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Three people were killed and another was critically injured in a recent crash in Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood. According to Chicago Police Department News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli, a 20-year-old woman was driving a Kia Optima northbound on State Street when she lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a number of cars parked along the roadway near 102nd Street. Mirabelli stated the Kia was traveling at a high rate of speed on a residential street when the accident occurred. The force of the impact reportedly forced one of the parked vehicles into a light pole and another into the street.

Mirabelli said employees from the Chicago Fire Department used the Jaws of Life to extract all four passengers from the Kia. Sadly, the driver was reportedly pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. A 22-year-old man riding in the front passenger seat was purportedly transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he died. Mirabelli stated that emergency responders took the man’s twin brother to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County where he was also pronounced dead. A 15-year-old girl who was riding in the back seat of the Kia was reportedly transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in critical condition. Fortunately, no one was inside of any of the vehicles that were struck by the Kia.

The cause of the deadly accident is currently under investigation by Chicago’s Major Accident Investigation Unit. Tragic single-vehicle accidents like this one happen all too often throughout the Chicago Metro. A malfunctioning car, poor weather conditions, unexpected road hazards, and even swerving in order to avoid another crash may cause a one-car collision. Additionally, an inexperienced, distracted, or impaired motorist may cause such a wreck. In 2011, more than half of the 918 fatal crashes that occurred in Illinois involved only one vehicle. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data claims that most of those single-car traffic accidents occurred in Illinois cities like Chicago.

If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a single-vehicle or other wreck, you may be entitled to damages related to the cost of your medical care, physical therapy, pain and suffering, any resulting disability, lost wages, funeral expenses, and more. In addition, you may be able to recover compensation for any harm you sustained in a car accident even if you were partially to blame. If you were hurt in an automobile crash in Illinois, you are advised to contact a skilled attorney to discuss your options for recovery.
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One person was hurt recently when a senior citizen reportedly drove a sedan into an Apple computer store in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. The vehicle allegedly shattered the store’s glass walls before it stopped several feet inside of the business. According to Chicago Fire Department Spokesperson Joseph Roccasalva, paramedics transported a single individual to Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The elderly driver was purportedly uninjured in the accident.

The exact cause of the crash is currently under investigation by the Chicago Police Department. Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Joshua Purkiss said it appears that the aged driver simply lost control of the Lincoln Town car before he drove into the building. According to one Apple store customer, the car’s tires were screeching as it drove into the building. The man said he ran in order to avoid being struck by the sedan. Another witness, Shirley Susman, stated that the driver narrowly avoided hitting more than one shopper.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data found that although 15 percent of licensed drivers were over age 65 in 2008, only eight percent of all motor vehicle crashes that year involved an elderly motorist. Still, senior citizens accounted for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities across the country. In addition, about 18 percent of pedestrian deaths in 2008 involved an older American. Interestingly, approximately 80 percent of senior citizen traffic deaths in 2008 occurred during the day and 69 percent involved another vehicle. According to the NHTSA, older drivers involved in traffic wrecks were also more likely to use a seat belt and less likely to be operating a vehicle while intoxicated than other age groups.

Motorists in Illinois are required to renew their license to drive every four years. Once a driver reaches age 81, however, the renewal process accelerates to every two years. Drivers who are aged 87 or above must renew their operator’s license every year. In addition, Illinois motorists who reach age 75 must also take a road test each time they renew their driving license. If you were injured in a traffic wreck that was caused by an elderly or other driver, you should contact an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as you are able.
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Following a lengthy debate, a bill designed to allow illegal immigrants to a obtain motor vehicle operator’s license was passed by the Illinois House in early January. The same bill was approved in the state Senate in December. After the legislation passed the House by a vote of 65-46, Governor Pat Quinn stated he plans on signing the bill into law once it reaches his desk. A similar measure was reportedly defeated in 2007.

Proponents of the legislation argued that motorists throughout the state will enjoy increased safety by allowing an estimated 250,000 illegal immigrants now residing in Illinois to drive legally. Undocumented immigrants are reportedly driving anyway, often without any sort of regulation or liability insurance. According to Illinois Secretary of State Spokesperson Dave Druker, the legislation will expand the Temporary Visitor Driver’s License program that currently allows legal immigrants and other foreigners to operate a vehicle within the state. In order to obtain a license, an undocumented individual will purportedly be required to submit proof of Illinois residency for at least one year. The measure will not require an applicant to be fingerprinted and the temporary licenses may not be used as identification. In addition, the license will be renewable every three years.

