Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

An Illinois car crash on the near North Side of Chicago has resulted in injuries to three people when an SUV struck a wall, according to the Chicago Tribune. The accident happened early Monday morning around 3:50 AM in the area of the Merchandise Mart at the intersection of Kinsey and Franklin streets.

It is being reported that the SUV struck a support wall in an underground parking garage. Three male occupants in the vehicle were taken by ambulance to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious to critical condition. They were traveling in an Infiniti SUV truck. The driver, who was in his late 20s, is reportedly in stable condition. One hurt passenger was in the front seat, the other in the rear.

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. The Chicago Police Department is handling the accident investigation.

Typically, in a single car accidents, injured passengers have the right to make claims against the driver's auto insurance policy. Chicago injury lawyers at our law firm have handled several cases in the past for passengers injured in single car collisions where the driver was traveling too fast for conditions and lost control of his or her vehicle.

An Illinois personal injury lawyer has filed a lawsuit on behalf of an Oak lawn man who died in a Chicago car vs. pedestrian accident that occurred last Thanksgiving, according to the Neighborhood Star. The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in Circuit Court of Cook County. The victim's mother has been named special administrator of the estate for the purposes of the suit.

The accident reportedly occurred when the victim was trying to push his disabled vehicle and 6500 block of Cicero Avenue around 3 AM. At that time an alleged drunk and speeding driver struck the pedestrian.

The victim was rushed by ambulance to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he passed away several hours later. Four other people were hurt in the accident, and five ambulances responded to the crash.

The defendant, a 31-year-old South Side resident, was criminally charged with felony aggravated DUI, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and leaving the scene of an accident.

Also listed as a defendant in the civil lawsuit is a tavern (and its owners) where the driver was allegedly drinking alcohol prior to the crash.

The Illinois pedestrian accident lawyer that is representing the victim's family was not named in the newspaper article.

An Illinois auto accident lawyer at Abels & Annes has signed on to represent a Chicago woman that was injured in an October, 2010 collision. The Chicago car crash occurred on Interstate 294 at around 8 AM during the morning rush-hour.

Our client was northbound on the interstate and stopped in traffic when a driver slammed into her from the rear. Shortly after the accident she developed severe back, neck and left shoulder pain.

Since the date of the accident the plaintiff has undergone treatment with three different orthopedic physicians in the Chicago area, including doctors at Illinois Bone and Joint Institute. Due to the severity of her pain, she has now been referred for an MRI to determine if she sustained more serious injuries.

The Illinois State Police handled the crash investigation and they placed the rear ending driver at fault in the police report.

Contact the Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes if you've been hurt in an Illinois car crash. Call us at 312-924-7575 for free case evaluation.

The Chicago injury attorneys and staff at Abels & Annes wish each of you a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend and remind you to practice the safe driving habits that will reduce your risk of being involved in a Chicago car accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 354 fatal accidents occurred over the Thanksgiving holiday last year.

In Illinois, Thanksgiving's 12 fatal accidents was second only to Memorial Day's 17, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Last year, 12 motorists were killed and more than 800 were seriously injured in Illinois car accidents over the Thanksgiving weekend.

The Chicago Tribune reports that more than 2.1 million Illinois motorists are expected to hit the roads through the Holiday. By comparison, only 87,000 are expected to fly.

Overall, AAA expects travel to increase by 4.3 million travelers, or 11.4 percent nationwide.

"We do see this as a reflection on the modestly improving economy, but it should be noted that we're not out of the woods yet,'' AAA spokeswoman Beth Mosher told the Tribune. "The 4.3 million increase in total travelers over last year is less than half of the volume lost from 2007 through 2009.''

The following Illinois safe travel tips are adapted from information published by USA Today.

-Make sure your car is in good repair and has been properly serviced.

-Allow for plenty of time to reach your destination.

-Take a break every two hours to remain alert while driving.

-Hit the road by noon Wednesday to avoid gridlock. Expect heavier than normal traffic on Sunday.

Continue reading " Chicago injury lawyers wish you a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday " »

A Chicago hit-and-run accident has caused severe injuries to a pedestrian on the North Side, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The collision occurred early Sunday morning in the Edgewater neighborhood.

