Articles Posted in Car Accident

An early morning two-vehicle collision in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood recently claimed the life a 67-year-old woman. According to Chicago Police Officer John Mirabelli, the woman was riding in the backseat of a Volkswagon Golf that was headed south on Pulaski Street around 4:45 am when a northbound Chevrolet Blazer entered the southbound lane. The Blazer reportedly struck the passenger side of the Golf despite that the 25-year-old driver of the Volkswagon swerved in an attempt to avoid a collision.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said emergency responders transported the 67-year-old woman to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center where she was pronounced dead about half an hour after the wreck. The driver of the Golf was reportedly taken to the same hospital with unknown injuries. Mirabelli said a 25-year-old man who was riding in the front seat of the Volkswagon refused medical treatment.

The driver of the Blazer allegedly fled the scene of the fatal accident. Mirabelli said the man was later apprehended and interviewed by police. The cause of the wreck is currently being examined by Chicago’s Major Accident Investigation Unit. At this time, no charges have been filed against the driver of the Blazer.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 918 people were killed in Illinois traffic accidents last year. Sadly, the total number of traffic fatalities in our state in 2012 will be even higher. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows that fatal accidents like this one are three times more likely to occur when it is dark outside than during the day. In fact, approximately half of all driver and passenger deaths across the nation occur at night despite that only about 25 percent of vehicle miles are driven in the dark. Collisions that involved speeding or alcohol, as well as single-vehicle crashes are also reportedly more likely to take place at night.

The victim in a Chicago car accident may be entitled to receive compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, any resulting disability, and other damages. The family of someone who was killed due to the negligent actions of a motorist may also be eligible to recover for wrongful death. If you were hurt or a loved one was killed in an unexpected crash, a qualified car accident attorney can help.
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A 25-year-old Chicago woman was killed and her passenger was hospitalized after she allegedly drove into a number of crash barrels on the Kennedy Expressway near Harlem Avenue. According to Illinois State Police Trooper Chris Asmar, the woman appeared to have unexpectedly lost control of the Honda Accord she was driving while traveling at a high rate of speed in the left lane of the highway. The vehicle reportedly bounced off of a wall of the expressway and came to rest in the opposite shoulder.

Following the collision, emergency responders transported a 24-year-old male passenger to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge for treatment. In addition, a spokesperson for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said the woman was pronounced dead at Resurrection Medical Center about half an hour after the early morning accident occurred. The exact cause of the fatal crash is currently under investigation. Asmar stated weather does not appear to have played a role in the collision and both people riding in the Honda were wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Sadly, single-vehicle crashes like this one occur frequently in the Chicago Metro. Malfunctioning automobiles, swerving to avoid a wreck, road hazards, and weather are common causes for such collisions. In addition, a passenger in a vehicle that was driven by a distracted or impaired driver may become the victim of an injury wreck. In 2011, 532 people were killed in single-vehicle accidents in Illinois. That means more than half of the 918 fatal crashes throughout the state involved only one automobile. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the bulk of those crashes occurred in cities like Chicago.

In some cases, a motor vehicle manufacturer, another driver, a city, and others may be held responsible for the injuries that resulted from a one-car accident. If you were hurt through no fault of your own in a single-car crash, you may be entitled to compensation for the cost of your medical care, physical therapy, pain and suffering, disability, lost wages, and more. Because Illinois is a comparative negligence accident state, you may be able to recover damages for any injuries sustained in a single-vehicle collision even if you were partially to blame. If you have questions, you should contact a hardworking car accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your options for recovery.
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Two people were killed when an unlicensed driver who was suspected of driving a stolen car crashed head-on into another vehicle in the western suburbs of Chicago. A 30-year-old Wisconsin woman allegedly stole a 2003 Nissan Altima and left the scene of a crash after she hit another vehicle in Geneva. The woman then allegedly led a Kane County Sheriff’s Deputy on a high-speed chase down Route 38. After the deputy determined it was unsafe to continue the pursuit, he reportedly stopped attempting to apprehend the woman near Compton Hills. Still, the woman allegedly continued driving the stolen Nissan at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. Unfortunately, the woman soon collided head-on with a vehicle that was being driven by an 18-year-old Maple Park man.

The woman driving the Nissan was reportedly pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Following the crash, the 18-year-old man she struck was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove by emergency helicopter. Sadly, the man reportedly died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the collision. According to police, the head-on accident also caused another crash which sent two additional drivers to local area hospitals with injuries that were deemed to be non-life threatening.

