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It is the responsibility of every driver in Chicago to know and to follow the traffic laws in the city as well as those that apply to Illinois generally. Even if it has been decades since you learned to drive or since you attended driver’s education class, your duty to know the letter of the law does not diminish. Failing to know, understand, or follow these rules may lead a driver to violate local laws and can trigger punishment ranging from an official warning to a traffic citation or even a criminal charge. However, if the actions of a motorist are to blame for a car accident that results in injuries, the potential consequences may be much more severe.

Some laws are easy to remember and generally are followed: stop at a stop sign, proceed on a green light, drive on the right side of the road, etc. Others are widely known but violated with more regularity. For example, Illinois mandates that all drivers involved in a collision remain at the scene until cleared by police. Limited exceptions to this rule exist but every day, drivers who are in the state leave the scene of accidents without legal justification. Being a victim of any type of collision is unfortunate but those unlucky enough to be involved in a hit-and-run crash may suffer more severe injuries or the permanency of an injury that otherwise may have been treated successfully. Sadly, many of these victims are unable to call for or obtain the immediate help they need after a crash, and when no one else is on the scene, their suffering can intensify.

Injury victims may not be able to erase the damage done to them but in many cases, they can recoup the financial toll that they were forced to endure due to the actions of another. From lost wages to medical expenses to payment for pain and suffering, victims can be placed in the right position financially if they take specific steps to preserve their rights and to seek the compensation they deserve. Speaking with a personal injury attorney in Chicago may help you move forward with such a claim if you have been injured or if your loved one was hurt or killed in a car accident.

On Friday evening, shortly before 10:00 p.m., police in Elgin were informed of a five-car collision near the intersection of Seneca Street and Spring Street. According to witnesses, an SUV traveling at a high rate of speed ran a stop sign and collided with a second vehicle in the intersection. The SUV then collided with a car that had just parked nearby while the second vehicle struck two parked cars.

The parked car that was hit by the SUV had five people inside, two adults and three children in the backseat. One of the children was a baby who was restrained in a car seat. The vehicle began to smoke after the crash and witnesses ran to assist, pulling the children one-by-one from the rear seat and helping the adults as well. Emergency crews responded to the scene and transported all five of those injured victims to area hospitals for treatment.

The second vehicle, the one initially struck by the SUV, had only a driver inside. That individual was also hurt in the crash and also was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Witnesses reported two men fleeing on foot from the inside of the SUV, including the driver, who was unavailable to speak with police as a result. Authorities are still looking for those men and anyone with information is asked to call the Elgin Police Department.
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A large majority of the drivers on Chicago roads have been involved in at least one car accident in their lifetimes. That is because nationally, an average driver will be involved in nearly three car accidents in his or her lifetime. Further, there is some indication that drivers in more densely populated locations, like Chicago, may face an increased risk of being involved in more collisions whether or not they are to blame for those accidents.

If you speak to a typical car crash victim, that driver is likely to say that he or she didn’t realize anything was wrong until a moment before the impact occurred. Some drivers don’t perceive the danger until after the crash takes place and their vehicle, or even those people involved, are damaged. From these statements it should be clear that a crash can happen in an instant, no matter what the driving conditions appear to be.

When a car accident happens and injured victims are left to deal with the fallout, it is important for those victims to realize that they are protected under state and local laws and may have the right to seek financial payment for their losses. When in doubt, speaking with a Chicago personal injury attorney can help you realize what options are available in your case and whether you are entitled to relief including payment for your medical expenses.

Around 3:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, a man in his late 30s or early 40s was operating his vehicle southbound on the Dan Ryan Expressway near 87th Street when his vehicle collided with a second car in the area. That initial impact caused the driver of the first vehicle to lose control and sent his vehicle off the road’s surface and into a nearby wall, leaving the man with critical injuries. Police and paramedics responded to the crash and emergency crews took the man to an area hospital for treatment where his current condition and the extent of his injuries remains unclear.

Police also spoke to the driver of the second car who reportedly was not harmed in the crash. An investigation into this matter is underway at this time and police are attempting to determine what caused the first crash and whether, among other factors, any mechanical conditions played a role.
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The personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. strive to help those who have been injured in an accident and who need assistance getting the relief they deserve. In Chicago and across the rest of Illinois, many people face the potential for injuries on a daily basis when they arrive at work, regardless of their profession. In fact, even employees in jobs that do not involve physical elements can be injured and can be in need of medical assistance simply because they were working. When this happens, any injured employee in Illinois is entitled to relief.

