home country of Bolivia when he is released from prison. He will serve at least 85% of the sentence, which comes out to about three years and five months.

In January, 2010, the boy's mother reported the abuse to the Joliet Archdiocese, NBC News reported. Later that month he fell from a church balcony in what is been reported as an attempted suicide. He was hospitalized at that time, but not seriously injured, and he was arrested after being released from the hospital. At that time he was serving as a priest at Holy Family Church in Shorewood, Illinois.

It is not been reported if the family of the minor has retained Chicago-area sex abuse attorney or if a civil lawsuit has been filed.

The effects of sexual abuse to a minor can be very damaging and long-lasting. Sex abuse victims are more likely to suffer from depression, and more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs as adults. Click here to read more about sex abuse cases.

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.

Most teen drivers are engaging in distracted-driving behavior despite knowing better, according to the result of a new study published by USAToday.

As our Chicago injury attorneys frequently report, teens are at high risk when it comes to being involved in a serious or fatal car accident in Chicago or the surrounding area.

Illinois has banned text messaging by all drivers and it is illegal for drivers to use hand-held cell phones within the City of Chicago. Other states have not been so proactive in reducing the risk of distracted driving accidents. Twelve states have adopted no rules at all when it comes to the use of cell phones by drivers: Florida, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North and South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico and Hawaii.

In any event, teens appear to understand the dangers. But whether they are listening is a different story. The recent survey by Seventeen Magazine found that nearly 90 percent of young drivers engaged in risky behavior, including text messaging or talking on a cell phone while driving, despite knowing the risks.

"Teens do continue to drive distracted even when they recognize the dangers," says William Van Tassel, manager of AAA's driver training programs. "Driving is the first real adult responsibility, but let's face it, they're still teens whose brains aren't fully developed."

A total of 1,999 teens ages 16 to 19 were surveyed. Eighty-four percent said they were aware that distracted driving increased their risk of an accident. However, 86 percent admitted to risky behavior, including talking on the phone, texting, applying makeup, eating, using in-car electronics or riding with four or more passengers.

Other study findings include:

-Drivers 16 and 17 were less likely to be distracted than those ages 18 and 19.

-Teens who had their own vehicle were more likely to drive distracted than those who had to share a vehicle.

-Reasons for using a mobile device while driving included: Didn't think they would get hurt (35 percent); made driving less boring (22 percent); and felt the need to stay connected (21 percent).

Safe Teen Driving Tips in Illinois are available here.

Continue reading "Teens know distracted driving increases risk of a Chicago car accident -- but they use their phones anyway" »

The Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes wish each of you a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July weekend. In preventing injuries over the holiday, we encourage you to leave the fireworks displays to the professionals, drink responsibly and don't drink and drive, practice safe boating and driving habits and speak with your teenagers about staying safe and making good decisions.

Drink Responsibly and Don't Drink and Drive
As our Chicago accident lawyers report frequently, drunk driving is responsible for one-third of Chicago car accidents as well as accidents in Cook County and throughout Illinois. Nationwide, someone dies every 45 minutes in a car accident involving a drunk driver. In Illinois, 434 of 1,043 fatalities involved alcohol in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Safe Boating

The U.S. Coast Guard reported 4,789 accidents killed 709 boaters and injured more than 3,300 in 2008. The leading causes of boating accidents include careless and reckless operation, operator inattention, no proper lookout, operator inexperience and passenger/skier behavior. Alcohol use is a factor in nearly 1 in 5 boating fatalities. In 2008, a total of 119 Illinois boating accidents were reported, killing 19 boaters and injuring 79.

Visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for more information on safe boating and boater education.

Teen Driving Safety
We offer a host of safe teen driving information, both here and on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog. Please take the time to speak with your teenagers about the importance of making good driving decisions this summer.

Fireworks Injuries
The safest way to enjoy fireworks this weekend is by leaving the displays to the professionals. Fireworks injuries are not an abstract concept -- they are a tragically regular occurrence during the New Year's and Fourth of July Holidays.

-In 2006, 11 people were killed and more than 9,200 were treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

-More than two-thirds of fireworks injuries occur around the Fourth of July.

-One-third of those injured were children under 15. Young people under 20 sustained nearly half of all fireworks injuries.

-The most frequent injuries reported involved the hands (2,300), eyes (1,500) and the head, face and ears (1,400).

-More than half of all injuries involve burns. Other common injuries include contusions, lacerations and foreign objects in the eyes.

-Fireworks injuries are associated with blindness, third-degree burns and permanent scarring. Life-threatening residential and motor-vehicle fires are also reported.

-Firecrackers caused the greatest number of injuries (1,300) followed by sparklers (1,000) and rockets (800).

-More than one-third of fireworks related deaths involve professional devices that are illegally sold to consumers.

-Common causes of fireworks injuries include availability of high-grade fireworks to the consumers, being too close to fireworks, operator error and lack of coordination, child curiosity and experimenting with homemade devices.

Continue reading "Chicago injury lawyers wishing you a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July" »

A woman accused of a Chicago drunk driving accident that killed 5 teenagers is expected to testify this week as her trial comes to a close in Kendall County, the Daily Herald reported.

The 26-year-old Auora woman is accused of drunk driving in a Feb. 11, 2007 accident while giving 8 teenagers a ride home from an underage drinking party hosted by an 18-year-old Boulder Hill resident. Police say she was driving a 2001 Infiniti Q30 68mph in a 45 mph zone when she lost control and slammed into a telephone pole on Route 31 near River Run Road, 4 miles from the party. Five Oswego High School students -- ages 17, 16, 15, 14, 14 -- died in the crash. The home's owner reported that she and her boyfriend had returned home to find their son having a party and kicked everyone out around 1 a.m.

The defendant's blood-alcohol level was .124, above the legal limit of .08. However, she is contesting the results, saying she vomited during the accident, which can skew test results.

We continue to post information on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog about the dangers teenagers face on the road. Traffic accidents are the number one cause of death for teenagers ages 15 to 20, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Teenagers are often ill-equipped to recognize the risks associated with traffic accidents. In this case, eight kids piled into a car with a woman who may or may not have been under the influence. Regardless, she was speeding down the road in a car with more passengers than it was made to handle and some of the kids must have been forced to ride without seat belts. To say nothing of the distraction of driving eight drunken rowdy teens around at 2 o'clock in the morning.

Parents who host parties, or who arrive home to find their child has hosted a party, also need to be aware of the liability. In this case, the homeowner had an obligation to make sure these kids found a safe ride home. When excessive drinking occurs on a homeowner's property, and a serious or fatal accident results, a homeowner can be held liable in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit -- just as a bar can be held responsible for over-serving a patron.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving offers resources for the parents of high-school students.