A head-on collision normally occurs when a driver fails to maintain his or her lane and travels on the wrong side of a roadway. Unfortunately, such collisions generally cause catastrophic or fatal injuries. Head-on accidents are often caused by driver inexperience, impairment, speeding, illegal passing, inattention, and defects in the design of a roadway. According to the Fatal Analysis Reporting System created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, someone is killed in about 82 percent of all head-on accidents nationwide.

In order to promote the safety of everyone who travels on our roadways, the Illinois Vehicle Code requires all drivers who operate a car, truck or motorcycle to obtain a driver’s license. Regrettably, some drivers choose to ignore this law to the detriment of themselves and others. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, almost 43 percent of fatal crashes in Illinois in 2011 involved an unlicensed driver. If you were injured or tragically lost a loved one in a Chicago motor vehicle accident, you should discuss your case with a skilled car accident lawyer as soon as you are able.
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Officials in Naperville recently conducted an educational campaign designed to combat distracted driving in city school zones. The campaign enlisted volunteers to watch out for motorists who used handheld mobile phones in school zones and to distribute informational literature reminding drivers that the practice of talking with a handheld telephone while driving in a school zone is prohibited by state law. As part of the campaign, the City of Naperville also placed billboards reminding drivers to hang up their phones near specific area school zones. In addition, the Naperville Police Department reportedly stepped up enforcement of the state law immediately following the driver education effort.

Sergeant Lee Martin of the Naperville Police Department’s traffic unit stated the education and enforcement campaign was designed to keep school children from being hurt by inattentive motorists. Since January 1, 2010, all drivers in Illinois are prohibited from operating a handheld cellular telephone in a school or construction zone. Motorists under the age of 19 may not utilize a mobile phone on any Illinois roadway except in case of emergency. The fines for violating distracted driving laws in Illinois begin at $75 per infraction. Last year, a similar initiative reportedly had a significant impact on the number of motorists using handheld cell phones in Naperville school zones. According to Officer Martin, the program will likely continue next year.

The laws regarding talking on your mobile phone while driving vary widely throughout the Chicago Metro. Although the City of Chicago has completely banned the use of handheld telephones, other municipalities have adopted the less restrictive state law. Regardless of where you are traveling, mobile telephones generally pose an unnecessary distraction to drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 416,000 people throughout the United States were hurt in car accidents that resulted from distracted driving in 2010 alone. Sadly, more than 3,000 people died during the same year due to the actions of a distracted driver. The NHTSA also stated the risk of a motor vehicle crash is 23 times higher when a driver is sending or reading a text message.
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A 32-year-old Steger man died and at least two other people were injured in a rear-end crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway. According to Illinois State Police Sergeant Jose R. De Jesus, a northbound Chrysler Pacifica was hit from behind by a Chevrolet minivan after it stopped in the express lanes near 26th Street. The initial impact allegedly caused the minivan to strike a wall on the roadway and flip. Fire Media Affairs Spokesperson Kevin MacGregor said emergency responders extricated five people from the accident wreckage.

De Jesus stated one of the three passengers in the minivan was transported to Cook County’s Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Another minivan passenger was reportedly taken to Northwestern Hospital in serious condition. De Jesus said the driver of the Chrysler was also treated for non-life threatening injuries at Stroger Hospital. The northbound express lanes of the roadway were reportedly closed for more than five hours following the incident.

The exact cause of the fatal collision is under investigation by Illinois State Police. Due to the severity of the accident, it is currently unclear who was driving the minivan at the time of the crash. According to a police statement, no charges were filed in connection with the collision.

Rear-end crashes are common in the Chicago Metro. A driver or passenger in a motor vehicle that was hit from behind may suffer back and neck injuries, severe head trauma, a spinal cord injury, broken bones, and other trauma such as whiplash. As was unfortunately the case here, rear-end crashes may also result in serious injury and death. The victim in a Chicago rear-end auto accident may be entitled to recover compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, any disability that resulted from the collision, pain and suffering, and other damages. The close family members of an individual who was killed in such a crash may also be eligible to file a wrongful death case.

