Car Accident

Chicago car accidents, boating accidents, a Memorial Day weekend danger

May 28, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Authorities are urging motorists to use caution in an effort to avoid Chicago car accidents during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.

While New Year’s is often cited as a dangerous holiday for driving, increased enforcement and public service announcements have largely negated the dangers. Meanwhile, the three summer holidays — Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day — continue to pose a significant risk to motorists on the road.The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Police have announced intensive traffic enforcement campaigns that will run through the weekend.

Last year, 30 motorists were killed in Illinois car accidents during the Memorial Day weekend, a huge jump from the 8 deaths recorded during 2008.

“We are proud to partner with the Illinois Department of Transportation and law enforcement agencies throughout the state, to prepare the public for the summer driving months,” said Illinois State Police Acting Director Jonathon E. Monken.

Of primary concern will be preventing Chicago drunk driving accidents. A total of 435 of Illinois’ 1,043 car accidents were caused by a drunk driver in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Officials are also stressing boating safety in an effort to reduce Chicago boating accidents as the summer boating season begins in earnest with the arrival of Memorial Day weekend. The Chicago Tribune reports 102 Illinois boating accidents last year killed 25 people and injured 71.

Number of fatal holiday traffic accidents in Illinois in 2008

New Year’s Eve: 2
Memorial Day: 7
Fourth of July: 14
Labor Day: 12
Thanksgiving: 8
Christmas: 8
Nationwide holiday traffic accidents

New Year’s: 141
Memorial Day: 370
Fourth of July: 437
Labor Day: 423
Thanksgiving: 439
Christmas: 364 Continue reading

Chicago hit and run accident seriously injures child, police searching for driver

May 26, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A twelve year old boy has been critically injured in a Chicago hit-and-run pedestrian accident on the South Side, according to the ABC News. The pedestrian accident happened on Sunday in the 8000 block of South May Street in the early evening.

The boy was crossing the street when a 2 door Cadillac struck him. The car was traveling southbound and just kept going after the accident. The driver has been described as African American, age 20-26, and is known by the alias of KB.

The victim was taken by ambulance to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition. CBS News is reporting that he suffered multiple injuries and sever head trauma, facial lacerations and a fractured leg that has been surgically repaired. He is currently in a drug induced coma.

Chicago car accident involving ambulance concludes series of weekend accidents

May 25, 2010 | By Dave Abels

– A Chicago car crash involving an ambulance injured a fire department paramedic and a patient early Monday morning on the Northwest Side, the Breaking News Center reported.

The ambulance was on a transport run to Resurrection Medical Center when it was struck in the 6000 block of West Foster Avenue. The 46-year-old driver of the other vehicle was also injured and taken to the hospital. He was cited for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.

– A Chicago bus accident involved two other vehicles and injured three people just after 7 a.m. Monday. The fire department reported the crash happened near the intersection of Lawrence and Elston avenues.

Proposed laws aimed at reducing Chicago bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, car accidents

May 23, 2010 | By Dave Abels

The State Journal-Register reports that lawmakers are considering a number of new laws aimed at increasing traffic safety in Illinois. Last year, the most significant legislation to come out of the capitol was a law that banned text messaging by drivers and cell phone use in school zones and construction sites.

Laws being considered this year:

Crosswalk Safety

Toughening crosswalk safety, lawmakers are considering a law requiring motorists to stop at a crosswalk with a pedestrian in it in an effort to reduce Illinois pedestrian accidents. Currently, Illinois law uses the more ambiguous “yield” wording when dealing with crosswalks and pedestrians.

Supporters contend the law would be easier for authorities to enforce. The measure would apply to unregulated crosswalks, not those regulated by traffic signals or stop signs. Drivers who fail to stop would face a fine of at least $150.

Illinois Teen Drivers

Driving hours could be reduced for teenagers in an effort to combat Illinois car accidents involving teen drivers.

Proposed legislation would reduce by half an hour the amount of time drivers under 18 could be on the road on Friday and Saturday nights. Teen drivers would have to be off the road by 10:30 p.m. Currently, young drivers are not allowed to be on the road from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. and between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. during the week.

The measure has the support of the American Automobile Association.

“Friday and Saturday nights statistically are the most dangerous times of the week for teens to be driving,” AAA spokeswoman Beth Mosher said. “Research has shown that teen injuries and fatalities are reduced when the nighttime driving provision is set earlier.”

