Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

8 hurt, 1 pedestrian killed in deadly Chicago car accident

May 8, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A Chicago car crash on the Southwest Side has resulted in the death of a pedestrian and several others being injured, according to WGN News. The car accident occurred near Archer and Kedzie around 3:45 p.m. and involved 4 cars and three pedestrians. The pedestrian was reportedly run over by a van involved in the crash.

The pedestrian was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital and dies a short time later. The others hurt were taken to Sinai, Stroger Hospital, and Saint Anthony Hospital. One of the victims seriously injured was a child.

The at fault driver arrested at the scene. Witnesses to the accident are saying that the van that caused the accident was going around 60 mph right before the crash and was weaving in and out of traffic, according to NBC News.

Trooper found guilty in fatal Illinois auto accident caused by distracted driving

May 6, 2010 | By Dave Abels

The case of a man convicted of killing two teenagers in an Illinois car crash while text messaging and driving at 125 mph is a horrific example of the dangers of distracted driving.

Add in the fact that it was an Illinois State Trooper and it becomes clear that state and federal authorities continue to struggle in convincing motorists of the dangers of distracted driving. As we reported in March on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, the federal government is pushing for a nationwide ban on text messaging behind the wheel. Illinois passed its law, which went into effect Jan. 1, prohibiting all drivers from texting while driving and making it illegal to use hand-held cell phones in school zones and construction sites.

Hand held cell phone use by drivers has been prohibited within the City of Chicago since 2005.

The Illinois trooper pleaded guilty last month to reckless homicide and aggravated reckless driving counts, according to The Daily News Tribune. He was sentenced to 2 1/2 years of probation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that distracted driving is responsible for 1 in 4 traffic accidents nationwide. The agency has found that driver inattention in the three seconds before a crash is a leading cause of accidents and near-accidents and that drivers using cell phones are four times more likely to be involved in an accident.

Yet an investigation by the New York Times last year, in its series “Driven to Distraction” found that drivers largely ignore research that continues to show the dangers of cell phone use while driving. The series won a Pulitzer Prize earlier this month, journalism’s highest honor.

A $24 million lawsuit has been filed against the trooper and Illinois State Police by the mother of the two teenagers killed in the crash.

The trooper was going 126 miles an hour while responding to a crash. Court documents show he was talking on his cell phone and e-mailing from the car computer. Ironically, the New York Times reported earlier this year that police and ambulance drivers may be among the most distracted drivers on the road. Modern emergency vehicles include sophisticated radios, on-board computers, navigation systems and cell phones and emergency responders are typically exempt from the laws prohibiting text messaging or cell phone use by drivers.
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Ayude a prevenir accidents de carro en Chicago; celebre el Cinco de Mayo responsablemente.

May 5, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Abogados de herida en Chicago de Abels & Annes les recomienda a todos que disfruten el Cinco de Mayo en una manera responsable y que pongan de su parte para prevenir accidentes en Chicago causados por conductores borrachos.

WJBC Radio informa que las agencias policiales locales estarán trabajando con el Departamento de Transportación de Illinois para aumentar patrullas dirigidas en conductores borrachos desde el miércoles hasta el fin de semana. Como informamos a principios de este año en nuestro blog de abogados de accidente en Chicago, un tercio de accidentes de carro en el Condado de Cook son relacionadas por manejar borracho.

En 2008, 362 fatalidades de tráfico en Illinois se trataban de un conductor borracho, según la Administración Nacional de la Seguridad de Tráfico en la carretera.

Help prevent Chicago car accidents; celebrate Cinco de Mayo responsibly

May 4, 2010 | By Dave Abels

The Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes urge everyone to enjoy Cinco de Mayo in a responsible manner and to do your part in preventing Chicago car accidents caused by drunk driving.

WJBC Radio reports that local law enforcement agencies will be working with the Illinois Department of Transportation to increase patrols targeting drunk driving from Wednesday through the weekend. As we reported earlier this year on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, one-third of Cook County car accidents are linked to drunk driving.

In 2008, 362 Illinois traffic fatalities involved a drunk driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In recent years, Cinco de Mayo has increasingly become a party holiday. Spanish for the “fifth of May,” the holiday commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory at the Battle of Puebla, against French Forces on May 5, 1862. The day has become a day of celebrating Mexican heritage and pride. In the United States, it has become a day to celebrate Americans of Mexican ancestry, in much the same way St. Patrick’s Day celebrates Irish heritage.

The Illinois Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report the deadliest time on the road is 3 to 6 a.m.

The NHTSA provides safe event planning for the Hispanic Community, available by clicking here.

Drunk driving prevention programming is available by clicking here.
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Contruction worker injured in Chicago area hit-and-run accident, at-fault driver’s mom calls police

May 1, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A Chicago area hit & run pedestrian accident has seriously injured a construction worker in the Chicago area, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center. The accident took place in Porter County, Indiana on westbound Interstate 94.