Although some believe the measure may encourage immigrants to violate federal law, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel stated the legislation was a great accomplishment that would allow individuals to take their children to school and engage in other activities safely. Once the legislation is signed by the Governor, Illinois will join a number of other states in providing temporary licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Across the nation, unlicensed drivers are allegedly five times more likely to be involved in a fatal traffic wreck than motorists who possess a valid operator’s license. According to the Illinois Highway Safety Coalition, unlicensed and uninsured drivers are involved in nearly 80,000 car crashes throughout the state each year. In 2011, approximately 48,000 tickets were issued in Cook County alone to drivers who failed to possess a valid operator’s license.

Chicago residents often spend a great deal of time traveling in a motor vehicle. Sadly, traffic wrecks are bound to occur. Many factors such as driver inattention, inexperience, or impairment can result in a catastrophic or deadly collision. Although Illinois law prohibits unlicensed drivers from operating a vehicle on roadways in our state, many choose to drive anyway. If you were hurt in a crash that was caused by another driver, you may be eligible to recover compensation for any damages you incurred as a result. An experienced car accident attorney can help.
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A 23-year-old Skokie woman who stands accused of felony aggravated driving under the influence of drugs has reportedly refused a plea agreement that would have required her to serve five years in prison in connection with the accidental death of a nine-year-old child. According to Cook County prosecutors, the woman caused a chain reaction collision last May that claimed the life of a young boy. If convicted at trial, the woman reportedly faces between three and 14 years behind bars.

Accident investigators allege that the 23-year-old woman was turning her automobile onto Main Street from St. Louis Avenue in Skokie when she hit an eastbound vehicle. As a result of the initial crash, the woman’s vehicle reportedly began to spin and crossed the median. Her vehicle allegedly came to rest on a sidewalk where a nine-year-old boy was riding his bicycle. The force of the impact purportedly pushed the child across St. Louis Avenue and into a parked vehicle. Tragically, the second grader was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Cook County prosecutors allege that blood and urine samples taken from the 23-year-old showed she had both amphetamines and marijuana in her system at the time of the fatal collision. In addition, the woman was purportedly out on bond at the time of the accident. Earlier in 2012, she was charged with leaving the scene of another wreck. She is currently behind bars in lieu of a bond.

Increasingly, the Chicago Police Department has focused on arresting drivers who are suspected of driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs such as marijuana. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration data claims that 18 percent of drivers killed in auto accidents in 2009 had drugs in their system. In the State of Illinois, that number was reportedly 23 percent. Like other forms of DUI, drivers who operate a motor vehicle after taking illegal drugs may have slow reaction times, an inability to focus, blurred vision, and poor judgment. Regrettably, everyone traveling on Illinois roadways is placed at risk whenever a drugged driver makes the choice to get behind the wheel of a car.

As this horrific crash demonstrates, the victims of an accident with a drugged driver may experience life-threatening injuries or death. While an impaired driver may be held criminally responsible, he or she should also be held liable for any emotional and financial damages that resulted from a traffic wreck. If you were injured in a collision that was caused by a drugged driver, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation for your medical costs, lost wages and benefits, pain and suffering, any resulting disability, and other damages. Additionally, anyone who lost a child or other family member in an accident with an impaired motorist may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim. A quality Chicago car accident attorney can assist you.
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A 28-year-old Chicago man was killed and another man was thrown from a sport utility vehicle (SUV) in a tragic one-car accident that happened in the westbound lanes of Route 30 in Matteson. According to Illinois State Police, the crash occurred just after 11 pm on a ramp from the highway onto northbound Interstate 57. Following the wreck, the man who was ejected from the SUV was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for treatment.

An accident reconstruction team reportedly closed the ramp for most of the night in an effort to determine the cause of the fatal accident. According to police, neither occupant of the SUV was wearing a safety belt when the accident occurred.

With few exceptions, all drivers and passengers are required to wear a seat belt whenever riding in a car, truck, or other vehicle in the State of Illinois. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belts saved more than 12,000 lives in 2009. In 2011, about 84 percent of Americans reportedly fastened their safety belt when riding in a vehicle. Seat belt use is purportedly higher in primary enforcement states like Illinois. Primary enforcement means a law enforcement officer may stop a vehicle based solely on a seat belt violation.

Utilizing a seat belt allegedly decreases the risk of serious injury and death for individuals in the front seat of an automobile by at least 45 percent. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims that an average of 90 people died in a car accident every day in 2009. More than half of those killed were not wearing a safety belt. Motorists and passengers are allegedly more likely to travel in a vehicle without using a restraint at night and fatal accidents like this one are three times more likely to occur when it is dark outside. About half of all traffic deaths happen at night even though only about one quarter of all motor vehicle miles are driven in the dark. In addition, single-vehicle accidents are more likely to take place at night.

