Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

Officials will be out in force through the Fourth of July weekend, looking for drunk or impaired drivers and monitoring the heavy holiday traffic in an effort to reduce the number of serious and fatal Chicago car accidents.

The Illinois Department of Transportation reports that it will attempt to keep lane closures in construction areas to a minimum, but urges motorists to drive sober and allow extra time to reach their destination safely.

“While we want everyone to enjoy their holiday weekend, we must put safety first and remind motorists to not drink and drive and to be conscious of work zones,” said IDOT Secretary Gary Hannig. “We will limit lane closures where possible to provide some relief to those traveling over the holiday weekend, but some areas will still have workers present, so please obey the posted speed limits and drive cautiously."

While New Year's gets all the attention when it comes to drunk driving and fatal traffic accidents, Fourth of July and Thanksgiving have proven to be the deadliest holidays on the nation's roads in recent years. And Fourth of July was the most dangerous holiday in Illinois in 2008, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Nearly 2,700 crashes killed 15 and injured 805 motorists.

Fatal Holiday traffic accidents nationwide in 2008:

New Year's: 104

Memorial Day: 370

Fourth of July: 437

Labor Day: 423

Thanksgiving: 439

Christmas: 364

New Year's Eve: 37

Fatal Holiday Car Accidents in Illinois in 2008

New Year's: 10 fatalities/ 575 injuries

Memorial Day: 8 fatalities/726 injuries

Fourth of July: 15 fatalities/805 injuries

Labor Day: 15 fatalities/ 803 injuries

Thanksgiving: 9 fatalities/961 injuries

Christmas: 8 fatalities/841 injuries

Of particular concern will be combating drunk driving. Our Chicago injury attorneys continue to report the high number of Illinois traffic accidents caused by drunk driving. Nationwide, someone is killed in a drunk driving accident every 45 minutes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2008, alcohol was involved in more than one-third of all fatal Illinois traffic accidents, accounting for 434 of the state's 1,043 road deaths.

Continue reading "Aggressive enforcement aimed at reducing the risk of Chicago car accidents over Fourth of July weekend" »

A mother has hurt her own daughter in a Chicago car crash, and it is alleged she was driving drunk at the time, according to the Chicago Tribune. The car accident happened on Thursday night in the 1400 block of South Pulaski Road.

Chicago police officers actually witnessed the accident. They were in the middle of a traffic stop when the 25-year-old defendant drove by going Northbound in a 1997 Chevy. She hit a 1994 Buick, then a truck before coming to a stop.

The mother was charged with aggravated DUI, driving on a suspended license, no insurance, leaving the scene of an accident, and a no seat belt violation for both her and her daughter.

Both mother and daughter were taken by ambulance to Mt. Sinai Hospital. There injuries have not been reported.

Click here to read the story from the Chicago Breaking News Center.

A teenager has been sentenced to six months in jail on drunk driving charges stemming from a fatal Chicago car accident that claimed the life of a friend and critically injured two passengers, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The teenager will serve 120 days in jail this year, 30 days in jail next year and 30 days in 2012 after pleading guilty in March to aggravated DUI and reckless homicide.

The June accident killed a 17-year-old West Chicago teenager. Police say the defendant's blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit when he lost control of his SUV and struck a tree at about 3:30 a.m. on June 14.

The teens had been partying at the home of the teenager killed in the wreck; his parents were out of state at the time. Witnesses testified that the defendant aggressively refused suggestions that he not drive. Prosecutors had requested a 10-year prison sentence.

As part of the judge's order, the teen will also have to give four talks at schools about the dangers of drunk driving. The judge also said he would reduce the sentence by one day for every additional speech the defendant makes to a school or victim impact panel.

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers 15 to 20 years old, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2008, 5,864 teenagers were involved in fatal accidents -- 2,739 were killed and more than 228,000 were injured. One-third of young drivers killed in crashes had alcohol in their system at the time of the accident.

In Illinois, 164 people died in accidents involving young drivers in 2008, including 80 young drivers and 39 young passengers.

Click here to read the Kane County Chronicle article.

Click here to read the Chicago Daily Herald article.

A 21-year-old man has been criminally charged for allegedly driving drunk when he slammed into a Chicago police officer during a traffic stop, the Sun-Times reported.

It is the latest in a string of Chicago car accidents that have injured law enforcement officers conducting traffic stops.

As we reported last month on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, a trooper was struck on I-80 while conducted a traffic stop involving a suspected drunk driver.

The accident happened early Thursday morning on the Northwest Side. The officer had a vehicle stopped in the 5600 block of West Foster Avenue when he was struck by another vehicle. Police report the at-fault vehicle had turned onto Foster from Central and was on the wrong side of the street traveling at a high rate of speed.

The car crashed into the woman's car and her open car door slammed into the officer, throwing him to the ground. He was transported to Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center. The drivers of both vehicles were also taken to Resurrection for treatment.

The defendant was charged with DUI, negligent driving, driving without a license and failure to keep in the lane, according to Chicago police.

As we reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, Scott's Law requires motorists to move over or slow down for stopped emergency or construction vehicle's with activate lights.

Violators face a mandatory court appearance, a license suspension and a fine of up to $10,000. The law is named for a Chicago Fire Department lieutenant who was working an accident scene on the Dan Ryan Expressway when he was struck and killed by a drunk driver.

The law also applies to road crews, as authorities work to reduce the number of serious and fatal Illinois road construction accidents through the upcoming summer construction season.

A 32-year-old man is facing reckless homicide and other charges after a deadly Chicago car accident that is being blamed drunk driving, The Sun-Times reported.

The accident occurred last Friday at a busy Southwest Side intersection, where the defendant allegedly crashed into three vehicles and struck three pedestrians, killing a 25-year-old Chicago resident.

The driver is charged with reckless homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol, operating a vehicle without insurance, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, reckless driving, not using due care for a pedestrian in the roadway, and driving without a valid license, according to police.

Police report he was driving an SUV in the 4300 block of South Archer Avenue about 3:30 p.m. Friday when he crashed into the vehicles and pedestrians.

At least 8 people were injured, including three pedestrians who were walking in the intersection. One of the pedestrians was pronounced dead at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County. A small child was also taken to the hospital in critical condition.

The Chicago Breaking News Center reported that the defendant was speeding Northeast on Archer Avenue in a Lincoln SUV when it sideswiped a vehicle sitting at the red light at Kedzie Avenue. The SUV then struck three pedestrians as it ran the red light, before crashing into another vehicle and causing a chain-reaction collision.

The alleged drunk driver who killed a 5-year-old boy in a Chicago car accident, was given the keys to the vehicle by police less than an hour before he slammed into a tree with the child sleeping in the back seat, the Breaking News Center reported.

Chicago Heights police took the man's girlfriend into custody for driving without a license before reportedly handing him the keys and allowing him to drive away in the 1998 Chevy Cavalier. Forty minutes later, he veered off Steger Road and slammed into a tree, killing the child.

Police say he had marijuana in his system and a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit. He was charged with felony driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless homicide.

Family and friends say the boy's mother had been the designated driver. Friends say the defendant had spent most of Sunday night drinking before being joined by his girlfriend and her son.

The couple left the party at a friend's house shortly after 2 a.m. The girlfriend was stopped at 2:35 a.m. after police report she made an improper turn without a signal. The officer arrested her for driving on a suspended license and handed the vehicle and her son over to the defendant, according to the Chicago Heights police chief.

Police report the vehicle was registered to him and he had a valid driver's license. The chief said the officer did not detect any signs that the man was intoxicated. He was about half a mile from his house, and just 2 1/2 miles from where police gave him the car, when he drove off the road and into the tree. The accident happened about 3:15 a.m., about the time the child's mother was being processed and released from custody.

The officer who made the stop had been on the force for two years.

WGN-TV reports on the story.

Click here to read the report from NBC Chicago.

Illinois auto accident attorneys from Abels & Annes have reached a $200,000 on behalf of a Bellwood, Illinois woman for injuries sustained in a Chicago DUI car crash. The collision took place on May 31, 2009 at approximately 3:15 a.m. Our client was driving westbound on I-290 near Racine, and the defendant was also westbound on I-290 near Racine. The at fault driver was racing and speeding, swerved out of his lane of traffic and struck the plaintiff’s vehicle. The force of the impact caused our client to lose control of her vehicle and hit a third car.

After causing the accident the DUI driver attempted to flee the scene of the collision but was apprehended. He was issued citations from the Illinois State Police for driving under the influence, driving too fast for conditions/failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to give aid or information. The criminal case is still pending in Cook County.

Our client had an immediate onset of neck pain with paresthesia in her right arm following the collision. She was transported by ambulance from the site of the collision to Stroger Hospital’s Emergency Department.

