Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Death Toll on U.S. Highways Up 8 Percent in 2015

November 30, 2015 | By Dave Abels

The safety of the nation’s highways are a primary concern for all drivers, passengers, and those who will be near the roads at some point in their lives. Simply put, traffic problems are an issue for everyone and therefore increasing the safety on these streets should be a paramount concern across the country. When a car accident takes place and a victim is injured or killed, the suffering extends far beyond that crash scene to a victim’s family members, friends, loved ones, coworkers and neighbors with staggering economic consequences as well as personal.

Recent decades have seen an overall improvement in road safety as the number of fatal collisions and the lives lost in those crashes have decreased. But now, the first half of 2015 has shown a stark departure from the trend as the number of deaths is up approximately 8.1 percent over the same time period in 2014, a substantial increase that has left many experts questioning the reasons behind these accidents.

Study Finds Kennedy Expressway Congestion Worst in Nation

November 25, 2015 | By Dave Abels

If you live in the Chicago area, you know how big of a problem traffic congestion can be. It is so bad that many choose to forego ownership of personal cars in favor of the city’s network of public transportation, taxi cabs, or rideshare options just so drivers do not have to deal with the headaches that accompany traffic. Others try to walk or ride a bicycle when possible and some choose to drive only during hours that are unlikely to see a high traffic load.

If you have these feelings, a new study is justifying them as it has concluded that the Kennedy Expressway near Chicago is the worst bottleneck in the nation. The 12-mile stretch of the Kennedy Expressway between the Circle Interchange with I-290 and the Edens Junction at I-94 outranked all other bottlenecks in the nation in terms of the total delays as well as the average length of congestion in the area.

The study was conducted by the American Highway User’s Alliance and it determined that the Kennedy Expressway resulted in 16,900,000 total delay hours in a year, more than twice as many as the second-largest bottleneck which is located in Los Angeles, California. The Kennedy’s delays were also blamed for $418 million in lost time damages and a waste of 6.37 million gallons of fuel.

Staying Safe during Thanksgiving Travel

November 24, 2015 | By Dave Abels

Last year, the weather played a significant role for those who traveled over the Thanksgiving weekend. With the holiday rapidly approaching this year, motorists can rest assured that the weather is expected to be much more cooperative this time around as neither snow nor ice are predicted. However, rain showers may strike Chicago and the surrounding areas on and off beginning on Thursday and congestion on the roadways is anticipated so those who will be driving should still plan ahead.

This year, AAA estimates that 42 million Americans will take a road trip for Thanksgiving of 50 miles or more from their homes, meaning that millions of vehicles will be trying to travel in a relatively short amount of time. If you are one of those who will take to the roads, bear in mind that congestion should be expected and that your travel times might be much longer than normal due to increased traffic on the roadways.

Megabus Accidents: Why Passengers are at Risk

November 23, 2015 | By Dave Abels

Megabus is one of many busing services to cover a wide portion of the United States as well as some areas of Canada. With numerous lines running through Chicago and the surrounding cities, it can be an efficient and easy means of transit for those wishing to travel. In fact, Chicago serves as a Megabus hub which allows riders to travel from Chicago to the other Midwestern cities serviced by Megabus without transferring. Those who wish to travel outside of the Midwest can do so by taking a bus from Chicago to another hub and transferring at that location.

The daily operations of Megabus and its associated entities are governed by strict federal and state laws, rules, and regulations designed to make the vehicles as safe as possible. However, numerous bus accidents have occurred in recent years that have cast doubt on whether Megabus follows all necessary steps while it conducts business in the greater Chicago area. Several lawsuits stemming from Megabus collisions have been filed and have alleged failures including negligent hiring of drivers, improper training of employees, failing to undertake needed maintenance of vehicles, improperly performing repairs upon vehicles, disobeying traffic laws, and otherwise endangering passengers and others.

Drivers Prepare: Snow is Coming to Chicago

November 20, 2015 | By Dave Abels

It is the inevitable transition every year that comes to Chicago and leaves many wondering why they call this city home: the switch from sunny fall days to the year’s first snowfall. If you are one of the many that have been dreading winter weather, be prepared as a snow storm is predicted to hit Cook County later today.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning which begins at 9:00 p.m. tonight and will remain active until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. Previously issued as a watch, officials now feel confident that the storm will strike Chicago and bring with it heavy rain, snow, and other wintery conditions, potentially leading to transportation issues for those around town. At this time, it is believed that rain will start falling around 9:00 p.m. but that the rain will transition to wet, heavy snow that will lead to accumulations of approximately four to eight inches throughout Cook County away from Lake Michigan. The downtown Chicago area and other locations near the lake should receive two to five inches of accumulating snow.

