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Illinois work comp attorney Nicole Sommerfeld has had a busy year so far, making some of her clients very happy.

In one workers’ compensation case, she obtained over $46,000 for a Chicago public school teacher who was hurt when she slipped and fell on ice in a teacher parking lot. The accident occurred in February, 2011, and the claimant injured her right knee when she fell. At first she tried to ice her knee at home, but she soon realized she was having significant pain that would not be going away on its own.

Shortly after the accident she started medical treatment at Hinsdale Orthopedics. Diagnostic testing showed she sustained a torn meniscus. She had to have right knee reconstructive surgery to repair the tear.

After a period of recovery, she started physical therapy which lasted several months. She was released from her doctor’s care around 10 months later when she reached maximum medical improvement.

In addition to the $46,000 settlement, our office recovered approximately an additional $25,800 in lost wages for client, representing 30 weeks that she was off work due to the accident. Further, her medical bills were paid.

In another case our office recovered just over $44,000 for a CTA bus driver who developed carpal tunnel in both of her wrists due to repetitive motion on the job. Because of her condition, she eventually underwent bilateral wrist carpal tunnel releases at Rush University Medical Center in 2010.

The CTA employee’s pain started in early 2009. She recalled one time when the power steering failed on her bus. The vehicle was drivable but it was very difficult to make turns and involved a lot of force in her hand and in her grip. She developed a shooting pain in her right wrist that went up to her elbow, and her entire hand felt numb. At first she tried to take ibuprofen which did not help.

She then started treating with an orthopedic physician at Midwest Orthopedics at Rush Hospital in March, 2009. At that time she complained of bilateral hand and wrist tingling.

In April, 2009 she saw her doctor again and her symptoms had gotten worse. She was given a splint to wear at night to help her sleep. The physician continued to keep her off work, as she could not do any type of repetitive motion or drive her bus. She was unable to lift anything above 5 pounds.

She was given an EMG on her right side at the end of April. It noted borderline abnormal right focal median motor neuropathy with no evidence of peripheral neuropathy or brachial plexopathy. She was still having pain in both hands. She underwent a right wrist carpal tunnel injection at that time. She was diagnosed that month with bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome.
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Illinois car crash lawyers at Abels & Annes are currently representing a Dolton, Illinois resident who was injured in an accident.

This claim arises out of an automobile collision which took place at or near the intersection of Lincoln and Dorchester in Dolton on August 11, 2011, at approximately 3:51 p.m. The plaintiff was riding as a passenger in a 2005 Toyota Sequoia being driven by an acquaintance. He was injured when the automobile he was a passenger in was side-swiped by a vehicle driven by an uninsured motorist.

The Toyota was moving northwest on Lincoln near its intersection with Dorchester. The vehicle stopped in the left-most lane, signaling a left turn into US Bank. At this location, left turns are permitted and there is no separate left turn lane for turning into the bank.

At that same time, another vehicle, in 1999 Ford Explorer, was traveling northwest on Lincoln near its intersection with Dorchester. That vehicle disregarded the turning vehicle and passed the vehicle on the left. The other driver drove northwest in a lane designated for southeast traffic only. As the Ford Explorer passed by driving on the wrong side of the road, the other driver struck the driver’s side of the Toyota with the passenger side of her car.

The force of the collision threw our client back and forth inside the car. His right shoulder struck the passenger door and his left wrist struck the center console.

The other driver failed to keep a proper lookout, improperly used lanes of traffic, improperly passed on the left, failed to yield the right of way, failed to stop and/or reduce the speed of her vehicle to avoid a collision, was driving at an excessive rate of speed, and failed to exercise due care for the safety of those in the area, including the plaintiff.

The accident was investigated by the Dolton Police Department. After interviewing the parties involved, they determined that the Ford driver was at fault.

Unfortunately, the driver of the Ford Explorer was operating a vehicle without valid auto insurance. Due to this fact, our office is pursuing an uninsured motorist claim against the Toyota owner’s insurance policy. Click here to read more about Illinois uninsured motorist claims.

