Articles Posted in Auto Accident

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Chicago car accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have filed a personal injury lawsuit in Cook County on behalf of an injured pedestrian. The automobile vs. pedestrian collision which took place on June 18, 2009.

The defendant was driving his truck northbound on Monticello approaching Leland in Chicago, Illinois. He stopped at a stop sign for northbound Monticello at Leland. The pedestrian was walking eastbound across Monticello in the marked pedestrian crosswalk and when he had crossed almost the entire street the defendant suddenly accelerated and struck our client. The plaintiff was fully within the marked crosswalk when he was hit. The force of the impact threw our client to the pavement.

The driver was issued traffic tickets by the Chicago Police Department for failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and for failing to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian.

Following the collision our client had an immediate onset of back pain, neck pain and shoulder pain. He was transported from the scene of the collision by ambulance to Swedish Covenant Hospital.

Over the next couple of days the pedestrian’s condition worsened and his back pain started radiating into his right leg. Due to his increasing pain and discomfort he sought follow up treatment with a physician. He was prescribed pain medication and therapy was recommended.

After several months of treatment the client was not experiencing significant relief of his injuries. A lumber MRI revealed herniated/bulging disks at L3-4 and L4-5 which pressed against the L4 and L5 nerve roots and a herniated/bulging disk at L5-S1. Due to the nature and extent of his problems, the doctor referred him to a pain specialist.
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A West Side strip club has agreed to pay a $1 million settlement in the wake of a Chicago car accident caused by a drunk driver, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The January 2006 accident claimed the life of a pregnant woman, her unborn child and a patron of the club. Diamonds Gentlemen’s Club paid $800,000 to the husband of the 27-year-old woman, who was eight-months pregnant when her vehicle was struck head-on by an SUV near South Elgin.

The rest of the settlement went to the relatives of a 25-year-old St. Charles man who was a passenger in the at-fault vehicle, according to court records. The lawsuit alleged that the driver and passenger had gotten drunk in the club and were ejected by bouncers after the driver was found vomiting in the bathroom. The bouncers put the driver in his car before he drove off and slammed into the victim’s car about 15 minutes later on Illinois Highway 25.

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The host of NPR’s “Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me,” was injured in a Chicago bicycle accident while riding through the west suburbs, Trib Local reported.

Peter Sagal, who is an Oak Park resident was hurt in an accident with a hatchback at an intersection. He remained hospitalized with minor injuries last week, while awaiting additional testing.

Our Chicago injury attorneys continue to report on the large number of serious and fatal bicycle accidents. The next two months will be especially dangerous for riders, as cyclists seek all the riding time they can get before the onset of winter. More kids will also be riding to and from school as classes resume.

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Most teen drivers are engaging in distracted-driving behavior despite knowing better, according to the result of a new study published by USAToday.

As our Chicago injury attorneys frequently report, teens are at high risk when it comes to being involved in a serious or fatal car accident in Chicago or the surrounding area.Illinois has banned text messaging by all drivers and it is illegal for drivers to use hand-held cell phones within the City of Chicago. Other states have not been so proactive in reducing the risk of distracted driving accidents. Twelve states have adopted no rules at all when it comes to the use of cell phones by drivers: Florida, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North and South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico and Hawaii.

In any event, teens appear to understand the dangers. But whether they are listening is a different story. The recent survey by Seventeen Magazine found that nearly 90 percent of young drivers engaged in risky behavior, including text messaging or talking on a cell phone while driving, despite knowing the risks.

“Teens do continue to drive distracted even when they recognize the dangers,” says William Van Tassel, manager of AAA’s driver training programs. “Driving is the first real adult responsibility, but let’s face it, they’re still teens whose brains aren’t fully developed.”

A total of 1,999 teens ages 16 to 19 were surveyed. Eighty-four percent said they were aware that distracted driving increased their risk of an accident. However, 86 percent admitted to risky behavior, including talking on the phone, texting, applying makeup, eating, using in-car electronics or riding with four or more passengers.

Other study findings include:

-Drivers 16 and 17 were less likely to be distracted than those ages 18 and 19.

-Teens who had their own vehicle were more likely to drive distracted than those who had to share a vehicle.

-Reasons for using a mobile device while driving included: Didn’t think they would get hurt (35 percent); made driving less boring (22 percent); and felt the need to stay connected (21 percent).