Our team of dedicated injury lawyers understands how distressing it can be when an employee is injured on-the-job. Not only does that employee face the pain and discomfort that accompanies an injury but she also may face the expenses associated with medical treatment, the financial hardship that comes with missing work, and the struggle to help provide for his family or engage in the activities of her daily life. This struggling and suffering should never happen after an employee is hurt, though, because the laws in Chicago are clear: when you are hurt on the job, you are entitled to financial relief. Speaking with an attorney can help you realize what this may entail in your case and what type of help may be possible.

Through their representation of an injured worker, the workers’ compensation attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. recently secured a $51,000 settlement on behalf of a client. The client, a certified nursing assistant, was injured while working in a healthcare setting and while performing her job. The woman was tasked with assisting a patient who needed to use the restroom and the woman was hurt by helping to lift that patient, causing immediate pain and injuries to her lower back. Through medical review and diagnostic testing, the worker learned that she had a herniated disc towards the bottom of her spinal column and she began physical therapy to treat the injury. When physical therapy failed to provide relief, the woman underwent surgery to remove the herniated disc from her back.

While seeking relief for this worker, our offices made a claim on her behalf for wages she was unable to earn while she recovered from her injuries. We also ensured that she obtained the medical treatment she needed and that all medical bills were resolved by her employer directly or as part of the settlement. We also fought for our client’s right to obtain a lump sum payment to cover additional damages she incurred including her pain, suffering, and inconvenience due to the accident and the injuries she had.
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Car accidents in Chicago do not discriminate based on age, gender, or social class. Unfortunately, anyone who rides in a car or uses another form of transportation on or near the roads may be at risk for becoming an injury victim due to an automobile collision. In many cases, there is nothing a victim can do to avoid the crash because the collision is due to an error or negligent action on the part of a driver. When a driver fails to put safety first and a car accident happens, the victims involved in that crash may be entitled to seek financial compensation for their sufferings and may have the right to obtain the relief that can help them move forward.

Most cases brought by injury victims include a claim for any medical expenses that have been incurred since the time of the accident as well as any that are likely to be incurred in the future. Some victims may also have valid claims for the time they missed from work and the money they would otherwise have earned. Yet other victims might be able to recover for the pain and suffering they were forced to endure due to the crash. Just as every car accident is different, the resulting claims may vary based upon the facts and circumstances of any collision. It is important to understand the totality of your rights if you have been injured so you may wish to speak with a personal injury attorney to learn more about your claims.

In the worst accidents, someone loses their life due to the actions of another. Often, these collisions are made even more tragic because the crash need not have happened if those involved put safety first. State Police confirmed that one such tragic crash happened on Saturday afternoon near Bolingbrook and that two people, including a young child, died as a result. The incident began when a vehicle exited I-55 and drove on a frontage road near Route 53. That vehicle allegedly struck a second car in the area for reasons that are not yet clear, and the crash claimed the lives of the 25-year-old female driver of the second car and her 2-year-old son.

Police are still investigating the incident and attempting to determine why the crash occurred and whether either driver erred prior to the impact. They are also reviewing the area generally and other potential issues that may have been relevant to the car accident; at this time, no conclusions have been made.
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April is more than halfway over and as the year continues to progress, spring temperatures have finally arrived in the Chicago area. With warmer temperatures has come some sun and, with that, an increase in the number of people outside taking advantage of the weather. Though pedestrian traffic is always high in Chicago, it has increased recently, especially on the weekends as people forego other means of transit to take advantage of the walking weather. Bicycle traffic is increasing as well and may be heavily concentrated in areas that promote cycling, like downtown in the Loop. But one sight that motorists are sure to see is a surge in the presence of motorcycles on Chicago streets and on the expressways that fed into the city.

Motorcycles are in increasing in popularity in the State of Illinois with approximately 240,000 registered bikes in the state. Most of these are not used during winter but are ridden in more ideal conditions that accompany spring and summer and for good reason: motorcycles share the same rights and protections while on the roads that are enjoyed by drivers of cars. Though these rights are available and it is the duty of every driver to respect them, often, motorcycle accidents happen in Chicago and threaten the safety of the riders involved. Injuries are common as a result of these crashes and can trigger the right for a victim to seek financial payment when the collision happens in the Chicago area and when another person or entity is deemed to be legally responsible. When damages result, victims may get the help they need by speaking with a personal injury attorney and learning about their rights.

