| By

A motorist survey conducted throughout the United States and in parts of Europe reportedly suggests that American drivers are more likely than residents of other nations to text while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. According to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, more than two-thirds of Americans admitted to texting while driving. In addition, U.S. residents are allegedly more likely to be distracted by a telephone conversation while operating a vehicle. In fact, nearly three-fourths of the 5,000 adult American motorists surveyed admitted to speaking on their mobile phone while driving within the previous 30 days. In contrast, only 21 percent of adult drivers in Great Britain and only 40 percent of those in France admitted to using a cellular telephone behind the wheel.

Although mobile telephone laws differ across the U.S., most European nations have banned the use of handheld cellular phones while driving. Oddly, researchers reportedly found that the use of cell phones by drivers in Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain varied considerably despite similar laws. Regardless of where a driver who texts or talks on the phone behind the wheel is located, experts purportedly believe the practice poses a huge distraction to motorists. Many experts allegedly believe that cellular telephones should not be used in the car at all. In the past, some states passed laws designed to curtail the use of mobile phones in the car, and others, like Illinois, have imposed restrictions on the use of cell phones by teen drivers.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended a ban on all use of mobile phones behind the wheel. The NTSB has also allegedly encouraged development of new technologies that would disable mobile phones while a motor vehicle is moving. In 2010, researchers from the University of North Texas reportedly found that distracted driving killed about 16,000 people across the U.S. between 2001 and 2007. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the risk of a car accident is 23 times higher when a driver is sending or reading a text message.

The laws regarding talking on your cellular telephone while driving vary widely throughout the Chicago area. Although the City of Chicago has completely banned the use of handheld telephones, other municipalities have simply adopted the less restrictive state law. Regardless of where you are driving, mobile phones generally pose an unnecessary distraction to motorists. If you were hurt by a distracted driver, you should contact a quality personal injury attorney to discuss your right to recovery.
Continue reading

| By

Internet giant Google supposedly has plans for self-driving vehicles to be on the roadways in Illinois and the rest of the nation within five years. Automobile safety regulators and insurance industry officials, however, are reportedly skeptical of the idea. Currently, approximately 33,000 individuals are killed in traffic accidents across the United States every year. According to David Strickland, Head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), self-driving vehicles would likely dramatically reduce the rate of traffic deaths nationwide. In addition, collision-avoidance technology is currently being utilized in a number of motor vehicles on the market today. Still, Strickland allegedly believes self-driving cars are unlikely to be ready for widespread use within Google’s optimistic time-frame.

Anthony Levandowski, a Product Manager for Google’s self-driving technology, stated the company believes it has the ability to create passenger vehicles that operate on the nation’s roadways in a safer manner than humans do. Levandowski said the biggest challenge for the company will be ensuring vehicle reliability in a variety of conditions as any failure would leave a self-driving auto with no one at the wheel to control it. Additionally, such a vehicle must be programmed to account for individual system failures and unexpected external events such as a child running into the street.

Currently, Google’s self-driving automobile is allowed on roadways in California, Florida, and Nevada for testing purposes. Thus far, Google has not publicly discussed producing self-driving vehicles for sale to consumers. A spokesperson for Google stated the company’s current focus is on the futuristic vehicle’s underlying technology.

Many of the nation’s current car safety standards reportedly date back to the 1970s. New technology such as self-driving automobiles would likely pose a regulatory challenge for the NHTSA. In addition, auto accident fault in situations that involve self-driving vehicle failures would likely be difficult to ascertain. Robert Hartwig, President of the Insurance Information Institute, said despite Google’s current goals it could easily take 20 years for truly autonomous vehicles to be found on the nation’s roadways.

In the future, new technology may reduce the often life-altering injuries sustained by drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists who are involved in a traffic accident. Although the Illinois Vehicle Code requires all motorists to drive with care, collisions still occur. Distracted, reckless, inattentive, or simply negligent drivers cause thousands of automobile accidents each year. Last year alone, nearly 1,000 people in Illinois were killed in an avoidable motor vehicle crash. If you were the victim of a traffic wreck that was caused by another driver, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. Contact a quality personal injury lawyer to help you protect your rights.
Continue reading

| By

In early March, a 41-year-old former Markham police officer was charged with a federal civil rights violation in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of an individual while acting in his official capacity in 2010. Federal Bureau of Investigation agents reportedly arrested the former officer at his home in suburban Matteson. Following his arrest, the man purportedly pleaded not guilty at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago. The man’s arrest was apparently the third time in three months that criminal charges were filed against a current or former Markham law enforcement officer.

