Injuries to Children & Minors

Chicago-area Baptist minister sentenced to 18 years for sexual assault on a minor

July 13, 2011 | By Dave Abels

A Chicago-area Baptist minister has been convicted in a child sexual abuse case in Lake County, Illinois. He told the judge that God would punish those who bore “false witness” against him in a trial that resulted in him being sentenced to 18 years for aggravated criminal sexual abuse and predatory criminal sexual assault against an 11 year-old girl, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The minister had preached at Baptist churches in North Chicago and Zion. The victim testified that the minister had told her that whatever they did would stay between them and she did not come forward until 11 months later because she was scared and embarrassed. After the girl’s mother first confronted the minister about the assault, he swore on the bible that he didn’t abuse her.

The minister had signed a confession to the sexual assault at the Waukegan Police Department, but his defense attorney challenged the confession as the minister maintained his innocence. He never took the stand in his own defense, stating that he would rely on his faith to clear his name.

“I want this court to know when I am out, I will go back to trying to help people turn their life around,” the minister said before sentencing. “Whatever time is given to me, I will walk it upstandingly. I will walk it as God would have me.” He also prayed for mercy before the sentencing.

The assistant state’s attorney prosecuting the case noted that the defendant asked for mercy at at the time of sentencing, but at the same time he had taken no responsibility for his actions.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the minister had a criminal history from the late 60s and early 70s for charges related to being in possession of stolen checks. The charges were out of the State of California where he served 18 months.

The minister’s attorney plans to appeal the conviction, stating that since the time of his arrest he has been helping others and has been a good influence on other jail inmates in Lake County.

Sexual abuse of minors by religious figures is an all too common news story in Chicago. According to one study, the Tribune reports that more than half of Chicago’s Roman Catholic Parishes have been served by a priest credibly accused of sexually abusing a child. This abuse is not limited to any one denomination, however, and instances of abuse have spread across many faiths.

Illinois sex abuse lawyers at office currently represents several young men who were abused by a Catholic priest when they were minors.

Unfortunately, many of the abused never come forward and do not get the psychological help they need to properly deal with the traumatic event. Often victims suffer from depression, abuse drugs and alcohol, and they are more likely to attempt suicide. Nationally, almost half of all sex abuse victims are under the age of 18, and over 90% of minor victims know their abuser.
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Chicago Injury Attorneys Wish you a Safe and Enjoyable Fourth of July

June 29, 2011 | By Dave Abels

Fewer motorists are expected to hit the roads this Fourth of July weekend than last, but it’s all relative; with AAA estimating 39 million Americans on the road you are still at greater risk for a Chicago car accident through the long travel weekend.

The Chicago Tribune reports higher gas prices and the shaky economy are to blame for the 1 million fewer drivers expected to travel at least 50 miles from home.AAA Chicago estimates 1.9 million drivers will hit the road in Illinois — 3.3 percent fewer than last year. While gas in the Chicago area has fallen by 29 cents in recent weeks — to an average of $3.93 a gallon — that’s still 37 cents more than the national average and nearly $1 a gallon higher than last year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 32 Illinois traffic fatalities over the 2009 Fourth of July holiday period.

While our Chicago personal injury lawyers wish each of you a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend, we also would like to remind you of risks away from the road.

Chicago fireworks injuries: Last year, 135 people were seriously injured in Illinois fireworks accidents, according to the State Fire Marshal Even those fireworks people often think of as harmless were responsible for serious injuries, including sparklers (13) and bottle rockets (16). Seventy-eight people suffered serious burns, 10 suffered loss of eyesight and six suffered dismemberment.

More than half of those injured in Illinois fireworks accidents were under the age of 21. Injuries to the hands, fingers and eyes were most common.Illinois Boating Accidents: Independence Day is the height of the summer boating season in Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources reports a total of 102 boating accidents in 2009 — claiming 25 lives and injuring 70. Common causes are drinking and boating, lack of training and failure to wear life vests or follow other established safety procedures. If your weekend plans involve being out on the water, please stay safe and take responsibility for making sure those around you are safe as well.

