Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Chicago Police Officer Causes Deadly Car Accident

April 11, 2009 | By Dave Abels

In Chicago, Illinois a deadly car crash early Friday morning has resulted in criminal charges against an off duty detective from the Chicago Police Department, according to chicagobreakingnews.com. The auto accident happened on the Dan Ryan and resulted in the deaths of two people after their car burst into flames.

The collision occurred when Joseph Frugoli, 41, rear-ended a vehicle that was disabled on the side of the expressway. His blood alcohol content was allegedly three times the legal limit of .08. He has been charged with reckless homicide, aggravated driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident. He is scheduled to appear for his bond hearing Sunday morning and in currently in police custody.

The police department has started an internal investigation and the detective has been relieved of his police powers. Reportedly, the detective was walking away from the crash scene when he was apprehended.

Rear-End Collision On Southwest Side Of Chicago Kills Driver

March 31, 2009 | By Dave Abels

On the Southwest Side of Chicago, an elderly man was killed in a car accident last Saturday, according to chicagobreakingnews.com. The driver, an 88 year old Chicago man, was driving east on South Archer Avenue in his 1997 Lincoln, when he was hit from behind by a 1991 Lincoln Continental. The force of impact from the collision ejected the driver from his vehicle.

The victim was rushed by ambulance to Advocate Christ Medical Center for treatment. However, later that afternoon he was pronounced dead. A passenger in the car and the driver of the other car were both injured and transported to Holy Cross Hospital for treatment.

As a result of the accident, the at fault driver, a Chicago resident, received citations for following too closely and having no proof of insurance. The Chicago Police Department is handling the investigation.

Car Crash On Dan Ryan Kills 1, Injures 3 In Chicago, Illinois

March 28, 2009 | By Dave Abels

In Chicago, Illinois, high speeds of 90 mph may have lead to a bad auto accident on the Dan Ryan Expressway early this morning, according to WLS TV. Further, a firefighter was injured while responding to the accident.

The car accident took place just before 2 a.m. when a car traveling at a high rate of speed northbound near 75th Street flipped and went up onto a side wall. There were four occupants in the car, and the driver and front seat passenger were ejected from the vehicle. The driver, a male from Chicago in his 30s was killed in the wreck.

Shortly after the accident, a Chicago Fire Department fire truck that rushed to the scene was hit by a driver that may have been intoxicated. The fire truck was parked with all of its emergency lights on when a driver exiting at 71st street struck the front of the truck. A firefighter was injured in that 2nd crash and was taken to an area hospital.

Chicago Bike Rider Struck And Injured By Opening Car Door

March 28, 2009 | By Dave Abels

In Chicago, Illinois as spring weather arrives, more and more bicycle riders are on the street. It is only the end of March and injury lawyers at Abels & Annes are working on their first bike vs. car accident case of the season.

A North Side resident was injured last weekend when he was struck by an opening car door. He was riding southbound on Southport Avenue just north of Addison Street in a marked and designated bicycle lane. As he was passing a parked car on the west side of the street, the driver swung the vehicle door open into the bike lane causing the plaintiff to flip over it and land on his back.

The bike rider immediately had severe shoulder and neck pain. An ambulance transported him to Thorek Hospital on Irving Park Road in Chicago. At the ER he was diagnosed with a separated shoulder.

Chicago Resident Charged With DUI In Evanston Ambulance Crash

March 26, 2009 | By Dave Abels

A Chicago man has been charged with felony DUI and other moving violations stemming from a multiple vehicle ambulance crash that occurred on Tuesday in north suburban Evanston, according to chicagobreakingnews.com. The case involves a private ambulance being stolen from a nursing home in Chicago, and then erratically being driven north through Evanston until it ran a red light at Chicago Avenue and Dempster Street, causing a six vehicle accident.

The ambulance was reportedly parked unattended and taken from the Clark Manor Nursing Home, 7433 N. Clark Street. The defendant activated the emergency lights and drove off at a high rate of speed.

Charges against the defendant now include aggravated DUI, possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated battery of a police officer, resisting arrest, reckless driving, driving with no license, failing to reduce speed to avoid a collision, and running a red light.

Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Resolves Auto Accident Claim

March 25, 2009 | By Dave Abels

Illinois Car Accident Attorneys from Abels & Annes have settled an uninsured motorist claim for a Chicago woman. The case arose out of an automobile accident that occurred on November 4, 2007. The plaintiff was traveling eastbound as a passenger on Cermak Road at it’s intersection with Rockwell. As the vehicle went through a green light an uninsured driver failed to yield while turning left and struck the car my client was riding in.

At the scene of the accident, our client had back and neck pain. She was taken by ambulance to Saint Anthony Hospital.

At the St. Anthony ER the plaintiff reported persistent and constant back and neck pain. The doctor noted she appeared to be in pain, and she had tenderness at C3-C4, and tenderness in the lumbar area and left chest area. X-rays were taken which were negative for fracture. She was diagnosed with neck strain, low back pain and muscle contusions. She was prescribed Tylenol with codeine for pain.

Chicago Resident Killed After Falling Into Machine At Recycling Plant

March 23, 2009 | By Dave Abels

In Chicago, Illinois a man died on Friday at a South Side recycling plant after he fell into a machine, according to chicagobreakingnews.com. Julio Flores-Garcia, 39, a Chicago resident, was killed in a paper-baling machine at 3301 W. 48th Place.

It is being reported that the autopsy is showing that the man died from multiple crushing injuries, and that the death was ruled an accident. Police were called Friday afternoon and were told that a man fell into a machined and died. The Chicago Police Department has detectives investigating the accident.

After a tragic accident like this one, it is likely that the family of the victim will retain a Chicago personal injury lawyer. That lawyer will investigate as to how the accident occurred and also whether there is a potential products liability case. The attorney is going to look into if there was something defective about the machine and if the accident could have been prevented.

Chicago Police Officer Killed In Motorcycle vs. Car Accident While Off-Duty

March 21, 2009 | By Dave Abels

On the Northwest Side of Chicago, an off-duty Chicago police officer lost his life in a motorcycle crash Friday afternoon, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Cameron Karshna, 31, a Chicago resident and a police officer for the past 4 years, was riding his bike in the 7500 block of West Touhy Avenue when a pickup truck failed to yield when turning left and struck the motorcycle. He was riding a Honda motorcycle and was hit by a Ford 2002 F-250 pickup truck.

The motorcyclist was taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and pronounced dead several hours later. The driver of the pickup, a 36 year old Chicago resident, was reportedly ticketed with failure to yield and not wearing a seat belt.

As of yesterday, the officer was in the process of recovering from a work related injury. He had been hurt in an on-duty altercation with a prisoner, and he was on his way home from physical therapy when the crash occurred. He was part of the Department’s Town Hall District Tactical Unit.

Downtown Chicago Car Accident Injures 4

March 20, 2009 | By Dave Abels

An auto accident in Chicago, Illinois has seriously injured four people early this morning, according to WBBM News. The crash involved two vehicles, one of which was a van that flipped over onto a crosswalk.

The Loop car crash occurred at Madison and Franklin at about 1:20 am. Five ambulances rushed to the accident that involved a Chevy Ventura and a Pontiac Sunfire. It is being reported that 4 people in the Pontiac were critically injured. Two were transported to Stroger Hospital of Cook County and two others went to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. A fifth person may have also been taken to an area hospital. Four occupants of the van refused medical treatment.

The cause of the crash and the nature of the injuries has not been reported. The Chicago Police Department is handling the investigation.

NFL Player Reportedly DUI In Deadly Pedestrian Accident

March 19, 2009 | By Dave Abels

Earlier this week we reported to you that Cleveland Browns NFL Player Donte’ Stallworth hit and killed a pedestrian in the Miami area. It is now being reported by the Associated Press that Stallworth was driving while intoxicated at the time of the fatal car vs. pedestrian accident. Reports have surfaced that his blood alcohol level was between .08 and .16. The legal limit in Florida is .08, the same as here in Illinois.

The accident happened this past Sunday between Miami and Miami Beach, Florida on a causeway. Stallworth hit a pedestrian, Mario Reyes, as Reyes was crossing the street in or near the crosswalk. The victim had just finished the overnight shift as a construction crane operator and was trying to catch a bus.

It is being reported that if Stallworth was legally intoxicated, under Florida law he will most likely be criminally charged with DUI Manslaughter and can be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.