Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

Mookie Blaylock, Former NBA Star, Faces Charges in Fatal Car Crash

June 4, 2013 | By Dave Abels

Former NBA star and fan favorite Mookie Blaylock is facing charges of driving on a suspended license and failing to stay within his lane after he caused a car crash on Friday morning that left one woman dead.Blaylock is best known for his years with the Atlanta Hawks but also played for the Golden State Warriors and the New Jersey Nets, now the Brooklyn Nets, following his draft into the NBA in 1989.

The collision occurred just outside of Atlanta on Tara Boulevard, a popular four-lane highway in the area. It appears that Blaylock was traveling in one direction and lost control of his Cadillac Escalade, crossed a center median, and entered the highway going the other direction. Blaylock’s SUV collided head-on with a van in a violent collision. A 43-year-old female front seat passenger in the van was killed in the crash and Blaylock was critically injured. Emergency medical technicians transported Blaylock by air ambulance to an area hospital where he was placed on life support for several hours.

Following surgery for a broken ankle, Blaylock is in critical condition and reportedly is no longer on life support. However he is currently being sedated by his physicians. Once he is able to speak, police intend to interview him about the collision and may level additional charges against Blaylock, including a potential charge for vehicular homicide. So far, Blaylock has been charged with driving on a suspended license and failing to stay within his lane of traffic.

The family of Mookie Blaylock have reported that he suffers from seizures and has received medical treatment for them and recently had an episode where paramedics had to be called to his home during one of Blaylock’s seizures. It is not clear whether doctors had given him any instructions regarding his ability to drive. Reports indicate that an arrest warrant was recently issued in Spalding County, Georgia for Blaylock on charges of driving under the influence and a drug charge though it does not appear that these prior charges had anything to do with the current accident.

Head-on collisions of the type involved in this accident are often violent and account for a disproportionate number of fatalities each year. Though head-on collisions account for only two percent of all crashes, they are responsible for nearly 10 percent of all fatalities. One of the reasons they are so deadly is that these collisions often occur when one driver fails to stay within his own lane and crosses a center line or median. Statistically this results in serious collisions most often on roads with high rates of speeds, like rural highways or other areas with light traffic.

Driver Gets 10 Year Prison Sentence for Road-Rage and DUI Crash that Killed Biker

June 3, 2013 | By Dave Abels

A fatal crash between a drunk driver and a motorcyclist last June has resulted in a 10 year prison sentence for the driver. The incident occurred last June in Naperville, Illinois and claimed the life of an innocent motorcyclist.

Not only was the at-fault driver under the influence of marijuana, he was also engaged in a road-rage incident that further caused him to driver recklessly and irresponsibly, making him a danger to himself and everyone on the road. The driver reportedly got into an argument with three teenagers in another car while stopped at a traffic light. He then attempted to chase down the teenagers and drove aggressively while doing so. As he was chasing the teens, the driver failed to exercise caution and collided with and killed a motorcyclist, who was a resident of Lombard and who died at the scene due to the severity of his injuries.

After the collision, the driver fled the scene but was later found by police officers who charged the man with aggravated driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. The driver was found guilty of both charges in March and was just sentenced this week. In addition, he was also charged with aggravated reckless driving and misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana, obstructing an officer, and failing to yield while turning left.

This crash was preventable and did not need to happen. Unfortunately the driver in this case got behind the wheel when he was unfit to do so and he should never have been driving that day. In addition to driving under the influence, the man engaged in a situation with another vehicle that led to road-rage and a fatal collision with an innocent biker. And if those two factors alone weren’t enough, the driver fled the scene of the crash, potentially delaying any chance the victim would have had to receive medical care or to speak with police, as he was required to do by law.

Any one of those behaviors can cause a crash but once they were combined, it is no surprise that the outcome was fatal in this case.

Road-rage is much more prevalent than realized in Illinois and it occurs daily. Some estimate that road-rage is a factor in more than 50 percent of the collisions that occur every year. Still, it is often overlooked as a serious problem facing all drivers.

Anyone can get irritated or annoyed while driving, particularly at the behavior of another driver. Though frustration may occur, it is never acceptable to let that anger accelerate to the point of road-rage. Road-rage is a series of risky actions or behaviors while driving that leads to an assault by one driver against another person, either with a motor vehicle or without one. It is also important to realize that road-rage is considered a criminal offense and not merely a traffic violation, meaning that drivers who exercise road-rage could face jail time even without causing a collision or hurting anyone.
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Van Driver in Illinois Crash that Killed 5 Had Suspended License

June 2, 2013 | By Dave Abels

The driver of a van that was involved in a bad rollover crash last week in southern Illinois was driving on a suspended license, according to the Associated Press.Though the Illinois State Police Department has not identified the driver, the Associated Press obtained the citation issued as a result of the crash which did list the driver’s name. From there, it could determine the driver, a resident of New Jersey, had his license suspended last year for insurance-related issues after failing to make three mandatory payments to a New Jersey court. His license was also suspended briefly in 2002 for falling behind on child support.

