Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Tom Byrne was given strict orders from Mayor Rahm Emanuel earlier this week to tighten up city enforcement of road laws, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. This order comes after a pedestrian accident in Chicago, allegedly caused by a city employee driving drunk.

We previously reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog that eight people suffered injuries after a city worker allegedly lost control of his truck in the Gold Coast community. The city worker is being accused of driving under the influence at the time of the accident.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that intoxicated motorists are frequently responsible for the serious and fatal accidents that occur on our roads. It's particularly egregious that a city employee is involved.

“One of the things I said to Commissioner Byrne was I want to know what steps need to be taken so, in the future, this does not occur again — both at the level of management and at the level of employees,” Emanuel said.

The 61-year-old city worker reportedly had a blood alcohol concentration of more than twice the legal limit. Termination proceedings have already been started by the city against that employee. The mayor wants more done though. He says firing the worker isn't enough to suffice for these types of tragedies that affect the lives of the injured and cost the city millions.

Prosecutors report that the city worker plowed through the group of pedestrians in a city vehicle, a Ford F-150, with a bottle of brandy in his cab. The driver is being held of a $400,000 bond and is facing charges including four counts of felony aggravated DUI and two counts of misdemeanor DUI. He was also cited for negligent driving, failing to reduce speed and transporting open alcohol in a vehicle.

“You take these moments, you deal with them and there are lessons learned for future. And I’ve directed Commissioner Byrne to come back with recommendations,” said Emanuel.

Currently, city employees that hold a valid driver’s license are subject to random drug and alcohol tests. The employee that took out several pedestrians earlier this week was not a part of these random screenings. He was a worker assigned to empty garbage cans and to collect stray debris throughout the city.

“Streets and Sanitation is conducting its own internal review into all aspects of this incident, including supervision, to determine if any policies and procedures should be changed to prevent such incidents in the future,” Smith said.

Employees that have jobs similar to this city employee are only subjected to drug and alcohol tests after being involved in an accident. This worker was tested earlier this year, in March, after an on-the-job accident that resulted in property damage. His previous test came back with negative results.

“Random drug [and alcohol] testing for laborers would have to be negotiated with the union. The city cannot implement the tests unilaterally,” Smith said in an e-mail response to the Chicago Sun-Times.

All motorists are asked to both keep a watchful eye out for pedestrians and to refrain from drinking and driving. This city worker reportedly had neither in mind and in turn injured a number of innocent residents. The city reports to have upped its efforts to keep an eye on their employees to reduce the risks of such accidents in the future.

Continue reading " Mayor Calls For Stricter Rules after City Employee allegedly caused Chicago Pedestrian Accident " »

The Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes wish each of you a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. Whether on the road, on a boat or elsewhere with friends and family, please stay safe and celebrate responsibly.

Local law officials recently unveiled their plans to help reduce the risk of car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. The Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will be operating hundreds of additional seat belt enforcement zones. They'll be enforcing seat belt regulations as the "Click It or Ticket" campaign celebrates its 10th anniversary. They will also cracking down on intoxicated drivers -- one of the primary causes of motor vehicle accidents during this summer kickoff weekend.

“Memorial Day is a special time dedicated to the remembrance and reconciliation of those in armed forces who gave their lives to protect our values, freedom and democracy,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. “The holiday weekend serves as an historical, symbolic and solemn time, often spent with family and friends, and shouldn’t be tainted by impaired drivers or other law violators. If Illinois motorists plan to travel over Memorial Day weekend, we strongly encourage them to continue to drive sober and buckle up, every trip, every time.”

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that drinking and driving is a primary threat over any holiday weekend. If you're busted you can face jail time, a number of fines, license revocation, criminal charges, insurance rate hikes and much more. Drunk driving accidents frequently change lives -- or end them.

"The Illinois State Police is committed to making this summer as safe as possible through directed enforcement initiatives,” said Illinois State Police Director Hiram Grau, “We are encouraged by the increase in the number of motorists who are wearing seat belts, and are optimistic the combination of awareness, seat belt compliance and enforcement will help reduce fatalities on Illinois roadways.”

Estimates, from 2010 data show that the 12:00 a.m. to 2:59 a.m. time period resulted in nearly 100 motorist deaths on Illinois roadways. The 3:00 a.m. to 5:59 a.m. time period was the second most deadly time for traffic accidents.

Nearly $2 million in federal funds has been made available to the Illinois State Police, the IDOT and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Police for the increased patrol. In addition to these funds, more than 500 local law enforcement agencies will be stepping up their efforts to keep motorists safe this weekend to enforce impaired driving patrols for the next two-weeks.

More than 50 percent of these patrol units will operate late-evening hours (11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.). The state should expect to see more than 60 roadside impaired driving enforcement safety checks.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were nearly 11,000 fatalities from traffic accidents involving a drunk driver in 2009 in the United States. These accidents made up more than 30 percent of all traffic accident fatalities for the year. The state of Illinois saw nearly 400 fatalities from traffic accidents that involved an impaired driver in 2009.