As the Fourth of July approaches, our Chicago injury lawyers encourage parents to speak with their teenagers about the importance of making good decisions and staying safe on the road. They should feel free to call home for a ride if they feel they need to do so -- without fear of punishment. And parents need to understand the importance of adult supervision and appropriately host gatherings involving teenagers.

The end of the school year is a good time to talk to your children about swimming pool safety. Chicago swimming pool accidents occur almost exclusively between Memorial Day and Labor Day and speaking with children about safe swimming is a good way to get the summer off to a safe start.

Drownings and near drownings are complex medical and legal cases. In particular, long-term issues with dexterity, coordination and cognitive ability are possible in near-drowning victims and may not be readily apparent following an accident. Tragically, children are the most frequent victims. If you are dealing with a drowning or near-drowning accident, the Illinois swimming pool accident attorneys and the Chicago child injury lawyers at Abels & Annes offer a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights.

The Illinois Department of Health has adopted strict safety standards and guidelines for the owners of residential and commercial swimming pools. The Illinois Swimming Pool Safety Act (210 ILCS 130) also outlines requirements for safe pool operation.

In particular, water parks, hotels, and other community swimming pools have an obligation to ensure the safety of guests. The state requires that Illinois' 3,500 swimming pools meet water-quality and safety standards, as well as safe design and engineering standards. Additionally, an increasing number of accidents involve faulty pool equipment, including drain covers, which can lead to very serious or even fatal entrapment injuries.

The Consumer Products Safety Commission has launched a nationwide Pool Safety Campaign aimed at reducing the number of fatal swimming pool accidents involving small children.

-Each year an average of 385 children younger than 15 are killed in swimming pool accidents in the United States -- nearly 4 in every 5 cases involve a young child under the age of 5.

-In the last three years, emergency rooms have treated an average of 4,200 cases involving pool or spa submersion injuries to children under the age of 15.

The following swimming pool safety tips are provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

-Never leave a child alone near a pool.

-The adult supervising children near a pool should be trained in CPR.

-All pools should be protected by a gated fence or other enclosure.

-Rescue equipment and a telephone should always be kept near the pool.

-Do not use air-filled swimming aides as a substitute for approved safety vests.

-Toys should be removed from the pool area when not in use so children are not tempted to enter the pool area.

Continue reading "Illinois swimming pool accidents pose summer threat to small children" »

An anonymous donor has posted bond for a North Shore teenager accused in a hit-and-run Chicago pedestrian accident that critically injured a fellow student, ABC7 reported.

The 18-year-old allegedly left the scene after striking a 16-year-old girl outside New Trier High School at Green Bay and Winnetka roads. She was stopped by police about half-an-hour later. The victim suffered a brain injury and is in critical condition.

The judge set bail at $500,000, saying the high bail reflected the fact that the accused teenager admitted that she smoked marijuana the night before the crash. Toxicology results are pending, which could affect the case.

The teen's attorney said there was no way the family could post that kind of a bond. An anonymous donor posted $50,000, the 10 percent required to get the girl released from jail. The family said they do not know the donor. The attorney said the benefactor was horrified by the prospect of the teenager being confined to the Cook County Jail and decided to post the bond.

The girl had been held in the jail's hospital wing after concerns about housing the 18-year-old North Shore teenager in general population. The Chicago Tribune reported that the woman was the mother of two teenage daughters and felt sympathy for the defendant and her family.

The defendant was required to surrender her passport and must wear an electronic monitoring bracelet. Her attorney noted the girl was an honor student at one of the best schools in the country and expressed concern that the incident could impact the rest of her life.

The state attorney's office reported that the victim suffered a severe brain injury.

As we reported on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers ages 15 to 19 years old. One in every 7 traffic fatalities nationwide involves a teenager, leading to more than 5,000 deaths a year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Another 250,000 teenagers are seriously injured each year in car accidents, pedestrian accidents and other traffic crashes.

If it has two wheels, watch out for it in May.

As state and federal officials gear up to promote May as Motorcycle Awareness Month, city officials are reminding motorists it is also National Bike Month and are urging motorists to do their part in reducing Chicago bike accidents.

Last month, we reported on Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog that the city has been named one of the nation's best for cycling. But Illinois bicycle accidents killed 27 riders in 2008 and seriously injured 3,385. BicycleSafe.com offers a number or rider safety tips to help cyclists enjoy the spring and summer riding season as safely as possible.

On May 1, KMart stores in the Chicago area will be working in conjunction with Mayor Daley's Safe Routes Ambassadors program to educate parents and children about safe riding skills. Each store will also be holding a sweepstakes for a chance to win a children's bike.

Click here for more information and a list of participating stores.

Summer is prime riding season for kids. The Chicago Department of Transportation offers an online safety booklet for parents and children.

Safety tips for children include:

-Slow down and say "excuse me" or ring a bell or horn to avoid scaring or colliding with people you approach from behind while riding a bike.

-Ride one in front of the other when riding with friends.

-Take special care when approaching alleys and driveways. Look left, right, left. Slow down and stop if you can't see whether anything is coming. Look left first and last because that is the direction of oncoming traffic.

-Make sure a driver sees you before proceeding into the path of a vehicle.

-Never cross a street in the middle of the block.

-Before entering the street, stop at the curb and make sure parked cars are not about to move. Look left, right, left for oncoming traffic and make eye contact with any drivers before proceeding.

-Always ride in the same direction cars are traveling.

-Ride three feet from parked cars to avoid being hit by an opening car door.

-Never ride against traffic; it's the easiest way to get hit.

-Don't ride in the street unless a parent has determined it is ok.

-Ride in a straight line, don't zig-zag or move in an out of traffic or parked cars.

-The safest way to cross a busy street is to get off a bike and push it across in a marked crosswalk.

-Keep an eye on what's behind you.

-Watch for potholes, sewer grates or other road hazards.

Parents are encouraged to review the entire manual with their young riders as spring and summer riding season begins.

Continue reading "Officials to promote safe cycling in effort to reduce Chicago bicycle accidents" »

As prom season begins, Illinois is considering reducing the amount of time that teenagers can drive on weekend nights, the USA Today reported. The Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes urge parents to talk to their children about prom safety.

From 2003 to 2008, a total of 1,563 fatal Illinois car accidents involved teen drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Only California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas reported more teen driving deaths.

WQAD reports that many schools throughout Illinois are using "Operation Prom Night" as a tool to warn teenagers of the dangers of drinking and driving as prom season enters full swing.