Following the collision, the plaintiff had an immediate onset of back, shoulder and wrist pain.

Shortly after the collision, the client sought medical treatment at a doctor’s office. There, he complained of right shoulder pain and lower back pain. A history was taken and a physical examination was performed. On exam, he had pain on palpation of his lower back, pain in his right shoulder and decreased range of motion in his shoulder. He was diagnosed with a low back sprain and a right shoulder injury. He was prescribed muscle relaxants, instructed to take pain medication and told to follow up for additional treatment.

Due to ongoing and increasing pain, he returned to the physician on August 23, 2011. At that time he continued to complain of pain in his right shoulder and lower back. He was instructed to continue his medication and to return for follow up care.
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Chicago premises liability attorneys recently reached a good settlement for a client in a tough case.

The incident occurred at a local health club where the plaintiff was playing basketball with friends. He was not a member of the club and was not officially allowed in as a guest. He entered the club with another member without having to sign in and he was not required to sign any waiver before entering the club.

The defendant health club owner owned, occupied and controlled the fitness facility, and therefore had a duty of care to operate and maintain the club in a reasonably safe manner under the circumstances.

While they were playing basketball, someone reported to one of Defendants’ employees that there was water on the basketball court, and that someone should clean it up. However, none of Defendants’ employees responded to this notice by cleaning the basketball floor and the plaintiff was unaware of the condition. Subsequently, our client slipped on the water and fell, fracturing his left leg.

The defendant health club denied that they and/or their employees were notified that there was water on the court.

While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, someone that the plaintiff was playing basketball with was pressured by the health club manager on duty into signing a guest profile with our client’s name on it.

The defendants had policies requiring non-members to be screened & forms before entering facility, and further requiring that employees walk non-members through the facility and explain the rules, including a rule that states that non-members are not allowed on the basketball court. None of the policies were followed when dealing with the plaintiff in this case.

Defendants’ policies also require that employees perform a walk-through of the facility at the beginning of every shift, and recommend that employees perform a walk-through every hour. Once again, Defendants violated this policy by failing to monitor the facility’s basketball floor for wetness and other risk hazards, as well as by failing to make towels and other water removal supplies readily available. Moreover, in spite of being notified that there was water on the basketball court floor, Defendants failed to respond.

At the time of the injury, our client experienced excruciating pain in his left leg. He was transported from Defendants’ facility to Northwestern Memorial Hospital by ambulance. The paramedics found him lying prone on the floor of the basketball court with visual deformity to his left leg and hip. They noted that his breathing was labored, that his injury was painful and distracting, and that he complained of numbness to his arms, fingers, and face.

At the hospital the plaintiff was hospitalized overnight. He presented with left thigh pain, noticeable deformity of the left femur, and tingling in his fingers. An x-ray of his left femur showed a fracture of the middle third of the femur.

Approximately one month after discharge, the client followed up with a medical doctor, who noted atrophy over the quadriceps. The physician prescribed physical therapy treatment. He had a second follow-up visit with the doctor a few months later. On that visit, the physican noted that ht eplaintiff was back on his crutches and was still experiencing pain and swelling. He prescribed additional physical therapy treatment. The plaintiff received extensive physical therapy treatment, posture re-education, and other treatment at Saint Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center for approximately two months.

Our client also treated with a doctor at Winfield Moody Health Center. That treater performed several tests and regulated the client’s medication.

The plaintiff continued to experience some discomfort due to his injuries for many months. Future medical issues and treatment may occur.
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Thought bicycling accidents in Chicago weren’t a big deal? Think again! According to Crash Portal, there have been more than 4,930 bicycle accidents reported in the City of Chicago from 2007 to 2009.

