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A Chicago injury lawyer at Abels & Annes has settled an auto collision claim for a defendant’s auto insurance policy limits.

This claim arises out of an incident which took place on September 13, 2011 at approximately 12:02 p.m. at or near 2701 South Harlem in Berwyn, Illinois. Our client was injured when the automobile she was driving was hit by a vehicle driven by a negligent driver.

The plaintiff was driving northbound on South Harlem at approximately 25 miles per hour. The defendant driving behind her on northbound South Harlem. As she continued to drive, your insured drove too fast for conditions, failed to yield and rear-ended her.

The Berwyn Police Department responded to the scene of the collision. After speaking to both parties, the responding officer determined the other driver at fault for the collision and issued him a citation for driving too fast for conditions.

We alleged to the defendant’s insurance carrier that their insured failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to stop and/or reduce his speed to avoid a collision, and failed to exercise due care for the safety of those in the area, including the Plaintiff.

Following the collision, our client had an immediate onset of back and knee pain.

She sought treatment from Rush Oak Park Hospital‘s Emergency Department immediately after the collision. A history was taken, she was examined, and diagnostic tests were performed. She complained of pain in her lower back that was worse with bending as well as bilateral knee pain. On exam, she had tenderness on palpation of her right lumbar paraspinal area. She was diagnosed with lumbar spine sprain/strain, pain in her lower legs, muscle spasms in her back, and trapezius strain. She received prescriptions for pain medications and muscle relaxants and was ordered off work.

Due to ongoing and increasing pain, our client sought follow up treatment with a physician on September 15, 2011. At that time, she continued to complain of lower back pain that radiated to both of her legs. Her pain was constant and severe and it ranged from sharp to stabbing to aching. Her pain interfered with her sleeping, often waking her in the middle of the night. Her pain prevented her from engaging in activities of daily life and severely limited those activities she could engaged in. Additionally, the pain was worse with pushing and lifting heavy objects, walking, sitting, or standing for long periods of time, and bending forward.

Her doctor took a history and examined her. She had tenderness and spasms from L2-L5 bilaterally as well as difficulty squatting and while walking heel to toe. She had limited range of motion in her thoracholumbar spine because of the extreme pain she experienced. The physician diagnosed our client with lower back pain with a radicular component at L5-S1, myofacial pain syndrome, and lumbar strain and sprain.

It was noted that she had an underlying degenerative condition in her back that was asymptomatic before her injury. In his medical opinion, the automobile collision aggravated her underlying condition and necessitated treatment. The doctor instructed her to continue taking her medications, undergo a lumbar MRI, refrain from lifting and/or pushing objects heavier than 15 pounds, and remain off work.

Pursuant to doctor’s orders, she underwent an MRI of her lumbar spine on September 16, 2011. The MRI revealed 3 bulging lumbar discs.
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An Illinois pedestrian accident attorney at Abels & Annes has reached a settlement on behalf of a South Side woman that was struck by a distracted driver reading a text message. The accident happened back in April, 2009 in a 6300 block of S. Pulaski Road.

Our client had just exited a CVS pharmacy with her husband when the defendant drove up onto the sidewalk and hit her. The driver later admitted to Chicago police officers that as he was driving out of the CVS parking lot he received a text message from his wife. He took his eyes off the road to read the text, loss control, and drove onto the sidewalk, striking the pedestrian.

After police spoke to all parties involved, they ticketed the defendant for failing to use due care for pedestrians and improper cell phone use. The driver later pleaded guilty in traffic court.

There will be a “Ride of Silence” on Wednesday in memory of those killed in bicycle accidents in Chicago and elsewhere as riders and safety advocates continue to push safety and awareness at the start of the summer riding season, Trib Local reported.

Residents in Oak Park and River Forest will be among the riders participating in the national Ride of Silence Event. The event began in Dallas in 2003 after a rider was hit by a school bus. This will be the first event in Oak Park or River Forest.

The Oak Park Cyclist Club became interested in the event amid the continued clash between cyclists and drivers. As our Chicago bicycle accident attorneys have reported, dooring, lack of respect, lane crowding and failure to yield at intersections are just a few of the dangers riders are facing.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 20 riders were killed in Illinois bicycle accidents in 2009. The Illinois Department of Transportation reported cycling accidents in Chicago killed 5 riders and injured thousands of others.

In Chicago, ghost bikes — bikes painted white and chained to a post near a fatal accident — are becoming more common. The ride, which will be conducted in silence, is another way advocates hope to raise awareness.

Oak Park in particular has a heavy cycling presence, with officials working to increase the number of bike lanes. Riders will meet at 7 p.m. at Lake Street and Oak Park Avenue and will ride a yet-to-be-determined route.

In all, nine Ride of Silence events are planned in the Chicago area, including Evanston, Downers, Grove, Joliet and Arlington Heights.
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Una abogada de herida del trabajo de Abels & Annes en Chicago ha establecido un reclamo a favor de un residente del Condado de DuPage.

El demandante fue contratado como un camionero para la compañía en los suburbios occidentales. En diciembre de 2009, levantó unas cajas pesadas y las puso en su hombro derecho para llevarlas a su camión. Después de hacer esto, comenzó a tener dolor en el hombro derecho.

Sobre pasaron las semanas el dolor se mantuvo y el conductor comenzó tratamiento con un médico. Se le ordenó una resonancia magnética que con el tiempo demostró que había sufrido un desgarro. El demandante tuvo cirugía para reparar el hombro.

A motorcycle accident in Jersey County took the life of one motorcyclist this past week, according to Illinois State Police. The rider died when he veered to the right side of the road and struck a guard rail between Elsah and Chautauqua, according to The Telegraph.

