Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

A judge has ruled that key evidence against a police officer accused of causing a deadly drunk driving accident cannot be used against him in court, the Sun-Times reported.

The fatal Chicago car accident occurred on Thanksgiving Day in 2007 and claimed the lives of two young men. The officer had been videotaped drinking a lot alcohol just minutes before the crash. However, a judge ruled this week that the evidence was illegally seized and cannot be used, severely weakening the case against him.

The victim's family and anti-drunk-driving advocates are enraged by the ruling as safety advocates continue to warn the public about the dangers of drinking and driving. As we reported earlier this year on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, one-third of all fatal Cook County traffic accidents are linked to drunk driving. In all, more than 2,000 of the 6,000 fatal accidents that have occurred in Cook County over the past 15 years have involved a drunk driver.

The mother and two sisters of one of the victims were arrested outside the courtroom after allegedly confronting Cook County sheriff's deputies. The officer was charged with four counts of aggravated DUI and two counts of reckless homicide. Videotape from the Martini Ranch Bar showed him consuming large amounts of alcohol just minutes before the crash in the early morning hours of Nov. 22, 2007.

His attorneys challenged his arrest because two fellow officers and a paramedic said he did not appear intoxicated and did not give him a breathalyzer test until several hours after the accident. The judge ruled there was not probable cause to arrest because a lieutenant who testified he believed the officer was drunk was not a credible witness.

Prosecutors said they will decide by the next hearing, scheduled for May 25, whether to continue with the case. The victim's relatives fear it will now be impossible to win a conviction.

Six people were injured in separate single-vehicle Chicago car accidents over the weekend.

A teenager was in critical condition with a head injury after a Friday night accident on the Northwest Tollway in Elgin, according to the Daily Herald.

Illinois State Police reported that a Jeep Wrangler went out of control while entering the tollway eastbound at Route 31, where it spun around and slammed into an oncoming box truck. Three others, including the teen's father, were also injured. The injured motorists, including two occupants of the box truck, were taken to Sherman Hospital.

In a separate one-vehicle Chicago traffic accident, two women are in critical condition following a Sunday morning crash in southwest suburban Plainfield, the Breaking News Center reported.

Authorities report their car was westbound on East Renwick Road near the intersection of South McClellan Avenue when the driver lost control about 3 a.m. The vehicle left the road and slammed backward into a telephone pole. The crash snapped one of the utility poles in half and threw one of the women from the vehicle.

A rescue helicopter was called to the scene but was not able to fly because of weather conditions. The women, described as being in their early 20s, were transported by ambulance to St. Joseph Hospital, where they were both reported as being in critical condition.

Through Sunday, a total of 210 fatal Illinois car accidents have claimed 240 lives, four fewer than the 236 people killed on the roads during the same period last year, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The Chicago injury attorneys at Abels & Annes would like to inform you that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers comprehensive resources aimed at increasing pedestrian safety and reducing the number of serious and fatal pedestrian accidents.

As we reported recently on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, the spring and summer months are among the most dangerous times for serious and fatal Chicago pedestrian accidents.

In 2008, a total of 135 people were killed in fatal Illinois pedestrian accidents, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Tips for pedestrian safety include:

-Visibility: Wear bright colored clothing, particularly at night. Reflective material is recommended and cyclists should use front and rear lights, as well as reflectors, to avoid a serious or fatal Chicago bicycle accident.

-Obey traffic signs and signals: Traffic signs, speed limits and signals are installed for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. Often speeds are reduced or additional warning signs are installed in accident-prone areas. Remain aware of your surroundings and always follow the advice of traffic signs.

Avoid Impairment: Drunk driving accidents and impaired cyclists or pedestrians are responsible for a large number of accidents. Avoid traveling while impaired, call a cab, or utilize a designated driver.

Don't rely on a green light: While a green light or crossing signal may mean you have the right-of-way, it will be little consultation in the event you are struck by a passing motorist who ignores the signals. Look left-right-left before stepping off the curb. Look left first and last because the first lane of traffic will be coming from the left.

Crosswalks are not bulletproof: Always wait for signals and, again, look left-right-left before proceeding into a crosswalk.

A driver sees you: Just because you see a driver, do not assume the driver sees you. Make sure a motorist stops before proceeding across a traffic lane.

White at night no White Knight: White clothing is not enough to protect you at night. Wear reflective clothing and carry a light.

