Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

Driver Runs Stop Sign, Injures 4 Before Fleeing the Scene

July 29, 2013 | By Dave Abels

Early Saturday morning, a taxi cab driver and three passengers were injured when they became unwilling victims in a Chicago hit-and-run accident. The crash occurred at the intersection of Congress Parkway and Ogden Avenue at just after 2:00 a.m. and witnesses say a Ford pickup truck was to blame.

The truck was reportedly traveling east on Congress Avenue in the early morning hours as it approached Ogden Avenue. There is a stop sign controlling eastbound traffic but the truck allegedly failed to stop and entered the intersection, striking the rear passenger door of the taxi. After the collision, the driver of the truck fled the scene without stopping to check on the other car or without speaking to police, who responded to the crash. Ambulance crews transported the passengers of the taxi and the driver to area hospitals for treatment will all expected to survive.

Police officers are looking for the driver of the Ford pickup truck that caused the crash as part of their investigation.

If the facts stated so far prove to be true, the driver of the truck in this accident was a danger to himself and others. Not only did he fail to stop at a stop sign but he also fled the scene of an accident without checking on those in the other car. Both of these are serious crimes in Illinois and can carry a jail sentence, depending on all the factors involved, if a driver gets convicted.

No one knows why the driver in this accident fled the scene after causing a crash, and that is the case in most hit-and-run accidents. Experts believe that some of the most common reasons drivers flee are that the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the driver did not have a valid driver’s license or insurance, or running from police for another offense. Occasionally we see accidents where a driver did not even realize that he caused a crash or that the driver was not wearing necessary eye glasses and so was unable to see a car in his path. Regardless of the reason, any driver that causes a collision and then leaves the scene before being cleared by police is in violation of the law.
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Crash Near Joliet Leaves 1 Man Dead

July 26, 2013 | By Dave Abels

A construction site and slowing traffic may be to blame for a multi-car collision on Wednesday morning that left one man dead. Authorities state that a 61-year-old man from Arlington Heights was driving his car, an Audi, on I-55 as he neared a work zone shortly before the intersection with I-80 outside of Joliet. Traffic began to slow and the man slowed as well.

Another driver behind the man failed to notice the slowing traffic and slammed into the back of the Audi. The Audi was behind a semi truck at the time and the force of the impact pushed the Audi underneath the truck’s trailer. The car that caused the accident, a Nissan, rolled over and struck a fourth vehicle in the area.

Both the driver of the Nissan and the driver of the Audi were injured in the crash and were transported to area hospitals. Though the driver of the Audi received emergency treatment and surgery was attempted, his injuries were too severe and he did not survive. There is no word on the current condition of the Nissan driver but officials described his injuries as non life threatening. He was cited in the crash for failing to reduce his speed to avoid a collision.

On average, over 500 car accidents occur every day in Illinois. Some are minor and just result in damage to the vehicles but others are tragic and can leave one or more drivers dead. As this accident illustrates, often it is an innocent person who is following the law and the rules of the road that becomes the victim when another driver fails to pay attention.

There is no excuse for being distracted while driving. The Nissan driver in this case reportedly came over a small hill and noticed traffic was slowing but he was driving too fast to respond. His mistake set off a series of events that involved three other drivers in a major accident and took one loved one from his family. When this happens, a civil fine for a traffic violation may not seem like enough of a punishment for all the harm that was caused.

In addition to the traffic fine the Nissan driver reportedly received, he may face civil claims for injuries from the other drivers involved in the accident or any passengers that were in the cars. This may include a claim from the family of the man that was killed for their losses stemming from his death, or a claim from the driver of the truck or the driver of the fourth car, if either were hurt. The law allows these types of claims so that victims of accidents can get the funds necessary to undergo medical treatment and to return to normal as soon as possible.
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Preteen Killed Crossing the Street in Harvey

July 24, 2013 | By Dave Abels

An 11-year-old girl was attempting to cross the street in her neighborhood when she was hit and killed by a car on Saturday afternoon. The accident took place in the 15200 block of Wood Street in suburban Harvey shortly after 2:00 p.m. and was just one block away from the girl’s home.

The area of the crash is residential with two lanes of traffic in each direction along Wood Street. A school is in the area and there is a reduced speed zone surrounding the school along with several visible signs indicating pedestrian crossings. At least one intersection has a designated pedestrian crosswalk for those who want to cross from one side of Wood to the other. At this point in time, it is not clear exactly where the girl was walking at the time of the crash.

A 29-year-old woman driving a Chrysler Accord was traveling on Wood Street when she came upon and struck the victim. Police and paramedics arrived at the scene and performed emergency treatment on the girl but due to severe injuries, she died and was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

The driver of the car has been cited with failing to reduce her speed to avoid a collision, driving on an expired driver’s license, and driving without insurance. All of these charges are in violation of Illinois laws. The charge of driving without insurance becomes a more significant charge when an accident is involved that leaves someone injured or killed.

