Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

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" »

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" »

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.

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" »

About 5,000 boaters are expected to request some type of on-the-water assistance this holiday weekend as the country braces for the busiest day of the year for recreational boaters, according to the Boat Owners Association of the United States.

The Chicago personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Abels & Annes urge boaters to follow the proper safety precautions so everyone on the water can have a safe holiday weekend.

Now through Labor Day is the height of boating season in the Chicago area and with it comes the chance for serious accidents. Two people died and a third went missing in separate boating accidents last weekend, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

A 15-foot fishing boat capsized on the Little Calumet River near East 127th Street and South Michigan Avenue. The Coast Guard found one boater dead and later suspended the search for a second boater believed to be missing.

Several hours later, two people fell off a sailboat in Dusable Harbor at 401 N. Lake Shore Drive, authorities said. Both were rescued but one of the boaters was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

In both cases, high winds were reported in the area.

This holiday weekend, Jack Manley of TowBoatU.S. Chicago advises boaters to keep an eye on fuel-hungry generators as well as battery charge levels, but alcohol and excessive speed after dark are safety issues.

Here are Five Lessons Learned about July 4th boating from the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety:

1. Plan Ahead: Ensure you have enough fuel; make sure all navigation lights and hand held spotlights are in working order. It's a good idea to check the engine and mechanicals, such as fan belts, battery connections, fuel filters and engine fluids ahead of time. Don't invite more guests aboard than your vessel can safely handle. Keep an ear to the weather forecast on VHF radio.

2. Avoid Alcohol: Combined with the effects of a hot sunny day, alcohol will leave an operator impaired when they can least afford it - navigating at night in heavy boating traffic. It's okay to party - just save it until after you've put the boat to bed and you're back at the dock, homeport or beach (dry land). The captain is also ultimately responsible for everyone's safety aboard.

3. Life Jackets: Ensure kids have the right sized life jacket, and it would be wise to have the crew wear life jackets on the way home after the show. For adults, inflatable life jackets will keep you safe without compromising comfort.

4. Navigation: Know where any security zones exist. Go slow, post extra lookouts, and don't make sudden course changes unless necessary. When departing an anchorage pay attention to other vessel's anchor lines and understand where they lie just below the water's surface. Never take a shortcut home after dark.

5. Chill: Don't let crowded harbors or long boat ramp lines get you down. Simply prepare for a wonderful evening of fireworks, knowing it will take you a while to get safely home. Having lots of patience and giving lots of courtesy will make it memorable.

Continue reading "Chicago boating accident lawyers caution holiday boaters" »

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 " »

On the South Side of Chicago a single car accident has resulted in a nine-year-old's head being thrown into a windshield, and the child's mother being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, according to ABC News. The mother, Cheryl Ranae Reynolds, hit a viaduct Saturday night near East 83rd and South Jeffery after she allegedly reached down to pick up a bottle alcohol she dropped on the floor.

The mother has been charged with aggravated DUI and not wearing a seat belt. The Chicago Police Department is handling the investigation. The extent of the child's injuries have not yet been reported.

While the mother caused the accident, that fact does not bar an injury claim by the minor child against her mother and mother's auto insurance carrier. If the mother had valid auto insurance, the child will be able to pursue a claim.

In a similar case, personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes currently represent a father who lost his two daughters in an auto accident. The girls were in their mother's minivan when she crossed the center line and struck another vehicle head on.

The fact that the mother's actions caused the accident does not bar the childrens' estates from recovering against the mother's estate and her insurance company. Car accident lawyers at our law firm expect to recover the insurance policy limits on behalf of the childrens' estates over the next several weeks.

Chicago personal injury lawyer Dave Abels was interviewed on WUIS 91.9 Wednesday about pending legislation that would criminalize driving without insurance and the need to increase Illinois' minimum mandatory coverage levels.

"The way the law stands right now it just doesn't provide real protection for people who are seriously injured in auto accidents," said Abels, of Abels & Annes, a Chicago law firm that handles car accidents, motorcycle accident and other personal injury claims. "It covers you for small accidents but not the big accidents that you really care about where your life is changed forever."

The station contacted Abels after he blogged about the law last month here at www.chicagopersonalinjurylawyerblog.com

Under current law, uninsured motorists face a fine of $500 to $1,000 and a license suspension for 3-6 months. The new law, which is awaiting signature by Gov. Pat Quinn, makes driving without insurance a misdemeanor criminal offense carry the threat of up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

The law is named after Michael Dean, who was killed in 2006 by an uninsured driver who faced only a fine.

Abels said the new law is a step in the right direction but the state still needs to address its low mandatory insurance limits of $20,000 per accident and $40,000 per occurrence.

During the interview, Abels acknowledged that increased mandatory protection would be an added cost for motorists, but said the costs would be minimal and worth the added protection.

Continue reading "Chicago personal injury lawyer interviewed on public radio about proposed Illinois insurance law, minimum coverage standards" »

An Illinois bus accident has claimed the lives of two young men after the double-decker open-air bus they were riding in passed beneath an overpass.

Justin Sleezer of Yorkville and Cameron Chana of Clarendon Hills were killed when their heads struck the Interstate Highway 57 overpass on Illinois Highway 16 in Mattoon. Fifty passengers, mostly students from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, were returning on the rented bus from a day of boating at Lake Shelbyville, about 200 miles South of Chicago.

Many on the bus were members of Sigma Pi fraternity, however a fraternity member told the Chicago Tribune the trip was not organized by the house.

Witnesses indicated the two young men killed were among the tallest in the group, although it is unclear whether they were standing or sitting on the top deck of the bus when it passed beneath the overpass. Passengers said the driver never told those on the upper deck to sit down or warned them of other safety precautions.

The bus driver took the victims to Lincoln Health Medical Center in Mattoon and they were later transported to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana where they were pronounced dead.

Mattoon Police Chief David Griffith said the investigation is ongoing and police are looking at whether any regulations were violated.

While it has not been reported if Illinois accident lawyers are involved in the case yet, the families of the victims have a strong wrongful death claim against the bus company.

A Naperville, Illinois couple has been seriously injured in a bizarre accident at a McDonald's in Eastern Arizona, according to the Daily Herald. A giant set of golden arches fell and crushed their SUV.

They were reportedly just sitting in the parking lot in a Chevy Trailblazer when high winds toppled the arches over. The winds were in excess of 55 m.p.h. The accident took place on Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. on the Navajo Nation reservation in Window Rock.

One occupant sustained a large laceration on his head. The other had to be freed from the vehicle by emergency personnel and had head, neck, back and arm injuries. They were taken to a local hospital by ambulance, however the female victim was later airlifted to a hospital in Phoenix, AZ and is reportedly in critical condition.

It has not been reported if the couple has retained a personal injury lawyer, but there is a good chance that they will. The couple has a strong premises liability case against McDonald's. Giant golden arches do not fall over in the wind unless someone was negligent.

In Chicago, Illinois as spring weather arrives, more and more bicycle riders are on the street. It is only the end of March and injury lawyers at Abels & Annes are working on their first bike vs. car accident case of the season.

A North Side resident was injured last weekend when he was struck by an opening car door. He was riding southbound on Southport Avenue just north of Addison Street in a marked and designated bicycle lane. As he was passing a parked car on the west side of the street, the driver swung the vehicle door open into the bike lane causing the plaintiff to flip over it and land on his back.

The bike rider immediately had severe shoulder and neck pain. An ambulance transported him to Thorek Hospital on Irving Park Road in Chicago. At the ER he was diagnosed with a separated shoulder.

As of today, the plaintiff is having shoulder pain and swelling, and neck pain. He is going for follow up treatment with a medical doctor in the Chicago area.

Last year in Chicago our law firm saw a dramatic increase in bike accident injuries (pedestrian accidents seem to be on the rise as well).

While the bicyclist in this case could not have avoided the accident, here are a few safety tips offered by the Illinois Secretary of State's Office:

1. Only one person should ride on a bike;

2. If riding with a group on the street, ride in single file and not next to each other;

3. Try to avoid riding at night;

4. Rid your bicycle as close as possible to the right hand side of the road;

5. Keep both hands on your handlebars;

6. Know the rules of the road, as bicycle riders have the same responsibilities on the road as motor vehicle drivers;

7. Always where a helmet; and

8. Make sure your bike is in good operating condition before riding.

If you have been injured in an Illinois bike crash, contact Abels & Annes to speak to an accident lawyer today at 312-924-7575.