The crash occurred in Vandalia, Illinois on I-70. Some reports indicate that the van was on the highway while others have stated that the van was on a highway ramp but it is clear that the driver lost control of the vehicle which flipped and rolled over several times. Eleven people were in the van at the time and nine of them were ejected as the van rolled. Five of the passengers died.

The van was reportedly traveling from California back to New Jersey after a week-long ministry gathering out west when the Illinois crash occurred. The names of all the victims have not yet been released but it has been learned that the driver as well as at least one of the passengers had criminal pasts, including incarceration, for crimes unrelated to this incident.

The victims are believed to have been members of Victory Outreach International, a religious group that attempts to help people take control of their lives as well as reaching out to at-risk groups. With over 700 churches world-wide, Victory Outreach is also known for providing drug and alcohol rehabilitation services to those in need.

Firey Illinois Crash Was Caused by Drunk Driver

May 31, 2013 | By Dave Abels

A crash early Wednesday morning on the Eisenhower Expressway was not merely an accident, according to local police. The driver of the vehicle was legally drunk and under the influence of alcohol when she crashed her car in Elk Grove Village in the early morning hours, backing up traffic and causing delays for several hours.

It now appears that the woman was driving a minivan northbound on I-290 near Biesterfield Road when she lost control. The van veered across all lanes of traffic before striking a poll and coming to a stop where the car caught fire. The fire spread rapidly and engulfed the entire vehicle within minutes in a hot and intense burn.

Another driver saw the crash and stopped to help because he believed it to be the appropriate thing to do. Ironically, this Good Samaritan had just seen the movie Fast & Furious 6, a theatrical release known for its car racing, crashes, and action stunts. As the Good Samaritan approached the car, he noticed the driver was still inside and that she was obviously injured. Her face was cut and bleeding and she seemed to be searching for something within her vehicle. After confirming that there were no other people inside the minivan, the Good Samaritan told the female driver that her vehicle was on fire and that she needed to get out, immediately, because he feared the fire spreading or the vehicle exploding.

The injured driver exited her vehicle and emergency reponders provided her with transportation to a local hospital where she was treated for her injuries. Authorities stayed at the scene to put out the fire and investigate the crash, including why it occurred, and in combination with other information, they came to the conclusion that the woman was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. She was arrested and cited with driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a crime in the state of Illinois.
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Minimum Auto Liability Rates Set to Increase in Illinois

May 29, 2013 | By Dave Abels

Illinois drivers are likely to face an increase in the mandatory minimum liability insurance required by the State as a bill to do so has been passed by both houses and is now on its way to the governor. The current minimum liability limits are $20,000 per person and $40,000 per occurrence and are set to be raised to $25,000 per person and $50,000 per occurrence.

Liability insurance is mandatory for all Illinois drivers and it provides coverage in the event that a driver causes injuries to another person, either in another vehicle, a bicyclist, a pedestrian, or even a passenger in the driver’s own vehicle. The State of Illinois allows motorists to select the amount of liability insurance they carry but each driver is required to have the minimum liability insurance of $20,000/$40,000. This means that if a driver has the minimum insurance required and is at fault in an accident, any single person who is injured can collect up to $20,000 from the driver’s insurance company but that the insurance company is only liable for up to $40,000 in injury damages, regardless of how many people are injured.

If this new law takes effect, as it is expected to do, those drivers who elect to carry the minimum coverage will now have a little extra insurance on their side while those who are injured in auto accidents will have the potential for a greater recovery for their losses. Though the cost of medical care has skyrocketed in the last decades, the level of required liability insurance has not increased in 24 years, meaning that the insurance limits have not kept pace with inflation or rising costs associated with collisions.

While this increase will be great for Illinois citizens, it is not a large enough increase to guarantee protection in the event of a collision. The truth is that car accidents regularly cause serious, debilitating injuries and even death, and that in these cases a mere $25,000 does not come close to fully compensating an injured victim or the victim’s family. Often a simple visit to the emergency room by ambulance after a collision can cost in excess of that limit which would leave no money available for follow up treatment, including surgeries, therapy, or rehabilitation procedures that a victim needs.