Safe Teen Driving Tips in Illinois are available here.
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Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes have reached a personal injury settlement for a bicycle rider that was injured earlier this year on the North Side. The bike vs. car accident happened at the intersection of Clark and Cornelia back on February 6, 2010 in the afternoon. Our client was riding his bicycle southbound on Clark Street when the driver of a 2005 Ford Escape that was northbound turned left and hit him. The driver was attempting to turn to go westbound on Cornelia and failed to look for bike riders.

The Chicago Police Department investigated the accident and ticketed the driver for failing to yield when turning left.

The bicycle rider suffered left shoulder and right knee injuries in the accident. He went to the emergency room at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. There x-rays were taken that were negative for fractures.

Over the next week our client’s pain did not go away. He went for further treatment with an orthopaedic physician. The physician in turn ordered physical therapy for the client.

After several weeks the bicyclists shoulder pain remained so the doctor ordered an MRI. The scan showed our client had a mild AC joint separation in his shoulder.

Our client continued with physical therapy and the pain eventually dissipated.

The case settled for just over $31,000 and no lawsuit needed to be filed. Nationwide Insurance paid on the claim.
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A man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a drunk driving Chicago car accident that claimed the life of two friends, the Sun-Times reported.

The 26-year-old Batavia man pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated DUI and one count of DUI in connection with the August 2007 crash that killed two friends. The victims were both 21 years old. The judge rejected a defense argument of extraordinary circumstances and declined to give credit for time served at home on electronic monitoring.

An accident reconstruction expert testified the vehicle was traveling 104 to 113 mph when it left Dugan Road in Sugar Grove Township. The car was nearly split in half after striking a tree. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The defendant survived and was arrested after being treated at the hospital. Blood tests showed the defendant’s blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit of .08 and that he had marijuana in his system at the time of the crash. The defendant initially admitted to being the driver of the vehicle but later changed his statement.

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A 33-year-old Chicago resident died in a pedestrian accident while attending to his disabled vehicle at the side of the highway, the Breaking News Center reported.

Our Chicago accident attorneys report such cases with some frequency. It is not at all unusual for a motorist to be hit and seriously injured or killed while standing outside a disabled vehicle or while awaiting the assistance of law enforcement after a Chicago car accident.

The media reports the victim was in the process of examining his vehicle, with the hood up, when the SUV was slammed into by a passing motorist driving a Chevy Cobalt. The 45-year-old Georgia man who was driving the Cobalt was cited for driving to fast to avoid a collision. Authorities report that additional charges are possible.

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Cook County approved the installation of 30 new red light cameras as area officials continue to expand a program they contend is aimed at reducing serious and fatal Chicago car accidents.

In March, we reported on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog that area police chiefs had voiced strong support for the program. Detractors claim the cameras are little more than a cash cow for government and are being installed without regard for reducing traffic accidents.Nationwide, 1 in every 7 traffic fatalities occurs at an intersection. More than 7,700 motorists were killed at intersection crashes in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. During the first eight months of last year, the City of Chicago collected nearly $38 million from more than 200 cameras installed throughout the city.

Other states are struggling with the issue. In Florida, lawmakers passed a law earlier this year allowing motorists to be mailed tickets for violations. Palm Beach County reported an increase in rear-end collisions at intersections, with no noticeable decrease in accidents. The county loosened restrictions on right-turn-on-red violations after the mayor was ticketed. In Arizona, the governor recently announced an end to that state’s program after motorists largely ignored tickets delivered in the mail.

The move by the Cook County Board will put cameras at 30 intersections in suburban Chicago by mid-summer, including one suburb where the cameras were removed last year. Schaumburg got rid of its cameras last year, saying they were too much trouble and unfair to motorists. However, with the county having jurisdiction over many suburban roads, Schaumburg will get six of the cameras whether it wants them or not.

CBS2 reported the cameras will be installed at the following intersections:

