Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

According to a number of studies, summertime is the deadliest days for teens on our roadways. More teens die because of car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere during July and August alone.

We recently covered this topic on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog. We reported that car accidents are the number one cause of deaths for those ages 15- to 20-years-old in the United States. Drivers are most likely to die during their first year and first 1,000 miles of driving.

The Indiana Traffic Safety Report is one of the most recently released studies involving teen accidents during the summer months. So let's see what our friends and neighbors have to say. This report shows detailed information on accidents, fatalities and the various factors that increase the likelihood of a crash, such as drunk driving and speeding, according to the Pharos-Tribune.

The report shows that the number of fatal accidents, which sat at 631 in 2009, showed a decrease of 12.6 percent from 2008. Unfortunately, that number jumped back up by 11 percent in 2010. The numbers in Illinois are expected to mirror these trends.

In an attempt to help keep teens safe on our roadways during the next few months, the Illinois Department of Transportation's Operation Teen Safe Driving will be continuing its efforts in making a difference in the lives of Illinois teen drivers across the state. This program encourages teens to wear a seat belt, abide by posted speed limits, avoid driving distractions and avoid drinking and driving. For the last 5 years, the program has pushed efforts to the max and has successfully witnessed a near 50 percent decline in teen deaths in Illinois from 2007 to 2010.

Operation Teen Safe Driving works hand in hand with the Ford Motor Company Fund, The Allstate Foundation, Governors Highway Association, Governor Pat Quinn, Secretary of State Jesse White, Illinois State Police, Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Traffic Safety.

According to the most recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, nearly 5,500 drivers age 15- to 20-years-old were involved in deadly car accidents in the United States in 2009. In these accidents, nearly 2,500 young drivers were killed. Another 196,000 drivers from these age group sustained injuries from these accidents. This means that more than 10 percent of all drivers that were involved in fatal accidents in 2009 were between 15- and 20-years-old. During that same year 1,077 teens died because of drunk driving accidents.

In 2009, Illinois witnessed nearly 150 traffic accident fatalities of those in this young age group.

“Driver behavior plays a critical role in safety, particularly for new, inexperienced drivers,” said Mike Robinson, vice president, GM Environment, Energy and Safety Policy.

For this reason, parents are urged to get involved in their teen's diving habits over these summer months. Know where they're going and when they'll be home. Make sure that they follow all roadway rules, laws and regulations. Try enacting a parent-teen contract to get your young driver to agree on and abide by some important and safe ground rules.

Continue reading " July & August -- Deadliest Months for Teen Car Accident in Chicago and Elsewhere " »

A single-vehicle car accident in Chicago left one woman dead and two others critically injured. The accident happened in the Hyde Park neighborhood on the South Side. The vehicle left the roadways and slammed into a tree near the intersection of Midway Plaisance and South Cornell Avenue, according to My Fox Chicago.

One woman was thrown 25 feet from the vehicle. She was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition. Two other vehicle occupants had to be extricated from the car. One was later pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The other passenger was taken in critical condition to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County. The police Major Accident Investigation Unit is investigating.

In an effort to reduce the number of serious and fatal car accidents nationwide, a new two-year study will be conducted to observe driver's actions and reactions to varying traffic conditions. Researchers then plan to use this information to aid the development of safety improvements in road design, cars and driver training programs. Our Chicago car accident attorneys recognize the significance of this type of study. Crash avoidance research may usher in a new wave of technology that will one day have the ability to save thousands of lives on our roadways.

“Collision prevention is the central goal of the study” said Ken Campbell, chief program officer overseeing safety for the Strategic Highway Research Program, which is part of the non-profit Transportation Research Board. “And the driver is the key to prevent collision.”

The two-year study will install special equipment into the vehicles of 3,100 participants. This equipment consists of four cameras and a data box. The four cameras will record forward and rear views along with the driver’s face and hands. This data will be held in the storage box, which will be kept in the vehicle's glove box. Researchers will be collecting the recorded data every four to six months, according to Forbes.

“You can’t just look at collisions or near collisions to know what risk factors are. It’s that comparison with what the driver is doing when there is not a safety-related event that tells you what the risk factors are,” says Campbell.

In previous studies, researchers generally focused on countermeasures that protect drivers and passengers after collisions, like seat belts, airbags and crash-worthy vehicles. This is one of the few studies that takes it a step farther and focuses on avoiding the crashes altogether. Car accidents that happen at intersections and accidents where the driver runs off the road will be initial focus areas of this study

The Transportation Research Board is looking for volunteers to participate in Buffalo, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Durham, central Pennsylvania and Bloomington. Every driver that participates in the study will be rewarded with $500 for each year.

“We are particularly interested in people under 25 and over 65” Dr. Campbell said. Both groups represent a small percentage of all drivers and have high collision rates.

To participate, you'll be required to have a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance and an approved vehicle. Participating vehicles are subject to a brief inspection. More than half of all vehicle makes are eligible.