Most rear-end collisions are caused by a motorist who was following too closely or simply failed to remain attentive. Unfortunately, automobile insurance companies often work hard to reject the honest personal injury claims of individuals who had the misfortune of being struck from behind by another driver. In the State of Illinois, liability is determined based on modified comparative negligence. This means someone who was hurt in an automobile or other accident must show that the person who caused his or her harm was more to blame for the injury than they were. In addition, a damages award may be reduced based upon the injured party’s percentage of fault. You should contact a skilled personal injury lawyer to discuss your right to recovery in more detail.
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Earlier this month, seven teenagers were transported to two area hospitals following an injury accident in Hinsdale. According to local police, a Toyota Sequoia carrying eight minors rolled and hit both a tree and a light pole after making a sudden turn near the intersection of Fourth and Park Streets. Hinsdale Police Department Deputy Chief Mark Wodka stated all but one of the eight teens riding in the vehicle was transported to either Adventist Hinsdale or Good Samaritan hospitals. Wodka said one of the teens allegedly suffered a head injury and four of the other juveniles hurt in the crash suffered from incapacitating injuries.

The cause of the injury accident is currently under investigation by the Hinsdale Police Department. The 16-year-old driver of the Toyota was reportedly charged with failing to appropriately reduce his speed and driving with too many other teens in the vehicle. According to Wodka, investigators are still attempting to piece together the facts and circumstances that led up to the unfortunate crash.

For the first 12 months of driving, Illinois motorists who are under the age of 18 are not allowed to operate a vehicle with more than one passenger under the age of 20 who is not an immediate family member in the car. Prior to obtaining a driver’s license, all teen drivers in the state must complete an approved driver education course. The hours during which a driver under the age of 18 may operate a vehicle on Illinois roadways is also limited. Additionally, minor drivers in the state may not use a cellular telephone with or without a hands-free device while driving except in case of extreme emergency. Texting while driving is always prohibited.

Automobile accidents are the leading cause of injury and death for teenagers in both Illinois and nationwide. In 2009, an estimated 75 percent of teens had a cell phone and 66 percent used their phones to send text messages. The Illinois graduated driver license laws described above are designed to protect young people and others on the roadway from being hurt as a result of distracted driving. Although any number of factors may contribute to distracted driving, talking on mobile phones, emailing, sending text messages, and talking to passengers are common sources of distraction for new drivers.

Anyone who fails to use reasonable care while operating a motor vehicle in Illinois may be guilty of negligence. Someone who was hurt as a result of that negligence may be eligible to receive financial compensation for damages such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and disability. Contact a skilled car accident attorney to help you file your personal injury claim.
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A Chicago car accident lawyer at Abels & Annes is currently representing a local woman who was injured in an October 27, 2011 crash. The plaintiff was hurt when the Toyota Corolla she was driving was rear-ended by Ford Fusion driven by the defendant.

Our client was driving eastbound on I-90 in Chicago, Illinois, near Sayre. Traffic began to slow down and she brought her vehicle to a stop behind another car.

The defendant was also driving eastbound on I-90, behind the Toyota. He failed to slow down for traffic and rear-ended her. The force of the collision caused the plaintiff to hit her chest on the steering wheel.

The Illinois State Police Department responded to the scene of the collision. After speaking with both parties, the responding officer determined the defendant was at fault for causing the collision. The responding officer issued the defendant a citation for driving too fast for conditions/failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision. The officer also determined that he was following the plaintiff too closely and that he had a lack of driving skills, experience and/or knowledge that contributed to the collision.

We are arguing to the defendant’s insurance carrier that their insured failed to keep a proper lookout, drove too fast for conditions, failed to reduce his speed to avoid a collision, followed too closely, and failed to exercise due care for the safety of those in the area, and that based upon the facts and circumstances surrounding the occurrence at issue, it is clear that the sole proximate cause of the collision was the negligent conduct the insured.

Following the collision, the client had an immediate onset of neck pain, back pain, and right arm pain. She was transported from the scene of the occurrence by ambulance to the Resurrection Hospital Emergency Department. At the ER, a history was taken and she was examined. She complained of neck pain and back pain and underwent x-rays of her cervical spine which showed a straightening of the normal cervical lordosis. She was prescribed pain medication and muscle relaxants and instructed to seek follow up care.

Due to ongoing and increasing pain, the plaintiff sought follow up treatment from a medical doctor on October 29, 2011. At that time, she complained of neck pain, back pain, right arm pain, chest pain, and constant headaches. The pain was affecting her sleep and was worse with prolonged sitting or movement. Her physician took a history and examined her. She had tenderness to palpation over C1-7, T1-12, and L1-S1. She had tenderness to both sacroiliac joints, upper trapezius muscles and bilateral gluteals. The doctor noticed muscle spasms in her cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spines as well as multiple trigger points.

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