Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

An Illinois school bus crash in South suburban Orland Park has resulted in injuries to 12 people, including nine grade school students, according to CBS News in Chicago. The students were from High Point School, a school for third, fourth and fifth graders. The accident occurred around 3 PM at 147th St. & Lagrange Road, and involved a school bus and a car.

The bus had 20 students on board at the time of the accident. Nine were injured were taken to area hospitals. The injuries are reportedly non-life-threatening

School administrators reportedly came out to the scene to help police. The Orland Park Fire Department also responded. Some parents drove out to the scene of the accident to pick up their kids, while others were taken away by another bus.

Chicago area school bus accidents can often result in serious injuries. Seatbelts are typically not used on buses, and kids can get badly knocked around in a crash.

The cause of the accident has not yet been reported and is still being investigated. High Point School is part of Orland Park District 135.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Chicago Breaking News Center.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys continue to publish results of the Illinois Department of Transportation's report on serious and fatal accident statistics for 2009.

As we reported recently, fewer Illinois car accidents contributed to the nationwide reduction last year, but still more than 250 people a day were injured in traffic accidents in Illinois. On average, the state reports more than 800 crashes per day.

Types of Accidents

Passenger cars: 78 percent
Trucks: 14 percent
Motorcycles: 4 percent
Commercial trucks, buses, recreational vehicles: 3 percent

Serious and Fatal Injuries

Passenger Cars: 502 killed and 62,757 injured
Pickup Trucks: 86 killed and 5,775 injured
Van: 42 killed and 6,508 injured
Tractor Trailer: 3 killed and 396 injured
Farm equipment: 1 killed and 24 injured
School Bus: none killed and 242 injured
Other Bus: 2 killed and 576 injured
Motorcycles: 130 killed and 3,152 injured

Age of Drivers Involved

-18-year-old drivers had the highest rate of injury (23.96 per 1,000), as well as the highest fatality rate (96.79).
-Drivers 20-24 reported the most injuries (14,146) and fatalities (157).
-36 of the motorists killed were under the age of 18.

Road Conditions

Most accidents happened on dry roads, accounting for 195,301 of 292,106 crashes.

Dry: 642 fatal crashes - 44,523 injuries
Wet: 128 fatal crashes - 12,522 injuries
Ice of Snow: 45 fatal crashes - 4,844 injuries

Daylight: 402 fatal crashes - 42,952 injuries
Dawn: 10 fatalities - 837 injuries
Dusk: 19 fatalities - 1,430 injuries
Darkness: 222 fatal crashes - 7,279 injuries
Darkness (lit road): 179 fatal crashes - 10,490

Continue reading " Chicago injury lawyers continue to review Illinois car accident statistics " »

The Chicago Tribune reported that the University of North Texas is claiming that 16,141 people were killed in car accidents caused by text messaging while driving in the five years between 2002 and 2007.

Our Chicago accident lawyers frequently report on the dangers of distracted driving, and particularly text messaging while driving. However, there is rarely an effort to put a concrete number on the danger, primarily because of a lack of reporting standards at the state and local level.

In this study, the university used the federal government's Fatal Accident Reporting System and texting records from several sources within the wireless telecom industry. Without texting, researchers calculated there would have been 1,925 deaths due to distracted driving. However, text messaging led to a skyrocketing rate that reached 5,988 in 2007.

A law banning the use of cell phones in Chicago has likely led to a reduction in serious and fatal Chicago car accidents. The State of Illinois banned text messaging by drivers at the start of this year.

Among the findings of the report:

-The percentage of traffic deaths caused by distracted driving increased from 11 percent in 1999 to 16 percent in 2008.

-Cities and other urban areas are more prone to distracted driving accidents.

-The last decade has seen an explosion in the popularity of cell phones. One-third of U.S. residents had cell phones in 1999. By 2008, 91 percent of us had them.

-The popularity of text messaging has also skyrocketed, from 1 million texts a month in 2002 to 110 million a month in 2008.

The 6 percent of drivers using a cell phone at any given time has not changed since 2005, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Apparently, what has changed is how we use them.

The study suggests criminal charges and citations for texting while driving and the routine use of cell phone records in accident investigations could help reduce the trend.

Continue reading " Study finds text messaging responsible for most distracted driving accidents; cell phone ban may reduce risk of some Chicago car accidents " »

Un abogado de accidente de carro en Chicago de Abels & Annes se ha resuelto una demanda derivada de un accidente que ocurrió el 20 de junio de 2008. La colisión ocurrió en la intersección de Sutton Road (Route 59) y Golf Road en Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Los testigos del accidente indicaron que el accidente fue causado por dos vehículos que se dedicaban a la conducción descuidada, que incluyó conducer a un exceso de velocidad, cambiar rápidamente de carriles, cortando uno al otro, compitiendo uno al otro y posiblemente implicado en la conducta de conducta agresiva.

Cuando se acercaron a la intersección del accidente, uno de los conductores fue cortado y desvió para tratar de evitar un colisión. Cuando el conductor se desvió, cruzó la línea central y golpeó a otro vehículo, que en cambio golpeó el vehículo de nuestro cliente.

Uno de los conductors huyó la escena del accidente, sin embargo, varios testigos pudieron identificar la marca y modelo del vehículo, y un testigo anotó el número de matrícula del vehículo.

El vehículo del demandante fue totalizado en el accidente y ella fue herida. Fue trasladada por ambulancia a Sherman Hospital en Elgin, Illinois.

Ella fue examinada y examenes diagnósticas fueron realizados. Se le prescribió medicamentos para el dolor y dado de alta de la sala de emergencia con instrucciones para el seguimiento con un médico.

Sobre los próximos días el dolor del demandante empeoró tan siguió con su médico primario. En aquel momento el dolor en el cuello irradiaba abajo el brazo izquierdo con entumecimiento asociado en el brazo y la mano izquierdos. Su médico primario ordenó un escáner de CT y terapia fisica.

La demandante en realidad tuvo que parar la terapia fisica, debido a dolores de cabeza terribles, dolor de cuello y dolor de espalda. Debido a la severidad de sus denuncias, su médico ordenó un MRI que mostró que ella había sostenido un disco herniado en C5-6 en el accidente.

La demandante entonces fue referida a un cirujano ortopédico. El cirujano prescribió tratamiento con esteroides para disminuir la hinchazón en el disco herniado. También se le prescribió otro curso de terapia Fisica.