“This study is long overdue and has the potential for providing the most comprehensive look at why highway crashes occur,” said Peter Kissinger, president and chief executive of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a nonprofit research and educational organization that provided technical advice for the study. “It is unprecedented in its scope and approach. It will be a wonderful supplement to other ongoing and planned traffic safety research efforts. My only disappointment is that the transportation research community didn’t initiate the study several years ago.”

Continue reading " New Study Aims to Stop Car Accidents in Chicago Before They Happen " »

Illinois personal injury lawyer Gary Annes has reached a $100,000 policy limits settlement on behalf of a client who suffered painful injuries in a car accident caused by woman who had smoked marijuana and consumed alcohol prior to the incident.

On August 2, 2008, the defendant was driving northbound, at an excessive rate of speed, in the leftmost lane of IL-53 in Rolling Meadows when she lost control of her vehicle, improperly crossed over all lanes of traffic to her right and the shoulder, impacted with the metal guardrail, swerved back left, and crashed into the passenger side rear quarter panel of the plaintiff’s 2000 Subaru Forrester.

The woman admitted to paramedics that she had been drinking, and the drug screen at the emergency room was positive for marijuana, cocaine, and valium. She later admitted to smoking marijuana on two separate occasions that day, including approximately 45 minutes before the incident.

The woman had a prior DUI conviction from less than a year prior to that date, as well as other prior arrests related to drugs and alcohol. She was issued several tickets for the incident and pled guilty to failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision, improper lane usage, and driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol. The accident was investigated by the Illinois State Police.

After impact, the victim’s car began to spin out of control, causing her to hit her head on the driver’s side window, hit her left arm, elbow, shoulder, knee, and ankle against the driver’s side door, and her right knee against the center console. When the paramedics arrived, she complained of headaches and hyperventilation.

Shortly after the accident she was treated at the Glenbrook Hospital emergency room. There, the woman complained of pain in her neck, left shoulder, elbow, arm, knee, and was suffering from a headache. Tests were performed and an MRI revealed that she had multiple disc protrusions. The pain and discomfort then worsened over the next couple days. Her primary care physician recommended a course of physical therapy.

On November 10, 2008, the victim followed up with her primary care physician as she was still experiencing pain, primarily in her head and neck. She was referred to a chiropractor and underwent physical therapy treatment from then until June of 2009. Despite these treatments, the plaintiff’s condition continued to worsen, especially with regard to her knees and ankles.

Her doctor ordered MRI’s for her knees, which revealed meniscus tears in both. The doctor related both injuries to her car accident and recommended bilateral knee arthroscopies with debridement. He then performed the surgery at Weiss Memorial Hospital in July 2010, which he reported was needed as a result of the motor vehicle collision. She was prescribed a course of treatment consisting of twenty-five physical therapy sessions.

As her knee problems became more manageable, she sought treatment for the pain in her foot and ankle. Bilateral MRI’s were performed, and showed sprain or partial tear of the distal posterior tibial tendon in both feet and an avulsion injury of the synchondrosis of the naviculare in the left foot. The doctor reported that the condition was caused by the motor vehicle accident and recommended surgery for both the foot and ankle, which the woman plans to undergoe in the near future.

As a result of the injuries caused by the intoxicated driver, the victim was unable to engage in many of the activities she enjoyed prior to the collision. In addition, most activities of her daily life, such as sitting, standing, cooking, shopping, cleaning, walking stairs, and going to work, were impossible for a time, and then later caused her pain when she did attempt to accomplish them.

She hired the lawyers our law firm shortly before the two-year statute of limitations, and we immediately began working to secure the maximum compensation possible for the life-altering injuries she sustained at the hands of a negligent driver. We obtained the defendant's insurance policy limits. And we continue to work on the case, however, as the $100,000 is not adequate to compensate the victim for all the pain and suffering she has endured. We are now seeking additional monetary damages in the form of an underinsured motorist claim against her own insurance provider.

Continue reading " Chicago injury lawyer settles DUI accident lawsuit for $100,000 policy limits " »

It has been a dangerous week of Chicago area motorcycle crashes as a string of collisions have the claimed the lives of five people.

A 37 year-old woman was killed in Dolton, Illinois after a man driving a Ford SUV failed to yield to her before taking a left turn, causing her to collide into the SUV. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the motorist involved in SUV vs. motorcycle crash, who was driving with his 16 year-old nephew, exited his vehicle, removed his license plate, and attempted to leave the scene after the accident. A group of residents were able to restrain the man until police arrived, however, and he was soon placed under arrest.

According to 2008 nationwide statistics from the NSTSA, these types of accidents, where an automobile driver taking a left turn fails to yield to an oncoming motorcyclist, accounted for 41% of all fatal accidents involving a motorcycle and another car. This type of collision is particularly dangerous because the rider’s momentum continues as their vehicle comes to a sudden halt, resulting in them being launched headfirst into the street at a high velocity.