"Operation Prom Night" is a graphic display of a drunk driving automobile accident involving serious and fatal injuries and is sponsored by a number of organizations, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

MADD is also promoting "The Power of Parents: It's Your Influence" to promote safe teenage driving.

Parents can help teenagers make the right choices by:

- Establishing clear rules and consequences for underage drinking and monitoring your child's activities.

- Acknowledging that the choice to be drug and alcohol free isn't easy.

-Signing a contract allowing a limo driver to phone parents if alcohol is detected.

-Insisting that only registered passengers be allowed transportation.

-Never serving alcohol to an underage person.

Continue reading "Prom safety critical to avoiding Chicago car accidents involving teenagers" »

Seven schools have been named winners of the 2010 Operation Teen Safe Driving Program, a state initiative aimed at reducing the number of fatal Illinois car accidents involving teenagers.

While graduated driver's licenses and other teen safety initiatives have reduced traffic fatalities in recent years, fatal traffic accidents involving teenagers in Illinois have increased slightly thus far this year. Through March 26, a total of 18 teenagers, ages 16 to 19, died in traffic accident, compared to 15 during the same period a year ago.

Fatal motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers ages 15 to 20, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

About 1 in 7 fatal crashes nationwide involves a driver under the ages of 20. In 2008, 5,864 teens were among the 36,261 motorists who died in traffic accidents nationwide. In Illinois, 164 teens were killed in traffic accidents that year. Alabama, California, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas reported more teen deaths than did Illinois.

Illinois has been recognized for its proactive measures to improve teen safety, including the Graduated Driver Licensing Law, which became effective Jan. 1, 2008. The law gives teens additional supervision behind the wheel and requires that they earn their way from one stage to the next by avoiding traffic convictions.

“The improved graduated driver licensing (GDL) law that resulted from the recommendations of the Teen Driver Safety Task Force makes Illinois' teen driver program one of the strongest in the nation and, more importantly, is saving lives,” said Secretary of State Jesse White. “Working together, we can save more lives and make Illinois roads safer for all of us.”

Winners of this year's program are Oak Forest High School, Gardner South Wilmington High School, Farmington High School, Pekin High School, Oakland High School, Chester High School and Patoka High School.

The program encourages high school students to use their creativity and imagination in developing programs aimed at educating their peers on the dangers of unsafe driving.

Continue reading "Young driving program aimed at reducing fatal Illinois car accidents involving teenagers" »

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

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

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

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

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

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

Continue reading "Children at high risk of Chicago pedestrian accidents" »

A Near West Side school bus driver is charged with the sexual assault of a high school girl who was the last person on his bus one day last spring, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

The 26-year-old West Madison Street defendant was ordered held on $50,000 bail in the Chicago sexual assault case for allegedly attacking a 17-year-old girl on March 24.

The paper reported he was already free on $50,000 for a related case in which he allegedly tried to intimidate the victim in the attack.

The defendant works for Jewel's Bus. Co. and appeared in court wearing his blue company jacket with his name over the right side of the chest, according to the News Center. As reported on Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog in September, a personal injury lawsuit and criminal charges were filed against another Jewel's Bus Co. driver in September in connection with the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a boy on his bus.

In this case, the girl was a student at a private South Side alternative school and was being driven home. The defendant is accused of pulling over and taking the girl to the back of the bus, where he fondled her and ordered her to perform sex acts on him. The girl was then driven home and immediately reported the assault. The incident occurred in the 8200 block of South Luella Avenue, according to police.

Since then, prosecutors allege the defendant has gone to the victim's home on three occasions, where he tried to intimidate her. In the most recent incident, authorities allege the defendant restrained the girl and threatened to beat her up.

He is slated to appear in court on Feb. 2, where he will appear on the criminal sexual assault charge.

As children go back to school after the holidays, motorists are cautioned to watch for stopped or turning school buses, children waiting at bus stops and pedestrians in crosswalks.

The Chicago bus accident attorneys and Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers at Abels & Annes have published safe winter driving tips on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog.

Chicago school bus accidents can be caused by either a negligent bus driver or oncoming drivers. Not only is there a serious risk of injured children, but passengers in vehicles involved in an accident with a school bus often suffer very serious injuries, similar to those injured in Chicago trucking accidents.

More than 2,400 Illinois school bus accidents killed 6 people and injured 341 last year, according to statistics released by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The vast majority of Illinois school bus accidents occur in urban areas, including Chicago. A total of 2,158 city school bus accidents occurred in 2008, compared to 260 that happened in rural areas.

IDOT reports three people in other vehicles were killed in accidents with Illinois school buses last year, while one school-aged and two other pedestrians were also killed.

Illinois State Police offer a brochure on school bus safety, available by clicking here.

Police report the majority of children injured or killed in school bus accidents are outside the bus and are struck by motorists who fail to stop for the red flashing light. Illegally passing a school bus comes with a three-month license suspension -- a subsequent offense with a one-year suspension and a mandatory minimum fine of $500.

Continue reading "Winter Chicago school bus accidents a concern as kids head back to classes" »

With teens hitting the streets for long holiday breaks over New Year's, reviewing driver safety with your young driver is a good way to start the holiday.

The Chicago car accident lawyers at Abels & Annes encourage you to take a moment to discuss driver safety with your children to help them stay safe through the beginning of winter-driving season and the congested roads that will great us all this holiday season.

Statistics show teens are at increased risk of Chicago car accidents and drunk driving accidents in Illinois and across the nation this holiday season.

Illinois is a leader in educating teenagers about safe-driving habits. Parents and teenagers can find the state's Teen Safe Driving Guide and a Parent and Teen Driving contract by clicking here.

Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 20. Nearly 1 in 5 licensed 16-year-olds is in a crash and the fatality rate for teenagers is up to 5 times higher that for drivers in their 30s, 40s and 50s, according to state statistics.

Lack of experience, greater risk taking and driving under the influence are factors associated with the higher traffic fatality rates for teenagers.

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, according the the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in a 2005 study that 1 in 4 teens who died in a car accident was legally drunk. Three out of 10 teens reported riding in a car within the last 30 days with a driver who had been drinking.

Lessons in the teen safe-driving guide include: starting and stopping, turning, backing up, parking, changing directions, establishing right-of-way, changing lanes, managing intersections, following other vehicles, defensive driving, assessing highway conditions and passing, handling adverse driving conditions, and other useful safety information and rules of the road.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also offers a comprehensive teen-driver safety program available by clicking here.