A Chicago man has been charged with felony DUI and other moving violations stemming from a multiple vehicle ambulance crash that occurred on Tuesday in north suburban Evanston, according to chicagobreakingnews.com. The case involves a private ambulance being stolen from a nursing home in Chicago, and then erratically being driven north through Evanston until it ran a red light at Chicago Avenue and Dempster Street, causing a six vehicle accident.

The ambulance was reportedly parked unattended and taken from the Clark Manor Nursing Home, 7433 N. Clark Street. The defendant activated the emergency lights and drove off at a high rate of speed.

Charges against the defendant now include aggravated DUI, possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated battery of a police officer, resisting arrest, reckless driving, driving with no license, failing to reduce speed to avoid a collision, and running a red light.

As we reported Tuesday in the Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, at least two cars that were hit looked to be totaled and as many as eight people were injured. Several victims were taken to area hospitals for treatment. The accident also shut down the busy intersection for several hours.

In Chicago, Illinois a man died on Friday at a South Side recycling plant after he fell into a machine, according to chicagobreakingnews.com. Julio Flores-Garcia, 39, a Chicago resident, was killed in a paper-baling machine at 3301 W. 48th Place.

It is being reported that the autopsy is showing that the man died from multiple crushing injuries, and that the death was ruled an accident. Police were called Friday afternoon and were told that a man fell into a machined and died. The Chicago Police Department has detectives investigating the accident.

After a tragic accident like this one, it is likely that the family of the victim will retain a Chicago personal injury lawyer. That lawyer will investigate as to how the accident occurred and also whether there is a potential products liability case. The attorney is going to look into if there was something defective about the machine and if the accident could have been prevented.

It has not been reported if the victim was employed at the business. If he was, the family of Flores-Garcia will be able to collect under workers' compensation. If he was not employed at the plant, the attorney can investigate whether the company is liable for some type of negligence.

An auto accident in Chicago, Illinois has seriously injured four people early this morning, according to WBBM News. The crash involved two vehicles, one of which was a van that flipped over onto a crosswalk.

The Loop car crash occurred at Madison and Franklin at about 1:20 am. Five ambulances rushed to the accident that involved a Chevy Ventura and a Pontiac Sunfire. It is being reported that 4 people in the Pontiac were critically injured. Two were transported to Stroger Hospital of Cook County and two others went to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. A fifth person may have also been taken to an area hospital. Four occupants of the van refused medical treatment.

The cause of the crash and the nature of the injuries has not been reported. The Chicago Police Department is handling the investigation.

Luckily this accident occurred late at night, as the crosswalk at Madison and Franklin is extremely crowded with pedestrian traffic during daytime hours. Pedestrian fatalities could have occurred if this crash happened at the wrong time of the day.

If you have been injured in an Illinois auto accident, contact an injury lawyer at Abels & Annes to discuss your case.

On the South Side of Chicago four people were injured Wednesday night when a Chicago police car collided with another vehicle, according to the Southtown Star. The squad car was responding to an emergency call when it collided with a civilian vehicle around 7 pm in the 10900 block of South State Street.

The two officers and the two occupants of the other vehicle were all injured in the auto accident and taken to local hospitals by ambulance. It has not been reported how the accident occurred and the Calumet District of the Chicago Police Department is investigating.

When a civilian is injured in this type of situation, it is often not an easy case to pursue, even if the police officer was at fault in the accident. The police are protected by the governmental tort immunity act. When responding to an emergency call, the department is not liable for ordinary negligence but they can be held liable for willful and wanton conduct (which is a difficult burden to meet in Court).

Here is an example: If the police car hit another vehicle speeding through a red light while responding to an emergency call with emergency lights and siren activated, they would most likely not be held liable, as this sounds like ordinary negligence and not willful and wanton conduct. However, if in the same situation they did not have their emergency lights and/or siren activated and were traveling at a high rate of speed, an argument could be made in Court for willful and wanton, or reckless conduct.

As for Chicago police officers, if injured on the job they have the right to collect different types of union benefits (and they are not covered by ordinary workers' compensation laws). Further, if the civilian vehicle caused the accident, they have the right to pursue a civil claim against the at fault driver's insurance policy. (The civilian passenger would have a claim against the civilian driver as well).

If you have been injured in a Chicago area auto accident, contact Abels & Annes to speak with a lawyer now.

In southwest suburban Burbank, Illinois a 29 year old man was killed on Monday when he crashed his car into a house, according to News Radio 780 WBBM. The driver, a Colorado resident, hit the house in the area of 78th & Nagle. He was pronounced dead a short time later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

There was a passenger in the car that was also taken to Christ Hospital. He is reportedly in stable condition.

What caused the car to hit the house, or if anyone was injured inside the home, has not been reported. It has also not been reported if drugs or alcohol were a factor.

While it seems like a bizarre and rare case, motor vehicles hitting houses or other buildings is more common than you would think. Recently our law firm settled a case for a client who was home in bed when a car crashed through a bedroom wall and hit her. Her elderly neighbor had hit the gas instead of the brake and lost control.

We also represent a Chicago resident who stopped for some fast food in a downtown restaurant. While he was eating a driver lost control and drove into the restaurant, striking several patrons.

In the Burbank case, the passenger will be able to make a claim for damages against the driver's auto insurance policy. The fact that you are a passenger in the at fault party's car does not bar a claim.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, contact Abels & Annes for a free, no obligation 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A car accident in the Chicago area has resulted in the death of a 43 year old woman, according to the Southtown Star. The woman's husband was driving the vehicle at the time of the December 23, 2008 accident.

The car crash occurred when the driver lost control of a 1994 Pontiac Bonneville, spun the car, came to a stop perpendicular to traffic in the northbound lanes, and was then hit by a passing semi truck.

The Southtown Star is reporting that there are DUI charges pending against the husband, but no charges have yet been filed. The husband was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

The deadly auto accident is being investigated by the Illinois State Police.

In this accident, the estate of the wife will be able to make a claim against the husband's auto insurance policy for his negligence. While many people assume otherwise, this type of claim is not barred by Illinois law. Our law firm recently represented an Illinois family in a similar case.

It has not been reported if there is any liability on the part of the semi truck driver. The accident reconstruction done by the state police could possibly show that the truck driver was speeding, or that the accident was avoidable for some other reason.

If you or a loved on has been injured in an Illinois car crash or truck accident, call Abels & Annes for a free consultation.

Drivers across the nation are more and more often letting their auto insurance policies lapse due to the poor economy, according to the Wall Street Journal. Hundreds of thousands of drivers decided to go without it this year.

As a Chicago car accident and personal injury lawyer, I am seeing evidence first hand that the Journal article is correct. My law firm has seen a drastic increase in the number of uninsured motorist claims that we are handling for our clients.

What does this mean to you? It means that the chances have gone up that the next time you get hit by car, the driver that hit you may not have auto insurance to cover the loss.

How can you protect yourself? You need to make sure you have good auto insurance that includes significant uninsured and under-insured motorist coverage.

What is uninsured motorist coverage? Uninsured motorist coverage is insurance that kicks in when the other driver involved in an accident with you is at fault and they do not have insurance. At that point your insurance company will step in and pay on your personal injury claim. They essentially step into the shoes of the at fault driver.

What is under-insured motorist coverage? Under-insured motorist coverage protects you from someone that is driving with only the minimum insurance that is required by law (in Illinois the minimum is $20,000 per person / $40,000 per occurrence). In that case, your insurance company will step in and pay on the value of the claim that is above the other driver's insurance policy limits.

For example, you are injured in an auto accident. Your claim is worth $100,000, but the defendant only has $20,000 in coverage. Here, your injury lawyer would collect $20,000 from the defendant's insurance company, and then your lawyer could set up a claim against your own insurance company and collect the full $100,000 on the claim.

If you have been involved in an accident and the defendant is uninsured or under-insured, or if you have been the victim of a hit-and-run accident, feel free to contact Abels & Annes, P.C. for a free consultation.

Auto Accident Attorneys from Abels & Annes, P.C. have settled a case for a Chicago resident stemming from an August 2008 car crash. The plaintiff was driving southbound on Luna near its intersection with Bryn Mawr. When our client was most of the way through the intersection she saw the defendant's car traveling at a very fast rate of speed (over 50 mph) eastbound on Bryn Mawr. That is twice the speed limit in this residential neighborhood.

The front end of the defendant's vehicle hit the rear passenger side of the plaintiff's vehicle. The force of the impact was so great that it caused our client's Jeep Cherokee to flip over on its side and skid on its side across the roadway. The driver’s side window was open and her arm got caught between the door and the street and was dragged along the pavement as the vehicle slid. After her car came to a rest the defendant exited his vehicle and fled the scene of the collision on foot.

