Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

The Chicago car accident lawyers and the personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Abels & Annes urge you to review your automobile insurance policy as we begin the New Year.

Having a solid auto insurance policy that includes more than the Illinois minimum coverage of $20,000 per person/$40,000 per occurrence, as well as uninsured motorist coverage, can help protect you and your family in the wake of a serious or fatal Illinois traffic accident.

The state's minimum coverage can be quickly exhausted by a serious accident and increased coverage is often available for just a few dollars more in premiums.

As a recent article published by MSNBC illustrates, a flight in a medical helicopter can cost $12,000 to $25,000.

In the event of a serious Chicago car accident, the last thing you want to worry about is whether you have adequate insurance coverage.

The MSNBC article reported on the case of a Pennsylvania women who was taken to the hospital by medical helicopter after a car crash and awoke in a hospital room six weeks later to find out she owed $500,000 in medical bills.

As we reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog in June, Abels & Annes partner Dave Abels told WUIS 91.9 that the state's mandatory minimum coverage of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per occurrence is not adequate in the wake of a serious car accident.

"It covers you for small accidents but not the big accidents that you really care about where your life is changed forever," Abels said.

The Association of Air Medical Services estimates that 550,000 people in the United States are flown by medical helicopters or planes each year for a medical emergency, including car accidents.

Hopefully, few of us will be among that number. But the reality is routine medical costs in the wake of a car accidents can quickly exhaust Illinois minimum car insurance coverage limits. An ambulance ride can cost $2,000, according to the American Ambulance Association.

And Chicago pedestrian accidents, Chicago bicycle accidents and Chicago motorcycle accidents also often lead to very serious injury and sky-high medical bills, which in many cases can be covered by an adequate car insurance policy.

The Air Medical Services reports car accidents are a primary cause of medical flights, noting that nationwide, severe car accidents cause 500,000 hospitalizations, more than 250,000 serious injuries and 42,000 deaths a year in the U.S

The MSNBC article quoted Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, a Harvard University researcher, as saying car accidents and the associated medical bills are a contributing factor in more than 60 percent of all U.S. bankruptcies.

Motorists should also review their policies to make sure they are properly covered in the event of an uninsured or underinsured Chicago car accident.

As reported in August on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, Illinois' tough new uninsured motorist law carries a penalty of up to a year and jail and a $2,500 fine for those who cause an Illinois car accident while driving without insurance.

But that won't help you or a family member pay medical bills in the wake of an accident. Ensuring your policy has adequate coverage in the wake of a Chicago uninsured motorist accident means your family will be protected by your own insurance policy in the event of a serious car accident, regardless of who was at fault.

Continue reading "Chicago injury lawyers urge review of car insurance policy at start of New Year" »

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A 29-year-old Aurora man died in a Thanksgiving holiday Chicago motorcycle accident.

The man was killed Saturday afternoon when his Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle collided with a Chevy crossover vehicle on Sullivan Road, The Beacon-News reported.

The 28-year-old Chicago driver was charged with failure to yield while exiting a private drive, Aurora police reported. He was turning east onto Sullivan Road from the entrance of the Hindu temple, according to authorities.

The motorcycle rider was apparently wearing a helmet that dislodged during the accident and appeared to have died on impact when his motorcycle collided with the crossover vehicle's front driver's side.

Police are investigating the speed of the motorcycle, The Beacon-News reported. The fatal accident closed Sullivan Road between Elmwood Drive and Randall Road for more than two hours.

Last year, 5,387 motorcycle riders were killed and more than 90,000 injured in motorcycle accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. More than two-thirds of the 2,562 vehicle-involved motorcycle fatalities occurred in such frontal crashes.

In Illinois last year, 133 riders were killed on motorcycles, compared to 445 in cars and 277 in light trucks.

A driver accused of causing a fatal Chicago area motorcycle accident while polishing her nails has been charged with reckless homicide.

The 48-year-old Morris woman faces up to five years in prison on a six-count indictment stemming from the May 2 death of Lake Zurich resident Anita Zaffke, according to a report in the Daily Herald.

Chicago authorities continue to combat an increasing number of motorcycle accidents, many of which are caused by distracted driving. Nationwide, deadly motorcycle accidents increased for the 11th straight year -- claiming 5,290 lives in 2008-- now accounting for 14 percent of all fatal traffic accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Last month, our Chicago motorcycle accident lawyers wrote on this blog about the 22 percent increase in Chicago motorcycle accidents during the past two years. There were 2,663 motorcycle accidents in the Chicago area last year, or more than a dozen a day during the five-month riding season.