Continue reading "Teen driver safety a must for avoiding holiday Chicago car accidents" »

Black Friday will begin the holiday shopping madness. Enjoy yourself but keep safety in mind.

The Chicago car accident lawyers and the personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes wish everyone a happy holiday and safe shopping. But with more than half of annual retail sales expected between now and the end of the year, heavy traffic, big crowds, overstocked stores and poorly lit or maintained parking lots all present risk of serious injury.

Malls, store owners and retail outlets have a duty to provide a safe environment. Store events deliberately promoted to draw large crowds can pose a danger to customers seriously injured by falling merchandise, dark or faulty stairwells and parking lots, as well as other hazards, including pedestrian accidents and car accidents occurring in parking lots.

In fact, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration has issued guidelines for businesses dealing with large crowds during the holidays.

"Crowd-related injuries during special retail sales and promotional events have increased during recent years," said Jordan Barab, acting assistant secretary for OSHA. "Many of these incidents could be prevented, and this fact sheet provides retail employers with guidelines for avoiding injuries during the holiday shopping season."

The Illinois Attorney General has released the 2009 Safe Shopping Guide, which includes 121 recalled children's products.

And keeping safety in mind while in parking lots can go a long way toward keeping you and your family safe this holiday season.

-Drive defensively
-Turn on headlights for safety
-Park in a well-lit area
-Turn off the radio
-Get off the phone
-Drive slowly
-Take a second look behind you before backing
-Watch for pedestrians, kids, parents with strollers
-Be alert for other hazards, like rolling carts
-Park at the end of an aisle
-Park properly centered in your space
-Pull through into the abutting open space
-Park next to a nice car
-Pay attention when walking
-Put your cart away
-Pay attention to stop signs and obey all traffic signs

Continue reading "Shopping safety can prevent Chicago car accidents, pedestrian accidents and other holiday hazards" »

The state has been recognized for its efforts to reduce serious and fatal Illinois car accidents involving teenagers.

The Chicago car accident lawyers and the Illinois child injury attorneys at Abels & Annes encourage parents to visit the Operation Teen Safe Driving program with their young drivers.

Motor Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for one-third of all deaths. In 2007, 11 teens between the ages of 16 and 19 died every day in motor vehicle crashes.

Male teenagers are more than 1.5 times more likely to die in a traffic accident than young female drivers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC also reports newly licensed teens and teens with passengers are at increased risk of an accident -- and the more passengers the greater the risk. Other risk factors include speeding, driving under the influence, low seat-belt usage rates, and inability to recognize and compensate for dangerous road situations.

The award for Illinois' teen driving program came from the Roadway Safety Foundation and the Federal Highway Administration.

"Keeping teen drivers safe on the road is an obligation that we should all take seriously," said Greg Cohen, executive director of the Roadway Safety Foundation. "As the most inexperienced drivers on our highways, continuing driver education programs for teens are absolutely essential. By talking to teens where they listen, Illinois has set a great example for every state to follow."

Illinois' peer-to-peer driving program, in partnership with Allstate Foundation and Ford Motor Company's Driving Skills for Life program, challenges teens to develop school-wide programs to positively impact teen drivers. Safety advocates say the program resulted in a 40 percent reduction in teen driving deaths during 2007-08.

Continue reading "Illinois Teen Safe Driving program receives national honor, seeks to reduce Illinois, Chicago car accidents involving teenagers" »

Authorities are investigating what caused a CTA train to take off with a baby stroller lodged in a door; the stroller was dragged along the platform until the little girl was flung onto the ground along the tracks.

The child's adult caregiver told police the train took off with the stroller caught in its doors, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Some Chicago train accidents have nothing to do with crashing trains. But, like in this instance, involve people who are injury embarking or disembarking, fall in a stairwell or on a platform or are injured in a Chicago car accident at a railroad crossing.

The child landed about 10 feet past the end of the platform and was found conscious, flat on her back amid other items knocked out of the stroller.

The Chicago Transit Authority driver has been suspended without pay pending a review. A union representative said such an occurrence would require both a mechanical malfunction and an operator error.

The driver told investigators the presence of something in the door should have bounced the door open, much like an elevator door.

The child was released from the hospital Tuesday night after being treated and kept overnight for observation, The Sun-Times reported.

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for children ages 3 to 14 years old, according to 2008 crash statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Some of the most tragic and difficult cases handled by the Chicago car accident attorneys and the personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes involve the serious injury or death of a child in a car accident.

In 2008, 1,347 young passengers were killed in traffic accidents nationwide and 193,000 were injured. Every day, an average of 4 children under the age of 14 are killed and 529 injured in traffic accidents.

Illinois ranked 6th in the nation for the highest number of children killed in automobile accidents. Texas (154), California (142), Florida (73), Georgia (65) and North Carolina (45) were the five deadliest states.

Nationwide, alcohol was involved in 16 percent of the fatal crashes -- about half of those occurred when a child passenger of a drunk driver was killed.

A total of 270 children were killed in pedestrian accidents and another 13,000 were injured. About half of these child pedestrian fatalities occurred between 4 and 8 p.m.

Eighty-one children were killed in bicycle accidents and another 52,000 were injured.

The report concluded that child-safety seats reduced the risk of fatal injury to infants by 71 percent and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars.

Continue reading "Traffic accidents leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14" »

Doctors delivered a newborn boy after a pregnant woman was killed in a Chicago car accident on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old woman died when two vehicles collided and one of the vehicle careened into her and three other pedestrians on the city's West Side, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The West Cortez Street Woman was pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. The newborn infant is listed in extremely critical condition, according to the hospital.

A hospital spokeswoman said doctors were able to save the unborn child and believe the pregnancy was six or seven months along.

"The baby suffered injuries (from the crash) in addition to being premature," a spokesperson told The Tribune. The child's condition was described as "extremely critical."

Doctors reported it would be sometime today before they knew whether the infant had a chance to survive.

The car accident happened on Wednesday around 12 pm when a Ford van eastbound on Washington and a Chrysler Town and Country minivan southbound on Kostner, collided, according to police.

The Chicago Sun-Times said four pedestrians were struck during the accident and the driver of the Chrysler van had been cited.

According to the Sun-Times, the 39-year-old van driver was cited for failure to stop at a red light, driving with a suspended or revoked license and no insurance. It was unknown whether he will face further charges in connection with the woman's death.

In this case, due to the fact that the at fault driver had no insurance, the family of the victims will be able to pursue an uninsured motorist claim against their own auto insurance policy.

A Burlington High School student died Friday afternoon in a Chicago area auto accident on Randall Road near the intersection of Red Gate Road in St. Charles Township of west suburban Kane County.