In Illinois, all drivers are required to carry insurance for any accidents they cause, commonly known as liability insurance. The state minimum liability insurance limits is currently $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident, meaning that in the case of an accident involving death where the driver carried the bare minimum insurance, there will only be up to $20,000 in compensation to a victim’s family. Many drivers recognize that this low amount is not enough to protect their interests and others and therefore drivers may, and often do, choose to have more than the minimum insurance.

In cases where a negligent driver does not have insurance in violation of Illinois law or carries too little to properly cover damages, the law provides another avenue for recovery so that a victim can be adequately compensated. By going through a victim’s own insurance policy, there may be an uninsured or underinsured claim available to provide a victim or a victim’s family with additional funds.
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Chicago Car Crash Leaves 3-Year-Old Boy Dead

July 22, 2013 | By Dave Abels

A late Saturday night car crash on the south side of Chicago left a 3-year-old boy dead. The incident occurred in the 3900 block of West 47th Street on the southwest side of Chicago and authorities report that the boy was not in the vehicle but rather a pedestrian at the time of the accident.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene and transported the child to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for treatment but he did not survive his injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after 11:00 p.m. Saturday. The Chicago Police Department confirmed that they arrested the driver and currently have him in custody but they have not stated how the accident occurred or what crimes have been levied against the driver.

Any car accident that involves an injury can be devastating, but it always seems worse when the victim is a child. Not only did this young child lost his life, but his family and community lost one of their own. When a child is killed, the loss extends to all of those who surrounded the child during life, including teachers, neighbors, daycare employees, and friends.

Accidents involving children or minors, who are those under the age of 18, can happen in all the same ways that accidents to adults occur. Some of the most common types of accidents and injures involving kids are car accidents, school bus accidents, lead poisoning, broken bones, playground injuries, bicycle accidents, swimming pool accidents, and accidents while a child is a pedestrian. The law recognizes that children do not have the same ability to make rational and safe decisions as adults so the law requires all adults to exercise care when it comes to the safety of children.

When an adult or other person fails to act with caution around a child, an accident might occur and the child might get injured, or worse, killed. An injury or death to a child will leave the child’s family with certain rights, including the right to make a financial claim for damages against the person responsible. Depending on the specific accident and the injuries that result, these claims can be small and minor or large and complicated. When a child is injured, the last thing parents should have to worry about is whether they can afford to get their child the medical treatment the child needs to recover.
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Speeding Hit-And-Run Driver Kills Gresham Man

July 19, 2013 | By Dave Abels

An elderly resident of the Gresham neighborhood in Chicago was hit and killed by a car on Wednesday, just before the man was to celebrate his 77th birthday. The incident occurred near the intersection of 83rd Street and Racine during the morning hours. All of the details are not clear at this time but there was at least one eye witness to the event. When asked about the crash, the eye witness stated that the black car involved was speeding and traveling at least 80 miles per hour when he struck the 77-year-old victim, killing him. The driver then reportedly fled the scene without checking on the condition of the man or calling for help.

By Thursday morning, family members of the victim were hoping that the at-fault driver would turn himself in. The victim was a Korean War veteran and beloved by his family members who had planned to celebrate his birthday. Now, through the negligence of another, they are planning the man’s funeral.

Local police have not yet located the individual driving the car involved in the crash and they are looking for information regarding a 2002-2005 dark, two door Mercedes Benz C230 to question the driver. If you have any information regarding this crash, you are asked to call your local police department.

Anyone who is involved in a car accident in Illinois is required by the law to remain at the scene. Parties must speak to police officers and be cleared to leave by those same police officers so that the police can obtain necessary information regarding the accident. Failure to stay at the scene of a crash is a crime and when a victim of the crash is seriously injured or dies, a fleeing driver may be found liable of a felony and sentenced to serious prison time.

In some accidents, a hit-and-run driver places a victim at greater risk of death or permanent injury by leaving the scene and failing to call for help. Often victims who are hurt are not able to reach a cell phone or are unconscious, making them incapable of calling for an ambulance. If another driver causes the crash, it is that driver’s duty to call for help.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that nationally, nearly one out of every five pedestrian deaths are caused by hit-and-run drivers. That means that in almost 20 percent of the cases where a pedestrian dies, the driver of a car, truck, or van flees the scene and disregards any responsibly he or she may have under the law. If some of these fleeing drivers stayed to help their victims, it is possible that fewer pedestrian deaths would result.
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Motorcycle Passenger Killed in I-80 Accident

July 17, 2013 | By Dave Abels

A collision between a motorcycle and a semi truck on Saturday night left the motorcycle passenger dead and the driver injured, according to local police. The crash occurred near Tinley Park on I-80.