This crash was part of a series of fatal Chicago motorcycle accidents we wrote about earlier this summer.

In this case, the woman is accused of painting her nails while driving 50 mph when she struck Zaffke's motorcycle at the intersection of Rand and Old McHenry roads near Lake Zurich, according to police.

While Zaffke's death prompted a debate about the dangers of distracted driving and its link to fatal Chicago traffic accidents, prosecutors in this case content the defendant's actions went beyond distracted driving, calling her "oblivious" to the safety of other motorists on the road, according to the Herald Tribune report.

The accused driver was initially charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, but the charge was dropped in favor of the more serious reckless homicide charge; the charges could not have been upgraded had she quickly pleaded to the lesser charges.

Bond for the defendant was set at $100,000 and her attorney said he was making arrangements for her to surrender to authorities.

Zaffke was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash but died shortly after being taken to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, according to the Lake County News-Sun.

The Lake County coroner ruled the cause of death was chest and abdominal injuries stemming from the accident.

A Schaumburg couple was killed on Labor Day when their motorcycle was hit by a car in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. The deadly motorcycle accident took place in unincorporated Cook County near Palatine, Illinois. The Chicago Sun-Times reported the husband was driving the motorcycle when it was struck by a vehicle exiting a gas station parking lot at Quentin and Dundee roads shortly before noon.

The 65-year-old husband was pronounced dead about 2:30 p.m. on Monday at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, according to the Chicago Tribune. His 54-year-old wife was pronounced dead about an hour later.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Department is handling the crash investigation. The driver of the car that collided with the motorcycle, a 61-year-old Palatine woman, was ticketed for failure to yield from a private driveway, according to the Daily Herald. Whether the charges will be increased due to the fatalities has not been reported.

Over the past two years there has been a 22 percent increase in Chicago-area motorcycle accidents. Last year, there were 2,663 motorcycle accidents in the Chicago area. That's a dozen motorcycle accidents a day during the 5-month riding season.

Too often Chicago motorcycle riders are hit and seriously injured or killed by a motorist that fails to yield. Earlier this summer, www.chicagopersonalinjurylawyerblog.com posted "10 Things Every Driver Should Know About Motorcycles."

Motorcycle accidents continue to rise in the seven-county Chicago area -- up 22 percent in just two years, according to the Sun-Times News Group.

That's more than 7 Chicago-area motorcycle accidents a day -- all year long -- or more than a dozen a day during the five-month riding season. Most motorcycle accidents result in personal injuries to the rider involved.

The Chicago motorcycle accident lawyers at Abels & Annes urge car drivers to remain vigilant about the dangers to motorcycle riders through the remainder of the summer riding season.

Inexperienced drivers who aren't used to seeing so many cycles on the road have helped push the number of motorcycle crashes in the seven-county region to 2,663 last year, a Chicago Sun-Times survey has found.

That's up 22 percent from 2,180 just two years earlier, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Kane, DuPage and Kendall counties are among the few counties that have not seen a steady increase in crashes. Motorcycles in Kane and DuPage counties went up between 2006 and 2007, then down in 2008.

As we reported in a blog last month, fatality statistics are sobering for motorcycle riders across the country.

Nationwide, motorcycle fatalities increased for the 11th straight year and accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A total of 5,290 riders were killed in 2008, compared to 5,174 in 2007. The increase came in a year when federal statistics revealed a steep drop in virtually every other category, including a 13 percent decline in motor vehicle fatalities.

Our summer blog on motorcycle safety can be found by clicking here

Click here to read our post on 10 things all drivers should know about motorcycles.

Continue reading "Chicago area motorcycle accidents continue to rise" »

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org.

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

Six people were injured in an accident on Sunday night involving a motorcycle and a car, Chicago Breaking News reported.

The Chicago traffic accident in the Humbolt Park neighborhood occurred at Mozart and Division Streets at about 11 p.m., Chicago Police spokesman David Banks told CBS2.

Media reports indicate four people were critically injured in the crash involving a motorcycle and a car.

Five ambulances responded and the four people in critical condition were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital and John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County while the other two were taken to Norwegian-American Hospital in stable condition.