Continue reading " Memorial Day Weekend a Dangerous Time for Chicago Car Accidents " »

Baby Boomers fuel a new safety system used to help save those involved in a car accident in Chicago and elsewhere in the country.

The Yellow Dot program will now help drivers to alert first responders to vital personal information in the event of a traffic accident. The system will provide authorities with the vital information within the first 60 minutes, often called the "golden hour", after a serious accident, according to USA Today. This time period can make the between life and death for accident victims.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that, as simple as this new system is it is also extremely effective. Here's how it works. Participants in the system will have a yellow dot to put on their rear window. This sticker tells emergency responders that there's a folder in the glove box that is marked with this same yellow dot. This folder should contain a picture of the motorist, prescription information, medical conditions and other necessary information. The free program started in Connecticut in 2002 and is now being used in 27 different countries.

States that are currently using the Yellow Dot programs include Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Virginia, Alabama and New York. Georgia is currently considering the implementation of the program. While each state relies on a slightly different variation of the system, the main goal in each area is the same -- to save lives.

"It is very nice to see innovative programs to address the unique risks associated with older Americans and car crashes," says Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "Since older individuals tend to have more medical conditions, are on more medications and are generally more fragile, this sounds like a well-justified program, especially in light of the growing number of older Americans."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that roughly 10,111,000 passenger vehicles were involved in police-reported traffic accidents in 2009. Of these, nearly 50,500 of them were involved in fatal accidents resulting in an estimated 25,000 deaths. In the same year, a reported 2.35 million vehicle occupants were injured.

Baby boomers will face an even greater risk of injury or death on our roadways. The NHTSA reports that those motorists over the age of 65 saw nearly 5,500 fatalities, and another 187,000 injuries, as a result of traffic accidents in 2009. Motorist fatalities in this age group made up more than 15 percent of all traffic deaths and another 8 percent of all motorist injuries.

Illinois saw nearly 300 fatal traffic accidents with drivers above the age of 55 in 2009.

"It's a promising approach," says Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association. "Actually, this is one of the goals of automated crash notification systems. Eventually, when there is a crash, these key data such as medication needed will automatically be available to EMTs. The Yellow Dot program may be a system that can be helpful in the meantime."

Continue reading " Seeing Yellow Dots? Emergency Info can be a Lifesaver after a Chicago Car Accident " »

An Illinois injury attorney at Abels & Annes has entered into an agreement to represent a Chicago woman that was injured in a May, 2011 car crash. The incident took place in the area of Milwaukee Avenue & Austin. The plaintiff's vehicle was rear-ended by another car in traffic.

The collision was actually witnessed by a Chicago police officer who happened to be in the area. That officer handled the investigation.

Our client had an immediate onset of neck and low back pain after the accident. She was seen a short time later at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. There she was diagnosed with neck and back sprain/strain.

Over the coming days the plaintiff's pain only increased. She sought follow-up treatment with both her primary physician and a chiropractor. The chiro started her on a course of therapy.

Unfortunately, the treatment did not help relieve her pain and she is now under the care of an orthopedic medical doctor in the Chicago area.

Our office will be pursuing a negligence claim against the at-fault driver and her insurance carrier.

If you've been hurt in an Illinois auto accident, contact a Chicago personal injury lawyer at Abels & Annes for a free case evaluation. Contact us online or call 312-399-8988 to speak to a attorney directly.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report this month that found half the cost of car accidents in the U.S. are in 10 states.

Car crashes in Illinois contributed $1.32 billion to the $41 billion annual cost of traffic accidents --enough to rank the state 8th costliest in the nation. Our Chicago personal injury lawyers know most people think of medical bills and the cost of repairing or replacing a vehicle. However, other common costs are lost wages and future medical complications.

"Deaths from motor vehicle crashes are preventable," said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden. "Seat belts, graduated driver's license programs, child safety seats, and helmet use save lives and reduce health care costs."

Release of the new data coincides with the United Nation's launch of Decade of Action for Road Safety, a worldwide program aimed at reducing the nearly 2 million deaths per year on the world's roads.

The report found nearly half of the nation's costs are in 10 states, which account for $20.4 billion in medical and work-loss costs.

CDC's data analysis found that the 10 states with the highest medical and work loss costs were:

-California ($4.16 billion)
-Texas ($3.50 billion)
-Florida ($3.16 billion)
-Georgia ($1.55 billion)
-Pennsylvania ($1.52 billion)
-North Carolina ($1.50 billion)
-New York ($1.33 billion)
-Illinois ($1.32 billion)
-Ohio ($1.23 billion)
Tennessee ($1.15 billion)

The CDC reports the cost of crashes involving teens is nearly $1 billion.