Due to ongoing and increasing pain, the plaintiff sought follow up medical care on the following day at the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department. She complained of worsening neck pain radiating into her right arm with tingling and numbness in her face and arm, bilateral shoulder pain, back pain and pelvic pain. A history was taken, she was examined and additional diagnostic tests were performed. A neck strain was diagnosed and she was prescribed more pain medication and muscle relaxants and told to follow up with a physician.

Her pain continued to worsen. On June 3, 2009 she followed up with her physician. She complained of neck pain with numbness, back pain, left leg and hip pain following the motor vehicle collision. The pain was so bad that it was interfering with her ability to take care of her everyday needs such as getting around, bathing and shopping. Her doctor prescribed more pain medication, muscle relaxants and recommended that she see a specialist.

Continue reading "Chicago injury lawyer settles DUI car accident case for $200,000" »

Authorities say drunk driving was likely involved in a deadly Chicago car accident last Monday night on the Stevenson Expressway, ABC7 reported.

The fatal two-vehicle accident occurred in the outbound lanes near Throop when the driver of a pickup truck lost control, veered across three expressway lanes, and crashed into a car parked at the side of the freeway in an emergency area, killing the 56-year-old driver of that vehicle.

The drivers of both vehicles were transported to Stroger Hospital. The driver of the pickup truck was injured but is expected to recover. He is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to the Breaking News Center. He was detained by police but charges had not yet been filed. A 56-year-old South Mozart Street man was declared dead at 10:38 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

Fox Chicago reported that speed may also have been a factor in the crash and that charges were expected to be filed against the 28-year-old driver. Illinois State Police report the 1998 green Buick LeSabre had pulled into the breakdown area for an unknown reason and was waiting to enter the right lanes of southbound I-55 when it was struck by the pickup.

Witnesses report the driver of the 1991 GMC pickup was traveling in the left lane at a high rate of speed before losing control and driving across traffic. The truck collided with the driver's door of the LeSabre. FOX reports a blood test on the pickup's driver revealed the presence of alcohol in his system and that he admitted to drinking six beers earlier in the evening.

One in three fatal Illinois car accidents are caused by a drunk driver; drunk driving accidents claimed the lives of 362 motorists in Illinois in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes urge everyone to enjoy Cinco de Mayo in a responsible manner and to do your part in preventing Chicago car accidents caused by drunk driving.

WJBC Radio reports that local law enforcement agencies will be working with the Illinois Department of Transportation to increase patrols targeting drunk driving from Wednesday through the weekend. As we reported earlier this year on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, one-third of Cook County car accidents are linked to drunk driving.

In 2008, 362 Illinois traffic fatalities involved a drunk driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In recent years, Cinco de Mayo has increasingly become a party holiday. Spanish for the "fifth of May," the holiday commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory at the Battle of Puebla, against French Forces on May 5, 1862. The day has become a day of celebrating Mexican heritage and pride. In the United States, it has become a day to celebrate Americans of Mexican ancestry, in much the same way St. Patrick's Day celebrates Irish heritage.

The Illinois Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report the deadliest time on the road is 3 to 6 a.m.

The NHTSA provides safe event planning for the Hispanic Community, available by clicking here.

Drunk driving prevention programming is available by clicking here.

Continue reading "Help prevent Chicago car accidents; celebrate Cinco de Mayo responsibly" »

A Chicago area hit & run pedestrian accident has seriously injured a construction worker in the Chicago area, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center. The accident took place in Porter County, Indiana on westbound Interstate 94.

The construction worker injured on the job was rushed to a hospital in Valparaiso, and later helicoptered to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. The worker is in critical condition and is having head and leg surgeries.

The victim was filling cracks in a well marked construction area when the defendant made an illegal U-turn and hit him, and then carried the worker for over 30 feet before he was thrown off the car.

The defendant, an East Chicago resident, was only caught because his mother called police the next morning after she saw that his car appeared to have been involved in an accident. When the Illinois State Police arrived at the driver's home, he was passed out on the couch. He admitted to police he had drank a lot and then drove home. He said he thought he had hit a construction barrel in the work zone, not realizing he had hit a person.

As police interviewed the defendant, he smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. He was taken to a hospital for a blood draw, and his BAC level was 0.12. The driver has been charged with leaving the scene of an injury accident and DUI.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The police Major Accident Investigation Unit continues to investigate.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Hammond man is facing serious criminal charges for a car accident that claimed the life of a construction worker 30 minutes south of Chicago in northwest Indiana.

The victim was working on a night road crew, filling potholes, when a car slammed into him in the construction zone on I-80. The victim flew through the windshield and landed in the front seat of the car. The accident happened so fast a coworker was left standing next to the victim's yellow construction vest in a pool of blood, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center.

Both Indiana and Illinois have tough laws aimed at protecting road construction workers from serious or fatal work accidents. The National Work Zone Awareness Week is coming April 6 to 10, and will include a safety awareness campaign conducted by Illinois Work Zone Safety Partners.

In this case, the victim's co-worker barely escaped injury.

"My hand to God, I don't know why I'm not dead," the co-worker said in a media interview. "I was standing close enough to him to hold his hand."

In 2008, there were 7,813 Illinois road construction accidents, which killed 31 people and injured 1,985, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Of those, 7,360 occurred in urban areas, primarily Chicago.

Employees who are seriously injured in road construction accidents in Illinois may be entitled to workers' compensation and other benefits.

The 35-year-old driver, a Calumet City native, was charged Friday with reckless homicide and failure to stop at a fatal crash. He faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted. He was charged the same day as the funeral for the victim, who was a father of two.

The defendant's drivers license has been suspended four times since 1998, including once for refusing to take a breath test, state authorities reported.

The victim's friend and co-worker said he stood in front of the car in an attempt to stop it from fleeing the scene. He said the defendant began fleeing on foot and the car started to roll into the traffic lane. The construction worker stopped the car, while watching the driver flee on foot.

Indiana State Police found the driver 21 hours later, hiding in an alley just miles from the scene of the crash. Several beer containers were found in the 1993 Mercury Cougar and authorities say he admitted to drinking before the crash.

A woman faces drunk driving charges after a Chicago car accident Tuesday night that killed one woman and seriously injured a 9-year-old girl who was ejected from the vehicle, the Sun-Times reported.

The accident happened about 10:15 p.m. on Interstate 57 on the city's Far South Side.

A Ford Escort was northbound near Halsted Street when the female driver loss control, crossed several lanes of traffic, and drove off the right embankment into a light pole, according to Illinois State Police.

A 9-year-old girl, who was sitting in the back seat, was ejected from the vehicle and landed in the grass, where the light pole fell on top of her.

The driver of the vehicle was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with "non-life threatening" injuries, police reported.

The woman riding in the front passenger seat of the Escort was transported to Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers in Evergreen Park where she was pronounced dead at 10:24 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

The driver, who is reportedly the mother of the 9-year-old girl, was charged with DUI and those charges could be upgraded, according to state police.

During the crash investigation, an intoxicated motorist attempted to pass the accident scene and was arrested for violating Scott's Law.

Scott’s Law increases the penalties for drivers who don’t yield or move over for stopped emergency vehicles.

Drunk driving was responsible for one-third of the nearly 6,000 fatal Cook County traffic accidents that have occurred in the past 15 years, according to an analysis by the Chicago Sun-Times.

The report found similar statistics in the collar counties around Chicago.

The Chicago drunk driving accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have closely followed the issue of deadly drunk driving accidents in Illinois, both here and on our sister site, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog. As we reported earlier this year, the Illinois Department of Transportation will spend $11 million dollars to combat drunk driving accidents in Illinois this year.

The Sun-Times report lists Cook County's portion of I-94 as the 11th most-dangerous road in the nation, with 301 fatal traffic accidents reported between 1994 and 2008.

"People still don't understand that drunk driving is a violent crime," Susan McKeigue, state executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving-Illinois, told the Sun-Times. "They think Uncle Ted getting snookered on Christmas Eve and driving away is funny."

MADD statistics show that half of all motorists involved in a drunk driving accident have never before been stopped or arrested for DUI.

Other dangerous Chicago-area roads identified in the study include Illinois 173 in north suburban Lake County where 30 people have been killed and Illinois 53 in Will County where another 30 motorists have died in traffic accidents.

The study looked at 562,712 fatal accidents that claimed 627,433 lives. And, while fatal traffic accidents have declined over the years, it noted that the 37,261 people killed in 2008 traffic accidents is 10 times the number who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Besides drunk driving, authorities blame the majority of fatal traffic accidents on speeding and distracted driving, including the use of cell phones or text messaging while driving.

Continue reading "One-third of fatal Cook County traffic accidents linked to drunk driving" »

The rate of fatal Illinois traffic accidents has been cut in half over the last 25 years but officials hope spending tens of millions of dollars to combat Illinois drunk driving accidents can cut the rate further by the end of next year.