Around 3:30 AM a red vehicle that was traveling in a northwest direction struck the pedestrian in the area of 5900 N. Ridge Ave. The motorist then fled the scene. Rescue personnel from the Chicago fire Department rushed the pedestrian to St. Francis hospital Evanston where he is reportedly being treated for severe head injuries and is in critical condition.

The vehicle that may have been involved was located later that same day in the 6000 block of N. Lincoln Ave. in a motel parking lot. The Chicago Police Department's major accident investigation unit is stating that they have been in contact with someone who may have been the driver.

Police are also stating that it was not raining at the time of the accident and there were no skid marks showing the driver tried to stop. 30 mph is the speed limit at the location. There is actually a red light camera at the accident location, however it is not been determined if a photo was taken.

Police have not yet been able to interview the pedestrian.

Click here to read the story as reported by WGN-TV and ABC news.

Click here to read more about Chicago pedestrian accident lawsuits and Illinois hit-and-run injury claims.

A motorist that crossed an interstate median has caused an Illinois truck versus car crash, killing himself and a truck driver, according to ksdk.com. The deadly auto accident occurred Wednesday on Interstate 64 in Clinton County.

The Illinois State Police are handling the crash investigation and they are reporting that a car traveled across the median near milepost 36 and headed eastbound in the westbound lanes until it slammed head-on into a semi truck. The wrong way driver, a 39-year-old St. Louis resident, was rushed to a nearby hospital and died a short time later.

The truck driver, a 29-year-old woman from Florida, passed away at the scene of the accident. Her husband, who was riding as a passenger, survived the accident and was taken to nearby St. John's Mercy Hospital with serious injuries.

State police do not know what caused the driver to travel into oncoming traffic. The crash investigation is ongoing.

stltoday.com is reporting that after the collision the truck left the road, struck an embankment and then caught on fire. The trucker was trapped in the vehicle and died in the fire.

The collision occurred just before 5 AM and it shut down part of the highway for around 12 hours.

An Illinois car crash in Streator has left five students hurt, according to pantagraph.com. The accident happened on Saturday night and two teenagers remain hospitalized.

The Livingston County Sheriff's Department is handling the crash investigation. They are reporting that the car the teenagers were traveling in was on a rural road when its driver lost control and overturned several times. The crash occurred in the area of the Twin Creek Golf Course.

One of the injured, a 15-year-old Woodland student, is in critical condition in Peoria at Children's Hospital of Illinois. Another student, also age 15 from Ancona, is hospitalized in good condition.

The driver of the car, a 16-year-old from Streater, was taken by ambulance to St. Mary's Hospital. He has since been released. Two other 15-year-old passengers were taken to St. James Hospital in Pontiac and released a short time later.

The sheriffs department is still investigating the accident and no citations have yet been issued.

It has not been reported if an Illinois injury attorney is involved in the case yet on behalf of any of the injured minors. As far as a civil case is concerned, the injured teenage passengers have the right to make a negligence claim against the at fault driver's insurance policy. Hopefully the teen driver had enough insurance to cover the loss.

The Illinois Department of Transportation reports an increased emphasis on seat-belt enforcement and a crackdown on impaired drivers in an effort to reduce the risk of car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere as we head into the winter driving season.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys urge motorists to have their vehicles serviced, including a thorough inspection of brakes and tires, and to talk to family members about the importance of making good driving decisions as we head into the holidays.

The state reports a significant difference in seat belt use between front and back seat passengers -- back seat passengers killed in accidents were nearly twice as likely to be unbuckled, according to 2003 to 2009 crash data. Last year, 628 passenger car occupants (cars and light trucks) were killed in Illinois car accidents. Only 27 percent of those killed while riding in the back seat were properly restrained.

“Sadly, the holiday season, which for many is the happiest time of the year, can also be one of the deadliest and most tragic,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. “Wearing a safety belt costs nothing, but not wearing it could cost you a ticket or worse…your life. The same applies when you have been drinking and choose to drive. We want all drivers and passengers to remember Click It or Ticket, day and night and You Drink & Drive. You Lose.”

Illinois drunk driving accidents are a significant safety threat through the holiday season. Nationwide, one-third of all fatal crashes involved alcohol in 2008, resulting in 11,773 deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Drunk driving accidents in Illinois resulted in the deaths of 404 motorists.

Through the Thanksgiving Holiday, the Illinois State Police and more than 150 local law enforcement agencies will be conducting roadside safety checks and impaired driver saturation patrols.