"It's tragic to hear that anyone dies on our nation's roads. But it's especially so when the person who loses his or her life is a child or teenager," said Linda Degutis, director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. "Child passenger safety laws and comprehensive graduated driver licensing laws are proven to protect young lives. We encourage states to strengthen and enforce these laws to help keep more of our young people safe."

The following strategies are recommended for reducing costs:

-Primary seat belt laws. Seat belt use reduces the risk of death by about half for those seated in the front seat.

-Strong passenger safety policies, including age-appropriate safety seats. As we reported earlier this year on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, the federal government has released revised recommendations for keeping your child safe in the vehicle.

-Comprehensive graduated driver's licensing programs. As we have previously reported, Illinois is a leader in this area. GDL programs have been shown to reduce accidents involving 16 year olds by up to 40 percent.

-Motorcycle helmet laws. Helmets reduce the risk of death by one-third and reduce the risk of brain injury by 69 percents.

"These preventable costs are a reflection of the terrible suffering of American families whose loved ones are killed or injured on the roads," said Norman Mineta, chairman of Make Roads Safe North America and the longest serving Secretary of Transportation in U.S. history. "It is time for all of us to take action to save lives at home and around the globe."

Illinois' $1.32 billion costs break down as follows:

-$15 million medical costs

-$1.31 billion work loss costs.

-$615 million (47 percent) motor-vehicle occupants.

-$135 million (10 percent) motorcycle costs.

-$24 million (2 percent) bicycle accident costs.

-$168 million (13 percent) pedestrian accident costs.

Continue reading " Illinois Car Accidents 8th Costliest in Nation " »

An Illinois car crash on the Northwest Side of Chicago has claimed the life of two people and injured four others on Sunday morning, according to WGN news. The collision involved to vehicles crashing into a PLS Check Cashiers store.

The victims fatally injured in the accident were a 57-year-old man from Elmwood Park and a 57-year-old woman from Streamwood. Both were taken by ambulance to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and pronounced dead a short time later. The two were on a cleaning crew that were finished working downtown and on their way home.

The two vehicles involved in the accident were a beige Hyundai and a black Honda. The Honda hit a streetlight pole before both vehicles struck the store. The cause of the deadly Chicago accident has not been reported.

Rescue personnel rushed to the scene around 5:25 AM, with everyone listed as seriously to critically injured. Six ambulances were sent to the accident location.

Two of the injured were taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, one to Cook County Hospital and one to our Lady of Resurrection Medical Center.

Read the story in the Chicago Tribune here.

Whether he's "hip" may be open for debate but the nation's leading safety advocate leaves no room for debate about the high risk of Chicago bicycle accidents and cycling crashes in other urban areas this summer, according to the Huffington Post.

Each spring, our Chicago bicycle accident attorneys see an increase in the number of serious and fatal bicycle and pedestrian accidents throughout Illinois. But large urban centers, particularly Chicago, see the majority of such crashes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 20 fatal Illinois bicycle accidents were reported in 2009. The Illinois Department of Transportation reports 5 fatal bicycle accidents were reported in Chicago and nearly 1,400 riders were injured.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, an Illinois Republican, is looking at ways to induce drivers to do a better job of sharing the road with cyclists. LaHood praised the efforts of various cities to expand cycling infrastructure and improve laws and other transportation policies. He cited the construction of bike lanes as being particularly effective.

Still he expressed concern over the way bikers are treated on the street and acknowledged that much more needs to be done as the number of cyclists, and cycling accidents, continues to increase.

“I’m concerned that people that are driving cars have a level of respect for bikers, and that’s the reason that we have these bike lanes,” said LaHood. “Bikers have as much right to the streets as anybody driving a car and I am concerned about [their safety]."

When told by the interviewer that he sounded like a "run-of-the-mill hipster," LaHood responded that he did not even know what that means.

But many city officials are echoing the emphasis in cycling safety. Incoming Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is promising to create a "world-class bike network." And in New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration continues to expand bike lanes despite some protests from the motoring public. The city has seen a 50 percent increase in cycling commuters during the past four years.

Continue reading " LaHood Applauds Improvements, Highlights Risks of Bicycle Accidents in Urban Areas, including Chicago " »

An Illinois school bus crash that occurred Thursday morning on the South side of Chicago resulted in nine people being injured, and several hurt were special education students, the Chicago Tribune is reporting. All of the injured were taken to area hospitals after two school buses and a truck were involved in a traffic collision.

The three vehicle accident took place around 7 AM in the area of Ashland Avenue and 76th Street. Chicago Fire Department ambulances took five of the injured to Holy Cross Hospital, 2 to St. Bernard Hospital and 2 to Little Company of Mary Hospital. There were reportedly no life-threatening injuries, and all were in good to fair condition.

The two school buses involved were from two different companies contracted by the Chicago Board of Education. What caused the accident has not been reported.

Read the story as reported by NBC news here.

This is the second Chicago area bus crash this week involving two school buses. As Illinois injury lawyers from our office previously reported, 20 students were injured and hospitalized in north suburban Evanston on Tuesday when one school bus rear-ended another.