In another incident, a 26 year-old man and a 23 year-old woman were killed in Wheeling after the motorcycle they were riding lost control and struck a utility box. The Chicago Daily Herald is reporting that prior to the crash, Buffalo Grove police attempted to pull over the man and his passenger after they sped away from a gas station on the 200 block of Milwaukee Avenue. After seeing the officer’s emergency lights, the pair sped away at what was described as a high rate of speed. As is protocol, the officer did not pursue the riders and alerted the Wheeling police that a speeding motorcycle was headed their way.

Soon after, at about 3:07 a.m., Wheeling police responded to a crash at the intersection of Milwaukee Road and Center Avenue where the riders were found dead. It appears that the riders, who were not wearing helmets at the time, were traveling at a right rate of speed when the driver lost control. Police are still working on reconstructing exactly how the crash occurred.

The Chicago Tribune reported on two other accidents where motorcyclists were killed as well. The first occurred in Glenview, Illinois when a 26 year-old man failed to obey a stop sign on Magnolia Street before attempting a left turn onto East Lake Avenue. A driver traveling eastbound down the center lane struck the rider, who was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. The other accident reported in the Tribune involved a 51 year-old man who died after rear-ending a car on the Dan Ryan expressway and losing control of his vehicle.

Summers are traditionally a dangerous time for riders in Illinois. After the long winter, motorcyclists come out in droves to take advantage of the state’s warm weather and lack of mandatory helmet laws. In fact, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the number of registered motorcycles in Illinois has risen 76% since 1999 to go along with the 26% increase in fatalities during that same period.

While motorcyclists cannot control the negligence of automobile drivers on the road, there are a number of things they can do to hopefully reduce their injuries:

• WEAR A HELMET! The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that wearing a helmet saved the lives of 1,829 riders in 2008
• Drive defensively and do not assume other drivers can see you or are aware of your presence. The NHTSA reports that the majority of multiple-vehicle motorcycle accidents happen because the motorist does not see the rider
• Make sure your lights are functioning so people can see you
• Don’t drive too fast. Even experienced riders can lose control

Continue reading " A rash of Illinois motorcycle accidents leaves 5 riders dead " »

We recently told you about the new Kinzie Bike Lane on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Blog. This bike lane was created to help decrease the number of bicycling accidents on our roadways.

Bicyclists account for more than 30 percent of the traffic on that roadway. The construction for this project started back on June 6th. The new lane will sit adjacent to the curb and will come with a lane width varying between 5-1/2 to 7 feet wide. The bike lane is separated from traffic by a 4-foot-wide buffer zone.

We have also published concerns about the safety of the bike lane along the lakefront. Our Chicago bicycling accident attorneys encourage you to do your part in ensuring everyone's safety on these lanes. While many accidents are caused by careless or inattentive motorists, riders can do their part; be courteous to one another in an attempt to reduce these potentially fatal accidents.

The City of Chicago currently has over 110 miles of on-street bike lanes, more than 30 miles of shared bike lanes and many miles of off-street paths. One of Chicago's most popular bicycling paths is the Lakefront Trail, which is nearly 20 miles long. To help encourage bicycling in the area, the city also installed thousands of bike racks. They also have sheltered bike parking at a number of CTA rail stations, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation.

The Illinois Department of Transportation suggests proper trail etiquette to help keep you safe:

-Stay right.

-Yield to walkers.

-Pass to the left -- announce your intentions before overtaking slower traffic.

-Avoid stopping or blocking the path.

-Leash and control your pet.

-Properly dispose of trash.

-Avoid contact with unknown plant species; poison oak and poison ivy are plentiful.

-Wear a helmet.

Government officials are stepping up their efforts to protect Illinois bicyclists as well. The state of Illinois is waiting for Gov. Quinn’s to sign a bill into law that would allow bicyclists to treat “demand-actuated” red lights as stop signs. This would only be permitted to go through a red light if the signal does not change to green “within a reasonable period of time”. This law was proposed by Illinois motorcyclists. It would allow both motorcycles and bicycles to legally travel through a red light if the signal fails to detect them waiting. This law would affect all of the state except Chicago.

It is estimated that there are approximately 1,300 bicycling accident in Chicago every year. Safer bike lanes, cautious bicyclists and alert motorists can help reduce the number of yearly accidents.

Continue reading " Illinois Department of Transportation Welcomes Bicyclists for Safe Summer Fun " »

The Illinois Injury Lawyers at Abels & Annes have reached a truck accident settlement on behalf of a client who was rear-ended on the highway due to the inattentiveness of a truck driver. The woman sustained several injuries to her neck and back that required medical care.

On May 25, 2010, the woman was driving northbound on I-55 through Bolingbrook, Illinois when a commercial Freightliner semi slammed into her 2008 Honda Accord as she reduced her speed to match traffic conditions. The Illinois State Police responded to the accident and conducted an investigation which placed the truck driver at fault. The report stated the driver had failed to exercise due care by reducing his excessive speed because he was admittedly not paying attention.

