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Cyclists are visibly present in Chicago every day, taking to the streets for exercise and for transit. But bicycles are becoming more and more popular in suburban areas as well. Under the laws in Illinois, a bicyclist has every right to ride in a lane of traffic and must obey all rules that apply to vehicles. This means that cars, trucks, and vans must respect the rights of those who ride bicycles as they respect the rights of other vehicles.

Bikes and motorized vehicles can both travel in the same areas without collisions occurring but only if people act in a safe and reasonable manner. Failing to pay attention, failing to look for a bicycle, or otherwise acting in a negligent manner may lead to a bicycle accident. When a crash occurs, injuries are likely to result and may lead a cyclist with permanent damages. The worst accidents can even claim a bicyclist’s life.

The laws in Chicago are designed to protect the rights of those who are victimized by the errors of others through the use of a civil claim for damages. This means that if an accident occurs and one or more people suffer injuries, those victims may be entitled to relief and can seek that relief against a responsible driver, and at-fault owner of a vehicle, or anyone else who bears responsibility for the collision. Speaking with a lawyer who has experience representing injury victims can help you understand the legal implications of your accident and whether you may have a valid claim for your damages. In the tragic event that a victim is killed, the victim’s surviving family members may have a claim for their losses, though no amount of money can ever fully compensate a family for those loses.

Police in Roselle were called to the scene of an accident yesterday between a van and a bicycle that left the cyclist dead. The incident occurred near Roselle Road and Rosemont Avenue shortly after 6:00 a.m. Police believe that a 63-year-old man was driving a van eastbound on Rosemont when he attempted a left hand turn at the intersection. A 47-year-old man was riding his bicycle in the area and the van stuck the bicycle in what is believed to have been the intersection as the van turned. Emergency crews responded and transferred the cyclist to a hospital in Elk Grove but the man’s injuries were too severe and he was pronounced dead.

The investigation into the crash and the factors leading up to it is ongoing at this time but police do not suspect impairment on the part of the driver of the van. Authorities have not reported whether any charges will be filed against the driver or whether tickets will issue.
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Chicago boasts walking paths, wide sidewalks, and a public transportation system that enables many in the city to walk on a regular basis. Whether a pedestrian walks their entire trip or starts out in a car or on a bus before walking, chances are that most people hit the streets at some point in any given day. Everyone is a pedestrian sometimes, yet drivers do not always respect the rights of those who are walking. When a driver fails to pay attention or otherwise acts in a negligent manner, a collision between a car and a pedestrian may result.

Pedestrian accidents in Chicago are the cause of thousands of injuries every year, many of which require hospitalization or other medical treatment, and some of which claim the lives of the pedestrians involved. The fact remains that when compared to the large, heavy, and dense nature of a car, truck, or van, a pedestrian does not stand much of a chance – the pedestrian usually receives the majority of the force in a collision and is the one most likely to suffer injuries.

When a pedestrian accident occurs and injuries result, though, the pedestrian may have legal recourse to ensure that expenses are covered, including medical and surgical bills, lost wages, and other damages like pain and suffering. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer who regularly represents victims of pedestrian collisions in Chicago may help you understand whether you have a valid claim and whether you are entitled to relief.

Unfortunately a tragic accident happened and cost a pedestrian her life on Sunday in the North Austin neighborhood of the city. Police have reported that a 64-year-old woman was walking in a crosswalk along West North Avenue at approximately 9:40 p.m. when a car approached the area, traveling westbound. For reasons that are not yet known, the driver of the car allegedly failed to stop or yield to the woman and instead struck her, causing serious injuries that eventually claimed the woman’s life.

The driver of the car involved in the crash then fled the scene, according to police. Leaving the scene of an accident in Illinois is against the law and can lead to serious traffic or criminal charges, especially in the event where someone was injured in the crash and in need of medical assistance. At this time, police have not yet apprehended the individual responsible and are still investigating the incident.
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Some people think that in the event of a bus accident, serious injuries are not likely because the large size and mass of a bus means that it is more able to withstand a crash than a smaller vehicle would be. But in fact, every year in Chicago, hundreds of people are injured in bus accident and many serious injuries result. Some of these injuries last a lifetime and some can even be fatal.

Bus accidents often involve negligence on the part of one or more individuals involved in the crash, whether it is the owner of a bus, the driver of the bus, the driver of another vehicle, or even someone outside of the bus that causes an accident. Where negligence or recklessness is responsible for a collision, those hurt in the crash may be entitled to legal relief for their damages. Personal injury lawyers who handle bus accident cases on behalf of victims may be able to tell you whether you have a valid claim for your damages and whether you are entitled to relief.