The defendant was negligent, in that he failed to keep a proper lookout, was driving at an excessive rate of speed, and failed to exercise due care for the safety of those in the area.

Immediately after the collision our client had severe arm pain and back pain. Her arm was bleeding profusely and obviously injured.

The plaintiff was taken by ambulance from the scene of the collision to Resurrection Medical Center’s Emergency Department. A history was taken, she was examined and diagnostic testing was performed. She complained of excruciating left arm pain and back pain. She had significant abrasions to her left arm. X-rays identified numerous foreign bodies in her wrist and forearm, specifically in the ulnar aspect of the wrist and the radial aspect of the forearm, which were required to be extracted before the wound could be cleaned and dressed. She was prescribed pain medication and at the time of discharge instructed to seek follow up medical care.

Continue reading "Car Accident Case Settles For Policy Limits -- Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer" »

In Eilat, Israel, at least twenty six Russians were killed on Tuesday when a bus crashed down a steep ravine, according to several news outlets, including the Associated Press. There were 60 passengers on the bus who had all just arrived from St. Petersburg, Russia.

The bus reportedly crashed when it passed by another bus at a high rate of speed in a no passing zone, lost control, broke through a guard rail and rolled down a steep hill. Many passengers were thrown from the bus as it rolled.

24 people were reportedly died at the scene, and 2 more past away later at Eilat's hospital. Several more are at the hospital in critical condition. Forty ambulances and six Israeli military helicopters rushed to the accident site.

This traffic accident is the most deadly in the history of Israel. Before this crash, only 406 people had had lost their lives in traffic accidents in all of Israel this year.

In West Suburban Lisle, Illinois a pedestrian was hit and severely injured as he crossed Ogden Avenue at Center Avenue on November 6, 2008. He was crossing to get to the First Congregational Church parking lot that is used for Metra train parking. The accident happened in the early evening at a location that is marked with warning signs for pedestrian crossing. The victim was a commuter on his way home from work.

The pedestrian suffered severe injuries, including a broken left arm, multiple pelvic fractures, right eye injuries, a fractured skull, internal bleeding and multiple lacerations. He had to undergo multiple surgeries and was in intensive care for over a week before being transferred to long term care & rehab.

One witness stayed at the scene until Lisle police officers responded, but there may have been others. If you were a witness to this accident, or if you know of a witness, please call (312) 924-7575 or email accidentwitness@yahoo.com.

Click here to view a map of the accident area.

A driver and a passenger from Chicago were injured last Wednesday in a car accident when they were hit from behind by another vehicle. The car crash happened on the South Side at 95th and State Street. They were stopped at a red light when a car insured by State Farm slammed into the rear of their vehicle.

The driver was treated at University of Chicago Hospital Emergency Room for low back injuries. The passenger, a student at Chicago State University, was treated for back and neck injuries at Holy Cross Hospital. The accident happened on the way to campus for class.

Both the driver and the passenger are still experiencing significant back and neck pain several days after the accident, and they are both following up with Chicago area orthopaedic doctors for further treatment.

The Chicago Police Department handled the accident investigation. While there is no explanation as to why the at fault driver failed to stop for the light, there is no indication that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the accident.

Most of the time injuries like the kind described above end up being soft tissue in nature, and they resolve over time with conservative therapy. However, sometimes the injuries can be more serious.

For example, a couple weeks ago our law firm started a new case where our client was rear-ended at a red light and he was having was he described as moderate neck pain. Over the next 10 days his pain increased dramatically. He has since had an MRI, he has been diagnosed with a herniated cervical disc, and he will have to undergo surgery. He is going to have a disc fusion in his cervical spine over the coming month.

In Chicago, Illinois a CTA bus crash has injured several people this morning, according to chicagobreakingnews.com. The accident involved a bus and two vehicles and over 20 people were injured. The collision took place on the Near West Side near Roosevelt Road and Blue Island Avenue.

One person is in critical condition. More than 12 ambulances were on stand by.

According to a Chicago Transit Authority representative, a bus was stopped at an intersection when it was hit from the rear by another vehicle.

From an injury lawyers view, the passengers on the bus can make an injury claim against the driver that hit the bus. However, an insurance problem could develop because there were so many injured passengers. The question is whether the driver has a big enough insurance policy to cover the accident. If there is not enough coverage, the passengers can look to make uninsured or underinsured motorist claims against their own auto polices.

Insurance coverage issues can get complicated fast in this type of accident. Passengers should contact a Chicago Area injury lawyer for help in handling their claims.

Chicago Auto Accident Attorneys from Abels & Annes, P.C. have resolved a DuPage County injury claim for a Bellwood resident. On April 8, 2008 our client was injured when her vehicle was rear-ended by the defendant. Shortly after the accident the plaintiff developed back, neck, shoulder, pelvic, and right hand pain.

On 4/11/08 she sought treatment with a chiropractic physician in Lombard, Illinois. He noted muscle spasms and tenderness at the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar levels on our client's first visit. She underwent a course of physical therapy. She went for treatment on nine occasions over the next month. The treatment consisted of electrical stimulation, hot/cold packs, neuromuscular re-education, and chiropractic manipulation therapy.

The case was settled without having to file a lawsuit. Hertz Claim Management paid on the claim.

Chicago Car Accident Attorneys from Abels & Annes, P.C. have settled an injury claim for a Bellwood, Illinois resident. On April 8, 2008 our client was injured when her vehicle was hit from behind by another car. The accident took place on Interstate 290 just south of York Road in DuPage County, Illinois

Shortly after the accident the plaintiff developed back, neck, shoulder, pelvic, and right hand pain. On 4/11/08 she sought treatment with a chiropractic physician in Lombard, Illinois. The doctor noted muscle spasms and tenderness at the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar levels on her first visit. My client underwent a course of physical therapy. She went for treatment on nine occasions over the next month. The treatment consisted of electrical stimulation, hot/cold packs, neuromuscular re-education, and chiropractic manipulation therapy.

The case settled without having to file a lawsuit. Hertz Rental Car is paying on the claim.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Lawyers Settle DuPage County Auto Accident Claim" »

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.

A Chicago resident was killed and her passenger was badly injured in an auto accident near Kankakee, Illinois on Monday, according to WBBM News Radio. She reportedly lost control of her car after being distracted by a cell phone call.

The Chicago motorist was driving her 2000 Saturn northbound on Interstate 57 when she was distracted by her cell phone, lost control of her car, crossed the center median, and was struck by a southbound semi truck and another passing car.

The driver, age 20, was pronounced dead at the scene and her passenger, age 21, was taken to Riverside Healthcare in Kankakee. The southbound drivers were not injured. The Illinois State Police are handling the investigation.

Click here to read the entire story.

In Elgin, Illinois a driver and his passenger were injured on Sunday when the driver of the car hit a utility pole, according to the Courier News. Both men were taken to Sherman Hospital in Elgin, Illinois. The accident happened on West Chicago Street near Liberty Street. One of the men was seriously injured.

The utility pole was seriously damaged and Elgin police closed off the intersection to investigate and re-construct the accident. Com Ed is also investigating and will be replacing the pole.

As far as an injury case is concerned, the passenger has the right to bring an injury claim against the driver that lost control and hit the pole.

Click here to read the entire story.

Accident attorneys from Abels & Annes, P.C. have reached a settlement from a claim that arose out of an automobile collision which took place on October 21, 2006. Our client was driving eastbound on Route 60, stopped in traffic at it’s intersection with Peterson Road in Round Lake Park, Illinois. At that time the defendant rear-ended the plaintiff. The impact was hard enough to push our client's car into a vehicle in front of her.

At the time of collision, our client struck her head on the seat cushion behind her. Following the collision she had head pain, and she believes she had a loss of consciousness. That evening she seemed confused and disoriented. She also had neck pain.

The following day she went to the ER at Good Shepard Hospital. There she complained of a severe headache and left sided neck pain. A CT scan was taken, which was negative. She was diagnosed with a closed head injury and a check wall contusion. She was also instructed to follow up with a doctor.

Our client did not follow up with a doctor, however over the next 2-3 weeks her headaches remained, and her neck pain lasted several weeks as well.

Even though she did not seek follow up treatment, we were able to obtain a good car accident settlement for her. After attorney's fees and costs are paid, she will receive several thousand dollars for her injuries.

The case was settled without having to file a lawsuit.

Friday afternoon on the Northwest Side of Chicago three people were injured when a police car collided with another car, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. One of the injured may have been a police officer.

