Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Prom safety critical to avoiding Chicago car accidents involving teenagers

May 4, 2010 | By Dave Abels

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

From 2003 to 2008, a total of 1,563 fatal Illinois car accidents involved teen drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Only California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas reported more teen driving deaths.WQAD reports that many schools throughout Illinois are using “Operation Prom Night” as a tool to warn teenagers of the dangers of drinking and driving as prom season enters full swing.

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

MADD is also promoting “The Power of Parents: It’s Your Influence” to promote safe teenage driving.

Parents can help teenagers make the right choices by:

– Establishing clear rules and consequences for underage drinking and monitoring your child’s activities.

– Acknowledging that the choice to be drug and alcohol free isn’t easy.

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

-Insisting that only registered passengers be allowed transportation.

-Never serving alcohol to an underage person.
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Arrest made in 2009 Chicago car accident that injured worker in construction zone

May 3, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A Gary Indiana man was arrested recently and charged because of his involvement in a Chicago car crash that injured a construction worker last summer, WGN News reported.

The Chicago construction zone accident occurred when an SUV slammed into a highway worker closing the gate on his truck along the Dan Ryan Expressway. The defendant was ticketed but failed to appear in court. A warrant issued for his arrest in Cook and four surrounding counties failed to locate him until media reports were broadcast nationwide.

The highway worker was severely injured. A year later he is finally walking again. The worker said he hopes his story provides a lesson to law enforcement and is pushing for nationwide warrants to be issued in cases where highway construction workers are injured.

Illinois man sues Vatican in sex abuse case against priest

May 1, 2010 | By Dave Abels

An Illinois man is suing Pope Benedict XVI and senior Vatican officials, claiming they failed to protect him from sexual assault as a teenager from a Wisconsin priest they knew was a possible child molester, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

The case is the latest in a long string of claims against the Catholic Church in the Chicago area and across the nation. As we reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog last summer, the church paid $3.9 million to settle with six victims who reported sexual abuse by priests.

Identified in court papers as John Doe 16, the man said he was repeatedly molested by a priest while a student at St. John’s School for the deaf in the Milwaukee area.

Four injured in Chicago car accident after vehicle runs into South Side building

April 29, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Three people were critically injured and a fourth person hurt in a Chicago car accident last Friday night when a car crashed into a South Side building, the Sun-Times reported.

As we reported last summer on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, accidents involving vehicles striking buildings is not uncommon in the Chicago area, and frequently result in injuries to vehicle or building occupants.

In July, a vehicle crashed into a Curves fitness center in Lake Zurich and several restaurants were damaged in Chicago last year, including two incidents at Starbucks and two other accidents that struck Petterino’s restaurant in downtown Chicago.

“No Phone Zone Day” is this Friday; education cited as key to reducing traffic accidents caused by distracted driving

April 28, 2010 | By Dave Abels

The Governors Highway Safety Association is joining forces with Oprah Winfrey to promote “No Phone Zone Day” this Friday, April 30. The campaign is part of a nationwide effort to combat distracted driving, particularly the use of cell phones by motorists.

Distracted driving is a leading cause of Chicago car accidents and serious and fatal traffic accidents across the country. As we reported in January on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, the “No Phone Zone” campaign launched with an initial 50,000 motorists pledging to not use a cell phone while behind the wheel.

This Friday, affiliates will air a live special episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show dedicated to the dangers of using a cell phone or text messaging while driving. Special viewing rallies will be held in Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. and will include victim’s families, elected officials, parents, youth, law enforcement and advocacy organizations. Additionally, the show will debut a new nationwide public service campaign.

In Illinois, the Illinois Department of Transportation is partnering with the Ford Motor Company Fund to hold two “Ride and Drive” teen training programs this week — one in Springfield and the other here in Chicago. More information is available at www.drivingskillsforlife.com.

“While state legislation and enforcement are both critical factors, education efforts are also important-and what better person to raise public awareness than Oprah Winfrey,” said Association Chairman Vernon Betkey. “As a society, we need to make cell phone use while driving as unacceptable as drunk driving. We are very grateful to Harpo and Ms. Winfrey for their leadership and commitment.”

The federal government has grown increasingly vocal about distracted driving, especially the use of cell phones behind the wheel, which it contends involves all three forms of driver distraction — visual, manual and cognitive.

