Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

In early February, one man was killed and two other people were critically injured in a two-vehicle crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago. According to Illinois State Police Sergeant Robert Satkiewicz, a 51-year-old man was pinned in his parked automobile after it was struck by an elderly motorist driving a sport utility vehicle. The accident allegedly occurred in the right-hand emergency lane of the roadway near 95th Street. After emergency responders freed him from the accident wreckage, the 51-year-old man was transported to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County where he reportedly died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the crash. The deceased man’s passenger and another individual who was reportedly standing outside of the car when the accident occurred were taken by ambulance to the same hospital in critical condition. Satkiewicz stated that paramedics transported the elderly driver to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for observation following the deadly incident.

It is currently unclear why the deceased man’s automobile was parked on the shoulder of the expressway. While the exact cause of the South Side traffic accident is still under investigation, Satkiewicz said law enforcement officials do not believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.

Although tragic collisions such as this one may occur for any number of reasons, many drivers who travel on roadways throughout the Chicago Metro are distracted by mobile telephones, passengers, eating, or other causes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 416,000 people throughout the nation were injured in a motor vehicle crash that resulted from distracted driving in 2010 alone. Regrettably, over 3,000 individuals were killed that year due to the actions of a distracted motorist. In addition, the NHTSA claims the risk of a car accident is 23 times higher when a driver is reading or sending a text message.
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Two women died recently in a single-vehicle crash in the western suburb of Lyons. According to the Lyons Fire Department, the two women were traveling in a sport utility vehicle (SUV) on Harlem Avenue in Lyons when the driver unexpectedly lost control of the vehicle. The SUV reportedly went off of an overpass and fell more than 50 feet onto Canal Bank Drive in neighboring Forest View. A 37-year-old woman and a 36-year-old woman were both killed in the single-car crash.

The Lyons Police Department is currently investigating the exact cause of the deadly traffic wreck. The Illinois State Police is reportedly assisting with the investigation. No additional details regarding the collision are available at this time.

Tragic single-car accidents like this one occur often throughout the Chicago Metro. Flat tires, swerving to avoid a wreck, malfunctioning automobiles, road hazards, and weather are common causes for single-vehicle accidents. In 2011, 532 people were killed in single-car wrecks across the State of Illinois. This means over half of the 918 fatal crashes that occurred throughout the state involved only one motor vehicle. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests that most of those crashes occurred in cities like Chicago.

A passenger who was hurt in a single-car crash that was caused by a distracted or impaired motorist may be entitled to receive compensation for his or her injuries from the driver. In certain situations, an automobile manufacturer, a city, and others may also be held responsible for the injuries that resulted from a one-vehicle collision.

If you were injured through no fault of your own in any automobile wreck, you may be eligible to collect damages for your medical costs, any required physical therapy, pain and suffering, disability, lost wages and benefits, and more. Additionally, since Illinois is a comparative negligence accident state you may be able to recover for a percentage of any harm you sustained in a traffic wreck even if you were somehow partially to blame. If you lost a loved one in an unfortunate single car accident like this one, you may also be entitled to recover for wrongful death. If you have questions about your right to recovery after an injury accident, you should contact a skilled car crash attorney as soon as you are able.
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An 89-year-old Evanston man died following a one-car accident during which he crashed into a tree in Skokie. According to Skokie Fire Chief Ralph Czerwinski, the man was driving a sedan east on Dempster Street near McCormick Boulevard when he unexpectedly crossed the westbound lanes and struck a tree on the side of the roadway. Although the motorist was reportedly conscious when paramedics arrived, the man allegedly went into cardiac arrest after emergency crews placed him on a backboard stretcher. The elderly driver was reportedly transported to Saint Francis Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The exact cause of the daytime traffic accident is currently under investigation by the Skokie Police Department. Inclement weather reportedly does not appear to have played a role in the collision. Authorities stated it is unclear whether the crash occurred following a medical emergency.

Motor vehicle accidents often occur unexpectedly. Although tragic, it is fortunate that no one else was injured in this particular crash. A vehicle collision may be caused by any number of factors including driver inattention, impairment, recklessness, or even a medical emergency such as a heart attack.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about eight percent of all traffic wrecks across the United States in 2008 involved a motorist over the age of 65. Still, approximately 15 percent of people killed in vehicle crashes were senior citizens. In addition, almost one-fifth of all pedestrian deaths in 2008 involved an elderly American. Approximately 80 percent of traffic deaths in 2008 for individuals over the age of 65 occurred during the day and about 69 percent involved another automobile. NHTSA data also suggests that elderly drivers are more likely to use a safety belt and less likely to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs than any other motorist age group.

Normally, drivers in the State of Illinois are required to renew their operator’s license once every four years. Once a motorist reaches age 81 the renewal process accelerates. Drivers between the ages of 81 and 86 are required to renew an Illinois license every two years. Once a motorist reaches age 87, he or she must renew an operator’s license every year. In addition, Illinois drivers who are 75 or older are also obligated to take a road test each time they renew a license. If you were hurt in a traffic wreck that was caused by a senior or other driver, you are advised to contact a quality car accident lawyer as soon as you are able.

