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Workplace accidents affect employees in all types of jobs and in every position. They often leave workers hurt and in need of medical treatment or surgery. In fact, work-related accidents are so common that most states, including Illinois, have enacted workers’ compensation laws to protect those who are injured while on the clock.

Unlike some other types of injuries, workers’ compensation accidents are handled through a no-fault system of insurance. Put simply, employers in Chicago and across Illinois are required to carry insurance in the event an employee is injured, and that employee has a right to coverage regardless of who is to blame, if anyone, for an incident. While there are some limited exceptions, in practice this means that the vast majority of workers who get hurt on the job have a right to relief which may include obtaining medical treatment they need, payment while missing time from work, and a lump sum payment for damages. The facts surrounding an accident may determine what types of relief are available so you may want to consult with a personal injury lawyer to lean about your options if you have been injured.

Work was ongoing at a Hyde Park building on Wednesday when scaffolding surrounding the building collapsed, according to local officials. At least one worker was on the scaffolding at the time of the collapse and that employee, a 55-year-old man, sustained injuries. Emergency crews transported the worker to a Chicago-area hospital with undisclosed injuries for treatment yesterday and officials believe the man will survive the incident, but it is not known whether any permanent damage will result.

An investigation is ongoing into the collapse and authorities have not revealed a suspected cause at this time but they have confirmed that the incident took place in the 1400 block of East 54th Place.
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The Federal Railroad Administration reports that there are over 175 train accidents and more than 40 train-related deaths every year in Illinois alone. Those numbers illustrate the truth that few residents consider before they board a train: the large number of trains and the heavy use they receive by commuters and city travelers means that collisions are likely to result, and when they happen, numerous potential victims may be at risk for sustaining an injury or losing their lives in a crash. A large number of the train injuries that take place in Illinois occur in the greater Chicago area, a city once known as the train shipping hub of the country and now known for a large population and numerous train-related options.

Whether a passenger was on board a CTA train, Amtrak train, Metra train, or another train, that passenger may have the legal right to seek financial compensation for any injuries that result if the train was involved in a collision or other form of accident. The facts and circumstances surrounding every crash vary so it is important to understand the legal implications of your train accident if you have been hurt. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Chicago may help you understand your rights, including whether you have a valid claim against a train company, a city or municipality, an at-fault driver, or another person or entity for causing a crash.

Officials have confirmed that an Amtrak train bound for Chicago from Indianapolis was involved in a collision with a semi-truck shortly before 8:00 a.m. this morning. The incident took place approximately 30 miles outside of LaFayette, Indiana and left 10 people injured, but at this time, all injured passenger and crew members are expected to survive.

Authorities were on the scene of the collision and evaluating the victims as well as reviewing the facts of the crash. There has been no word yet on what caused the collision between the train and the semi-truck or whether either operator acted in a negligent manner but the investigation into this crash is ongoing and may take several days, according to some reports.

Amtrak has reported that the train was due to end its journey in Chicago later today and that 56 passengers and crew members were on board at the time of the incident. A news station in Indiana has reported that the conductor at the train’s controls was also involved in an accident last year involving an Amtrak train near Monon, Indiana, though Amtrak has not confirmed that detail.
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Car accidents can turn tragic in a matter of moments when a driver, a passenger, or another person involved is seriously injured or killed in the crash. When it comes to a traffic-related incident, it does not matter who you are or what you do for a living: car accidents will not discriminate and anyone can become a victim whenever they ride in a vehicle.

Unfortunately, officials in the Dominican Republic have confirmed that a car accident took place there yesterday. Little is known about the collision at this time but authorities have confirmed that Oscar Taveras, a baseball player in the system for the St. Louis Cardinals, was killed in the accident. He was 22 years old.

Photos of the alleged crash seen show a Chevrolet Camero in red, described by some as “Cardinals Red,” badly damaged and crushed in at points. In addition to the loss of Taveras, the crash is to blame for the death of Taveras’ 18-year-old girlfriend as well. The incident happened on a highway along the beach in Puerto Plata, just over 200 miles north of Santo Domingo. While the investigation is still ongoing, it appears that Taveras was behind the wheel and may have lost control of the vehicle for reasons that are not yet clear.

Taveras was a native of the Dominican Republic and was noticed for his baseball play from a very early age. His father played professional baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers and it became clear that Taveras was following in those footsteps. At 16 years old, Taveras was signed by the Cardinals organization, prompting his beginnings in American professional baseball. Just two years after being signed, he began playing in the States and experienced substantial success while batting. Taveras was poised to play in the major leagues in 2013 but his debut was postponed due to an injury, instead making the 2014 season with his debut. In his second at-bat, he hit a home run, endearing himself to faithful Cardinals fans across the nation.