Los esteroides ayudaron a aliviar mucho el dolor, sin embargo ella siguio teniendo dolor por un tiempo significativo. Esto afectó su vida normal de cada día de forma significativa.

Una demanda tuvo que ser presentada en el caso porque el conductor que huyó de la escena nunca admitiría su participación en el accidente. Al ser entrevistado por la policía, el conductor que se dio a la fuga admitió que estuvo en un vehículo que empareja la descripción y que estuvo en el área de Route 59 y Golf Road en la fecha del accidente, pero él todavía se negó a admitir su conducta imprudente.

Afortunadamente, sus abogados tuvieron más sentido común que el, y pudimos alcanzar un arreglo con las compañias de seguro de ambos conductores descuidados. American Family Insurance y State Farm Insurance pagaron en los reclamos.

Si usted o un ser querido ha sido herido por un conductor descuidado, o es una víctima de conducta agresiva, contacte a los abogados de choque de carro de Chicago en Abels & Annes gratis, sin obligación de evaluación de su caso. Llámenos al 312-924-7575 si desea hablar con un abogado.

A Chicago auto accident attorney from Abels & Annes has settled a lawsuit stemming from an accident that occurred back on June 20, 2008. The collision occurred at the intersection of Sutton Road (Route 59) and Golf Road in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Witnesses to the accident stated that the crash was caused by two vehicles that were engaged in reckless driving, which included driving at an excessive speed, quickly switching lanes, cutting each other off, racing each other and possibly involved in road rage behavior.

When they approached the accident intersection, one of the drivers got cut off and swerved to try to avoid a collision. When the driver swerved, he crossed the center line and struck another vehicle, which in turn hit our client's vehicle.

One of the at fault driver's fled the scene of the accident, however several witnesses were able to identify the make and model the vehicle, and one witness wrote down the license plate number.

The plaintiff's vehicle was totaled in the accident and she was injured. She was taken by ambulance to Sherman Hospital in Elgin, Illinois.

At the ER, the client complained of neck pain, and pain in her left knee, left shoulder and upper chest. She was examined and diagnostic tests were performed. She was prescribed pain medication and discharged from the ER with instructions to follow-up with a physician.

Over the next few days the plaintiff's pain worsened so she followed up with her primary care physician. At that time the pain in her neck was radiating down her left arm with associated numbness in her left arm and hand. Her primary physician ordered a CT scan and prescribed physical therapy.

The plaintiff actually had to postpone physical therapy due to terrible headaches, neck pain and back pain. Due to the severity of her complaints, her doctor ordered an MRI which showed she had sustained a herniated disc at C5-6 in the accident.

The plaintiff was then referred to an orthopedic surgeon. The surgeon prescribed course of steroids to decrease the swelling in the herniated disc. She was also prescribed another course of physical therapy.

The steroids helped alleviate a lot of the pain, however she continued to have pain and flareups for a significant period of time. This affected her everyday normal life significantly.

A lawsuit had to be filed in the case because the driver that fled the scene would never admit his involvement in the accident. When interviewed by the police, the hit-and-run driver admitted he was in a vehicle matching the description and that he was in the area of Route 59 and Golf Road on the date of the accident, but he still refused to admit to his reckless conduct.

Fortunately, his attorneys had more common sense than he did, and we were able to reach a settlement with both reckless drivers' insurance carriers. American Family Insurance and State Farm Insurance paid out on the claims.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a reckless driver, or is a the victim of road rage, contact the Chicago car crash lawyers at Abels & Annes for free, no obligation case evaluation. Call us at 312-924-7575 if you would like to speak to a lawyer.

El Sun-Times informo que hubíeron heridas múltiples el sábado por la tarde en un choque en Chicago de carro vs. autobús de CTA en el lado sur. El accidente de automóvil de Illinois ocurrió cuando el conductor de un 1993 Buick Park Avenue choco el autobus por de tras.

El accidente sucedió alrededor de 12:45 P.M. en la 66th Street y Avenida Racine. El autobús fue número 44 Wallace/Racine que fue dirigido al sur en Racine, que fue parado en un semáforo, según una vocera para la Autoridad de Tránsito de Chicago.

Nueve pasajeros en total resultaron heridos y fueron trasladados a hospitales del área, incluyeron ocho del autobús y uno del carro. Se ha reportado que cuatro del los heridos fueron llevados al Hospital Jackson Park y dos fueron llevados a St. Bernard Hospital. Ninguna de las lesiones se supone que ponga la vida en peligro

Cinco ambulancias fueron enviadas a la escena del accidente de autobús de CTA. El conductor que trasero el autobús fue un residente de Chicago. La Policía de Chicago investigó el accidente y etiquetó al conductor trasero por conducer demasiado cerca y por dañar la propiedad de la ciudad.

Como un abogado de accidente de autobús en Chicago, les puedo decir que estando en un autobús de CTA involucrado en un accidente puede ser muy peligroso. Los pasajeros no son seatbelted y a menudo se paran si el autobús está lleno. Esto a veces puede causar heridas muy graves. Los abogados de herida de Chicago en Abels y Annes estan trabajando actualmente con varios reclamos y demandas para residentes de Illinois que han sido heridos en accidentes de autobús de CTA.

The Sun-Times is reporting that there were multiple injuries on Saturday afternoon in a Chicago car vs. CTA bus crash on the South Side. The Illinois motor vehicle accident occurred when the driver of a 1993 Buick Park Avenue rear-ended a bus.

The accident happened around 12:45 PM at 66th Street and Racine Avenue. The bus was a number 44 Wallace/Racine that was headed south on Racine that was stopped at a traffic light, according to a spokeswoman for the Chicago Transit Authority.

Nine passengers in total were injured and taken to area hospitals, which included eight from the bus and one from the car. It is being reported that four of the injured were taken to Jackson Park Hospital and two were taken to St. Bernard Hospital. None of the injuries are supposed to be life-threatening.

Five ambulances were sent to the scene of the CTA bus accident. The driver that rear-ended the bus was a Chicago resident. The Chicago Police Department investigated the accident and ticketed the rear ending driver for driving too closely and damaging city property.

As a Chicago bus accident lawyer, I can tell you that being on a CTA bus involved in an accident can be very dangerous. Passengers are not seatbelted and are often standing if the bus is crowded. This can sometimes lead to very serious injuries. Chicago injury attorneys at Abels and Annes are currently handling several claims and lawsuits for Illinois residents who have been injured in CTA bus accidents.