Bus accidents can be particularly dangerous to the passengers on board, as they are not typically seat belted and can be thrown around in a collision, sometimes resulting in serious injuries.

Active Transportation Alliance continues to offer resources to bicyclists and pedestrians and their families -- including support groups for injury victims, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Our Chicago accident lawyers understand that bicyclists and pedestrians are most vulnerable to suffering serious or fatal injuries in an accident.

The Tribune reports that 34 people were killed and 503 were severely injured in Chicago pedestrian accidents in 2009. Chicago bicycle accidents killed six riders and seriously injured 165 that same year.

The Alliance offers support groups that meet once a month in the conference room of the organization's downtown office -- it is perhaps the only group of its kind in the country. The organization is dedicated to biking and walking safety. The support group is facilitated by personnel from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

The organization also operates a crash support hotline, which it started in 2010.

The group was instrumental in pushing for the tracking of bicycle accidents caused by dooring, as we reported recently on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog.

The Alliance is sponsoring the Ride Lake Shore Drive event on May 29, one of spring's most popular cycling events.

The group is also promoting the Bike Commuter Challenge June 11-17

Continue reading " Alliance Support Group Offers Help to Victims of Chicago Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents " »

A Chicago area auto accident in 2010 has led to a man from Aurora, Illinois been sentenced to 4 years in prison for aggravated DUI with bodily harm, a class 4 felony, according to the Kane County Chronicle. The defendant was sentenced earlier this month by an Associate Judge.

The DUI accident took place on July 30, 2010 around 4 PM. The 40-year-old defendant was driving a 2002 GMC Sierra pickup southbound in the right lane on Route 31 in North Aurora. As the driver approached Airport Road, he swerved into oncoming traffic in an attempt to avoid a vehicle that slowed to make a right turn in front of him.

When the defendant crossed the center line, he hit a 2000 Mazda MVP minivan that was stopped in the northbound lanes waiting to make a left turn. The DUI driver then fled the scene on foot, but was later located and taken into police custody.

A vehicle data recorder later taken from the defendant's vehicle showed that immediately before impact his vehicle was going 65 mph in a 35 mph zone. Testing revealed the defendant had a blood-alcohol concentration of .151, nearly twice the legal limit.

The DUI accident victim sustained multiple fractures and is still going recovery from her injuries.

It is not been reported if an Illinois personal injury lawyer is involved in the case or if a civil lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the victim.

The new STANDUP Act is now urging states in the U.S. to adopt Graduated Driver Licensing laws to make sure teens meet specific minimum driving requirements, according to the National Safety Council. The new recommendations aim to help reduce the number of teen car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere in the United States.

Illinois was one of the first states to adopt a graduation driver's licensing program, a move that has been credited with significantly reducing the number of fatal teen car crashes in Illinois each year.

Car accidents remain the number one cause of death for teens. Car accidents take the lives of more teens than the next three leading causes of death combined, which are homicide, suicide and disease. Statistics report that approximately 3,000 teens were killed, and more than 350,000 were injured in accidents involving teen drivers last year.

Our Chicago car accident lawyers understand that teen drivers lack experience and safety knowledge as they possess much less driving time on the road than veteran drivers. It is important for parents and the community to come forward to discuss with teens the responsibilities and possible consequences of making poor driving decisions.

“Teen driving safety has become a national public safety issue,” said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “Every day, 15 people die in motor vehicle crashes involving teen drivers including teens, their passengers, people in other vehicles and pedestrians. The STANDUP Act encourages states to pass stronger GDL laws, which are proven to reduce teen driving crashes by up to 40 percent.”

States must meet the following requirements under the STANDUP Act:

-Three stages of licensing for these young drivers, including learner’s permits, intermediate stages, and full licensing, should be used.

-Age 16 should be the earliest age at which a teen can begin the permit process.

-Nighttime driving while unsupervised should be restricted, or closely monitored, during the intermediate stages of the learner’s permit until the teen receives their full license at the age of 18.

-Driving while using cell phone, texting, or any other distracting devices should be prohibited, at the very least, until the age of 18.

-Unrestricted, full licensing should not occur before the age of 18.

-Passengers should be restricted. It is suggested that no more than one non-familial passenger that is under age 21 be present in the vehicle unless a licensed driver over the age of 21 is present.

Illinois experienced nearly 150 deaths because of car accidents that involved at least one teen driver in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers you this parent-teen driving contract to help reach an agreement between you and your child regarding safe driving habits and rules.

Continue reading " New STANDUP Act Aims to Reduce Risks of Teen Car Accidents in Chicago and Elsewhere " »

Chicago auto accident attorneys at Abels & Annes are often butting heads with State Farm Insurance. We usually have multiple claims pending against them and we have had jury trials against them twice in the past six months.

That being said, when State Farm takes a step in the right direction, we should give them credit.