Many in baseball have commented publicly since learning of Taveras death, noting his potential and the successes he had already achieved before his untimely passing. In 80 games he played this year, Taveras hit .239 with 22 RBIs and three home runs. Prior to his run in the majors, Taveras was considered the 3rd best prospect in all of baseball by MLB.com.
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One driver or motorist can affect the safety of all those in the same area, whether they are in the same vehicle, a different vehicle, on a bicycle, or even walking as a pedestrian. Unlike some activities of daily life, driving or riding in a car is one where the safest individual can become a victim simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. While the best driver in the world cannot be guaranteed to be accident-free on the road, others face the same reality. Pedestrians and cyclists cannot be promised to be free from incident even if they do everything right.

When a traffic accident occurs, the people involved might be injured and may need medical assistance. Often, these victims are bystanders or people other than an at-fault driver, meaning that the negligent person in an accident is not the only one who may be harmed. Illinois laws act to protect these innocent victims by allowing them to seek relief for their damages in a court of law, regardless of whether an at-fault driver was cited in an accident. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer may help you understand your options, including whether you have a valid claim, if a collision, including a bicycle accident, left you hurt or harmed your loved one.

Shortly before 5:30 a.m. yesterday morning, a collision occurred in the Chicago loop near City Hall that left two people injured. Police responded to the scene of the crash near Washington and LaSalle and determined that a motorcyclist may have run a red light, causing the motorcycle to collide with a taxi cab in the area. As the impact occurred, one of the vehicles swerved and/or veered as a result and collided with a bicyclist.

Emergency crews assessed those involved in the crash and determined that both the rider of the motorcycle and the bicyclist were injured. Both were taken to area hospitals where their injuries are not clear but both are expected to survive. At this time, it does not appear that the driver of the taxi cab was hurt in the accident.

Police reported that the motorcyclist was cited for running a red light and causing the accident but they have also stated that their investigation is ongoing into this crash at this time.
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Teenagers learning to drive across the nation are instructed in defensive driving techniques, or a set of skills that will help motorists avoid a crash due to actions beyond their control. An inattentive driver, an early collision, or a motorist traveling too fast for conditions are some of the reasons that defensive driving is important in the Chicago area. While defensive driving is beneficial, it is not fool proof and even a motorist who attempts evasive actions may still be involved in a crash.

Car accidents occur in every city and every town in Illinois and involve hundreds of thousands of people ever year. In addition, the family and friends of those involved in a crash may be affected and may suffer when a collision occurs. The financial and emotional toll of car accidents is believed to amount to billions of dollars annually and to affect things from child care to work productivity to demand on medical facilities. Often, those who sustain injuries in these collisions are not the at-fault drivers but rather are innocent victims who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. While victims may not be able to eliminate their losses overnight, they may be entitled to seek financial compensation for their damages, including any medical bills incurred. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Chicago may help you understand your legal options if you have been involved in a crash or if your loved one has been injured.

According to police in suburban Warrenville, a three-car collision began on Monday when one vehicle ran a red light at the intersection of Buttersfield and Batavia. The incident took place shortly after 2:00 p.m. and sent at least two people to the hospital.

At this time, officials believe that a westbound vehicle on Buttersfield Road ran a red light and collided with a vehicle traveling on Batavia. The resulting impact pushed the second vehicle into a third that was stopped for the light at the intersection, seriously injuring the drivers of the second and third car. Investigators responded to the scene and evaluated the damage and the victims, who were transported to area hospitals with unknown injuries. Police stayed on the scene for several hours as they began their review of the collision and later had the vehicles removed from the scene. Charges are pending against the driver believed to have run the red light but authorities have not disclosed the type of charges or whether any other factors led to the crash.
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Neighborhoods in the Chicago area are sporting pumpkins, gourds, and ghoulish decor, indicating that Halloween is just over a week away. While Halloween may be a time-honored tradition among American children, it is not always a safe day for kids who choose to trick-or-treat or who spend time outdoors. With threats from passing vehicles, poorly lit intersections, and a frenzied atmosphere of children and adults, pedestrian accidents may occur and may cause injuries.