Falling is the Primary Cause of Eye Injuries

November 19, 2015 | By Dave Abels

Life is full of risks, some of which are relatively minor while others are more substantial. Simply walking around Chicago may turn tragic if you are involved in an accident or if you are otherwise hurt, something that occurs daily in the city and often happens to the innocent who do nothing wrong. Yet while a simple tumble or a stumble on the job may seem unlikely to cause damage, new data suggests that it should be treated seriously as falls are the primary cause of eye injuries in the United States.

The new information was presented at the 119th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology on Wednesday and followed data from 2002 through 2011. During that time, a sample of approximately 47,000 patients with orbital trauma was studied with a patient age range from 0 to 80. The leading cause of injuries to eye accident victims was falls, and among those who fell, the majority were aged 60 or older.

GM May Face Punitive Damages in Ignition Lawsuits

November 18, 2015 | By Dave Abels

Beginning in February of 2014, General Motors recalled approximately 30 million cars worldwide due to issues with their ignitions. The alleged faulty design of the ignitions would enable a vehicle’s engine to turn off while the car was moving, thereby preventing airbags from deploying if the vehicle was involved in a collision. Claims made against GM state that officials with the automobile company knew of potential issues with the ignition for more than 10 years prior to the initial wave of the recall yet they failed to take action to correct the issue on existing models or to prevent its implementation in future vehicles.

Due to these ignition issues, General Motors has confirmed 124 associated deaths though some claim the number is much higher. Federal investigators reviewed the issues surrounding GM’s faulty ignitions which led to a Deferred Prosecution Agreement whereby GM would pay $900 million to settle the claims against it to the United States Government. However, this agreement did nothing to resolve claims related to the ignitions brought by those who felt the impact the most – the victims who were injured in car accidents and the surviving family members of those who lost their lives in collisions.

Jimmy John’s: Risking Chicago’s Safety with “Freaky Fast” Delivery?

November 16, 2015 | By Dave Abels

There is nothing new about delivering food around the Chicago area and the option is increasing in popularity. With many residents foregoing a personal vehicle and with the difficult to predict weather making it hard to know when it is safe to leave home, many who live in the Chicagoland area opt to have their food brought to them. Pizza remains the most popular food to be delivered but other types of restaurants are getting into the game, including those who offer sandwiches.

A local chain, Jimmy John’s, is known across the country for its sub sandwiches that are made and delivered “freaky fast,” a catch phrase used by the restaurant in television, radio, and print advertising. While consumers who are ordering food from Jimmy John’s may appreciate the increased speed at which they receive their purchases, attention is now turning to the safety issues associated with delivering food in a fast manner, something that is being blamed for numerous car accidents in Illinois and around the nation.

Trick-or-Treat Safely with these Halloween Tips

October 28, 2015 | By Dave Abels

The greater Chicago area is home to countless children who excitedly are anticipating Halloween this year. Right now, many are finalizing their costumes, making plans on how to celebrate, and even laying out their route for trick-or-treating. If you have kids, you are probably familiar with this annual ritual already and may even be helping them get ready for Saturday. If you are, make sure that when you do a final check on their costumes, makeup, and bags for gathering candy, you also discuss with them the importance of acting safely when away from their homes.

It is an unfortunate reality that every year, children are hurt while trick-or-treating when an accident takes place. Some of those involve drivers who are not paying attention and may not notice a child while others may involve an excited trick-or-treater who darts out into traffic. Before Saturday, discuss the following safety tips with your children if they plan to celebrate Halloween:
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GM Issues New Recall for Potential Engine Fires caused by Leaking Oil

October 27, 2015 | By Dave Abels

Drivers of General Motors vehicles should take note that their vehicles may be subjected to a new recall. This current recall is related to a potential fire hazard that may be caused by leaking oil, an issue that has been addressed twice before but reportedly unsuccessfully to this point.

General Motors says that 1.4 million vehicles are affected and that the years at issue date back to 1997. Affected models include the Pontiac Grand Prix manufactured between 1997 and 2004, Buick Regal made between 1997 and 2004, the Chevy Lumina made between 1998 and 1999, the Oldsmobile Intrigue made between 1998 and 1999, the Chevy Impala manufactured between 2000 and 2004, and the Chevy Monte Carlo made between 1998 and 2004.
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