The construction worker injured on the job was rushed to a hospital in Valparaiso, and later helicoptered to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. The worker is in critical condition and is having head and leg surgeries.

The victim was filling cracks in a well marked construction area when the defendant made an illegal U-turn and hit him, and then carried the worker for over 30 feet before he was thrown off the car.

Evidence dismissed in drunk driving case against officer accused in fatal Chicago car accident

April 30, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A judge has ruled that key evidence against a police officer accused of causing a deadly drunk driving accident cannot be used against him in court, the Sun-Times reported.

The fatal Chicago car accident occurred on Thanksgiving Day in 2007 and claimed the lives of two young men. The officer had been videotaped drinking a lot alcohol just minutes before the crash. However, a judge ruled this week that the evidence was illegally seized and cannot be used, severely weakening the case against him.

The victim’s family and anti-drunk-driving advocates are enraged by the ruling as safety advocates continue to warn the public about the dangers of drinking and driving. As we reported earlier this year on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, one-third of all fatal Cook County traffic accidents are linked to drunk driving. In all, more than 2,000 of the 6,000 fatal accidents that have occurred in Cook County over the past 15 years have involved a drunk driver.

Six injured in single-vehicle Chicago car accidents over weekend

April 26, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Six people were injured in separate single-vehicle Chicago car accidents over the weekend.

A teenager was in critical condition with a head injury after a Friday night accident on the Northwest Tollway in Elgin, according to the Daily Herald.

Illinois State Police reported that a Jeep Wrangler went out of control while entering the tollway eastbound at Route 31, where it spun around and slammed into an oncoming box truck. Three others, including the teen’s father, were also injured. The injured motorists, including two occupants of the box truck, were taken to Sherman Hospital.

Stay safe, avoid summer Chicago pedestrian accidents

April 25, 2010 | By Dave Abels

The Chicago injury attorneys at Abels & Annes would like to inform you that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers comprehensive resources aimed at increasing pedestrian safety and reducing the number of serious and fatal pedestrian accidents.

As we reported recently on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, the spring and summer months are among the most dangerous times for serious and fatal Chicago pedestrian accidents.In 2008, a total of 135 people were killed in fatal Illinois pedestrian accidents, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Tips for pedestrian safety include:

-Visibility: Wear bright colored clothing, particularly at night. Reflective material is recommended and cyclists should use front and rear lights, as well as reflectors, to avoid a serious or fatal Chicago bicycle accident.

-Obey traffic signs and signals: Traffic signs, speed limits and signals are installed for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. Often speeds are reduced or additional warning signs are installed in accident-prone areas. Remain aware of your surroundings and always follow the advice of traffic signs.

Avoid Impairment: Drunk driving accidents and impaired cyclists or pedestrians are responsible for a large number of accidents. Avoid traveling while impaired, call a cab, or utilize a designated driver.

Don’t rely on a green light: While a green light or crossing signal may mean you have the right-of-way, it will be little consultation in the event you are struck by a passing motorist who ignores the signals. Look left-right-left before stepping off the curb. Look left first and last because the first lane of traffic will be coming from the left.

Crosswalks are not bulletproof: Always wait for signals and, again, look left-right-left before proceeding into a crosswalk.

A driver sees you: Just because you see a driver, do not assume the driver sees you. Make sure a motorist stops before proceeding across a traffic lane.

White at night no White Knight: White clothing is not enough to protect you at night. Wear reflective clothing and carry a light.

Pair of Chicago motorcycle accidents a reminder that spring riding season is here

April 22, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A pair of Chicago motorcycle accidents in the last week offers a sobering reminder of the dangers of spring riding season.

As Chicago car accident lawyers recently reported on the Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, a total of 121 Illinois motorcycle riders were killed in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nationwide, 5,290 were killed and almost 100,000 injured in riding accidents.On Thursday morning, a motorcyclist was killed when his bike collided with a car on the Southwest Side, the Breaking News Center reported. Police report that the motorcycle’s speed may have contributed to the accident, which occurred at the intersection of 55th Street and South Laramie Avenue at about 2:30 a.m. The rider pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn.

On Sunday (April 11), a motorcyclist was seriously injured after striking a median on the North Side, according to the News Center. The accident at the intersection of Irving Park Road and Ashland Avenue sent the 27-year-old rider to the hospital.

Boy killed Sunday night in Chicago bicycle accident

April 20, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A 12-year-old boy was killed in a Chicago bicycle accident Sunday night after being struck by a pickup truck on the Southwest Side, the Sun-Times reported.

The accident occurred shortly before 8:30 p.m. in the 6000 block of South Narragansett Avenue, police reported. The boy was pronounced dead at 11:03 p.m. at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The boy was riding his bike south on Narragansett Avenue when a northbound Ford F-250 struck him as he entered the street in a crosswalk. The truck was making a right onto eastbound 60th Street when the collision occurred.