One thing that often holds true in the event of a bus accident is that the number of injured victims often is high. When compared to a crash involving only two passenger vehicles, the number of potential people involved in an accident is much higher when a bus is involved. Depending on the size of the bus, dozens of passengers can be on board at a time, and all of them have the potential for sustaining injuries.

Police in Chicago were called to the scene of a bus accident on Tuesday afternoon near the intersection of Ashland Avenue and Madison Street. At this time, it appears that a van in the area failed to stop at a red light and slid through the intersection, colliding with the side of a CTA bus. Emergency crews responded and evaluated 12 people who reported injuries in the crash but only nine of them were transported to area hospitals; the other three refused further medical treatment. Though the individual conditions of the victims are not presently known, it did not appear that anyone sustained serious or life-threatening injuries and all were expected to recover.
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Accidents between vehicles and pedestrians are often devastating. In 2010 alone, there were 2,943 such accidents just in the city of Chicago, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. In over 90 percent of all pedestrian accidents, the pedestrian involved is either injured or killed, meaning that the physical toll exacted by these collisions cannot be overstated.

With the constant presence of pedestrians in Chicago, the city experiences a large number of collisions between these walkers and vehicles annually. Most of these collisions do not need to occur, though, and actually are the result of negligence or recklessness on the part of the driver, the pedestrian, or both. When someone involved in an accident fails to act in a safe and legal manner and causes a collision to occur, the victims of that crash may be entitled to seek relief for their injuries. Speaking with a lawyer in Chicago who represents pedestrians injured in accidents may help you understand the legal implications of your accident and what avenues of relief may be available to you.

An accident on Wednesday evening in Des Plaines triggered a police response to the area. When they arrived, they found a collision between a truck and a pedestrian in the area of Frontage Road and Touhy Avenue. During their investigation, authorities determined that a 44-year-old man was driving the truck westbound on Touhy Avenue with two passengers in the car. As the truck approached the area, it struck a 43-year-old male pedestrian, leaving him with critical injuries. Emergency medical technicians transported the pedestrian to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital for treatment but the man’s injuries were too severe and he was pronounced dead.

At this time, investigators believe that the driver of the truck was operating under the influence of alcohol, contrary to and in violation of local and state laws. The driver was subsequently arrested and has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence and causing an accident that resulted in death, a crime that could lead to incarceration if he is convicted. He is expected to appear in court in Skokie on Friday on the charges.

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Fleeing the scene of an accident is a crime in Chicago and the rest of Illinois, yet too often, drivers involved in a crash choose to leave the scene. The reasons for fleeing may vary in each crash but often, driver’s later report that a fear of potential punishment for involvement in an accident caused them to leave. In truth, a driver who fails to remain at the scene of an accident and instead leaves before being cleared by police will likely face additional and greater charges than had the driver remained, leading to the potential for increased fines, punishments, and potentially incarceration.

In many cases, a driver involved in a hit-and-run accident is later identified and apprehended by police. Once that driver has been identified, a victim who was injured by the at-fault driver’s negligence or recklessness may be able to seek a recovery against the responsible driver. Such a recovery can provide compensation for damages including medical and surgical bills incurred, lost wages, and time missed from work. But even if a hit-and-run driver is never located, the victims of an accident may still be entitled to relief. These victims may be able to recover against a provision in their own auto insurance known as an uninsured claim. In the worst accidents, a victim involved loses his or her life. A financial recovery can never adequately compensate a family for their losses in these cases but a recovery can help ease some of the financial damages that family is forced to endure. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer is a good place to start if you have suffered injuries in a car accident and you want to learn about your legal rights.

This weekend, Illinois State Police officers responded to a collision on I-94 near Touhy Avenue. Two vehicles were involved, an Audi and a Chevrolet, and both vehicles were forced into the right ditch after impact occurred. Through their initial investigation, police have determined that both vehicles were traveling in the center lane of southbound I-94 with the Chevrolet in front of the Audi. Police believe that the driver of the Audi rear-ended the Chevrolet, sending both vehicles out of control and causing them to enter the right ditch. The driver of the Chevrolet was trapped inside his car and sustained severe injuries which led to his death. The driver of the Audi needed medical attention and received it at a nearby hospital; the driver of the Audi has since been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident and first degree murder. It is not clear if the driver attempted to leave the scene in his car or on foot at this time but police have alleged that the driver failed to remain at the scene as required by law, leading to one of the two charges.

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Pedestrian accidents in Chicago unfortunately are common, especially in areas where heavy walking and vehicular traffic both occur. These spots include crosswalks near busy intersections, sidewalks crossing alleys, and the entrances and exits of parking garages. In many cases, the pedestrian has the right-of-way over a car, meaning that the car is required to let the person walking proceed first. However, in many cases, pedestrian traffic also must follow specified rules including obeying pedestrian crossing signals and crossing only in designated areas.