It is being reported by WGN news that State Farm announced on Friday it will start offering healthcare and other benefits to legally recognized same-sex partners of its employees. This action was taken due to the fact that Illinois will soon allow civil unions between gay and lesbian couples.

The eligibility for the insurance carrier's group healthcare and welfare plans will apply to all agents, employees and retirees. The changes will take effect starting June 1, 2011, the same day the Illinois law goes into effect. The benefits will include medical, vision, dental, spouse life, spouse voluntary accidental death and dismemberment, and long-term care insurance.

State Farm was only legally required to expand it's benefits partially, but the insurer decided to expand the benefits in total and equally across the board.

The insurance carrier had not previously offered benefits to same-sex partners, unlike 57% of Fortune 500 companies that did 2010. The article goes on to state that Exelon and Allstate already offer such benefits, while Peoria-based Caterpillar does not.

Click here to read the story as reported by ChicagoPride.com and the Chicago Tribune.

While some are calling for less government, a recent report found many citizens are in support of additional laws to improve highway safety, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. A recently released survey, put out just as the United Nations kicks off its ‘Decade of Action on Road Safety' campaign, illustrates Americans' desire for more enforcement to help decrease the risks of car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere across the United States.

Our Chicago car accident lawyers support the global campaign to help reduce the number of highway injuries and deaths.

“Despite shrinking federal and state transportation budgets and a public debate over the most appropriate role of government, it’s clear that a majority of Americans want government officials to do more – not less – about highway safety,” said AAA President and CEO Bob Darbelnet. “From passing and enforcing laws about teen drivers and distracted driving to programs that improve the safety of our roadways and add safety equipment to vehicles, there are many steps government can take reduce crashes, injuries, and deaths in the U.S.”

Car accidents continue to rank as one of the leading causes of death in the United States.

Numerous countries and public institutions have all jumped on board with the campaign and are actively endorsing the Decade of Action.

“At a time when more and more U.S. highway safety agencies are adopting “Toward Zero Death” goals, it is very heartening to see motorist support for more, not less action by government to make our roads safer,” added J. Peter Kissinger, President of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, that commissioned this survey.

There were more than 10,111,000 vehicles that were involved in police-reported accidents in the United States in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. More than 90 percent of these reported accidents involved passenger vehicles. Nearly 50,500 of the crashes resulted in fatalities, and nearly 80 percent of the fatalities occurred to the occupants of passenger vehicles. In total, more than 25,000 of those involved in passenger vehicle accidents lost their lives in that year. Additionally, another 2.35 million occupants suffered injuries.

The Global Action Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety can be found on the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration website.

-62 percent of Americans say the U.S. needs more laws to prevent dangerous behavior on the road -- only 17 percent disagree.

-57 percent of Americans say their state needs to do more to make the roads safer -- only 11 percent disagree.

-86 percent believe all new drivers should be required to complete a driver's education course.

-A majority of Americans believe the responsibility for making cars safer rests with both manufacturers and the government.

Worldwide car accident statistics:

-1.3 million motorists die on the world's roads each year.

-3.5 million are injured.

-Road deaths are projected to rise to 1.9 million by 2020.

-By 2015 road deaths will be the leading health burden for children.

Continue reading " U.S. Agencies Join Global Action to Reduce Car Accidents in Illinois and Elsewhere " »

A Chicago area car crash that occurred in March, 2011 and caused the death of a 56-year-old Lake Barrington woman has now resulted in reckless homicide charges being filed against a 40-year-old man from downstate Illinois, according to Tribune Local.

The victim was getting into her vehicle at a car wash back on March 24 when a car being operated by the defendant southbound on US Route 12 left the roadway in the area of Honey Lake Road and crashed into the woman and a second vehicle. The second vehicle was then knocked into a third parked in front of it.

The victim and two other people were taken by Lake Zurich Fire Department ambulances to Good Shepherd Hospital. She later died from injuries sustained in the accident.

The defendant has been charged with reckless homicide and three counts of driving under the influence of drugs, all felonies. He allegedly had cannabis in his system at the time of the accident.

The defendant was arrested by the Lake Zurich Police Department last Thursday and is being held on a $1 million bond. Both the Lake County State's Attorney's Office and the Major Crash Assistance Team of Lake County assisted in the investigation. The state's attorney's office approved the criminal charges.

The Carmi Times is reporting that the defendant was traveling around 67 mph at the time of the accident. Further, police recovered marijuana from within the vehicle.

It was not reported if a civil lawsuit has been filed or if an Illinois personal injury lawyer is involved in the case.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Republic.

Criminal charges have been filed against an driver that allegedly caused a Chicago area DUI car crash involving for vehicles, according to the Northbrook Star. The collision took place on Wednesday at 4:45 PM on the Edens spur ramp near Northbrook and left the at fault driver and three others injured.