And these accidents claimed the lives of a dozen cyclists. The distribution of these accidents throughout the city is pretty even, with a slightly higher concentration of accidents reported in the Loop, which is probably to be expected. With that being said, the obvious exception is Milwaukee Avenue, where drivers are evidently playing human Frogger with cyclists. Cyclists, watch out for those doors!Our Chicago Personal Lawyer Blog recently reported that our city is trying to increase safety for bicyclists. And we recently noted all of the improvements being made through the Chicago Bicycle Program. Meanwhile, Mayor Emanuel is still working at fulfilling his promise of 100 more miles of safe bike routes to help increase safety for cyclists throughout the city.

In the last year, the city has opened 20 miles of new bike lanes, about 10 miles or newly marked shared lanes, about 2 miles of protected bike lanes, a mile of bike lanes with brand new striping and a mile of newly buffered bicycle lanes. While these improvements are wonderful, they don’t mean much without cooperation from motorists. Drivers still need to be aware of their surroundings and of cyclists near and on our roadways. These two-wheeled travelers are extremely vulnerable in the event of an accident with a motor vehicle. Unfortunately, many of these accidents end in death.

Right now, there are nearly 120 miles of on-street bike lanes, over 30 miles of shared marked bike lanes, a number of off-street biking paths, nearly 15,000 bicycle racks and high-capacity, sheltered, bike parking areas at CTA stations around the city. It’s no wonder why residents and visitors take advantage of these amenities. Officials in Chicago are working diligently to make this city a mecca for bicyclists.

Bicycle Accident Statistics, (Illinois, 2008), according to My Fox Chicago:

-Nearly 30 bicyclists were killed.

-Nearly 3,390 bicyclists were injured.

-The yearly estimated costs for these kinds of accidents are close to $10 billion.

-The average age of cyclists who were killed was 41-years-old. More than a third of all fatal bicycle accidents occurred to riders between the ages of 35- and 54-years-old.

-About 80 percent of the accident victims were men.

Riders are asked to hit our streets with a plan. Preparation is the best step is helping to prevent an accident. While you’re at it, make sure you check out the Chicago Bike Map.

Lastly, remember to stay out of the “Door Zone.” This is the 4-foot area alongside a parked car. This is where many cyclists experience “dooring,” when a cyclist is injured after running into an unexpected opening car door. When riding in a bike lane, ride on the left side of the lane-at least 4 feet from parked cars.
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Chicago child injury attorneys at Abels & Annes often handle cases where kids have been hurt in traffic collisions.

A new crash test dummy is hitting the market and it’s being used to help keep your child safe in the event of a car accident in Chicago and elsewhere. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the new dummy is being used to test all of the new booster seats and car seats for kids who weigh more than 65 pounds. The new kid dummy represents a 10-year-old child and it is the newest edition to the NHTSA’s family of crash test dummies. It’s the best and most accurate tool available for testing child seats and for assessing the risk of injury among children who use higher-weight child car seat systems.”It’s good news that manufacturers are making more car seats and boosters than ever before,” said the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Secretary, Ray LaHood.

Child car seats are always changing to meet consumers’ needs. It’s more important now more than ever to make sure that safety regulators have the most advanced tools to help them to evaluate just how well these seats are going to work in the event of an accident. The new child dummy really is breakthrough technology for the DOT’s crash test program. Officials see this new addition as a giant step forward in helping them to better evaluate the performance of child car seats.

The new dummy was created to help make sure that child seats are meeting the newly updated child car seat requirements. It will also be able to provide brand new information regarding the specific risks for injury using knee and head excursions and even chest acceleration.

According to the final rule that was recently issued by the NHTSA, the new federal car seat standards will include booster seats and kid car seats for children who are more than 65 pounds and less than 80 pounds. The new standard will also be used to test how well these new kid car seats will deal with collision energy and whether or not the seat’s structure will stay intact when the dummy is used.

Car seat manufacturers will be allowed 24 months to certify their higher-weight car and booster seat to meet the new requirements.

Even though the new dummy is a huge step in the journey to better child protection in the event of an accident, David Strickland of the NHTSA says that the Administration is already trying to take the next step it can take to better protect these young passengers.