Shortly after 1:00 a.m. today, Illinois State Police officers were alerted to a single motorcycle collision on the Kennedy Expressway near Grand Avenue. The bike was driven by a 29-year-old male and that individual lost his life as a result of the crash, the nature of which remains unclear.

Police began an investigation while still at the scene and are still attempting to review all relevant facts before determining what caused the collision and whether the crash could have been avoided. In cases where a single motorcycle is involved, generally police look at the conduct of the driver but also at the condition of the road, the condition of the bike, and the actions of others in the area that may have caused the crash.
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It is the duty of every employer in the State of Illinois to provide a safe and reasonable workplace for its employees to perform their tasks, regardless of the industry setting. This means that whether it is a construction site, an airport, a school, an office, or anything in between, workers must be provided with a safe means to work and that their safety cannot be ignored. When an employer fails to take the steps necessary to protect workers’ rights, an accident or other incident may occur and may leave one or more employees with injuries.

It can be devastating when an employee is hurt on the job and unfortunately, nothing can erase these incidents once they occur. However, victims may be entitled to seek financial compensation to help them move beyond an accident and to move forward with their lives. The option to seek payment is available to all workers in Chicago and in Illinois and unlike some other types of claims, it does not matter who bears responsibility in the incident – if a worker is hurt, that worker has rights. Relief can be sought and may include needed medical treatment, payment for wages missed while away from work, and even a lump sum. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer who handles workers’ compensation claims in the Chicago area may help you understand your rights if you have been the victim of an accident while on-the-job.

An investigation is ongoing into a fatal incident at a plant in Elk Grove Village on Wednesday. Police have confirmed that a 50-year-old man who worked in a factory was trapped in a machine and that the incident killed the worker. Now, police are reviewing all facts in the case and officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are starting their own investigation.

The incident happened at a plant that makes parts for several industries including aerospace, mining, oil and gas, and transportation and the machine at issue reportedly cuts or shapes raw products into a finished state. It is unclear at this time what led to the accident or how the man became trapped in the machine but police have confirmed that the man died before emergency responders arrived on the scene.
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A driver who fails to follow the rules of the road is a danger to everyone in a given area. Not only may these actions be a violation of traffic laws, but they may also increase the risk of a car accident occurring, and that can leave countless of people suffering. From the damage done to a vehicle to the injuries inflicted upon victims, these collisions can leave a lasting impact that may never fully be repaired.

While the damages done by these accidents cannot be erased, the victims of Chicago collisions that are harmed may be able to seek and obtain financial compensation for their losses and their suffering. A typical case may allow a victim to receive payment for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages as well as payment for any other damages incurred. These claims revolve around the facts surrounding a particular incident and therefore it is wise for victims to verify their understanding of their rights and options when a crash affects them. Consulting with a personal injury lawyer can help victims do exactly that.

It is the obligation of every driver in Illinois to know and follow the rules of the road. One such rule requires drivers who are involved in a car accident to remain at the scene of the crash until cleared by local authorities; failure to do so is commonly called a hit-and-run. Hit-and-run accidents can leave a victim behind and in need of medical help but without the ability to seek that help, potentially worsening any injuries that happened in the crash.

Police in Chicago were alerted to a collision between two vehicles in the Pilsen neighborhood on Monday that resulted in the death of one person. The crash happened near the intersection of Morgan Street and 16th Street and may have happened when one driver failed to yield to the other. Following the crash, a 59-year-old female driver of one of the vehicles was left in critical condition and eventually died due to her injuries. The other car fled the scene and witnesses reported that two men were associated with the car but at this time, neither has been identified or located with regard to this collision.
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When driving a car, it is tempting for a driver to think about the actions that will be most convenient for her: taking the shortest route, cutting through a parking lot, or even making a rolling stop at a stop sign if no opposing traffic is present. But in many of these situations, these conveniences taken by drivers may be violations of the traffic code of Chicago or state driving laws. Breaking these rules of the road may lead to a traffic citation or even criminal charges against a driver and the potential punishments will only increase if those actions lead to a car accident.

Collisions do not affect only those who receive traffic tickets for their actions. Rather, anyone who is involved in a crash, whether that person is at-fault or not, may be affected by the accident and may suffer as a result. Car crashes can cause injuries that can be minor or severe and bad car accidents may even lead to the death of some involved. If you are involved in a crash or if your loved one is harmed, speaking with a personal injury attorney in Chicago can help you realize what legal options may be available to you and whether you have a valid claim for your suffering.

