Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

Pregnant Pedestrian Hit By Car While Being Chased By Bear

April 24, 2009 | By Dave Abels

A 26 year old woman who was 6 months pregnant was hit by a car while fleeing from a bear in Colorado Springs, CO on Thursday, according to the Denver Post. The woman had gone for a lunch hour walk on a hiking trail when she crossed paths with a bear that was about 4 feet tall.

The woman started to quietly walk away, but when she saw the bear was coming towards her, she panicked and started running. The bear ran after her for around 20 seconds until the woman reached a road.

When she was in the street she was hit by a slow moving car. The driver then fled the scene without stopping to help. The pedestrian’s injuries were reportedly minor, and she was taken to an area hospital.

Chicago Rollover Car Accident Involving 2 Vehicles – 1 Killed

April 21, 2009 | By Dave Abels

In Chicago, Illinois a two vehicle rollover crash on Interstate 57 last Friday night resulted in the death of a 53 year old man, and criminal charges against one of the drivers involved, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The auto accident took place around 11:00 p.m. in the southbound lanes near Halsted Street.

One person died at the scene and two others were transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with serious injuries. The victim, a South Side resident, was pronounced dead at Christ Medical Center less than an hour after the crash. An autopsy the next day determined that the he died from cervical injuries.

The Illinois State Police are handling the crash investigation. One of the drivers has been charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence, both felony charges.

Tragic Car Accident Caused By Cell Phone Use

April 19, 2009 | By Dave Abels

In Houston, Texas five children drown when a car lost control and went down an embankment into the Green Bayou, according to CNN. The accident happened Saturday when the driver of a Lincoln Towncar veered off the road after being distracted by an incoming cell phone call.

The driver of the car was the father of four of the children killed. He and an adult passenger were able to get out of the car and rescue a 10 year old girl. However they were not able to save three boys that were ages 4, 6, and 7, and two girls that were ages 1 and 3.

It is also being reported that the driver did not pass a field sobriety test at the scene and was taken to a police station for a blood sample. If the driver was DUI, serious criminal charges will likely be filed.

Chicago Cops New Plan To Crack Down On Pedestrian Accidents

April 16, 2009 | By Dave Abels

In Chicago, Illinois a new plan is about to go into effect to cut down on pedestrian accidents at dangerous intersections, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago Police Officers are set to pretend to be pedestrians at certain intersections and they will be issuing tickets to drivers that fail to yield. The operation starts next week.

Fines for violations are to range from $50 to $500. The crackdown will start at the following intersections:

Division and Hoyne;

Cab Hits Restaurant Across From Daley Center – No Lawyers Injured :)

April 14, 2009 | By Dave Abels

In Chicago, Illinois an Ace taxicab crashed into a restaurant across the street from the Daley Center this afternoon, according to the Chicago Tribune. The taxi hit the popular Italian eatery Petterino’s at 150 N. Dearborn Street at about 1:45 p.m. No one inside the restaurant was hurt, however passengers in the cab did suffer injuries.

What caused the accident is not yet clear. A fire department spokesperson reported that the accident happened when the cab served to avoid another vehicle. However, the cab driver said he lost control when he was rear-ended by another car. One of the passengers said he was not sure what happened.

Luckily, the window table where the cab struck was empty at the time of the accident and the outside eating area was closed today. Petterino’s is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. Try the Irv Kupcinet salad.

Angels Pitcher Killed in Car Accident By DUI Hit-And-Run Driver

April 12, 2009 | By Dave Abels

An auto accident has taken the life of Nick Adenhart, a rookie pitcher for the LA Angels, according to the Los Angeles Times and many other news outlets. The car crash occurred on April 9, 2009 just hours after Adenhart pitched six scoreless innings in his first game against the Oakland As.

The collision took place when a minivan ran a red light and struck a sports car that Adenhart was traveling in as a passenger. Two others in the vehicle were also killed. He was riding in a red Mitsubishi sports car. After the van hit them, the sports car crashed into a utility pole. One passenger in the sports car survived and is in an area hospital.

