Two people were killed and a motorist is in custody following a recent hit-and-run crash in Chicago’s Ashburn neighborhood. According to Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Jose Estrada, the female driver of a westbound Nissan Quest Minivan struck a 34-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man who were in the process of changing a tire on a car that was parked on the north side of 87th Street. Estrada stated the driver continued without stopping after striking the two people. Witnesses reportedly helped local police track down the vehicle and the driver a few blocks away from the scene of the crash.

A representative from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said both individuals who were hit by the minivan died as a result of the injuries they sustained in the crash. Although the exact cause of the fatal collision is currently under investigation by the Chicago Police, alcohol is allegedly believed to have played a role in the deadly incident. In addition, charges are expected to be filed against the hit-and-run driver.

Regrettably, life-threatening and fatal injuries such as those sustained in this case often result when a pedestrian is struck by a car, truck, or other vehicle. Motorists in Illinois are required to stop and render aid or exchange insurance information after any crash that results in physical harm or property damage. If a driver fails to stop and render aid, he or she may be criminally prosecuted. A driver may also be sued for any damages that resulted from his or her failure to assist an accident victim. The victim of a hit-and-run wreck may be entitled to receive damages for their medical costs, lost wages and benefits, and compensation for any physical injuries. Additionally, certain family members of someone who was killed by a negligent or impaired motorist may also be entitled to recover for wrongful death.

Even if the driver in a hit-and-run crash is not apprehended, the victim has other avenues for recovery. A person who was hurt in a hit-and-run crash may file an uninsured motorist claim against their own insurance company or the policy of someone who resides in the same household. In addition, the family of someone who died as a result of a hit-and-run collision may be eligible to receive compensation pursuant to the Illinois Crime Victims Compensation Act. If you were hurt or lost a loved one in a tragic hit-and-run collision, you should contact a skilled car accident attorney to discuss your rights and help you file your case.

Continue reading "Two Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver While Changing a Tire in Chicago’s Ashburn Neighborhood" »

A relative of a 53-year-old Park Ridge man who was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Maine Township in November has filed a lawsuit against the driver accused of hitting him. The complaint filed in Cook County Circuit Court alleges the 36-year-old driver of a black Dodge Challenger was speeding when he struck the decedent as he walked along the south side of West Touhy Avenue near the entrance to the Iroquois Woods at Axehead Lake Forest Preserve. In addition, the lawsuit claims the driver, who was reportedly employed as an emergency medical technician in Skokie at the time of the collision, failed to stop and render aid to the injured pedestrian.

According to Frank Bilecki, a spokesperson for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, a passing bicyclist found the pedestrian’s body lying on the side of the roadway and called 911. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office found that the pedestrian died as a result of multiple blunt force injuries sustained in a crash. Following the fatal hit-and-run collision, police reportedly canvassed the area for any witnesses. Bilecki said officers discovered the identity of the alleged hit-and-run driver after he took his vehicle to a local body shop for repairs.

Unfortunately, life-threatening injuries often result when a pedestrian is struck by a motor vehicle. Drivers in Illinois must stop and render aid or exchange insurance information following any accident that results in physical harm or property damage. If a motorist fails to stop, he or she may be criminally prosecuted and lose all driving privileges. As happened in this tragic case, a driver may also be sued for any damages that resulted from his or her failure to render aid. An individual who was injured by a negligent driver may be entitled to collect compensation for their medical expenses and physical injuries. In addition, the family of a person who was killed by a motorist may also be able to recover for wrongful death. If you were hurt or lost a close relative in a hit-and-run or other motor vehicle accident, you should contact a capable car accident attorney to discuss your options for recovery.

Continue reading "Lawsuit Filed Against EMT Who Allegedly Failed to Render Aid Following Fatal Maine Township Hit-and-Run Accident" »

A Schaumburg teenager was killed recently in an apparent hit-and-run accident. The 18-year-old Schaumburg High School senior was allegedly struck by a motor vehicle while walking along Schaumburg Road near Branchwood Drive. Emergency responders reportedly arrived at the accident scene to find the young man’s body lying in the roadway. Despite all efforts to revive the teenager, the honors student was pronounced dead about 20 minutes after paramedics arrived.

The exact cause of the young man’s death is currently being analyzed by the Investigations Division and Traffic Crash Reconstruction Team from the Schaumburg Police Department. In addition, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office is reportedly assisting with the investigation. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, the teen’s death was caused by a hit-and-run collision. Following the young man’s death, local police reportedly canvassed the area in search of potential accident witnesses. Schaumburg Police Sergeant John Nebl said he would like more information regarding not only the identity of the driver who struck the teen, but also exactly how the 18-year-old came to be in the street.