The Chicago car accident lawyers and the Illinois drunk driving accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have published a series of posts in recent months, both here and on our sister site, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, about the continued fight against drunk driving accidents.

Impaired drivers are currently involved in about one-third of all fatal traffic accidents in Illinois.

2.2 motorists were killed in fatal Illinois car accidents for every 100 million miles traveled on state roads in 1985, compared to .99 deaths in 2008, according to the state's new Highway Performance Safety Plan released for 2010.

One of the primary reasons cited for the decrease is enforcement of DUI laws and the prevention of Illinois drunk driving accidents, which have declined 20 percent in the last five years, from a rate of .56 in 2004 to .46 in 2008.

The Illinois Department of Transportation estimates it will receive more than 11 million in federal funding to combat impaired driving this year -- the most of any targeted category. By comparison, the state is set to receive $400,000 to reduce Illinois motorcycle accidents.

The goal is to reduce Illinois traffic fatalities from 1,355 in 2004 to 883 by the end of 2011. The state hopes serious injuries decline by almost 50 percent -- from 18,798 in 2004 to 10,361 by the end of next year.

As part of that goals, Illinois aims to reduce alcohol-related fatalities by about 25 percent, from 475 in 2004 to 314 by next year. Even so, more than 1 in 3 fatal Illinois traffic accidents would still involve a drunk driver.

Continue reading "State to spend millions this year to combat Illinois drunk driving accidents" »

A suspected Chicago drunk driving accident injured a woman in downtown St. Charles over the weekend, the Daily Herald reported.

The suburban Chicago pedestrian accident occurred on Helen Avenue in West Chicago. The woman was struck by a falling tree limbs while walking on the sidewalk with a group of people after the driver ran over a curb and crashed into a tree and garbage can on the sidewalk.

The 47-year-old driver was charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. The DUI charge is a felony, punishable by up to three years in prison and probation.

The accident happened shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday as the driver turned onto West Main Street from southbound North Second. The tree snapped off at the base and fell into the crowd after being hit by the Chevy Silverado, causing the 48-year-old woman to hit her head on a building.

The victim was taken to Delnor Hospital in Geneva for further evaluation.

The garbage can was thrust through a nearby window and the defendant hit another tree before coming to rest.

The drug charge was added after police found marijuana and paraphernalia in his vehicle.

The Defendant was also taken to the hospital for treatment, but was released and was no longer in custody on Monday, according to the Kane County Chronicle. He is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 9.

Bail has been set at $100,000 for an Irving Park man charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence in connection with a drunk driving Chicago car accident that claimed the life of a friend.

The 23-year-old man was found to have a blood alcohol level of .24 -- three times greater than the legal limit of .08, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center.

The defendant was driving a Dodge Durango, owned by a friend's parents, when he lost control while westbound in the 5100 block of Irving Park Road. The vehicle sideswiped a parked car and slammed into a light pole.

The friend was thrown from the vehicle. He was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

At a court appearance, the defendant's attorney said the man had no previous criminal record and that the victim of the Chicago drunk driving accident was his best friend.

The mother of the victim said her son was back home after completing his enlistment in the Navy, where he was a military police officer stationed at Guantanamo Bay naval base. He had planned a career in law enforcement.

Federal and state statistics show Illinois is one of the deadliest states in the nation for drunk driving accidents. Of the 1,043 people to die in fatal Illinois car accidents in 2008, 1 in 3 were legally drunk and 1 in 4 had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit.

A Des Plaines man also accused of drunk driving could be the first area motorist to be cited for texting while driving, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

As reported on Abels & Annes' Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, the new law makes it illegal to text message, e-mail or surf the Internet while driving. The effort, aimed at reducing Chicago car accidents and fatal Illinois traffic accidents, also outlaws the use of cell phones in school zones or construction sites.

Violating the law will result in a $75 fine. In serious cases, such as fatal accidents, police may subpoena a driver's cell phone records if it's believed they were texting at the time the crash.

In this case, the man was spotted at about 4:30 a.m. on Jan. 2 -- one day after the new ban went into effect -- weaving across the center line in the 700 block of North River Road. Authorities reported pulling the driver over after seeing him texting on a cell phone.

The officer smelled alcohol and administered field sobriety tests to the 39-year-old man. He was charged with felony aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended license, improper lane usage for crossing the center line twice in a one-block span, and illegal use of communications for texting.

Authorities reported it is his third DUI offense.

As reported on Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, someone is killed every 45 minutes by a drunk driving accident.

In 2008, 11,773 of the nation's 37,261 fatal accidents were caused by a drunk driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Fatal Illinois drunk driving accidents accounted for 362 of 1,043 traffic fatalities in 2008.

Winter travel is expected to be its busiest in at least three years in Illinois and across the country.

The Chicago car accident attorneys and Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes wish everyone a joyous and happy holiday season. Visit our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog for tips on Safe Winter Driving , avoiding Chicago car accidents during dark winter commutes, the dangers of drunk driving, and teen driving safety.

Most of all, stay safe and enjoy time with friends and family.

The AAA Chicago Motor Club is reporting that Illinois will see an increase of more than 10 percent in the number of people traveling 50 miles or more from home this year, CBS2 reported.

AAA is projecting 87.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the year-end holidays -- a 3.8 percent increase from the 84.5 million who traveled over the Christmas/New Year's period a year ago.

MSNBC noted that is 3.2 million, or 3.8 percent, more than traveled over the same period a year ago.

"More Americans traveling during the winter holidays is another sign consumers are continuing to grow more confident in their personal financial situations," said Brad Roeber, AAA Chicago regional president. "The moderate projected rise in the number of air travelers is especially welcome since the airline industry was hit especially hard by the recession."

This winter, travelers will be paying nearly $1 more per gallon for gasoline than they did last year. The current nationwide average for self-serve regular is $2.59.

Continue reading "Busy roads pose danger of Chicago car accidents for winter travelers" »

Authorities in Illinois and across the country will be out in force to prevent fatal drunk driving accidents over the New Year's holiday.

Each year in Illinois, an average of more than 50,000 people are arrested for drunk driving and 3 in 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol related traffic crash in their lifetime, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

As the Chicago car accident lawyers and Illinois accident attorneys at Abels & Annes reported on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, Illinois is the eighth-deadliest for fatal drunk driving accidents.

Last year in Illinois, 1,043 people killed in traffic accidents; one in three (362) were legally drunk and one in four (252) had a blood alcohol level of almost twice the legal limit (.15) or higher.

-Each year, about 310,000 people suffer injuries in alcohol-related traffic crashes nationwide, an average of one person injured every 2 minutes.

-Fatal drunk driving accidents in Illinois are three times more likely to occur at night than during the day.

- Teenagers and young adults are at increased risk of an Illinois drunk driving accident. Although 16-24 year olds comprise only 15.52 percent of the licensed drivers in the state, they are involved in 38.85 percent of all fatal alcohol-related crashes.

-Nearly one-third of fatally injured teenage drivers (age 16-19) were drinking prior to their crash.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is pushing a nationwide crackdown aimed at drunk drivers through the New Year's holiday.

Authorities in Illinois will also be conducting sobriety checkpoints through the state, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is encouraging motorists to drink responsibly through its Tie One on for Safety and Designate a Safe Ride Home campaigns.

Continue reading "Chicago drunk driving car accidents a concern through New Year's holiday" »

A nationwide Intensive Holiday Drunk & Impaired Driving Crackdown & Advertising Blitz has been announced by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The Chicago car accident lawyers at Abels & Annes noted on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog that Mothers Against Drunk Driving is also increasing enforcement and awareness efforts for the holidays.

In 2007, nearly 1,500 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In Illinois, of the 1,043 people killed in traffic accidents in 2008, one in three (362) were legally drunk and one in four (252) had a blood alcohol level of almost twice the legal limit (.15) or higher, as Abels & Annes reported in an earlier blog.

That is a a 17 percent reduction from the 439 Illinois fatalities involving drunk drivers in 2007. The reduction puts Illinois in the middle of the pack -- tied for 20th when comparing the drunk-driving fatality rate in all 50 states.

Still, Illinois' 362 fatal drunk driving accidents was eighth highest in the nation after Texas (1,269), California (1,029), Florida (875), Pennsylvania (496), North Carolina (423), Georgia (416) and South Carolina (403).

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and R. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, have launched "Over the Limit. Under Arrest" a national drunk and impaired driving crackdown involving thousands of law enforcement agencies during the holiday season.
“Drunk driving is a major public safety threat that still claims thousands of lives every year,” Secretary LaHood said. “Many states continue to step up their efforts to get drunk drivers off our roads, but the numbers tell us we have to do more. Drinking and driving is dangerous and unacceptable, and I’m asking law enforcement to stay vigilant during this busy holiday season.”