In 2010, the Chicago Tribune reported that the former police officer was sued for alleged abuse and other matters a minimum of 13 times in six years. In September 2010, the former police officer was purportedly indicted on federal civil rights charges in connection with another alleged sexual abuse. In addition, the man was supposedly sued an additional four times between 2010 and 2012. The former officer reportedly resigned from his position with the Markham Police Department in 2012.

Although the former police officer accused in this case was criminally charged for the alleged abuse, an individual who suffered sexual abuse may be entitled to recover financial damages by filing a civil lawsuit. In addition to the purported abuser, other entities such as a church, school, hospital, or nursing home may also be held liable for sexual abuse that occurred on the business or organization’s premises if inadequate safety measures led to the abuse.

Sadly, the victims of sexual abuse are reportedly three times more likely to suffer from depression than the average American. In addition, such victims are allegedly four times more likely to consider suicide, 13 times more likely to develop an alcohol problem, and 26 times more likely to abuse drugs. In Illinois and across the nation, an estimated 15 percent of sexual abuse victims are under the age of 12 and 44 percent are under the age of 18. Approximately 93 percent of sexually abused children knew their attacker prior to being abused.

Sexual abuse often results in significant and lifelong emotional and psychological damage. In children, school performance may be affected and dramatic behavioral changes may result. If you or your child was the victim of sexual abuse, you should contact a quality personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Continue reading

| By

A 58-year-old woman was recently killed in a public bus accident that occurred on the South Side of Chicago. According to Police News Affairs Officer Veejay Zala, the woman was riding a PACE suburban bus that was headed south on Halsted Street when the driver suddenly swerved to avoid a pedestrian in the road. The bus driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle and struck a nearby pole. The force of the impact purportedly caused extensive damage to the bus and seriously injured a 58-year-old passenger. A representative for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office stated emergency responders transported the hurt woman to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital where she was unfortunately pronounced dead.

It is not clear how many passengers were riding the PACE bus at the time of the accident. The exact cause of the fatal crash is currently under investigation by the Chicago Police Major Accident Investigation Unit. The 53-year-old bus driver was allegedly cited for damage to public property in connection with the collision.

Thousands of people throughout Chicago travel on passenger buses every day. Children headed to school, commuters on their way to work, and many other individuals rely on bus drivers to get them to their destination in a safe and timely manner. All buses that are used to transport passengers in Illinois must be regularly inspected for safety hazards. Additionally, the Illinois Vehicle Code requires school bus operators in our state to adhere to more rigorous safety requirements. Despite a number of safety laws and regulations, many Chicago bus passengers are hurt or killed in unexpected crashes each year. Although some bus accidents are caused by other motorists, such collisions too often result from bus company, driver, or manufacturer negligence.

Because most passenger buses do not provide riders with a seat belt, the wounds sustained in a Chicago area bus crash may be severe. In addition to physical injuries, many accident victims are also faced with a number of financial hardships such as lost wages and temporary or permanent disability. If you were injured or a family member was killed while riding as a passenger on a bus, you should discuss your right to financial recovery with a quality bus accident lawyer as soon as you are able.
Continue reading

| By

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), 957 people died in a traffic accident in Illinois in 2012. If you travel on one of the freeways or tollways located throughout the state, you likely already knew that. As part of a statewide safety campaign, IDOT message boards across the State of Illinois have alerted drivers to the overall traffic accident fatality rate as it steadily climbed since last summer. According to IDOT’s Director of Traffic Safety, John Weber, the safety campaign is planned to continue throughout 2013.

