Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

How many car accidents do you notice in a typical month as you drive the streets of Chicago? If you are like most motorists, crashes are so common of an occurrence that you may not give them a second thought, as long as you are not involved in one. With several million people living in, working in, and visiting Chicago each week, the potential for heavy traffic and the resulting accidents in high, meaning that any street or intersection in the city can experience a collision.

Though the word “accident” is most commonly used to describe these incidents, rarely is it an accident that they occur. Instead, an error, mistake, or negligent conduct on the part of one or more drivers involved is the most likely cause of a crash. Studies suggest that one of the most common factors that lead to a crash is speeding with approximately half of all collisions involving at least one driver traveling over the posted speed limit or too fast for conditions. Despite the risks, a large number of motorists in America continue to admit they speed on a regular basis and believe that their actions do not pose a threat to others.

Late Saturday night to early Sunday morning, a car accident occurred between a marked Chicago Police Department squad car and a second vehicle near the intersection of Irving Park Road and Melvina Avenue. The crash of the city’s Northwest side is believed to have occurred when the police car, carrying two officers, was traveling eastbound with its lights and sirens activated when a southbound vehicle collided with the squad car. The impact was described as a “t-bone” collision by witnesses and it left both officers injured and in need of medical help.

Both officers were taken to area hospitals by emergency medical crews who responded to the scene. At this time, it has been confirmed that one of the officers suffered serious injuries, including broken bones, while the second officer’s injuries were believed to be less severe. The driver of the second vehicle did not sustain life-threatening injuries and reports indicate that the driver will be ticketed for speeding and for causing the crash.

Incidents between civilian cars and marked emergency response vehicles, whether they are squad cars, ambulances, or fire trucks, can be very difficult to sort through and to determine the legal implications of the accident. In some cases, the right-of-way may belong to the emergency vehicle while other cases may mandate that those vehicles yield.
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Teenagers are more likely to cause car accidents than more mature drivers who have greater experience behind the wheel. The reasons for this are complex and varied but they include the fact that teens have less real world experience than others, they are more likely to drive while distracted, and they have less developed judgment skills when it comes to operating a car. In fact, car accidents continue to be the greatest cause of unintentional death among teens ages 15-19 in the country. Unfortunately, teens in Chicago and in Illinois follow this trend.

Teen car accidents can take many forms. The teenage driver or drivers involved may be to blame for the accident or they may be an innocent victim of another’s actions. Regardless of the facts surrounding a crash, these teenage accident victims may have a valid claim for their injuries and their families may also have claims for relief. A civil claim can enable those who have been hurt with the ability to recover for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages that exist due to the crash and due to a teen’s injuries. Speaking with a lawyer in Chicago who handles personal injury cases may be a good place to begin if your family has been affected by a car accident, bike accident, or pedestrian accident in the city.

On Thursday evening, police in Orland Park were notified of a crash near 104th Avenue and San Luis Lane prior to 8:00 p.m. Upon arrival, police confirmed that a teenage driver struck a 71-year-old pedestrian in the area, leaving the pedestrian with significant injuries.

Emergency crews evaluated the elderly man and transported him to Silver Cross Hospital for treatment, but unfortunately, the man’s injuries were too severe and he died a short time thereafter. The driver, a 16-year-old, was also injured in the crash as was a 16-year-old passenger and both victims in the car received treatment of injuries believed to be minor.

The suspected cause of the collision has not been revealed at this time but police have confirmed that they began an investigation at the scene and that their investigation is ongoing at this time. The results of any factual review of this case may determine whether any traffic or criminal charges are brought, but at this time, no charges have been levied.
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Car accidents are an unfortunate part of life if you live in or drive near Chicago. While most motorists will be involved in few, if any, collisions in their lifetimes, each one is devastating and each crash a driver notices is a reminder of how dangerous it can be to drive. Some of these collisions not only cause distress but also leave drivers and passengers in need of medical treatment and in need of help that can continue long after the crash ends. Victims may take weeks, months, or even years to recover and in the worst cases, a victim may suffer forever or may lose his or her life in an accident.

Elderly drivers often are a target of complaints among other motorists on the roads because sterotypically these drivers may lack certain skills or actions that others possess. In reality, the skill set among older American motorists varies from person to person like it does with drivers of any age. While some may suffer from decreasing eyesight, others are as sharp as those decades younger than them. Car accidents involving elderly drivers can be the fault of the older motorist or they can be part of another driver involved; regardless, elderly Americans are more likely to suffer injuries when a crash occurs and in many cases, the injuries they sustain are more severe.

Victims of these accidents may realize that officials investigating the crash are there to help the State of Illinois and not to enforce the rights of a specific victim. Instead, if a victim is injured and wants to seek relief, it is up to the victim to bring a claim for damages against those responsible, whether they are the drivers, owners of cars, companies, or municipalities involved. Often, claims are complicated and it can be impossible for a typical driver to understand all available options for help, so speaking with a personal injury lawyer may enable you to grasp your options and the possibility of your claim.

While many people in the greater Chicago area were celebrating the holiday season last night, the evening turned tragic for several people in Northbrook as two cars collided near the intersection of Sanders and North Mission Hills at approximately 7:00 p.m. Police have not yet released specifics on the nature of the accident but they have confirmed that a 91-year-old woman died as a result of the incident. A 93-year-old man was also killed and was believed to be a passenger in the vehicle driven by the elderly woman. Three other people were injured and left in critical condition but it is not clear whether they were all in the same car or spread between the two cars involved. Emergency crews transported all victims to area hospitals for treatment where their current conditions are not known.
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High population areas are more likely than others to experience a large number of car accidents every year. Unfortunately, with the fifth highest population in the nation, Illinois have a very high number of collisions and many of those crashes are concentrated in Cook County. New data has been released by the Illinois Department of Transportation for 2013 and 2014 and the results are startling.