Remember that none of these tests and none of these newly designed seats will help you to protect your child in the event of an accident if they’re not used correctly. Buckle up your little passenger during every car ride!
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A recent six-car accident in Chicago killed two people and injured three others, according to WLS 890AM. The accident happened on Dan Ryan Expressway near West 47th Street at about 11:15 a.m. Illinois State Police report that alcohol may have been a contributing factor in this accident.Involved in the accident were two cars, a tour bus with nine passengers, two semis and a minivan, according to ISP Master Sgt. Joseph Stangl. Accident reports state that the chain-reaction accident started when the tour bus hit a semi, which then jack-knifed, straightened out and drove away. To avoid a collision with the tour bus, a passenger car swerved out of the way but was then hit by another semi. That car swerved the other way and then slammed into a concrete median. Lastly, a minivan slid sideways into the second semi. Names have not been released because charges are still pending.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that a 62- and a 57-year-old were killed in this accident. Also injured in the accident were two 57-year-olds and a 21-year-old. The accident was so severe that officials had to close down the southbound lanes for roughly five hours. Unfortunately, many accidents that occur on our state’s expressway produce catastrophic results like this one, because of the speed of traveling vehicles.

This is a perfect example as to why driving on interstates, highways and on expressways can be so dangerous. One wrong move from a driver can cause a chain reaction of accidents. Drivers and road hazards can set off these types of accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that thousands are killed in highway accidents in the U.S. every year. Because traffic is traveling at such high speeds on these roadways, accidents can be severe. Luckily, there are a few safety tips that we can all practice to help increase roadway safety on these busy streets.

Safe Driving Tips:

-Always maintain a safe following distance. You never want to tailgate or follow too closely. This only reduces your reaction time and increases your risks for an accident. Experts suggest the 3 second rule.

-Always keep an eye on what’s going on in front of you. Knowing what you’re approaching can help you to react better and more quickly.

-Always follow the posted speed limit. When you exceed the speed limit, you’re decreasing your reaction time. Speeding also increases your stopping time and distance.

-Know what’s going on in your blind spots. Whenever you’re changing lanes, make sure you physically look to see what is in your blind spots. Mirrors overlook these areas. Just turn your head back for a second and check.

-Always use your blinkers. Let other drivers know your intended maneuvers. Predictability is critical in reducing risks for an accident.
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Even in the middle of winter, Chicago accident attorneys at Abels & Annes receive phone calls about collisions involving bicyclists. More and more area residents are riding bicycles, and motorists often fail to keep a proper lookout for them. Just this morning I was behind a vehicle in traffic that changed lanes without looking, cutting off the path of the bicyclist. If not for a quick turn by the bike rider, there could have been a serious collision.

The City of Chicago continues to try to prevent these accidents. In a recent announcement, the Chicago Department of Transportation notified residents that the Chicago Bicycle Program installed and painted new stripes on nearly 40 miles of on-street bicycle facilities in the city in 2011. This is a giant victory for the city, and for bicyclists, considering only about 10 miles of lanes were completed in 2010.

The Chicago Bike Program continues to work diligently to make our city safer for bicyclists and to reduce the risks of bicycle accidents in Chicago. If you remember, Mayor Emanuel made a promise as he took office to complete 100 miles of safe bike routes to help increase safety in Chicago. He’s still carrying out that plan and bicyclists across the city thank him!”Mayor Emanuel’s commitment to making Chicago a pioneer in bikeway design and implementation has fueled these remarkable achievements,” said Commissioner Gabe Klein Chicago Department of Transportation.

We also have to recognize that the fight against these types of accidents is far from over. But the City does seem to be making progress. In 2011, CDOT was able complete installation and restriping of more about 40 miles of on-street bicycle areas through more than 50 different safety projects in more than 30 wards in the city. Now that we’re in 2012, the city is striving for even bigger accomplishments.