Continue reading " Stay safe, avoid summer Chicago pedestrian accidents " »

A pair of Chicago motorcycle accidents in the last week offers a sobering reminder of the dangers of spring riding season.

As Chicago car accident lawyers recently reported on the Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, a total of 121 Illinois motorcycle riders were killed in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nationwide, 5,290 were killed and almost 100,000 injured in riding accidents.

On Thursday morning, a motorcyclist was killed when his bike collided with a car on the Southwest Side, the Breaking News Center reported. Police report that the motorcycle's speed may have contributed to the accident, which occurred at the intersection of 55th Street and South Laramie Avenue at about 2:30 a.m. The rider pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn.

On Sunday (April 11), a motorcyclist was seriously injured after striking a median on the North Side, according to the News Center. The accident at the intersection of Irving Park Road and Ashland Avenue sent the 27-year-old rider to the hospital.

Spring is a dangerous time for riders for a number of reasons. New riders often begin riding in the spring and even veteran riders can take some time to get reacquainted with their equipment and area roads, where conditions often change over the winter. Additionally, it frequently takes motorists time to begin looking for motorcycles again as the weather improves and riders begin taking to the roads for the spring and summer months.

The popularity of motorcycle riding has exploded in the last decade; registered motorcycles in the United States have increased from 4 million in 1998 to more than 7 million this year. With the increase in riding has come an increase in serious and fatal motorcycle accidents. While nationwide traffic fatalities are in decline, fatal motorcycle accidents have increased each year for more than a decade.

Illinois State University offers a Motorcycle Safety Education program through the Illinois Department of Transportation. Participating in a safety program, or reminding yourself as a motorist to watch out for our riding friends, is a great way to ensure everyone has a safe summer on our roads.

A 12-year-old boy was killed in a Chicago bicycle accident Sunday night after being struck by a pickup truck on the Southwest Side, the Sun-Times reported.

The accident occurred shortly before 8:30 p.m. in the 6000 block of South Narragansett Avenue, police reported. The boy was pronounced dead at 11:03 p.m. at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The boy was riding his bike south on Narragansett Avenue when a northbound Ford F-250 struck him as he entered the street in a crosswalk. The truck was making a right onto eastbound 60th Street when the collision occurred.

The 48-year-old driver of the truck was cited for failure to yield the right of way on a right turn and negligent driving, according to police.

The police Major Accident Investigation Unit is investigating.

As we reported last month on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, spring is a dangerous time for Chicago bicycle accidents as riders begin the spring and summer riding season and kids begin to spend more time playing outside.

Bicyclists have the same rights to the road as an automobile and motorists are encouraged to use extra caution when approaching a bicycle rider. In 2008, a total of 27 riders were killed in fatal Illinois bicycle accidents and more than 3,300 were seriously injured, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

A Libertyville woman faces up to 14 years in prison after admitting in court that she was driving with drugs in her system when she caused a fatal suburban Chicago Motorcycle accident.

The 26-year-old woman pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence in Lake County Circuit Court, according to the Daily Herald.

Authorities contend that she was driving a Dodge minivan east on Cage Road in Wauconda Township at about 10:30 p.m. last June 9, when the van crossed the centerline and struck a westbound Harley-Davidson driven by a 49-year-old McHenry man.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. The defendant was taken to the hospital for blood tests, which revealed the presence of heroine and a generic form of the anti-anxiety drug Xanax in her system.

She was also charged with possession of a controlled substance after drug paraphernalia in the van tested positive for cocaine. In addition to a potential for 14 years in prison, she will be eligible for local jail time and probation at her sentencing, scheduled for May 26.

She remains in Lake County Jail on $250,000 bond.

As we reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, spring is an especially dangerous time for Illinois motorcycle accidents as motorists get accustomed to watching for riders on the road. In 2008, a total of 121 riders were killed in Illinois. Almost 100,000 motorcycle riders are seriously injured in traffic accidents on the nation's roads each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Three people were killed in deadly Chicago auto accidents over the weekend.

One person was killed and three others injured in a fatal Chicago car accident on Saturday night; alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash, the Breaking News Center reported.

The accident occurred in northwest suburban Crystal Lake shortly before midnight. A 2001 Pontiac Trans Am was heading west on Waterford Cut when it lost control before turning south on Huntley Road. The car entered the northbound lane of Huntley, where it crossed into the path of a 1994 Jeep Cherokee.