Despite the historic drop in traffic fatalities, distracted driving remains the third-leading cause of Chicago car accidents and traffic accidents nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The other day I was cut off in Chicago traffic while I was getting on to the highway by a woman who had a cell phone held up to her right ear and a cigarette in her left hand, so I definitely believe the statistic above is correct.

As we reported earlier this month on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, the 33,808 motorists killed in car accidents last year were the fewest since 33,186 died in 1950. The number of serious and fatal accidents declined by about 10 percent. The decline in distracted driving accidents was only about 5 percent -- from 6,000 to 5,474 -- and distracted drivers still caused 16 percent of all fatal accidents, the same percentage reported in 2008.

Only speeding and drunk driving are blamed for more fatal accidents each year. Most alarmingly, safety advocates believe the actual number is likely much higher because reporting standards for distracted driving remain poor, with few state routinely documenting driver distraction at accident scenes.

Authorities from throughout the nation are meeting this week in Washington, D.C. at the nation's second annual Distracted Driving Summit.

“These numbers show that distracted driving remains an epidemic in America, and they are just the tip of the iceberg,” said Secretary Ray LaHood. “I’m convening our second Distracted Driving Summit in the hopes that we can continue to draw attention to the dangers of distracted driving and work together to save lives.”

Federal statistics indicate that the percentage of fatal accidents blamed on distracted driving has increased since 2005, from 10 percent to 16 percent. Safety advocates point to cell phone use, and particularly text messaging, as a significant contributor to the problem.

Meanwhile, LaHood has already used the conference to take automakers and cell phone makers to task for contributing to the risk of distracted driving, according to the Washington Post.

In opening remarks, the nation's transportation chief went so far as to suggest that cell phones come with stickers warning of the dangers, just like cigarettes and alcohol. He also chided automakers for adding distracting technology to vehicles instead of working to make them safer.

"In recent days and weeks, we've seen news stories about carmakers adding technology in vehicles that lets drivers update Facebook, surf the Web or do any number of other things instead of driving safely," he said. "Features that pull drivers' hands, eyes and attention away from the road are distractions."

Continue reading " Distracted driving remains a leading cause of Chicago car accidents, traffic accidents nationwide " »

Illinois car crash attorneys from Abels & Annes have recently filed another personal injury lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The case stems from an accident that took place on November 19, 2008 at 21 W. 95th St. in Chicago.

Our clients, who were a driver and passenger in 1997 Chevrolet Blazer, were stopped in traffic when they were rear-ended by the driver of a 1997 Dodge Dakota. Our driver sustained low back injuries and the passenger sustained back and neck injuries in the accident.

Due to their injuries, the driver was seen at the ER at University of Chicago Hospital, while the passenger was seen at the Holy Cross Hospital emergency room.

Over the next several days our clients' pain did not go away. The plaintiff/driver sought treatment with a medical doctor. That doctor then prescribed course of physical therapy which consisted of therapeutic exercise, electric stimulation and heat treatment. The client went to treatment for round 10 sessions over the next month. By the end of December he was feeling much better so his physician discharged him from care.

The plaintiff/passenger also sought follow-up treatment with physician.

There was an attempt to settle the case pre-litigation, however we did not feel insurance carriers offer was sufficient, our clients agreed, and the lawsuit was filed.

These two clients were somewhat fortunate in that their injuries were not too serious and considered "soft tissue". Often we represent plaintiffs who were involved in similar rear end collisions that sustained more significant injuries, such as a herniated or protruding disc. Click here to read more about back and neck injuries.

If you have been hurt in a Chicago car crash, contact an Illinois injury lawyer at Ables & Annes for free case evaluation. There is no fee unless you win. Call 312-924-7575 to speak directly to a lawyer now.

Fewer Chicago bus accidents and trucking accidents should result from distracted driving as a result of a federal ban against text messaging that is now in place nationwide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced at the nation's second annual Distracted Driving Summit in Washinton, D.C.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood also announced the law is being extended to train operators and those in-state truckers engaged in hauling hazardous materials.

Additionally, employer-backed anti-distracted-driving campaigns will enroll another 1.5 million motorists in the workplace within the next year. And a pilot program in Connecticut and New York -- called "Phone in One Hand, Ticket in the Other" -- has been proven to increase compliance in much the same way as seat belt campaigns like "Click it or Ticket it."

All of the measures are part of an aggressive push by the federal government to combat the dangers of text messaging and other forms of distracted driving. As our Chicago accident lawyers continue to report, recent statistics suggest about 5,500 motorists were killed and 500,000 were injured last year in accidents caused by distracted driving. Only speeding and drunk driving were responsible for more carnage on the road.

“We are taking action on a number of fronts to address the epidemic of distracted driving in America,” said LaHood. “With the help of the experts, policymakers, and safety advocates we’ve assembled here, we are going to do everything we can to put an end to distracted driving and save lives.”

The laws aimed at truckers, bus drivers and train operators are important because they create a uniform standard. Part of the concern over laws governing text messaging and cell phone use by drivers is that they create a confusing patchwork of legislation from state to state and even city to city.

Meanwhile, the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, an entity created by the government to work with private sector businesses, announced that nearly 1,600 U.S. businesses have instituted distracted driving policies covering 10.5 million workers with another 550 organizations adopting plans that will cover an additional 1.5 million workers in the next year.

“I am thrilled that businesses across the country are making anti-distracted driving policies an integral part of their employee culture,” said Secretary LaHood. “President Obama led by example last year by banning four million federal workers from texting behind the wheel. Employers across America are doing the same to help us set an example and keep our roads safe.”

The "Phone in One Hand, Ticket in the Other," campaign also proved that the combination of law enforcement efforts and public service announcements improved compliance with local cell phone ordinances in Hartford and Syracuse. Each municipality issued about 5,000 tickets during a two-week enforcement blitz. Subsequent observation reported a decline in cell phone use and text messaging of between 38 and 68 percent.

Continue reading " Prevention of Chicago car accidents to target trucks, buses, trains and automobiles " »

Illinois car crash lawyers from Abels & Annes, working with co-counsel from the Elman Law Group, have filed a lawsuit in Circuit Court of Cook County against an at fault driver. The accident happened back on February 26 2009 at 8101 S. Kedzie in Chicago.

The plaintiff, who was a minor at the time of the accident, was a passenger on a CTA bus. The bus was headed northbound on Kedzie and made a stop at 81st St. At that time, the defendant, who was northbound in a 2000 Honda Civic, tried to swing a right turn in front of the bus to head eastbound. As the driver made the right turn, she struck the front end of the bus.