Illinois law does not currently require backseat adult passengers to wear seat belts.

Continue reading " Drunk driving crackdown, seat belt enforcement, aimed at reducing Chicago car accidents through holidays " »

A Chicago area auto accident has claimed the life of a 17-year-old teenager from Winfield, Illinois, according to the Chicago Tribune. The DuPage County crash took place Saturday evening around 9 PM in unincorporated West Chicago. The driver was pronounced dead just after 4 AM on Sunday.

The teenage driver was traveling in a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta eastbound on Garys Mill Road. Just after he passed Indian Knoll Road a 1997 Ford F-150 pickup truck exited a residential driveway and the Volkswagen then struck the rear portion of the truck.

Winfield Fire Department rescue personnel responded to the accident rushed the teen driver to Central DuPage Hospital. There, he was placed on life support and later passed away. The exact nature of the injuries that caused him to die were not reported.

The accident was investigated by the DuPage County Sheriff's Department. It is not known if citations or other charges were issued to the pickup truck driver.

If the newspaper account of the accident is correct, the victim's family could have a civil claim against the driver of the pickup truck. A motorist exiting a residential driveway has the duty to yield to vehicles on the roadway and not enter the street until it is safe to do so.

The accident is reportedly still under investigation.

Click here to read the stories reported by the Wheaton Sun.

An Illinois car crash has claimed the life of a woman from Bolingbrook when an alleged drunk SUV driver crashed through her apartment window early Saturday morning, according to WGN news. The 17-year-old driver was arrested after the accident and another person was being questioned. The investigation is being handled by the Bolingbrook Police Department, and the Will County States Attorneys Office is in the process of determining what charges are to be filed.

Police suspect the teen had been drinking alcohol. The teen was reportedly lost control of his vehicle, left a roadway and crashed through a bedroom window of a first-floor apartment where the woman was sleeping. The victim, age 48, was trapped underneath the SUV after it struck the apartment.

Before impact, the SUV reportedly traveled through a common area at the apartment complex, passed by another building, and then hit the victim's apartment. The woman's husband was also in bed act the time of the accident. He survived and was taken by ambulance to Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital.

While this seems like a bizarre accident, vehicles crashing into buildings is not uncommon in the Chicago area. However, this is the first time in recent memory I can recall someone being killed in such an accident.

Chicago personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes have handled two accident claims over the past several years where a plaintiff was injured after a vehicle struck a building. In one case, our client was at home in bed in a first-floor bedroom when an elderly neighbor hit her accelerator instead of the brakes while trying to park her car. The driver drove right into our client's house, hitting the bed she was sleeping in.

In another case, we worked on an injury claim for man who was eating at a restaurant in downtown Chicago when the driver lost control of his vehicle, drove into the establishment, and struck several patrons.

Click here to see a photo of Saturday morning's accident.

New data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that children continue to be at high risk for Chicago car accidents, bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents.

Traffic accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14. Last year, 1,314 kids were killed and 179,000 were injured in traffic accidents nationwide. An average of 4 children are killed and 490 were injured in car accidents every day last year.

Our Chicago accident lawyers frequently report on the common causes of serious and fatal car accidents, including speeding, distracted driving and drunk driving. When it comes to children, obeying car seat and booster seat laws, and ensuring that your child is properly seat belted, can go a long way to ensuring their safety in the event of an accident. The government reports that child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injuries to infants by 71 percent and to toddlers by 54 percent.

-Children also face significant risk of being seriously injured or killed in a Chicago pedestrian accident. Nationwide last year, 244 children under the age of 14 were killed in pedestrian accidents and more than 13,000 were injured.

-And, while the popularity of cycling has witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of serious and fatal injuries involving middle-aged men, young children have always faced significant risk. Last year, 74 were killed in bicycle accidents and more than 8,000 were injured.

-Tragically, drunk driving accidents killed 181 kids last year and in half of those cases the children were passengers in the vehicle with the intoxicated driver.

-Illinois car accidents killed 34 children last year, including one victim under the age of 1 and 18 victims who were 1 to 7 years old.

Continue reading " Government reports that children remain at high risk for Chicago car accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents " »

A Cook County Circuit Court Judge has set bond at $200,000 for a defendant due to his alleged involvement in a fatal Chicago area DUI auto accident, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center. The accident occurred early Saturday morning by the westbound Arlington Heights Road exit ramp on the Jane Addams Tollway.

