Articles Posted in Auto Accident

Lawyers who represent accident victims for the injuries they incur understand something: car accidents can happen at any time, to any driver. Even the best driver in Chicago may become the victim of a crash, potentially suffering injuries due to the negligence of another.

This time of year presents no exceptions. As winter begins to blanket the roads in snow and ice, many accidents occur that may otherwise be avoided. Often the weather is blamed for these crashes, but in most cases, the weather is a factor that combines with some behavior exhibited by one or more drivers to create an accident. It could be that a driver was traveling too fast for conditions or was following too closely to the car in front of him. It could be that the driver did not leave enough distance to stop his or her car for a stop sign or red light, traveling into an intersection against traffic and causing a crash. Or it could even be that a distracted driver fails to notice a change in road conditions and fails to adjust to the change, potentially creating a dangerous situation or even causing a collision.

Regardless of what factors led to an impact, if you have been injured in an accident in Chicago, you may be entitled to bring a claim for relief against a negligent, responsible driver. Speaking with an injury attorney can help you understand your legal options and whether you may be entitled to a financial settlement.

Police are not sure what led to a five car collision on Sunday in the area of Bellwood at this time but they are investigating the crash, which left 13 people injured, including four children. The injured victims were removed from their respective cars and transported to area hospitals for evaluation and treatment of their injuries but the current conditions of the victims remains unknown. Police have confirmed that the crash caused significant damage to all of the vehicles and all five cars were towed from the scene of the crash.

The collision occurred near Mannheim and Saint Charles around 4:00 p.m. on Sunday and police are looking into whether the snowy weather was a factor leading to the crash. At this time, though, they are not sure if multiple drivers committed errors or whether any driver acted in a criminal manner. Charges could be issued depending on the results of the investigation.
Continue reading

Chicago has been hit by an early winter snowfall and the streets are blanketed in snow. Snow is an annual part of winter life in Chicago but it can present dangerous conditions, especially early in the season when residents are less used to snowy roads.

Early reports from across the city indicate that at least a dozen weather-related car accidents occurred in the last 24 hours and can be partially blamed on weather conditions. The only injuries reported so far have been minor but officials caution that a serious weather-related crash can happen at any time and that many prove fatal.

With the snowfall to continue on and off through Wednesday morning, it will continue to be important for drivers to exercise caution as they adjust to winter driving.

Many of these collisions are not caused by poor driving conditions but rather are caused by negligent driving that is made worse by the weather. This means that drivers who are speeding, driving too fast for conditions, following too closely, or failing to stop at stop signs and red lights are more likely to be involved in a collision when the roads are snowy or icy than they would be if the roads were clear. The weather may contribute to these accidents but in most cases, the weather is not the sole cause.

To avoid a snow or ice related accident, put safety first while behind the wheel. Make sure your car is in proper working conditions and that your tires are not past their useful life. Leave yourself extra time to arrive at where you are going so you will not be rushed on the roads. Leave more distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you and be mindful that snow and ice require more stopping distance because of their slippery properties. Always clear your car’s windshields, windows, and exterior mirrors of snow and ice before you begin driving so that your view of the road is unobstructed. And, importantly, if the roads are affected by inclement weather and you do not have to leave your home, consider staying in an avoiding the risk of an accident altogether.
Continue reading

It sounds like something that should never happen: a car leaves the street and collides into a building, causing serious damage to the structure and possibly those inside. Yet every year, Chicago experiences several of these car accidents, many of which result in injuries to those in the car or those in the building.

Injury lawyers regularly receive calls following these accidents by those who sustained injuries, wondering whether they have a valid claim for their damages and whether they can recover against a responsible person or entity. In many cases, a civil claim for damages is available and victims can recover a judgment they deserve.

One such collision occurred early this morning on the north side of Chicago when a sedan collided with the side of a nursing home in Rogers Park. Police received notice of the incident and responded shortly after 1:30 a.m. where they found the sedan partially inside the Waterford Nursing Home, abandoned by its driver. No other people were located in or around the car and it was not clear whether the owner of the car was operating the vehicle at the time of the crash.

Though still early, it appears that no residents of the nursing home were injured in the incident which left substantial damage to the front of the building. This may be due to the fact that the car is believed to have struck a common area of the home that may have been empty due to the early hour at which the collision occurred.

Whether the car had only one occupant or carried more, it is unclear whether those in the vehicle were injured but police are conducting an investigation to determine who was driving and whether charges will be filed.

In an ideal situation, collisions like the one that occurred this morning would never occur, but as long as they continue to happen, the best thing that can result is an incident with no injuries. Hopefully that will be the case following this crash.
Continue reading

Every year, safety experts try to determine what factors lead to and cause collisions between cars across the nation with the belief that understanding the cause of crashes can help us eliminate accidents, reducing the number of people who are injured and killed every year as a result. This is a challenging task where officials must sort the details of each car involved in a collision and determine the sum total of the factors and determine which ones were at play.

The factor that is deemed responsible in almost 50 percent of all crashes is excess speed.