In 2013 alone, collisions increased four percent from those that occurred in 2012 and there were approximately 782 accidents every day. The fact that collisions are increasing poses a threat not only to drivers in the state but also to passengers of all vehicles, whether those are cars, trucks, buses, or taxi cabs. Many may not realize but collisions involving motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians also happen with frequency in Chicago and therefore these people are additional groups of potential victims.

When a crash happens, the relief available may vary depending on the facts and circumstances of the accident. Things like the conduct of another driver, whether that driver was working at the time of the crash, or whether a motorist fled the scene may alter the options that present themselves. Nonetheless, many victims have the right to seek a financial recovery for the damages they incur in a car accident and they can obtain compensation for expenses like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer may help you understand your accident and your rights if you have been injured.

The new data did show some positive information as well. While the number of car accidents may be on the rise, the number of fatalities caused by those crashes are decreasing. To this point in 2014, just under 900 people have lost their lives in traffic accidents in the state, an indication that the total fatalities will be under 1,000 for the fifth year in a row. This number indicates a decrease from 2013 at this point in the year and there is reason to expect that to continue now that the weather forecast reveals promising conditions for holiday travel.

While some of the statistics revealed show positive trends, overall they show that thousands of accidents continue to occur and continue to affect the lives of those involved. Whether the injuries that result are minor or severe, victims are left to deal with the fallout of these accidents which can last from weeks to months or even a lifetime.
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It is the responsibility of every driver in Chicago and across the state of Illinois to follow the rules and regulations that accompany driving on the state’s streets, expressways, and interstates. Yet despite this requirement, millions of drivers choose to act in a negligent or reckless manner annually, threatening not only their own safety but the safety of all other motorists in the area. Often, these actions lead to car accidents in Chicago and many of those collisions leave victims with serious or life-threatening injuries.

Victims may be doing nothing wrong and still find themselves at the mercy of these drivers who may not be paying attention to traffic, may be distracted by a cell phone, or may be intentionally speeding or driving erratically. While victims may not be able to prevent a crash from occurring, the laws in the state recognize that they should not be forced to bear the financial burden of their injuries when another causes that harm. Rather, Chicago victims and others in Illinois may have the right to seek financial compensation for their damages when a car accident affects their lives. Speaking with a lawyer who handles personal injury cases in the city may help you understand your options and your rights if you are looking for relief.

Early this morning, one person lost his life and at least six other people were involved in a car accident on Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive. Though early in their investigation, police have reported that a male was operating his vehicle southbound in lanes marked only for northbound traffic on Lake Shore Drive, one of the city’s most iconic and heavily used streets. The driver allegedly collided with two other vehicles near the 4100 block of South Lake Shore Drive in a violent incident, leading to injuries among several of those involved.

The crash took place at approximately 2:40 a.m. and led officials to close the area to through traffic while they investigated and removed debris. At this time, police have confirmed that the suspect wrong way driver was killed in the collision and that six other people were involved. Three of those victims required treatment at area hospitals with their conditions listed as serious-to-critical.

Officials have not yet released any preliminary information regarding the suspected at-fault driver’s actions immediately prior to entering Lake Shore Drive and it is not clear whether impairment may have been a factor.
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AAA expects a four percent increase in the number of Americans traveling this holiday season over those who traveled last year for a total of 98.6 million Americans leaving home. This is the highest projection since 2009 and it accounts for those who are expected to journey at least 50 miles from home, whether by car, train, plane, or other means. The majority of these people, nearly 91 percent, will be traveling by road at some point in their journey, an indication of anticipated congestion and possible delays along the roads of Chicago and across Illinois.

If you are one of the millions that will be driving this year, know that you are at risk for traffic-related incidents, including car accidents. The personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. wish you save journeys and want to remind you of the following tips to help increase your safety if you are traveling:

– Plan Ahead: Before you leave home, think about your trip and try to cover all your bases. Make sure you know your final destination and that you are familiar with the route ahead of time. If you are using a map, make sure your map is current and that you are aware of any potential issues, like construction, which may complicate your trip. If you are using GPS, make sure you use it as a guide. While GPS is a wonderful tool, drivers should not forget that it does not replace common sense. Rather, GPS combined with your experience and skill behind the wheel are your best bet.

– Consider Traffic Patterns: If you know where you will be heading, think about what time of day and which days of the week may be the busiest along your preferred route. In many areas, like Chicago, expressway traffic varies significantly during a typical day. This means that leaving during the middle of the day or at times other than rush hour might save drivers hours on their trip. But even if the time to travel is not your primary concern, consider that increased traffic leads to congestion and that car accidents are more likely to occur during periods of heavy traffic than they are when conditions are light.

– Check the Weather: While Chicago has not experienced a lot of snow so far this year, that may change by the time you and your family travel. As the forecast looks now, snow is a possibility as are rain and ice. Chicagoans may be used to inclement weather so it can be easy to forget the threat it poses when your mind is distracted by a family trip. If the weather is poor, consider reducing your speed and increasing the distance between your vehicle and those in front of you. Make sure to leave plenty of time to slow and stop if needed and watch out for other drivers who may lose control of their cars.

– Anticipate a Problem: No one wants to have an incident over the holidays but thousands will be the unwilling victims of such accidents, disasters, and car failures. Think through your options before a problem arises and prepare by packing your cell phone and a car charger to call for help if needed. Consider your options to split up the trip if necessary by staying with friends or family in the event of a problem. If your car is known to have any underlying issues that may make a trip unsafe, take it to a mechanic for a tune up or make any necessary repairs before you plan to leave.
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