The Chicago Police Department investigated the Illinois bus vs. car accident. They determined that the driver of the Honda Civic was at fault and issued her a traffic citation. The defendant later pleaded guilty in traffic court to making an improper right turn. She was placed on court supervision and the judge ordered to pay a fine of $140.

Shortly after the accident, the plaintiff started experiencing neck and back pain, and chest and left shoulder pain. She was seen later that same day at Little Company of Mary Hospital.

Over the next few days, her complaints only got worse so she followed up with a medical doctor. Due to the severity of her complaints, the physician ordered an MRI. Over the next several months, the client went through physical therapy and went to follow-up appointments with her physician. The child incurred over $10,000 in medical bills due to injuries sustained in the accident. The lawsuit is asking for an amount less than $50,000 plus costs.

If you're a passenger that has been injured in a Chicago area bus accident, or passenger that has been injured in any type of Illinois motor vehicle accident, contact our office to speak to an injury attorney for free case evaluation. Call 312-924-7575. There's no attorneys fee unless we recover for you.

A significant reduction in the number of Chicago car accidents, as well as serious and fatal traffic accidents elsewhere in Illinois, made the state the safest it has been since 1921, according to 2009 traffic statistics released by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

A total of 911 traffic fatalities were reported in Illinois last year and 89,090 were injured. Those figures indicate about 3 people are killed and 244 are injured every day on Illinois roads. Total economic cost was $5.3 billion.

Each fatality cost $1.3 million. An incapacitating injury cost $66,900, while a nonincapacitating injury cost $21,700.

Fatal Accidents in Illinois
-911 motorists were killed in 832 fatal crashes.
-25.7 crashes occurred at intersections.
-77.2 percent occurred on dry roads.
-48.3 percent occurred in daylight.
-56.4 occurred on urban roads.
-31.7 occurred in a crash with a fixed object.

Illinois Pedestrian Accidents
-111 pedestrians were killed in 2009.
-5,231 were injured.
-One in five fatal pedestrian accidents involved a senior citizen; 1 in 20 involved a child under the age of 15.

Illinois Motorcycle Accidents
-A total of 3,846 motorcycle crashes were reported.
-130 riders were killed and 3,152 were injured.

Illinois School Bus Accidents
-133 school-aged children were injured in school bus accidents.
-78 drivers were injured in school bus accidents.

Illinois Semi Accidents
-64 people were killed in tractor-trailer accidents in Illinois.
-3 fatality victims were occupants of tractor-trailers, while 55 were occupants of other vehicles.

Illinois Train Accidents
-One-fourth of fatal train accidents happened at crossings with gates.
-Three-quarters of fatal train crashes happened at crossings with other types of traffic control devices, including signs and flashing lights.

Illinois Work Zone Accidents
-31 people were killed in Illinois work zone accidents in 2009.
-5 of those killed were construction workers.

Continue reading " Fewer Chicago car accidents contribute to historic statewide reduction; nearly 250 a day still injured in Illinois car accidents " »

A professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago has come to the conclusion that red light cameras in the city do not decrease the number of Chicago car accidents. The professor's reasoning was reported today in the Vancouver Sun.

The City of Chicago is claiming that right angle accidents at intersections with red light cameras were reduced by 20%, and that all types of accidents were reduced by 10%. Professor Rajiv Shah seems to agree with that statistic (actually at around a 21% decrease when analyzing traffic trends from 2001 through 2008), but the problem is that accident rates have actually declined all across the City of Chicago, including on freeways, near schools and construction sites, and on city streets.

The professor's theory for the decrease in accidents is that Chicago residents drove around 1 billion less miles in 2008 than they drove in 2002. So his belief is essentially that less miles driven equals less accidents, and therefore read light cameras have not played a significant role in accident reduction.

Shah then analyzed the Illinois Department of Transportation's data for red light cameras installed between 2006 and 2007, and there were some concerning results. He found that the year after the cameras were installed, accidents of all types at those intersections had a 6% increase. He believes that this was due to an increase of rear end accidents at those locations.

In my own personal experience, I can understand the theory. I regularly pass by red light cameras at two intersections on the North Shore of Chicago at Willow Road. I know the cameras are there, and when a light turns yellow I tend to jam on the brakes (and then look in the rearview mirror and hope that I'm not going to get hit from behind). I seem to do this even though I feel it would be safer to go through the intersection.

The article goes on to point out that there is some evidence that red light cameras have led to a decrease in severe Chicago accidents. However, the decrease only adds up to only a 1.5% difference, and the professor feels that this percentage is so small that it is "statistically meaningless". (The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications compared 10 red light camera intersections to 10 regular intersections and found a 5.3% decrease in severe accidents at red light cameras, as compared to only 3.8% decrease at normal traffic signals).

Shah goes on in the article to give the opinion that in Chicago red light cameras are really all about revenue. In 2009 alone, red light cameras produced over $60 million in fines.

Continue reading " Red light cameras may lead to increase in Chicago auto accidents - that according to Prof. at University of Illinois at Chicago " »

Illinois truck accident lawyers from Abels & Annes filed a lawsuit stemming from a truck vs. car accident that took place in Bellwood, Illinois. The accident occurred back on October 18, 2009 at the intersection of 25th and Madison.

The plaintiffs (both driver and passenger) were northbound on 25th St. stopped at a red light at its intersection with Madison Street. At that time there vehicle was rear-ended by a truck.

The accident was investigated by the Bellwood Police Department. After speaking to the parties involved, the police issued the truck driver citation for driving too fast for conditions.

Immediately after the accident, our client driving the vehicle had neck and back pain. The passenger had head, back and neck pain. Both were seen the same day at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois.

The passenger ended up sustaining significant injuries. Over the next several days her pain increased. She sought additional treatment with a medical doctor.

As time went on she did not improve, her physician ordered an MRI scan. The test showed that the plaintiff had sustained a herniated discs at L4-L5 and L5-S1. She underwent lumbar epidural steroid injections on three separate occasions. She has also sustained around $20,000 in medical bills since the date of the accident. It has not yet been determined the client will need to undergo surgery to alleviate her pain.

The driver of the vehicle also sought follow-up treatment for back and neck pain. He sustained over $8,000 in medical bills since the accident.

The lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

If you've been injured in the Chicago area truck accident, contact a Chicago accident attorney at Abels & Annes for a free case evaluation. Call 312-924-7575 to speak to a lawyer.