Chicago swimming pool accidents: Family gatherings this time of year often occur at the home with the pool. As such, many are not familiar with pool safety. Children are at particularly high risk. An adult should always be assigned to watch children. Even those using small backyard portable pools. CNN recently reported that more than 244 submersion accidents involving small portable pools have been reported in the last decade. In 209 cases, the incident resulted in a fatality.
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Sex abuse charges filed against former Christian school teacher in Chicago

June 8, 2011 | By Dave Abels

A 34-year-old Naperville woman has been charged with sexually abusing four students while she was employed as a teacher at a Christian school on the Northwest Side, according to the Chicago Sun-Times and several other media outlets. She has been charged with four counts of criminal sexual assault.

A Cook County Judge set bail on Tuesday at $1.5 million. The defendant is to appear in court next on June 27.

The teacher’s brother, age 27, who was also employed at the school has been charged with one count of criminal sexual abuse.

Deadly Illinois truck crash – 2 girls killed, 6 others hurt

June 4, 2011 | By Dave Abels

A semi truck vs. car accident that occurred in downstate Illinois has resulted in the death of two girls and injuries to six others, according to herald-review.com. Illinois state police are saying that the victims fatally injured were ages 12 and 15 years old, both from Mattoon. The collision occurred on Illinois 316 just west of Loxa on the morning of June 1.

The two victims were traveling in a van that was involved in a collision with a semi truck. The van rolled over in the accident, ejecting seven people. The driver of the van, a 26-year-old woman from Mattoon, was reportedly in a hurry and passed a vehicle traveling east bound. The driver lost control of her van and then entered the westbound lane.

When the van crossed the center line, a semi truck was passing by in the opposite direction. The trucker was unable to avoid striking the van, making contact with the rear passenger side the vehicle. The van then rolled into a ditch on the North side of the highway.

MADD Calls for Parental Involvement to Reduce Teen Car Accidents during 100 Deadliest Days

June 2, 2011 | By Dave Abels

Mothers Against Drunk Driving has issued a warning to parents that our Chicago personal injury attorneys urge you to take to heart: The next 100 days are the deadliest of the year for teen drivers.

We frequently report the risk young people face when it comes to Chicago car crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that car accidents are the leading cause of death for those ages 15 to 20.Put another way, it’s a statistic that bears repeating: Your child is most likely to die in a traffic accident this summer. Your child. This summer. Our Illinois wrongful death attorneys are all too familiar with such tragedies. Dealing with the death of a young person in a car accident is among the most horrific cases a law firm can handle.

In 2009, about 3,000 teenagers were killed and more than 350,000 were treated in emergency rooms as a result of traffic accidents. Nine of the 10 deadliest days for teens are between the months of May and August.

Please speak to your child early and often this summer.

-MADD reports 28 percent of Illinois teens between the ages of 12 and 20 report using alcohol within the past month and 20 percent — or 1 in 5 — admit to binge drinking in the last 30 days.

-Teens are among the worst offenders when it comes to distracted driving. MADD recommends banning the use of electronic devices, including cell phones, while behind the wheel. The government’s Distracted Driving Website reports that 16 percent of those under 20 are distracted at the time of a crash.

-Limit night driving.

-Limit the number of passengers your teen is permitted to have in the vehicle.

-Set clear consequences for violating the rules.

-Consider using an Illinois teen driving contract with your teenager — which will outline the expectations and penalties for violations.

-Set firm rules about seat belt use. Statistics show teens are among the worst offenders when it comes to not buckling up.

-Invest in insurance. While teen car insurance premiums can be a shock in their own right, buy a policy with limits as high as you can reasonably afford. Basic policies or mandatory minimums are a joke in the event of a serious accident — you can spend $10,000 or more before the ambulance even gets you to the hospital.
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National Safety Month Aims to Halt to Top Five Preventable Accidents in Chicago and Elsewhere

June 1, 2011 | By Dave Abels

The State of Illinois and other states around the country and urging businesses and communities to join the celebration of National Safety Month. The entire month of June will focus on various safety topics. This awareness month is being put on by the Illinois-based National Safety Council (NSC) in an attempt to increase the awareness of the top five causes of preventable injuries and death from accidents in Chicago and elsewhere.Our Chicago personal injury lawyers understand that there are a number of things that we can all do to help this world be a safer place for everyone, but preventable injuries continue to happen because of the negligence of others. Residents are urged to participate in the activities of this safety month and encourage friends, family and coworkers to get involved to help reduce the risks of these types of accidents.

Top 5 causes of preventable injury or death:

-Injuries in the summer time (June 1-4). Injuries and fatalities during this time of year usually see an increase as more residents are out of school, vacationing or are outside enjoying the summer weather.

