Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

Pedestrian Accident Leaves 2 in Critical Condition in Calumet Heights

May 12, 2015 | By Dave Abels

Many people in Chicago fail to realize how frequent pedestrian accidents occur in the city and how many of those accidents involve one or more vehicles. From collisions at intersections to those in parking lots and crashes near school zones, pedestrians face a multitude of risks as they travel across the city. When an accident happens, the pedestrian involved is injured or killed most of the time and these damages cause a ripple effect that reaches a victim’s family members, friends, and loved ones.

But why should people who walk have to suffer when a driver acts negligently and causes an accident? In Chicago, the answer may be that the victim has the rights and options to seek relief to stem the harm and compensate the injured for the damages caused by a crash. These claims are separate and distinct from any charges that may be brought against the driver by the State of Illinois or any traffic offenses for which the driver is ticketed. However, these claims must be brought in accordance with all state and local laws and within a specified time period so victims must take certain steps to ensure their rights are protected. Speaking with a personal injury attorney can help victims understand their legal options and can help them move forward with a claim for relief when that accident happens in the Chicago area.
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2 Dead, Several Hurt in Bridgeview Car Accident

May 4, 2015 | By Dave Abels

The year 2015 is only a fraction of the way over and already there have been tens of thousands of car accidents in the State of Illinois. Many of those collisions are located in highly populated areas including Chicago and a large number of the crashes caused damage beyond that sustained by the vehicles involved. Most often, these damages take the form of physical injuries sustained by the drivers and occupants inside vehicles. In some cases, those outside of a car, including pedestrians or bicyclists, may be injured as well. Regardless, when victims are hurt, the impact of a car accident stretches long after the day of the collision itself.

Victims who are hurt by the actions of another, including the actions of a negligent driver, may be entitled to financial compensation for their sufferings when these accidents happen in Chicago. A claim for relief may be possible and may enable a victim to obtain payment for expenses ranging from medical bills to lost wages and even pain and suffering. These claims are separate and distinct from any traffic tickets or criminal charges that a negligent driver may face and these claims are designed to provide payment directly to those who need it – the injured victims. When questions arise following a car accident in Chicago, speaking with a personal injury attorney in the area may provide answers to your questions if you have been hurt.
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Pedestrian Killed by Speeding Car in Chatham

April 27, 2015 | By Dave Abels

Pedestrians face numerous threats when they walk near a roadway, even if they walk only along sidewalks or in other pedestrian-friendly areas. The facts continue to reveal that when drivers ignore or fail to notice the rights of a person walking nearby, the odds of a pedestrian accident occurring increase substantially, threatening the safety of that pedestrian. And when a collision does happen, it nearly always causes injuries to the walker involved because there is nothing to protect that individual from the impact of a car. Contrast this to a more common rear-end collision where some accidents produce injuries and some do not and it may become apparent how important the issue of pedestrian safety is in the greater Chicago area.

Victims of pedestrian accidents that occur in Illinois may be left with significant medical expenses as a result of their collisions. They may be unable to work for a time while they recover and therefore unable to earn the wages they need to support themselves and their families. Regardless of their injuries, there is almost always some degree of pain and suffering that they are forced to endure. Speaking with a personal injury attorney in Chicago can help these victims realize what relief may be available to them and whether they are entitled to financial compensation through the use of a civil claim for damages.
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Megabus from Chicago Crashes in Indiana, Injures 17

April 13, 2015 | By Dave Abels

Residents of urban areas like Chicago may be more likely than some small-town dwellers to utilize public transportation as they travel and this can mean that those who call a big city home may encounter trains, shuttles, and buses on a daily basis. In Chicago, bus travel is particularly prevalent as CTA, Pace, Greyhound, Megabus, and private bus charters take to the road regularly. Often, mass transportation is safe for passengers and can move them more efficiently than a private car and at a better price.

However, with public transit comes a risk of collisions and a potential threat to the safety of the passengers on board. Bus accidents happen every week in Chicago and some of them may affect the lives of injury victims forever. It can be difficult for these victims to know where to turn for help and for relief when a crash happens or even who may be responsible for their losses; in these cases, speaking with a personal injury lawyer may help a victim understand his or her options and whether a legal claim for help may be possible.

Early this morning, passengers on a Megabus from Chicago to Atlanta were rocked when their bus allegedly struck the rear of a semi-truck, causing a significant collision that also involved two passenger cars. The accident happened on southbound Interstate 65 near Edinburgh, Indiana at approximately 5:30 a.m.