Both vehicles collided and came to rest off the road, about 250 feet south of Waterford. A 24-year-old passenger in the Trans Am was taken to Centegra Memorial Medical Center in Woodstock, where she was pronounced dead. The 23-year-old driver of the Pontiac was also transported to the hospital for treatment.

Two other female passengers in the car, ages 25 and 28, were also transported to the hospital with injuries. The driver and a passenger in the Jeep, where both examined by rescue personnel on the scene and later released.

Investigation into the accident is continuing.

Also on Saturday, a 55-year-old Downers Grove woman was killed when the car she was driving ran a stop sign and was struck by a pickup in Kane County, the Breaking News Center reported.

The woman was eastbound on Lasher Road in a 1999 Acura when the vehicle failed to stop at Dauberman Road, where it collided with a 2005 Ford pickup, according to authorities.

On Friday, an elderly woman was killed and four others injured in a three-vehicle crash in Bartlett. The crash occurred about 6:30 p.m. on Route 59 at Army Trail Road, closing the intersection for several hours.

The Illinois Department of Transportation and Chicago Department of Transportation have launched their version of a spring welcome with the announcement of four major road construction projects expected to cause traffic delays.

Summer road construction also brings the risk of Chicago auto accidents and Chicago work injury accidents in construction zones.

As we reported this week on Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, April 6 to April 10 was National Work Zone Awareness Week. In 2008, fatal Illinois road construction accidents claimed 31 lives and injured 1,985. Almost 8,000 traffic accidents were reported in Illinois construction zones.

This year's major summer construction projects include:

-Resurfacing 27 miles of I-290 from Thorndale to the Circle Interchange (90-94) and from Interstate 355 from Army Trail Road to I-290, located within Cook and DuPage counties.

-Repair to 37 bridge structures and Congress Street Bridge.

-Rebuilding the upper and lower levels of north-south Wacker Drive from Randolph Street to Congress Parkway.

-Congress Parkway Streetscape.

“We realize they will have an impact on tens of thousands of motorists and pedestrians, and we pledge to do everything we can to keep that impact as small as possible," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. "We ask the public to work with us; use mass transit when possible, and when driving through the work zones, please be alert for workers."

Continue reading " Busy summer of road construction increases risk of Chicago car accidents, road construction accidents " »

A motorist has been charged in connection with a fatal Chicago drunk driving accident involving a semi on the near West Side, the Sun-Times reported.

The car's driver was charged with two counts of drunk driving this week, in connection with the crash, which occurred shortly after 2:30 a.m. last Thursday at the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Canal Street. The 2005 Ford Taurus crashed into the cab portion of the UPS semi.

The 21-year-old driver of the Taurus was traveling West on Roosevelt Road at a high rate of speed when it collided with the truck as it attempted to turn across traffic, police reported. A 25-year-old passenger in the car was transported to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he was pronounced dead at 3:35 a.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

The driver was charged with two counts of misdemeanor driving under the influence and cited with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, as well as driving a vehicle without insurance.

Police said the driver's blood-alcohol level was .16 -- twice the legal limit in Illinois.

The Chicago Fire Department was called to the scene, where emergency crews had to extricate some of the victims from the wreckage.

Two other victims were taken in serious to critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital; three were taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital, Rush University Medical Center and the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago.

The police Major Accident Investigation Unit continues to investigate.

A trooper was struck during a traffic stop over the weekend and a fire department vehicle was involved in a Chicago car accident that seriously injured a pedestrian.

Three people were injured in a Chicago pedestrian accident after a fire department SUV struck an elderly pedestrian in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood Saturday morning.

The Breaking News Center reported that the incident began with a car accident after an AT&T truck traveling northbound on Kedzie sideswiped the fire department SUV. The SUV was responding to a call with lights and sirens activated when it was struck, causing it to lose control, jump a curb, and strike the 71-year-old pedestrian.

The pedestrian and the drivers of both vehicles were transported to area hospitals for treatment.

Earlier Saturday morning, an Illinois State Police trooper was struck while conducting a traffic stop, the Breaking News Center reported.

Authorities were looking for the hit-and-run driver shortly after the crash at I-80 near mile marker 122 east of the Ridge Road/Minooka exit. A trooper had stopped a suspected drunk driver when he was struck by the passing motorist. He suffered a broken ankle and was treated and released from an area hospital.

As we reported earlier this year on Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, Illinois' Scott's Law requires motorists to move over or slow down for stopped emergency vehicles.