A woman from Chicago was killed a week ago Sunday in an Illinois car crash that occurred in suburban Glendale Heights, according to the Daily Herald. The accident took place around 9 PM at the intersection of Bloomingdale Road and North Avenue.

The victim, Lual Mang, 67, was riding as a passenger at the time of the accident. Glendale Heights police ticketed the driver of the car she was riding in with disobeying a traffic control device and driving without insurance.

The passenger was rushed by ambulance to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood were she was pronounced dead a short time later.

As far as a negligence claim is concerned, hopefully the victim had her own policy of auto insurance. If she did, her family will be able to bring in uninsured motorist claim with her own auto carrier. The insurance carrier of the victim will essentially step into the shoes of the uninsured party and pay on the claim. It was not reported if a Chicago injury lawyer is involved in the case yet.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Click here to read more about Illinois uninsured motorist claims.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that a woman and her two children were hit by fire truck in suburban Libertyville, Illinois on Wednesday morning. The Illinois truck vs. pedestrian accident occurred as the fire truck was returning to the station, turning from Cook on to Milwaukee Avenue when it struck the pedestrians crossing the street in a crosswalk, according to police. A lieutenant that was driving the truck was ticketed after the collision for failing to obey a traffic control device.

According to the Lake County News-Sun, the lieutenant turned right on a red light. There is a no turn on red sign from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the intersection.

The kids were being pulled across the street by their mother in a wagon. The truck hit them, knocking the wagon over. The truck immediately stopped.

The wagon reportedly ended up under the fire truck, and the kids crawled out from underneath apparently not injured. The mother sustained non-life-threatening and was taken to Condell Medical Center. The injuries were not life-threatening.

Right and left turn pedestrian accidents are very common in the Chicago area. Often drivers are busy looking for oncoming vehicle traffic, and they fail to observe pedestrians in the road.

Click here to read the story as reported by WGN tv.

The Chicago Daily Herald is reporting that a man from Carpentersville, Illinois has been arrested and is being held in jail due to his alleged involvement in a DuPage County hit-and-run car accident that occurred early on Sunday in West Chicago. The accident resulted in the death of a 27-year-old Schaumburg resident.

The victim was headed northbound on Route 59 in a 2001 Ford escort when the defendant, who was headed eastbound in a 2003 Ford Explorer, disobeyed a traffic signal. The crash was hard enough to cause the Explorer to flip over. The accident victim was rushed to Central DuPage Hospital where he passed away a short time later.

There were six occupants in the Ford Explorer and they all fled the scene of the accident before police arrived. All of the occupants were found at a home in West Chicago shortly after. The investigation is being handled by the West Chicago Police Department.

The defendant has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving death, however police are indicating that charges could be upgraded pending the results of alcohol testing. The DuPage County Judge has set bail at $600,000.

It is not been reported if DuPage County car accident attorneys are involved in the civil end of the case yet.

Illinois car accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have entered into an agreement to represent a Plainfield woman who was injured in a Will County crash. The accident occurred on September 1, 2010 at Interstate 55 & Route 30 in Joliet. Our client was traveling on Route 30 through the intersection with a green light when another driver failed to yield while making a left turn and struck her vehicle.

The Joliet Police Department responded to the accident. After an investigation, police issued a citation to the other driver for failure to yield.

The plaintiff had immediate onset of back pain after the accident. She was taken by ambulance to Provina St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet. Over the following week her pain only increased and she followed up with a medical doctor.

Here is where the case gets interesting: Shortly after the accident my client was contacted by the defendant's insurance carrier. She informed the insurance adjuster that she was injured in the accident, and the insurance company (without knowing the extent of her injuries) immediately offered to settle her case for $1,600, plus they would pay for her medical treatment for the next 60 days.

The claimant was suspicious and contacted our law office. If you've been injured in an accident, accepting an offer from insurance company while you are still undergoing medical treatment is a very bad idea for many reasons. At this point, just days after an accident, the extent of her injuries are unknown. It could just be a bump and bruise case, however, it could be much more serious.

Often an injured party treats with a doctor after an accident for back pain, and the pain does not go away. At that point it is likely that a physician will order an MRI. This test will show whether an accident victim has sustained a more serious injury, such as a herniated disc.

Here is a good example: We currently reset represent a woman who was in an accident that started off similar to the one I just described above. She was in the crash, she had back pain, she went to the ER, she followed up with a doctor.

Today, we are about a year into the case. After initial treatment, the client's back pain did not resolve and an MRI showed she sustained a herniated disc. She has since undergone a surgical procedure called a lumbar fusion. Her medical bills far exceed $100,000. The case has a long way to go, but we expect the settlement value, at a minimum, to be worth several hundred thousand dollars.

Can you imagine if this plaintiff settled her case for $1,600 with a 60 day limit on medical treatment? This situation is the perfect example of why injury victims need legal representation when dealing with insurance carriers.

If you've been injured in a Chicago car accident, contact the Illinois personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes to make sure your rights are fully protected. Call 312-924-7575 for a free appointment or telephone consultation.

It started in Chicago with Oprah, but the Boston Globe is the latest media outlet to report that celebrities are the latest weapon being used to combat distracted driving caused by cell phone use or text messaging behind the wheel.

We reported in January on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog when Oprah launched her "No Phone Zone"pledge in an effort to combat Chicago car accidents and traffic accidents nationwide caused by distracted driving.

Now, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gears up for the second annual Distracted Driving Summit in Washington D.C., next week, celebrities are being enlisted with increasing frequency.

Oprah's pledge has drawn 400,000 participants and has been followed by celebrity pitches as diverse as American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, the Incredible Hulk Lou Ferrigno and Today host Meredith Viera. Eighty-eight year old actress Betty White has gotten in on the action, as has 23-year-old Olympic snowboarding champion Shaun White.

It's clear that the federal government is pulling out all the stops to get states to enact laws banning text messaging while driving and to get motorists to pay attention to the dangers. As our Chicago injury lawyers frequently report, the federal government pins 6,000 deaths and more than 500,000 injuries each year on distracted driving, making it the most dangerous road hazard after speeding and drunk driving.

Thus far 30 states have banned text messaging by all drivers, according to the Governor's Highway Safety Association. Eleven of those states have passed measures this year.

Illinois' law took effect January 1 and makes it illegal to text message while driving or to use hand-held cell phones in school zones or construction sites. Drivers in Chicago have been prohibited from using hand-held cell phones since 2005.