Five states have shown great reductions in alcohol-impaired driving fatality rates from 2007 to 2008. Those include Vermont, Wisconsin, Maine, Nebraska and Minnesota. The states with the least progress are Idaho, Rhode Island, Wyoming, Kansas and New Hampshire, according to government statistics.

Driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher is illegal in all 50 states. But the focus will also be on drugged driving.

“Like alcohol, drugs impair perception, judgment, motor skills and memory. These effects can be dangerously magnified when drugs are consumed with alcohol, even in cases where a driver's blood alcohol level is below legal limits,” said Director Kerlikowske. “Driving while impaired, from alcohol, drugs, or both, puts us all at risk and must be prevented.”

The campaign also reminds motorists that government research has consistently shown that more people are killed in crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver on the weekends and at night. In September, Abels & Annes also reported Illinois officials are concerned about the prevalence of weekend nighttime accidents.

In 2008 alone, 58 percent of drivers and motorcycle riders were killed in crashes that took place over the weekend and at night were alcohol-impaired.

“My message to drivers is this: if you decide to drink, find a safe and sober ride home or your chances of arrest are extremely high,” said Secretary LaHood. “Law enforcement officers will be out in full force during the upcoming holiday, especially at night and on the weekends, looking for the drunk drivers that put the rest of us at risk.”

Continue reading "Illinois eighth-deadliest state for drunk driving accidents as authorities launch nationwide holiday crackdown" »

A driver faces felony drunk driving charges stemming from a Sunday Chicago drunk driving accident that claimed the life of a 27-year-old Chicago man.

The Examiner reported that the 21-year-old driver was going the wrong way on a one-way street shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday when he struck a car at the intersection of 58th and California. The driver and his 20-year-old passenger were not injured in the crash.

ABC7 reported the at-fault driver's 1998 Chevy Lumina was traveling on 58th Street when he struck the driver's side of the victim's 1996 Buick Regal. The 27-year-old driver of the Buick was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital by a Chicago Fire Department ambulance and pronounced dead at 3:27 a.m.

The driver is charged with Aggravated DUI in an accident resulting in death, DUI any amount of drug, Failure to reduce speed, Driving the wrong way on a one way street, Failure to yield the right of way, No insurance and Reckless driving, according to The Examiner.

Earlier this month on Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, we reported that the Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois State Police have launched Operation Save 100, aimed at reducing Illinois traffic fatalities by at least 100 before the end of the year.

A total of 781 people had died this year on Illinois roads when the campaign was announced just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, compared to 883 during the same period last year.

However, the year-end holiday period is a particularly dangerous time on the roads, in part because of Illinois drunk driving accidents and winter weather.

Wet roads and dark commutes also contribute to fatal Chicago car accidents.

Chicago car accidents accounted for 40 percent of all traffic fatalities in Illinois last year.

A 31-year-old Soutwest Side man faces charges stemming from a Thanksgiving Chicago drunk driving car accident that claimed the life of a pedestrian, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The 21-year-old Chicago pedestrian was killed after being struck by a car about 3:10 a.m. Thursday in the 6900 block of South Cicero Avenue.

The at-fault driver was reportedly northbound when he swerved into the southbound lanes and struck a car before continuing north and striking the victim, who was standing outside his vehicle. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn on Thursday morning.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported the victim had run out of gas and had climbed out to push when the accused driver's Chevy Equinox allegedly rear-ended an Oldsmobile and kept going before striking the victim.

The driver had a blood-alcohol level nearly four times the legal limit, according to the Tribune, and was held on $300,000 bail on Saturday. He faces several charges, including felony aggravated driving under the influence.

Last year in Illinois, nine people were killed and 961 injured in serious traffic accidents over the Thanksgiving holiday, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

As reported last week on our Chicago Injury Lawyer blog, about 40 percent of holiday fatalities nationwide involve a drunk driver compared to 28 percent during the rest of the holiday season, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Chicago drunk driving accidents and drunk drivers nationwide pose a serious threat over the Thanksgiving Weekend. Nationally, Mothers Against Drunk Driving estimates we will share the roads with 2 million drunk drivers who have at least three convictions for drunk driving.

In 2007, nearly 1,500 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day. Last year in Illinois, nine people were killed and 961 injured in serious traffic accidents over the Thanksgiving holiday, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Abels & Annes reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog last week that Illinois authorities are hoping to reduce road fatalities by 100 deaths this year and are increasing traffic enforcement through the holidays period.

Through mid-November, 781 people died in Illinois traffic accidents compared to 883 during the same period last year. One-third involved a drunk driver, according to state statistics.

Last week, MADD announced progress in the third year of its campaign to eliminate drunk driving. The nationwide campign "Over the Limit, Under Arrest," will kick off December 14;and MADD reported a total of 12 states now require ignition interlocks to prevent convicted drunk drivers of driving while intoxicated.

MADD has these tips to help ensure everyone’s safety this Thanksgiving:
-Designate a sober driver before celebrations begin.
-Never serve alcohol to those under 21.
- Plan safe parties, including providing non-alcoholic drink options to guests and not serving alcohol the last hour of the gathering.
-Be prepared to get everyone home safe.

Click here for MADD's Safe Party Guide

Continue reading "Chicago drunk driving accidents a hazard to all motorists on Thanksgiving weekend" »

Illinois' 2008 traffic fatality clock logged 1,115 Illinois traffic crashes per day. Eleven people an hour were injured and 3 people a day died in fatal Illinois traffic accidents, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation's 2008 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics report.

This is the second blog looking at the newly published information. The Chicago injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys at Abels & Annes published the first blog in the series on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog last week.

The study reported 10.1 million vehicles registered to 8.7 million licensed drivers traveled over 100 billion miles in 2008. There were 408,258 traffic accidents reported in Illinois during 2008, which caused 94,021 injuries and claimed 1,043 lives.

The Illinois State Police announced last week a campaign to reduce the number of Illinois traffic fatalities by at least 100 through the end of the year, dropping the state total below 1,000. Currently, Illinois is one of 10 states that reported more than 1,000 road deaths last year.

Breakdown of Illinois vehicles:
77 percent passenger cars
17 percent trucks, buses and recreational vehicles
4 percent motorcycles

The highest numbers of fatalities were among passenger cars (850) and pickup trucks (200). However, a high number of fatalities were reported as a result of Illinois trucking accidents (113) and Illinois motorcycle accidents (131).

The state has a good chance of dipping below the 1,000 mark -- 781 fatalities had been reported as of Nov. 10, compared to 883 in the prior year. But November and December are traditionally two of the deadliest months on the road, with holiday travel, Illinois drunk driving crashes and winter weather combining to increase road hazards.

Continue reading "More than 1,000 Illinois car accidents a day injured 11 people an hour in 2008" »

Coming soon: Public service announcements, newspaper articles, press releases, banner ads, TV commercials and increased enforcement aimed at reducing holiday drunk driving accidents.

The Chicago drunk driving accident lawyers and the personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Abels & Annes urge motorists to enjoy the upcoming holiday season by drinking responsibly, using designated drivers and public transportation, and insuring everyone's safety by not driving while impaired.

Have a plan: Those who leave home without a plan usually end up making poor decisions.

The federal government is preparing an all-out blitz in conjunction with state and local law enforcement in preparation for the holiday driving season.

A total of 27 people were killed and 2,377 seriously injured in Illinois car accidents last year over the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's holidays, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Illinois New Year's car accidents claimed the most lives. However Illinois Thanksgiving car accidents and Christmas traffic accident injured more motorists.

And while that is down from the 48 killed and 2,919 killed in 2004, the truth is holiday accident statistics vary by wide margins, depending in part on when holidays fall, but one thing remains constant: The period between Thanksgiving and New Year's is one of the deadliest times on the road.

Nationwide, last year's Thanksgiving Holiday saw an increase in fatalities: 158 were killed, compared to 139 in 2007, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Many safety advocates credit strict enforcement and awareness campaigns with reducing the number of serious and fatal accidents through the core holiday period. And, while Fourth of July and Labor Day where the deadliest single holidays last year, the trio of year-end holidays presents officials with the deadliest month-long stretch on the calendar.

Heavy traffic, impaired driving, visitors unfamiliar with roads, older drivers or younger drivers whom might not otherwise embark on lengthy or numerous trips, holiday stress, and fresh winter weather can all contribute to accidents throughout December.

Illinois Holiday traffic statistics
Memorial Day: 8 killed 726 injured in 2008, compared to 22 killed 1,098 injured in 2004
Fourth of July: 15 killed and 805 injured in 2008 compared to 6 killed and 1,148 injured in 2004
Labor Day: 15 killed and 803 injured in 2008 compared to 12 killed and 1,060 injured in 2004
Thanksgiving: 9 killed and 961 injured in 2008 compared to 19 killed and 1,117 injured in 2004
Christmas: 8 killed and 841 injured in 2008 compared to 22 killed and 927 injured in 2004
New Year's: 10 killed and 575 injured in 2008 compared to 7 killed and 875 injured in 2004

Continue reading "Chicago car accidents a serious threat to a happy holidays" »

Illinois recorded the fewest traffic fatalities since 1923, according to an exhaustive report on 2008 traffic fatalities released by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The Chicago car accident attorneys and the Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes are taking a look at the report in a series of blog here at our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog and our sister site, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog.