If you were hurt in an unexpected traffic accident, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation for your pain, suffering, medical costs, lost wages, temporary or permanent disability, and more. Certain family members of someone who was killed in a car wreck may also be entitled to recover for wrongful death. Contact a qualified Chicago car accident attorney to discuss your rights.
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In late December, a northbound Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus reportedly crashed into at least 20 parked cars and damaged a laundry business on North Kedzie Avenue in Chicago. The accident occurred near Diversey Avenue after the bus driver purportedly passed out behind the wheel around 9 am. According to CTA spokesperson Lambrini Lukidis, the collision was the result of a medical emergency. Although several cars were reportedly piled on top of one another due to the force of the impact, only the bus driver and a single passenger were injured in the crash.

Following the massive wreck, emergency crews allegedly transported the male bus driver to a local hospital in stable condition. Chicago Fire Department Media Affairs spokesperson Will Knight said the injured passenger was also hospitalized in fair-to-serious condition. According to Ariel Gonzalez, an employee of the company called to tow away the damaged bus, the freak accident likely caused at least a quarter of a million dollars in property damage.

In Chicago, many people use public transportation such as passenger buses on a daily basis. Schoolchildren, commuters, tourists, and others rely on bus drivers to transport them to their destination safely. Although all buses that operate in Chicago and throughout Illinois must be regularly inspected for safety hazards, thousands of passengers are hurt in crashes such as this one each year. Too often, bus collisions result from bus driver or manufacturer negligence.

Since most buses do not provide seat belts for passengers, someone who is riding a CTA or other bus during an unexpected crash may sustain serious injuries. As with any accident, bus crash victims may suffer head, neck, spinal cord, and other injuries. In addition, lost wages and benefits, temporary or permanent disability, medical expenses, and other damages may result. If you or someone you love was hurt in a crash while riding a passenger bus, you should contact a skilled bus accident lawyer to discuss your right to recovery.
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A 59-year-old Chicago man recently died after he was struck by a tow truck while crossing the street in the South Deering neighborhood. The man killed was reportedly walking in a crosswalk on East 95th Street near South Jeffery Boulevard around 8 am when a 63-year-old truck driver turned onto the roadway and hit him. Following the crash, the critically injured victim was transported by emergency crews to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, the man died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the collision the following morning.

The fatal accident is currently under investigation by the Chicago Police Department’s Major Accident Investigations Unit. Officer John Mirabelli said the tow truck driver was ticketed for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. The driver was also cited for his alleged failure to exercise due care.

Walking in cities like Chicago can be a dangerous proposition. In 2011, 918 people were killed in traffic accidents throughout the State of Illinois. During the same year, 135 pedestrians died and almost 5,000 were hurt in an accident with a car, truck, motorcycle, or other motor vehicle. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 117 of the 135 fatal pedestrian accidents occurred in an urban area like Chicago. This means that almost 87 percent of pedestrian fatalities occurred in a city. In contrast, only about 55 percent of wrecks that killed the driver or passenger of a motor vehicle happened in an urban area. In addition, about six percent of fatal pedestrian accidents involved a child under the age of 15 and more than one-fifth killed someone who was 65 years of age or older.

Pedestrians in Chicago must be careful to remain aware of their surroundings in order to avoid injury or untimely death. Despite their vigilance, pedestrians still risk becoming victim of a distracted, reckless or otherwise negligent driver. About 80 percent of pedestrian crashes that occur in Chicago happen near an intersection and approximately half of those accidents occur on an arterial roadway. As occurred in this sad case, most pedestrian crashes involve a vehicle that is in the process of turning. If you were injured by an automobile while walking in the Chicago Metro, you should contact a skilled pedestrian accident attorney to help you protect your rights.
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A teenager was recently killed in an early morning wreck when he rear-ended a tractor-trailer on the South Side of Chicago. The 16-year-old boy was reportedly headed north in a Chevrolet Blazer around 3:45 am on South Ashland Avenue when he struck the back of a semi that was parked along the roadway near 31st Street. The force of the impact allegedly caused the Blazer to become pinned beneath the trailer of the big rig. Tragically, the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision. According to police, no one else was in the vehicle at the time of the fatal accident.

The exact cause of the wreck is currently under investigation. Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Veejay Zala stated it was unclear what caused the young man to hit the parked commercial vehicle. Police reportedly hope an autopsy will offer more clues into the cause of the fatal crash. Zala also said it is unknown whether the 16-year-old who was killed possessed a valid operator’s license.