-Overexertion (June 5 to 11). These types of injuries are the third leading cause of unintentional injuries as they typical result in sprains and strains in various areas of the body, especially in the lower back.

-Teen Driving Safety (June 12 to 18). The NSC feels that promoting safe teen driving on our roadways is critical as more than 5,500 people are killed every year in traffic accidents that involve a teen driver.

-Slips, Trips and Falls (June 19 to 25). These accidents are among the top causes of unintentional injuries that leave residents in emergency departments throughout the nation.

-Cell phone use by drivers (June 26 to 30). Traffic accidents are the number one cause of unintentional deaths in the United States and a large number of these accidents are caused by distracted drivers using cell phones. The NSC estimates that nearly 25 percent of all traffic accidents involve distracted driving.

These awareness weeks in the month of June come with supplemental safety material to help spread the word about the ways you can help to prevent these unnecessary injuries and deaths.

The NSC reports that the United States witnessed 50 percent more of these types of injuries last year, compared to 1992 — nearly 87,000 unintentional injuries and fatalities. These preventable accidents cause residents and employers nearly $700 billion, an average of roughly $6,000 per American household.

Residents are urged to join “A Million Acts of Safety” to share your stories and to learn about new ways to help keep you and your loved ones safe in your home. These stories and advice are shared with those around the world.

An NSC safety calendar, found on their website, shows you all of the safety events that take place throughout the year.
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Chicago area school worker charged with sex abuse of a female student

May 27, 2011 | By Dave Abels

An information technology worker used to be employed at Lockport Township High School District 205 was arrested on Thursday morning for his alleged sexual abuse of a student in 2009, according to the Chicago Tribune. The defendant, a 39-year-old Darien resident, was charged yesterday with aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He has since been released on bail.

The charge is a class 2 felony that carries a 3 to 7 year prison sentence if convicted. A spokesperson for the Lockport Police Department is stating the alleged victim was a 17 year old minor at the time of abuse and is a Lockport resident.

The charges reportedly alleged that defendant abused his position of trust, authority or supervision with a minor in April, 2009 while he was employed as a senior network administrator for the school district. Police only learned of the alleged sexual abuse earlier this month after the victim told the family friend about what happened.

8 injured in Chicago pedestrian accident

May 23, 2011 | By Dave Abels

An Illinois pedestrian accident on Saturday in the Gold Coast neighborhood has resulted in several pedestrians getting hurt, including a toddler and some models in a wedding photo shoot, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The crash occurred when a city worker lost control of a truck.

The child, age 2, only suffered none-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Children’s Memorial Hospital. Six other pedestrians were hit, and unfortunately 2 were critically injured. One of the critically injured was the toddler’s caretaker. She was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

The incident took place around 12:20 p.m. at the three-way intersection of Cedar, Rush and State Streets. An employee of the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation was driving a city owned white Ford F150 pickup truck when he lost control and drove onto the sidewalk, hitting the pedestrians on the southeast corner.

Evanston school bus accident injures 20 students

May 18, 2011 | By Dave Abels

An Illinois bus crash in north suburban Evanston resulted in the hospitalization of 20 students and one adult on Tuesday morning, Tribune Local is reporting. One school bus rear-ended another after one of the bus drivers was momentarily distracted.

The students were from Rowe elementary school and were on a field trip at Northwestern University. The collision took place around 11:15 AM as the 2 school buses were heading northbound on Chicago Ave. near Davis Street. There were a total of 50 students on the two buses.

Evanston police are stating that the at fault bus driver may have been looking in his side view mirror at the time of the accident.

Woman killed, 2 children injured in deadly Illinois truck accident

May 11, 2011 | By Dave Abels

A Chicago area semi-truck crash in southwest suburban Channahon has resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to 2 children on Tuesday afternoon, according to WGN-TV.

Channahon Police are saying that a white SUV heading west on Eames Street was hit by a truck as the SUV tried to make a left turn onto Bell Road around 3:30 p.m. The truck crashed into the passenger side of the SUV, knocking it into a light pole and killing the female driver.

Two girls, ages 4 and 7 months were riding in the backseat. It took 40 minutes to remove the 4 year old from the vehicle. Both were taken to hospitals, one airlifted to Advocate Good Samaratin Hospital in Downers Grove. Police are saying the children’s injuries were not life threatening.