A 16-year-old teen from unincorporated Elgin, was transported to Delnor Hospital in Geneva, where he was pronounced dead, according to The Chronicle.

He was northbound on Randall Road near Red Gate Road in a 2000 Toyota Camry when he hit a 2004 Lincoln Navigator almost head-on as it turned left onto Red Gate, according to the Kane County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating the crash.

The driver of the Lincoln Navigator and a small child who was a passenger in the Lincoln were transported to Delnor with non-life threatening injuries.

The Illinois car crash happened shortly after noon and shut down Randall between Crane and Bolcum roads.

No citations have been issued, however if the SUV was turning left, a ticket and other charges could still be issued. Under Illinois law, it is generally the duty of the driver turning left to yield to oncoming traffic.

The Daily Herald reported the victim was a student at Central High School in Burlington, which was on early dismissal Friday because of a teacher in-service day.

Also see the story as reported by The Courier-News.

A Chicago personal injury attorney has been filed a sex abuse lawsuit involving a child being kidnapped by a bus driver.

The suit, which was filed in Cook County Circuit Court on Thursday, alleges the boy was sexually assaulted while restrained on the bus by the driver. The family is seeking damages from the bus driver, the busing company and the Chicago Public School system, according the the Chicago Breaking News Center.

The bus driver was charged with kidnapping the boy from Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood on the South Side, according to a report last week in the Chicago Tribune.

Police reported that the 67-year-old Jewels Bus Company driver was arrested and charged following the Tuesday Sept. 15 incident. Authorities reported that the boy was supposed to be dropped off Tuesday morning at the Murray Language Academy in Hyde Park, but the driver detained him on the bus for several hours.

The boy was drooped off at his house about 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to a Chicago Public Schools spokeswoman.

Based on a statement the boy provided to investigators, he was taken by police for an examination by doctors at University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, according to the Sun-Times.

Chicago police and Chicago Public School officials had been investigating alleged "inappropriate behavior" by the driver, according to the Sun-Times.

The lawsuit was filed by attorney Rahsaan A. Gordon of Chicago.

Authorities are emphasizing the importance of save driving habits among teenagers as the school year begins in an effort to reduce Illinois car accidents involving teenagers, including drunk driving accidents and speeding.

Since its inception in 2007, Illinois' Operation Teen Safe Driving has been credited with reducing fatalities among teen motorists -- from 82 in the first six months of 2007, to 39 during the same period last year.

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for young people age 15 to 24, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Each year in the United States, more than 8,000 teens lose their lives in traffic crashes -- more than 400,000 are injured in traffic crashes.

Illinois' Operation Teen Safe Driving was created to combat the major reasons teens are killed or seriously injured in traffic crashes, including: lack of safety belt use, speed, distraction, impaired driving or lack of experience.

A new law that took effect Jan. 1, 2008, doubled the time young drivers must spend supervised before they can obtain an Illinois' driver's license.

“The improved graduated driver licensing law that resulted from the recommendations of the Teen Driver Safety Task Force makes Illinois' teen driver program one of the strongest in the nation and, more importantly, is saving lives,” said Secretary of State Jesse White. “I am encouraged that teen driving deaths have dropped by over 40 percent in the first full year of the law. This law, in conjunction with the Operation Teen Safe Driving initiative, is having the intended impact on teen driving safety."

Continue reading "Chicago parents urged to talk to teen drivers about how to avoid car accidents -- Operation Teen Safe Driving begins with school year" »

The Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes remind motorists that over 400,000 children head back to the city's 666 schools over the next month.

The Chicago Public School's first day of classes for most students is September 8th, and Track E students already started this week. Most of the suburban schools start in the coming weeks of August.

The start of the school year puts school buses back on the road, kids at bus stops and crosswalks, school zones where children are likely to be in the roadway and kids walking or bicycling to school.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announced last week a $13 million initiative to encourage more children to walk or ride their bikes to school. The federal Safe Routes to School program includes 171 funding projects, from sidewalk repair to equipment for police and crossing guards.

“With Illinois ranked fourth in the nation for childhood obesity rates, providing children with a safe and secure means of walking to school is an important tool to improve the health of our children," Quinn said.

The program is designed to:

Enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school

Make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation option

Facilitate projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of primary and middle schools

School Bus Safety

The Illinois State Police have issued a pamphlet for motorists regarding school bus safety.

"The majority of children injured or killed in pupil transportation are injured outside the bus," state police report. "Most are struck by motorists who fail to stop for the flashing red lights and extended stop arm."

Motorists who fail to stop for a school bus displaying red warning lights face a mandatory three-month license suspension for a first offense and a one-year mandatory suspension of subequent offenses.

School Zone Safety

A new law makes it illegal to use a cell phone in a school zone unless it is equipped with a hands-free device.

Back-to-School Safety

The federal government also offers back-to-school safety tips for parents, students and educators on topics ranging from playground safety to alcohol and drug abuse.

At least 16 people were hospitalized after a wooden footbridge collapsed at the conclusion of a fireworks celebration at Hidden Lake Park in Merrillville, about 45 minutes south of Chicago.

Media reports were unclear about whether it was a public park. But injured participants could have a premise liability claim against the park owner or the company that provided the fireworks display.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene, estimating that the roughly 90-foot-long bridge was full of people before it fell, according to the Associated Press as reported by Fox News.

While authorities have released few other details, it is possible that event organizers allowed far too many people onto the 90-foot wooden brindge, which collapsed about 10 p.m., just as the grand finale concluded, sending people plummeting into the water below.

A dive team was called in to pull people and items from the water and the investigation continued through the weekend. There were estimates that thousands had attended the annual fireworks display at the park in years past.

"They had to rescue quite a few people," Ross Township firefighter Perry Herzog said in a newspaper account.

Herzog said 16 people were transported to local hospitals for treatment. He said others might have been taken to hospitals by family members.

He did not know the nature of their injuries, and said there were no fatalities in the accident. About 50 emergency vehicles responded to the scene, along with helicopter and dive teams.

Robert Walker, of Merrillville, blamed the collapse on the number of people crossing the bridge.

"It was a mass of confusion," he said. "People were walking across the bridge when it collapsed. People were grasping and hanging onto the bridge itself."

Continue reading "Bridge collpase at fireworks show sends at least 16 to the hospital" »

The Chicago personal injury lawyers at the Abels & Annes wish you a safe and happy holiday weekend and we urge you to stay safe around fireworks displays this Fourth of July.

While some types of small fireworks are permitted in Illinois, it depends on the regulations in your village or municipality.

