Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

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.

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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.

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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.