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Drunk driving is illegal in every state across the nation. The rules governing drunk and impaired driving may differ slightly between states but the overarching result is the same; if you drink and drive, you are breaking the law and you may face punishment if you are caught. In Chicago, drunk driving is taken very seriously because it poses a threat to everyone on the road. Drunk driving accidents are common because alcohol reduces a driver’s ability to perceive details and nuances when operating a vehicle and lessens a driver’s ability to react to hazards in the roads.

When a Chicago-area car accident occurs and it is due to the negligence of a drunk or impaired driver, that driver may face criminal and/or traffic offenses brought by the State of Illinois. These charges can result in a driver facing jail time, losing his or her license to drive, being sentenced to community service or even being forced to pay large fines and fees. But these may not be the only damages experienced by the impaired driver. In addition to any claims brought by the state, the victims of a drunk driving crash may choose to seek financial relief against the responsible driver for any and all injuries they sustain. These claims can be brought with the help of a personal injury lawyer in Chicago and can help someone who was injured receive compensation for medical expenses incurred, time missed from work, and even pain and suffering.

Early reports indicate that an Illinois State Police trooper was injured on the job Saturday morning when an allegedly drunk driver collided into the officer’s vehicle. The officer was stopped on the side of Interstate 64 in Saint Louis shortly after 3:30 a.m. on Saturday. He had pulled over one driver on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and was in the process of arresting that driver when a second vehicle approached. According to officials, it was the second vehicle that struck the trooper’s car as it was stopped, causing a collision to the rear of the police car.

At the time of the impact, the trooper was in the driver’s seat of the vehicle and the first suspected drunk driver was in the rear seat. The trooper was able to climb out of his own vehicle and the arrested suspect had to be helped from the car by a passerby. Following the impact, the trooper made the determination that the second driver was under the influence and initiated procedures to arrest that driver as well.
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Mutli-car accidents and pile-ups can happen in any month of the year, but as this rough winter has shown, these accidents are more likely to occur when weather is poor. Snow, ice, and fog are just some of the leading causes of pile-up crashes but those factors alone are not usually responsible. Instead, in most cases, the weather is simply one factor that gets combined with the negligence of one or more drivers in the initial start of a mutli-vehicle crash in Chicago or elsewhere in Illinois.

Personal injury lawyers who handle car accident cases in the city know that these crashes can be serious, and in the worst cases, even fatal. Often, victims who bear no fault are involved in these crashes and may become injured as a result. The best way to learn about your legal rights is to speak with a lawyer following a car accident so that you can learn whether you may be entitled to financial relief for your damages.

Unfortunately a very serious pile-up crash happened on Thursday, February 20 near Peotone, Illinois. Though it is still early in the investigation, police believe that fog in the area likely played some role in the crash. A six mile stretch of I-57 experienced accidents involving at least 7 semi trucks and at least 12 other vehicles and the highway had to be closed in both directions for several hours. Police and emergency crews were on the scene but there were so many disabled vehicles that it proved a challenge to sort through the facts. Eventually, an extraction team had to be called to help remove the debris from the scene and to allow for the eventual reopening of the area. At least one semi truck caught fire and burned for some time, unable to be reached by emergency crews, and at least one passenger vehicle was trapped underneath a tractor trailer in the string of accidents.

At least 10 people were injured in the series of accidents on Thursday and needed medical attention at area hospitals. Though their current conditions remain unknown, all 10 people were expected to survive.

Police are still trying to determine all of the factors that started the collisions and whether any citations will issue as a result. Investigators have spoken with some drivers and passengers involved in the accidents as well as bystanders in an attempt to learn about the conditions that day and to evaluate the actions of those involved.
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Bus accidents in Chicago can be serious and often can result in injuries to many people, both drivers and passengers who are involved in a crash. Buses usually have multiple people aboard and rarely have seatbelts or other safety restraints available for use by passengers which means that in the event of a crash, people can be tossed around inside the bus and can even be thrown into one another. The fact that additional people are likely to be aboard means that the potential exists for more people to be hurt, or in the worst accidents, killed due to a collision involving a bus.