The decision to use highway message boards to publish traffic death numbers was reportedly made last May. At that time, accident fatality rates were up by 65 over the same time in 2011. Weber stated although only 39 more individuals died in an Illinois crash in 2012 than in 2011, it is currently unclear whether the signs had an effect on the car accident death rate during the last half of the year. Still, Weber reportedly remains optimistic that the safety campaign may be beneficial to Illinois motorists. He added that most drivers approve of using the signs in an effort to increase both motorist and passenger safety.

According to Weber, during the first week of 2013, there were only three traffic deaths throughout Illinois. In 2012, that number was at least 12. IDOT data shows that as of the end of February, however, crash deaths are up over 2012. 17 of those traffic deaths reportedly occurred in Chicago and 31 people were killed in a Cook County collision.

Fatal traffic crashes may be caused by any number of factors including speeding, driver impairment, carelessness, or simple negligence. In addition, many vehicle accident deaths allegedly result from a driver or passenger’s failure to utilize a seat belt. All individuals traveling in an automobile in Illinois are required to wear a safety belt. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) claims more than 12,000 lives were saved by safety belt use across the country in 2009. Using a seat belt also allegedly decreases the risk of catastrophic injury and death for passengers riding in the front seat of a vehicle by almost half.

In 2011, approximately 84 percent of Americans reportedly fastened their safety belt when riding in a passenger vehicle. Seat belt use is supposedly higher in primary enforcement states like Illinois. Primary enforcement means a law enforcement official may stop a motorist based solely on a violation of the seat belt law. For unexplained reasons, motorists and passengers are allegedly more likely to travel in a car without utilizing a safety restraint at night. The NHTSA also found that fatal automobile crashes are three times more likely to occur at night than during the day. If you lost a family member in a Chicago car accident, you may be entitled to recover funeral expenses and other damages. If you have questions about your right to recovery, you should contact a quality wrongful death attorney to discuss your case.
Continue reading

| By

In February, four civil lawsuits were filed on behalf of anonymous men against a convicted pedophile and two area school districts. The Cook County Circuit Court lawsuits accuse 76-year-old Thomas Hacker of sexually assaulting four boys in the 1970s and 1980s while he was employed by the two school districts. Hacker is currently serving a 100-year-prison sentence in connection with the sexual abuse of 34 other boys.

One of the recently filed cases also names the Burbank Park District where Hacker purportedly worked as a Director as a defendant. In that lawsuit, the unidentified plaintiff claims Hacker molested him on school district property on more than one occasion when he was 10 years old. Three other lawsuits name Chicago Public Schools, where Hacker was reportedly employed as a teacher in an elementary school, as a defendant. All four of the lawsuits allege the two school districts were negligent when they failed to conduct a pre-employment criminal background check on Hacker. Before Hacker moved to Chicago, he was previously convicted of sexual abuse in both Indiana and Mt. Prospect, Illinois. Still, he was allegedly continuously employed by an area school district for approximately 17 years.

In December 2012, a sexual abuse case against Hacker and the Boy Scouts of America was reportedly filed in Cook County. The plaintiff in that case alleges that repressed memories of the purported abuse surfaced after the Boy Scouts released about 1,200 so-called “perversion” files in October. Hacker’s name was allegedly included in the Boy Scouts’ file. That lawsuit is currently still pending.

Unfortunately, the victims of childhood sexual assault do not always come forward immediately due to fear or embarrassment. In the State of Illinois, the statute of limitations for sexual abuse of a child is now longer than for other types of personal injury cases. Since 2011, individuals who were sexually abused while a minor have until their 38th birthday to file an injury lawsuit against their abuser. In addition, a victim of sexual assault who has repressed any memories of the abuse has 20 years from the date he or she realized the abuse occurred to file a lawsuit. Children who were sexually assaulted prior to 2011 may face a reduced statute of limitations. If you were sexually abused as a child, you should contact a skilled personal injury lawyer to discuss your options.
Continue reading

| By

A construction worker was recently injured while working on a four-story building project at Edward Hospital in Naperville. According to Naperville Fire Department Bureau Chief Kevin Lyne, the man was hurt while standing on the roof of the hospital’s West Building after construction material fell on him. Although the man did not fall to the ground below, firefighters were reportedly summoned to rescue him from the building’s roof. Emergency responders purportedly called a Specialized Rescue Response Team to the scene of the incident in order to bring the injured man down. Lyne said rescue crews took more than half an hour to lower the construction worker to the ground using a crane. Once on the ground, the worker was reportedly taken inside of the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Hospital operations were purportedly not affected and construction resumed after the injured worker was rescued.

