Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys Reach Truck Crash Settlement

May 22, 2008 | By Dave Abels

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.
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Chicago Car Crash Injures 5

May 20, 2008 | By Dave Abels

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.

Chicago Cookie Crash – Oreo Spill On I-80 Causes Traffic Backup

May 20, 2008 | By Dave Abels

Early Monday morning around 4 a.m. a truck driver headed from Chicago to Morris, Illinois on Interstate 80 fell asleep and hit a median, according to Newsweek.com and several other news sources. The truck trailer, which was loaded with 14 tons of double stuffed Oreos, overturned and spilled onto the highway.

The truck accident occurred about 50 miles southwest of Chicago. The Illinois State Police are investigating. Both lanes of traffic had to be closed to remove the cookies and this caused big traffic delays. No charges have been filed against the driver, and there were reportedly no injuries.

It has not yet been reported how many innocent double stuffed Oreos were lost in the accident.

Chicago Pedestrian Killed In Hit-And-Run Accident On South Side

May 19, 2008 | By Dave Abels

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.

3 Injured in Chicago Multiple Vehicle Crash

May 16, 2008 | By Dave Abels

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 Injury Lawyer Reaches Uninsured Motorist Claim Settlement

May 15, 2008 | By Dave Abels

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.
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Chicago Resident Parks His Car – Gets Hit By Passing Motorist

May 11, 2008 | By Dave Abels

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.

Chicago Pedestrian Killed By U-Haul Truck In Hit And Run Accident

May 10, 2008 | By Dave Abels

A 62 year old Chicago resident was killed on Wednesday in Lakeview as she crossed a street in a crosswalk, according to the Chicago Tribune. The hit-and-run accident happened at the intersection of Sheridan Road and Belmont Avenue when a U-Haul rental truck ran a red light and hit a car headed south on Sheridan. The truck then hit a pedestrian in the crosswalk, and then the occupants of the truck fled the scene on foot. A witness at the scene said the truck was out of control.

The pedestrian, Anca Ramniceanu, 62, who lived in the area of the accident was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and died shortly after arrival at the hospital.

The only description of the two men that fled the scene was that one was wearing a red shirt and a baseball hat. Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact the Chicago Police Department. Police should also be able to track down who rented the truck by obtaining records from U-Haul.

In Dan McCormack Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Archdiosese, Judge Denies Punitive Damages Motion – Willing To Reconsider Issue After Further Discovery

May 8, 2008 | By Dave Abels

David Abels & Associates, P.C. is currently acting as co-counsel with the firm of Hilfman, Martin & Barr P.C. in a lawsuit against the Archdiosese of Chicago relating to the sexual misconduct of Father Daniel McCormack. Last week the Court heard the Plaintiff’s Motion To File an Amended Complaint Seeking Punitive Damages against the defendants. This motion was argued by Bill Martin. The Honorable Jeffrey Lawrence denied the motion, but Judge Lawrence said that he would be willing to hear the motion again after the parties complete some discovery.

The Court focused on the information contained in the report of the Archdiocese’s consultant, Defenbaugh, and specifically commented on 1999 reports from Sister Mary Therese Cusack to the Archdiocese relating to improper conduct by McCormack. The court indicated that the allegations in the plaintiff’s motion may be sufficient to allow the plaintiff to pursue punitive damages, but that these allegations required additional legal evidence in the form of depositions or affidavits. Plaintiff’s counsel intends to take the depositions of Archdiocesan personnel and to resubmit this motion to the court.

Daniel McCormack has plead guilty in criminal court to abusing five boys. He is serving a five year prison sentence.
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Slip & Fall At Chicago Area Health Club Results In Fractured Wrist With Surgery

May 6, 2008 | By Dave Abels

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.