Unfortunately, as occurred in this tragic case, catastrophic or fatal injuries often result when a pedestrian is struck by a motor vehicle. Sadly, the victim of a hit-and run accident may suffer from a traumatic head injury, broken bones, paralysis, and even death. Motorists in Illinois are required to stop and render aid or exchange insurance information following any collision that results in physical injury or property damage. If a driver fails to stop, he or she may be criminally prosecuted and lose all driving privileges.

Someone who was hurt by a hit-and run driver may be eligible to collect financial damages for their injuries. The family of someone who was killed by a motorist may also be able to recover for wrongful death. Even if a hit-and-run driver is not apprehended, the victim of such a collision may file an uninsured motorist claim against their own automobile insurance policy or the policy of someone who lives in their household. In addition, the close relatives of someone who was killed by a hit-and-run driver may be eligible to receive benefits from the Illinois Crime Victims Compensation Act. If you were hurt or lost a loved one in a hit-and-run accident, it is a good idea to discuss your options for recovery with an experienced car accident attorney.

Continue reading "High School Honors Student Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver in Schaumburg" »

Local police are currently investigating the death of a retired Steger Fire Department Captain who was recently killed in a hit-and-run accident in Crete. The 70-year-old man was reportedly crossing Main Street in front of a coffee shop when he was struck by an unidentified vehicle. After the accident was discovered, emergency responders transported the pedestrian to Franciscan St. James Health Hospital in Chicago Heights. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, the man died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the crash about four hours later.

The Crete Police Department stated evidence at the scene of the fatal pedestrian accident suggests the man was hit by a Chevrolet or GMC Sport Utility Vehicle. Law enforcement officers are allegedly reviewing closed circuit video taken at a nearby business in the hopes of uncovering the identity of the hit-and-run driver. Crete Police Sgt. Brian Voticke said the vehicle will likely have noticeable front end damage as a result of the accident. Voticke added that the man’s death is now being investigated as a reckless homicide.

A hit-and-run accident occurs anytime a motorist collides with and causes damage to a person or property and flees the scene. In Illinois, a driver who is involved in an accident that results in an injury to a person or damage to property must stop at the accident scene to render aid or exchange insurance information. Failure to do so may result in the loss of driving privileges and a variety of criminal charges.

Hit-and-run crashes that involve a pedestrian often result in serious or life-altering injuries. Head trauma, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and death frequently result whenever a pedestrian is struck by a motor vehicle. The victim in a hit-and-run accident may be eligible to receive compensation for the cost of their medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Additionally, the close relative of someone who is killed in a hit-and run collision may also file a wrongful death claim.

When the driver in a hit-and-run collision is not apprehended, the victim still has other avenues for recovery. Someone who is injured in a hit-and-run crash may file an uninsured motorist claim against their own insurance company or that of someone who resides in their household. Additionally, the family of someone who was killed in a hit-and-run accident may be eligible to receive compensation from the Illinois Crime Victims Compensation Act. If you were hurt or lost a loved one in a hit-and-run crash, you should contact a skilled car accident lawyer to help you file your case.

Continue reading "Retired Steger Firefighter Killed in Crete Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident" »

A former Chicago police detective has been convicted due to his involvement in a fatal DUI, hit and run accident that occurred in 2009, according to the Chicago Tribune. The wreck occurred on the Dan Ryan Expressway and two men were killed. A witness stated the defendant was traveling at a high rate of speed immediately before the accident occurred.

At the time of the crash the detective had been with the department for 18 years. He reportedly walked away from the accident scene as emergency workers were still frantically working to free two men that were trapped inside a burning car.

The two men that were killed in the accident were ages 23 and 21. The 21-year-old was a student at Depaul University.

The detective's blood-alcohol content was reportedly three times the legal limit when he crashed his SUV into the victim's car. He was charged with two counts of aggravated DUI and two counts of leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

The judge noted that after the accident the defendant could have tried to help the victims but chose not to, and that it was a conscious decision. The judge convicted the defendant after a two-day bench trial.

The Tribune article says that the defendant tried to fight the charges that he fled the scene in an attempt to avoid a longer prison term. His attorneys stated he was disoriented after the crash and didn't knowingly walk away. However, several emergency and hospital workers stated that the defendant initially denied his involvement in the accident. Prosecutors argued this showed that he clearly intended to flee the scene. The former detective was arrested after he walked to the area of Roosevelt Road and Clinton Street.