Unfortunately, the victim had an immediate onset of neck pain, and was transported by ambulance from the scene of the crash to the Emergency Department at Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital for examination. Upon her arrival, doctors performed a host of diagnostic tests and x-rays to determine the source of her substantial pain, and she was diagnosed with a cervical strain and cervicalgia. The doctors prescribed pain medication and instructed her to seek treatment if her pain continued. The pain did not subside, however, and she was forced to seek further medical attention for her low back pain, muscle spasms, and a radiating pain in her left shoulder caused by the pain in her neck.

She was then treated at a chiropractic office in the Chicago area where she was diagnosed with cervical and lumbar sprian/strain, myalgia, and muscle spasms. Her treatment plan consisted of conservative chiropractic spinal correction and manipulation therapy, and physical therapy. She required 16 separate session of chiropractic treatment before she was finally discharged.

A lawyer at our office negotiated a $12,000 settlement without having to file a lawsuit, saving our client the cost of litigation.

Accidents between cars and commercial trucks happen fairly frequently on highways, and the attorneys at Abels & Annes settled another case recently involving an inattentive truck driver colliding with a passenger vehicle.

On October 20, 2010, a man and his passenger were traveling in the right lane going east on I-80 when a commercial tractor-trailer merged into their lane and collided with their 1994 Pontiac Bonneville. The truck’s front bumper struck the driver’s side door of victim’s automobile, causing the car to fishtail out of control before coming to a rest on the opposite side of the highway.

The Illinois State Police Department’s investigation determined that the truck driver was at fault for the incident. They cited him for an improper lane change, as he was traveling at an excessive speed for the conditions and failed to exercise due care in ascertaining whether a lane change could be made safely. The driver admitted that he did not see the victim until after contact had been made.

Shortly after the collision, our client began to experience stiffness and radiating pain in his left leg due to back pains sustained in the crash. The increasing pain forced him to seek medical treatment at St. James Hospital where various tests were administered. The x-rays showed a significant decrease in vertebral body between C3 and C4 and he was diagnosed with a sciatica on his left side, a neck sprain/strain, and a muscle strain/sprain.

After the prescribed pain medication did not improve his condition, the victim sought treatment from a neurologist for his neck and back pain, as well as pain and a limited range of motion in his left shoulder. The doctor noticed a bruising on his left shoulder and had the impression that he had suffered a sacroiliac and lumbosacral strain.

On December 21, 2010, the victim returned to the doctor and indicated he was still having pain and limitations in his lumbar spine region. The doctor recommended that he continue physical therapy and return in a month. He was discharged by the doctor on February 1, 2011 after completing 12 sessions of physical therapy at a chiropractic office.

The Illinois Injury Lawyers at Abels & Annes negotiated a $13,500 settlement pre-litigation, once again saving our client court costs.

Continue reading " Chicago truck accident attorney reaches settlements in 2 cases " »

In light of the Department of Transportation Commissioner’s pronouncement in the Chicago Journal that he wants to make the city one of the most bike-friendly in the nation, a local blogger has requested he take a hard look at what he calls one of the most dangerous places for bicycle accidents in the city – the lakefront trail.

The Urban Cyclist, as he is known on his blog of the same name, said he was shocked to learn that the city’s $45 million Navy Pier Flyover plan would actually constrict the bike path at certain points, even though it is in desperate need of expansion. As a daily bicycle commuter, he has escaped serious injury in accidents with cars, cabs, and other cyclists, but an inattentive jogger on the lakefront trail left him with permanent scars on his hands.

He says the trail is basically an overcrowded highway for non-engine vehicles. Cyclists and bladers are intermingled with dog-walkers, their unpredictable pets, grandparents mindlessly walking grandkids, and various other outdoor enthusiasts who have no other option but to crowd together on the congested path.

The blogger measured the trail at 6 feet for each lane, with the new plan calling for 5 foot lanes in each direction with a 3 foot shoulder on both sides. While this is technically more space, he says the unpaved shoulder is unusable for cyclists and joggers rarely use them. He predicts the traffic and dangers will actually increase.

While he admittedly has no statistics to back up his claims, as Chicago does not keep statistics on bike-bike or bike-pedestrian accidents, he invites everyone to take a ride with him down the trail and tell him otherwise. He worries that with the Mayor and the head of CDOT aiming to make Chicago one of the bike-friendliest cities in the nation (read the story as reported by CBS news here), the increased traffic may make biking in the city even more dangerous than it currently is.

While Illinois bike crash lawyers at our office agree that the lakefront trail presents its share of hazards, inattentive drivers are still the greatest danger to cyclists in this city. Injuries to bicyclists when involved in collisions with motor vehicles often result in catastrophic injuries, and sometimes death.