The latest push has occurred among young celebrities, including the Jonas Brothers, as studies show that young drivers are the most at-risk for a serious or fatal accident caused by distracted driving, and particularly text messaging.

The government is also participating in anti-distracted driving campaigns in partnership with the National Football League and NASCAR.

Continue reading " Distracted driving message embraced by celebrities as authorities focus on reducing car accidents in Chicago and nationwide " »

A Chicago area car accident on the Tri-State Tollway (I-80/294) has resulted in the death of to motorists, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting. The deadly Illinois accident occurred when a car that was going the wrong way on the Tollway hit an SUV head-on near East Hazel Crest.

The collision happened early Sunday morning around 3 AM. The at fault car was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes, according to the Illinois State Police. The vehicles collided near the Indiana state line. A witness to the accident stated the car going the wrong way was traveling around 90 miles per hour.

The driver moving in the right direction, 24-year-old Mohammed M. Musa of Chicago, died at the scene. The at fault driver was taken to Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest and he was pronounced dead a short time later. No one else was injured. It has not been reported if alcohol or drugs played a role in the accident.

Click here to read the story as reported by Fox News in Chicago.

Illinois car crash lawyers at Abels & Annes have reached a settlement in a lawsuit for case pending in Cook County, Illinois. The accident occurred at 6600 South Martin Luther King Dr. in Chicago.

Our client was traveling northbound on King Drive when the defendant, who was southbound, crossed the center line and struck the plaintiff's vehicle. The defendant had been traveling too fast for conditions for the road and had to slam on his brakes to avoid hitting a bus, and that is why his vehicle lost control and crossed the center.

Our client was taken by ambulance to Trinity Hospital with neck and shoulder injuries. Due to ongoing neck pain he went to follow-up treatment at University of Chicago Hospitals. Our client eventually had an MRI scan that showed he sustained a bulging disc in the crash.

The case settled prior to trial for $18,330. The defendant was insured by United Automobile Insurance.

The settlement was actually the second payout our client received due to the accident. At the time of the collision, plaintiff was employed by SBC as a cable splicer and he was on the job at the time of the injury. In addition to the lawsuit against the at fault driver, our law firm that filed a workers' compensation claim on his behalf.

A work injury lawyer at our office had previously settled the comp claim for just over $11,000. In addition to that, we obtained temporary total disability benefits for him of over $4,000 while he was off work due to the accident.

If you've been injured in the Chicago car crash or an Illinois work accident, contact the personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for free consultation. Call 312-924-7575 to speak to a lawyer now.

For the first time in recent history, the number of fatal accidents declined in all categories nationwide in 2009, including fatal motorcycle accidents, which broke an 11-year string of annual increases, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Our Chicago injury lawyers will be examining the data as it is released. A total of 33,808 were killed in car accidents nationwide, the lowest number since the 33,186 recorded in 1950. A total of 37,423 people were killed in accidents in 2008.

One-third of all highway fatalities are still alcohol related. While fewer Illinois drunk driving accidents were reported in 2009, the percentage of alcohol involvement actually increased. Last year, 35 percent of Illinois traffic fatalities involved drunk drivers, or 319 of 911 deaths. In 2008, 34 percent of the state's traffic deaths were linked to alcohol -- 356 of 1,043.

So far in 2010, Chicago car accidents are responsible for about 15 percent of all Illinois traffic fatalities, accounting for 95 of 601 road deaths.

Fatal motorcycle accidents declined by 850, accounting for 24 percent of the overall drop in traffic fatalities. And passenger car occupant fatalities declined for the 7th year in a row and are now at the lowest level since NHTSA began recording them in 1975.

Among the findings:

Total Traffic Fatalities: 33,808 -- down 9.7 percent from 37,423
Passenger Vehicles: 23,382 -- down 8.2 percent from 25,462
Large Trucks: 503 -- down 26 percent from 682
Motorcycles: 4,462 -- down 16 percent from 5,312
Pedestrians: 4,092 -- down 7.3 percent from 4,414
Bicyclists: 150 -- down 12 percent from 188

Injuries were also down across the board:

Total Injuries: 2.217 million -- down 5.5 percent from 2.346 million
Passenger Vehicles: 1.976 million -- down 4.6 percent from 2.072 million
Large Trucks: 17,000 -- down 26 percent from 23,000
Motorcycles: 90,000 -- down 6.3 percent from 96,000
Pedestrians: 59,000 -- down 14 percent from 69,000
Bicyclists: 51,000 -- down 1.9 percent from 52,000

Continue reading " Chicago injury lawyers review 2009 accident stats; percentage of Illinois drunk driving accidents increases slightly " »

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration officially announced on Thursday that the U.S. recorded the fewest traffic fatalities last year in six decades.

Our Chicago car accident lawyers have been reporting all year, both here and on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, that the number of serious and fatal Illinois traffic accidents has continued to decline in 2010. As of Sept. 10, a total of 601 fatal crashes have occurred so far this year in Illinois -- 32 fewer than the 633 reported last year, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Ninety-five fatal accidents have been reported so far this year in Chicago.

Nationwide, a total of 33,808 fatal accidents were reported in 2009 -- down 9.7 percent from the 37,423 deaths reported in 2008. The record decline marks the lowest number of fatalities since 1950, which recorded 33,186.

An estimated 2.217 million were injured -- a decline of about 5 percent from the 2.346 million injured in 2008. That marks the 10th straight year that the number of people injured in car accidents has declined.

“Today’s announcement shows that America’s roads are the safest they’ve ever been," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. "But they must be safer. And we will not rest until they are.”

The NHTSA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that car accidents are the leading cause of death for U.S. residents between the ages of 3 and 34.

The number of fatal drunk driving accidents also declined, dropping 7.4 percent to 10,839 from the 11,711 reported in 2008.

“Today’s numbers reflect the tangible benefits of record seat belt use and strong anti-drunk driving enforcement campaigns,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “But we are still losing more than 30,000 lives a year on our highways, and about a third of these involve drunk driving. We will continue to work with our state partners to strictly enforce both seat belt use and anti-drunk driving laws across this nation, every day and every night.”

Other highlights:

-33 states and Puerto Rico reported a decline in the number of fatal drunk driving accidents.

-41 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico reported an overall reduction in fatalities.

-Florida (422 fewer) and Texas (405 fewer) reported the largest declines.

We will continue to report how Illinois compares to the rest of the nation as the government releases more detailed information in the coming weeks. Please check back.