Since the mandatory minimum liability insurance limits are so low in the state and since the anticipated increase is so minor, it is important for all drivers to be aware of the risks that come with limited insurance and take steps to protect themselves. The best way to make sure you are protected is to get an insurance policy with a provision known as uninsured/underinsured coverage. This is a type of automobile insurance coverage that applies when you are injured by a driver without insurance or by a driver who cannot be identified because he fled the scene of the collision. Importantly it also provides excess coverage in a case where you are hurt by a driver who has insurance but not enough to fully compensate you. In this type of case, like where a driver has low or minimum insurance, a knowledgeable attorney can help you first recover against the at-fault driver and then make an additional, and often much larger, recovery on your behalf through your own insurance company.
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Wrong Way Driver on Chicago Skyway Causes Crash that Injures 4

May 27, 2013 | By Dave Abels

A serious collision occurred when a northbound Honda drove in the southbound lanes last week on the Chicago Skyway, according to police. The Honda struck a southbound pickup truck near 84th Street and caused a violent impact that pushed the pickup truck into a concrete barrier.

The driver of the pickup truck was injured and was treated at South Shore Hospital and later discharged. In addition to the driver, two passengers were in the Honda and all were injured and treated at various hospitals with the driver reportedly suffering a broken arm. A female passenger has been described as “gravely injured” and it is not clear whether she will survive.

It is not yet clear what caused the Honda driver to travel in the wrong direction but police say the driver will be issued citations.

Though it is not clear if alcohol was involved, alcohol is a common factor in many of the wrong-way collisions that occur in the United States every year. A driver under the influence is less aware of other motorists, including the direction they are traveling, and statistically pay less attention to road signs, making it easier to drive against traffic without realizing it.

Wrong-way collisions are often very violent and severe because each vehicle is traveling in the opposite direction, making the force of the impact large. This type of collision is also likely to produce injuries to the drivers and passengers of both vehicles.

Wrong-way collisions can often occur when a driver is inattentive or just not paying attention. Distraction may come from inside the car or out and can include things like phone conversations, texting, other passengers, children, arguments, the radio, checking email, and even a GPS system. When a driver is distracted, the driver is a danger to those on the road and is more likely to cause an accident than if he was focused and attentive on the road.
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Simulated Car Crash Before Prom Gets the Attention of Lake Zurich Students

May 24, 2013 | By Dave Abels

With prom season approaching, students in Lake Zurich, Illinois might think twice before drinking and getting behind the wheel. That’s because Operation Prom Night made an appearance this week at the high school and presented a simulated prom night crash caused by a drunk student.

Several students acted as prom-goers dressed in formal wear with first responders present from the local fire department. A female student was splashed with fake blood and laying across the hood of a significantly damaged vehicle.

The purpose of Operation Prom Night is to make students realize how dangerous and potentially deadly it can be to drink and drive or to drive after taking drugs. While the scene may have been graphic in an effort to make a point, many people thought the program was well done and effective.

In Illinois, teenagers and people under the age of 21 are not allowed to have any alcohol in their system when they drive while it is illegal for anyone to drive under the influence of drugs. Special occasions, including prom, often cause a spike in teenage drinking as well as teenage drinking and driving so organizers feel it is important to highlight the dangers before these temptations arise.

Car crashes continue to be the biggest cause of death among U.S. teenagers each year, and though highway deaths have declined lately, too many teenagers continue to die in collisions. Teenagers and other young drivers are at a higher risk of crashes to begin with due to a lack of developed driving skills, lack of experience, and an inability to anticipate dangerous conditions that more experienced drivers tend to possess. Adding drugs or alcohol to the mix slows a teenager’s ability to make decisions and slows reaction time, making crashes even more likely. In fact, in 2008, one in seven people killed in a drunk driving accident was under age 21 and therefore not even old enough to legally drink.

It is unclear whether Operation Prom Night will reduce drinking and driving in Lake Zurich this year but organizers hope that parents will reinforce the lessons taught by speaking with their teens at home, expressing the dangers of drinking and driving, and coming up with alternate plans, like having a safe ride available, in case a teen finds themselves in a dangerous situation.
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Alcohol Believed to Be a Factor in Chicago Crash that Injured 4

May 22, 2013 | By Dave Abels

A Friday morning crash in Avondale that left four people seriously injured may have been caused by alcohol and possibly narcotics, according to Chicago police officers.

The crash happened just before 3:00 a.m. near the intersection of Kedzie Avenue and Elston Avenue on the northwest side of Chicago. A 21-year-old was driving a 1995 Honda Accord when he lost control of the vehicle, left the road, and struck a light pole. Authorities believe the car was traveling at a significant speed because upon impact, the car wrapped around the pole and sustained serious damage.