The defendant, 21-year-old man from Hoffman Estates, has been charged with reckless homicide and aggravated DUI after he was released from Northwest Community Hospital. The accident resulted in the death of his passenger, a 20-year-old man who was also from Hoffman Estates.

The defendant appeared in Rolling Meadows branch court. Assistant State's Attorneys said that witnesses to the crash observed the defendant driving a Toyota Camry at a high rate of speed and then roll over as it approached the off-ramp. The victim, a former Conant High School athlete, was pronounced dead a short time later at Northwest Community Hospital.

It is not been reported if Illinois personal injury attorneys are involved in the case yet or if a civil lawsuit is been filed on behalf of the victim.

Two firefighters were injured in a Chicago auto accident that occurred on the South Side early Saturday morning, according to WGN TV. The collision occurred when a minivan rear-ended a Chicago fire truck as the driver was getting off the Dan Ryan Expressway S. Lafayette Ave. and W. 71st St. The incident occurred around 1 AM as both vehicles were moving southbound on Lafayette.

The firefighters were taken by ambulance to Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park in fair condition. Chicago Police Department's major accident investigation unit came out to the scene, but they ended up not handling the investigation.

The driver of the minivan was also hurt and was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in serious to critical condition. It has not been reported if the at fault driver was ticketed by the Chicago Police Department or if drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident.

Read the story as reported by firechief.com here.

A new study reports that drowsy driving may be responsible for an increasing number of car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere. As the Los Angeles Times reported, if the driver beside you is not talking on his phone, texting, speeding or drunk, there is an increasing chance that he or she may be just barely awake.

The AAA Foundation for Highway Safety reports that more than 2 in every 5 drivers admit to having fallen asleep while behind the wheel. One in 10 drivers say they have fallen asleep at the wheel in the last year.

One in 4 drivers said they have driven in the past month, despite being so tired they could barely keep their eyes open.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys frequently mention the dangers associated with distracted driving, speeding and drunk driving. But driver fatigue and drowsy driving deserve more attention. The problem could be even more acute with the early darkness and cold weather, which prompts drivers to roll up their windows, and turn up the heat inside their vehicles.

With this week being Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, safety advocates, including the National Sleep Foundation, are encouraging drivers to take seriously the threat drowsy driving poses to your own safety and to the safety of other motorists behind the wheel.

"Sleepiness decreases awareness, slows reaction time, and impairs judgment, just like drugs or alcohol, contributing to the possibility of a crash," said AAA Foundation President Peter Kissinger. "We need to change the culture so that not only will drivers recognize the dangers of driving while drowsy but will stop doing it."

A new analysis by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that 1 in 6 fatal crashes involve drowsy driving, which would account for more than 5,500 deaths on the road each year. Additionally, the report found that drowsy driving is involved in 1 in 8 crashes that result in hospitalization and 1 in 14 crashes that result in a vehicle being towed from the scene.

"Many of us tend to underestimate the negative effects associated with fatigue and sleep deprivation and, conversely, overestimate our abilities to overcome them while driving," said Kathleen Marvaso of AAA. "This data underscores the importance of educating drivers on the simple, yet effective steps they can take to prevent a possible tragedy. Unfortunately, too many drivers have adopted the 'I'm tired, but I can make it’ mentality, often to their own peril or to the peril of others."

Drivers should remain alert for symptoms of drowsy driving, which may include trouble keeping eyes open or focused, an inability to keep your head up, wandering thoughts or daydreaming, drifting out of your lane or tailgating.

AAA tips for remaining alert:

-Get at least six hours of sleep the night before a long trip.

-Schedule a break every 100 miles or two hours.

-Stay overnight rather than attempting to drive straight through.

-Drive during hours when you would normally be awake.

-Stop driving if you are sleepy.

Continue reading " Drowsy driving prevention week aims to reduce risk of Chicago car accidents " »

Wide receiver Earl Bennett of the Chicago Bears is reportedly thankful to be alive after being involved in an Illinois auto accident early Monday morning, according to ESPN. He is reportedly "okay" after being rear-ended on the Ohio Street feeder ramp just after midnight.