The Chicago Tribune reports that drivers frequently veer into designated lanes, turn in front of cyclists, and open their doors in the path of bikers, also known as “dooring.” According to an NHTSA study, 630 cyclists were killed in traffic accidents and another 51,000 were injured nationwide in 2009, with 70% of the fatalities occurring in urban areas like Chicago. 20 of those fatalities occurred in Illinois alone. The study cites a number of things drivers can do to avoid injuring cyclists, including:

• Allowing at least 3 feet of clearance when passing a biker on the road
• Look for cyclists before opening your car door or pulling out of a parking spot
• Yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and markers
• Be especially careful to look for cyclists before making turns
• Pay attention

Cyclists have the same rights as motorists when traveling on public roads, and drivers need to make an effort to learn the rules of the road and how to properly implement cyclist awareness into their ever day driving habits.

If you have been injured in an Illinois cycling accident due to a negligent driver, please contact a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer for a free consultation. Call (866) 99-ABELS now.

Six traffic violations were handed to an 82-year-old woman accused of causing a serious car vs. pedestrian accident in Chicago this past weekend. The woman was allegedly driving the wrong way on the Magnificent Mile and struck two pedestrians, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The woman was cited for driving over the median, negligent driving, disobeying a red light and for striking the pedestrians in a crosswalk, according to Chicago Police Officer John Mirabelli.

It's a part of life. One day we're all going experience a loss in eyesight, hearing and hand-eye coordination. Many of us will fight these aging symptoms. It is important to keep an eye on our parents, grandparents and other elderly loved ones to make sure that our friends and family members are not facing increased risks of being involved in a serious car accident. Our Illinois car accident attorneys encourage all residents to speak with their parents about aging and driving. It may be tough and you may not want to do it, but it's important.

Police have yet to determine why the woman was driving the wrong direction when the accident happened. The pedestrians were injured just after 5:00 p.m. Friday evening. Both were taken to the hospital, according to Huffpost Chicago.

Currently, elderly drivers account for about 20 percent of all motorists on U.S. roadways, according to the Government Accountability Office. That number isn't expected to shrink any time soon. Those who make up the first wave of the baby-boom generation celebrated their 65th birthdays this year.

"The number of older drivers on the road is definitely a concern, and their number can't help but increase in the years ahead, due to the aging of the population," said Lisa D'Ambrosio, a research scientist at the MIT AgeLab.

If you're worried about your parents driving abilities, you're not alone. The Hartford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's AgeLab, reports that nearly 1 out of every 10 adults are concerned about an older family member's driving.

An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study determined the following about drivers and intersection accidents:

-Nearly 60 percent of drivers 80-years-old and older neglect to yield at intersections.

-Nearly 40 precent of those age 70- to 79-years-old fail to yield at intersections.

-Only 26 percent of drivers that are age 35- to 54-year-old don't yield at stop signs.

"We know that having that first conversation with an older parent is going to be a difficult one, because driving is so intrinsic to our sense of independence and autonomy," said D'Ambrosio. "So many of us are dependent on driving, especially in regions where public transportation does not exist, or is inconvenient, or runs irregularly. There is also a concern about what the transportation alternatives might be if an older person has to stop driving."

Should you ask your parent turn in their keys for good. MSN recommends you ask yourself these question. Yes answers means you should talk with you parent:

-Have they suffered a stroke, heart attack or diminished eyesight?

-Have they experienced any difficulty negotiating sharp turns and intersections?

-Do they hesitate over right-of-way decisions?

-Are they oftentimes surprised by the sudden presence of other vehicles or pedestrians?

-Are they getting lost on familiar routes?

We understand that talking with your loved ones about when they need to stop driving may be hard on you, but it is important that you do this for their safety. If you avoid the conversation, you're only putting them at an increased risk for experiencing a car accident that could potentially end their life prematurely.

Continue reading " 82-Year-Old Driver Injures Two Pedestrians - Are Your Parent's at Risk for a Car Accident in Chicago? " »

Two women have been killed in separate Chicago area car crashes this month, with alleged DUI drivers being responsible for both accidents.

On July 3, a 39-year old Carol Stream man was driving in the early hours of the morning with a 30-year old woman when he failed to stop at a train crossing in Itasca, Illinois, drove through the lowered gate, and struck the engine of a passing train. According to the Chicago Tribune, the man had a blood-alcohol content of .183, more than twice the legal limit of .08. His passenger died of her injuries soon after the crash.

The man has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, and is being held on $500,000 bail.

A week later, a 43-year old woman returning home from her job as a 911 dispatcher when a 16-year old driver, who was drunk and high on drugs, plowed into her car. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the young driver, who was an honors student and two-sport athlete at his high school, was being pursued by police at the time of the accident.

The youth had just left a party near Old Town, where he got “drunk and high,” when he saw a man leave his SUV idling on North Michigan Avenue while he went to pay for parking. The youth stole the car and fled police after they attempted to pull him over after he ran a red light. During the pursuit, the youth ran a stop sign at the intersection of Armitage and Hoyne Avenues in Bucktown and hit the 911 dispatcher, causing her to careen into a fire hydrant. The youth escaped on foot, but was soon apprehended. Police say the teen had a blood-alcohol content of .186 and was also high on marijuana and ecstasy at the time of the crash.