"We believe these reductions are evident that Illinois' traffic safety efforts are working," Gov. Pat Quinn said.

While the statistics are encouraging, the simple fact remains that traffic fatalities are a leading killer both in Illinois and nationwide. For most of us, riding in a motor vehicle is the most dangerous activity in our lives.

In 2008, 1,043 people were killed and more than 94,000 injured in Illinois traffic accidents, the vast majority occurred in an around Chicago. But, perhaps because of the poor economy, fewer motorists were on the road: the state reported a 1.6 percent decrease in traffic.

Highlights of "2008 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics"

Cost
-Total estimated cost of Illinois traffic accidents in 2008 was $6.2 billion
-Each fatality was estimated to cost $1.2 million
-An incapacitating injury was estimated to cost $67,500
-A nonincapacitating injury was estimated to cost $21,800
-A property damage crash was estimated to cost $7,800

Fatal
-1,043 people were killed in 950 fatal Illinois crashes in 2008
-There was an average of 1.1 deaths per fatal crash
-25.2 percent of fatal crashes occurred at intersections
-74.2 percent of fatal crashes occurred on dry roads
-48.2 percent of fatal crashes occurred during daylight hours
-55.7 percent of fatal crashes occurred on urban roads
-29.8 percent of fatal crashes occurred with a fixed object

Alcohol
-44 percent of fatally injured drivers who were tested, tested positive for alcohol
-49.3 percent of fatally injured drivers ages 16 to 24 who were tested, tested positive for alcohol

Pedestrian Accidents
-135 pedestrians were killed in 2008 and 5,423 were injured
-About 9 percent were under 15 years old
-About 15 percent were over the age of 65
-About 40 percent had a positive blood-alcohol content

Motorcycle Accidents
-There were 4,901 motorcycle crashes in 2008, though the number of fatalities decreased by 14 percent

School Bus Accidents
-No school bus passengers were killed; 123 were injured
-No school bus drivers were killed;99 were injured

Tractor Trailer Accidents
-115 people were killed in semi accidents
-5 of the persons killed were truck drivers while 99 were occupants of another vehicle

Train Accidents
-38.5 percent of fatal train crashes happened at crossings with gates
-53.8 percent happened at crossings with control devices other than gates, including flashers and warning signs

Work Zone Accidents
-There were 31 fatal crashes in work zones in 2008 in which 31 people were killed
-Two of the persons killed were road construction workers

Deer
-There were 24,209 crashes involving deer
-Two deer crashes involved fatalities

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in an accident, call the Chicago injury lawyers and Illinois wrongful death attorneys at Abels & Annes for a free appointment to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.

Illinois Traffic Safety Leaders are urging motorists to use common sense through the upcoming Halloween Holiday weekend to avoid Chicago drunk driving accidents and DUI accidents on Illinois highways.

The Chicago car accident attorneys at Abels & Annes encourage motorists to have a travel plan to prevent drunk driving, including designated drivers, overnight stays, taxi cabs or other forms of transportation.

Nationwide, 1 in every 3 fatal accidents is caused by a drunk driver.

Halloween has proven especially deadly in recent years and authorities are concerned, with the holiday falling on a Saturday, excessive partying could lead to an increase in fatal drunk driving accidents.

In 2008, more than half (58 percent) of all highway fatalities involved an impaired driver or motorcycle rider, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, we want to remind revelers to be responsible by not taking the party to the roadways, putting themselves, trick-or-treaters and other motorists at risk,” said RobertBrasky, president of Illinois Traffic Safety Leaders.

ITSL also recommends these simple tips:
-Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin
-Before drinking, please designate a sober driver
-If you’re impaired, and haven't designated a sober driver, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely
-Use your community’s Sober Rides program
-If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement

Continue reading "Halloween a deadly time for Chicago drunk driving accidents" »

An August car accident that killed a Chicago motorcycle rider has resulted in felony DUI charges against the car's driver.

The 47-year-old North Ashland Avenue woman has been charged with aggravated DUI in connection with the Chicago car accident that killed a North Side motorcyclist, ABC7 reported.

The case made news after a nurse sued the city after she reported being arrested by police for failing to give a blood test to the woman charged, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Chicago motorcycle fatality happened shortly before 3:30 a.m. at the intersection of Ashland and Wilson, claiming the life of a 24-year-old North Campbell Avenue man, who died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center six days later as a result of his injuries.

Police reported that the accused driver stated she did not see the motorcycle as she turned eastbound on Wilson from Ashland and accused the motorcyclist of running the red light.

She admitted drinking wine after officers smelled alcohol and reported she had glassy eyes, according to The Sun-Times. A motorist reported the woman's car was swerving from side to side before the accident.

Police reported she was placed in custody for driving under impairment after refusing to complete field sobriety tests.

A nurse filed a lawsuit the following Monday, alleging she was arrested for not performing the blood test. Blood ultimately was drawn at the hospital for a blood-alcohol test at 7:30 a.m., according to police.

The nurse's lawsuit claims she told police she could not perform the test until the accused driver was officially admitted as a patient and that she was unable to perform her duties as an emergency room staff member while being detained by police, according to The Sun-Times report.

An Ohio man faces charges in connection with a weekend Chicago drunk driving accident that claimed two lives.

The 27-year-old Cleveland man had a blood-alcohol level of .148 -- nearly twice the legal limit -- when the car he was driving slammed into another car, killing two South Side men, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Cook County prosecutors report the man had just gotten into another car accident before Saturday night's fatal crash. Prosecutors allege the man downed a bottle of Arbor Mist and three vodka martinis, struck a car at 62nd and Ashland, and took off at a high rate of speed after berating the victimized motorists.

Authorities reported that the man weaved in and out of traffic before running a red light at Ashland and 59th and slamming into another car. That crash claimed the lives of a 27-year-old driver and his 28-year-old passenger, both of whom were pronounced dead on arrival at Holy Cross Hospital.

A third passenger was hospitalized at Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.

The defendant was jailed and remained in custody after bail was set at $500,000.

Authorities reported that the at-fault driver left a bar at 82nd and Ashland after twice being offered a ride to his destination, which he refused. He faces two counts of reckless homicide and two counts of aggravated DUI, according to police. He also is charged with disobeying a traffic-control signal, negligent driving and driving without insurance.

The accident occurred shortly after 2 a.m., according to the Chicago Breaking News Center.

Last Month, Illinois warned of the high number of drunk drivers out at night, particularly on the weekend. In August, a study reported 1 in 7 weekend nighttime drivers tested positive for alcohol or drug use.

Click here for more information, safety tips and other coverage of Chicago drunk driving accidents.

A Chicago man faces an arrest warrant on charges accusing him of killing a 78-year-old Indiana pedestrian in a drunk driving auto accident.

The 26-year-old faces charges of failure to stop after a pedestrian accident, reckless homicide and operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol level of more than .08 percent, according to the Chicago Tribune, which reported the charges were filed in Lake County, Indiana, in connection with the March drunk driving accident.

Authorities said the Chicago-area defendant had driven to Indiana to buy cigarettes when he caused the accident that killed Zyuajan Mitrovich.

CBS2 reported that the defendant was approaching the Indiana-Illinois line when his green pickup struck Mitrovich, who was apparently walking near the entrance to the Indiana Toll Road.

Witnesses said the defendant did not stop and was followed to a nearby Shell gas station after the accident, which occurred at about 5:30 a.m. on March 28.

A bystander at the gas station reported the defendant was wobbly on his feet. The truck was leaking fluid from the radiator and the alleged drunk driver walked around it several times before walking away after attempting to flag down several cars.

Police found him walking away from the station, where results of a blood-alcohol test were .11, over the legal driving limit of .08 in either state.

Crash records show he was traveling 63 mph in a 30 mph zone near the entrance to the toll road.

He originally faced charges in Cook County, but those charges were dismissed after it was determined Mitrovich was walking in Lake County, just over the state line, when he was hit and killed.

For more information about Chicago drunk driving cases, safety tips and legal resources, please visit Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog for previous posts provided by the Chicago drunk driving accident lawyers at Abels & Annes.

A 35-year-old man from the western suburb of Berwyn faces numerous charges after a Chicago drunk driving accident on Labor Day weekend that sent three children in his vehicle to the hospital following a Sunday crash outside Ford City Mall.

The man faces charges of felony DUI, reckless driving, failure to reduce speed, driving on a revoked license while intoxicated and causing an accident while intoxicated that causes bodily harm, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center.

