Train Accident

Par de accidentes de coche en Chicago causados por tren de la noche estacionado en el cruce

February 18, 2011 | By Dave Abels

Un par de accidentes de tráfico en Chicago ocurrieron en la oscuridad antes del amanecer, el lunes por la mañana cuando dos vehículos se estrellarón contra un tren negro bloqueando un cruce sin luces, puertas u otras señales de advertencia, informa el Chicago Tribune.

Nuestros abogados de heridas personales en Chicago han informado sobre los conductores de alto riesgo en el rostro de Illinois en los cruces de ferrocarril del estado. Como se informó a principios de este año aquí en nuestro blog de abogados de heridas personal, los accidentes de tren en Chicago aumentó el año pasado.

Setenta y seis accidentes con trenes fueron reportados durante los primeros nueve meses del año pasado, reclamando 17 vidas e hiriendo a docenas más. Hemos informado a principios de este año en nuestro blog de Abogados en Accidentes Automovilísticos en Chicago que Illinois esta bajo de mandato federal para mejorar la seguridad en los cruces de ferrocarril.

Chicago pedestrian accidents, car accidents, increase at railroad crossings in 2010

January 6, 2011 | By Dave Abels

Chicago pedestrian accidents at railway crossing and Illinois train accidents both increased last year, the Chicago Tribune reported.The Illinois Department of Transportation also reports the number of fatal Illinois traffic accidents increased, although there were fewer Chicago car accidents. There were 128 fatal accidents in Chicago last year, compared to 141 in 2009. Statewide figures have not yet been released, but 916 motorists were killed through Dec. 29 last year, compared to 911 who lost their lives in 2009.

The Illinois Commerce Commission reports 17 fatalities occurred at railroad crossings from January to November last year and 10 pedestrians were killed after being hit by trains. Those numbers reverse a recent decline in accidents involving trains in Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois.

Fifteen motorists were killed by trains in 2008, compared to 16 in 2007 and 18 in 2006. The 10 pedestrian fatalities is the most since 12 were killed in 2007.

Injury accidents involving trains also increased last year. Seventy-six were reported in the first nine months of the year, compared to 80 in all of 2009. More than 125 were reported in both 2007 and 2008.

In response, officials launched a public service announcement this week entitled “Where’s the Best Man,” which depicts a member of a wedding party who is killed trying to beat a train across the tracks.

Our Chicago injury lawyers reported earlier this year that Illinois is under federal mandate to improve railroad crossing safety. Between 2006 and 2008 a total of 98 people were killed in Chicago railroad crossing accidents — 588 were killed across Illinois.

The state is one of 10 states that must submit a plan by August to address railroad crossing safety.
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Rear-end collisions, turning crashes, most likely cause of Chicago car accidents

October 9, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Chicago car accidents on the city’s streets and roads accounted for more than one-third of the state’s car accidents that involved serious injury and resulted in one-fifth of the state’s traffic fatalities, according to 2009 crash statistics released by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

As we discussed on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog, the vast majority of car accidents in Illinois occur in urban areas, primarily in and around Chicago. A total of 243,189 accidents in urban areas injured 52,402 and killed 469. By comparison, 48,917 rural crashes injured 10,833 and killed 363.But taking a look at the high number of serious and fatal accidents that occurred on the city’s streets (as opposed to highways and freeways) may offer some clues for the defensive driver. A total of 117,683 crashes killed 166 people and injured more than 23,000.

The vast majority of accident statewide occurred in areas where there was no traffic control device. This typically means that someone pulled out of a parking lot or private drive and failed to yield the right of way. Or that someone turned in front of an oncoming vehicle or crossed the centerline. In fact, statistics show that rear-end collisions and turning accidents account for the vast majority of collisions.

No Controls: 156,286 accidents/451 fatalities Stop Sign/Red Flasher: 30,634/83 fatalities Traffic signal: 65,647 accidents/97 fatalities Lane Use Control: 28,261 accidents/144 fatalities RR Crossing gate: 435 accidents/2 fatalities Other RR crossing device: 201 accidents/8 fatalities

A total of 63 Illinois railroad crossing accidents killed 11 motorists and injured 30.

Other types of accidents

Vehicle overturned: 4,558 accidents/65 fatalities Pedestrians: 5,171 accidents/104 killed Bicyclists: 3,246 accidents/19 fatalities Animal: 19,558 accidents/ 6 fatalities Fixed object: 35,257 accidents/285 fatalities Parked: 34,653 accidents/13 fatalities Rear-end: 80,076/72 fatalities Head-on: 2,567/104 fatalities Sideswipe-same direction: 23,323/16 fatalities Sideswipe-opposite direction: 3,416/20 fatalities Angle: 31,210/109 fatalities Turning: 44,239: 78 fatalities Continue reading

Chicago train accident lawyers reach $1.45 million settlement with Metra

September 28, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Illinois train crash attorneys have reportedly reached a $1.45 million settlement in regards to a 2005 Metra accident, according to the Chicago Tribune. The settlement is on behalf of a Joliet woman who was severely injured when a train derailed due to high speed. The victim sustained a fractured leg that will require knee replacement surgery.