There was a traffic backup on the expressway and the motorist, who was driving a red 1999 Honda Accord, was reportedly speeding and did not stop. He rear-ended the vehicle in front of him, causing a chain reaction crash involving four vehicles in total.

The occupants of the vehicle initially rear-ended were the most seriously injured. The driver sustained a spinal fracture and the passenger has a ruptured spleen. Both were taken by ambulance to Evanston Hospital.

The at fault driver was also seriously injured and taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Another driver involved was also injured and taken to Highland Park Hospital.

The defendant, a 24-year-old Chicago resident, has now been charged with DUI drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Seven ambulances went to the scene of the accident, and a flight for life helicopter was on standby but not used. Firefighters from Northbrook, Glenview, Northfield, Glencoe, Highland Park and Skokie all responded to the accident.

The Illinois State Police handled the accident investigation.

Illinois car crash attorneys at Abels & Annes have agreed to represent a Chicago man that was injured in a traffic collision in May, 2011. The incident occurred at Clark and Jackson in the Loop.

The plaintiff was sitting at a red light when a pickup truck slammed into the rear his car. The pickup then fled the scene, driving away going westbound on Jackson Street, which is an eastbound one-way street.

After the accident, both our client and witnesses were able to take down the hit and run driver's license plate number. The Chicago Police Department responded to the scene of the collision and ran the license plate number, identifying the owner.

The next day the plaintiff called the defendant, who surprisingly cooperated, admitted involvement and gave his auto insurance information. It is unclear if he will now face criminal charges for fleeing the scene.

In my experience, a fact pattern like this is uncommon. Typically drivers that flee the accident are uninsured.

The plaintiff sustained neck and back, shoulder, and right elbow injuries in the crash. He was treated at Stroger Hospital after the crash.

In the days following the incident his pain only increased. He is now under the care of a medical doctor in the Chicago area.

The plaintiff's vehicle sustained heavy damage in the accident and was totaled.

If you have been hurt in an Illinois car accident, contact the personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for a free case evaluation. Call us at 312-924-7575.

WLS is reporting that several people were hurt and taken by ambulance to area hospitals after an Illinois auto accident on the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway Tuesday morning. None of the injuries were supposed to be life-threatening.

The collision occurred just before 7:30 AM when a westbound 2003 Honda crossed over the median and drove into the eastbound lanes for reasons unknown. This caused a five vehicle collision in the eastbound lanes, including a 2000 Lincoln pickup truck, a Toyota Camry, a 2000 Cadillac and a 2007 Chevy SUV. One of the vehicles rolled over in the accident.

Those hurt in the accident were taken to Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The Illinois state police responded to the accident scene. It was not reported if traffic citations were issued, but police were talking to victims for clues as to why the vehicle crossed the center of the highway.

The eastbound lanes were closed for about an hour and traffic was rerouted while debris and the rolled over vehicle were cleared.

The Roselle Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff's Department assisted in the investigation.

Illinois car accident lawyers at Abels & Annes signed on to represent a father and son that were injured by a distracted driver in the northern suburbs of Chicago. The crash occurred on Illinois Route 173 in the area of Grimm Road in Antioch, Illinois in April, 2011.

The plaintiffs were traveling eastbound on 173 when a westbound driver crossed the center line and hit them. After the accident, the at fault driver admitted that just prior to impact she was sending a text. She then looked up, saw the traffic had stopped, and swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid striking the vehicle in front of her.

The Antioch Police Department responded to the accident site. After interviewing the parties involved, police issued the defendant several moving violations.

The plaintiffs were taken by ambulance to Aurora Medical Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The father had sustained abdominal bruising, neck, hip and bilateral knee injuries in the crash. His son sustained bruising, muscle spasms and was generally sore all over.

Since the accident, the father has had to undergo further treatment with a physician in Northern Illinois, and his son has had appointments at a children's medical center.

As Chicago personal injury lawyers from our office recently reported, distracted driving continues to be a significant danger on Illinois roads.

-Approximately 20% of all injury related auto accidents nationwide were caused by distracted driving in the year 2009.

-According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 5500 people were killed and 448,000 were injured in distracted driving accidents in 2009.

-Around 18% of distracted driving accidents causing death involved the use of cell phones at the time of the incident.

-Motorists are four times more likely to be involved in a serious injury accident when using a hand-held device at the wheel.

-Using a cell phone while driving arguably gives you the same reaction time as a legally drunk driver.

-Drivers under the age of 20 are most likely to drive while distracted. Approximately 16% of these young drivers who were involved in fatal accidents were distracted at the time.

Contact the car crash lawyers at Abels & Annes if you've been injured by a distracted driver in the Chicago area. Call us at 312-924-7575 for free consultation.

Illinois auto accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have agreed to help North Side resident that was recently injured in a collision. Our client was riding as a backseat passenger in a multiple vehicle crash.