When a collision between a car and a pedestrian occurs, it can be difficult to understand the factors that led to the crash, including whether either party involved was acting in a negligent manner. Investigators have special training to help them recreate the facts of a collision and they may be able to determine who bears fault in the crash in the eyes of the State of Illinois. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer who handles cases on behalf of injured pedestrians may help you understand your personal legal rights and options following an accident if you sustained injuries.

When an accident occurs and it gives rise to a right to a recovery by a victim, any victim involved may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages including pain and suffering. In the worst cases where a victim is killed, that individual’s surviving family members may be entitled to relief for their losses, though no payment can ever truly provide adequate compensation in those cases.

Chicago police were called to respond to an accident between a car and a pedestrian early yesterday morning on the city’s northwest side. Though still early in the investigation, officials believe that the victim, an 85-year-old man, may have been in the street in front of oncoming traffic when he was struck. The incident happened shortly before 6:00 a.m. in the 4400 block of North Narragansette and caused emergency crews to respond to the scene. Medical personnel transported the victim to Resurrection Medical Center but the man’s injuries were too severe and he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Investigators are trying to determine if the man was in the street before the crash and if so, what caused him to be there. The driver involved in the incident stayed at the scene and spoke with police; officers have reported that the driver has not been ticketed.
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Annually, over 4,000 pedestrians die in traffic-related accidents across the United States every year. Several of those deaths often occur in Chicago, a metropolis known for heavy foot traffic and congested roadways. In addition to those pedestrians who are killed, hundreds more are injured and are forced to incur medical and surgical expenses for their damages even though an accident may not have been their fault.

Pedestrian accidents in Chicago are often devastating and critical because they tend to involve an unprotected pedestrian and a much larger, heavier object like a car. When compared to the steel of a vehicle, a pedestrian does not stand much chance in an accident, explaining part of the reason why pedestrians almost always suffer injuries when hit by a car.

In addition to cars, though, pedestrians can be hurt in collisions with motorcycles, bicycles, public transportation buses, and even trains. Unlike other areas, the city of Chicago has all of these potential threats to pedestrians and more; often, a pedestrian walking just a handful of blocks downtown can encounter all of these threats in a small, combined space. When a pedestrian is hurt in an accident or when he or she is killed, the pedestrian or the pedestrian’s surviving family members may be entitled to seek relief for the damages that are incurred, including any medical expenses, lost wages, and loss of life in the event of death. No amount of relief can ever properly compensate a family who has lost a loved one due to the negligence of another but bringing a claim for damages can help ease some of the burden experienced by a death. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer can help you understand whether you may be entitled to relief following your accident as well as what legal options and claims may be available to you.

Unfortunately, a pedestrian became the victim of what police have described as a hit-and-run car accident in Chicago on Saturday. The incident occurred in the 1000 block of West Grand Avenue shortly before 5:00 p.m. as a 33-year-old man was walking on or near the street. A car approached the area where the man was walking and hit him, causing a serious collision and reportedly throwing the man to the ground. The driver of the car fled the scene of the crash without speaking with police or even stopping to see if the pedestrian was injured. At this time, the driver has neither been identified nor apprehended but police are searching for the individual as well as the car’s owner.

Emergency crews responded to the scene and transported the victim to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County for treatment. The pedestrian’s injuries were too severe and he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at the hospital.
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When walking, it may become necessary to cross a street or to otherwise enter a roadway normally used by automobiles. When this happens, pedestrians usually have the right-of-way, or the priority to use the area over cars, and cars must yield until the pedestrians are clear of the street. The most common example of this is in a crosswalk designated for use by pedestrians. If pedestrians have a green light to cross a street at a crosswalk, in nearly all circumstances, cars must yield to the pedestrians.

But every year, pedestrian accidents occur in Chicago as a result of drivers failing to yield the right-of-way. Many of these collisions begin when a driver attempts to turn right but fails to look for pedestrian traffic first. In other accidents, a driver may attempt a left hand turn but focus only on oncoming vehicular traffic, failing to look for people walking in a crosswalk until it is too late. Yet other accidents are caused by a driver running a red light or a stop sign and placing his or her vehicle in the same path as a pedestrian.

When a collision with a vehicle leaves a pedestrian injured, that pedestrian may be entitled to legal relief through the use of a civil claim for damages. In these cases, the pedestrian who is hurt may be able to recover compensation to pay for medical and surgical expenses that have been incurred or will be incurred in the future as well as other losses, like lost wages and payment for pain and suffering. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer who handles pedestrian accidents is a good way to learn about what legal options may be available after a collision occurs.