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A 20-year-old man was killed and another was hurt in a recent single-vehicle crash on South Michigan Avenue in Chicago. According to police, the night-time accident occurred when a southbound motorist attempted to pass another automobile at a high rate of speed and instead struck a light pole. The force of the impact reportedly caused the young man’s Mitsubishi sedan to split in half. After the driver was extricated from the car, paramedics reportedly transported him to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with severe head injuries. Sadly, the 20-year-old was pronounced dead about 30 minutes after the crash occurred. His passenger, also a 20-year-old male, was taken to the same hospital for an alleged leg injury. He was reportedly treated and subsequently released.

The exact cause of the fatal traffic wreck is currently under investigation by Chicago police. At this time, it is unknown whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash. It is also unclear whether either vehicle occupant was wearing a seat belt at the time of the wreck.

Tragic single-vehicle collisions like this one commonly occur in Chicago. Speeding, driver impairment, a malfunctioning automobile, road hazards, swerving to avoid a wreck, and inclement weather are frequent causes for such crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 532 people died in single-car collisions in Illinois in 2011. That means more than half of the 918 fatal traffic accidents throughout the state involved only one vehicle. Additionally, most of those crashes occurred in cities like Chicago.

If you were hurt in a crash while riding as a passenger, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your medical expenses, physical therapy, pain and suffering, any resulting disability, lost wages and benefits, and more. Illinois is a comparative negligence accident state. This means you may be entitled to recover damages for any injuries you sustained in a single-vehicle crash even if you failed to wear your seat belt or were otherwise partially to blame for your harm. If you have questions about your rights following a car accident injury, you should contact a quality automobile collision attorney as soon as you are able.
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A new study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal suggests that overweight and obese drivers are more likely to be killed in a traffic wreck. Because about 33 percent of adults in the United States are now considered obese, the results of the study could prompt automobile manufacturers to re-evaluate the design of new vehicles in the future.

As part of the study, researchers reportedly analyzed data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System between 1996 and 2008. The system was allegedly established to collect information regarding all traffic fatalities throughout the United States. During the time period analyzed, more than 57,000 fatal traffic collisions were reported across the country. After taking into account factors such as vehicle size, driver weight, age, and safety belt use, the study authors selected more than 3,400 pairs of substantially similar drivers for comparison.

About half of the motorists evaluated by researchers were considered a normal weight. In addition, about 33 percent were considered overweight and 18 percent were considered obese according to World Health Organization standards. Two thirds of the deceased drivers were reportedly male and nearly one-third were between the ages of 16 and 24. About one-third of motorists were not utilizing a seat belt appropriately and an airbag deployed in a little more than half of the crashes analyzed.

Researchers reportedly found that the likelihood of death increased based upon the obesity level of a driver. Motorists with a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 35 were allegedly 21 percent more likely to die in a traffic wreck than their normal weight peers. The risk increased to 51 percent for individuals with a BMI between 35 and 40, and an astonishing 80 percent for drivers with a BMI that was higher than 40. Obese women were purportedly at an even greater risk of dying in a crash than obese men. Researchers also found that underweight men were more likely to die in a collision than a normal weight driver.

According to study authors, there was not a significant difference in fatality rates based on crash or vehicle type. Researchers reportedly believe the difference in death rates may result from the way seat belts restrain obese motorists. Study authors suggest that in the future both vehicle manufacturers and crash safety testing should better take into account the safety needs of overweight and obese drivers.

In the Chicago Metro, we often spend a lot of time in our cars. Even under the best of circumstances, unexpected collisions are bound to occur. Traffic wrecks may be caused by many factors including driver inattention, carelessness, or impairment. Additionally, inclement weather, hazardous road conditions, motor vehicle defects, and a number of other factors can cause an accident. Even if you were partly to blame for a car accident, you may be eligible to receive damages for any injuries or medical expenses that you incurred as a result of a crash. In addition, if you lost someone you love in a traffic wreck you may also be entitled to recover for wrongful death. Contact a skilled Chicago car accident attorney to discuss your case.
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Two Chicago men died and a woman was critically injured in a recent head-on collision in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood neighborhood. According to Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Amina Greer, the deadly accident occurred when one of the vehicles crossed the center line on West 115th Street around 2:30 in the morning. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office stated a 36-year-old man and a 28-year-old man were both killed in the tragic collision. A female passenger who was riding in one of the vehicles was reportedly transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn after she was extricated from the wreckage.

Chicago police are reportedly still attempting to determine the exact cause of the fatal crash although weather may have played a role. At the time of the accident, the roads throughout Chicago were reportedly icy. It is currently unknown whether the occupants of either vehicle were wearing a safety restraint or if speed played a role in the tragic collision.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 918 people died in traffic accidents throughout our state in 2011. 107 of those killed lost their lives in an avoidable head-on collision. In addition, more than 2,000 injuries resulted from head-on accidents. Data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that fatal head-on and other collisions are three times more likely to occur at night than during the day. About half of motorist and passenger deaths across the country reportedly take place at night despite that only about one-fourth of all vehicle miles are driven after dark. In addition, accidents that involve speeding or driver impairment are also allegedly more likely to occur at night.

Someone who was hurt in a Chicago automobile wreck may be eligible to receive compensation for their pain and suffering, lost wages and benefits, medical bills, any resulting temporary or permanent disability, and other damages. Certain relatives of an individual who was killed as a result of the negligent actions of a vehicle driver may also be entitled to recover for wrongful death. If you have questions related to your injury accident, you are advised to speak with a skilled car accident lawyer as soon as you are able.
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