Violators face a fine of up to $10,000. The law is named for a Chicago Fire Department lieutenant who was struck and killed by a drunk driving while assisting at an accident scene on the Dan Ryan Expressway.

Yellow lights in the city are shorter than those in the suburbs, a discrepancy that may increase the risk of a Chicago car accident, according to the Breaking News Center.

As reported earlier this month on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, local law enforcement and safety advocates continue to promote the cameras as effective traffic safety devices, even as opponents content they increase the chance of rear-end collisions and are being used as little more than a revenue-generating tool for municipalities.

The report found most Chicago yellow lights last three seconds, the bare minimum recommended by federal safety guidelines. Suburban yellow lights generally last for four or four-and-a-half seconds.

City officials insist the duration of Chicago yellow lights is safe and that the time predates installations of cameras across the city -- which photograph red-light runners and send tickets to vehicle owners.

The issue has come to the attention of lawmakers in Springfield as camera opponents accuse the city of shortening yellow lights at camera-equipped intersections in an effort to collect more revenue from tickets.

Chicago began equipping intersections with cameras in 2003 -- the suburbs started three years later. Currently, 186 Chicago intersections have cameras installed, by far the most of any city in the nation. Last year, the $100 fines generated more than $59 million in revenue.

A report last year by the Tribune found accidents at 60 percent of intersections with cameras either increased or held steady. The city disputed the findings.

However, safety advocates have asked a far more basic question that is now topic of heated debate: If the devices are geared toward reducing red-light running, does shorter yellow lights undermine that goal?

Federal guidelines recommend yellow lights last between 3 and 6 seconds -- in practice, roads with faster speeds should have longer yellow lights because of the amount of time it takes to come to a safe stop for a changing signal. Most Chicago streets have an average speed of 30 mph, while speeds in the suburbs tend to be faster -- a legitimate reason for longer caution signals in the outlying areas around Chicago.

However, opponents contend camera-equipped suburban intersections, with speeds similar to Chicago streets, have longer yellow lights, which provide more time to stop.

Continue reading " Short yellow lights may increase risk of Chicago car accidents " »

A driver has been charged in connection with a fatal Chicago bike accident that occurred Tuesday afternoon on the West Side, the Breaking News Center reported.

The 48-year-old bicyclist was killed while riding his bicycle just after 4:30 p.m. on West Chicago Avenue. He was struck by a Pontiac G6 traveling west from Lawler Avenue.

The 25-year-old driver of the vehicle was charged with negligent driving and failure to reduce speed, according to Chicago police.

The victim was taken to Mount Sanai Hospital, where he was declared dead at 5:15 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

In 2008, a total of 27 bicycle riders were killed and 3,385 seriously injured in Illinois bicycle accidents.

Meanwhile, police continue to investigate the intersection at 18th Place and Ashland Avenue, where a child was killed in a bicycle accident last year and another child was killed last month in a Chicago pedestrian accident, the Chicago Tribune reported.

As we reported on Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, the 6-year-old boy was killed and his father critically injured after being struck by a semi while crossing the street.

Witnesses said the intersection, which is just down the street from the boy's elementary school, lacks crossing guards.

A 28-year-old man was sentenced to 8 1/2 years in prison on Friday for a Chicago drunk driving accident that killed a local woman and seriously injured two others, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The man pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated driving under the influence in connection with the crash last year in Riverside. He crossed into oncoming traffic and struck an SUV head-on. It was his third DUI conviction.

Test results found he had a blood-alcohol level of .24 -- three times the legal limit in Illinois -- and cocaine in his system. The accident happened about 10:40 p.m. last March 29, when he slammed into the SUV at First Avenue and 31st Street.

A 57-year-old woman was killed. Her 63-year-old sister and 45-year-old brother were both seriously injured and required multiple surgeries and physical therapy after the crash, according to the State Attorney's Office.

Members of the victims' family told the media that the sentence was not nearly enough for the pain caused to the family.

"It's ridiculous," a daughter of one of the victims said. "It's nowhere near enough time to justify what he did."

The defendant must serve 85 percent of the 8 1/2-year sentence. If he had been found guilty at trial, the maximum sentence could have been 14 years.

As we reported last fall on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, someone is killed in a drunk driving accident every 45 minutes nationwide.

In Illinois, 1 in 3 fatal accidents involves a drunk driver; In 2008, a total of 362 motorists died in fatal drunk driving accidents of the 1,043 Illinois traffic fatalities recorded that year, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.