Authorities report that the semi truck was on I-80 traveling westbound as the motorcycle approached the highway. The driver of the motorcycle attempted to enter westbound I-80 and collided with the front right corner of the semi, causing the biker to lose control of his bike and then crashing to the ground.

It is not yet clear what caused the motorcyclist to strike the truck and whether the semi driver bears any fault for the collision. As a result of the crash, the female passenger on the bike was killed and the male driver was injured. The semi truck driver reportedly was unharmed in the crash.

Police have not yet stated if either driver has been charged in the crash or if there were any outside factors that played a role in the collision. The police are still investigating the incident which happened near Harlem Avenue.

Motorcycle riders place their safety at risk every time they get on a bike, whether driving or riding as a passenger. A biker can be as safe as possible while cruising the streets but a negligent driver of a car can still strike a biker, seriously injuring or even killing him. At times, a passenger on a motorcycle may face greater risk than a driver. Not only does the bike passenger have to worry about dangerous drivers of cars, trucks, and vans, but also about the potentially negligent conduct of the operator of the motorcycle.

The early facts in this case indicate that the operator of the bike in this case may be liable for the collision and therefore for the death of his passenger. If this is true, the biker may face traffic or even criminal charges stemming from the accident as well as the possibility of a wrongful death claim brought by the victim’s family.

A wrongful death claim is a civil action commenced in a court of law where the surviving family members of an accident victim seek a financial recovery. This recovery can be compensation for the lost time and interaction the family suffers as a result of the death, the losses a child faces from losing a parent, and even more concrete types of losses like the inability of the victim to support her family through wage earning.
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Chicago School Bus Accident Sends 22 Children to the Hospital

July 15, 2013 | By Dave Abels

A school bus transporting children through Wicker Park was involved in an accident on Tuesday afternoon when it collided with another vehicle. In all, 22 children on the bus were taken to area hospitals to be examined and treated for injuries they sustained in the crash. The current condition of the children and the extent of their injuries are not currently known, but the Chicago Fire Department stated that all of the children were in “good to fair” condition at the time of hospitalization.

The Chicago Police Department responded to the scene of the collision between the school bus and a car which occurred near the intersection of North Milwaukee Avenue and North Ashland Avenue in Chicago. The details of the crash are not yet clear as police continue their investigation. It is also not clear whether either driver was cited in the crash or is expected to be cited. Officials were able to confirm that the large number of injured students required them to be split among area hospitals including Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, and Rush University Medical Center.

While it is not yet known which driver caused the crash, it is clear that the young passengers on the bus were not at-fault. Yet they were the ones who suffered and were injured as the result of the negligent conduct of a driver. As victims, they may incur medical bills and expenses, may be forced to miss time from school or summer camps, may require care by their parents who may have to miss work, and could suffer from lifetime effects, including scars, permanent injuries, and pain.

To protect those like these innocent bus passengers, the law provides for the possibility of a financial recovery through the use of a civil claim. Depending on the facts of the accident, the drivers involved, and the amount of insurance coverage available, if any, each student could have multiple claims for their losses. Claims may be made against the bus driver, the bus company, the school district or organization running or operating the bus, the driver of the other car, or even against an uninsured or underinsured provision of the automobile insurance carried by a parent of an injured child.

School bus accidents can be minor or severe. Some may result in no injured children and yet others can cause death. We have seen children with broken bones, neck and back injuries, cuts and abrasions from broken glass, head injuries, post traumatic stress, and even death through our representation of school bus accident victims.
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Former Cop Sentenced to 6 Years for DUI That Killed Another

July 14, 2013 | By Dave Abels

Once a part-time Orland Park police officer, a 62-year-old man will now find himself on the other side of law enforcement after being sentenced to six years in prison for a crash that left another man dead. The defendant was legally drunk with a blood alcohol content of 0.11 at the time of the accident; Illinois law presumes intoxication when a driver’s BAC is 0.08 or higher.

The case stems from a 2010 crash on I-80 near New Lenox. The defendant was driving his pickup truck eastbound when he came upon a Chevrolet Malibu that was stopped on the shoulder of the road. The Malibu had a flat tire and the 20-year-old male driver was inside the vehicle, talking on his cell phone as the defendant approached.

The defendant struck the Malibu at a high rate of speed, pushing the Malibu to the right and into a ditch, where the car caught on fire. The 20-year-old driver was still inside the car and died as a result of the crash. The defendant lost control of his pickup truck upon impact and veered left. He entered the lanes designated for westbound traffic and collided with a third vehicle that had a 40-year-old man, 32-year-old woman, and 10-year-old boy inside. Fortunately, none in the third car were seriously injured.