When a child is injured in a pedestrian collision, it can be difficult to know what legal options may be available or where to turn for help. As the facts of every incident vary, speaking with a personal injury lawyer may provide you with the information you need if an accident has affected the life of your child. But the best thing to do is to avoid an accident whenever possible, and to help this year, the lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. want to remind everyone of the following safety tips:

– Dress for the conditions: In most cases, children will be walking outside at night. This means that darkness may have fallen prior to trick-or-treating or that it will fall during the time kids will be walking. Even if a child is trick-or-treating indoors, he or she may have to walk to get to a location, meaning that darkness may still be a factor. Prepare for dark conditions by including reflective material in a child’s costume or as an accessory or have your child wear or carry a small light, like a flashlight. While the darkness may not obscure a child’s ability to see where he or she is walking, it can make it much more difficult for passing cars to notice a pedestrian and can increase the odds of a collision occurring if safety measures are not followed.

– Only cross a street in a designated crosswalk: Children who practice pedestrian safety regularly may be aware that they should cross only at a crosswalk, but during trick-or-treating, the nature of the night might make kids too excited to think safety first. It is a good idea to remind them to focus on safety and to reiterate that, regardless of what other children are doing, they should never dart out into a street and should only cross a road when they have the right-of-way at a crosswalk. Dart out accidents occur across the country during Halloween because excited children forget that cars may be in the area. Talk to your children before they leave the house to remind them that vehicles present a danger to pedestrians.

– Send kids out with an adult or in a group: While it may not always be cool to spend Halloween with your parents, younger children should always have adult supervision during trick-or-treating. An adult can help keep children safe and can make sure that no one gets lost or confused in the shuffle. Older children may not need adult supervision but it is a good idea to make sure they do not walk alone. Consider sending older children out with a group of friends or neighbors and make sure they stay together as the night progresses.

– Plan a trick-or-treating route ahead of time: Consider where it will be safe and where it will be dangerous for your children to walk during Halloween and plan out a safe route with them ahead of time. In an ideal situation, a child will know where he or she should walk and which houses to visit before trick-or-treating begins.
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Traffic laws vary between states and each city or municipality may have additional codes that cover the behavior of motorists behind the wheel. The basic elements of driving remain consistent throughout the country, though, and that is one of the reasons that drivers who are legally licensed to drive in one state are permitted to drive in all others. Among these laws, universality exists in the design of stop signs, the requirements of following speed limits, and the usage of traffic control devices like stop lights, to name a few.

If a driver does not obey the rules applicable to vehicular transit, that driver may face traffic citations or criminal charges for his or her actions. If a collision results and one or more individuals are injured, the pending charges may become more severe and may include punishments ranging from fines and fees to loss of a driver’s license to incarceration in jail or prison.

Failure to yield car accidents are a common threat to public safety in the Chicago area and they cause numerous injuries every year. These occur when one motorist or driver fails to yield the right-of-way to another vehicle, a bicycle, motorcycle, pedestrian, or other in the area of a street or an intersection. Failing to yield means that multiple vehicles may occupy the same space at the same time, leading to a collision. Though these instances cannot be erased once they occur, the victims of car accidents may be entitled to seek relief for their losses when an accident takes place in the Chicago area. Recoveries may be available to provide compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, and medical expenses that result from an accident and often can be available regardless of whether an at-fault driver was cited in the collision.

Police in Naperville have confirmed a Friday morning collision between two vehicles in the area of 75th Street and Book Road. Officials believe that a 45-year-old doctor was traveling eastbound on 75th Street when a vehicle turning south onto Book Avenue failed to yield and collided with the doctor, causing an impact. Due to the crash, the doctor was trapped in his vehicle until emergency crews were able to remove him and transport him to an area hospital. Though he obtained necessary medical care, his injuries were too severe and the doctor died as a result of the crash.

The driver in the turning vehicle was interviewed by police at the scene and has been cited for failing to yield the right-of-way as well as driving without a valid license or insurance. It is not clear whether that driver, a 30-year-old woman, was injured in the collision or whether she required medical assistance.
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When an average Chicago resident goes through his or her daily life, that citizen may come into contact with multiple forms of transportation. Some will use personal cars to drive to work while others will take a CTA train or bus to their destination. A growing number of those in Chicago use bicycles to get around the city while others prefer the traditional big city transit: taxi cabs. Regardless, nearly all citizens are a pedestrian at some point in their day, whether walking from a parking spot or a bus station or simply walking their entire trip.