The youth has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder, felony burglary, misdemeanor DUI, and two traffic citations. His bond is set at $1 million.

Drunk driving is incredibly dangerous for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike. Each year, thousands of innocent people are killed in alcohol-related crashes. A brief look government statistics from 2009 illustrate this grim reality:

• Out of the 33,808 driving fatalities nationwide, 10,839 of them were alcohol-impaired driving fatalities (32%) – That is roughly 1 every 48 minutes

• 1,077 teens died drunk driving crashes

• 70% of drivers involved in fatal drunk driving crashes had blood-alcohol levels above .15, and the median level was .17

• 44% of the drivers involved in fatal crashes had at least 1 prior DWI conviction

• 1.4 million people were arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

• Out of the 911 driving fatalities in Illinois, 319 of them were alcohol-impaired driving fatalities (35%)

Sources:
- 2009 NHTSA Traffic Report
- NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
- 2009 Century Counsel Report- Drunk Driving Fatalities in America
- CDC Stat sheet

Continue reading " Pair of fatal auto accidents in the Chicago area highlights dangers of drunk driving " »

A fatal Illinois auto accident that occurred early Sunday morning in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood has resulted in a 16-year-old minor being charged with first-degree murder, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting. The teenager crashed a stolen Range Rover while being chased by police, striking and killing a Chicago 911 dispatcher who was driving home from work.

The minor is being charged as an adult with first-degree murder, burglary, DUI, failing to stop at a red light, and disobeying a stop sign. The teen's name is not being released.

The tragic incident started when officers conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of W. Blackhawk St. and Elston Avenue around 6:15 AM for a red light violation occurred at Elston and Webster. When police got out of their vehicle, the driver reversed towards the officers and hit a police supervisor's vehicle.

Chicago police then pursued the Range Rover, which was a stolen vehicle that is owned by a resident of Bellwood, Illinois. The driver sped north on Elston, then turned onto W. Cortland St., turned north on N. Ashland Ave., and next went west on Armitage to Damen Avenue.

The driver made a few more turns and then collided the victim when he disregarded the stop sign at North Hoyne Avenue and Armitage. The police chase lasted between 1.5 to 2 miles.

The victim, a 42-year-old woman, was later identified as a 911 dispatcher who was heading home from her place of employment at the time of the crash. She was rushed to Illinois Masonic Medical Center where she was pronounced dead less than an hour after the accident. An autopsy is scheduled to take place on Monday.

Accident witnesses are stating that the 911 dispatcher's car hit a fire hydrant after the impact with the Range Rover. The SUV hit a parked car after the first impact. The teenage driver tried to flee the scene of the accident through an alley, but was caught by police and arrested.

The minor was taken to an area hospital after the collision, and will remain in police custody. Witnesses report the teenager sustained a head injury in the accident.

There were no passengers in either vehicle, and no one else was injured.

The investigation is being handled by Grand Central Area detectives and the Major Accident Investigation Unit of the Chicago Police Department. The defendant is to appear in criminal court on Monday at Branch 66, 26th and California.

Click here to read the story as reported by NBC news and Fox news.

Continue reading " 16-year-old boy faces murder charges after causing deadly Chicago car crash " »

Those who oppose red-light cameras argue that the only thing they're good for is to generate revenue for struggling towns and cities, according to MSNBC. Advocates for the red-light cameras argue that these devices are used not to make a quick buck, but to increase motorist safety on roadways nationwide. With the threat of a possible ticket, drivers are likely to pass through these intersections more safely and your risks for a car accident in Chicago and elsewhere decrease.

More than 500 cities and towns in roughly half of all U.S. states currently have red-light cameras. These intersection watchers snap pictures and take video of drivers who run red lights. As contract for early adopters begin to run out, many wonder if cities are going to keep them around.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys note that guidelines through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) make revenue an invalid justification for the use of the these intersection cameras. Still, our 400 red-light cameras in Chicago generated more than $64 million in 2009 alone. Safety advocates continue to insist they have made intersections in the city and its suburbs significantly safer.

Because most red-light cameras are contracted out to private companies, they get a large percentage of each fine. This is where oppositional parties argue that there is a danger of “vendor overreach” in increasing the number of citations to generate more money for the contractor. Complaints in Chicago have ranged from targeting busy intersections regardless of accident statistics (and therefore maximizing revenue) to shortening yellow lights in an attempt to increase the number of offenders.

As we recently discussed on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, the NHTSA reported that more than 4,500 fatal accidents were at intersections or were intersection-related. Regardless of the presence of red-light cameras, nothing can replace safe driving skills.