-Lake Avenue and Ridge Road, Wilmette

-87th Street and Roberts Road, Hickory Hills/Justice

-Arlington Heights Road and Lake-Cook Road, Arlington Heights/Buffalo Grove

-Schaumburg Road and Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg

-Vollmer Road and Central Road, Matteson

-Euclid Avenue and Roselle Road, Palatine

-Euclid Avenue and Quentin Road, Palatine

-103rd Street and Roberts Road, Palos Hills

-Lake-Cook Road and McHenry Road, Hickory Hills

-Schaumburg Road and Roselle Road, Schaumburg

-Lake-Cook Road and Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook

-Greenwood Road and 154th Street, South Holland/Dolton

-167th Street and Kedzie Avenue, Hazel Crest/Markham

-Sauk Trail and Orchard Drive, Park Forest

-143rd Street and Ridgeland Avenue, Orland Park

-Buffalo Grove Road and Lake-Cook Road, Buffalo Grove

-Meacham Road and Nerge Road, Elk Grove Village

-Central Road and Roselle Road, Schaumburg

-Lake-Cook Road and Waukegan Road, Deerfield

-Hintz Road and Arlington Heights Road, Arlington heights

-Hintz Road and Wolf Road, Wheeling

-County Line Road and Plainfield Road, Hinsdale

-Roselle Road and Wise Road, Schaumburg

-Meacham Road and Biesterfield Road, Elk Grove Village

-Wise Road and Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg

-County Line Road and German Church, Burr Ridge

-171st Street and 80th Avenue, Tinley Park

-Arlington Heights Road and Devon Avenue, Elk Grove Village

-Hintz Road and Buffalo Grove Road, Arlington Heights
-Schaumburg Road and Plum Grove Road, Schaumburg Continue reading

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is launching a Safe Summer Driving campaign, aimed at urging motorists to practice safe driving habits and reduce the risk of being involved in a serious or fatal car accident.

Our Chicago accident lawyers continue to report on the large number of Illinois car accidents caused by distracted driving, drunk driving, aggressive driving, speeding and other poor driving choices. Sometimes being in an accident is unavoidable. But doing your part and discussing safe driving with your family can go a long way toward ensuring you have a safe and enjoyable summer driving season.Distracted Driving: Each year an estimated 6,000 people are killed and more than 500,000 are seriously injured in traffic accidents caused by distracted driving. Text messaging and talking on the cell phone are two of the most dangerous practices. Other forms of driver distraction include eating, grooming, talking to passengers or using in-car technologies, such as GPS systems or Mp3 players.

Teen Drivers: As we report often, traffic accidents are the number one cause of death among teenagers ages 15 to 20. In fact, they are the number one cause of death for all children over the age of 3. However, teenagers are at high risk because of the freedom and independence that come with summer driving with friends. If you have not shared with your teen the graphic public service video we posted on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, please do so and speak with them about the dangers of distracted driving.

Tire Inflation & Vehicle Maintenance: The hot summer weather and worn or underinflated tires can be a deadly combination. Motorists should have their vehicle serviced and make sure their tires are in good repair. We continue to report cases of motorists being struck and killed on the freeway while attempting to change a tire or walk for help. Visit SafeCar.gov for more information on tire safety.

Top Summer Safety Tips:

-Never leave a child unattended in or near a vehicle. Temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly and quickly approach lethal levels. Adults should also pay close attention to children when moving or backing a vehicle.

-Always utilize the proper child restraints for children. For more information visit www.safecar.gov.

-Buckle up. It’s the law.

-Don’t drink and drive.

-Avoid fatigue and reduce stress. Drivers should get plenty of rest and leave in plenty of time to reach their destination.

-Keep your vehicle properly maintained. Make sure windshield wipers, lights and other equipment are functioning properly.
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It’s official: Chicago car accidents and accidents elsewhere in Illinois are one again on pace to hit record lows, the Illinois Department of Transportation reported.

As our Chicago injury attorneys have reported both here and on our sister site, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, the numbers of fatal traffic crashes are at record lows across the region. And the 928 fatal Illinois crashes in 2009 were already the fewest in nearly a century of reporting.

IDOT reports the overall number of Illinois traffic fatalities is down by 16.8 percent for the first six months of the year, from 434 in 2009 to 361 in 2010. Safety advocates point to increases in seat belt use and enhanced safety measures, including the state’s new law against text messaging while driving.

However, as we have reported both here and on our sister site, Chicago Car Accidents Lawyers Blog, many experts cite the economic downturn as the main reason for fewer traffic accidents being reported nationwide.

“We are extremely proud of the dedication, hard work and diligence shown by IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety, our partners, and Illinois motorists whose positive efforts have made this historic achievement possible,” said IDOT Secretary Gary Hannig.

The state reports a dramatic improvement in seat-belt usage rates since 2003, from 76.2 percent to 92.6 percent. Only 16 states report seat-belt compliance rates that are as good or better than Illinois’.

Meanwhile, the number of fatal Illinois traffic accidents has steadily declined.

2003: 1,454 2004: 1,355 2005: 1, 363 2006: 1,254 2007: 1,248 2008: 1,043 2009: 928 Continue reading

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