Continue reading " Fewer Chicago car accidents no surprise: Government reports lowest number of traffic fatalities since 1950 " »

A new study found that 17 million motorists a year drive drunk despite 80 percent of drivers who cite drunk driving as a serious threat to the health and welfare of their family.

The study found that 8 percent of motorists admitted to driving drunk at least once in the past year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As our Chicago injury lawyers have frequently reported, drunk driving crashes are a leading cause of Illinois car accidents -- 434 of 1,043 fatal accidents that were reported in 2008 involved alcohol.

The news has Mothers Against Drunk Driving redoubling its efforts as we head into the heart of the 2010 holiday season.

“The survey makes one thing very clear: drunk driving remains a primary threat to the American family,” said Laura Dean-Mooney, MADD National President. “This means that MADD’s work won’t be done until cars are turned into the cure, eliminating drunk driving forever.”

Still, there is good news: MADD says drunk driving fatalities have declined nationwide by 44 percent in the 30 years since the organization's inception. And the survey found support for ignition interlock devices and sobriety checkpoints, two of the enforcement actions most promoted by MADD and other safety advocates.

Like many poor driving decision, the study found that teenagers are among those most at risk; particularly young men under the age of 24. A full one-fourth of all young males admitted to driving drunk or riding in a car with someone who had too much to drink at some point during the last year.

“We know that the younger kids start drinking alcohol, the more likely they are to become drunk drivers,” said Dean-Mooney. “This data reiterates that point and makes it clear that parents need to talk to their kids about the dangers of drinking underage early, and often.”

Continue reading " Progress not perfection: Advocates vow to continue fight against Chicago car accidents caused by drunk drivers " »

Chicago car crash that occurred on Sunday night has resulted in five people being injured, including three teenagers, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The accident took place when a northbound SUV on Interstate 55 was on a connecting ramp to Lake Shore Drive when it rolled over.

All five of the injured were hospitalized in serious to critical condition after the crash. Two of the injured were taken to Cook County Hospital and three were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital by ambulance.

A total of seven people were riding an SUV. The 18-year-old driver of the SUV is likely to be issued multiple citations, as two of the teenage passengers were not wearing seatbelts.

The Illinois State Police investigated the accident. They believe speed was a major factor in the crash, but they do not believe drugs or alcohol played a role. Their investigation is ongoing.

The accident temporarily shut down parts of Lake Shore Drive near downtown.

It is not been reported if Chicago car accident lawyers are involved in the case yet. In this type of accident, the hurt passengers all have a right to bring injury claims against the at fault driver. If the SUV driver does not have enough insurance to cover the accident, the injured passengers could have the right to make underinsured motorist claims against their own auto insurance policies.

Click here to read more about Chicago car accident claims and Illinois uninsured / underinsured motorist claims.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Chicago Breaking News Center.

Illinois school bus accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have settled a lawsuit that stems from a June 4, 2008 collision in the Western suburb of Woodridge.

At the time of the accident, our client was a passenger on a Pace bus that was rear-ended by a school bus. The accident happened at 63rd and Woodard. Several other passengers were injured in the bus accident.

The accident was investigated by the Woodridge Police Department. After interviewing the parties involved, they issued the school bus driver a citation for driving too fast for conditions.

Our client was taken by ambulance to Hinsdale Hospital after the accident. There, she was treated for back and neck injuries. X-rays taken at the hospital that were negative for fractures.

Over the next several days, her pain only got worse. She sought follow-up treatment with a chiropractic physician in Bolingbrook, Illinois. There, our client underwent a course of treatment that lasted just under two months. Her pain resolved by the time of her last appointment.

The case settled for $9,500 within weeks after filing a lawsuit.

If you or your child has been injured in an Illinois school bus accident, contact the Chicago personal injury lawyers at our office for free consultation. To speak directly to a lawyer now, call 312-924-7575.

Allstate Insurance reports that Chicago is among the most dangerous places in the nation when it comes to the risk of being involved in a traffic accident.

If injured in a collision, we strongly urge you to consult with a Chicago car accident lawyer so that your rights can be fully protected. You should speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident.

The Sun-Times reports the number of serious and fatal Chicago car accidents was enough to rank the city 167th safest out of 200 U.S. cities.

Though that is slightly better than the 170th place ranking last year, the study still found that the average Chicago driver is involved in an accident every 7.6 years. Chicago scored worse than major U.S. cities like Atlanta, Houston and New York but better than Los Angeles and Dallas.

Drivers in Chicago were 32.3 percent more likely to be involved in an accident than the national average.

Washington D.C. was the worst city in the nation, with the average driver reporting an accident every 5.1 years. The best city was Fort Collins, Colo., where drivers went an average of about 14.5 years without reporting an accident.

FOX Chicago reported that Naperville cane in at number 133, while Rockford placed 38.

"For the sixth year, Allstate is releasing the Allstate America's Best Driver's Report to facilitate an ongoing dialogue on safe driving," said Mike Roche, senior vice president, Allstate's Claim Organization. "Human error is the biggest cause of accidents. It is vital for us to educate drivers across the country on the importance of being tolerant and attentive behind the wheel."

Safe Driving Tips offered with the study include:

-Minimize Distractions

-Be Aware of Road Conditions

-Maintain a safe following distance

-Avoid Road Rage by allowing plenty of time to reach your destination and not engaging in aggressive driving habits.

-Properly maintain your vehicle

Continue reading " High risk of Chicago car accidents places city among the nation's worst " »

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is accusing the federal government of getting sidetracked by text messaging and runaway Toyotas instead of tackling the tough work of forcing the auto industry to incorporate better safety technology into vehicles, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Our Chicago accident attorneys have reported exhaustively, both here and on our sister site Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, regarding the efforts by the government to combat text messaging and cell phone use by drivers.

The Toyota recall issues was well-documented, if not drastically overplayed, throughout the spring and summer months.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration blames 6,000 deaths and 500,000 injuries a year on distracted driving. However, about 34,000 deaths -- or 100 deaths a day -- occur on the nation's roads. Traffic crashes remain the number one cause of accidental death in the United States.

"There's nothing rational about the way we set highway safety priorities," said Institute President Adrian Lund in the organization's August Status Report. the IIHS is the safety and advocacy arm of the insurance industry. "You'd think from the media coverage, congressional hearings, and the U.S. Department of Transportation's focus in recent months that separating drivers from their phones would all but solve the public-health problem of crash deaths and injuries -- It won't."