Chicago’s many neighborhood unfortunately experience car accidents on a regular basis with no one area being spared the devastation caused by these events. On Sunday at approximately 2:0 p.m., two cars collided in the Back of the Yards neighborhood and the resulting crash claimed the life of one of the drivers.

Police have reported that a 59-year-old man was behind the wheel of a parked vehicle on Ashland Avenue when he decided to attempt a U-turn. Reportedly, that man pulled out into oncoming traffic and placed his vehicle into the path of an oncoming car. The two vehicles collided and the 59-year-old driver of the first car was killed as a result.

In the first vehicle was a 51-year-old male passenger. He survived the crash and was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where he received treatment for injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. Four people were inside the second car at the time of the crash but it did not appear that any of them were injured to any serious degree.
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Head-on collisions are responsible for a disproportionately large share of traffic fatalities in Chicago and elsewhere in the country. While head-on crashes are not as common as some other forms of accidents, they may be more likely to result in injuries or death due to the relatively powerful forces involved and, often, the high rate of speed of opposing vehicles. This happens because many head-on crashes occur when one driver crosses a center line or median and strikes opposing traffic or where a driver travels the wrong way down a one-way road. In less populated areas, head-on accidents may be caused by a driver attempting to pass on a two lane road when it is not safe to do so.

Like other forms of car accidents, head-on collisions have the potential to injure not only a responsible driver but also any passengers in that driver’s vehicle, drivers in another car, passengers in another car, and even bicyclists and pedestrians in the area. The laws in Chicago recognize that the innocent victims of these instances should not be forced to bear the financial toll enacted by the errors and mistakes of others and instead allows these people to seek compensation for their losses. Whether damages take the form of medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering, these victims can bring a civil claim for their losses against those responsible and by doing so may recover payment to rectify the wrongs caused by a crash. If you have been hurt, you may understand your options better by speaking with a personal injury lawyer who has experience representing car accident victims.

Police in Lemont confirmed that a two car accident happened on Friday and that an elderly passenger lost her life as a result. The crash happened near the intersection of Archer Avenue and 107th Street prior to 3:00 p.m. and may have begun when a vehicle crossed the center line of the road. Police have stated that the first vehicle then collided with a second in a head-on impact and that the drivers of both cars were injured. Ambulances responded to the scene and evaluated all victims. In addition to the drivers, an elderly passenger in the second vehicle was hurt and was also taken to a hospital; that 94-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries shortly after the crash.

Both of the drivers survived the crash and are expected to recover though the nature of their injuries has not been disclosed.
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Pedestrians are at risk for being involved in a collision as they walk along the streets of Chicago. Some people may notice or even appreciate the dangers faced by these walkers as they cross busy streets in pedestrian crosswalks or as they otherwise come near an area where motor vehicles travel. However, these are far from the only locations that may threaten the safety of pedestrians in Chicago or elsewhere in Illinois. Every year, thousands of pedestrian accidents occur in a myriad of different settings and most of those result in injuries to the walkers involved.

In every state in the country, pedestrians are granted certain rights and protections under the law. These rights can vary from state to state and based upon the circumstances of any collision so it is important for victims to understand the intricacies of any law that may be a factor if they have been involved in a crash. In Chicago, pedestrians generally have the right to seek financial compensation when they are injured due to the actions of a driver and these claims can be brought against any responsible party. In many cases, multiple claims may be available and may enable an injured pedestrian to recover for the totality of the losses experienced, whether those losses take the form of medical bills, rehabilitative expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Chicago or in Illinois can help those who have been hurt to understand the options and claims that may be available to them to help them recover.

Traffic accidents do not discriminate and can make anyone a victim, a fact that was reinforced this weekend when actor Ryan Reynolds was involved in a hit-and-run car accident on Friday, according to police in Vancouver. Reynolds, a Canadian native, reportedly was in Vancouver to film Deadpool, a spin off from the X-Men franchise that is expected to premier in theaters in 2016. Police have confirmed that the actor was walking in an underground parking garage when a paparazzo approached in a vehicle and struck Reynolds before fleeing the scene. Fortunately Reynolds was uninjured in the accident and was able to leave the area under his own power.

Police in Vancouver are still looking into the crash and are trying to identify the paparazzo involved to determine whether he should be issued any citations for his actions. Like in Chicago, fleeing the scene of an accident is against local laws in Vancouver as is striking a pedestrian with a vehicle even if injuries do not result.
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