A 7-year-old suffered a spinal fracture and other broken bones in the crash, according to the Chicago Tribune. The remaining children, ages 9 and 10, were also hurt.

The Tribune reported the driver was believed to have had a blood-alcohol limit more than three times the legal Illinois limit of .08. The driver of the car that was struck also suffered injury. The man charged was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center for treatment. He was also scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

The car crash happened outside the mall about 2:20 p.m., near Cicero Avenue and 76th Street. The vehicle carrying the children was headed south on Cicero when it crossed over into oncoming traffic and hit the other vehicle, police reported.

In 2007, about 1 in every 3 fatalities involved a drunk driver--more than 13,000 were killed nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For more information on Chicago DUI accidents, visit the Chicago car accident blog and Summer Safe Driving series.

Last month's 24-year prison sentence for a suburban Chicago woman convicted in a drunk driving car crash highlights a growing concern: The increase in DUI arrests and fatal DUI auto accidents among women.

The 43-year-old woman was convicted of aggravated DUI after running a stop sign last fall and slamming into 27-year-old woman, according to ABC7.

The 27 year old woman was killed in the car accident, along with her 3-year-old son and 11-month-old daughter.

According to an analysis this month by the Associated Press, Women in the U.S. are drinking more, and drunken-driving arrests among women are rising rapidly while falling among men.

Still, men accounted for roughly three times more drunk driving deaths in Illinois than did women, according to 2008 statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

But the study found DUI arrests among women have increased almost 30 percent between 1998 and 2007 while the number of men arrested declined by 7.5 percent.

"Women are picking up some of the dangerously bad habits of men," said Chuck Hurley, CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Of particular concern is the trend's impact on children riding in cars with impaired drivers.

Nearly 250 youngsters were killed in alcohol-related crashes in the U.S. in 2007, according to the National Highway Safety Administration.

"Drunk drivers often carry their kids with them," said MADD's Hurley. "It's the ultimate form of child abuse."

The increase in arrests comes as women are drinking more than in the past.

One federal study found that the number of women who reported abusing alcohol (having at least four drinks in a day) rose from 1.5 percent to 2.6 percent over the 10-year period that ended in 2002. For women ages 30 to 44, the number more than doubled, from 1.5 percent to 3.3 percent.

Authorities believe the trend also indicates the tougher stance against drunk driving taken by law enforcement means women are also more likely to be arrested and held accountable than in the past.

The Transportation Department's annual crackdown on drunken driving, which begins later this month, will focus on women.

"There's the impression out there that drunk driving is strictly a male issue, and it is certainly not the case," said Rae Tyson, spokesman for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "There are a number of parts of the country where, in fact, the majority of impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes are female."

Continue reading "Increase in drunk driving cases against women reported" »

Nighttime is the deadliest time for Chicago drivers and motorists elsewhere in Illinois, according to a new report issued by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Drunk drivers and low seatbelt usage were cited as two primary reasons for the drastic increase in car accidents and fatalities after dark.

The Chicago car accident lawyers and the personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Abels & Annes often see drunk driving accidents and other injuries that occur at night for reasons ranging from poor visibility to alcohol and reckless driving.

Motorists should use extra caution, especially when out late at night or on the weekend. In response to the report, authorities promised to make a renewed push to get drunk drivers off the streets at night.

“We are working closely with Illinois State Police and local agencies to make sure that all motorists behind the wheel are driving sober,” said Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. “One of our top priorities is to save lives and the data revealed shows that we need to focus our efforts on impaired driving at night.”

Illinois State Police announced increased enforcement through the Labor Day weekend.

“Drinking and driving is inappropriate regardless of the time of day," said Director Jonathon Monken. "Data tells us the likelihood of being involved in a crash or fatal crash where alcohol is involved increases dramatically at night. Therefore, the Illinois State Police will focus our efforts on DUI and seat belt enforcement during night time details throughout the Labor Day weekend."

The report found drunk driving a factor in 7 of every 10 Illinois fatalities occurring between midnight and 3 a.m. and less than 3 in 10 were properly seatbelted.

Those statistics are in marked contrast to higher-traffic daytime hours, where less than 2 in 10 crashes involved alcohol and less than half were not properly seatbelted.

According to the report and data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2 of every 3 motor vehicle accidents that occur between midnight and 3 a.m. involved a drinking driver.

And data shows 3 of every 4 drivers who died between midnight and 6 a.m. were not properly restrained.

For more information about impaired driving in Illinois, please visit www.drivesoberillinois.org.

Continue reading "Illinois warns of dangers of nighttime car accidents" »

A fatal Chicago suburban car accident involving teens leaving a graduation party earlier this summer has led to a personal injury lawsuit in Kane County Circuit Court.

Chelsea Mertz, 17, of St. Charles, has filed suit seeking more than $50,000. Her attorney claims she suffered a broken jaw and a brain injury as a result of the accident June 17. Mertz was one of four teenagers in an SUV that went off the road and slammed into trees on the 3100 block of Royal Fox Drive in St. Charles. The accident killed front-seat passenger Cameron Godee of West Chicago.

The lawsuit accuses the teen driver of driving more than 40 mph over the speed limit down the wrong side of the road, high on marijuana and alcohol while driving a group of St. Charles East High School classmates home from a graduation party at 3:30 a.m.

Mertz and another back-seat passenger survived the crash. She had her jaw wired shut and is undergoing rehabilitation for a brain injury, according to her attorney. She is recovering but is having speech difficulties and the long-term effects of the brain injury remain uncertain.

The civil lawsuit is up in court for the first time on October 20th.

The driver has also been criminally charged with 12 counts of aggravated DUI and four counts of reckless homicide, according to the Suburban Chicago Daily Herald. Police have said his blood-alcohol content was nearly three times the legal threshold, and he tested positive for marijuana.

With school beginning, the Chicago car accident lawyers at Abels & Annes urge parents to speak with their children about driver safety and the need to make good choices when it comes to their safety behind the wheel or as a passenger.

The school year brings with it new friends, new opportunities, new freedom and new danger. Federal statistics consistently show auto accidents are the leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24.

A new federal study released last month found one in every seven nighttime weekend drivers tested positive for drugs.

The Chicago car accident lawyers at Abels & Annes urge weekend drivers to remain on the lookout for erratic drivers. Studies have long shown drivers are most likely to be drunk and driving between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.

While the study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found the percentage of motorists driving drunk continued to decline, the study for the first time tested for drug use and the results were sobering:
- 16.3 percent of nighttime weekend drivers were drug positive.
- Marijuana (8.6 percent)
- Cocaine (3.9 percent)
- Medications (3.9 percent)

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said he is concerned about the prevalence of drivers who use drugs.

“I’m pleased to see that our battle against drunk driving is succeeding,” said Secretary LaHood. “However, alcohol still kills 13,000 people a year on our roads and we must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to prevent drunk driving.”

The percentage of drunk drivers identified in the survey has fallen from 7.5 percent in 1973 to 2.2 percent in the most recent survey. This study was the first to measure for the presence of drugs.

“This troubling data shows us, for the first time, the scope of drugged driving in America, and reinforces the need to reduce drug abuse,” said Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. “Drugged driving, like drunk driving, is a matter of public safety and health. It puts us all at risk and must be prevented.”

The NHTSA is conducting further research to assess how drug traces correspond to driver impairment since some drugs can remain in the body for days or even weeks.

Among the findings of the latest roadside survey:

- The percentage of male drivers with illegal BAC levels was 42 percent higher than the percentage of alcohol-impaired female drivers.

- Drivers were more likely to be illegally drunk during late nighttime hours (1 a.m. to 3 a.m.) than during daytime or early evening hours.

- Motorcycle riders were more than twice as likely as passenger vehicle drivers to be drunk (5.6 percent compared with 2.3 percent).

- Pickup truck drivers were the next most likely to have illegal BACs (3.3 percent).

Continue reading "Chicago car accident alert - one in seven weekend-night drivers test positive for drugs" »

One out of every three fatal traffic crashes in 2008 was alcohol related, according to statistics released this month by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In fact, Mothers Against Drunk Driving calls DUI the most frequently committed violent crime in the United States.

Nationwide, fatal alcohol-related crashes dropped from 13,041 in 2007 to 11,773 in 2008.

And, while alcohol-involved traffic fatalities in Illinois also declined, from 1,248 in 2007 to 1,043 in 2008, the overall rate of alcohol fatalities was slightly higher than the national average.

Alcohol-related fatal crashes are four-times more likely to occur at night than during the day and 1.5 times more likely to occur on the weekend.

The Chicago personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes urge you to take this issue seriously, use a designated driver, call a cab or stay where you are if you have had too much to drink.

Those driving late at night -- particularly on the weekend -- should also be vigilant in watching for and avoiding erratic drivers.