The auto accident happened at Pulaski and Fullerton just after 2 p.m. Two people were taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center with serious injuries and one person was taken to Resurrection Medical Center. The cause of the crash has not been reported.

Click here to read the entire story.

In West Chicago, Illinois one person was killed and four others were injured in a car crash Thursday afternoon, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, Inc. The accident happened in the 1200 block of West North Avenue near it's intersection with Conte Parkway. The person who died was reportedly ejected from a vehicle.

The crash involved four vehicles and the injured parties were taken to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Illinois. Three of the injured only had minor injuries, and one person suffered more severe injuries.

North Avenue was closed for several hours due to the accident. The West Chicago Police Department is investigating the collision. The cause of the accident has not been reported.

Click here to read the entire story.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Marmol has been injured in car accident in the Dominican Republic, according to The Associated Press and ESPN. He reportedly suffered minor injuries in the crash. A truck hit a car that Marmol was riding in as a passenger. The air bag deployed and he sustained a cut that required seven stitches and a forehead contusion.

Marmol had just arrived in Santo Domingo after the Cubs were swept in LA. The car crash happened at around 2 a.m. on Tuesday.

Click here to read the entire story.

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

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

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

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

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

Click here to read the entire story.

In Chicago, Illinois a woman lost control of her car, drove over a curb, and stuck and killed her sister who was standing on a nearby sidewalk, according to NBC news. The accident happened late Thursday night just after she started her car and tried to shift gears without removing a Club theft deterring device from the steering wheel, causing her to lose control of the vehicle.

The deadly collision happened in the 5400 block of West Ferdinand in front of the victim's home. The woman was pinned and dragged over 15 feet.

She was taken by ambulance to Stroger Hospital and pronounced dead a short time later. An autopsy is scheduled.

Click here to read entire story.

On May 15, 2008 on Interstate 290 in Cook County, a client of Abels & Annes, P.C. was injured when a semi truck struck the rear of her vehicle. Our client was traveling westbound on Interstate 290 in the left center lane just north of Illinois 72. The semi was traveling on the same road directly behind my client.

The plaintiff client slowed for traffic in front of her, and as she was about to come to a complete stop the truck, struck her from behind at a high rate of speed. The impact was strong enough to knock my client into the car that was in front of her. Her car was totaled. The truck driver received tickets from the investigating Illinois State Trooper for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident and for following too close.

Our client suffered several injuries. She sustained cervical and lumbar strain/sprain, a concussion, chest pain, and severe headaches. Initial medical treatment was sought later the same day at Christ Medical Center. There she had complaints of neck and shoulder pain, chest pain, and left sided headaches.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Lawyers Reach Semi Truck vs. Car Crash Settlement" »

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

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

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

In Chicago, Illinois nine people were injured yesterday when two cars collided and then they both hit a Chicago Transit Authority Bus, according to the Chicago Tribune. The accident happened on the South Side at the intersection of 63rd and Artesian.

Chicago Fire Department officials stated that eight of the injured were taken by ambulance to local hospitals. The driver of the CTA bus was one of the persons injured.

It has not been reported which of the car drivers caused the accident. Once the Chicago Police Department determines who was at fault, the passengers on the bus will be able to pursue an injury claim against that person's insurance company.

The driver of the CTA bus actually has two cases. There is the case against the at fault party, and there is also a workers' compensation case, as the driver was injured on the job.

A woman from the South Side of Chicago was stuck and killed early this morning after being hit by a car, according to the Chicago Tribune. The pedestrian vs. car accident happened just after 2 a.m. at Stoney Island and 93rd Street. The victim was Jessica Newton, age 46, a resident of the 10000 block of South Rhodes.

Newton was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn after the accident. She was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

The Chicago Police Department is investigating the accident and no further details are available yet.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Chicago Area auto accident lawyers from Abels & Annes, P.C. have reached a settlement related to a March 25, 2008 crash that occurred in Oak Park, Illinois. Our client was southbound on Austin Blvd., just south of Austin’s intersection with Madison St. when another driver attempted to make a left turn into driveway without checking for southbound traffic or waiting for southbound traffic to clear. The defendant hit our client as he made the left turn. The at fault driver was ticketed for failing to yield the right-of-way to an oncoming vehicle when he made his left turn, in violation of 625 ILCS 5/11-902.

The plaintiff, a Chicago resident, sustained injuries to his neck, back, shoulders, head and leg. He was seen in the Emergency Room at Rush Oak Park Hospital on the date of the accident. He later sought follow up treatment with a neurologist and a chiropractic physician in Chicago.

The Oak Park car accident case settled for $13,000. AAA insurance is paying on the claim.

In Chicago personal injury attorneys from Abels & Annes, P.C.have reached a premises liability settlement with a Calumet Park, Illinois grocery store stemming from a August, 2007 trip and fall injury. The plaintiff was walking down a grocery store aisle when her foot got caught in a rope protruding from an onion bag that was left on the floor by a stock person employed by the store.

Our client fell hard, sustaining neck injuries and fracturing her front tooth. She went to the emergency room at Ingalls Urgent Care, and she later had follow up treatment with a dentist in Olympia Fields and a chiropractor in Park Forest, Illinois. The case settled without having to file a lawsuit, and Travelers Insurance is paying on the claim.

Continue reading "Chicago, Illinois Injury Lawyers Reach Premises Liability Settlement With Local Store" »

In DuPage County a multi-car accident has left one Chicago Area woman injured. The car crash happened this past Wednesday on Butterfield Road in Oak Brook, Illinois. A driver traveling too fast for conditions rear-ended another car at a high rate of speed, causing a chain reaction accident involving three other vehicles. The first car hit from behind was not drivable and had to be towed from the scene.

The driver of the first car struck sustained neck injuries. She is being treated by a doctor in Chicago.

The driver injured in the Chicago Area car wreck has retained Abels & Annes, P.C. to represent her against the at fault driver that hit her from behind.

Click here to read more about neck injury cases.

In Chicago, Illinois bicycle accident attorneys from Abels & Annes, P.C. have reached an insurance policy limits settlement for a local resident stemming from a March 2008 crash. Our client was riding to work southbound on Halsted Street near Division in a bicycle lane. He was hit by a car that was turning left / westbound. That is the last thing our client remembers until he woke up at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

The plaintiff sustained brain hemorrhaging and a sinus fracture as a result of the Chicago bike vs. car accident. He was inpatient at the hospital for several days. The defendant's insurance company tendered their policy limits of $20,000 and our firm is pursuing an under-insured motorist claim against our client's own insurance carrier for an additional $80,000.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Lawyers Reach Insurance Policy Limits Bike Accident Settlement" »

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

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

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

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

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

In Chicago, Illinois, a CTA employee is lucky to be alive after being electrocuted while working as a flagger on the elevated tracks near the Belmont platform. Kathy Cardenas, age 32, was electrocuted on July 24, 2008, after she made contact with the 3rd rail. Her left hand and arm, and her back side were badly burned. She was rushed to Illinois Masonic Medical Center for medical attention where she was hospitalized and underwent skin grafts.

Ms. Cardenas has retained Chicago accident lawyers from Abels & Annes, P.C. and Katz, Friedman, Eagle, Eisenstein, Johnson & Bareck, P.C. to jointly represent her in a workers' compensation claim against the Chicago Transit Authority.

Chicago Injury Lawyers from Abels & Annes, P.C. have reached a settlement for a client stemming from a February, 2008 car accident that occurred on Interstate 294. It was snowing at the time of the accident and our client had lost control of her car and spun out onto the shoulder of the highway. As she was waiting for help to arrive, there was a second car crash and one of the vehicles in the second crash rear ended the plaintiff. The accident occurred in the Southbound lanes somewhere between 95th and 127th Streets.

Our client was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois for abdominal and neck pain. She had no follow up treatment after the initial ER visit. The case settled for just over $20,000. Farmers Insurance paid on the claim.

In Chicago, Illinois four people were injured on Sunday when a car drove into a Starbucks Coffee Shop, according to the Chicago Tribune and several other news sources. The car vs. pedestrian accident happened in the 6000 block of Lincoln Avenue on the far North Side.

Reportedly, the driver of a blue Lexus who was turning into Starbucks lost control, jumped a curb, hit a stop sign, hit a tree, and then smashed through a glass window hitting customers inside the coffee shop.

There was no evidence that the driver, a 56 year old Chicago woman, was intoxicated. The Chicago Police Department issued her a ticket for negligent driving.