The defendant will be at home on electronic monitoring until his sentencing date. He could be sentenced to up to 31 years in prison. He was stripped of his police powers after the accident and resigned from his post last month. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Unfortunately, cases like this one are not unique in Illinois. As a Chicago car accident lawyer I can tell you that our office gets more and more calls about hit-and-run accidents each year. Rarely does a week go by where we are not working on this type of claim. (We unfortunately work on many DUI accident claims as well).

Whether someone flees the scene of the accident because they do not want to face the consequences (like the detective discussed above) or because they have no insurance to pay for the damage they have caused, this type of scenario is an ongoing problem in the Chicago area.

From a civil claim aspect, the best advice I can give is to make sure you protect yourself with a strong auto insurance policy of your own. You can no longer rely on the other person involved in an accident to have good insurance, as you cannot even rely on them staying at the scene of the accident.

Just in this past week alone, there has been two other deadly hit-and-run accidents in the Chicago area. In one accident, a motorist traveling at 50 mph over the speed limit struck and killed a man selling newspapers and then fled the scene.

In another accident, police are actively looking for a driver who struck and killed a six-year-old boy on Saturday night in the Northwest suburbs near Woodstock, Illinois. Anyone with information regarding the Woodstock accident are encouraged to contact the McHenry County Sheriff's Department.

An Illinois pedestrian accident lawyer at Abels & Annes is representing a woman who was hit by a taxi cab on the North Side of Chicago. The collision which took place on February 12, 2011 at approximately 12:50 a.m. The cab driver fled the scene of the accident.

The plaintiff was on Halsted Street in Chicago, Illinois just north of its intersection with Belmont. She exited a taxi that she was riding in and began walking toward the sidewalk adjacent to Halsted. A second, unknown taxi was driving northbound on Halsted at the same time. The taxi was traveling at a high rate of speed and struck the pedestrian, who was walking toward the Halsted sidewalk. The force of the impact was so great that it threw her airborne and caused her to land on the pavement. The unknown taxi continued northbound on Halsted and fled the scene.

The Chicago Police Department responded to the scene of the collision. Three witnesses confirmed that the hit-and-run taxi was at fault and that it fled the scene of the collision. The responding officer determined that the taxi caused the incident by failing to reduce his speed to avoid a collision.

Based upon the facts and circumstances surrounding the occurrence at issue, it is clear that the sole proximate cause of the collision was the negligent conduct of the hit-and-run driver. If anyone has any information regarding the identity of the taxi driver, you are encouraged to contact the Chicago Police Department or this office.

This case illustrates the importance of contacting an Illinois injury lawyer after being involved in an accident. So often injured pedestrians, bicycle riders, etc. call our office not really knowing if they have a case, or thinking they have a case for the wrong reasons. When the person calls us, it gives lawyers the opportunity to evaluate the situation and at least get the victim pointed in the right direction.

For example, in this case the pedestrian had no idea she could make a claim on her auto policy. She contacted us for help in trying to track down the taxi driver. We did make an effort in that regard. Requests were made to the City to preserve traffic videos and photos in the area. Unfortunately, the accident was not caught on film. It has been over a year since the accident, so it is highly unlikely that the driver will be brought to justice.

Due to the fact that the defendant fled the scene of the occurrence, our law office is pursuing an Illinois uninsured, hit-and-run motorist claim on behalf of our client with her own auto insurance carrier, State Farm. If the plaintiff didn't contact our office, she never would have known that she had a claim and she would've lost out on collecting thousands and thousands of dollars.

Following the collision, the plaintiff had an immediate onset of face, back and left leg pain. She was placed in a cervical collar and on a backboard by paramedics at the scene. She was transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital’s Emergency Department, where she complained of severe body pain, especially in her left leg, left side of her face, and her back. A history was taken, she was examined, and diagnostic tests were performed. She was dizzy with even the slightest movement and had numerous abrasions. The left side of her face was visibly swollen from the collision and she was nauseated. On exam, she had pain and tenderness to her left leg and her paraspinal muscles as well as the left side of her face. She also had tachycardia.

Continue reading "Chicago injury attorney hard at work on pedestrian accident case" »

Kevin Conway, a popular NASCAR driver, was in Florida for this year's Daytona 500 when he received an e-mail that said officers had finally made an arrest for the hit-and-run car accident in Naperville that killed a woman back in 2008. He was notified that the driver had finally turned himself in. He turned himself in with help from Conway.