As part of its Summer Safe Driving series, Abels & Annes looks at some of the issues surrounding drunk driving in Illinois.

Illinois has taken some tough steps to combat drunk driving: On Jan. 1 it became one of only six states to require a first-time DUI offender to have a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices installed on his or her vehicle as a condition of gaining driving privileges.

Illinois offers a DUI Factbook where motorists can get a host of information on the state's DUI laws, penalties and programs to combat drunk driving. According to the book, the state's legal limit of .08 would be surpassed by a 170 pound man consuming four drinks in one hour or a 137 pound woman consuming three drinks in an hour.

A drink is defined as a can of beer, glass of wine or shot of liquor.

A shocking 86 percent of drivers who failed a breath test in 2007 tested between .10 and .24, which is three-times the legal limit.

Additionally, the state reports a person's risk of having a crash begins to increase significantly at .04 -- half the legal limit -- and increases substantially thereafter.

Common remedies like fresh air, coffee, food or a shower will not help a person get sober.

The state's 2007 statistics reports 2 of every 5 traffic fatalities are alcohol related.

• 503 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes, which was 40 percent of the 1,249 total crash fatalities.

• More than 49,600 DUI arrests were recorded by the Secretary of State’s office.

• 92 percent of all drivers arrested for DUI, who were eligible, lost their driving privileges.

• 2,516 drivers under age 21 lost their driving privileges due to “Use It & Lose
It” law violations.

• 20 percent of those arrested for DUI are women, who represent 50 percent of
all licensed drivers.

• Males ages 21-24 had the highest DUI arrest rate (about 26 per 1,000 licensed
drivers). This rate was four times greater than that of all other drivers arrested
for DUI (6 per 1,000 licensed drivers).

• 83 percent of all drivers arrested for DUI are first offenders.

The Illinois Secretary of State's Office reports the average DUI offender is:

• male (80 percent arrested are men);

• age 34 (61 percent are under age 35);

• arrested between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. on a weekend; and

• caught driving with a BAC of .16 — twice the illegal limit.

Penalties for a DUI can range from a 6-month license suspension to 30 years in prison for habitual offenders or DUI traffic crashes resulting in serious injury or death.

Continue reading "Chicago car accident lawyers examine dangers of drunk driving as part of Sumer Safe Driving Series" »

Fourth of July holiday weekends claim an average of 500 to 700 lives in traffic fatalities and almost half are alcohol related, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

2006 was the deadliest this decade with 659 fatalities, compared to the 200 that were recorded in 2007 when Fourth of July fell on a Wednesday.

The Illinois Department of Transportation is urging motorists to buckle up, stay sober, comply with posted speed limits and use extra caution in construction zones.

“While we want everyone to enjoy their holiday weekend, we must put safety first and remind motorists to not drink and drive and to be conscious of work zones,” said IDOT Secretary Gary Hannig. “We will limit lane closures where possible to provide some relief to those travelling over the holiday weekend, but some areas will still have workers present, so please obey the posted speed limits and drive cautiously."

Illinois State Police will be conducting a DUI crackdown.

“The sad reality is that numerous lives are impacted every day in Illinois because of an impaired driver,” Illinois State Police Director Jonathon Monken said. “Even with the raised awareness about the consequences of drinking and driving, there are still those who choose to drive while impaired. That's why the ISP will increase our enforcement efforts by working closely with our local partners during the July 4th holiday.”

The You Drink & Drive. You Lose crackdown began June 19 and runs through July 5. It is being supported by nearly $1 million in federal safety funds being made available by IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety.

For more information about the impaired driving in Illinois, please visit www.drivesoberillinois.org.

IDOT will suspend construction-related lane closures starting at 3 p.m. Thursday, July 2 to midnight, Sunday, July 5.

Wherever a road is closed, a detour will be posted. In some areas, there will be lane restrictions.

Due to the nature of some projects, there will be a number of work zones that will continue to have lane closures. Motorists are advised to slow down and be alert in those work zones, and are reminded that work zone speed limits are still in effect.

For more information about ongoing construction projects, motorists can check IDOT’s traveler Web site http://www.gettingaroundillinois.com. Interstate road information is also available at 1-800-452 IDOT (4368).

The NHTSA tracks traffic fatalities for New Year's, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Continue reading "Chicago car accident lawyers at Abels & Annes wish everyone a safe Fourth of July" »

The tough economy is forcing people to reduce their automobile insurance, increase their deductibles, shop for cheaper coverage and, in some cases, even cancel their insurance.

The Chicago car accident attorneys at Abels & Annes urge motorists to carry as much uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage as they can afford. Reducing expenses by reducing auto insurance is shortsighted at best -- the cost is minimal compared to the expense of being hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver.

The Insurance Research Council reports that a recent survey found 15 percent of those surveyed said they had increased their deductibles or reduced their coverage in order to reduce their premium costs.

Nine percent of those surveyed said they canceled or did not renew vehicle coverage in response to the economic downturn.

Encouragingly, the survey found most homeowners and drivers have continued their insurance coverage, even if they shopped for a lower rate.

"These findings confirm that most Americans recognize the importance of maintaining essential insurance coverage on their homes and cars," said Elizabeth A. Sprinkel, senior vice president of the IRC. "But they also show that Americans are willing to shop and reevaluate their insurance needs in order to reduce insurance costs."

And a proposal awaits the signature of Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn that would make failure to carry auto insurance a criminal offense, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine. Current law allows for a fine of up to $1,000 and license suspension of up to 6 months.

Chicago car accident attorney Dave Abels was recently interviewed about the new law and blogged about the inadequacy of the state's mandatory minimum insurance of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident.

The new law is tougher, but still not tough enough.

Here is the big problem with the insurance law in Illinois. The minimum coverage is still $20,000 per person, and $40,000 per occurrence. No amount of money is going to bring a loved one back or make a family whole again, but $20,000 is a slap in the face. (I have handled car accident death cases where the victim incurred over $500,000 in medical bills before passing away).

Continue reading "Chicago car accident lawyers at Abels & Annes urge motorists to maintain proper car insurance " »

The Chicago car accident attorneys at Abels & Annes are launching a summer safe-driving series featuring more than a dozen blogs aimed at reducing serious injury and wrongful deaths resulting from summer car accidents.

Chicago ranked fifth in the nation in the number of motor-vehicle-related deaths (192) in 2007, the most recent year of data released by the federal government. And the city was third in the nation in the number of pedestrians killed at 50.

In Illinois, the number of fatalities remained virtually the same between 2006 and 2007, dropping by five deaths, from 1,254 to 1,249. The state ranks ninth-highest in traffic fatalities, after California, Florida, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.

Nationwide, 41,059 people were killed and 2.5 million injured, causing $230 billion in economic damage, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Make no mistake about it: Driving a car is the most dangerous activity each of us engage in on a daily basis. Yet, as you climbed behind the wheel of that 4,000 pound hunk of steel to begin the work week, do you even remember the last time you made a conscious effort to review the safe driving habits and practices that could save your life?

In the coming weeks, we will be reviewing some of the most common causes of serious or fatal accidents, including:
-Aggressive Driving
-Speeding
-Distracted Driving
-Drowsy Driving
-Impaired Driving
-Accidents with motorcycles
-Accidents involving bicycles and pedestrians
-Red lights and intersections
-Driving in inclement weather
-Teen driving
-Driving and seniors
-And driving in parking lots

So check back with us often. Why not? Your life could very well depend on it.

Continue reading "Summer Safe Driving series brought to you by the Chicago car accident lawyers at Abels & Annes" »

An auto accident in the northern suburbs of Chicago has resulted in the death of a Northbrook resident and felony charges against a Gurnee resident, according to the Northbrook Star. The accident occurred on May 22nd in the 100 block of LeBaron Street in Waukegan when a 22 year old driver left the roadway in a Chevrolet Silverado and hit a parked semi-trailer.

His passenger, Andrew Galo, age 22, was pronounced dead at the scene from head injuries. The driver was taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge for medical treatment. His injuries were reportedly not serious.

The driver has since been charged with reckless homicide, DUI and speeding. Bond has been set at $100,000. The Waukegan Police Department handled the crash investigation.

In Chicago, Illinois an alleged drunk driver has caused a car accident that left one dead and 7 others injured on the South Side, according to chicagobreakingnews.com. The car crash happened Sunday night just before 8 p.m. at 43rd Street and Western Avenue.

The collision involved three vehicles and was reportedly caused by an intoxicated driver who ran a red light. The DUI driver, a 38 year old male, was northbound on Western in a 1999 Chevy Cavelier when he struck a westbound Lexus on 43rd. The Lexus driver, a Chicago Heights resident, was killed. After the initial impact, the Lexus struck a Toyota that was stopped at the light.