Sadly, motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of serious injury and death for teenagers throughout the nation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of seven American teens between the ages of 16 and 19 are killed in a car crash each day. In 2010, almost 300,000 young people were wounded in a preventable traffic accident. Teenagers are reportedly three times more likely to die in a car accident than people who are over the age of 20 and male teens are allegedly twice as likely die in a collision as female teens.

Illinois graduated driver license laws were reportedly created in an effort to reduce the number of catastrophic and fatal accidents involving teens in our state. In Illinois, motorists who are under age 18 are required to complete an approved driver education course before obtaining an operator’s license. In addition, the hours during which a minor may operate a vehicle in Illinois are also restricted. Any motorist who is under age 18 is prohibited from operating a vehicle between 10 pm and 6 am Sunday through Thursday and 11 pm and 6 am on Friday and Saturday. Minor drivers in Illinois also face restrictions against using a cellular telephone with or without a hands-free device while driving except in case of extreme emergency.
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An early morning two-vehicle collision in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood recently claimed the life a 67-year-old woman. According to Chicago Police Officer John Mirabelli, the woman was riding in the backseat of a Volkswagon Golf that was headed south on Pulaski Street around 4:45 am when a northbound Chevrolet Blazer entered the southbound lane. The Blazer reportedly struck the passenger side of the Golf despite that the 25-year-old driver of the Volkswagon swerved in an attempt to avoid a collision.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said emergency responders transported the 67-year-old woman to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center where she was pronounced dead about half an hour after the wreck. The driver of the Golf was reportedly taken to the same hospital with unknown injuries. Mirabelli said a 25-year-old man who was riding in the front seat of the Volkswagon refused medical treatment.

The driver of the Blazer allegedly fled the scene of the fatal accident. Mirabelli said the man was later apprehended and interviewed by police. The cause of the wreck is currently being examined by Chicago’s Major Accident Investigation Unit. At this time, no charges have been filed against the driver of the Blazer.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 918 people were killed in Illinois traffic accidents last year. Sadly, the total number of traffic fatalities in our state in 2012 will be even higher. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows that fatal accidents like this one are three times more likely to occur when it is dark outside than during the day. In fact, approximately half of all driver and passenger deaths across the nation occur at night despite that only about 25 percent of vehicle miles are driven in the dark. Collisions that involved speeding or alcohol, as well as single-vehicle crashes are also reportedly more likely to take place at night.

The victim in a Chicago car accident may be entitled to receive compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, any resulting disability, and other damages. The family of someone who was killed due to the negligent actions of a motorist may also be eligible to recover for wrongful death. If you were hurt or a loved one was killed in an unexpected crash, a qualified car accident attorney can help.
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A 25-year-old Chicago woman was killed and her passenger was hospitalized after she allegedly drove into a number of crash barrels on the Kennedy Expressway near Harlem Avenue. According to Illinois State Police Trooper Chris Asmar, the woman appeared to have unexpectedly lost control of the Honda Accord she was driving while traveling at a high rate of speed in the left lane of the highway. The vehicle reportedly bounced off of a wall of the expressway and came to rest in the opposite shoulder.

Following the collision, emergency responders transported a 24-year-old male passenger to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge for treatment. In addition, a spokesperson for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said the woman was pronounced dead at Resurrection Medical Center about half an hour after the early morning accident occurred. The exact cause of the fatal crash is currently under investigation. Asmar stated weather does not appear to have played a role in the collision and both people riding in the Honda were wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Sadly, single-vehicle crashes like this one occur frequently in the Chicago Metro. Malfunctioning automobiles, swerving to avoid a wreck, road hazards, and weather are common causes for such collisions. In addition, a passenger in a vehicle that was driven by a distracted or impaired driver may become the victim of an injury wreck. In 2011, 532 people were killed in single-vehicle accidents in Illinois. That means more than half of the 918 fatal crashes throughout the state involved only one automobile. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the bulk of those crashes occurred in cities like Chicago.

In some cases, a motor vehicle manufacturer, another driver, a city, and others may be held responsible for the injuries that resulted from a one-car accident. If you were hurt through no fault of your own in a single-car crash, you may be entitled to compensation for the cost of your medical care, physical therapy, pain and suffering, disability, lost wages, and more. Because Illinois is a comparative negligence accident state, you may be able to recover damages for any injuries sustained in a single-vehicle collision even if you were partially to blame. If you have questions, you should contact a hardworking car accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your options for recovery.
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