Several passengers on the Megabus as well as several others in the area provided a version of events to the local police officers that responded at the scene. At this time, officials believe that the Megabus failed to slow as it approached a semi-truck and, upon realizing that a crash was going to happen, the Megabus swerved to avoid the impact. However, the front of the bus struck the rear of the truck and caused the truck driver to lose control of the rig which entered another lane of traffic and collided with two passenger cars.

Multiple ambulances and emergency medical technicians arrived on the scene and began to evaluate the injured victims, both on the bus and those who may have been in the other vehicles involved. At this time, as many as 17 people are believed to have been hurt but it is not clear in which vehicles those victims were traveling. Police caution that the investigation into this incident is still ongoing and that no final conclusions as to the cause of the crash or any fault of any drivers has been determined. The outcome of that investigation may determine whether any traffic citations will be issued.
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At Least 5 Cars Involved in Gurnee Car Accident

April 12, 2015 | By Dave Abels

Travel by motor vehicle is the primary means of transit across America and for the majority of those that call this country home. It is a convenient means to get from one place to another with few hassles and with few delays – simply pick the time you wish to leave, follow your own plan, and you can make it to your destination. The convenience of car travel is why so many people utilize it even though the risks associated with it are high. Millions of car accidents happen every year and they were the number one cause of death for people ages three through 34 based on the most recent data. Though fatality rates have decreased as innovations in safety have emerged, many people continue to lose their lives annually and some of those victims previously called the Chicago area home.

These car accidents affect countless individuals when all is said and done. From the victims involved in the impact itself to the family members of those victims to friends and coworkers, the devastation can be immeasurable. While nothing can remove these losses, those who have been affected by a crash may be entitled to seek financial compensation for their losses when the accidents happens in Illinois. Victims can seek relief for losses including medical expenses and pain and suffering. In the event that a victim loses his or her life, the right to seek relief may belong to that victim’s surviving family members though no amount of compensation can ever be considered adequate in those cases. The legal issues surrounding these cases can be complicated so victims or others who have been affected may want to speak with a personal injury lawyer to verify the options available to them.

Several drivers were involved in a multi-vehicle accident in Gurnee on Friday morning and police are still sorting out all the facts that led to the impact. The crash happened near the intersection of Grand and Gurnee Mills Circle East shortly after 10:00 a.m. and began with a collision between two cars. That first crash reportedly pushed one of the vehicles into oncoming traffic where it collided with another three cars, making five vehicles in total that were involved.

Six victims were confirmed among the six vehicles and all were taken to area hospitals by ambulances. At this time, the conditions of the victims are unknown but all were expected to survive.

As police continue their investigation, they are reviewing information from all relevant witnesses in an attempt to determine whether any driver acted negligently or recklessly prior to the impact. If a determination of negligence is made, traffic tickets and/or criminal charges may be issued.
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Semi-Truck Accident Turns Fatal on I-55

April 5, 2015 | By Dave Abels

Hundreds of different size and types of trucks travel on the roads near and in Chicago every day. From small trucks used for local hauls to large semi-trucks with one or more trailers traveling across the country, these vehicles are no rarity along Illinois roads. Despite their prevalence, most motorists know little about trucking law or how a truck can affect their personal safety. Studies show that large, commercial trucks are involved in fewer collisions per mile driven than are passenger cars but when a truck accident does occur, the results often are much more devastating. Both those inside the truck and those in any other vehicle involved in a crash, like a passenger car, are at risk for sustaining injuries or even for losing their lives as the forces involved in truck accidents tend to be significant and tend to cause mayhem.

Victims who are hurt in a trucking accident in Chicago are protected by numerous state and local laws, some of which entitle those victims to seek financial compensation for their injuries. From medical expenses to rehabilitative care to lost wages, these damages can compound quickly and can leave a victim unable to obtain the help he or she needs unless that victim seeks legal relief. While local police or the State of Illinois may seek to bring charges against an at-fault driver in a truck crash, those charges are not the same as the relief a victim may seek personally and any judgments obtained by the State of Illinois are unlikely to benefit a victim directly. Rather, victims must bring their own claims and speaking with a personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights and options if you have been hurt in a crash.