The driver and her passenger, and one injured customer were taken to Swedish Covenant Hospital on the North Side. Another person injured in the coffee shop was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston.

The Steve Dahl Radio Show, 104.3 Jack FM, reported that customers who went to the coffee shop the rest of the day were given free drink coupons to take to other Starbucks locations.

Click here to read the entire story.

In Chicago, Illinois car crash attorneys from Abels & Annes, P.C. have reached a settlement for a South Side resident. She was a passenger in a car that was rear ended at the 79th Street entrance ramp to Interstate 94 in Chicago. The car she was riding in and the vehicle behind her slowed for traffic, and the third vehicle in line struck the 2nd vehicle, who in turn hit our client's car.

She was taken by ambulance to Saint Bernard Hospital in Chicago, Illinois for neck and back injuries. She also followed up with a medical doctor and a physical therapist for her injuries. The car accident case settled for $30,000. AAA Insurance is paying on the claim.

A car crash on the West Side of Chicago has injured eight people, including four children, early Sunday morning, according to the Chicago Tribune. One person was reportedly in critical condition and taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital. The other injured were taken to Norwegian Hospital and Loretto Hospital in Chicago, and West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park.

The auto accident is still being investigated by the Chicago Police Department, and it has not yet been reported what caused the collision.

Click here to read the entire story.

DuPage County, Illinois car accident lawyers from Abels & Annes, P.C. have reached a bodily injury settlement with Geico Insurance as a result of an auto accident that occurred on Ogden Road in Naperville, Illinois in January of 2008. Our client was traveling westbound and was hit by a car that failed to yield while pulling out of a parking lot.

Our client was taken to Edwards Hospital in Naperville with back and neck injuries. He also had follow up treatment with an orthopaedic physician and chiropractor in Chicago. The DuPage County accident case was resolved without having to file a lawsuit against the the at fault driver.

Continue reading "Chicago Auto Accident Lawyers Reach DuPage County Settlement" »

Chicago, Illinois car crash lawyers from Abels & Annes, P.C. have reached a bodily injury settlement with 1st Acceptance Insurance as a result of an auto accident that occurred on Central Avenue at 19th Street in Cicero, Illinois in January of 2008. Our client was traveling southbound on Central when the defendant failed to yield when coming out of a stop sign for northbound traffic on 19th Street.

Our client was taken to MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn with back injuries. She also had follow up treatment with a Chiropractor in Chicago. The Cook County accident case was resolved without having to file a lawsuit against the the at fault driver.

Continue reading "Settlement Reached By Chicago Injury Auto Accident Lawyers" »

On January 3, 2008 in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago a client of Abels & Annes, P.C. was injured when a semi truck lost control and rolled over shortly after it entered the Southbound lanes of the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) at LaGrange Road. The plaintiff was driving in the far left lane and her vehicle was struck by a Ford Taurus that had been forced into her lane by the semi truck. The truck driver reportedly was not sure was caused him to lose control of the vehicle, but thought that he may have hit a patch of black ice. The Cook County truck crash blocked all South lanes of the highway.

Our client was taken to Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital by ambulance for back and neck injuries. She also had follow up treatment with a chiropractor in Chicago.

The truck driver was insured by Indiana Insurance. The injury case settled for $13,300.

In west suburban Downers Grove, Illinois several passengers were injured yesterday when a PACE bus was rear ended by a school bus. The accident took place at the intersection of 63rd and Woodward. The Pace bus was stopped at a red light for southbound Woodward traffic when the school bus failed to stop and hit the PACE bus. Over ten passengers on the PACE bus were injured and taken to area hospitals such as Hinsdale Hospital, Edwards Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital by ambulance.

David Abels & Associates, P.C. has agreed to represent one of the injured PACE bus passengers in a claim against the school bus company. Our client was taken to Hinsdale Hospital with back and neck injuries. She is still complaining of severe pain and plans on seeking follow up treatment with a physician in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

In Chicago, Illinois it is now being reported that twenty-four people were injured today when a Chicago Transit Authority train derailed, this according to NBC News and several other news sources. The accident involved a Green Line train at a junction on the elevated tracks located at 319 E. Garfield Ave. on the South Side. At least two train cars reportedly derailed.

Train service was temporarily suspended in the area of the accident and shuttle buses are being used to transport passengers. The injured were taken to area hospitals for treatment with non-life-threatening injuries.

Click here for crash photo and full story.

In Chicago, Illinois ten people were injured today when a Chicago Transit Authority train derailed, according to WQAD.COM. The accident involved a Green Line train at a junction on the elevated tracks. At least two train cars reportedly derailed.

Train service is temporarily suspended in the area of the accident and shuttle buses are being used to transport passengers. The ten injured were taken to area hospitals for treatment.

Click here to read entire story.

Illinois Auto Accident Attorneys from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached an uninsured motorist claim settlement with Erie Insurance for a client who was injured in August, 2007. The accident took place at Grand Avenue and Dileys Road in Waukegan, Illinois. The plaintiff was stopped at a red light for Eastbound traffic on Grand when the defendant hit her on the passenger side.

The defendant fled the scene after the impact, but then pulled into a nearby gas station. Our client followed the driver to the gas station where there happened to be a Lake County Sheriff's Deputy. The plaintiff approached the Deputy, and when the defendant observed this he fled the gas station at a high rate of speed. The Sheriff's Deputy jumped into his squad car, chased the defendant and caught him. The defendant was ticketed with no insurance and several other moving violations.

Our client sustained back, neck and shoulder injuries. She was treated that day at Midwestern Regional Medical Center in Zion, Illinois. She later had follow up treatment with a chiropractor in Riverwoods, Illinois.

Because the at fault had no insurance, we pursued an uninsured motorist claim against the plaintiff's own auto insurance carrier. The Lake County accident case settled for $15,000.

Chicago, Illinois car crash lawyers from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a bodily injury settlement with Northland Insurance Companies as a result of a car vs. truck accident that occurred at 120th and Halsted in Chicago, Illinois in February of 2007. Our client was southbound on Halsted when a commercial truck headed northbound lost control and hit the plaintiff.

Our client was taken by ambulance to St. Francis Hospital in Blue Island, Illinois with back and neck pain, muscle spasms and headaches. He later had follow up treatment with a chiropractic physician in Chicago. The truck accident case was settled without filing a lawsuit against the the at fault truck driver.

Continue reading "Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys Reach Truck Crash Settlement" »

On Tuesday morning around 9 a.m. five people were injured in a car vs. SUV accident in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood, according to the Chicago Tribune. The accident occurred at the intersection of Marquette Road and Loomis Blvd. when a Chrysler ran a red light and hit an eastbound SUV. The sport utility vehicle then hit another car.

Three people in the SUV were injured and they were taken by ambulance to Little Company of Mary Hospital and St. Bernard Hospital in Chicago. A passenger in the Chrysler and the driver of the third car involved were also hurt and taken to Holy Cross Hospital.

The driver of the Chrysler that ran the red light was not hurt, but she was ticketed for running the light. The Chicago Police Department investigated the auto accident.

Click here to read the entire story.

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

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

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

Click here to read entire story.

A multi-vehicle car accident on the West Side of Chicago has hurt three people, according to the Chicago Tribune. One of the injured was critical. The car crash occurred around 2100 West Adams Street in Chicago early Friday morning. As many as five cars were involved in the collision.

The person in critical condition was taken to Stroger Hospital and the two other injured were taken to area hospitals. The Chicago Police Department is investigating the accident, and the cause of the wreck has not yet been reported.

Click here to read entire story.

Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a settlement on a UM claim for a client stemming from a 2006 auto accident that took place on the South Side at 79th and Lowe. Our client was eastbound on 79th Street when the defendant failed to yield coming out of a stop sign for southbound traffic on Lowe. The driver that hit the plaintiff did not have valid insurance at the time of the accident.

Our client sustained neck injuries and treated with his primary care physician in Oak Park, Illinois. His doctor also referred him to physical therapy.

Due to the fact that the defendant did not have insurance, we set up an uninsured motorist claim against our client's own insurance company. American Family Insurance paid on the claim.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Lawyer Reaches Uninsured Motorist Claim Settlement" »

A client of David Abels & Associates, P.C. was recently injured on the North Side of Chicago just after he parked his car on Montrose Avenue. After he exited his vehicle, he closed the door and began to walk towards the front of his car, and as he walked a passing vehicle drifted too close to his parked car and hit him.

After the accident the plaintiff was taken by ambulance to Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, Illinois with severe neck pain. In the weeks following the accident his neck pain persisted and his medical doctor ordered an MRI. The MRI showed that he had sustained a herniated disc in his cervical spine as a result of the pedestrian vs. car accident. He has not yet had surgery and still has pain on a daily basis.