Chicago started red-light camera enforcement back in 2003. Our city initially started the pilot program at two intersections, Peterson and Western and 55th and Western. Those locations were chosen based on crash data, according to The City of Chicago. As of May 1, nearly 200 intersections have been equipped with red-light cameras.

There have been a number of large studies over the past 10 years that have all concluded that these red-light cameras reduce accidents and injuries. The most recent study, published in February by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, analyzed 10 years of federal traffic data 99 of the largest U.S. cities. Nearly 15 percent of them have installed red-light cameras. The Institute calculated that had all 99 cities installed the devices, more than 800 lives could have been saved from 2004 to 2008.

"We still have thousands of people who die," said Adrian Lund, the Insurance Institute's president. "We look at where and how that's happening, and one of the most dangerous (locations) is intersections."

The U.S. Conference of Mayors recently approved a resolution that would endorse nationwide adoption of red light cameras.

These red-light cameras oftentimes lead to fines and, depending on the jurisdiction, can lead to costly points on drivers' records. A number of these consequences result from borderline infractions like neglecting to come to a complete stop at an intersection before making a right turn.

Another recent study from the Insurance Institute found that there has been a significant decline in deaths from red-light accidents in cities that have installed these cameras. A number of researchers write off the cameras as the contributor to the decline because deaths from U.S. roadway accidents of all sorts have decreased significantly during the study period.

The City of Chicago offers drivers a map of red-light camera intersections throughout the city.

Continue reading " Red-Light Cameras in Chicago - Saving Lives or Stealing Money? " »

An Illinois taxi vs. pedestrian collision has left one person dead and two others injured when a cab driver lost control on the morning of June 27, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The incident occurred just before 8:50 AM in the 300 block of E. Illinois Street.

The cab driver reportedly lost control, fatally striking a pedestrian and crashing into a parking garage. The taxi driver and his passenger were both injured when the vehicle hit the garage in the Streeterville neighborhood. Witnesses and police are stating that the passenger was female and she had to be cut out of the backseat. As Chicago fire department personnel worked to extricate her from the vehicle, the male pedestrian's body was laying in the street under a sheet.

The two injured people were taken by ambulance to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious to critical condition.

The accident was picked up on surveillance video from a nearby business. The pedestrian victim is shown walking eastbound on Illinois. The taxicab then skids off the road towards the pedestrian and the garage, and then the victim disappears from view.

A 23-year-old Chicago Tribune employee was at scene the to witness the crash. He stated he saw a Checker cab going fast on Illinois Street. The taxi then may have been cut off by another, swerved and hit the pedestrian on the sidewalk on the north side of the street.

NBC news is reporting that the cab driver is 71 years old and does not have a great driving record. He has received more than 30 traffic tickets between 1988 and 2010. The moving violations include failing to obey red lights, stop sign violations, speeding, obstructing traffic and improperly changing lanes.

The victim, a man in his 50s, was a dishwasher at Navy Pier seafood store and a resident of Rogers Park.

The Chicago Police Department handled the crash investigation. They issued citations to the cab driver for driving too fast for conditions and failing to show due care to a pedestrian.

This same intersection is the location where a fatal tour bus vs. pedestrian accident took place in May. The bus was turning and struck a pedestrian in the crosswalk. The driver was later charged with DUI.

The summertime can be dangerous for pedestrians in downtown Chicago. Just days after the June 27 accident, more pedestrians were injured on July 1 on Michigan Avenue, according to the Tribune.

Two pedestrians were hit in the crosswalk by a driver headed in the wrong direction. The collision took place around 5:15 PM in the 200 block of N. Michigan Ave.

The woman was reportedly in her 80s and was driving southbound in the northbound lanes. The pedestrians hit were a 35-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman. After the collision with the pedestrians, the motorist struck a northbound vehicle, and the northbound vehicle was then knocked into a third vehicle.

The pedestrians were taken by Chicago Fire Department ambulance to Northwestern Hospital. One of the injured was in serious to critical condition. The 80-year-old motorist was also taken to Northwestern, but her injuries were not reported.

It has not been reported if a Chicago car accident attorney is involved in either of the above cases, or if any civil lawsuits are on file yet.

Secretary of State Jesse White has been an advocate for safe teen driving for quite some time now. Back in 2008, he continued to voice his opposition to raising the driving age in our state after the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced its support for raising the driving age nationwide to at least 17-years-old. He opposed this move because he believes it's not the age of the driver that affects their road safety, but the experience and knowledge that they possess.

He continues to argue that safe teen driving won't come with an increase driving age, but rather by working to better prepare young, novice drivers, regardless of their age, and with increasing parental involvement. Once teens are properly taught effective driving habits, we will then begin to see reduced risks of car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere throughout the state.

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys would like to reiterate that car accidents are the number one cause for teen deaths in the United States. In a car accident that involves a teen driver, anyone and everyone is at risk. In an attempt to raise awareness about the importance of educating our teen drivers, the National Safety Council recently announced that it is currently accepting nominations for the 2011 Teen Driving Safety Leadership Award. This award, sponsored by General Motors and the Illinois-based safety organization, aims to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant advances in protecting our young drivers.