According to government statistics:
-Using a cell phone while driving delays a driver’s reactions as much as driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08, the legal threshold for drunk driving in Illinois.

-Nearly 6,000 people were killed and more than 500,000 were injured in traffic accidents involving distracted drivers in 2008.

-Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident.

Common forms of driver distraction include using a cell phone, eating or drinking, talking to passengers, dressing or grooming, reading, using navigation systems, watching video or using other on-board electronic devices, including stereos and Mp3 players.
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Two seriously injured in Chicago area car accident

April 27, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Just days after Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes settled a very similar case, 2 women were badly injured in a single car accident in Plainfield, Illinois. The Chicago Breaking News Center is reporting that their car was headed westbound on East Renwick Road in the area of its intersection with South McClellan Avenue when the driver lost control and crashed.

The car left the road and hit a phone pole moving backwards, ejecting one of the women from the car. The impact broke the utility pole in half.

A medevac was called to the scene, but due to bad weather, the helicopter could not take off. An ambulance then rushed both women, who were both in their 20s, to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Illinois

Young driving program aimed at reducing fatal Illinois car accidents involving teenagers

April 25, 2010 | By Dave Abels

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The program encourages high school students to use their creativity and imagination in developing programs aimed at educating their peers on the dangers of unsafe driving.
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Chicago named one of best cities for bike riding; avoiding summer bicycle accidents remains a concern

April 23, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Chicago injury lawyers are taking note that our City has been named the 10th best city in the nation for bike riding by Bicycling Magazine. As we reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog earlier this month, spring is a critical time for motorists to keep safety in mind in an effort to reduce Chicago bicycling accidents.

The Chicago Department of Transportation offers a host of safety and recreational resources for bicyclists and motorists. The city’s Bike 2015 Plan aims to expand the city’s cycling infrastructure by 50 percent, from 104 bike lane miles to 150 bike lane miles. Overall, the system will grow from 315 miles to 500 miles.Illinois bicycle accidents killed 27 riders in 2008 and seriously injured 3,385.

BicycleSafe.com offers a number of safety tips as well as dangerous areas where cyclists should utilize extra caution:

-The Right Cross: One of the most common ways to get hit is by a car pulling out of a parking lot or entering an intersection from the right. Safety tips include using a headlight, honking, slowing down and riding further to the left.

-The Door Prize: Opening car doors pose a serious risk to cyclists. Riding further to the left will often provide a cyclist with the room and reaction time necessary to avoid a collision.

-The Crosswalk Slam: Cyclists are frequently hit while cross the street in or near a crosswalk, by a vehicle making a right turn. Using a headlight, slowing down and avoiding riding on the sidewalk or in crosswalks can help reduce the danger.

-Wrong-way Wreck: Riding against traffic poses a serious risk to cyclists and is against the law in many areas. Don’t do it.

-Red Light of Death: Being pinched by a car turning right at a red light can be dangerous. Avoid stopping in a vehicle’s blind spot and be aware of cars turning right when approaching a vehicle on the right.

-Right Hook: A car passing a cyclist will sometimes try to make a sudden right across the bicycle’s travel lane. Cyclists can help avoid this danger by not riding on sidewalks or crosswalks, riding to the left to prevent passing and glancing in a rearview mirror before approaching an intersection.

-Left Cross: Vehicles turning left across traffic often fail to spot a cyclist in time: Using headlights, avoiding sidewalk riding, wearing bright clothing, avoiding right-handed passing and slowing down can help improve safety.

-The Rear End: Being rear-ended while on a bike can cause serious or fatal injuries. Never move left without looking behind you; don’t swerve in and out of street-parking lanes; and use your mirrors and signals.
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Chicago area pedestrian accident – woman killed by minivan on sidewalk

April 21, 2010 | By Dave Abels

An Illinois pedestrian accident has claimed the life of a woman that was struck by a minivan in Lombard on Monday night, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Another pedestrian was critically injured.

The accident happened when a Jewel semi truck that was traveling eastbound on Roosevelt Road collided with a minivan that was headed northbound on Main Street. The minivan then lost control and rolled over, hitting a man and woman walking on the sidewalk.

The male pedestrian’s legs were pinned under the minivan and bystanders came to his rescue, lifting the van off of his legs and freeing him. Both victims were rushed to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. The female pedestrian died Tuesday morning.

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.