Thousands of construction and other workers throughout the United States are injured or killed in workplace accidents every year. According to the nation’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls are the number one cause of workplace deaths throughout the country. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 created OSHA in an effort to protect construction, industrial, and other employees from unsafe conditions at work. Under the Act, employers must provide workers with a reasonably safe working environment, information regarding possible workplace safety hazards, safety training, and other safety-related requirements. Additionally, employers must comply with all federal health and safety regulations. In general, when a serious workplace injury occurs in Illinois and elsewhere OSHA will investigate whether an employer complied with federal safety requirements.

Normally, injuries sustained at an Illinois workplace are subject to state workers’ compensation laws. Sometimes, however, a third party such as a general contractor or equipment manufacturer may be held responsible for failing to adhere to state or federal safety requirements. For example, the company that manufactured a dangerous or defective piece of construction machinery may be held liable for any worker injury that resulted during use of the product. Similarly, a general contractor at a building site such as the hospital in this case has a duty to warn construction employees about potential safety hazards. If you or someone you love was harmed in a construction or other workplace accident, you are advised to contact a quality attorney to discuss your options for financial recovery.
Continue reading

| By

Over the past four years, there were no fatal accidents that involved a United States commercial airline. Unfortunately, during the same four years, at least 100,000 people were killed in preventable traffic collisions across the country. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states more than 32,000 people die in traffic wrecks throughout the nation every year. Authorities in at least half of states would reportedly like to see traffic crash deaths become a thing of the past.

In 2009, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) reportedly adopted an aggressive goal of zero traffic deaths as part of an overall strategic highway safety plan. Approximately 30 states have allegedly adopted the same goal. Although experts purportedly claim eliminating all traffic fatalities is not currently possible, the immediate focus of the zero deaths campaign is allegedly on stopping the types of preventable wrecks that normally lead to fatalities.

A study recently conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota reportedly found jurisdictions that focus on education, enforcement, engineering, and providing emergency medical services are the most successful at reducing traffic death rates. As part of the study, researchers compared traffic accident fatalities in a number of states prior to and after zero death campaigns began. According to lead study author and Director of Minnesota’s Center for Excellence in Rural Safety, Lee W. Munnich Jr., targeting resources to priority programs appeared to lower accident fatalities the most significantly. In addition, Munnich stated behavioral challenges such as convincing motorists not to engage in impaired driving were the most difficult risk factors to stop.

IDOT officials claim raising public awareness regarding the societal costs associated with traffic deaths may help reduce crash rates. Many reportedly believe reducing roadway fatalities by at least half is an attainable goal. Since 2009, Illinois has successfully reduced annual crash deaths to a rate that is below 1,000. IDOT officials reportedly believe this is due in large part to an increasing number of motorists and passengers using their seat belts. In 2003, a safety belt violation became a primary traffic offense in Illinois. This means a police officer may stop a vehicle based solely on a seat belt violation. Since then, the compliance rate has risen to an estimated 94 percent. Still, data reportedly shows that about half of all people killed in an Illinois traffic crash were not wearing a seat belt.

If you lost a loved one in a preventable traffic accident, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation for your loved one’s wrongful death. Certain relatives of someone killed in an automobile crash that was caused by another driver’s negligence may be eligible to recover the costs associated with their relative’s medical bills, funeral expenses, grief, and other damages. A qualified Chicago car accident lawyer can explain your rights in more detail.
Continue reading

| By

A 27-year-old bicyclist was reportedly critically hurt when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver on North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago. The Lakeview resident and bicycle courier was allegedly hit just before noon near Wood Street while on his way home from Wicker Park. According to the bicyclist’s mother, the man was wearing a safety helmet at the time of the accident. Still he was allegedly transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with a cracked skull, 23 broken ribs, a punctured lung, cracked vertebrae, and a number of other broken bones.

