Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

This weekend brought a significant storm to the Chicago area but unlike some earlier in the season, snow was not the biggest threat. While some new snow accumulated on area roads and expressways, the biggest threat to those that were driving was decreased visibility due to blowing snow and gusty winds. Reports across Illinois indicated “white-out” conditions in many areas and is now being blamed for a number of chain reaction accidents both in and around Chicago.

Chain reaction collisions can start for a number of reasons but poor driving conditions are one of them. Yet despite the conditions, the weather rarely is the sole reason that a car accident happens and more often combines with a mistake or error on the part of a driver. In those cases, an at-fault driver may be held responsible for the damages that result including any injuries sustained by victims. These victims can seek financial compensation for their injuries through the use of a civil claim for damages and speaking with a personal injury lawyer can help you evaluate your options for relief if a crash has affected your life.

Officials are still trying to determine which chain reaction accidents, if any, were related on I-55 near Gardner this Saturday morning because the poor weather lead to so many collisions. Around 11:00 a.m., several accidents happened near mile post 227 and multiple vehicles were involved. Officials are determining whether it was one chain reaction crash or whether several separate incidents occurred in a relatively short time span. Additionally, a significant crash happened on I-80 near mile post 111 at Morris that resulted in lane closures for eastbound traffic.

Police were on the scene for the I-55 collisions and the I-80 crash and noted white-out conditions in both areas. There were reports of some snow on the road but at this time, officials do not believe that the new snow was the primary cause; rather, decreased visibility due to gusting winds is being cited as a contributing cause to all crashes at this time.

Despite the apparent role the weather played this weekend, authorities are still reviewing the actions of all drivers involved to determine whether any errors or mistakes in judgment played a role. After their investigations are finalized, it will be determined whether anyone involved will be cited for their actions in causing the crashes.
Continue reading

If you live in or work in Chicago, chances are that you are painfully aware of the blizzard that hit the city over the weekend. Now that the storm system has moved east, officials are able to confirm that the storm was the fifth largest multi-day blizzard to hit the city in recorded history.

The snow began to fall on Saturday evening and continued without a break until approximately 7:30 a.m. Monday though some areas felt the storm’s impact beyond that time frame. O’Hare Airport recorded 19.3 inches of snow over the multi-day storm while Midway Airport reported 18.4 inches as of Sunday night. In addition to the amount of snow that fell, conditions were worsened by a significant wind in the area that caused blowing and blustery conditions, burying some areas of roads that had been previously cleared by emergency crews and making some areas impassable.

Commuters across Chicago awoke this morning to varying conditions on the local roads and expressways. At this time, no serious car accidents have been reported coming into the city but several minor incidents have occurred and many vehicles can be seen off the roads’ surfaces, stranded in ditches or along medians. Officials are encouraging all commuters to take their time making it to work today and to be prepared for slow, congested conditions throughout the city as many areas still need to be plowed.

The commute may be long for those who choose to take public transportation as well. While both the CTA and Metra were optimistic about their ability to run on-schedule today, both agencies have reported spotty delays that are affecting mostly the inbound commutes. The CTA’s Yellow Line has been slowed due to a mechanical issue on one of the trains and Metra’s busiest line, the BNSF, was experiencing inbound delays of nearly an hour in some situations. At least one train was cancelled and another was being stopped due to the poor weather conditions.

Chicago Public Schools are closed today as are many private and charter schools in the area which means that many children will be at home today with parents or other guardians. Those who are looking to get their kids out of the house for an activity may find the roads challenging until the late afternoon today or possibly after the evening rush hour so the risk of an accident will persist for some time.

Winter weather is an unavoidable phenomenon in Chicago and across Illinois but that does not mean that car accidents must happen as a result. The weather rarely is the sole cause of a collision but most often combines with actions taken or not taken by a driver to create a dangerous situation that may lead to an impact. Whether a motorist is following too closely, driving too fast for conditions, or fails to appreciate how treacherous the roads are, car accidents may happen today and may leave victims injured.
Continue reading

The inherent dangers associated with a car accident in Chicago or in Illinois cannot be overstated. From physical damage to a vehicle to the injuries that may result and even the emotional harm caused by a crash, the toll enacted when cars collide is significant and can affect not only those involved but also their family members and loved ones.