When emergency responders arrived at the scene, the vehicle was so damaged that the occupants could not be removed through the doors, forcing the fire department to cut apart the car and remove each of the four occupants.

The driver and another male were taken to Illinois Masonic for their injuries while the two females in the car were taken to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital. The driver was in critical condition and all four passengers appear to have suffered head and other injuries.

After conducting an investigation, police officers believe that alcohol and possibly narcotics played a part in the one-car crash and charges are now pending against the driver of the vehicle.

Drunk drivers who cause their passengers to be injured may also face civil claims including lawsuits for injuries and damages. Many people do not realize that if they are in the car with a person who causes their injuries, a claim can still be made.

In accidents like the one described above, most insurance companies will provide coverage to the three passengers so that they can recover for all of their damages, including medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and any other expenses they incur. This can be very important to keep in mind because according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one in every seven nighttime weekend drivers are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
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Semi Truck Crash Leaves 1 Dead in Chicago

May 21, 2013 | By Dave Abels

A collision on the Kennedy Expressway left one dead and backed up traffic for hours last week in Chicago.The crash occurred Monday morning near Cumberland Avenue as traffic began to slow. A 65-year-old man in a Ford Explorer began to slow his vehicle for heavy traffic and was struck from behind by a semi truck that failed to slow or stop. The collision forced the Ford to strike a Lincoln Town Car in front of him, causing a second impact for the Ford driver. His vehicle was destroyed and unfortunately the driver died as a result of his injuries.

The driver of the Lincoln was taken to Resurrection Medical Center where he received treatment for his injuries. The semi truck driver was not injured and did not receive medical treatment, according to authorities.

The collision closed all outbound lanes of the Kennedy Expressway between the Edens Expressway and Cumberland Avenue for three hours during morning rush hour but all lanes were reopened in the late morning.

Police have determined that the semi truck driver caused the collision when he was unable to slow down in time to avoid the crash. It is not clear whether the semi driver has been charged or will be charged with any violations in relation to the accident or why he failed to stop for traffic.

Crashes involving semi trucks are particularly dangerous due to the large size and mass of the truck when compared to a standard passenger vehicle. In fact, a semi with a trailer can be 20 times the size of an opposing car. This means that in a car versus semi collision, the car almost always sustains extreme damage and the passengers often are injured.

This size differential makes truck crashes more deadly than almost any other type of crash, as indicated by the collision that occurred earlier this week. With trucks making up a large portion of all vehicles on the road, it is nearly impossible to avoid them, making innocent car drivers at risk for crashes.

What many people do not realize is that commercial drivers, including semi truck drivers, have a different standard of conduct in some situations than others. This is because of the inherent danger that comes with driving a truck and the responsibility that is entrusted to truck drivers. While the increased regulations are designed to keep the roads safer, many of the semi crashes that result often occur as a violation of one or more safety standards or general regulations.
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Repeated Building Crashes in Downtown Area Raise Safety Concerns

May 17, 2013 | By Dave Abels

There has been several incidents this year where a driver jumped the curb and crashed into a building in downtown Hinsdale. They all occurred on the same block of the village’s downtown district, one in March and two other similar accidents occurred in February.This accident involved a Clarendon Hills woman attempting to park her 2007 Mercedes ML500 along South Washington Street. Apparently, she hit the accelerator instead of the brake, sending her car into a vacant building that formerly housed the restaurant Zak’s Place. The woman was not injured, but was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision.

The two other accidents, which as previously mentioned occurred within the same street block, occurred on February 21 and February 23, when the Steinway Piano Gallery was struck twice by vehicles on separate occasions.

In the first accident, which took place on February 21, a man was trying to park his car into one of the angled spaces, but instead drove onto the curb and struck the building. Luckily, the only damage was a few fallen bricks. The second accident, which was on February 23, caused substantially more damage. “We heard a loud crash, and the doors were broken through and there was glass everywhere,” said Diane Duncan, sales manager at the store. Apparently the driver came to a stop within just a few feet of some of the store’s pianos. This accident was also the result of a driver attempting to park, but accidentally jumping the curb and hitting the accelerator.

Authorities have begun to discuss whether some sort of obstacle, such as a large planter box, might be the solution to these sorts of accidents. It may be the case that these accidents are just a highly unlikely coincidence. While there has been a mention of drivers averaging 65 years of age, there has also been an acknowledgement that it is not necessarily an age correlated with decreased driving abilities. Based on the limited information presented, it remains unclear whether perhaps all the vehicles involved were SUVs, or perhaps the curb in that area is lower or less sloped compared with other curbs, providing two additional potential explanations.
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