The Chicago Police Department investigated the accident and issued citations to the driver that hit our client. The defendant is insured by Allstate.

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

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

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

The parents of a teen killed when a semi truck slammed into a CTA train station in Chicago have filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Cook County against the truck driver and trucking company, according to the Associated Press. The lawsuit alleges that the 64 year old truck driver was driving too fast for conditions, ran a red light, and failed to use his horn to warn of impact.

The driver, who is from Metamora, Michigan, received a traffic ticket for the April 25 accident, but no criminal charges have been filed.

The accident happened when the driver crashed his semi truck into the CTA Red Line train station at Cermak Road on the South Side during the evening rush hour. One other woman was killed and twenty one others were injured, according to the Chicago Tribune and various other news sources.

The truck had just come off the Dan Ryan Expressway near Chinatown when it crashed into the train station and traveled several steps up an escalator. Some witnesses believed the truck was going 40 - 50 mph when it hit the station. Chicago Police Department officials have stated that the two women killed were pedestrians walking near the CTA station.

The cause of the truck crash is still unknown. The truck driver was taken to Stroger Hospital where he tested negative for alcohol, but then he refused a urine test and asked to be discharged from the hospital, stating that he had no insurance to cover treatment. He was then released into the custody of the Chicago Police Department.

A Chicago Fire Department official stated that twenty one injured were taken to area hospitals, and eleven of those were in critical condition. Four people had to be cut out of the escalators at the station by rescue workers.

On the North Side of Chicago, Illinois three people were hurt on Friday morning in a three vehicle accident involving two small trucks and a van, according to the Chicago Tribune. Two involved were seriously injured. The van was operated by MV Transportation out of Niles, a private company contracted by Pace to transport passengers.

The accident occurred at 1600 N. Clark Street and was reportedly caused when one of the trucks involved in the accident ran a red light and struck the van. No Pace passengers were in the van at the time. The van driver was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital along with one of the truck occupants. Another person was taken to Lincoln Park Hospital. Two people involved in the crash did not immediately go to the hospital.

The crash was investigated by the Chicago Police Department and it has not been reported if any tickets were issued.

On Wednesday afternoon five people, including two children, were injured in a three vehicle accident in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, according to the Sun-Times News Group. The accident happened on Nerge Road just west of Rohlwing Road when a 2002 Jeep Cherokee entered a left turn lane driving too fast for conditions and rear-ended a 2001 Toyota Corolla. The Corolla was then knocked forward into a Ford Windstar minivan. The Jeep was moving fast enough that it reportedly flipped over and landed on top of the Corolla.

Four involved in the accident were taken to Alexian Brothers Medical center in Elk Grove Village. The fifth person was taken to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. All five have been treated and released and all five were wearing their seatbelts.

It has not been reported if traffic citations have been issued. The crash remains under investigation.

In Kane County, Illinois David Abels & Associates, P.C., working in conjunction with the firm of Karchmar and Lambert, have filed a lawsuit against a resort in St. Charles, Illinois due to injuries sustained by our client when she bit into and swallowed pieces of glass that were in her dinner salad.

Our client was attending a business conference when the food was being served. The glass lacerated her throat, which later became infected. The plaintiff incurred around $15,000 in medical bills as a result of the infection.

The case gives knew meaning to the phrase "watch what you eat".

Continue reading "Kane County Lawsuit Filed: Sometimes You Have To Watch What You Eat ...........Literally." »

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.

In Chicago, Illinois a semi truck crashed into a CTA Red Line train station at Cermak Road on the South Side during Friday's evening rush hour. Two women were killed and twenty one others were injured.

The truck had reportedly just come off the Dan Ryan Expressway exit ramp near Chinatown when it crashed into the train station and traveled several steps up an escalator used to take people to the train platform. Some witnesses on the scene stated the truck was moving at 40 - 50 mph when it plowed into the station. Chicago Police Department officials state that the two women killed may have been pedestrians walking near the CTA station.

The cause of the truck crash is still unknown. The truck driver was taken to Stroger Hospital where he tested negative for alcohol, but then refused a urine test and asked to be discharged from the hospital, giving the reason that he had no insurance to cover his treatment. He was released into the custody of the Chicago Police Department.

A Chicago Fire Department official stated that twenty one injured people have been taken to area hospitals, and eleven of those were in critical condition. Four people had to be cut out of the escalators at the station by rescue workers. Family members searching for loved ones who may have been injured can call the Red Cross at 312-729-6200 to find out what hospitals they may have been taken to.

Chicago, Illinois truck crash attorneys from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a bodily injury settlement with USA Truck, Inc. stemming from a car vs. truck accident that occurred in July of 2007. Our client was Northbound on Interstate 294 in Cook County when she was hit by a semi truck that changed lanes and struck our client.

The plaintiff was taken to Hinsdale Hospital with low back injuries. She also had follow up treatment with a medical doctor in Oak Lawn, Illinois. The case was settled without having to file a lawsuit.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Lawyers Reach Truck vs. Car Accident Settlement" »

In Chicago, Illinois a bicycle rider has been killed as a result of a collision with a motor vehicle in the Logan Square neighborhood, according to the Chicago Tribune and several other news sources. The accident happened early Sunday morning when the bicyclist was turning left from westbound Logan Blvd. to proceed south on Western Avenue.

The bike rider was hit by an eastbound car that was traveling through the intersection on a yellow light that was turning red. The driver, a 29 year old woman, was given a ticket for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. The bicyclist, a Logan Square resident, was later pronounced dead at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center on the North Side.

Continue reading "Fatal Bicycle Accident on the North Side of Chicago" »

Chicago, Illinois car crash attorneys from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a bodily injury settlement with the United States Post Office. Our client was injured in a collision that occurred at 86th and Racine, Chicago, Illinois in February of 2007. Our client was Northbound on Racine when she was hit by a postal truck that failed to yield when pulling out from a stop sign at 86th Street.

Our client was taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park with wrist and back injuries. She also had follow up treatment with an osteopathic physician in Chicago. The case was settled for $10,718.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Lawyers Reach Auto Accident Settlement With U.S. Post Office" »

In Chicago, Illinois five people were hurt in an auto accident on Saturday just before 12:00 p.m., according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The accident happened on the North Side in Bucktown at the intersection of Armatige and Hermatige. Five people were injured, and three reportedly sustained critical injuries.

Two in critical condition were taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, and the other critical was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The other two injured people were taken to Illinois Masonic.

How the accident occurred and who was at fault has not been reported.

Continue reading "Chicago Illinois Car Crash, 5 Injured In Bucktown" »

Chicago, Illinois auto accident lawyers from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a bodily injury settlement with a taxicab company as a result of a car crash that occurred on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois in January of 2008. Our client was hit by a cab driver that failed to yield when pulling out of an alley.

Our client was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston with soft tissue back and neck injuries. She also had follow up treatment with an orthopaedic physician and a physical therapist in Chicago. The case was resolved without having to file a lawsuit against the taxi driver.

Continue reading " Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys Reach Car Accident Settlement" »

In Chicago, Illinois on the far South Side, an auto accident has claimed the life of a woman, and two others were sent to the hospital this afternoon, according to NBC 5 News. The accident is being described as a pin-in crash.

The car accident happened around 3:25 p.m. in the 11200 block of South Ewing Avenue in Chicago. The woman was reportedly dead on arrival at an area hospital. Two others injured in the crash were taken to local hospitals, one to Trinity Hospital and the other to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. The severity of their injuries has not yet been reported.

The crash involved two vehicles, and one of the cars may have rolled over. The cause of the car accident is still not known.

En Chicago, abogados de la compensación de trabajadores de David Abels & Associates, P.C. han alcanzado un arreglo para un empleado del Chicago Trbune quien fue herida en el trabajo en Junio, 2004. Ella trabajaba como un operario de prensa y se golpeo cuando ella caminó en una caja con orillas agudas. Ella contrajo síndrome traumático de compartimiento con cirugías a la pierna izquierda, y otras heridas de pierna también. La porción corporal de la herida del trabajo se asentó para $105,000

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

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

In Chicago, Illinois workers' compensation attorneys from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a settlement for an employee of the Chicago Tribune who was injured on the job in June, 2004. She was working as a press operator and hurt herself when she walked into a box with sharp edges. She incurred traumatic compartment syndrome with surgeries to her left leg, and other leg injuries as well. The bodily injury portion of her work injury case settled for $105,000.