Chicago Bicycling Safety Achievements in 2011:

-More than 15 miles of brand new bicycle lanes.

-Nearly 10 miles of restriping.

-Nearly 10 miles of newly-marked shared lanes.

-About 2 miles of protected bicycle lanes.

-A new mile of buffered bicycle lanes.

-One mile of restriped shared bicycle lanes.

There were a lot of firsts for the Bike Program in 2011, too. These firsts included the first bicycle-friendly intersection designs, the first bike boxes, the first buffered bicycle lane and the first protected bicycle lane. The Department was also able to install the city’s very first on-street bicycle parking corral. This is the corral in Wicker Park.

Some of the most important achievements in 2011 included the completion of Kinzie Street, 18th Street and Jackson Boulevard bikeway infrastructure projects.

On the Kinzie Street infrastructure, bicycle riding has increased because riders reportedly feel safer along this roadway now. What counts as a double win is the fact that this new design hasn’t hindered vehicular travel.

Mayor Emanuel is still committed to fulfilling his promise of installing 100 miles of protected bike lanes during his term as the city’s mayor. To make it better, plans for 2012 have already begun.

2012 Safe Biking Plans:

-Install protected bike lanes along Elston Avenue.

-Install protected bike lanes along the west side boulevards.

-New bikeways within a half a mile of every Chicago resident by 2015.
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Another child has suffered some serious injuries in Chicago because of a falling TV, according to NBC Chicago.

A large, box-style television set reportedly fell off of a bookshelf and onto a 2-year-old girl. Local police say that the accident happened around 3 p.m. at the little girl’s home on South Union Street in Aurora. The child was transported to Rush-Copley Medical Center. It has not yet been determined how the television fell off the shelf.Our Chicago premises liability understand that there have been an overwhelming number of reports of TVs falling on children in the area in recent years.

Back in November, a 3-year-old was killed after a television fell on her in Hamilton Park. In October, a 6-year-old boy was killed after his television fell on his head. Just last month, a 4-year-old was killed. A 1-year-old and a 2-year-old were also killed earlier this month in similar tip-over situations.

These reports are causing some serious concern nationwide, too. As a matter of fact, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports there were nearly 250 deaths resulting from tip-over accidents from 2000 to 2010. All of these accident reports involved children under the age of 9. About 90 percent of these cases involved children who were under the age of 6. In nearly 60 percent of these reports, children were crushed by the weight of an appliance, a television or some kind of furniture. Nearly 70 percent of these fatalities were the result of injuries to the head.

The problem gets even worse. Approximately 22,000 children under the age of 9 were sent to emergency rooms from 2008 to 2010 because of injuries sustained in a tip-over accident. Again, a majority of these injuries were sustained to the victim’s head.

“Children like to climb on furniture. Placing TVs on furniture not intended for them or having furniture that is not secured can have tragic consequences,” said Chairman Inez Tenenbaum.

Tenenbaum would like to remind parents that these types of accidents can be easily prevented with a few low-cost steps, like anchoring down heavy devices, televisions, dressers, etc.

More Tips to Help Prevent Tip-Over Accidents:

-Anchor furniture to the floor or to the wall.

-Always put television sets on low, sturdy bases.

-Anchor your television to the furniture it’s on and then anchor that furniture to the wall or the floor.

-Push your furniture and television as close to the wall as possible.

-Keep toys, remote controls and other items children may be tempted to play with away from TV stands and other dangerous furniture.

-Remove all cable cords and electrical cords from a child’s reach.

-Always supervise children in rooms with these items.

-Be sure to equip your stoves and ranges with anti-tip brackets.
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A 27-year-old man has been arrested on charges of reckless homicide and aggravated DUI after authorities say his action caused a deadly Chicago Transit Authority crash this month.

It was the second such accident to happen in a single week.

Chicago personal injury lawyers are aware that CTA buses average one accident every single day, according to records kept by the Federal Transit Administration.