The accident occurred in the area of Belmont and Kolmar Street in Chicago at the beginning of May, 2011. The plaintiff's car was traveling behind a truck in a line of traffic. At that time, the truck slowed and stopped for emergency vehicles immediately ahead of them.

The plaintiff's vehicle stopped in time, however her vehicle was rear-ended by the automobile directly behind them. The car that did not stop in time was then rear-ended by another vehicle, creating a second impact.

The Chicago Police Department responded to the scene and handled the crash investigation.

The plaintiff sustained back and neck injuries in the accident. She was seen shortly after the accident at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. There she was examined by ER physicians, x-rays were taken and she was prescribed a medication. She was diagnosed with neck and back sprain/strain.

Over the next several days following the collision our client's pain increased substantially. She is now under the care of an orthopedic physician in Chicago.

If you have been hurt in a traffic collision, contact the Illinois injury attorneys at Abels & Annes for a free, no obligation consultation. Call 312-924-7575 or click here to fill out a contact form. There is no attorney's fee unless a recovery is made on your behalf.

Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers previously reported that a 75-year-old man was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver at the intersection of Kimball Avenue and North Avenue on April 1. Now comes word that a 38-year-old West Side resident has been charged with a felony count of leaving the scene of accident causing death, according to ABC news.

The charge was announced by Chicago police officials on Wednesday. Fox News is reporting that the hit and run driver had previously been cited for driving without insurance, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and failure to give information.

The pedestrian victim was crossing the intersection in the Humboldt Park neighborhood just after 8 PM when he was fatally hit. Police later located the defendant and the vehicle and the 4700 block of W. Washington Blvd.

An autopsy determined the victim died from multiple injuries in the collision. The death was ruled an accident.

The hit-and-run driver was scheduled to appear in bond court on Thursday.

It has not been reported if a pedestrian accident attorney is involved in the case or if a civil lawsuit has been filed.

Read the story in the Chicago Tribune here.

Illinois car crash lawyers at Abels & Annes are very aware of the issues and dangers involved with distracted driving. We are currently in the process of attempting to negotiate a settlement on behalf of a pedestrian that was injured by a distracted driver. The defendant's cell phone rang, and as he tried to locate the device he lost control of his car and drove up onto a sidewalk, striking our client.

Now in an effort to reduce Chicago car crashes, a group of Aldermen are proposing new legislation that would require cell phones sold in the city be equipped with technology that would give parents the option to disable texting for their teen drivers. NBC News reported that Ald. Ed Burke (14th Ward) announced the proposed legislation on Wednesday. He says it is a tough new measure and he wants the law to come into effect for all cell phones bought after January 1, 2012.

Retailers that sell phones without the text blocking option would face fines up to $1000. Ald. Anthony Beal, Michelle Harris, Richard Mell and Ray Suarez are also supporting the proposal.

Yahoo! News reports that texting behind the wheel has become a major issue throughout the United States as motorists (especially teenage drivers) become distracted while driving and texting at the same time. The article goes on to say that a University of Utah study found that texting while driving is more dangerous than drunk driving. Motorists are four times more likely to cause a collision while intoxicated or using a cell phone, but they are eight times more likely to be involved in an accident while texting.

The Utah study also found that over 50% of teens admitted texting sometimes while operating a vehicle, and almost 19% admitted to texting regularly. In 2009 alone, just under 5500 people died as a result of distracted driving, with just under 1000 of those deaths involving cell phone use and texting.

The City of Chicago has actually been a leader in the fight against distracted driving. In addition to this newly proposed texting law, motorists are barred from talking on their cell phones unless they're using a hands-free device. Further, teen drivers are not allowed to use cell phones or text while driving.

If you've been injured by a distracted driver in the State of Illinois, contact a Chicago personal injury attorney at Abels & Annes for free case evaluation. Call 312-924-7575 speak directly to a lawyer now.

A 26-year-old woman has been killed in a downtown Chicago pedestrian collision, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The victim was crossing Columbus Avenue at East Illinois Street in the Streeterville neighborhood when she was struck by a tour bus just before 7 PM on Tuesday evening.

The pedestrian was crossing with a green light, but the driver did not yield as he turned onto Columbus. A witness to the accident believed the driver never saw the pedestrian, as he looked shocked and was crying afterwards. The driver reportedly told police he heard a bump, thought it was a curb, but then stopped the bus when he heard a second bump.

According to WGN-TV, other witnesses to the accident said they could tell that nothing could be done to help the victim, and that they were upset about what they had witnessed.

The woman was taken a short distance to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead approximately 15 minutes later.

It has not been reported if an Illinois bus accident attorney is involved in the case yet.

Read the story as reported by the Chicago Tribune here.

An Illinois motor vehicle collision that occurred in the central eastern part of the state has resulted in injuries and the hospitalization of two motorists, according to commercial-news.com. The collision took place last Wednesday in the area of Illinois Route 1 and Country Rd. 550, just North of a little town called Olivet.