Walking is the most common means of transportation in Chicago but it gets only a small amount of attention. Though almost everyone walks, few focus on pedestrian rights as much as they do the rights of drivers and other motorists. As a result, thousands of pedestrian accidents take place in Chicago annually and most result in injuries to the walkers involved. The injuries most commonly sustained in pedestrian crashes range from bruises and cuts to broken bones and head injuries. In the most severe cases, a pedestrian loses his or her life. While dealing with the fallout from a collision, a victim should not have to worry about whether his or her bills will be paid while missing time from work. To make that a possibility, Illinois enables victims of these crashes to seek relief through the use of a civil claim, and it is a victim’s right to obtain assistance from a personal injury lawyer.

Shortly before 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, a pedestrian was hit and killed on the Near West Side of Chicago. Police responded to the scene and have reported that the pedestrian was in the area of the 1100 block of West Roosevelt Road when a vehicle approached and struck the victim, killing him. It is unclear what caused the collision at this time but officials have reported that citations will be issued in this case. The investigation is ongoing as police continue to sort through all relevant facts in this matter.
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The bus accident lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. are representing victims who were injured this week when a Megabus crashed in Indiana and are helping the victims seek relief for their damages.

Early Tuesday morning, a Megabus traveling from Atlanta to Chicago was en route in Indiana on I-65. At approximately 4:30 a.m. as it rained, the bus approached a scene involving an earlier car accident. Upon seeing the prior crash, the driver of the Megabus reportedly swerved to avoid a second collision, sending the double-decker bus rolling onto its side and injuring at least 18 passengers on board. Despite the attempted evasive action, it appears that the Megabus collided with the rear of a vehicle involved in the prior crash and pushed that vehicle some distance before the bus began to roll.

Descriptions from witnesses, passengers, and officials involved indicate that it was raining at the time the bus rolled over and that the windshield wipers on the Megabus may not have been functioning properly. Some have reported that the wipers were faulty and were malfunctioning while the bus was in transit while others claim that they were not working at all.

As the bus rolled over, several passengers were thrown from their seats onto the floor and windows of the vehicle, in some cases landing on other passengers. The injuries sustained in the incident include fractured and broken bones, at least one separated shoulder, cuts and lacerations due to broken glass, and head injuries. Of the approximately 50 or 60 people on board, 18 were injured enough to require treatment at area hospitals with several in serious condition.

Abels & Annes, P.C. is representing some of the victims injured in this crash through the use of a civil claim for damages. Our personal injury lawyers are reviewing all facts related the collision and will seek the best possible outcome in each case as we fight for our clients’ right to recover compensation, including payment for medical bills, surgical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages as each case demands.
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A large number of people who call Chicago home do not own a personal vehicle and instead opt for public transportation on a daily basis and during longer trips. Among those that do own cars, public transit also may be an attractive option due to the large number of options, like trains, buses, and planes as well as the flexible schedules offered. With traffic a constant issue in the city and the surrounding areas, it may not be surprising that millions take advantage of public transit in Chicago and across Illinois every year.

One popular option of transit for those looking to leave the city is riding by bus. Greyhound and Megabus are among the large providers that service the Chicago area and are heavily used. When riders board a Chicago area bus, they put their safety in the hands of the bus driver, the operating company, and any other individuals and entities in charge of maintaining the safety of the vehicle. But few think in these terms – they book a ticket, board a bus, and relax. Unfortunately, numerous bus accidents occur every year in Chicago and many of them result in injuries to the passengers on board. Whether multiple buses collide, a crash involves a bus and a private vehicle, or a one-bus accident results, the damages can be significant, especially in buses that do not offer seat belts for passengers.

When a crash occurs and a passenger is injured, the victims may not understand their legal rights or whether they have a valid claim for relief. Consulting with a Chicago personal injury lawyer may help you understand your options, including whether you may be entitled to financial payment, if you have been involved in a bus accident.

A bus operated by Megabus traveling from Atlanta to Chicago was in Indiana on Tuesday morning when the driver swerved to avoid a collision, causing the bus to roll over and leaving at least 18 people injured. The incident occurred on I-65 around 4:30 a.m. and reportedly involved between 50 and 60 passengers in addition to the driver.

Local police responded to the scene to assess the accident and assist the victims. It appears that the driver did not notice the prior accident initially, possibly due in part to rain, and noticed it just before an impact would have occurred. When the driver swerved, the road was wet from rain and the bus rolled onto its side. The double-decker bus reportedly sent several people airborne as the crash occurred and left passengers with head injuries, broken and fractured bones, broken glass imbedded in wounds, and other injuries.
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