Continue reading "Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Reach Work Comp Settlement" »

Three people were hurt in a multiple vehicle crash in North Suburban Round Lake Beach on Monday afternoon, according to the Chicago Tribune. The auto accident occurred at Rollins Road and Illinois Highway 83 when a driver traveling west on Rollins lost control, hit a lightpole, and then struck two cars on 83.

The driver that caused the crash and a person from one of the cars hit on 83 were taken to Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. A person from another car struck on Illinois 83 was airlifted to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. The severity of the injuries has not been reported, however a helicopter flight is usually reserved for more significant injuries.

In LaSalle County, Illinois a construction worker flagging traffic was injured on Friday morning along an Illinois 351 construction site, according to the Bloomington Pantagraph. The flagger, Eliseo Escatel, 38, of Peru, Illinois was hit by a car and taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital.

Escatel reportedly attempted to jump out of the way of a Jeep Liberty that did not slow down in the contruction zone. The driver, a Peru resident, was charged with driving with a suspended license, failure to stop for a flagger, and reckless conduct.

The accident took place on the same day that workers in other parts of the state were handing out saftey information for National Work Zone Awareness Week. WJBC News Radio reports that "twenty-one people were killed in work-zone related crashes in Illinois last year".

The law firm of David Abels & Associates, P.C. currently represents a flagger who has been hit and injured twice over the past several years while flagging in Chicago area construction zones. The first case settled a few years ago, and the second case is currently pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County against an Allstate driver. The issue in court is not liability, but the amount of money our client is entitled to receive from the negligent driver.

An auto accident involving two sport utility vehicles near the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois has resulted in the death of a Park Ridge resident and injuries to three others, according to the Associated Press. The car crash occurred around 8:30 am this morning and involved a 2001 Infiniti QX4 and a 2003 Ford Explorer.

John Moore, 87, of Park Ridge was
killed in the collision. He was a passenger in the Infinity.

The driver of the Infinity, an Arlington Heights woman, was injured in the crash. The occupants of the Ford Explorer, a 44 year old Schaumburg woman and a three year old girl, were also injured. The three were treated at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

Police are still investigating the crash, and it has not been reported who was at fault or if charges are going to be filed.

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.

A car crash near West Chicago, Illinois has claimed the life of a St. Charles resident and injured two others, according to the Chicago Tribune. The car accident involved several vehicles Sunday morning in unincorporated DuPage County.

The Chicago area car crash occurred when Eric Clark, 29, crossed the center line as he was driving eastbound on North Avenue near Powis Road. Clark's vehicle was hit by another car after it crossed over and when his car came to a stop, three other cars became involved in the collision. Clark died at the scene shortly after the accident.

Two other people
were injured and taken to were taken to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Illinois. Their specific injuries have not been reported.

The accident closed North Avenue for two hours after the accident.

Nine people were injured in Chicago in a multi-vehicle accident yesterday on I-57, according to Fox News. The crash happened in the southbound lanes near Halsted Street. Five ambulances and the Illinois State Police went to the crash site.

Five of the injured were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and four were taken to other area hospitals. The Southbound lanes of Interstate 57 were closed for about an hour after the accident and later re-opened. The cause of the crash has not yet been reported.

Continue reading "Chicago, Illinois Multiple Vehicle Car Crash Injures 9 On I-57" »

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" »

Chicago, Illinois car accident attorneys from David Abels & Associates, P.C., working with the firm of Elman & Elman, have reached a partial bodily injury settlement with Geico Insurance as a result of a pedestrian accident that occurred in Chicago, Illinois. Our client was injured while his was standing on a sidewalk waiting to catch a CTA bus. As he waited for the bus, an auto accident occurred right in front of him and a tire flew off one of the cars and hit him, knocking him to the ground.

Our client was taken by ambulance to a local hospital in Chicago with back and neck injuries. The case was resolved against the Geico driver during the discovery phase in Court, and the case will continue against the other driver in the car accident who is insured by Allstate.

Continue reading "Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Reach Pedestrian Auto Accident Settlement" »

In Peoria, Illinois two men were injured in a strange auto accident where one man jumped from his car, and then his car crashed into another vehicle, according to the Daily Pekin Times. The car accident occurred at Illinois Route 116 just east of U.S. Route 24 on Thursday.

According to Illinois State Police, a 21 year old resident of Elmwood, Illinois was driving east on Illinois Route 116 when for reasons unknown he jumped from his car. The vehicle was reportedly moving at a high rate of speed during heavy rainfall. The unoccupied car then crossed the median into oncoming traffic and struck a vehicle being driven by Mark P. Neptun, 56, of East Peoria, Illinois.

Both men were taken to area hospitals. The Illinois State Police are investigating the accident.

Continue reading "Illinois Auto Accident Caused When Man Jumps From Car" »

In Winnebago County, Illinois a woman was killed in a car crash when the vehicle she was a passenger in lost control and flipped over, according to NBC 13 News. David Garrison, 59, of Rockford was driving south on Springfield Avenue on Thursday night when he lost control of his car, left the roadway, and rolled over.

Darcie Eckhardt, 45, of Rockford was the passenger. She reportedly died at the scene. Garrison has been ticketed with improper lane usage and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

In Chicago, Illinois an accident involving two trucks and a car has resulted in serious injuries to four people, according to ABC 7 News. The auto accident took place Monday on the Dan Ryan Expressway ramp connecting the inbound Dan Ryan to outbound Interstate 290. The crash took place around 6:30 p.m. A spokeman for the Chicago Fire Department reported that a semi truck rear-ended a small car and then hit another semi truck. The specific injuries and what hospitals people were taken to has not been reported.

The occupants of the car should have a good negligence claim against the driver and the trucking company that caused the accident. Under Illinois law, a driver has a duty to not drive too fast for traffic conditions, and to keep a proper and sufficient look out for other vehicles on the road.

Injuries resulting from truck accidents can be very serious. The difference in weight between a semi truck and an average car can cause sever injuries to the occupants of the smaller vehicle. The U.S. Department of Transportation has reported that in 2003 there were 4,986 motorist fatalities and 122,000 injuries in large truck accidents throughout the U.S.A.

On Friday two lawsuits were filed in Cook County, Illinois stemming from Wednesday's SUV Accident that happened in South Suburban Crestwood that left fifteen people injured, according to the Southtown Star. One of the lawsuits was filed by an Oak Lawn couple.

The car vs. pedestrian accident happened around 11:45 a.m. at the Tri-State Auto Auction when a 2000 Range Rover sport-utility vehicle that was going on auction accelerated without warning, drove through a crowd inside the auction house, hit a minivan, exited the building, and then ran into a second crowd of people.

Robert Schutzenhofer, 61, is being represented by Parente & Norme, P.C. and is still in critical condition with severe and life-threatening injuries. He is in intensive care unit at St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields, Illinois.

The Illinois State Police are reportedly investigating whether the vehicle had a mechanical problem. The auction driver was taken to the Crestwood Police Department for interview and it is unknown if any type of charges will be filed. Attorneys for Schutzenhofer plan on investigating both driver error and a mechanical problem as they move forward in the case, however they feel that a mechanical failure is not likely.

Continue reading "Lawsuits Filed In Chicago Area SUV vs. Pedestrian Car Auction Crash" »

An auto accident on the Southwest Side of Chicago claimed the life of four people early Wednesday morning, according to the Chicago Sun-Times and various other news sources. The car accident took place in the 2800 block of Columbus Avenue just after midnight.

A father, 46; his son, 28; and his nephew, 28 were killed when a car crossed the center line and hit their vehicle head on. The father was driving a Toyota Camry eastbound on Columbus at the time of the crash.

The driver of the car that allegedly crossed the centerline was also killed. Five other people in the car, including a 20 month old child, were injured. The child was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago.

The father and his son and nephew all worked together at McCormick Place as forklift operators and they were on their way home from an evening shift. All three men were members of Teamsters Local 714.

In the Southwest Chicago Area Suburb of Crestwood, Illinois a total of twelve pedestrians were injured when an SUV driver lost control and ran into a group of people at an auto auction on Wednesday morning, according to the Chicago Tribune and several other news outlets. Three people were very seriously injured with leg and head trauma.

The car accident happened around 11:45 am at the Tri-State Auto Auction when a 2000 Range Rover sport-utility vehicle that was going on auction accelerated without warning, drove through a crowd inside the auction house, hit a minivan, exited the building, and then ran into a second crowd of people.