Excessive Speeding

A proposed law would not allow court supervision, a form of probation that can keep a citation off a driver’s record, for motorists caught going more than 40 mph over the speed limit. Driving more than 40 mph over the speed limit is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $25,000 fine. However, an investigation by the media recently found more than half of drivers ticketed for driving 100 mph or faster received court supervision.

Under the proposal, drivers caught going 30 to 39 mph over the limit would also face serious consequences, including up to six months in jail and a $1,500 fine.

Illinois Bicycle Safety

A proposed law would toughen the penalty on drivers who cause an Illinois bicycle accident, pedestrian accident or accident involving a horse-drawn carriage. If a victim suffers serious injuries, a driver could face 2-5 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

The law would also make it illegal to throw something at a bicyclist.

Interstate Speed Limit

A proposal to increase the speed to 70 mph on Illinois interstates will not become law after failing to make it out of the senate. The speed limit for semis was raised to 65 mph at the beginning of the year.

CTA bus accident injures 7 in Chicago

May 22, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A Chicago bus accident has left seven people hurt on the Northwest Side of Chicago, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The bus vs. car crash occurred in the 3800 block of North Pulaski in the early afternoon on Thursday.

Five ambulances responded to the accident. All seven injured were taken to area hospitals. One person was in serious to critical condition.

It is being reported that the accident happened when a car in a middle lane hooked a right turn in front of the bus. The Jefferson Park District of the Chicago Police Department is handling the crash investigation.

Drunk driving blamed for deadly Chicago auto accident involving teenagers

May 20, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A teenager has been sentenced to six months in jail on drunk driving charges stemming from a fatal Chicago car accident that claimed the life of a friend and critically injured two passengers, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The teenager will serve 120 days in jail this year, 30 days in jail next year and 30 days in 2012 after pleading guilty in March to aggravated DUI and reckless homicide.

The June accident killed a 17-year-old West Chicago teenager. Police say the defendant’s blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit when he lost control of his SUV and struck a tree at about 3:30 a.m. on June 14.

Hit-and-run Chicago car accidents injure police officers, teenagers

May 18, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Police are investigating a trio of hit-and-run Chicago auto accidents, two of which involved police officers, the Breaking News Center reported.

Two officers were injured early Friday near 35th and Halsted streets when a vehicle ran a red light. The officers swerved to avoid a collision, but lost control and struck a parked car. The other car did not stop. Both officers were taken to Stroger Hospital with injuries.

The officers had been responding to a 911 call from an off-duty officer who was in an accident with a vehicle that reportedly failed to yield the right-of-way near 47th and Ashland Avenue. That car also fled the scene.

DUI driver blamed in Chicago car crash that injures Chicago police officer during traffic stop

May 16, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A 21-year-old man has been criminally charged for allegedly driving drunk when he slammed into a Chicago police officer during a traffic stop, the Sun-Times reported.

It is the latest in a string of Chicago car accidents that have injured law enforcement officers conducting traffic stops.

As we reported last month on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, a trooper was struck on I-80 while conducted a traffic stop involving a suspected drunk driver.

Chicago car accident kills pedestrian; drunk driving reportedly to blame

May 14, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A 32-year-old man is facing reckless homicide and other charges after a deadly Chicago car accident that is being blamed drunk driving, The Sun-Times reported.

The accident occurred last Friday at a busy Southwest Side intersection, where the defendant allegedly crashed into three vehicles and struck three pedestrians, killing a 25-year-old Chicago resident.

The driver is charged with reckless homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol, operating a vehicle without insurance, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, reckless driving, not using due care for a pedestrian in the roadway, and driving without a valid license, according to police.

Boy killed in Chicago car accident after police hand keys to drunk driver

May 12, 2010 | By Dave Abels

The alleged drunk driver who killed a 5-year-old boy in a Chicago car accident, was given the keys to the vehicle by police less than an hour before he slammed into a tree with the child sleeping in the back seat, the Breaking News Center reported.

Chicago Heights police took the man’s girlfriend into custody for driving without a license before reportedly handing him the keys and allowing him to drive away in the 1998 Chevy Cavalier. Forty minutes later, he veered off Steger Road and slammed into a tree, killing the child.

Police say he had marijuana in his system and a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit. He was charged with felony driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless homicide.