The defendant was initially taken to Silver Cross Hospital where he was treated for injuries sustained in the crash. After that, authorities took him into custody and charged him with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, a Class 2 felony punishable by a three to 14 year prison sentence. During the criminal proceedings, the defendant pleaded guilty to the aggravated DUI charge and received a six year sentence earlier this week.

Drunk driving is dangerous and illegal in Illinois. Many people who hear about this specific example of drunk driving will be disturbed that not only did a citizen break the law and kill another, but also that the defendant was once responsible for enforcing those same laws he broke. If a former police officer disregards laws that are fundamental to the safety of all motorists, it calls into question that officer’s ability to enforce the same rules.

Alcohol slows the body’s central nervous system and lowers a driver’s ability to react to hazards while driving, including disabled vehicles on the side of the road. Any amount of alcohol can cause impairment and this is one of the reasons that the presumed BAC to indicate intoxication was lowered from 0.10 to 0.08 in the 1990s. Recently, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that this limit be lowered to 0.05 nationally, the most common limit used around the world, as the experts at NTSB believe this would be a more accurate and safe level to presume impairment.
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Speeding Driver in Chicago Sentenced to 15 Years for 2011 Crash That Killed 2

July 12, 2013 | By Dave Abels

A 37-year-old Chicago man was sentenced this week to 15 years in prison after his speeding vehicle caused a crash that killed two back in 2011. The incident occurred near the intersection of Austin Avenue and Sunnyside Avenue. The defendant was reportedly speeding on Austin Avenue as he hurried to pick up his girlfriend on August 9, 2011 when he collided with a Honda Civic pulling out from Sunnyside.

The Civic was driven by a 35-year-old woman who was driving several children to Wisconsin for a camping trip. The woman was killed in the crash and so was her 16-year-old son, who was a student at Taft High School. In addition, the woman’s 3-year-old son suffered a broken leg and her stepson, a high school sophomore, sustained permanent vision and hearing loss on his left side. A 16-year-old friend of the family suffered a broken pelvis in the collision but survived.

In presenting its case, the State argued that the defendant was speeding down the street and was impaired by marijuana at the time. After the evidence was presented, a jury determined the defendant was not impaired after determining that the small level of marijuana detected in the defendant’s blood stream may have been through second hand exposure. The same jurors did convict the man on counts of reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence which led to the 15 year prison sentence. He will have to serve at least 85 percent of that sentence, or 13 years, before being eligible for release.

The defendant apologized for his actions in court and admitted responsibility for the crash. He stated that speeding caused the collision and that alcohol or drugs played no part. According to the prosecutor, the defendant did not have a valid license at the time of the crash and had not had one since 2003.

Speeding is a common factor in many driver’s daily routines. While speeding may seem innocent and unlikely to lead to harm, in fact it is one of the most dangerous behaviors on the road. Speeding is estimated to be a factor in over 50 percent of all collisions across the nation. Though speeding causes so many crashes, drivers do not recognize the danger they pose to themselves and others when speeding on the road.
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Chicago Motorcyclist Killed on Dan Ryan

July 10, 2013 | By Dave Abels

A motorcyclist was killed on Monday morning while riding on the Dan Ryan expressway, according to the Illinois State Police Department. An accident took place between the motorcyclist and an automobile on the inbound side of the highway near 35th Street during the early morning rush hour.

The crash was in the northbound express lanes around 6:15 a.m. and was significant enough to shut all lanes of inbound traffic, which were later open by 8:30 a.m. The cause of the collision has not been released but police continue to investigate the accident, including whether either driver acted negligently.

Paramedics responded to the collision and transported the biker, who is reportedly a male in his 30s, to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The man later died. Reportedly the driver of the other vehicle was not injured in the crash.

Motorcycles are involved in thousands of crashes every year. In 2011 alone, there were 3,756 motorcycles collisions in Illinois alone, causing thousands of injuries. Motorcycles are involved in a small number of crashes each year but these accidents are disproportionately responsible for a large number of injuries and deaths. There are many reasons for this, including the fact that motorcycles are smaller than most vehicles, making them more difficult to see. When other drivers are not careful or are not looking for a motorcycle, the driver can cause a collision with a biker who is lawfully riding.

Not only are motorcycles small but they also lack the protective compartment that passenger vehicles provide. Modern cars, trucks, and vans are designed to absorb an impact in areas free of occupants, like bumpers, while maintaining a rigid passenger compartment for the safety of those inside. In a motorcycle, there is no steel surrounding a rider meaning that the only thing between a biker’s body and the road is whatever safety equipment the biker chooses to wear. As a result, when a collision occurs, a biker is much more likely to be injured than a driver of a car.

Drivers are legally required to observe the rights of motorcyclists and to share the roads with bikers just as they do with all other vehicles. Yet not all drivers follow these rules and when negligence occurs, an accident is likely.
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