The 12 injured were all taken to area hospitals. The Illinois State Police are reportedly investigating whether the vehicle had a mechanical problem. The driver was taken to the Crestwood Police Department for interview and it is unknown if any type of charges will be filed.

Chicago, Illinois auto accident attorneys from David Abels & Associates, P.C., working in conjunction with Elman & Elman, have reached a $9,000 bodily injury settlement with Unique Insurance as a result of an auto accident that occurred at 74th and State Street in Bedford Park, Illinois. The Chicago area car crash happened when the defendant rear ended our client, who in turn was pushed into a vehicle in front of him. The defendant was ticketed with DUI.

Our client was taken to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn with back and neck pain injuries. The case was resolved after the plaintiff received a $9,000 non-binding mandatory arbitration award in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Lawyers Reach Auto Accident Settlement" »

Chicago car accident lawyers from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a $21,000 bodily injury settlement with Geico Insurance as a result of an auto accident that occurred less than 2 months ago on January 19, 2008. The car crash happened on Interstate 90/94 near California Avenue, Chicago, Illinois when the defendant sideswiped our client's vehicle.

Our client was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago with low back pain, shoulder pain and headaches. He also followed up for additional treatment with a Board Certified Neurologist and underwent physical therapy as well.

In Chicago, Illinois a South Loop resident has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol stemming from a hit and run pedestrian accident that happened on the near north side, according to the Chicago Tribune. The victim in the Chicago pedestrian vs. car accident was Ruben Zarco, 51. He was paying cab fare in the 1500 block of North Kingsbury when the DUI driver sideswiped the cab, hit Zarco, and then fled the scene.

Zarco was injured and taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago in reportedly stable condition. The driver was ticketed with DUI, striking a pedestrian in the roadway and leaving the scene of an accident. The accident happened early Friday morning just after 2 am. The location of the accident has a very active nightlife with several clubs and restaurants in the immediate area.

From a Chicago injury lawyer's view, Zarco could potentially have multiple claims to look into. First, there is a strong negligence case is against the driver that hit him. Once Zarco retains an injury lawyer, the first thing counsel will do is investigate who the DUI driver had auto insurance with, and then move forward with an injury claim from there.

Continue reading "Chicago, Illinois Resident Charged With DUI In Hit & Run Car vs. Pedestrian Accident" »

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

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

Here is some solid free legal advice from a Chicago Injury Lawyer: If you are going to drink and drive (bad idea) and crash into another car (even worse idea), I would strongly suggest that you do not hit a police car. And yet that is exactly what happened this past Friday night on the South Side of Chicago.

An alleged DUI driver was involved in a head on car accident with a marked Chicago police car at Pershing Road and Morgan Street at about 10 p.m., according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Ramiro Salgado of Chicago, Illinois has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended license, no prooof of insurance and driving with open alcohol in his vehicle. Bond has been set at $25,000 by Cook County Judge Laura Sullivan.

Salgado was allegedly driving in an SUV eastbound on Pershing Road while intoxicated when he collided with the squad car at Morgan Street. The Chicago police officer was reportedly injured and taken to Rush University Medical Center. The SUV driver was not injured.

In Chicago, Illinois a truck crash on the eastbound side of the Kennedy Expressway shut down all lanes for nearly an hour on Tuesday early in the afternoon, according to the Chicago Tribune. The collision involved two semi trucks and three other vehicles at Interstate 90/94 near Ogden Avenue.

One truck jackknifed into another truck, puncturing a fuel tank and spilling fuel over the roadway. The Chicago Fire Department's hazardous materials response team was called out to clean up about fifty gallons of fuel. The highway lanes were re-opened once the spill was contained about an hour later.

One person was injured in the truck accident and taken to the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago. The Illinois State Police are investigating the collision and the cause of the crash has not yet been reported.

A Chicago resident has been charged with Aggravated DUI after causing a multiple vehicle car crash in Kane County on Saturday, according to the Daily Herald. The auto accident happened when Santos Christian Romero-Villagrana, 23, rear ended two stopped vehicles that were waiting to turn into a driveway. The car crash happened on eastbound Route 72.

The Kane County Sheriff's Department stated that 7 people were taken to area hospitals after the collision. Three were taken to Provena St. Joseph Hospital, three to Sherman Hospital in Elgin, Illinois and one person was airlifted to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Illinois. It has not yet been reported if the injuries are serious.

Villagrana was charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, no insurance, and several other moving violations. Details of the evidence of intoxication were not reported.

Continue reading "Chicago Resident Charged With DUI In Kane County Personal Injury Car Accident" »

In Chicago, Illinois personal injury attorneys were recently awarded a good verdict in a slip and fall case, according to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. The accident happened in the parking lot of the Marriot Theatre in Lincolnshire, Illinois. The plaintiff slipped and fell on ice and suffered a torn rotator cuff and a fractured ankle. Both injuries required surgery to repair.

The plaintiff claimed at trial that the defendant negligently removed snow and ice from the parking lot. They alleged that the snow was piled "upstream" of a walkway, and that snow melted and then re-froze on the walkway, and that said condition caused the plaintiff to slip and fall. The defendant claimed that the area had been propery plowed and salted, and that any freezing was a natural accumulation of ice. (Illinois property owners are usually not liable for injuries that result from natural accumulations of ice and snow).

Prior to trial the plaintiff demanded $200,000 to settle and the defendant offered $135,000. The Cook County Jury returned a verdict of $616,788 ($822,383 reduced by 25% for comparative fault).

Continue reading "Chicago, Illinois Premises Liability Lawyers Get Nice Verdict" »

Kendall County car accident lawyers from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a bodily injury settlement with State Farm Insurance as a result of an auto accident that occurred in May of 2007. The car crash happened on westbound Route 34 near Route 47 in Yorkville, Illinois when the defendant exited a McDonald's and failed to yield to our client.

Our client was taken to Copley Memorial Hospital in Aurora by ambulance with headaches and neck injuries. The plaintiff had follow up treatment with a Castle Orthopaedics and Atlas Physical Therapy, both in Yorkville, Illinois. The car accident case settled for $9,100.

David Abels & Associates, P.C. reached another settlement with State Farm this week in a minor back and neck injury case for $3,600.

On the Southwest Side of Chicago, a car accident has killed one person and injured five others, including two Chicago police officers, according to the Chicago Tribune. Eric Gray, 21, of the 2200 block of East 92nd Street was killed when the driver of the car in which he was a passenger struck a squad car.

The car crash happened when the driver of a 2000 Mercury, 25, was traveling westbound on 92nd Street late Wednesday and hit a northbound squad car at the intersection of 92nd and Paxton Avenue. The Tribune reports that the driver, a Chicago resident, was cited with nine traffic violations, including driving while under the influence of alcohol. Gray and two other passengers were in the Mercury.

Gray was pronouced dead several hours after the accident at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The other two passengers were taken to local hospitals. The police officers, who were responding to an emergency call at the time of the accident, were also injured.

Continue reading "Chicago, Illinois DUI Driver Kills 1, Injures 5 in Auto Accident" »

In Chicago, Illinois a bus vs. pedestrian accident has resulted in a fatality. A pedestrian who was walking west on on Cermak Road crossing Wabash Avenue was struck and killed by a tour bus at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the Chicago Tribune. The victim was Winston Yu, 54, of the 2200 block of South Princeton Avenue. He was pronounced dead a short time later at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

A 65-year-old man from Maywood was driving the bus at the time of the pedestrian accident and he was issued a ticket for a traffic violation, according to the Chicago Police Department. There were no passengers on the bus at the time of the collision. The accident is being investigated by the Chicago Police Department's Major Accidents Investigation Unit.

Continue reading "In Chicago, Illinois Bus Hits and Kills Pedestrian In Chinatown" »

In Chicago, Illinois 2 police officers were hurt Monday night in a car accident when their squad car was hit by a sport-utility vehicle, according to the Chicago Tribune. The accident occurred at around 11:30 p.m. in the 3400 block of West Belmont Ave. The officers were taken to Our Lady of Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago and later released.

The SUV driver, a 30 year old woman, was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago where she was reportedly in stable condition. The car crash allegedly happened when the westbound SUV failed to yield while making a left turn and hit the eastbound police car.

Officer Amina Greer of the Chicago Police Department was quoted as saying the accident appeared to be DUI related, but she did not state what evidence there was of alcohol involvement. No tickets were issued as of Tuesday morning.

Whether the accident was alcohol related or not, the officers both have a good personal injury case against the driver of the SUV. Under Illinois law, a driver turning left has the duty to make sure the turn can be made safely without getting hit by oncoming traffic.