Fireworks are divided into two categories:

• consumer fireworks, which include such items as fountains, repeaters and parachutes.

• pyrotechnic displays, which use professional grade fireworks such as mortars, cake bundles, and ground displays that depict a picture.

It's important to note that several well-known types of fireworks, such as firecrackers, bottle rockets and Roman candles, are not allowed in Illinois under the new regulations, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Novelty fireworks, such as snakes, sparklers, and party-poppers, are not regulated by the state, although municipalities have the authority to enact an ordinance prohibiting the sale and use of sparklers on public property.

While legal, sparklers present a serious danger because of the high temperature of the wire during and after its use. Sparklers burn at temperatures of up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit and remain extremely hot long after the sparks have stopped.

Many children are injured each year by sparklers. Children playing with novelty fireworks must be closely supervised by adults to prevent injury.

Visit the OSFM website for information about Illinois fireworks' regulations.

In 2006, 11 people died and more than 9,000 were injured by fireworks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which offers more information about fireworks and fireworks safety. Fireworks can cause blindness, third-degree burns and permanent scarring and are a source of life-threatening residential and motor vehicle fires.

More than 100 people were injured by fireworks in Illinois last year, according to the Associated Press. The Chicago Fire Department reported 18 fireworks-related fires and four injuries.

Your best bet and safest route to seeing great fireworks this weekend is to go to a fireworks show put on by professionals. Even at a professional show, organizers have an obligation to keep burning debris are other material from falling into the crowd and causing injuries.

In Mount Vernon, the fire department is offering fireworks safety courses leading up to the Fourth of July.

“On fireworks safety, one of the biggest things we try to teach is that there is no safe firework out there,” MVFD Assistant Chief Kevin Sargent told the Register-News.

“Fireworks in the U.S. are regulated and the state of Illinois has decided to allow some fireworks. ... We try to teach people what fireworks are legal and illegal and the safety in handling and distance.”

Sargent, who also teaches the classes, said one of the biggest surprises he has noticed many people express during the training is the safety distances.

“Some fireworks project over 400 feet, and we need to keep spectators away that far so they aren’t injured or hit by debris from falling fireworks,” Sargent said. “... They need to be aware of the weather. Is it windy? The wind will change the direction of fireworks after it has left the shell or tube. Also, everybody thinks since it has rained and rained that a fire can’t start. But it is dry underneath the grass on top, and that can get hit and cause it to burn.”

The National Council on Fireworks Safety offers the following safety tips:

Use fireworks outdoors only.

Obey local laws. If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them.

Always have water handy. (A hose or bucket).

Only use fireworks as intended. Don't try to alter them or combine them.

Never relight a "dud" firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.

Use common sense. Spectators should keep a safe distance from the shooter and the shooter should wear safety glasses.

Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a "designated shooter."

Only persons over the age of 12 should be allowed to handle sparklers of any type.

Do not ever use homemade fireworks of illegal explosives: They can kill you! Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.

Continue reading "Chicago injury lawyers issue caution regarding fireworks " »

In Chicago, Illinois 6 people were hurt in a car accident on Sunday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Two of the injured were children. The auto accident occurred around 2 am in the 8200 block of South Chicago Avenue on the Southeast Side. The driver of an SUV lost control and crashed.

There were no other vehicles involved in the accident. Occupants of the SUV were pinned in and 5 ambulances were sent to the scene. The Chicago Police Department handled the crash investigation.

The children, ages 9 and 10 were taken by ambulance to University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital. The driver was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and a female passenger was taken to Jackson Park Hospital. Two others who were reportedly injured refused treatment.

In a single car accident, a passenger can make an injury claim against the driver's auto insurance policy. This type of accident is not uncommon and our law firm handles these cases often.

Also see "Four hurt in early-morning car accident" at chicagobreakingnews.com.

In Chicago, Illinois two women have filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Archdiocese of Chicago and a retired priest for sexual abuse that allegedly occurred over forty years ago, according to chicagobreakingnews.com. The case has been pending in mediation and their lawyer filed the lawsuit due to the fact that one of the victims is dying of cancer. The lawyer and victim advocates are calling for an expedited settlement.

The victims' lawyer, who is based out of Seattle, is stating that the Church has refused to settle. Yesterday he held a news conference across the street from Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.

The priest named as a defendant, Anthony Vader, was removed from his public duties in 2003 when the Church acknowledged his misconduct. The lawsuit alleges that one woman was molested from age 9 until age 14. The other claims abuse when she was under 13, and again when she was 17. The suit also alleges the archdiocese has treated African American victims differently than other races. The alleged abuse took place in the mid to late 1960s.

Click here to read the entire story.

In Chicago, Illinois, a two year old boy died Saturday afternoon after being hit by a car in an alley, according to the Chicago Tribune. The pedestrian accident took place in the block of 7200 South Sacramento Avenue around 4:45 p.m.

The child was taken by ambulance to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and was pronounced dead around 90 minutes after the accident.

The driver, a 40 year old Chicago woman, was ticketed by the Chicago Police Department for failing to keep a proper lookout for a pedestrian in the road. The exact facts as to how the accident occurred have not been reported.

The NHTSA reports that in 2007, children 14 and under accounted for seven percent of pedestrian fatalities in the United States (306 out of 4,654 deaths). Of those child fatalities, 187 (61%) were male children. Nearly 100 of the children killed were ages 1-3. Eighty percent of the child pedestrian deaths took place at at non-intersection locations. In the same year, around 70,000 pedestrians were injured nationwide, and 14,000 of those injured were children 14 and under.

Abogados de Accidente de trafico en Chicago de Abels & Annes, P.C., han alcanzado un arreglo para un joven monopatinador que fue golpeado en un paso de peaton por un vehículo que fallo de rendir el derecho de vía. El accidente sucedió el 17 de Abril de 2008 en 117 y la Avenida J en el sur de Chicago. El conductor tuvo un stop y no noto al peatón cuando élla salio. La Policía de Chicago cargó al acusado con fracaso para rendir.

Nuestro cliente sufrió dos dientes rotos, una nariz quebrada, contusiones faciales, y abrasiones al brazo a consecuencia del accidente. El fue llevado a St. Margaret’s Hospital en Hammond, Indiana, y él también trató con un dentista local. Nuestro cliente incurrió varios mil dólares en cuentas médicas.

El conductor del acusado en este caso sólo fue asegurado para $25,000. Reunimos exitosamente esa cantidad para nuestro cliente, y entonces nosotros seguimos un reclamo de automovilista bajo-asegurado contra el seguro de la madre de nuestro cliente. (Este tipo de reclamo es presentado cuando la póliza de seguro del acusado no es suficiente para cubrir la pérdida).