When an accident occurs and one or more people are injured, the law provides those accident victims with the possibility of a financial recovery to compensate them for their damages. In most cases, this can provide payment for medical expenses and time a victim must miss from work as well as providing for other damages incurred. These claims are generally made against the driver deemed to be at-fault for the crash and can be available to anyone injured as a result, whether the injured person was in the same car as the responsible driver, another car, walking as a pedestrian, or even on a motorcycle or bicycle. An injury lawyer can help you learn whether you have a claim for your losses after a car accident.

Unfortunately an accident occurred on Monday in California that claimed the lives of two men, one of whom has been reported as former NFL linebacker Thomas Howard. Known for his defensive prowess, Howard spent five years with the Oakland Raiders, two with the Cincinnati Bengals, and part of this season with the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons released Howard last week.

Police in Alameda responded to the scene of a highway collision between two vehicles on Monday and determined that Howard was speeding and traveling between 100 and 110 miles per hour. Authorities believe that Howard struck a semi truck which caused him to lose control of his car. His car rolled over and crossed the center median, entering the lanes designated for traffic traveling in the opposite direction and directly colliding with a second vehicle. The impact was described as severe and both Howard and the man in the second car, a 64-year-old California resident, were killed.
Continue reading

With nearly three million residents in Chicago and with many more in the surrounding communities, there are people constantly traveling and commuting, whether by train, car, or bus. Hundreds of thousands use the expressways daily and the majority of these individuals have a safe, uneventful ride. But unfortunately, car accidents occur every day on these roads, leading to serious injuries or even death in some cases.

The Dan Ryan expressway is one of the most traveled routes into Chicago and can experience heavy traffic at any time of day. Heavy traffic can increase the chances that an accident will occur, as can other factors, including drivers who are distracted, overly tired, unfamiliar with the area, or under the influence. Yet in some cases, it can be difficult to determine exactly what lead to a crash.

Injury lawyers know that accidents on expressways usually involve high speeds which can make injuries very likely. In the case of an accident that causes damages to another, a lawyer may be able to help the victim make a recovery from the at-fault party.

Police are still investigating what caused a Wednesday morning collision on the Dan Ryan that left one driver dead and six people in another vehicle at risk of injuries. It appears that a 41-year-old man from Calumet Park was driving an SUV shortly after midnight when he struck the rear of a car in front of him, causing a collision that forced the car to spin and strike a concrete barrier. The SUV left the road’s surface and rolled over, leading to injuries that claimed the SUV driver’s life.

The car had six people inside at the time of the impact and it appears that none of them were seriously injured in the crash.

Car accidents happen but when one or more people are to blame for a collision, a victim may have a legal right to make a recovery for his or her damages, including the injuries incurred and any medical bills that need to be paid. These claims can be made against a driver, an owner of a car, a city or municipality, or even a corporation that owned the vehicle at the time of the collision. The facts of each accident determine if a claim is possible, and, if so, who may be legally responsible for the damages sustained.
Continue reading

It is a very common but often ignored safety threat to Chicago motorists and those across the nation: drowsy driving. Studies continue to show that thousands of drivers every year take to the roads when they are tired, drowsy, or exhausted and should not be driving. But it appears that the biggest danger of all is the believe among tired drivers that they are not a danger and that they can safely operate even though they are experiencing serious signs of fatigue.

Drowsy drivers can be as dangerous as those who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, meaning they are more likely to be involved in an accident and more likely to injure another as a result. Armed with this knowledge, the National Sleep Foundation established a Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, an annual event designed to heighten awareness and increase discussion about drowsy driving and the dangers it presents.

This year, Drowsy Driving Prevention Week occurs between November 3 and November 10, 2013 and seeks to get citizens talking about their sleep and driving habits. With a new study reporting that motorists age 17-24 are most likely to drive while drowsy, there is a heavy emphasis to pass the message to that age group, known to stay up late at night while also waking up early in the morning, thus limiting the sleep each driver receives.

Perhaps surprising is the revelation that senior citizens are the least likely segment of the driving population to operate while drowsy. Increasingly, these drivers choose to drive during daylight hours only and with fewer demands on their time, like employment, there seems to be less exhaustion in this population.

But how are you supposed to know if you are too tired to drive? Experts say that you should monitor your driving ability and take note of warning signs, including heavy eyelids, excessive yawning, trouble holding up your head, difficulty maintaining position within your lane, repeatedly drifting towards rumble strips or the shoulder/median of a road, daydreaming, and a forgetfulness that prevents you from remembering the last several miles you drove.

If any of these signs of drowsiness appear, you should pull over and stop driving. Rest if possible or let another adult take over for a while while you nap.
Continue reading

Most adults realize that teen drivers present a greater risk on the roads than their more experienced counterparts because teen lack the knowledge and skill of those who have been driving longer, increasing the odds that teens will be involved in an accident. No one wants to see a young person injured or killed in a crash but statistically, thousands of them will be every year across the nation, leading many to seek a solution to this issue.