The driver of the minivan ran from the scene on foot and was caught by police a short time later. As the at fault driver was allegedly intoxicated, prosecutors in Orange County filed three counts of murder charges on Friday. He was also charged with leaving the scene of the accident and DUI. It is being reported that the defendant’s blood alcohol level was over three times the legal limit.

Chicago Man Sentenced To 5 Years In Deadly Illinois Car Accident

March 26, 2009 | By Dave Abels

A Chicago resident who allegedly caused a fatal car crash in Park Ridge on December 25, 2007 has been sentenced to five years in prison and fined $1,900, according to the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate. The defendant, age 30, pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI. He has been in custody since the time of the car accident and he will serve his remaining time at the Dixon Correctional Center. He was sentenced by Cook County Judge Garritt E. Howard.

The auto accident happened in Park Ridge at the intersection of Devon and Canfield just after 12:00 a.m. The defendant was eastbound on Devon when he rear-ended a Mitsubishi that was stopped at a red light. After hitting the vehicle, he then crashed into a childcare center at that location.

There were four occupants in the Mitsubishi and one of the passengers, a 20-year-old man from Chicago was killed in the accident. His family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Cook County, Case No. 2008-L-012975. The case is still pending and a trial date has not been set. The family is represented by a personal injury law firm located in Chicago.

Stolen Chicago Ambulance Causes 6 Car Accident In Evanston, Illinois

March 24, 2009 | By Dave Abels

An ambulance that was stolen in Chicago caused a multiple vehicle accident today in Evanston, Illinois, according to the Chicago Sun-times. The ambulance was being driven recklessly at a high rate of speed with it ran a red light at the intersection of Dempster Street and Chicago Avenue, striking several cars. As many as eight people were reportedly injured. A total of six vehicles were involved.

The ambulance was taken from a nursing home in Chicago. At one point it struck a parked car and kept on going. Witnesses said the vehicle was moving very erratically and thought the driver might have been impaired. The ambulance was privately owned.

Two cars hit were totaled. The driver of the ambulance allegedly got out of the vehicle after the accident, yelled that he hated God, and fled the scene on foot. Witnesses ran after the man and cornered him until Evanston police arrived. He was treated for injuries and arrested. The accident occurred around 3 pm and the intersection had to be closed for several hours.

Chicago Car Accident Injures 6 On Dan Ryan

March 23, 2009 | By Dave Abels

On the South Side of Chicago, a car crash involving two vehicles on the Dan Ryan Expressway caused both sides of the interstate to shut down, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Six people were injured in the Illinois car accident, and four were critical, when a SUV collided with a van in the northbound lanes of Interstate 94 around 71st Street just after 3 a.m. on Sunday. The van rolled over in the accident.

Six ambulances were called to the scene of the accident where they addressed the injuries sustained to the people involved in the accident. Of the four people critically injured, two were transported to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital in Cook County, and two were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The two other people injured in the accident went to St. Bernard Hospital.

The cause of the crash has yet to be determined and is still being investigated by the Illinois State Police.

2 Chicago Auto Accidents Cause Multiple Injuries On Lake Shore Drive

March 20, 2009 | By Dave Abels

On the South Side of Chicago, two separate car crashes hurt four people this morning, according to Chicago Breaking News Center. Both collisions were in the northbound lanes of Lake Shore Drive. One accident that involved two cars occurred at 31st Street and LSD at around 6:15 am. The second accident took place a few minutes later around 27th Street. Both the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Fire Department responded to the accidents.

Three people in the first accident were reportedly seriously injured and taken by ambulance to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. One other was injured and transported to Mercy Hospital. There were no injured reported in the 2nd accident.

The accidents caused a huge traffic backup and the police had to close the drive at 31st Street and divert cars off the highway until the accident could be cleared.