Pudimos reunir un adicional $30,000 para nuestro cliente en el reclamo bajo-asegurado, trayendo el arreglo total a $55,000.

Si usted es un peatón que ha sido golpeado por un coche, o si usted ha sido herido por un conductor sin seguro médico o bajo-asegurado, llame a Abels & Annes, P.C. para una consulta gratis.

Chicago Car Accident Lawyers at Abels & Annes have reached a settlement for a teen skateboarder who was hit in a crosswalk by a vehicle that failed to yield the right of way. The pedestrian accident happened on April 17, 2008 at 117th and Avenue J on the South Side of Chicago. The driver had a stop sign and failed to notice the plaintiff when she pulled out. The Chicago Police Department charged the defendant with failure to yield.

Our client suffered two broken teeth, a broken nose, facial contusions, and abrasions to his arm as a result of the accident. He was taken to St. Margaret's Hospital in Hammond, Indiana, and he also treated with a local dentist. Our client incurred several thousand dollars in medical bills.

The defendant driver in this case was only insured for $25,000. We successfully collected that amount for our teen client, and then we pursued an under-insured motorist claim against our client's mother's auto insurance policy. (This type of claim is presented when the defendant's insurance policy is not sufficient to cover the loss).

We were able to collect an additional $30,000 for our client on the under-insured claim, bringing the total settlement to $55,000.

If you are a pedestrian who has been hit by a car, or if you have been injured by an uninsured or under-insured driver, call Abels & Annes for a free consultation.

In Lostant, Illinois several students were injured Wednesday night when a chartered bus was involved in a motor vehicle accident with a truck, according to the Associated Press. The accident happened on an icy highway in northern central Illinois. At least 36 people were sent to hospitals.

The truck vs. bus accident happened on Interstate 39 when the tractor-trailer jackknifed in in front of a bus carrying students and the two vehicles impacted. The students were taken to three different area hospitals. Thirteen students were taken to St. Margaret's Hospital in Spring Valley and twenty-three students were taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru.

The bus was returning from Chicago and all the students were from Dunlap High School in Dunlap, Illinois. Dunlap is a small town located on Illinois 91 in Peoria County, Illinois, with a population of around 1,000.

The interstate was shut down until the vehicles were cleared from the road.

On the North Side of Chicago one child and two adults were injured in an auto accident on Tuesday night, according to CBS News. The crash happened at Western Ave. & Roscoe and the child was reportedly critically injured.

The minor was taken to Children's Memorial Hospital, and the adults were taken to Thorek Memorial Hospital and Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

The Chicago Police Department is investigating the accident, and what caused the accident has not yet been reported.

Click here to read the entire story.

In LaSalle County, Illinois it is being reported that there were no serious injuries to the 22 children or the 2 drivers involved in Tuesday's school bus vs. truck accident, according to the Daily Chronicle. The accident happened near the intersection of 42nd and Hoxey Roads in Northville Township. All parties involved were treated and released from area hospitals by yesterday afternoon.

The students on the bus were from Serena High School. They were taken to Valley West Community Hospital in Sandwich and Ottawa Regional Hospital & Healthcare Center in Ottawa.

The bus vs. truck accident is being investigated by the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Department. The driver of the truck has reportedly been ticketed with failure to yield at a stop/yield intersection.

Continue reading "LaSalle County, Illinois School Bus Accident Results In No Serious Injuries" »

CNN is reporting that a school bus has collided with a van in LaSalle County, Illinois. Video has been shown on the network of the bus on its side. They are reporting that 15 children were on board at the time of the school bus crash. No details have been reported of what caused the crash or the severity of the injuries.

Most of the students were taken to area hospitals in LaSalle and DeKalb Counties, according to CBS News. An emergency services box alarm was used after the accident that automatically sent fifteen ambulances to the crash site as a precaution.

In June of 2008, a 3 year old boy was crushed to death by an iron gate that fell on him at a Cabrini Green CHA property. It is now being reported by the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune that the Chicago Housing Authority and the property management firm of Urban Property Advisors were warned by the federal government of the danger 2 years before the boy was killed and took no action to correct the hazard.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development warned in three seperate inspections that the iron gates were dangerous. The gate in question is located at a Cabrini Rowhouse project in the 900 block of North Cambridge. The gate, which is reportedly 7 feet tall, fell on the child as he rode his tricycle.

Click here to read the entire story.

En Chicago, Illinois un chico de tres anos de edad fue golpeado fatalmente por un vehiculo la noche del sabado pasado cuando el entro corriendo a un callejon, según el Chicago Tribune y otras fuentes de noticias. El menor fue llevado a la Universidad de Chicago, Hospital de Niños Comer y fue pronunciado muerto un tiempo corto más tarde.

El accidente sucedió en el 11200 bloque de la Avenida O del sur en Chicago sobre las 10 de la noche. El conductor, un residente de Chicago, de dieciocho años de edad fue etiquetado por la Policía de Chicago con fracaso para reducir la velocidad para evitar un accidente y conducir sin el seguro. No ha sido informado a qué velocidad el vehículo viajaba en aquel momento de impacto. El conductor no fue detenido.

In Harvey, Illinois a fourteen year old girl was struck in a crosswalk last week at the intersection of 159th Street and Wood. She sustained leg and neck injuries. She was taken by ambulance to Ingalls Memorial Hospital, and she is now following up with a medical doctor in Chicago.

Witnesses at the scene are reporting the at fault driver did not realize she hit anyone, that she appeared to be intoxicated, and further that she failed a preliminary breath test that was administered at the scene by police officers. It is not yet known what tickets were issued to the driver for her role in the Chicago area car vs. pedestrian accident.

The parents of the injured teen have retained Abels & Annes, P.C. to pursue a personal injury claim against the at fault driver.

Continue reading "Chicago Area Teen Struck and Injured In Crosswalk By DUI Driver" »

In Chicago, Illinois a three year old boy was fatally hit by a vehicle this past Saturday night when he reportedly ran into an alley, according to the Chicago Tribune and other news sources. The minor was taken to the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital and was pronounced dead a short time later.

The accident happened in the 11200 block of South Avenue O in Chicago around 10 p.m. The driver, an eighteen year old Chicago resident was ticketed by the Chicago Police Department with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and driving without insurance. It has not been reported how fast the vehicle was traveling at the time of impact. The driver was not arrested.

Click here to read the entire story.