State police have reported a truck accident that occurred on Friday afternoon and that claimed the life of a middle-aged man. Reports indicate that a 51-year-old male was driving a car on I-55 in DuPage County near County Line Road before 4:00 p.m. when he came upon a stopped semi-truck on the right shoulder. Officials believe that the driver of the car lost control of his vehicle and struck the rear of the truck, trapping the car underneath the rear portion of the truck’s trailer. It is not clear whether the semi-truck was completely off the road or whether a portion of the vehicle was still within a lane of through traffic.

The driver of the car was unable to escape following the impact and his vehicle caught fire, leading to the man’s death. The truck driver was not believed to have been injured and it is not clear why that individual, a 41-year-old, stopped the vehicle on the side of I-55 or whether the trucker saw the car before the impact happened. Police are still reviewing all relevant facts at this time.
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Multiple Car Accidents across Chicago Area Blamed on Winter Weather

March 27, 2015 | By Dave Abels

With April just around the corner, many who live in Chicago are lamenting the late winter storm that hit the area recently and brought with it snow and cold temperatures. Many in the city are anticipating warm weather and all that accompanies it but instead must put up with this most recent, and potentially, last winter weather front and the hazards it has created on area roads. From icy conditions to decreased visibility, the weather partially has been to blame for numerous winter weather car accidents across the Chicago area recently and may continue to contribute to them over the next day or two.

Some people believe that winter weather is bad luck and that any accident involving poor conditions is nothing more than that – an accident. Because of this common belief, some victims of these collisions are unaware that they may be entitled to seek financial compensation for their injuries and their suffering and that their family members may also be entitled to help. If you have been involved in a crash, it is important to understand how the laws may impact your claim so you may want to speak with a personal injury lawyer to clarify the relief that may be available to you.

This morning’s commute was full of dangerous conditions on the roadways for many of those who travel by car. Officials around Chicago and in many of the surrounding suburbs confirmed that icy conditions led to numerous collisions, some of which resulted in injuries.

Bedford Park experienced a pile-up involving between 10 and 15 cars on Harlem Avenue between 63rd Street and 71st street. Icy weather is believed to have started that crash though speed and other factors likely played a role as well. The collision started around 6:00 a.m. and prompted local officials to close parts of the road to traffic though the area was reopened prior to the end of rush hour.

Multiple accidents were also reported on Route 53 that were blamed on the weather and in suburban Wheaton in DuPage County. The City of Lombard confirmed a 10 car collision near the intersection of Highland and Butterfield Roads while Villa Park confirmed at least 11 separate accidents.

As Chicago has already had a few bouts of spring-like weather, this most recent storm caught many off guard and made many people revert to their winter coats and snow shovels. This made the storm a bigger threat as it was less anticipated than those that hit Chicago in December and January and also, in many cases, less welcomed.
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Driver Hit Outside of Vehicle on I-55

March 20, 2015 | By Dave Abels

The events that proceed a car accident in the Chicago area may not be foreseen by a driver before they happen. Often, things can seem normal as a motorist travels down the road or an expressway and nothing may be of concern. Yet in a moment, all that can change if a mechanical failure, a tire blowout, or another event occurs that makes a vehicle unsafe and that may lead to a collision or other incident, threatening the security of the driver of the car and the passengers that may be riding as well.

Car accidents are no laughing matter and nearly 300,000 of them occur in a typical year in Illinois. Tens of thousands of those incidents result in injuries to at least one person involved and hundreds prove to be fatal. Hundreds of factors may lead to or contribute to an accident and in some cases, those involved may not realize fully all that caused a crash. When in doubt, speaking with a personal injury lawyer may help you understand the contributing factors of your collision and whether you are entitled to financial compensation if you have been hurt. In a typical case, victims can recover for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future damages that result from a Chicago-area car accident.

The Illinois State Police Department was alerted to an unusual incident involving a car accident on I-55 near the King Drive exit yesterday at approximately 1:00 p.m. They have confirmed that a man was operating a passenger car in the area when the vehicle caught fire for reasons that are not clear. The man stopped his vehicle on the side of the expressway and exited the burning car to avoid injuries but unfortunately, another vehicle in the area collided with the man when he was out of his vehicle.