Bennett was driving a 1973 Chevy Impala when he was rear-ended by 1998 Pontiac Sunfire. There may have been one other passenger in the Impala whose name has not been reported, although it is being speculated that it is another Bears player. After the impact both vehicles slammed into a wall on the highway.

The Illinois state police responded to the scene of the accident, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The at fault driver was ticketed for driving on a suspended or revoked license and for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident. No injuries have been reported so far due to the accident.

A Chicago man has been arrested due to his alleged involvement in a deadly Illinois pedestrian accident that took place on a South side on Saturday. NBC news is reporting that Chicago police officers believe he was drinking at the time of the hit-and-run accident.

The defendant, age 36, resides in the 6900 block of S. Laflin St. and he has been charged with aggravated DUI. The collision resulted in the death of a 35-year-old woman.

The at fault driver was also cited for improper lane usage, hitting a pedestrian in the road, and driving without a valid insurance. It is further alleged that his blood-alcohol level was above the 0.08 limit, but test results have not been released.

The accident took place early Saturday morning around 2:15 AM in the 7300 block of South Racine. After the defendant struck the pedestrian he fled from the scene. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday for a bond hearing.

The victim was taken by ambulance to Advocate Christ Medical Center where she was pronounced dead a short time later, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. An autopsy on Saturday confirmed that that the pedestrian died from injuries sustained in the accident. The Chicago Police Department's major accident investigation unit handled the crash investigation.

Due to the fact that the at fault driver was reportedly uninsured, when a Chicago wrongful death lawyer gets involved in the case he or she will look to pursue an uninsured motorist claim against the pedestrian victim's own auto insurance policy.

Illinois pedestrian accidents claimed the lives of two people in separate accidents last night in the Chicago area, according to WGN news.

One of the deadly pedestrian hit-and-run crashes occurred in suburban Des Plaines. A teenager was found around 6:20 PM on Friday evening in the area of 906 E. Algonquin Rd. lying in the westbound lanes traffic just East of S. 3rd Ave.

The driver involved in the collision left the scene of the accident before police arrived. The pedestrian was taken by ambulance to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where he was pronounced dead just after 6:30 PM.

The Des Plaines Police Department is asking for help locating the hit-and-run driver. Anyone with information about the accident is being asked to call police at 847-391-5400. Or, if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers. The pedestrian victim was only 17 years old.

In a second fatal Chicago pedestrian accident, a 35-year-old woman was killed while she was walking the 7300 block of S. Racine Avenue in Chicago around 2:15 AM. The victim was a Chicago resident who lived in the 8600 block of South Aberdeen. The victim was taken by ambulance to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where she was pronounced dead a short time later.

The driver that struck the pedestrian was reportedly in police custody and charges are pending. There is no word as to whether Chicago injury attorneys are involved in either case yet.

A Chicago area school bus accident occurred on Thursday around 5 PM when a bus drove through a brick wall into a classroom in South Suburban Orland Park. Trib Local in Orland Park is reporting that the accident occurred at Central Junior High School, part of Orland School District 135. The bus was on school grounds for a volleyball game.

The crash reportedly occurred when the accelerator pedal stuck to the floor and would not release. By Thursday night maintenance crews started work to repair the damage.

The Orland Park Police Department is investigating the accident. No injuries have been reported and no children were on the bus at the time of the incident.

If the school bus driver was hurt in the accident, he or she will have a workers' comp claim under Illinois law. Whether the accelerator pedal stuck or the driver just loss control the bus will be irrelevant as far as a work injury claim is concerned. Workers' compensation is a no-fault law in the State of Illinois.

Chicago personal injury lawyers from Abels & Annes have signed on to represent a Kane County man that was injured in a bicycle crash. The collision occurred in October, 2010 in the far western suburb of Sugar Grove.

The plaintiff was riding a bicycle on Wheatfield Avenue when a driver did not see him on the roadway and struck the bicyclist's handlebars with his side view mirror. This caused our client to crash, hitting his shoulder directly on the pavement.

The Illinois bicycle rider started having significant pain and swelling in the area of his left shoulder. He was seen at the ER at Provina Mercy Medical Center soon after the collision. X-rays at the hospital show the plaintiff suffered a separated shoulder in the crash. ER physicians then recommended the client see an orthopedic physician for follow-up treatment.

As the weather cools off in Chicago, drivers have to remember that bicyclists are still on the road. Motorists have to keep a lookout and share the road with them, and be especially careful when making left turns and when opening car doors after parking your vehicle.