No other information has yet been made available, but the location of the accident indicates it may have occurred at an intersection, possibly from someone failing to yield the right of way.

While any motorcycle accident is very serious for motorcycle riders, it is somewhat unusual for motor vehicle passengers to be critically injured in an accident with a motorcycle. It is possible that the car went off the road or struck another object after the colliding with the motorcycle.

Authorities have not reported who was at fault in the accident. It has also not been reported if Chicago car accident lawyers or motorcycle accident attorneys are involved in the case.

Injured passengers will have a claim regardless of which vehicle was at fault, while the rights of the drivers could differ depending on the facts of the accident.

Click here to read our recent motorcycle safety blog.

At least four Chicago-area motorcycle accident deaths in May have advocates looking at ways to punish distracted drivers and increase awareness to prevent motorcycle accidents as the summer riding season gets into full swing.

The Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have been active in promoting motorcycle safety awareness on this blog, publishing 10 things drivers should know about motorcycles, and a safe riding blog earlier this month.

Abels & Annes is also taking a look at distracted driving as part of its Summer Safe Driving Series.

"We are a nation of distracted drivers and it's costing us lives and property damage," Mami Pyke wrote in the Daily Herald on Sunday. "One local case that's provoked outrage is the death of motorcyclist Anita Zaffke of Lake Zurich, killed May 2 by another driver who was polishing her nails instead of watching the road, police say."

Pyke said Zaffke's death is giving weight to a call to give authorities additional means to punish distracted drivers in addition to charges like reckless homicide, which can be difficult to prove against distracted drivers.

Legislation sponsored by Rep. William Blake, R-Danville, would create a misdemeanor category of negligent vehicular homicide, which could result in up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine. Black pushed for the reform after a 25-year-old Urbana cyclist was killed by a driver who went off the road while downloading ring tones on her cell phone.

Illinois motorcycle accidents and fatalities continue to increase. From 4,119 in 2005 to 4,819 in 2007. There were 154 Illinois motorcycle deaths that year, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

"This is the ugliest start to riding season in Illinois that we ever have seen," Dean Akey, a veteran biker and owner of an Allstate Insurance business in St. Charles, told the Daily Herald.

Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable travelers on our roads. Please give them a break this summer. Pay attention while driving, return or motorcycle friends home safely to their families and give yourself a break from the grief and heartache hitting a motorcyclist can cause.

Continue reading "Increase in Chicago motorcycle accidents blamed on distracted drivers " »

The Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys at Abels & Annes urge motorists to review "10 things all car, truck and bus drivers should know about motorcycles" to increase awareness as we enter the summer riding season.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 5,154 motorcyclists were killed in the United States in 2007 and another 103,000 were injured. In fact, the number of fatalities has exploded with the increase in registered motorcycles over the last 10 years.

In 1997, 3.9 million motorcycles were registered and 2,116 fatalities were reported compared to the 5,154 deaths in 2007 when 7.1 million bikers were registered on our roadways.

"It's a fact that car drivers and other motorists are at fault most of the time in multiple-vehicle crashes that involve motorcyclists," said Motorcycle Safety President Tim Buche, of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. "That's why we've initiated several public outreach tools specifically targeting the driving community. MSF has life-saving messages for everyone, whether they are behind a handlebar or behind a steering wheel."

MSF has launched a new website, www.forcardrivers.com, aimed at helping car, truck and bus drivers safely interact with motorcyclists. One of the leading motorcycle safety advocacy groups in the nation, MSF's primary website also offers a wealth of information geared toward safe motorcycle riding.

10 things Car, Truck and Bus Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles:

1. Over half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle. Most of the time, the motorist, not the motorcyclist, is at fault. There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don't "recognize" a motorcycle – they ignore it (usually unintentionally).

2. Take an extra moment to look for motorcycles, whether you're changing lanes or turning at intersections. Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car's blind spots or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car.

3. A motorcycle may look farther away than it is. It may also be difficult to judge a motorcycle's speed. Predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.

4. Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance and predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.

5. Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.

6. Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus some riders (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle's signal is for real.

7. Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle's better characteristics, especially at slower speeds and with good road conditions, but don't expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.

8. Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle because it can't always stop "on a dime."

9. When a motorcycle is in motion, see more than the motorcycle - see the person under the helmet, who could be your friend, neighbor, or relative.

10. If a driver crashes into a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian and causes serious injury, the driver would likely never forgive himself/herself.