The impact left the drive with significant injuries and required him to be taken to an area hospital by ambulance. At this time, police are unsure who was driving the second vehicle as that driver fled the scene, contrary to and in violation of state law. Anyone with information about the fleeing second driver is asked to contact the State Police.
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Death Toll on Illinois Roads Already High in 2015

March 18, 2015 | By Dave Abels

What are the odds that you will be involved in a car accident while in Chicago or elsewhere in Illinois? If you are like the typical driver or passenger, you may believe the odds are low and that you are relatively safe while traveling the expressways, interstates, and streets of the Chicago area and while navigating the city itself. However, statistically, an American motorist will be involved in 2-3 car accidents during his or her lifetime and there are indications that those who reside in densely populated areas will be involved in more. By all definitions, Chicago is densely populated and even those who reside in the suburban areas surrounding the city often must deal with city traffic, placing them at an increased risk for a collision.

Fortunately many of these crashes are minor and will result only in damage to the vehicles involved. It may be described as a “fender-bender” that lets the motorists drive away from the scene and only inconveniences them with the damage done to their cars. In other cases, the damage may be extreme and a vehicle may be totaled, leaving a driver to walk away from the crash but to wonder how he or she was lucky enough to avoid an injury.

In the worst instances, at least one person involved in a crash is injured or is killed due to the accident and either that victim or the victim’s surviving family members are left to pick up the pieces of their lives following the collision. Though nothing can erase the harm done by these accidents, those who are affected may be able to seek financial compensation for their damages that can enable them to obtain payment for losses like medical expenses and pain and suffering. Speaking with a personal injury attorney about the possibility of a wrongful death claim or an injury claim can help you understand your options if a collision has affected you or someone you love.

So far in 2015, the Illinois Department of Transportation has confirmed that 141 fatalities have occurred on Illinois roads. With the year less than 25 percent over, that number should raise an alarm in the minds of drivers because it is relatively high and it represents an additional 14 fatalities when compared to this time last year. The 2015 fatalities happened in 127 different car accidents meaning that some collisions were dire enough to cause the deaths of more than one victim.

These fatal accidents were caused by a number of factors and some remain unclear at this time. Typical accidents that lead to wrongful death claims can be caused by drunk or impaired drivers, motorists on their cell phones or who are otherwise distracted, drivers who travel too fast for conditions, mechanical failures, and even inclement weather. An analysis of a collision may reveal that multiple factors – not one single action – caused a crash and may reveal that more than a single driver bears some responsibility.

As long as motorists continue to operate their personal vehicles, accidents likely will occur in the Chicago area and unfortunately, drivers and pedestrians will be injured and killed. When an incident affects your family’s lives and their personal safety, make sure you understand your legal options and whether you are entitled to obtain compensation for your damages.

Semi-Truck Crash in Long Grove Injures 2

March 6, 2015 | By Dave Abels

Collisions involving commercial trucks occur with regularity in the Chicago area for multiple reasons, including the fact that a large amount of cross-country shipping works its way through the city and the surrounding suburbs. In addition to the products that are merely crossing through Illinois, the large population of the state and of Chicago in particular mean that many trucks will be hauling and delivering their loads within Illinois itself, enabling residents to receive everything from food and produce to consumer goods to the luxury of having garbage removed from their home and office.

But with the large presence of truck traffic in Chicago comes an increased risk of truck accidents occurring. These collisions involve one or more trucks but often involve a passenger vehicle as well like a typical family car. When an impact happens between a car and a semi-truck, the car nearly always sustains the most damage because it is not designed to take on a large, heavy vehicle like a semi. Those inside any of the vehicles involved may be at risk for injuries and may suffer from personal harm due to the crash with many victims in Chicago requiring medical treatment. If a semi-truck accident has left you hurt or has imparted injuries on your loved one, the laws in Illinois may enable you to seek financial compensation for your damages including your medical expenses and your pain and suffering. Speaking with or otherwise consulting a personal injury lawyer can help you realize what relief is possible in your case and whether you are entitled to monetary payment for your losses.

Police in Long Grove were alerted to the scene of a crash between a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle this morning at approximately 5:00 a.m. When they arrived near Route 83 and Aptakisic Road, they noticed that at least one of the vehicles was on fire and needed to be extinguished by area firefighters and other personnel. Each of the vehicles involved had only one person inside – the driver – and both were rescued following the crash. Information surrounding their injuries has not been disclosed except to the extent that both victims are anticipated to survive the injuries sustained in the collision this morning. Police are still reviewing all relevant information to determine whether either motorist caused the collision, and if so, whether any traffic citations should be issued as a result.

The area surrounding the scene of the collision was closed temporarily this morning to enable rescue crews to help the injured and to clear any debris but all lanes of traffic were reopened prior to the end of the morning rush hour.
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