Congress recognized the need to increase awareness of teen driving issues and to promote safe driving among the age group in 2007 when it established the National Teen Driver Safety Week, which takes place during the third week of every October.

The facts show that motor vehicle collisions are the biggest cause of teen death across the country with more than 5,000 teens dying every year in a crash. Experts believe that many factors cause teens to be four times more likely than adults to be involved in a collision with inexperience being high on the list. However, teens also fail to perceive some forms of dangerous driving habits, like texting while driving, driving fatigued, or even losing focus on the road. It likely is a combination between inexperience operating a vehicle and a lack of knowledge regarding hazardous actions while driving that leads to so many collisions and so many teen deaths.

By designating a week to focus on safe teen driving, Congress intended communities to begin a discussion with their young drivers regarding the types of behaviors that are and are not acceptable. This can be very beneficial at the local level since many cities and municipalities maintain their own targeted laws for teen driving with behavioral restrictions common for young drivers.

The theme for 2013’s Teen Driver Safety Week is ‘It Takes Two: Shared Expectations for Teens and Parents for Driving’ and is designed to make safe driving a family issue discussed and practiced by both adult and teen drivers. Studies show that when parents take the time to help their teens learn safety techniques, those teens are less likely to be in a serious accident than teens with less parental instruction and guidance.

If you have a teen driver at home, you should consider making Teen Driver Safety Week a part of your family’s week by reminding your teen what your expectations are when he or she is behind the wheel as well as general tips for safe driving. In the end, your time may help your teen avoid a serious or life-threatening collision.
Continue reading

Many drivers do not realize how common one car collisions are and instead think only of multiple car crashes when thinking of auto accidents. Yet in Illinois, single vehicle collisions occur daily, some of them resulting in injuries.

Single vehicle crashes can result from any number of factors but most commonly are caused by a distracted driver, intoxicated motorist, poor road design, or inclement weather. Speed is often a factor that is combined with another condition and leads to a single vehicle crash, like when a driver is taking a tight turn too quickly, loses control, and leaves the surface of the road.

Failing to maintain proper control of a vehicle can be a violation of state law and can subject a driver to civil penalties and/or fines. But perhaps more significant, failing to properly control your car can lead to a passenger, a pedestrian, or a bicyclist becoming injured and can cause the responsible driver to be legally liable for the damages that result, including medical bills and lost wages faced by a victim.

Chicago car accident lawyers understand that the injuries sustained in an accident can be minor, serious, or even fatal depending on the facts of the particular crash, with some accidents changing a victim’s life forever.

An accident occurred yesterday that did just that when a 32-year-old Aurora man lost his life and a 33-year-old Aurora man was critically injured in a one vehicle crash. Authorities are still investigation but it appears that the 32-year-old driver lost control of his vehicle and left South River Street in Batavia, crashing into a tree and throwing both men from the car.

The men were transported to Presence Mercy Medical Center but the driver died from his injures. At this time, the passenger is expected to survive. It is not yet clear why the driver lost control of the vehicle or whether something happened that caused the collision.
Continue reading

Leading receiver for the Detroit Lions, Nate Burleson, was involved in a car accident early Tuesday morning that left him with a broken arm needing surgical repair, according to local police. The incident occurred in Farmington Hills, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan where Burleson has been a member of the NFL Lions since 2010. Prior to that time, Burleson gained fame playing for both the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks at the wide receiver position.

Police stated that Burleson spent Monday evening with some teammates watching the Monday Night Football game between the Denver Broncos and the Oakland Raiders. Burleson then began the drive home with two pizzas in his car when one of the pizzas began to slide off the other. In an attempt to prevent the pizza from falling, Burleson grabbed at the pizza box to catch it but while doing so, he lost focus on the road and drifted to the outside of his lane, striking a median on I-696 in Michigan.

Upon impact of the vehicle into the median, Burleson broke both bones in his arm, necessitating surgery that was expected to be performed early Wednesday morning. Responding officers have noted that alcohol was not a factor in the crash and neither were drugs; the entire incident appears to be caused by a sliding pizza and Burleson’s attempt to save it.

Burleson’s broken arm means that he will be sidelined for some time during the current NFL season, keeping him off the field and removing his offensive threat during games. He is in the middle of a 5 year, $25 million contract and the Lions will be anxious for his return.

This crash is an example of how easy it can be to become distracted while driving. The news media often focuses on technology as creating distractions for drivers, like cell phones and tablets, but in truth, distraction can emerge from nearly any source. Here, a driver took his attention off the road for just a moment when his gut reaction told him to reach for a sliding pizza. Doing so caused a high speed car accident that left the talented player unable to work and with a serious injury.

Professional athletes usually get paid even if injuries prevent them from playing their sport, but everyday people are not that lucky. Often, an accident leaves a victim with mounting medical bills and lost wages while a victim recovers, meaning that the expenses will far exceed the money coming in and potentially leaving a victim without the means necessary to lead a normal life.
Continue reading