Naturally, the U.S. Department of Transportation took exception to the Institute's position in a response published in the Wall Street Journal.

"Safety is the Department of Transportation's number one priority, which is why we are aggressively and urgently tackling a number of risks to drivers' safety," the DOT's statement said. "We are going to continue taking drunk drivers off the road, getting people to put down their phones and other distractions, making sure cars and trucks are safe to drive, and doing whatever else is necessary to keep Americans safe behind the wheel."

Whether the government has overemphasized Toyota defects and the dangers of text messaging is debatable. However, the NHTSA has yet to release traffic accident statistics from last year, which usually occurs by mid-summer. The NHTSA is the arm that has taken a lead role in both issues.

Continue reading " Chicago car accidents caused by more than distracted driving and runaway Toyotas " »

NBC news is reporting that a total of nine people have been hurt, seven seriously, in a Chicago car crash. The accident happened in the Logan Square neighborhood on the north side just after 2 AM on Saturday morning. It is being reported that a driver of a silver Infiniti caused the accident, however there is no indication that the crash was alcohol related, that according to the Chicago Police Department.

Infiniti was headed westbound on Fullerton Avenue when it hit another Infiniti vehicle at or near Sacramento Boulevard. The at fault driver then fled the scene of the accident and headed back east on Fullerton at a high rate of speed. As the silver Infiniti fled, it crashed into a taxicab in a Toyota in the 2900 block of W. Fullerton Ave.

The force of the impact ejected three people from the Infiniti, injured the taxi driver and passenger, and injured the woman driving the Toyota. According to witnesses, the at fault driver was alert after the crash, however the three passengers that were ejected were unresponsive.

The injured victims in the accident were taken by ambulance to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, Norwegian Hospital, Illinois Masonic Medical Center, and St. Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center. The severity of the injuries has not yet been reported.

In an accident like this, it is a good idea to seek help from a Chicago injury lawyer. The first potential problem is whether or not the at fault Infiniti driver had auto insurance. In my experience, most drivers that flee the scene are uninsured. The next issue is, if there was insurance, whether there's enough insurance money to go around. Because so many people were injured in this car crash, there will most likely not be enough insurance.

What could happen is that, with the help of the Chicago car crash attorney, the injured parties will be able to make uninsured motorist claims, or underinsured motorist claims, against their own auto insurance policies. Click here to read more about Illinois uninsured and underinsured motorist claims.

Click here to read the story as reported by CBS News and ABC News in Chicago.

Chicago injury attorneys at Abels & Annes have reached a settlement in a pedestrian accident case that occurred on the north side.

The accident took place on December 16, 2009 at the intersection of Sheridan Road and Estes. Our client was walking northbound on the west side of Sheridan Road. The defendant was driving westbound on Estes. Our client had a walk signal at the stop light and began to cross Estes within a marked crosswalk. At that time the driver, who was in an SUV, had a red light. The defendant entered the crosswalk on red and the front of the SUV struck our client, causing her to fall to the ground. She landed on her backside and head.

The Chicago Police Department responded to the accident. At the scene the defendant admitted to the investigating police officer that he did not see our client in the crosswalk. An independent witness also reported to the police that our client was crossing within the crosswalk on a green light.

After the accident the plaintiff had immediate onset of pain. She had pain on the back of her head, both knees and her left hand. She was transported by ambulance to the emergency room at St. Francis Hospital. There, a history was taken she was examined and diagnostic tests were performed. She was prescribed pain medication and instructed to seek follow up medical care.

Due to our clients ongoing and increasing complaints of pain and discomfort, including onset of neck and back pain, she sought medical treatment two days later with a medical doctor. The doctor prescribed pain medication and a course of physical therapy.

She went to physical therapy at ATI in Chicago. She was seen a total of 22 times over two months. After that, she was discharged with a home exercise program.

The case settled for $22,250. American Family Insurance paid on the claim. The case settled without having to file a lawsuit.

If you've been injured in a Chicago pedestrian accident, contact the Illinois personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for a free consultation. Call 312-924-7575 to speak to a lawyer now

Chicago motorcycle accident lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. have entered into an agreement to represent a motorcyclist from the North Side who was injured in an August 27 accident. The collision occurred as our client rode his motorcycle northbound on Milwaukee Avenue near its intersection with Paulina.

At that time the driver of an SUV failed to see our client and turned left without yielding. There was a collision and the plaintiff was knocked to the ground.

A Chicago Fire Department ambulance rushed the plaintiff to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He sustained multiple lacerations on his legs, a left ankle injury, multiple bruises and abrasions, and neck and back injuries. 52 stitches were required to repair his lacerations.

The injured motorcycle rider is following up with a medical doctor for further treatment.

The Chicago Police Department investigated the accident. The driver of the SUV was ticketed for failing to yield while turning left.

Continue reading " Chicago injury lawyers retained in Illinois motorcycle accident case " »

Officials in Indiana are trying to make sense of a study that found that teens who take driver's education classes are four time more likely to be involved in a crash than those who forgo the training.

The report by the Chicago Breaking News Center comes as officials nationwide continue the effort to reduce the number of serious and fatal car accidents involving teen drivers. As we reported on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, a teen challenge is running through mid-September, which encourages young drivers to submit public service announcements about the dangers of texting and driving.

Safety advocates point to Illinois' Graduated Driver Licensing System, considered by some to be one of the nation's best young-driver programs, for the reduction in Chicago car accidents involving teenagers.

“I am pleased and encouraged that the number of teen crash fatalities continues to drop since my Teen Driver Safety Task Force issued recommendations that led to the strengthening of Illinois’ graduated driver licensing (GDL) program,” said Secretary of State Jesse White. “Since the stronger GDL program took effect in 2008, teen driving deaths have dropped by over 50 percent."

Still, 164 motorists were killed in Illinois car accidents involving young drivers in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nationwide, 5,864 young drivers were involved in fatal crashes and more than 228,000 motorists were injured in accidents involving young drivers.

The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette reported that the study looked at 122,924 young drivers in Indiana, more than half of whom did not take driver's education. Nearly five percent of driver's ed students were involved in an accident, compared to 1 percent of students without formal driver training. Officials caution that some of the discrepancy might be because teens who take driver's ed are allowed to get their permits at a younger age and hold a permit for at least six months longer.

Still, the Associated Press reported it might be time to overhaul the driver education system in that state, which has not been updated in three decades.

Continue reading " Training of teen drivers has led to fewer Chicago car accidents -- In Indiana ... not so much " »