Seven others involved in the car accident were injured and taken by ambulance to Mt. Sinai Hospital, St. Anthony Hospital and Stroger Hospital. The alleged DUI driver was arrested and additional charges are reportedly pending.

Click here to read more.

In Chicago, Illinois a Lynwood woman, who was allegedly intoxicated, lost control of her car and crashed nearly two months ago, according to NWI.com. The accident resulted in the death of her passenger, a Chicago resident. Earlier this week in criminal court at 26th and California, bond was set at $200,000.

The bond is a "D Bond", which means the defendant must post 10 percent of the bond to be released. Her next court date is set for May 18th for a preliminary hearing.

The car accident took place back on February 28, 2009 just before 3 am. (Statistically, 12 am - 3am is the most dangerous time to be on the road). The defendant was driving southbound on the Bishop Ford Expressway near 111th Street when she lost control of her car, drove into the left median, flipped over, and hit a tree.

Paramedics on the scene smelled alcohol. The defendant later was tested and she had a blood alcohol level of .19, over twice the legal limit of .08. The Illinois State Police investigated the accident. The defendant was not criminally charged until this past weekend. She was charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.

The passenger in the car, Michael Mayfield, a 42 year old Chicago resident, was taken by ambulance to Roseland Community Hospital where he died an hour later. It has not been reported if the family of the victim has retained a Chicago wrongful death lawyer to pursue a civil claim against the defendant's insurance carrier.

In Chicago, Illinois a two vehicle rollover crash on Interstate 57 last Friday night resulted in the death of a 53 year old man, and criminal charges against one of the drivers involved, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The auto accident took place around 11:00 p.m. in the southbound lanes near Halsted Street.

One person died at the scene and two others were transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with serious injuries. The victim, a South Side resident, was pronounced dead at Christ Medical Center less than an hour after the crash. An autopsy the next day determined that the he died from cervical injuries.

The Illinois State Police are handling the crash investigation. One of the drivers has been charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence, both felony charges.

The car crash allegedly took place when one vehicle was speeding and attempted to pass another. The collision involved a Chevy pickup truck and a Ford Expedition. The pickup truck reportedly struck the Expedition, causing both vehicles to flip over. The victim who died was ejected from one of the vehicles.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, between 200,000 and 300,000 vehicles rollover every year in the United States. Rollover crashes can cause fatal and catastrophic injuries. For example, in 2004, 33% of all auto accident deaths occurred in vehicles that rolled over. That same year, 10,553 people were killed in rollovers, 8,565 were killed in single car rollovers, and 15,312 were ejected from vehicles in rollovers.

Two Chicago Police Officers that were responding to a battery call on the Northwest Side early this morning were struck by a drunk driver, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The driver, a Chicago resident, was charged with DUI, negligent driving, making an improper left turn, and no proof of insurance.

The police officers were moving eastbound on Irving Park Road in the area of North New England Ave. when the defendant pulled off of a side street. The at fault driver was in a Ford Taurus and the police car was traveling with emergency lights and siren activated.

Both officers were injured and taken to local hospitals. One officer suffered a shoulder injury and the other sustained neck and back injuries. The officers were treated at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center. They are both said to be in good condition.

The officers in this case both have a good civil case against the at fault driver. However, here there is a good indication that the DUI driver was uninsured. While the officers will be able to collect benefits for their injuries under their union agreement, they should both look into making uninsured motorist claims under there own personal auto insurance policies, as there could be coverage available.

If you have been injured in a Chicago area car accident by a drunk driver, or a negligent driver, contact attorneys at our office for a free consultation.

The family of a woman killed in a 2007 drunk-driving accident is pushing for felony DUI charges against the two motorists involved in the accident. According to CBS 7 Chicago, the woman was a passenger on a motorcycle operated by Eugene Bikulcius when a car driven by Carol Miller made an illegal left turn into their path. The two on the motorcycle were coming from a bar, and the pattern of the accident suggested that they were traveling at a high speed. Miller was arrested the night of the accident for misdemeanor DUI, but Bikulcius was not.

The victim’s family suggests that Bikulcius wasn’t charged because he was an off-duty Chicago police officer. In fact, according to the report, Bikulcius wasn’t charged with any crime or breath-tested the night of the accident. It was only after several months of intervention by the victim’s family that the state’s attorney in the case found a hospital blood test showing a blood-alcohol concentration of three times the legal limit, and charged him with misdemeanor DUI. The family believes a felony DUI charge would be more appropriate, since felony charges are usually filed in a DUI case involving a death. But the state’s attorney told the station that an inadequate investigation left them without the evidence they needed for the more serious charge.

Regardless of whether this officer -- who is now on paid leave and relieved of duty -- is truly the beneficiary of police interference, drinking and driving is always a bad idea. As a Chicago car accident lawyer, I am generally sympathetic to motorcyclists in this type of accident. A car turning left in front of a motorcycle is one of the most common car-motorcycle crash patterns, and it’s often caused by the driver’s failure to look carefully for traffic. However, a BAC reading of 0.24 (three times the 0.08 limit in Illinois) makes a DUI charge appropriate in this case.

Whether that BAC caused or contributed to the crash is a different story, and may never be known. I can only imagine how upset this family must feel that the investigation of this deadly accident was deemed “inadequate.” When law enforcement can’t or won’t make a criminal case in an accident like this, families can also choose to pursue justice through the civil courts, with a Chicago auto accident lawsuit. In addition to holding a wrongdoer responsible for his or her actions, a legal claim can help families deal with the practical consequences of their loss -- medical bills, burial costs, loss of an income and compensation for the loss of a beloved sister and daughter. If you or someone you love is in this situation and you’d like to know more, you can contact Abels & Annes for a free consultation about your rights and your case.

A man who hit a college student with his car and kept on going was sentenced to eight years in prison on Dec. 3, according to CBS2 Chicago. Boubacar Bah pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI in the March incident. Bah’s victim, Thomas Dalof, and a friend had just stopped two men from attacking a woman outside the bar. When they were approached by the men’s friends, Dalof and his friend moved toward Dalof’s car to escape. But before Dalof finished crossing the street, Bah ran a stop sign and hit him. Bah, who had nothing to do with the fight, later crashed into a utility pole and abandoned the car. He later told police that he’d had five drinks and smoked marijuana before heading home.

In this case, the driver was charged criminally for the DUI and its results. But when criminal charges aren’t filed, or when they’re not enough, victims may also choose to file a Chicago car accident lawsuit. A lawsuit over a wrongful death -- any death caused by someone else’s careless or illegal actions -- is always a sensitive matter, because no lawsuit can bring back a lost loved one. But a legal claim can help victims deal with the practical effects of a death that came too soon, including medical and funeral bills, loss of an income and other financial costs caused by the death. It can also help compensate victims for their intangible but very real emotional losses.

And perhaps most importantly, it can hold wrongdoers responsible for their actions in cases where charges aren’t filed, or where they just don’t seem like enough. If you have lost someone to drunk driving accident or another fatal crash caused by someone else’s carelessness, you have the right to pursue a Chicago auto accident lawsuit. Contact us at Abels & Annes today for a free consultation on your case.

Two different drivers were charged in two different accidents taking place in the same part of the Edens Expressway early on Thanksgiving. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, an Evanston man was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after he swerved into oncoming traffic at around 3:30 a.m., forcing another driver to swerve into a ditch. Both were hospitalized and not believed to be seriously injured.

Just an hour and a half later, a Chicago man fell asleep at the wheel and hit a parked vehicle belonging to an Illinois State Police trooper. Fortunately, nobody was killed, but the driver was cited for failure to yield and improper lane usage, as well as failure to drive cautiously around an emergency vehicle. The last citation stems from Scott’s Law, also known as the “move over law,” which requires drivers to slow down, change lanes if possible and drive with caution when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with its lights on. The maximum penalty for breaking this law is a $10,000 fine and loss of a driver’s license for up to two years.

These drivers may not feel lucky, but considering what could have happened in both cases, I think they’re lucky. A DUI constitutes major legal trouble, but if this driver had killed someone, he would have had to live the rest of his life with that fact. And even if authorities chose not to charge him with vehicular homicide, the driver would still be liable in an Illinois drunk driving lawsuit brought by the victim’s family.

The man who fell asleep at the wheel may not have been legally impaired, but unfortunately, the results of driving while sleepy can be just as tragic as the results of impaired driving. In fact, a 2006 study showed that sleepy driving quadruples a driver’s chances of being in an accident. Even if this man was just coming home from work, or at the end of a long road trip to see family on Thanksgiving, a crash could have been just as deadly and left him just as vulnerable to a vehicular homicide charge or a Chicago car accident lawsuit.

If you’ve been seriously injured, lost a loved one or believe your insurance company is cheating you after a serious car accident, the Illinois auto accident lawyers at Abels & Annes can help. Contact us today to learn more about your rights and your legal options.