Some accidents are unavoidable or are due to conditions beyond the control of the drivers involved, yet in the majority of bus accidents, at least one driver acts in a negligent or reckless manner, leading to and causing a collision. When this happens, those who are injured in a bus crash may be entitled to seek relief for their damages. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer who represents accident victims is a good way to learn about what legal options may be available to you after a crash occurs.

Unfortunately police have confirmed that a collision occurred this morning between a Megabus and a daycare bus on the Dan Ryan Expressway. The crash, which happened near 47th Street around 7:00 a.m., involved at least 37 individuals between the two vehicles. Eight children were evaluated on the scene and were transported to area hospitals for further treatment. One adult also needed medical help and was transported from the scene by local emergency medical technicians. According to first responders, 28 people at the scene refused medical treatment. All of the victims of this crash are expected to recover.

Authorities are still investigating at this time and trying to determine what led the two vehicles to collide. All factors are being considered including whether negligence was present by either driver and whether adverse weather conditions could be partially to blame. It may be some time before officials make their determinations, including whether either driver will be ticketed in this matter.
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Rollover accidents in Chicago are not as common as many other forms of collisions, like rear-end crashes or even head-on collisions, but rollover crashes are likely to cause serious injuries or even death. Though safety advances have made vehicles safer over recent decades, few advances have been targeted at a vehicle’s ceiling or roof, meaning that there is little protection for passengers in the event of a rollover crash.

Victims of rollover accidents are often left with injuries that require medical attention. Some may require surgery or rehabilitative care. If a rollover accident in Chicago occurs due to the negligence of one or more drivers, those victims who are injured may be entitled to seek financial relief through the use of a civil claim. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer can help you understand what legal options may be available to you and whether you are entitled to relief for your damages.

Police have confirmed that a rollover accident occurred in Chicago on Friday, shortly after 4:00 a.m. Two women were inside the sole vehicle involved and both were trapped in the vehicle by the time emergency crews responded. Once they were removed, both victims were transported to area hospitals where their current conditions are unknown.

The accident happened near the inbound ramps from the Dan Ryan and Stevenson Expressways by Chinatown in Chicago and required that the area remained closed for several hours while crews worked to clear the scene.

Car accidents are serious problems in Chicago and across Illinois every year. In 2010 alone, over 280,000 automobile collisions occurred in Illinois, and among those accidents, over 84,000 people sustained injuries. An additional 918 people were killed. But accidents do not simply affect those involved; rather, the impact of a serious crash can stretch to the families of the victims as well.
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In crowded areas or on streets with a lot of traffic, an accident is likely to turn into a chain reaction, involving multiple vehicles and often, multiple, separate impacts that all result from a common trigger. In many cases, the vehicles involved in an accident can spin out or their drivers can lose control, leading those initial vehicles to strike others, causing additional impacts that may lead to even more. When this happens, officials use the term chain reaction accident, and unfortunately in Chicago, they are relatively common.

Once the dust settles and all vehicles come to a stop, it can be difficult to determine which vehicles initiated a chain reaction and whether any of the drivers involved were acting negligently or recklessly. Investigators and police officers are tasked with the job of sorting out the wreckage and determining what happened immediately before the crash as well as determining whether any drivers should be ticketed. But when one person involved in a chain reaction accident is injured, they may be entitled to a different form of relief for their damages. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer can help those victims learn whether they are entitled to payment for their injuries to cover expenses like medical bills and lost wages as well as providing relief for non-economic damages like pain and suffering. These claims are separate from any charges brought by the State of Illinois and can be available to accident victims even if no driver involved in the crash received a citation.

Shortly after 11:00 p.m. last night, police in Chicago were notified of a multi-vehicle accident. When they responded to the scene, they determined that the crash likely began when an older model conversion van ran a red light on southbound Clark Street. The van reportedly collided with a cab in the area that had a green light and was traveling eastbound, and the force of the impact forced the cab to strike a parked SUV. The SUV then collided with another four parked cars before all vehicles came to a stop.