“My office initiated a new teen driver safety law, effective January 1, 2008, that gives Illinois one of the strongest graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs in the nation,” said White. “The new law better prepares teen drivers by tripling the length of the permit phase, increasing parental involvement, limiting in-car distractions, and strengthening penalties.”

White’s office has also initiated another key law that allows parents of teens that are under age 18 to view their teen’s driving record free online.

“By giving parents access to these driving records, we are helping them stay even more
involved in their teenagers' driving patterns as they proceed through the GDL program,” said White. “Parental involvement is a key component to any successful GDL program.”

The Council is looking for individuals or organizations that have participated in some of the following safe teen driving efforts:

-Advocacy.

-Enacting legislation based on proven safety methods.

-Demonstrating a consistent commitment to teen driving safety leadership.

-Leadership or coordination of an effort to adopt best practices.

-Enhancing public understanding of teen driving safety issues and prevention methods.

“General Motors has a longstanding affiliation with NSC and the Teen Driving Program,” said Mike Robinson, vice president, GM Environment, Energy and Safety Policy. “Driver behavior plays a critical role in safety, particularly for new, inexperienced drivers. We are pleased to support this recognition program and the awareness it gives to developing and maintaining safe driver habits.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 2,500 15- to 20-year-old drivers lost their lives in traffic accidents in the United States in 2009. Another 196,000 of these young drivers suffered injuries from these incidents. During that year, Illinois lost more than 50 young drivers because of motor-vehicle accidents on our roadways.

“Recent studies have shown that the most comprehensive GDL programs can reduce traffic fatalities for 16-year-old drivers by as much as 21 percent. While Illinois' GDL law already contains many of the components that are believed to reduce traffic fatalities for these young drivers, we want to make sure that we take every reasonable step possible to save more lives," White said. "These young people are our future leaders and we want to protect them so they have the opportunity to grow up and fulfill their aspirations.”

You can access our Illinois Graduated Driver License Program's Parent-Teen Driving Guide to help educate all parties of the learning process to help reduce the risks of traffic accidents on our roadways.

You are encouraged to submit your nomination for the 2011 Teen Driving Safety Leadership Award through August 5, 2011. Keep in mind Secretary of State Jesse White and all he's done to help ensure the safety of our young drivers when filling out those nomination forms.

Continue reading " National Safety Council Takes Nominations for 2011 Teen Driving Safety Leadership Award - Many Nominate Secretary of State Jesse White " »

Illinois is already one of the states in the United States that has banned the use of cell phones by drivers in school and work zones and has banned all drivers from text messaging in an attempt to reduce the frequency of distracted driving car accidents in Illinois, according to the Governors Highway Safety Administration. While many motorists ignore these safe driving laws, they may soon have another force fighting their distracted driving habits. A proposed federal law. Introduced by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., aims to federalize driving and cell phone usage. These types of laws are currently managed by individual states-- and sometimes even cities as is the case with Chicago's cell phone ban.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys hope that this proposed legislation will one day serve as additional ammo in the fight against distracted drivers. The proposed bill would direct the U.S. Department of Transportation to set up a standard for the entire country that would prohibit hand-held cell phone use while driving.

“Driving while making a phone call, texting or using apps can be as dangerous as driving drunk, and much more common,” Rep. McCarthy said. “With some basic commonsense rules that are already in place in some parts of the country, we can reduce injuries and save lives in America.”

There are a few exclusions to this proposed law. Drivers would still be allowed to use voice-operated, vehicle-integrated devices, as well as voice-operated GPS systems. Even though there are cognitive distractions still present with hands-free devices, they pose a much less serious problem than using a hand-held device.

Under the proposed bill, the Department of Transportation would be required to conduct a study on distracted driving. This study would be required to focus on the issue of cognitive distraction and the impact of distraction on newly licensed, young drivers. Within two years of the completed study, the DOT would then be required to report its findings to Congress. Recommendations for revising the minimum distracted driving prohibitions and penalties must accompany this report. These newly proposed minimum distracted driving prohibitions would be mandatory for all states. Each state would then be allotted two years to comply with the law or lose a quarter of their federal highway funding.

Currently, each state is able to create their own laws regulating cell phone and texting use. Some states offer strict laws to prevent distracted driving while others have absolutely no restrictions at all. A majority of states ban teenagers from using cell phones while driving. Texting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle is forbidden in some 30 states. If this proposed bill becomes law, the entire country would be put under a seamless law that would require all motorists to follow it or face the consequences.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 5,500 people died because of car accidents that involved a distracted driver in 2009. These accidents accounted for roughly 1 in 6 of all motor-vehicle accident related fatalities that year.

Continue reading " Safe Driver Act of 2011 Could Increase Distracted Driving Laws in Illinois " »