If you've been injured in an Illinois bicycle crash, contact a Chicago injury lawyer at Abels & Annes for a free case evaluation. Call 312-399-8988 to speak directly to an attorney.

UN total de 14 personas han sido heridos, de los cuales 12 fueron niños, en un choque automovilistico en Chicago el domingo por la tarde, informa el Chicago Tribune. La colisión involucró a dos vehículos en la autopista Eisenhower en el área de la Avenida Keeler en los carriles hacia el oeste.

Los funcionarios del Departamento de bomberos en Chicago indican que los niños fueron llevados a salas de emergencias en el área, algunos en condición crítica. Dos adultos también fueron hospitalizados en grave condición crítica. Por lo menos 10 ambulancias se apuraron a la escena del accidente. Los heridos en el choque fueron trasladados al Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Stroger Hospital, West Suburban Medical Center, Loyola University Medical Center y al St. Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center.

El conductor de defecto supuestamente fue una mujer de 33 años de edad y ella ha sido acusada de poner los niños en peligro. Cuando su vehículo dio vuelta algunos de los niños adentro no tenian puesto apropiadamente el cinturón de seguridad . El conductor también fue multado por conducir sin seguro y fracaso para reducir la velocidad para evitar un choque.

El Chicago Sun-Times informa que los testigos del accidente indican que el conductor perdio el control por razones desconocidas, y que no fue exceso de velocidad o de conducir de forma erraticá.

Debido al hecho de que el conductor de defecto no fue asegurado, cuando abogados de accidente de auto en Chicago se meten en el caso ellos mirarán para hacer reclamos sin seguro contra la polísa propia (si los tienen).

A Chicago hit-and-run accident is seriously injured pedestrian on the south side, according to the Chicago Sun-Times . The accident happened just outside an election polling station Tuesday morning and the pedestrian was Martin Munoz, brother of State Sen. Antonio Munoz.

A driver of vehicle reportedly sped through the intersection and hit Munoz, age 40. The victim was taken by paramedics to Mount Sinai Hospital where he underwent surgery for significant leg injuries. The senator's brother was apparently on his way to vote at the time of the accident.

Illinois pedestrian accident occurred just before 6 AM in the area of 4030 S. Archer Ave. The pedestrian was crossing Archer northbound towards the election station when the mid-1990s Nissan came through the intersection heading southeast. The car was traveling between 30 and 40 mph when it hit the victim. Occurrence witnesses heard screeching tires and then turn to see the pedestrian being knocked around 20 feet.

A Chicago police officer reportedly was working security the location. The officer gave chase in a squad car, was able to get a license plate number, but then lost track of the vehicle. Police have since located the vehicle and are speaking to a "person of interest".

Click here to read the stories reported by ABC news and the State Journal Register.

As far as a civil claim is concerned, this case will likely turn into a hit-and-run / underinsured motorist claim. In my experience as a Chicago personal injury lawyer, most drivers that flee accident scenes end up not having valid auto insurance. Once an Illinois pedestrian accident attorney gets involved in the case, they will surely investigate whether a case can be pursued against the hit-and-run driver, however the claim will most likely end up being against the victims own auto insurance company.

A total of 14 people have been hurt, of which 12 were children, in a Chicago car crash on Sunday afternoon, the Chicago Tribune is reporting. The collision involved two vehicles on the Eisenhower Expressway in the area of Keeler Avenue in the westbound lanes.

Chicago Fire Department officials are stating that the kids were taken to area emergency rooms, some in critical condition. Two adults were also hospitalized in serious to critical condition. At least 10 ambulances rushed to the scene of the accident. Those hurt in the collision were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Stroger Hospital, West Suburban Medical Center, Loyola University Medical Center, and St. Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center.

The at fault driver was reportedly a 33-year-old woman and she has been charged with child endangerment. When her vehicle rolled over some of the children inside were not properly seatbelted. The driver was also cited for driving without insurance and failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision.

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that witnesses to the accident state the driver lost control for unknown reasons, and that she was not speeding or driving erratically.

Due to the fact that the at fault driver was not insured, when Chicago auto accident lawyers get involved in the case they will look to make uninsured motorist claims against each victim's own auto policy (if they have them).

Read the story as reported by NBC news here.