“To get that e-mail this morning was an awesome way to start the racing season,” said Conway.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that the hit-and-run driver showed up at the victim's sister's house in Joliet and admitted to being the man they had been looking for since the 2008 accident. The hit-and-run driver admitted to seeing reports about the young girl's death on TV and in newspapers across the state. He even said that he saw Conway's car in the nationally televised race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet and saw the featured photo of the girl he hit and killed years before. The message on Conway's car pleaded for info regarding the hit-and-run driver.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Conway, the driver of the Nemco Motorsports racing team featured a missing persons ad on the back of his vehicle back in 2011. The ad was used to connect local communities supporting the event with NASCAR fans nationwide.

Conway says that there are so many fans across the nation, there are millions watching on television and thousands at the track. He felt that his car was an effective medium to help form a bond between NASCAR and the community and help to find this driver. That bond was successful. Just months after the race, he received the e-mail. The hit-and-run driver had finally turned himself in, four years after the accident.

After four years, the man involved in this hit-and-run accident has been charged and is currently sitting in jail with a $1 million bond.

What's odd is that the hit-and-run driver didn't turn himself into the police, but he showed up at the victim's family's house. Once he arrived, he rang the doorbell and said he had to speak with the victim's sister. They invited him inside their home. They sat around the kitchen table and listened to the man's confession.

He has now been charged in Will County with leaving the scene of an accident involving death.

According to AAA, drivers leave the scene of an accident for a number of reasons. They typically leave because they aren't properly licensed, they're drunk behind the wheel, they're fighting immigration issues, they don't have the proper insurance to cover the damages, they're wanted for another crime, etc.

Whatever the cause, attorneys at our office are very aware of the ongoing problem, as we receive phone calls about hit-and-run accidents on a regular basis. When this type of accident occurs the offending driver is usually not located. In this situation, car crash attorneys from our office will pursue an uninsured motorist claim against our client's own auto insurance policy.

Continue reading "Driver of Hit-and-Run Car Accident in Illinois Confesses after NASCAR Assistance" »

For reasons that can only be speculated about, Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes seem to hear about more and more hit-and-run accidents. The Illinois two pedestrian accidents discussed below are eerily similar. Both occurred on the same day in July and both involved SUV drivers swerving into pedestrians.

In one case, last weekend two people ran the Chicago Marathon in memory of an 18-year-old woman from the Northwest suburbs that was killed July 22 by a driver that fled the scene of the accident, NBC News is reporting.

The victim was a pedestrian who was struck and killed by a swerving SUV as she walked with a group of people on Church Street near Lake Zurich High School. Two of her friends sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Unfortunately the at fault driver fled the accident scene and has still not been caught. There is currently a $5,000 reward being offered by the Lake County Crime Stoppers and the Lake Zurich Police Department.

The marathon runners hope to increase the offered reward by asking people to donate one dollar per mile. They have a goal of raising another $5,000-$10,000.

Anyone with information regarding this accident is encouraged to contact Lake Zurich police investigations at (847) 719-1695.

In another incident, a 24-year-old man from Glenview has been charged for his alleged role in a hit-and-run accident back in July, according to Trib Local. The arrest was made on October 9 and charges include leaving the scene of a personal injury accident. A judge set bond at $30,000 and the defendant is due back in court on October 26.

The collision also occurred on July 22 in the area of Country and Locust Lanes in Glenview. Two pedestrians were walking North on Country when they heard a vehicle coming up behind them. They turned around and saw a gray SUV swerving towards them. The automobile hit one of them, a 54 year old woman. The driver then fled the scene, heading northbound on Country Lane.

The injured pedestrian was taken by ambulance to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge with non-life threatening injuries, according to investigating officers.

Surprisingly, the arrest was only made after the at fault driver made what is being reported as an "unsolicited appearance" at the Glenview Police Department.

We can only guess as to why the drivers in the above accidents fled the scene. Some believe that with a poor economy, more and more motorists are driving without insurance, which in turn leads to a greater likelihood of leaving the scene. However, in the to accidents discussed above, many might speculate that drugs or alcohol were involved. In both cases the drivers swerved into innocent pedestrians for reasons unknown and then left without assisting the victims. The repercussions of a DUI and possibly other serious charges could have been incentive enough to flee.

Sadly, in most hit-and-run cases the offending motorist is never caught by police. This type of crash is not a rare occurrence and attorneys at Abels & Annes handle hit-and-run claims a regular basis.

Continue reading "July 22 Illinois hit-and-run pedestrian accidents result in charges in one case and a reward offer in another" »

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read the story in the Chicago Tribune here.