This harm can happen even in a single-vehicle collision. While many car accidents happen because two or more cars collide, others occur and involve only one vehicle for a number of reasons. A mechanical failure, a blown tire, poor weather conditions, or distracted driving are some of the common factors cited when a single car crash happens but they are far from the only ones. These accidents can harm the drivers involved, the passengers in their car, or even those outside of the vehicle including pedestrians or others who happen to be in the area. When a crash happens and injuries result, the laws in Illinois may enable victim to obtain financial payment for their injuries if those victims seek help with a legal claim. Speaking with an attorney who handles personal injury cases can help you understand what relief may be possible and if you have a valid claim if a collision has impacted your life.

Chicago police are still reviewing the facts surrounding a single car accident early Friday morning on the city’s Far South Side. Officials have stated that the accident happened when a car traveling in the 800 block of West 107th Avenue lost control, left the road’s surface, and struck a nearby home. The incident happened around 1:00 a.m. and the cause of the crash remains unknown at this time.

The crash may have involved high speeds and caused significant damage both to the vehicle involved and the home that was hit. Five people were inside the home and were sleeping when they heard the crash and noticed things inside the house falling to the ground, but none of those in the home were injured. Emergency medical crews responded to the area and assessed the driver of the car who sustained significant, but undisclosed, injuries in the incident and was taken by ambulance to Advocate Christ Medical Center.

Police started an investigation into this incident when they arrived on scene shortly after 1:00 a.m. and their review of all relevant facts is ongoing at this time. The outcome of their investigation may determine whether the driver erred prior to the crash or whether that driver will face any traffic or criminal charges for the collision that knocked several bricks free from the house but left the house standing.
Continue reading

In most instances, rollover accidents begin with an initial impact between a rolling car and another object – called a “tripped” collision – whether that object is a second vehicle, a curb, or a fixed object near the roadway. In other instances, a rollover happens without an initial impact and is an untripped rollover. These may happen if a vehicle takes a corner at a speed too high to be safe or if a tire blows and causes a driver to lose control.

Rollover accidents are some of the most deadly forms of collisions that plague the streets of Chicago. Unlike a crash that leaves a vehicle standing upright, a rollover collision involves multiple impacts at multiple points on the vehicle. Damage to a front end, rear end, side, roof, and floor are all possible when a vehicle rolls and the odds of damage increase as the number of rollovers compound. Importantly, safety advances that have made collisions much more survivable have had little effect on rollovers in recent decades as the new addition of these features rarely focuses on the roof of a vehicle.

Though rollover collisions are serious and may cause injuries, the victims of these crashes should know that relief may be available and may be able to provide these victims with the compensation they deserve. Claims for relief are separate and distinct from any traffic or criminal charges that may be sought by the State of Illinois and may include a claim for medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages among any other damages that result from a crash. The facts of an accident can determine what relief may be possible and whether payment is possible so if you have been injured or if your loved one has been hurt, speaking to a lawyer in Chicago may help you understand your legal options following an accident.

On Sunday morning, a car traveling in the 3600 block of West Foster Avenue sideswiped a second vehicle in the area before colliding with a bus stop. The force of the impact then led the vehicle to roll over and left one passenger with significant injuries. Police and emergency crews responded to the scene and evaluated three people inside the car; reportedly, a 22-year-old male driver and another male passenger were uninjured while a 23-year-old female passenger sustained serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to an area hospital.

Fortunately, officials have confirmed that no pedestrians were in the area of the bus stop at the time of the 1:00 a.m. crash and that those inside the first car were the only ones hurt.

At this time, the 22-year-old driver is facing charges for failing to stay within a lane of traffic and failing to reduce speed to avoid a collision. The investigation is ongoing at this time, though, so it is possible that additional charges may be issued.
Continue reading

Los estimados de seguros indican que un conductor típico Americano estará involucrado en tres o cuatro accidentes de carro sobre el curso de su vida. Si usted conduce más que el promedio o si a menudo es un pasajero en un vehículo, la probabilidad de estar involucrado en colisiones adicionales aumenta con el tiempo dentro de un automóvil, camión o camioneta.