Continue reading "Chicago motorcycle accident lawyers advocate review of 10 things all car, truck and bus drivers should know about motorcycles" »

A 20-year-old Campton Hills woman was fitted with an alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet on Thursday after pictures of her partying with college students appeared on Facebook as she awaits trial on charges of reckless homicide and aggravated DUI stemming from a July 2007 South Elgin crash that killed a motorcyclist.

The car accident attorneys and personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes follow the impact of social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. Such evidence is increasingly relied upon by law enforcement and more and more attorneys are attempting to get it admitted into the courtroom.

The defendant had been ordered not to consume alcohol or be around people who were drinking. But South Elgin police found the photos of the accused, who attends college in Ohio, drinking with friends.

"It appears the defendant is having a grand old time drinking tequila," Judge Thomas Mueller was quoted as saying in the Chicago Tribune.

Assistant State's Attorney Steve Sims argued for the monitor, telling the court the defendant had previously violated her bail by failing to report by phone to the county court services department.

The defense attorney argued against the bracelet, saying it would hold his client up to scorn.

The judge cited with prosecutors, quoting the caption of one of the Facebook photos: "Erika passed out in bed. Ha. Ha."

The Tribune quoted Jennifer Grasz, a spokeswoman for careerbuilder.com, who said the defendant's situation shows the dangers of posting questionable material online.

"Once you post something online, it's online for an unlimited amount of time," Grasz said.

A Chicago woman died last Monday from injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash in Janesville, Wisconsin, according to the Gazette Xtra. The crash occurred last Saturday on a highway ramp connecting Interstate 90 & 39 to Highway 14 East.

The 42 year old woman was riding as a passenger on a motorcycle when the driver, also a Chicago resident, exited the interstate by mistake. When the driver braked and down shifted, he lost traction and the motorcycle hit the ground.

Both were taken by ambulance to an area hospital for medical treatment. The motorcycle driver was treated and released. Alcohol was not a factor in the accident. The Wisconsin State Police are handling the investigation.

In this type of case, the Estate of the passenger can make a claim against the motorcyclist and his liability insurance carrier. While the crash occurred in Wisconsin, it is likely that the lawsuit will be filed in Cook County, Illinois. Both people involved in the accident were from Chicago, and the personal injury lawyer that gets involved in the case will likely prefer to file suit here.

A Chicago motorcycle rider was killed this past Saturday on the South Side when he was hit by a minivan near the intersection of 95th Street and Forest Avenue, according to the Chicago Tribune. At approximately 6:45 p.m., the victim was traveling east on 95th Street when he was struck by a Dodge minivan coming from the opposite direction that failed to yield when turning left onto Forest Avenue.

The motorcyclist, Reginald "St. Nick" Coleman, 27, of the 400 block of West 95th Place, was rushed by ambulance to Advocate Christ Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at a short time later. The at fault driver and his passenger were not injured. The driver was ticketed by the Chicago Police Department for failing to yield the right of way.

Coleman was a local rap artist from the group White Chalk. His wife had just passed away in November from a heart attack. Coleman is survived by his three children, three sisters, and his mother.

According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, in 2007 there were about 600,000 licensed motorcyclists in Illinois. Furthermore, the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration found that in 2007 there were 142 motorcycle deaths in Illinois (and 2,116 riders killed across the United States).

Attorneys from our firm have handled and successfully resolved injury cases resulting from motorcycle accidents. If you are a motorcycle rider who has been injured in a collision, contact attorneys from Abels & Annes, P.C. for a free consultation.

In Evanston, Illinois part of Sheridan Road was closed today due to a traffic accident, according to the Evanston Review and the North By Northwestern. The crash happened around 10 a.m. between Foster and Chicago Ave. in the 1900 block of Sheridan. The road was closed for several hours for the Evanston Police Department investigation.

The accident involved a northbound motorcycle and a pick up truck. The severity of the motorcyclist's injuries, or the details of how the accident occurred, have not been reported. However, the motorcyclist has been hospitalized. Witnesses at the scene were very concerned, as the motorcycle rider did not move and remained on the ground during the five minutes it took for the ambulance to arrive.

Being involved in a motorcycle accident can be a very scary event. You are very vulnerable to serious injury, as it is essentially you and your body vs. a motor vehicle. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, between 2002 and 2007, motorcyclist deaths increased by 57% in the U.S. Further, a motorcyclist is 5.5 times more likely to be killed in an accident as compared to the occupants of an automobile.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact Abels & Annes for a free consultation.