Yesterday afternoon, police in Chicago were called to respond to the scene of a collision between a pedestrian and a taxi cab on the city’s Near North Side. The crash happened near the 1400 block of North Clark Street sometime between 1:00 p.m. and 1:20 p.m. When they arrived, police were able to determine that the driver of the taxi ran a red light at an intersection and collided with a second vehicle. The force of that collision caused the taxi driver to lose control of the vehicle, which then collided with a woman walking in a crosswalk. The woman was thrown approximately 40 feet before being hit by the taxi a second time.

The pedestrian hit was a 66-year-old woman and she was seriously injured in the accident. Emergency authorities responded and transported the victim to an area hospital in serious to critical condition for treatment of her injuries. The driver of the cab was also injured in the accident and transported for medical care and has been cited in the accident for running a red light and striking a pedestrian.
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Many people in Chicago do not realize how many pedestrian-related car accidents occur in the city and across the nation every year. Pedestrian accidents may not be as visible as crashes involving multiple vehicles and they may not receive the same amount of attention in the media but that does not mean they are rare. In fact, in 2010 alone, nearly 3,000 pedestrians were involved in traffic accidents in Chicago alone, not to mention the thousands of other pedestrians who were injured across Illinois.

Many pedestrians who are hurt or sustain injuries in an accident turn to lawyers to help them understand their legal rights. In Chicago, a pedestrian who is involved in an accident due to the negligence of another, like a distracted driver or a motorist who fails to yield the right-of way, is entitled to seek relief for his or her damages. This can be accomplished through the use of a civil claim for damages and it can allow a pedestrian to recover for things like medical bills incurred and time missed from work. As the facts and circumstances surrounding each accident are unique, it is a good idea to speak with a personal injury lawyer regarding the details of your crash to learn about what legal options may be available to you.

Unfortunately, often in pedestrian accidents, the injuries sustained by the victim are too severe and the pedestrian loses his or her life. In those cases, no amount of money can adequately compensate a family for the damages they sustain though legal relief is still available to help ease the financial burden placed upon the victim’s loved ones.

Authorities in Aurora reported a fatal crash between a pedestrian and a passenger car in the western suburb early this morning. At this time, they believe that a 56-year-old woman was walking northbound on Randall Road when she was hit by a Ford Taurus, also traveling northbound in the area. The victim initially survived the accident and was transported by ambulance to an area hospital but succumbed to her injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead.

The area near Indian Trail Road and Sullivan Road was closed down for several hours while officials investigated following the 4:15 a.m. crash. The driver of the Ford remained at the scene and spoke with officials who do not suspect impairment by the driver as a factor at this time. No citation have been issued and the investigation continues.
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Buying a new car from a well-established, trusted manufacturer usually leaves buyers with peace of mind that they are purchasing a safe vehicles for themselves and their families. Most of the time, that is precisely what happens, and the owner of the vehicle does not have to deal with safety threats from the design or manufacture of the car. Yet in some cases, things are not quite right, and safety may be at issue. When these issues are learned, American manufacturers issue recalls so that all other affected vehicles can have the problem fixed.

Usually, these recalls do not occur until the problem becomes known, and generally that means that accidents must first happen. These car accidents can leave passengers injured, or in the worst cases, killed and can leave others behind to suffer losses, whether in Chicago or elsewhere across the nation. Even after a recall is issued, the defect can still present a threat to those who are driving the cars without the problem being rectified, either through a lack of notice of the recall or because their designated time for service had not arrived. Regardless of how the facts fall, if an accident involving a safety flaw or manufacturing error leaves a victim injured, that victim may be entitled to seek relief for his or her injuries.

Auto giant General Motors recently announced a recall for two models of vehicles due to problems with the ignition. Now, the recall has been greatly expanded to cover additional models and additional years of manufacture. In all, 1.37 million GM vehicles have been recalled, including Chevrolet Cobalts, Pontiac G5s, Saturn Ions, Chevrolet HHRs, Pontiac Solstices, and Saturn Skys manufactured between 2003 and 2007.

Officials say that the design of the ignition has led to a problem with power. When the vehicles encounter a particularly large bump, especially when a vehicle is operating off-road, the bump can move the ignition from the “run” position to an “off” position. The change cuts power to the vehicle which therefore does not let certain safety devices, including airbags, function. If a vehicle is involved in an accident when the power is off, the occupants of the car may be more likely to sustain serious injuries or even death. To date, GM is aware of 13 such deaths and 31 accidents linked with these ignition problems.

GM believes that extra weight hanging off the ignition is either causing or contributing to these issues and therefore it recommends that all owners of these vehicles do not drive with excess weight, like key chains, hanging off the key in the ignition until the problem is fixed.
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