Uninsured Motorist Claim

Chicago Resident Charged With DUI In Kane County Personal Injury Car Accident

February 25, 2008 | By Dave Abels

A Chicago resident has been charged with Aggravated DUI after causing a multiple vehicle car crash in Kane County on Saturday, according to the Daily Herald. The auto accident happened when Santos Christian Romero-Villagrana, 23, rear ended two stopped vehicles that were waiting to turn into a driveway. The car crash happened on eastbound Route 72.

The Kane County Sheriff’s Department stated that 7 people were taken to area hospitals after the collision. Three were taken to Provena St. Joseph Hospital, three to Sherman Hospital in Elgin, Illinois and one person was airlifted to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Illinois. It has not yet been reported if the injuries are serious.

Villagrana was charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, no insurance, and several other moving violations. Details of the evidence of intoxication were not reported.
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Chicago Resident Hurt in Hit And Run Accident In Vernon Hills, Illinois

February 4, 2008 | By Dave Abels

A 66 year old unidentified Chicago man was hit and injured by a car last week in Vernon Hills, Illinois as he was walking on Butterfield Road near its intersection with Creekside Drive in the evening hours of January 30th, according to the Lake County News-Sun. The driver of the northbound motor vehicle fled the accident scene. The victim of the Vernon Hills pedestrian hit & run accident was taken to Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Illinois where he was listed in serious but stable condition.

Police are looking for witnesses to the hit and run accident. Anyone who who has information regarding the accident being asked to call the Vernon Hills Police Department’s crime prevention office at (847) 247-4888.
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Chicago, Illinois Passenger Killed When Car Hits CTA Viaduct

January 24, 2008 | By Dave Abels

A Cook County Resident, Lester Cooperwood, 48, died on Sunday night when the car he was riding in as a passenger lost control and struck a steel CTA viaduct near 4600 West Lake Street in Chicago, according to the Chicago Tribune. Cooperwood was riding in the front seat of a Dodge Stratus that was being driven by a 41 year old man who lives at the same address as the victim in the 1700 Block of North Lorel Avenue.

The driver suffered lacerations and bruising and was taken to a Chicago area hospital. The driver was also charged by the Chicago Police Department with with DUI, improper lane usage, driving without a license and no insurance.

Cooperwood was pronounced dead at Mt. Sinai Hospital, Chicago, Illinois a short time later due to injuries sustained in the accident.

From a Chicago personal injury lawyer’s perspective, the family of the Cook County passenger has a right to bring a wrongful death claim against the driver of the car, but here it appears the at fault party had no liability insurance. If the victim, or a household family member had a valid auto insurance policy, then the family should be able to make an uninsured motorist claim. Continue reading

Chicago, Illinois Rollover Car Crash – Teen Dies On Dan Ryan

January 9, 2008 | By Dave Abels

A Chicago rollover auto accident killed a 19 year old last Friday night on the Dan Ryan Expressway, according to several news sources. The accident happened at the Cermak exit near Chinatown just after 10 p.m.

The van in the Cook County motor vehicle accident reportedly had numerous occupants and Maria Hernandez, 19, was killed when the driver, age 27, lost control, rolled over and ejected Hernandez from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead shortly after the auto accident at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.

Illinois State Police have charged the driver with DUI, no insurance and no seat belt. The State Police indicate the DUI will be upgraded to a felony.

Four other passengers were taken to Michael Reese Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Continue reading

Illinois Roll Over Truck Accident Near Peoria

December 13, 2007 | By Dave Abels

A hit and run accident near Morton, Illinois caused a tractor-trailer roll over crash on Interstate 74 last Sunday, according to the Pekin Daily Times. A pick-up truck struck the larger truck, caused the driver of the truck to hit a guard rail and then flip over on it’s side. The accident occurred during the ice storm that hit central Illinois this week.

Illinois State Police say the tractor-trailer was driven by Gregory Houston, 50, of Quincy. He was east-bound when a gray pick-up struck his vehicle. He also fell out of the truck when it rolled. The pick-up driver fled the scene after the collision.

The accident is still under investigation. The Morton Police Department and Morton Fire Department were also on the scene.

If injured, the driver of the truck can retain a personal injury lawyer and make two types of claims. He has a workers’ compensation case because he was injured during the course of his employment. Under work comp the trucker would receive medical benefits, temporary total disability pay if he is off work because of the accident, and he will also be entitled to a bodily injury settlement. The claim would be filed with the Illinois Industrial Commission. Continue reading

Chicago, Illinois Resident Injured In Hit & Run Accident Asks For Help Locating Driver

December 5, 2007 | By Dave Abels

A Cook County Resident was seriously injured when a motor vehicle drove onto a sidewalk at Cumberland Avenue and Summerdale Avenue, in Chicago, Illinois. Chester Doboszewski was the pedestrian who was hurt. He was waiting on the sidewalk for a walk sign to cross the street. The accident happened right in front of a Chicago Fire Department Firehouse.

The at fault driver did not stop and fled the accident scene. Chicago Fire Department Paramedics rushed Chester to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. He was diagnosed with multiple left leg fractures and a skull fracture.

Normally, a pedestrian struck by a hit & run driver would have a good uninsured motorist claim against his own insurance company. His insurance company would “step into the shoes” of the hit and run driver, and the pedestrian would recover monetary damages. Here, unfortunately Mr. Doboszewski has no auto insurance and no one in his household has auto insurance. His only hope to recover is against the at fault driver.