Police reported that the driver of the SUV fled the scene on foot before officers could arrive. They are still looking for the driver at this time and are still investigating the crash to determine if the van ran a red light, and if so, why. The driver of the cab and three passengers inside the van all suffered injuries and were taken to area hospitals for treatment. Their current conditions remain unknown.
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Pedestrian safety should be a concern for everyone in Illinois because at one point or another, everyone is a pedestrian. Some people may walk more than others but for the vast majority of residents, it is necessary to travel by foot at some time in the day, whether it is walking to work, walking a child to school, or even just walking to your car. Despite the fact that so many people travel by foot, the safety of pedestrians is not as discussed as it should be, even though there were nearly 3,000 pedestrian accidents in Chicago alone in 2010.

When a pedestrian is involved in an accident and the pedestrian in injured, the laws in Chicago and in Illinois may provide that victim with the right to seek a recovery against the individual responsible for the crash. In some accidents, it can be the driver of a car or the owner of the vehicle that bears legal fault. In others, a company, employee, or even a city can be liable. As each accident is unique, it is a good idea to speak with a personal injury lawyer following a crash so that you can learn about the legal options following your collisions.

Unfortunately, many accidents involving pedestrians turn tragic when a pedestrian loses his or her life. That was the case in Joliet over the weekend when a 62-year-old man was struck by a fleeing driver. The victim in that crash lost his life due to the severity of his injuries.

Police are still investigating the incident and trying to determine what caused the collision between the man, who was walking home on Center Street shortly before midnight, and a car that was the in the area. Police believe that the victim was hit by the car and that he was dragged some distance before the driver of the car sped off from the scene. The driver did not stop to see if the victim needed help and did not call authorities to report the accident, in violation of local and state laws.

Police are asking for any information regarding the accident as they continue to look into the factors surrounding the crash on Saturday night. They are also trying to determine whether an altercation at a neighboring bar involving the victim may have preceded the crash.
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When a collision between a pedestrian and an automobile occurs, the pedestrian almost always sustains injuries, and too often, loses his or her life due to the crash. A pedestrian is no match for the large, heavy size and unforgiving nature of a car or truck and therefore is forced to absorb much of the impact.

When a pedestrian accident is due to the negligence of a driver or other individual, the victim of that crash may be entitled to seek relief for their losses. In Chicago, pedestrians who sustain injuries may be able to bring a civil claim to recover for the medical and surgical bills they have incurred, lost wages they are unable to earn, and pain and suffering they are forced to endure. Speaking with an injury lawyer who represents pedestrian accident victims will help you understand what legal options may be available to you.

Unfortunately an accident happened in January that left a pedestrian dead. Now, authorities believe they have found the responsible driver and have charged her with leaving the scene of an accident and failing to report a crash with a pedestrian.

The incident occurred on January 25 on South Ewing, shortly before 4:00 p.m. A 44-year-old female was walking in the area and was struck by an SUV. Following an investigation, police identified a 16-year-old female suspect they believe was driving at the time of the crash. When they spoke with the teenager, the girl’s mother allegedly admitted that the girl was driving the SUV at the time of the accident, and reportedly, the girl admitted her involvement to at least two separate people. If convicted of the charges against her, the girl, who is being charged as an adult, could face jail time.

The victim in the crash lost her life due to the severe nature of her injuries.

In 2010 alone, 4,280 pedestrians were killed in traffic-related accidents with another 70,000 pedestrians suffering injuries in crashes in the United States. Many of these accidents occur at intersections where pedestrians and vehicles occupy the same space, though they should not do so at the same time.
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If you drive in Chicago, it is likely that you have been forced to endure some snow, slush, and ice during this long and cold winter. These conditions increase the chances of a winter weather accident occurring on the roads of Chicago and already bear some responsibility for hundreds of accidents. But winter weather alone causes only a few collisions each year; rather, the combination of winter conditions and negligence on the part of one or more drivers is really behind the majority of collisions.

When weather factors into a crash that is also caused by a negligent driver, those injured in the collision are entitled by law to seek relief for their damages. This can include bringing a civil claim against a responsible driver so that a victim can make a monetary recovery to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Each accident is unique so it is always a good idea to speak with a personal injury lawyer in the Chicago area after an accident to learn about your legal rights and options.

Commuters who drive into and out of Chicago daily may have been met with some difficult weather conditions this morning and those conditions are expected to continue, if not worsen as the day progresses. The city is experiencing wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour and several rivers, including the Des Plaines and DuPage, are in danger of flooding.