The passenger was on a Rock Island line train that was headed to downtown Chicago from Joliet, Illinois. The train traveled through a 10 mile an hour crossing while going 69 mph, causing a derailment near 47th St.

Two passengers died in the crash and another 117 were injured. It is reportedly the only derailment in Metra history to cause fatalities.

Fatal Chicago train accident kills driver, critically injures two passengers at South Side crossing

May 9, 2010 | By Dave Abels

One person was killed and two others seriously injured last Monday in a Chicago train accident on the South Side after a Metra Electric train struck a car, the Breaking News Center reported.

It is the latest in a series of high-profile train accidents plaguing Chicago. As we reported last month on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, malfunctioning gates are believed to be the cause of a fatal accident involving an Amtrak train. The train struck a vehicle at the crossing, killing a popular local dance instructor. In yet another incident, a train killed two Chicago pedestrians, including a small child.

In this case, the accident at 71st Street and Merrill Avenue occurred shortly before 10 p.m. Monday. A 30-year-old man was killed and two others were transported in serious-to-critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Warning lights and crossing gates not working during fatal Chicago area train accident

April 19, 2010 | By Dave Abels

UPDATE: There is now video showing that the gates were not down and the lights were not activated during last Friday’s fatal Chicago area train crash, according to NBC News. The video is from the Amtrak train involved in the collision. It is also being reported that Canadian National crews had been working within a mile of the crash earlier that day and accidentally disabled the warning system and gates.

Witnesses to Friday’s train accident that killed a dance instructor in Cook County are saying that the crossing gates and warning lights were not working when an Amtrak train came barreling through, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center. One of the witnesses was an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney who works in the Old Orchard Courthouse.The prosecutor stated that she was right in front of the SUV that was hit at the University Park railroad crossing, and that she was very close to being hit herself. She said there was no way for the SUV driver to know the train was coming and that the first warning of the danger was the train blowing its horn. She went on to say that no one was trying to go around a gate or beat the train, and that no one knew the train was there.

The tracks are reportedly owned by the Canadian National Railway Company who has sent investigators to the scene. A Will County sheriff’s police spokesman stated that part of the problem is the tracks are too close to a stop sign at Governor’s Highway, and that drivers can get caught on the tracks while approaching it.

Authorities targeting suburban railroad crossing to reduce Chicago train accidents

April 14, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Suburban law enforcement are targeting railroad crossings for increased enforcement in the wake of a fatal Chicago pedestrian accident last month in North Chicago.

Rail road crossings in suburbs, including Elmhurst, Lombard and Des Plaines, are being monitored for gate-crashers and other violators, the Breaking News Center reported.Ignoring a crossing signal or lowered gate is punishable by a $250 fine.

As we reported last month on Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, a woman and an infant were killed by a Metra train near North Chicago station.

A total of 16 non-suicide Illinois train accidents were reported last year. Commuters in a rush, kids playing on the tracks and motorists disregarding gates and warning lights are all causes of Chicago train accidents.

The Illinois Commerce Commission reports 80 collisions involving trains occurred last year — down from the 129 collisions that were reported in 2008.

In last month’s case, a woman carrying an infant in heavy fog was attempting to catch up to her family, which had already crossed the tracks; she tried to cross ahead of a train moving into the station.
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Chicago train accident kills woman and infant crossing tracks in North Chicago

March 14, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A woman and a 1-year-old girl were killed in a Chicago train accident on Saturday when a Metra train struck them as they crossed the tracks with family in suburban North Chicago, the Sun-Times reported.

The Metra Union Pacific North Line train No. 806 struck the woman carrying a baby just after 8 a.m. near the North Chicago station on Lakeside Drive, FOX News reported. The Lake County Coroner pronounced the women dead at the scene.

The infant was taken to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, where she was pronounced dead about 11:30 a.m.

Chicago bus accident, train accident mar weekend

January 11, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A Chicago train accident at a crossing occurred Monday morning when the inbound Metra train on the Rock Island line hit a sport utility vehicle, causing long train and traffic delays, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

The No. 406 train originating in Joliet hit the SUV at 111th and Hale Avenue at about 7 a.m. Metra police were investigating.

While no one on the train was reported injured, Chicago train accidents at crossings can cause serious injury to motorists and can be caused by a number of factors, including malfunctioning crossing gates and warning lights.

Employees placed on leave after Chicago train accident injures 14

December 27, 2009 | By Dave Abels

Four Chicago Transit Authority employees have been placed on unpaid leave, the Chicago Tribune reported, after a weekend Chicago train accident sent at least 14 people to the hospital.

The Sun-Times reported that 14 of the train’s 48 passengers were taken by ambulances to area hospitals.

Transit officials have blamed the Green Line train derailment on a missed “stop” signal, causing the northbound train to jump the tracks at the 59th Street junction shortly before noon on Saturday, December 12th.