The incident occurred around 8:38 PM as the two drivers were headed in opposite directions on Illinois Route 1. The driver of a Ford station wagon traveling northbound crossed the centerline and struck a southbound Dodge.

Both drivers had to be extricated from their respective vehicles, and both were wearing seatbelts.

The crash investigation was handled by the Illinois state police. The driver of the station wagon was cited for improper lane usage, and surprisingly the driver of the Dodge vehicle (that was not at fault in the accident) was ticketed for driving under the influence. As you would guess, it is usually the DUI driver that crosses the centerline and causes the accident.

Both motorists were taken by Georgetown ambulance to the Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, and both remained hospitalized as of last Thursday.

It not been reported if an Illinois injury attorney is involved in the case or if a civil lawsuit has been filed.

Every once in a while a driver loses control and crashes into a local Chicago eatery. Over the last couple years alone, I can recall vehicles hitting a couple different Starbucks locations, Gold Coast Dogs, and Petterino's. Illinois auto accident attorneys at our law office recently handled an injury claim for a patron that was injured at Gold Coast Dogs when an elderly man drove into the restaurant.

The city's latest restaurant to become a car accident victim is Manny's Deli on the near South Side. The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that a car struck a glass window and a brick wall at the deli, which is located at 1141 S. Jefferson St. It is believed the incident took place between 2:45 AM – 3:20 AM on Saturday morning. The vehicle, reportedly a white Chrysler, fled the scene of the accident.

The crash knocked a brick wall over, shattered the window, and left a hole in the restaurant measuring about 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. The wall damaged was part of the deli's private dining room, so the crash did not affect business in the main dining room.

Restaurant security cameras did not catch the accident, however Chicago police recovered pieces of debris from the car. While there were a couple workers inside the restaurant at the time of the crash, no injuries were reported.

As far as local restaurants getting hit by cars, Petterino's (located at Dearborn & Randolph) is still the king. The popular theater district eatery has been hit by vehicles 3 times in recent years. So while the food is terrific, you might want to avoid the window tables.

A head-on collision on the West Side of Chicago has claimed the life of two people and injured nine others, according to the Chicago Tribune. The collision occurred in the 1200 block of S. Kostner Ave. in the Lawndale neighborhood on early Saturday morning.

Reportedly a 2003 Mazda SUV that was northbound on Kostner crossed the centerline and struck a 1995 Ford Probe. The impact caused the Mazda to flip over, injuring all 11 people inside. Two of those occupants died. The victims were a 19-year-old Chicago resident and a still unidentified woman in her 40s. One of the victims died at the scene, and the other passed away a short time later at a hospital. Two others remain in critical condition at Mount Sinai Hospital.

The driver of the SUV, a 39-year-old Chicago woman, has now been charged with several counts of aggravated DUI. The specific evidence of intoxication was not reported. The driver was charged with a total of 10 felonies.

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

The school year is winding down and many students are looking forward to attending prom and graduation. Unfortunately, this is typically the time when alcohol-related traffic accidents spike among teens.

The number of alcohol-related fatal accidents involving drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 years old dropped 37 percent from 2000 to 2009. Even with the decrease, alcohol-fueled road accidents remain the leading cause of death in that age range according to a recent article in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Our Chicago car accident lawyers understand that our teenage students are excited during this time of year as they have prom, graduation and summer break approaching. Parents are urged to keep a close eye on their teens as student will be hitting the road in large numbers.

Research shows that 70 percent of high school upperclassmen expect their peers to consume alcohol and drive on prom night. Although schools rely on lockdowns of hotel and school venues, bloody mock DUI scenes, drug-sniffing dogs and random breath alcohol testing to keep students from drinking on prom night, measures oftentimes fail as students can consume alcohol at parties, before and after the chaperon supervised event.

“Most parents do not keep parties dry. More often than not, I’ve run into ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ situations, where parents stay upstairs, out of the fray,” said John G. Duffy, a clinical psychologist who has worked with high schoolers in the Chicago area.

Causing more than 2,300 fatalities in 2009, motor vehicle accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for young drivers between the ages of 15 and 20. In addition to the thousands of deaths, nearly 20,000 teen drivers were injured in the same year.

Here are some teen safe driving tips to discuss with your student prior to their prom, graduation and summer break:

-Keep the number of passengers to a minimum. Passengers can provide a great deal of distraction to your young driver. Limit the number of passengers you teen is allowed in the vehicle.

-Buckle up. Seat belts save lives. Encourage you teen to wear one every time they drive.

-Follow the rules. Explain to your young driver that road signs are posted for a reason and encourage them to follow all stop signs, speed limits and traffic lights.

-Be sure they never drive impaired. Whether intoxicated with street drugs, prescriptions drugs, over the counter medications or alcohol, make sure your teen understands the consequences of driving in an impaired state.

Parents are urged to sit down and talk with their children about the dangers of drinking and driving. Discussing and signing a parent-teen driving contract can also help you to enforce your rules.

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