While not all of these instances result in injury or death, it is a risk riders take every time they get on a city train or bus. And a risk motorists and pedestrians take whenever they are traveling in close proximity to these large buses.

According to The Associated Press, the incident involving the 27-year-old happened early Sunday morning on the city’s South Side. Police say the CTA bus was heading southbound, while a vehicle heading north bound crossed over into the bus lane and hit it. The driver’s 31-year-old passenger was killed.

A number of passengers were on the bus as well, though all of them refused medical treatment, and none were taken to the hospital.

The AP reported that in addition to the homicide and DUI charges the driver faces, he was also cited for speeding, failing to stay in his lane and not having a license or insurance.

Another incident unfolded Thursday when a car was struck by a train on the CTA’s Blue Line.

Mass delays were reported when a car jumped a retaining wall on the Eisenhower Expressway on the West Side. The newspaper reported the car rammed into a retaining wall, landed on the tracks and was struck by a train. It took crews more than three hours to repair the damage and get the tracks back in working order once again.

According to the Chicago Tribune, there had been 30 passengers on the train at the time of the accident Thursday, and seven had to be transported to the hospital.

The driver of the car was able to get out before the train hit, but two passengers who had been inside were not able to escape. They were also transported to the hospital for treatment, though it does not appear their injuries were life-threatening.

It may seem that incidents such as these are rare. But in fact, the FTA has determined that Chicago’s public transportation system has some serious safety flaws. Fox Chicago News has reported that our public bus systems have more crashes than any of the nine other largest public bus systems in the nation. In fact, there is at least one crash every single day involving CTA buses.

In 2010, CTA officials said they were not happy with those numbers, and vowed to change them. They said they would focus on training their drivers, specifically on defensive driving techniques.

It’s unclear whether the department has followed through with that strategy, but what is obvious is that these type of accidents continue to occur.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the CTA is the second-largest public transportation system in the country, and covers more than 40 suburbs. On any given day during the week, the CTA picks up nearly 2 million riders, and there are more than 2,000 buses that operate on more than 150 routes over more than 2,200 miles. That breaks down to 12,000 bus stops – and countless opportunities for injuries.
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In the past month there has been a series of six wrong way auto collisions in the Chicago area, ABC news is reporting. The most recent Illinois auto accident occurred on the Eisenhower Expressway.

An accident victim who survived was interviewed by ABC and said that as he was driving to work on Saturday morning inbound on Interstate 290 in the area of Austin he was faced with the situation of a van headed the wrong way towards him traveling at a high rate of speed. “I just said oh my God and I just turned my car”, the motorist reported.

Three people were hurt on Lakeshore Drive near Roosevelt on February 9th after a Chicago resident operated an $80,000 Nissan sports car going the wrong direction. NBC news reported that the vehicle was traveling northbound and southbound lanes when it struck a white Toyota around 2 AM, and then careened into a van.

The woman driving the Nissan and her passenger, along with the Toyota driver, were taken by ambulance to Northwestern Hospital. Rescue personnel had to cut the roof off of the Nissan to extricate the passenger.

The sports car involved was a Nissan GT-R, which some consider a dangerous street legal race car. The vehicle has a V-6 530 hp engine that tops out at 193 m.p.h and goes from 0-60 in 3.8 seconds. The Nissan was actually just on display at the Chicago auto show.

Prior to the Lakeshore Drive accident, as we previously reported on our Chicago car accident lawyers blog, four men were killed on Interstate 80 when the driver of that vehicle headed the wrong way down the highway.

IDOT states that drivers heading the wrong direction has become a common occurrence, taking place 30 to 40 times a year on average in Illinois alone. IDOT is starting to take a look at how to reduce these accidents, considering they often cause severe or fatal injuries. Most of these crashes involve alcohol and most occur at night in urban areas.

The State currently has Wrong Way and Do Not Enter signs posted at ramps exiting and entering highways. The question now becomes whether more can be done to prevent these accidents.
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