Local officials believe that the inclement weather was a factor in a massive pileup in Will County yesterday as well as sporadic power outages. As the wind continues and as the snow begins to fall, more car accidents are expected in Cook, DuPage, and Will Counties as well as many other areas of Illinois.

Gusting winds pose a significant threat to drivers of light vehicles, like compact and economy cars, but they can cause a crash involving any type of vehicle. Often, drivers notice gusting winds most prominently when they are on overpasses or elevated streets that allow the wind to flow both over and underneath the car. The best thing you can do if you must drive in severe gusts is to slow down from your normal speed and to keep a firm grip on the wheel, expecting a sudden burst of wind at any time.
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The laws in Chicago and in Illinois are designed to protect workers who may become hurt or injured while on the job. Regardless of the profession, an injury can always happen, and therefore all workers receive these protections guaranteed to them by the law.

Though any job can pose a threat to safety, some positions present a greater risk than others. Employees in construction, healthcare professionals, airline workers, and classroom aides are likely to face injuries due to the nature of their jobs. Factory workers and manual laborers also face risks that many other workers do not, meaning that they are more likely to be hurt in a workplace accident. When an injury on the job occurs, worker’s compensation laws allow an employee to seek the relief they deserve. An injury lawyer who handles workplace claims can help you understand if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries and whether you have the right to seek relief.

Early reports indicate that a CTA employee doing work on tracks in Skokie was injured Tuesday after coming into contact with the third rail, which is a portion of the railway that conducts electricity and enables a train to move. Though use of a third rail is common in many cities with mass transit systems, the third rail itself does present a risk of injury because electricity runs through it whenever the rail is active. This can potentially leading to electrocutions if an individual comes into contact with the third rail.

In Tuesday’s incident, initial reports indicated that a shovel in the worker’s hands may have been what struck the third rail. But today, officials have reported that the shovel was plastic and that it was intact, meaning that it is unlikely that the shovel provided a means for the worker to become electrocuted. Investigators and local authorities are still looking into the incident and trying to determine what caused the man to become injured.

The incident happened along the yellow line, near the Oakton Street station on Tuesday and caused the worker to sustain burns to his face. His current condition remains unclear though he was expected to survive.
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Drunk driving is often publicized to raise awareness of the dangers that accompany drinking and driving, but alcohol is not the only intoxicant that can make driving dangerous. Any drug or intoxicating compound can reduce a driver’s ability to make decisions, focus on the road, and drive safely. In fact, it is illegal in Chicago and in Illinois to drive while impaired and that encompasses any type of intoxicants, including alcohol, illegal drugs, and prescription drugs that affect a driver’s abilities behind the wheel.

Illegal drugs and prescription narcotics are often found in the systems of Chicago-area drivers who are operating under the influence. When that happens, the impaired drivers may face serious traffic and criminal charges that can result in anything from fines to a suspended license to jail time if the driver is convicted. The charges are usually increased when an impaired driver causes an accident that injures another person. In addition to any charges brought by the state, an impaired driver may face a civil claim for damages brought by any victims who were injured in an effort to seek financial relief for their damages. These impaired drivers may be held legally liable for the injuries that result in a crash as well and maybe forced to provide compensation to those they hurt. If you have been hurt in a DUI car accident, speaking with an injury lawyer will help you understand your legal rights and your legal options.

Early reports by officials indicate that drugs may have played a part in a Thursday car crash in Maywood that left several people injured. Police believe that a 24-year-old male driver was under the influence of morphine, codeine, and morphine when he drove his car on South 1st Avenue and collided with a Pace bus. Police believe that the man was driving the wrong way when he struck the bus and that after the first collision, his car continued until it entered a crosswalk at 1st Avenue and collided with three pedestrians.

Emergency crews responded to the collision and transported all three pedestrians to area hospitals for treatment. The driver and the passengers of the Pace bus were assessed and five special needs passengers were also transported to hospitals for treatment as a precaution. All of the victims are expected to survive.

The driver of the car has been cited for driving the wrong way, failing to reduce speed to avoid a collision, and failing to yield to pedestrians. Additional charges may be leveled based on the preliminary results of blood screening that allegedly revealed the presence of intoxicants.
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