The 24-old rider was taken to the hospital after a passing motorists notified police of the motorcycle accident in Illinois on Route 100 near Alton.Our Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys urge riders to be extra cautious this spring season. Other motorists, evening hours and poor weather conditions all pose potential dangers to a vulnerable motorcyclist. While many motorcycle crashes are the fault of other motorists, it’s important that riders to their part to avoid serious or fatal accidents. May is Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month and we encourage riders to take the message to heart: Get proper training, have your bike serviced, wear the appropriate safety gear and never drink and ride.

The accident happened shortly after 8:30 p.m. this past weekend. The impact from the collision threw the motorcycle driver into the river. Police report that the driver was wearing his helmet. The Jersey County Sheriff’s Department, the Illinois State Department of Conservation police, the Grafton Police Department and the and the QEM Fire Protection District joined together to locate the riders body. After roughly two hours, the body was located. The road remained blocked for another four hours.

Police have yet to determine if alcohol played a role in the accident. A toxicology test is being administered as it is standard in crash investigations.

WhyBike.com offers these tips for motorcyclists who will be hitting the roadway during the nighttime hours:

-Your perception is drastically reduced during the dark evening hours. Keep an eye on the reflective road signs, white lines and other areas of illuminated road to help you navigate.

-Oncoming traffic may be easily spotted, but parked cars are not. Keep an eye out for stationary vehicles parked on the side of the road.

-Animals can be a deadly obstacle, too. Keep an eye out for animals that may enter your path of travel by watching for the reflection in their eyes. If you encounter and animal on the road, dip your headlights, slow down and try to steer your way around.

-Be sure to wear reflective gear while driving at night. This will allow other motorists to recognize your presence a lot easier.

-Try not to look directly into oncoming headlights as it can causing a blinding effect that drastically minimizes your ability to see for a short while, which clearly isn’t a good thing while driving a motorcycle.

-Keep your visor clean and polished as small scratches can distract light and cause a very distracting starburst effect.
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Last week Illinois bus accident attorneys at our office reported that a pedestrian was hit and killed by a tour bus in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood. Now the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that the bus driver involved has been charged with aggravated DUI, a felony.

The deadly Chicago pedestrian accident occurred last Tuesday night just before 7 PM at the intersection of Columbus and E. Illinois St. The 26-year-old victim was crossing with a green light and was hit as the bus was turning onto Columbus.

It is now being alleged that the 47-year-old bus driver was under the influence at the time of the incident. He reportedly tested positive for cocaine after the accident.

Chicago work injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, have resolved two claims on behalf of a local resident for just over $231,000.

The first claim stems from a accident that occurred back in 2006 when our client was injured at work while lifting heavy boxes from a shipping door. He injured his left arm in the accident.

As our client underwent medical treatment, physicians determined he needed an MRI as his condition was not improving. The scan showed he had sustained a left rotator cuff tear.

A fatal Chicago area auto accident has resulted in the death of two women and DUI charges against the driver involved, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center. The DUI accident charges are reportedly marijuana related.

The accident occurred on Sunday in Crete Township of Will County. The alleged DUI driver was traveling east on Bemes Road near the Indiana – Illinois state line when he lost control of his vehicle on a patch of ice and struck a tree.

One passenger, a 21-year-old woman from Park Forest, was ejected from the car and died on the scene. Another passenger, a 21-year-old woman from Cedar Lake, Indiana was rushed by ambulance to St. Margaret Mercy Hospital in Dyer, Indiana where she was pronounced dead a short time later.

Un informe nacional destaca un punto que a menudo se pierde cuando se trata de hablar sobre la seguridad en la conducción de los adolescentes: muchas de las víctimas de accidentes de tráfico en Chicago que implican a los adolescentes no son adolescentes y no son pasajeros en el vehículo de un adolescente.

Son víctimas de todo tipo de malas decisiones de conducción realizadas por los adolescentes, incluyendo conducir borracho, exceso de velocidad, la conducción agresiva y la conducción distraída. Nuestros abogados de heridas personales en Chicago con informan con frecuencia, tanto aquí como en nuestra pagina hermana, Accidentes Automovilísticos en Chicago blog de abogados, con respeto a los peligros que enfrentan los adolescentes al volante.

Los accidentes automovilísticos son la causa principal de muerte entre los adolescentes. Y cuando se trata de estar involucrado en un accidente grave o fatal, los adolescentes están expuestos al mayor riesgo de todos los conductores, excepto los mayores de 75 años.

Un accidente de autobús en el área de Chicago ha resultado en seis niños heridos y hospitalizados, según el Tribune local. El choque ocurrió el martes por la mañana en Suburbio Norte de Vernon Hills, y todos los niños han sido liberados de Advocate Condell Medical Center.

Se ha reportado que un vehículo estaba tratando de evitar chocar contra un autobús escolar que se desvió en su carril cuando se deslizó en una carretera cubierta de nieve y golpeó al autobús. El autobús escolar involucrado fue del Distrito 73 y llevaba aproximadamente 20 estudiantes de Aspen Elementary Scool. El incidente paso alrededor de las 7:40 AM.

La policía está diciendo que el conductor del autobús puede haber entrado en el carril del otro conductor para evitar una pila de nieve. El Departamento de Policía de Vernon Hills y el Departamento de Bomberos de Countryside respondieron en la escena del accidente. Además de los seis niños transportados al hospital, tres niños fueron atendidos y dados en la escena. Los dos pilotos involucrados en el accidente de autobús de Illinois resultaron ilesos.