The man’s mother stated the bicyclist only remembers being struck by the door of a vehicle that unexpectedly opened in his path and waking up inside of an ambulance. A witness reportedly told paramedics that the bicycle rider was also hit by a truck. Due to the severity of his injuries, authorities reviewed video footage taken at a nearby bank to determine whether the 27-year-old was indeed struck by a second vehicle. The security camera allegedly captured a white pick-up truck running over the man before driving away. The bicyclist’s parents have reportedly issued a plea asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to come forward.

In 2008, bicycle accidents purportedly killed 27 people and hurt an additional 3,385 throughout Illinois. The Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Traffic Safety data claims there were 577 bicycle accidents involving a car door in the Chicago Metro between 2009 and September 7, 2012. Such collisions allegedly occur most frequently on heavily traveled roadways. In addition, more bicycle accidents that involved a car door purportedly occurred on the North Side of Chicago, in Hyde Park, and near the University of Chicago.

Bicyclists in Illinois are required to obey the same laws as other drivers while traveling on streets and other roadways. Unfortunately, most bicycle crashes that involve an adult are caused by automobile drivers who simply fail to yield to bicyclists at traffic signals and stop signs. If you were hurt by a motorist while traveling on your bicycle in Chicago, you should contact a skilled personal injury attorney as soon as possible to discuss your rights.
Continue reading

| By

In a report that was recently published in the journal Injury Prevention, researchers claim motorcyclists over age 60 are three times more likely to sustain a serious injury in a crash than their younger counterparts. As part of the study, researchers at Brown University reportedly analyzed motorcycle accident data included in the United States National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program between 2001 and 2008. The study authors then allegedly identified about 1.5 million collisions that involved a person over the age of 20 who received care at a hospital emergency room and divided the victims into three age groups. According to researchers, although motorcycle crash rates increased for all age groups between 2001 and 2008, injury rates for individuals over age 60 purportedly rose by nearly 250 percent. In addition, riders who were between the ages of 40 and 59 were purportedly twice as likely to be treated at a hospital after a wreck as younger motorcyclists.

Researchers claim that the two older age groups were significantly more likely to sustain a severe injury than those between the ages of 20 and 39. The most common injuries reportedly included broken bones and dislocations. The study authors claim older riders were at an increased risk for such injuries, especially near the rib cage. In addition, internal organ damage and traumatic brain injuries were also allegedly more likely to occur as a biker advanced in age. Regardless of age, researchers claim that approximately 85 percent of individuals hurt in a motorcycle crash across the nation are male.

Researchers stated the results of the study are particularly troubling because statistics demonstrate that an increasing number of older Americans are now driving motorcycles. In fact, the number of riders over age 50 increased from one in 10 to one in four between 1990 and 2003. Additionally, the age of injured motorcyclists purportedly increased steadily between 2000 and 2006. The study authors hypothesized that the rate and severity of injuries among older riders may have resulted from physiological changes such as decreased elasticity and weaker bones that normally occur with the aging process.

Too often, motorcycle riders are catastrophically hurt or killed when involved in a collision with another vehicle. Because riders are provided with little protection, motorcyclists may suffer paralysis, traumatic head and spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, fractured bones, or even death. Although some reportedly believe motorcyclists are more likely to engage in unsafe driving behavior, most motorcycle crashes in our state are caused by another driver’s negligence. Because Illinois is a comparative negligence accident state, a motorcycle rider may be eligible to recover financial damages for any injuries sustained in a wreck even if he or she was somehow partially to blame. If you or a loved one was injured a Chicago motorcycle accident, you should contact a skilled lawyer as soon as you are able.
Continue reading

Search
Our Other Blog
Contact Us
  1. 1 Free Consultation
  2. 2 Available 24/7
  3. 3 No fee unless you WIN
Complete the contact form or call us at (312) 924-7575 or (855) 529-2442 to schedule your free consultation.

Facebook IconTwitter IconLinkedIn IconJustia IconYouTube IconFeed Icon

Contact Information
100 N LaSalle St #1710
Chicago, IL 60602
Toll Free: (855) 529-2442Phone: (312) 924-7575Fax: (312) 924-7555

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail. The contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which is not secure. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Copyright © 2025, Abels & Annes, P.C.
JUSTIA Law Firm Blog Design