David Abels & Associates, P.C. is currently acting as co-counsel with the firm of Hilfman, Martin & Barr P.C. in a lawsuit against the Archdiosese of Chicago relating to the sexual misconduct of Father Daniel McCormack. Last week the Court heard the Plaintiff's Motion To File an Amended Complaint Seeking Punitive Damages against the defendants. This motion was argued by Bill Martin. The Honorable Jeffrey Lawrence denied the motion, but Judge Lawrence said that he would be willing to hear the motion again after the parties complete some discovery.

The Court focused on the information contained in the report of the Archdiocese's consultant, Defenbaugh, and specifically commented on 1999 reports from Sister Mary Therese Cusack to the Archdiocese relating to improper conduct by McCormack. The court indicated that the allegations in the plaintiff's motion may be sufficient to allow the plaintiff to pursue punitive damages, but that these allegations required additional legal evidence in the form of depositions or affidavits. Plaintiff's counsel intends to take the depositions of Archdiocesan personnel and to resubmit this motion to the court.

Daniel McCormack has plead guilty in criminal court to abusing five boys. He is serving a five year prison sentence.

Continue reading "In Dan McCormack Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Archdiosese, Judge Denies Punitive Damages Motion - Willing To Reconsider Issue After Further Discovery" »

In Chicago, Illinois a teenager riding a skateboard was hit in a crosswalk by a vehicle that failed to yield the right of way. The teen's parents have retained David Abels & Associates, P.C. to prosecute the claim.

The accident took place at 117th and Avenue J on the South Side on April 17th. Our client was on 117th crossing Ave. J in a crosswalk and he had no stop sign. The driver of the car was on Avenue J, had a stop sign, and did not see the plaintiff when she pulled out of the stop.

Our client sustained a fractured nose and two fractured teeth. He had to undergo an emergency root canal shortly after the accident and he is also being treated by a medical doctor for his broken nose. He was also treated in the emergency room at St. Margaret's Hospital in Hammond, Indiana.

The Chicago Police Department ticketed the driver with failure to yield. The defendant is insured by State Farm.

On Monday night an 8 year old child was hit and killed by an SUV on the South Side of Chicago just before 10 p.m., according to the Chicago Tribune and several other news outlets. The driver of the SUV, Theresa Alexander of Chicago, has now been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, negligent driving and driving without insurance. The SUV vs. pedestrian accident occurred in the 5600 block of Princeton Avenue in the Englewood neighborhood.

The boy, Tishaun Fields, reportedly was crossing the street when he was hit by a northbound Jeep Grand Cherokee. He was pronounced dead a short time later at the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital.

The Chicago pedestrian accident was initially thought to be a hit and run, but the driver returned to the scene shortly after the collision according to police. The Chicago Police Department's Major Accident Investigation Unit is handling the crash investigation. The driver is scheduled to appear in traffic court on May 15. There is no word yet if the charges will be upgraded to felonies.

On Monday night an 8 year old boy was struck and killed by an SUV on the South Side of Chicago just before 10 p.m., according to the Chicago Tribune and several other news outlets. The pedestrian accident happened in the 5600 block of Princeton Avenue in the Englewood neighborhood.

The child, Tishaun Fields, reportedly was crossing the street when he was hit by a northbound Jeep Grand Cherokee. He was pronounced dead a short time later at the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital.

The driver was reportedly in police custody as of early Tuesday, but no charges have yet been filed and no tickets have been issued. The Chicago Police Department Major Accident Investigation Unit is investigating the accident and they have stated she may face charges of drunken driving and striking a pedestrian in the roadway, according to NBC 5 News. The pedestrian accident was initially thought to be a hit and run, but the driver returned to the scene shortly after the collision according to police.

Chicago, Illinois motor vehicle accident lawyers from David Abels & Associates, P.C., working in conjuction with the firm of Elman & Elman, have reached a bodily injury settlement with Laidlaw Transit, Inc. as a result of a school bus accident that occurred on Bryn Mawr Ave. in Chicago, Illinois in May of 2005. Our clients are an adult and two minor passengers that were riding on a Laidlaw bus that was rear ended by another Laidlaw bus on the North Side.

Our clients were taken to local area hospitals in Chicago with soft tissue back and neck injuries. They also had follow up treatment with their own doctors as well. The case was resolved against the the bus company for a combined total of $46,000 after a lawsuit was filed and the case was proceeding through discovery in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Continue reading "Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys Reach School Bus Accident Settlement" »

In Henry County, Illinois a fatal single vehicle car crash has left 2 people dead, according to Galesburg.com. A 61 year old male lost control of his car on a slick road while driving north on Illinois 82 near Illinois 17 on Monday afternoon. He drove into a ditch and hit a tree. The driver and his 57 year old wife, who was a passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene. The couple's 10 year old grandson was also in the car and was not seriously injured. He was taken to OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, Illinois. The couple was reportedly headed to Geneseo, Illinois. The Henry County Sheriff's Department is investigating the deadly accident.

A Rockford, Illinois auto accident has resulted in the death of a 13 year old girl, and others were also injured, according to Rockford's NBC 13. The accident occurred in icey conditions on Sunday near the Rockford Chicago Airport around 11:30 on Eastbound Kishwaukee Road. A 20 year old woman lost control of her car and slid into a vehicle traveling the opposite direction. Her 13 year old sister was in her car and died at the scene.

A mother and daughter in the other car were seriously injured, but they are expected to be ok. They were taken to Swedish American Hospital. Police are saying that this weekend's weather played a factor in the accident.

From a personal injury lawyer perspective, the Estate of the 13 year old will have a claim against the sister. The fact that they were family members in no way bars wrongful death claims in the State of Illinois. The injured women in the other vehicle also have a claim against the driver that hit them. Bad & icey weather is also not a defense. A driver in Illinois has a duty to not drive too fast for road conditions.

Outside O'Fallon, Illinois last Friday an Illinois State Trooper lost control of his squad car and collided head on with another vehicle on Interstate 64. Two witnesses have stated that before the auto accident the police car was traveling at an excessive rate of speed without its siren on, according to the Belleville News Democrat. The motor vehicle accident killed two sisters, Jessica Uhl, 18, and Kelli Uhl, 13 of Collinsville, Illinois.

One witness stated the trooper passed by her before the accident traveling at more than 100 mph. A few seconds later the trooper crossed the median and slammed into a Mazda driven by Jessica Uhl. Illinois State Police Officials stated the officer was responding to another accident on Illinois 4 when he was cut off by another car and forced onto the grassy median.

Illinois State Police are still investigating the car crash and reviewing video taken from the State Police Car.