Wrongful Death

Chicago area police search for hit-and-run driver that killed bike rider

August 10, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Police are searching for a hit and run driver that killed a bicyclist in Stone Park, a northwest suburb of Chicago, according to Chicago Breaking News. The victim, a 47 year old woman who lives in the 1700 block of North Mannheim Road was struck and killed Monday night.

The accident occurred in the 1800 block of Mannheim when she was hit by a southbound vehicle. The driver fled the scene of the accident. It is being reported that police are possibly looking for a Chevy with front end damage.

The victim, Marina Gonzalez, was rushed to Loyola University Hospital in Maywood and was pronounced dead a short time later.

Chicago area medical malpractice lawsuit filed against suburban hospital

June 27, 2010 | By Dave Abels

An Illinois medical malpractice lawsuit has been filed against North Suburban Glenbrook Hospital, according to the Lake County News-Sun. The lawsuit was filed by the family a 56-year-old lake Forest man who died while a patient at the hospital in Glenview, Illinois.

The patient developed an infection in his hip earlier this year. He underwent surgery at Glenbrook Hospital and developed kidney failure. His kidney failure required dialysis but the hospital allegedly failed to monitor his fluid levels appropriately, according to attorney Patrick Salvi, who is representing the family.

The lawsuit also alleges the patient received blood, but not dialysis in late December. He went into cardiac arrest and died a short time later. The attorney states that the plaintiff’s autopsy showed a fluid overload to be the cause of death.

Fatal Chicago area DUI car accident results in guilty verdict

May 22, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A man from Aurora, Illinois has been found guilty in a criminal court bench trial of reckless homicide and aggravated drunk driving for hitting and killing a pedestrian and his dog in Batavia in 2009, according to the Daily Herald . He was found not guilty of first degree murder. The sentence on the DUI charge is 3 to 14 years and sentencing is scheduled for July 23rd.

The defendant had reportedly drank and smoked marijuana prior to taking a car without permission. The car belonged to the girlfriend of a friend.

The victim was walking his dog before going to work at an auto parts store when he was hit. He was taken to St. Charles Hospital and died a short time later.

CVS Strangling Case – family of alleged Chicago shoplifter outraged

May 10, 2010 | By Dave Abels

The deadly assault of a Chicago customer in a CVS drugstore is under investigation and the store manager will not be allowed to return to work until the probe is completed, the Breaking News Center reported.

The customer was suspected of shoplifting.

“We are investigating this unfortunate incident and are fully cooperating with police,” CVS spokesman Michael DeAngelis said. He refused to discuss company policy regarding the handling of customers suspected of shoplifting, according to the Tribune. The store manager declined to comment.

DUI and reckless homicide charges filed in deadly Chicago car crash that killed 1

May 10, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A driver has been accused of driving while intoxicated and reckless homicide after causing a fatal Illinois auto accident that killed a woman and injured 3 others, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. One of the injured was an 11 month old child.

The defendant, a 36 year old Chicago resident, reportedly ran several stop signs at a high rate of speed and rear-ended another car. When police arrived at the scene they had to use a Taser to take the driver into custody, and he is now hospitalized under police watch.

The accident occurred at 30th and Drake Street on the Southwest Side around 2 p.m. on Friday. Two of the injured were taken by ambulance to Stroger Hospital and two others were taken to Mount Sinai.

Chicago area pedestrian accident – woman killed by minivan on sidewalk

April 21, 2010 | By Dave Abels

An Illinois pedestrian accident has claimed the life of a woman that was struck by a minivan in Lombard on Monday night, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Another pedestrian was critically injured.

The accident happened when a Jewel semi truck that was traveling eastbound on Roosevelt Road collided with a minivan that was headed northbound on Main Street. The minivan then lost control and rolled over, hitting a man and woman walking on the sidewalk.

The male pedestrian’s legs were pinned under the minivan and bystanders came to his rescue, lifting the van off of his legs and freeing him. Both victims were rushed to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. The female pedestrian died Tuesday morning.

Warning lights and crossing gates not working during fatal Chicago area train accident

April 19, 2010 | By Dave Abels

UPDATE: There is now video showing that the gates were not down and the lights were not activated during last Friday’s fatal Chicago area train crash, according to NBC News. The video is from the Amtrak train involved in the collision. It is also being reported that Canadian National crews had been working within a mile of the crash earlier that day and accidentally disabled the warning system and gates.

Witnesses to Friday’s train accident that killed a dance instructor in Cook County are saying that the crossing gates and warning lights were not working when an Amtrak train came barreling through, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center. One of the witnesses was an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney who works in the Old Orchard Courthouse.The prosecutor stated that she was right in front of the SUV that was hit at the University Park railroad crossing, and that she was very close to being hit herself. She said there was no way for the SUV driver to know the train was coming and that the first warning of the danger was the train blowing its horn. She went on to say that no one was trying to go around a gate or beat the train, and that no one knew the train was there.

The tracks are reportedly owned by the Canadian National Railway Company who has sent investigators to the scene. A Will County sheriff’s police spokesman stated that part of the problem is the tracks are too close to a stop sign at Governor’s Highway, and that drivers can get caught on the tracks while approaching it.

Wrongful death lawsuit filed after Chicago bus accident

April 9, 2010 | By Dave Abels

The family of a man killed in a Chicago bus accident last month has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Chicago Transit Authority.

The suit claims that the 53-year-old bus passenger was exiting a No. 9 Ashland bus March 18 when it pulled away from the West Harrison street bus stop before he was safely on the curb, according to FOX News.

However, the Chicago Breaking News Center reports the victim was trying to catch the bus when he fell.

Man wanted in connection with Halloween hit-and-run car accident that killed Chicago pedestrian

February 15, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Police have issued an arrest warrant for a 23-year-old former West Rogers Park man in connection with a Halloween hit-and-run Chicago car accident that claimed the life of a 25-year-old DePaul University student.

The suspect, who doesn’t have a driver’s license, may have fled to Mexico, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

As reported last fall on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, the woman was struck at Cullom and Lincoln avenues, as she walked home about 3 a.m. on Nov. 1 after a long night of work bartending at Bowmans Bar & Grill.

$10,000 reward offered for driver responsible for hit-and-run Chicago pedestrian accident on Halloween Night

November 13, 2009 | By Dave Abels

A $10,000 reward is being offered for the driver responsible for a north side hit-and-run Chicago car accident on Nov. 1.

The parents of the young waitress who was killed at Lincoln and Cullom avenues announced the reward, according to WGN9News. She was walking home from her nearby bartending job when she was struck by a vehicle that did not stop, according to police.

Surveillance video from Bowman’s Bar and Grill may have captured the vehicle seconds before the accident that killed Rachel Gilliam, WGN9News reported.