In Chicago, Illinois a Monday night motorcycle accident resulted in the death of a Richton Park resident, according to the Southtown Star. The accident happened on the North Side of Chicago on Lake Shore Drive near Belmont Avenue and it involved a car and a motorcycle.

The accident backed up traffic for miles and northbound vehicles were diverted at Belmont for an hour. The Chicago Police Department's Major Accident Investigation Unit is handling the crash investigation. It has not been reported what caused the accident.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, motorcycle fatalities have greatly increased in the United States from 2,161, fatalities in 1996 to 4,810 fatalities in 2006. The NHTSA also states that there were 88,000 people injured in cycle accidents in 2006, as compared to only 55,000 in 1996.

It was not reported whether the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet in the Chicago accident on Monday. The NHTSA estimates that helmets saved 1,658 motorcycle riders' lives in 2006, and that 752 more lives may have been saved if helmets were used.

Chicago Bike Injury Attorneys from Abels & Annes, P.C. have resolved a car vs. motorcycle crash case that arises out of an accident that occurred on October 9, 2007. Our client was traveling southbound on Greenbay Road approaching Chatfield Road, in Winnetka, Illinois. The defendant was traveling eastbound on Chatfield approaching Greenbay. The defendant had a stop sign and our driver had the right-of-way.

The at fault driver proceeded to attempt to turn left onto northbound Greenbay Road without waiting for a safe interval. As a result if the defendant's negligence, our client was forced to lay his motorcycle down on the roadway to avoid a collision. The defendant was issued a traffic citation for failure to yield when making a left turn pursuant to 625 ILCS 5/11-902. A finding of guilt was entered in the traffic court on the offense.

The plaintiff sustained cuts and abrasions on his left ankle as well as over his back. Initial medical treatment was administered on scene by paramedics who cleaned his wounds. The client sought follow up treatment with a medical doctor and a plastic surgeon, as he sustained scars on his back and ankle from the accident.

The case was resolved without having to go to court and Progressive Insurance is paying on the claim.

A husband and wife riding on a motorcycle were killed, and two others were injured, in a chain reaction crash involving three vehicles in Macoupin County, Illinois, according to the Edwardsville Journal. The couple from Brighton, Illinois were westbound on a motorcycle on Illinois State Route 16 in Shipman, Illinois when a pick-up truck struck them on Monday afternoon.

The Central Illinois accident happened when a pick-up truck that was attempting to make a left hand turn was rear-ended by an eastbound SUV being driven by a teenager. The pick-up truck was knocked into the path of the westbound motorcycle and then the collision occurred. The motorcycle and the pick-up truck both reportedly burst into flames after the crash. The Shipman Fire Department responded to the accident and extinguished the fire.

The husband and wife on the motorcycle were pronounced dead at the scene. The other two drivers in the accident were taken to area hospitals and their injuries have not been reported. The Illinois State Police are investigating the accident and no tickets have yet been issued.

A Chicago police officer involved in a fatal motorcycle accident in June, 2007 has been charged with misdemeanor DUI, according to the Chicago Tribune. A passenger on his motorcycle was killed in the accident. The officer was off duty at the time of the crash and allegedly had a blood alcohol content of .24 (.08 is the legal limit in Illinois).

The motorcucle crash occured in the 4300 block of W. 87th Street in Chicago, Illinois when a eastbound Dodge Charger turned left into the westbound motorcycle. The driver of the Dodge was also charged with DUI.

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office reportedly just learned of the officer's high alcohol content this week, and the Chicago Police Department spokeperson could not say why the officer's alcohol results were not released for over 5 months. The spokesperson also said that it was the other vehicle who caused the accident.

From a personal injury lawyer's perspective, the family of the passenger that was killed will most likely file a lawsuit against both drivers in the accident. The driver of the Dodge does appear to be the most at fault party. He failed to yield to oncoming traffic while turning left (which is required by Illinois law) and he was also allegedly intoxicated.

The off duty police officer could also be partially to blame as well, as he had 3 times the legal limit of alcohol in his system at the time of the accident. While he had the right of way at the time of the accident, you cannot help but wonder if he could have avoided the collision if he had not been drinking. If the case is not settled, a Cook County Jury may have to ultimately decide who was at fault in the accident.

Click here to read entire story.