Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

CTA bus accident injures 7 in Chicago

May 22, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A Chicago bus accident has left seven people hurt on the Northwest Side of Chicago, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The bus vs. car crash occurred in the 3800 block of North Pulaski in the early afternoon on Thursday.

Five ambulances responded to the accident. All seven injured were taken to area hospitals. One person was in serious to critical condition.

It is being reported that the accident happened when a car in a middle lane hooked a right turn in front of the bus. The Jefferson Park District of the Chicago Police Department is handling the crash investigation.

Chicago injury attorneys to represent insurance claims supervisor in Illinois pedestrian accident case

May 21, 2010 | By Dave Abels

For the Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers at Abels & Annes, there is no bigger compliment than representing a supervising claims adjuster from a major insurance carrier who was injured in a crosswalk accident.

The accident occurred back on 2/25/10 at State and Lake Street in downtown Chicago. Our pedestrian client was walking northbound across Lake Street in a crosswalk on the east side of the intersection when a bus turned right and failed to observe her. She was struck by the front end of the vehicle.

The plaintiff went to the ER at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. X-rays revealed she incurred a fractured left leg in the accident. She has since been following up with an orthopaedic physician.

Drunk driving blamed for deadly Chicago auto accident involving teenagers

May 20, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A teenager has been sentenced to six months in jail on drunk driving charges stemming from a fatal Chicago car accident that claimed the life of a friend and critically injured two passengers, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The teenager will serve 120 days in jail this year, 30 days in jail next year and 30 days in 2012 after pleading guilty in March to aggravated DUI and reckless homicide.

The June accident killed a 17-year-old West Chicago teenager. Police say the defendant’s blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit when he lost control of his SUV and struck a tree at about 3:30 a.m. on June 14.

Hit-and-run Chicago car accidents injure police officers, teenagers

May 18, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Police are investigating a trio of hit-and-run Chicago auto accidents, two of which involved police officers, the Breaking News Center reported.

Two officers were injured early Friday near 35th and Halsted streets when a vehicle ran a red light. The officers swerved to avoid a collision, but lost control and struck a parked car. The other car did not stop. Both officers were taken to Stroger Hospital with injuries.

The officers had been responding to a 911 call from an off-duty officer who was in an accident with a vehicle that reportedly failed to yield the right-of-way near 47th and Ashland Avenue. That car also fled the scene.

DUI driver blamed in Chicago car crash that injures Chicago police officer during traffic stop

May 16, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A 21-year-old man has been criminally charged for allegedly driving drunk when he slammed into a Chicago police officer during a traffic stop, the Sun-Times reported.

It is the latest in a string of Chicago car accidents that have injured law enforcement officers conducting traffic stops.

As we reported last month on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, a trooper was struck on I-80 while conducted a traffic stop involving a suspected drunk driver.

Chicago car accident kills pedestrian; drunk driving reportedly to blame

May 14, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A 32-year-old man is facing reckless homicide and other charges after a deadly Chicago car accident that is being blamed drunk driving, The Sun-Times reported.

The accident occurred last Friday at a busy Southwest Side intersection, where the defendant allegedly crashed into three vehicles and struck three pedestrians, killing a 25-year-old Chicago resident.

The driver is charged with reckless homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol, operating a vehicle without insurance, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, reckless driving, not using due care for a pedestrian in the roadway, and driving without a valid license, according to police.

Boy killed in Chicago car accident after police hand keys to drunk driver

May 12, 2010 | By Dave Abels

The alleged drunk driver who killed a 5-year-old boy in a Chicago car accident, was given the keys to the vehicle by police less than an hour before he slammed into a tree with the child sleeping in the back seat, the Breaking News Center reported.

Chicago Heights police took the man’s girlfriend into custody for driving without a license before reportedly handing him the keys and allowing him to drive away in the 1998 Chevy Cavalier. Forty minutes later, he veered off Steger Road and slammed into a tree, killing the child.

Police say he had marijuana in his system and a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit. He was charged with felony driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless homicide.

CTA bus crashes into Chicago building – 12 injured

May 10, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A CTA bus hit a school building in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood on Monday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Twelve people were taken by ambulance to area hospitals as a result of the Chicago bus crash.

The CTA is stating that just after 4 p.m. a westbound number 66 bus was in an accident with another car and that after the initial collision the bus hit a building known as the Rowe-Clark Math and Science Academy. The bus vs. car accident occurred at 3645 W. Chicago Avenue and ten ambulances were called to the scene.

Two of the injured were in serious to critical condition. The cause of the bus accident has not yet been reported. It has also not been reported if students were ever in danger as a result of the collision.

Chicago injury lawyer settles DUI car accident case for $200,000

May 10, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Illinois auto accident attorneys from Abels & Annes have reached a $200,000 on behalf of a Bellwood, Illinois woman for injuries sustained in a Chicago DUI car crash. The collision took place on May 31, 2009 at approximately 3:15 a.m. Our client was driving westbound on I-290 near Racine, and the defendant was also westbound on I-290 near Racine. The at fault driver was racing and speeding, swerved out of his lane of traffic and struck the plaintiff’s vehicle. The force of the impact caused our client to lose control of her vehicle and hit a third car.

After causing the accident the DUI driver attempted to flee the scene of the collision but was apprehended. He was issued citations from the Illinois State Police for driving under the influence, driving too fast for conditions/failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to give aid or information. The criminal case is still pending in Cook County.

Our client had an immediate onset of neck pain with paresthesia in her right arm following the collision. She was transported by ambulance from the site of the collision to Stroger Hospital’s Emergency Department.

Due to ongoing and increasing pain, the plaintiff sought follow up medical care on the following day at the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department. She complained of worsening neck pain radiating into her right arm with tingling and numbness in her face and arm, bilateral shoulder pain, back pain and pelvic pain. A history was taken, she was examined and additional diagnostic tests were performed. A neck strain was diagnosed and she was prescribed more pain medication and muscle relaxants and told to follow up with a physician.

Her pain continued to worsen. On June 3, 2009 she followed up with her physician. She complained of neck pain with numbness, back pain, left leg and hip pain following the motor vehicle collision. The pain was so bad that it was interfering with her ability to take care of her everyday needs such as getting around, bathing and shopping. Her doctor prescribed more pain medication, muscle relaxants and recommended that she see a specialist.

Drunk driving suspected in fatal Chicago car accident on the Stevenson Expressway

May 9, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Authorities say drunk driving was likely involved in a deadly Chicago car accident last Monday night on the Stevenson Expressway, ABC7 reported.

The fatal two-vehicle accident occurred in the outbound lanes near Throop when the driver of a pickup truck lost control, veered across three expressway lanes, and crashed into a car parked at the side of the freeway in an emergency area, killing the 56-year-old driver of that vehicle.

The drivers of both vehicles were transported to Stroger Hospital. The driver of the pickup truck was injured but is expected to recover. He is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to the Breaking News Center. He was detained by police but charges had not yet been filed. A 56-year-old South Mozart Street man was declared dead at 10:38 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.