La buena noticia es que muchos de estos accidentes que se producen se consideran pequeños y, aunque pueden causar daños a los vehículos, no resultan en lesiones a los involucrados. Sin embargo, aunque muchos de ellos son pequeños, muchos otros son graves y pueden dejar a las víctimas alteradas permanentemente después de un accidente con lesiones, daños y sufrimiento emocional que pueden durar días a un curso de la vida. En las peores colisiones, una víctima puede perder su vida y los familiares de las víctimas nunca podrán recuperarse de esa pérdida.

La mayoría de los accidentes de tráfico que se producen en el área metropolitana de Chicago no son en realidad accidentes, sino más bien se debe a un error, o conducta negligente por parte de alguien involucrado. Cuando estas instancias conducen a lesiones, las leyes del estado reconocen que es injusto esperar que las víctimas inocentes paguen por sus propios daños, y por lo tanto las leyes permiten que estas víctimas busquen compensación financiera después de un accidente. Alivio puede ser disponible para cubrir cosas como gastos médicos, dolor y sufrimiento, y la pérdida de salario, pero le corresponde a la víctima tomar las medidas necesarias para obtener esta ayuda si lo quieren. Si un accidente de tráfico ha afectado su vida o herido a su ser querido, puede obtener las respuestas que necesita al hablar con un abogado de lesiones personales en Chicago que se encarga de estos tipos de reclamos.

Poco antes de las 6:00 am del jueves, la Policía del Estado de Illinois fueron alertados de un accidente de tráfico de un solo vehículo en la I-55 cerca de la avenida Western incitando una respuesta en la escena. Las autoridades evaluaron el carro y determinaron que dos personas adentro resultaron heridas en el accidente y estaban en necesidad de tratamiento médico así que esas víctimas fueron transportadas a hospitales en el área. Mientras que los oficiales han confirmado estas lesiones, no han indicado la naturaleza del el daño sostenido aparte de decir que se espera que las dos víctimas vivan.

La policía está haciendo una investigación sobre este incidente para determinar las causas del accidente y si el conductor implicado fue culpable por la colisión. Las autoridades creen que el conductor perdió el control del carro por razones desconocidas, causando que el vehículo choque con una mediana de cemento mientras viajaba, y causando un accidente que dejó por lo menos dos carriles del I-55 cerrado por una hora. Durante la hora punta esta mañana, las autoridades fueron capaces de retirar el vehículo y volver a abrir todos los carriles de tráfico para los otros viajeros.
Continue reading

A typical idea of a car accident may conjure an image of two vehicles colliding, resulting in some minor damage to the vehicles and causing some anger and frustration among the drivers involved. In fact, car accidents in Chicago can involve any number of vehicles from one to dozens and may only cause property damage or may cause much greater devastation. In 2012, there were 274,111 traffic related collisions in the State of Illinois and more than 60,000 of those caused injuries to at least one person involved. Nearly 900 collisions proved fatal.

With a greater number of vehicles involved in a crash comes a greater potential for victims to result. This is particularly true when a high capacity vehicle is involved, like a van, bus, or other transit vehicle because these vehicles tend to have a large number of passengers who may be hurt. The fallout from these crashes can become complicated and can turn into a “he said, she said” situation as the drivers of the cars blame one another. Police and local officials may attempt to sort out the actions from a criminal standpoint but this can leave victims wondering whether anyone will help them or be on their side. Fortunately, car accident victims in Chicago have express rights that cannot be taken away by a negligent driver. But these victims must affirmatively seek the help they deserve by bringing a civil claim, a type of action that is unique and separate from any traffic or criminal charges brought against a driver and these claims can be brought with the help of a personal injury lawyer.

As rush hour began Thursday morning, three cars were involved in a collision on the Stevenson Expressway in the northbound lanes. At this early state, state troopers who responded to the scene have not yet revealed a suspected cause of the crash or whether any of the drivers involved were at-fault. It is also not clear whether any traffic tickets have been or will be issued as a result of this incident.

Emergency crews were on the scene near Harlem Avenue and they assessed multiple people who were involved. Several victims suffered injuries and had to be transported via ambulance to area hospitals but it is not known what their injuries were or whether anyone was facing life-threatening injuries.
Continue reading