Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

An Illinois pedestrian accident has claimed the life of a man in his 30s on Thursday night, according to the Chicago breaking news center. The pedestrian victim was killed while standing on the side of Interstate 55 Near Damon Ave.

Police have located the hit-and-run vehicle but have not stated whether they are questioning anyone in connection with the accident. The Illinois State Police are handling the crash investigation.

The pedestrian accident occurred just after 10 PM as the victim was standing on the right shoulder near his vehicle in the northbound lanes. He was transported by ambulance to Mount Sinai Hospital and pronounced dead a short time later.

It is not been reported if a Chicago pedestrian accident attorney is involved in this case yet. Unfortunately, in hit and run accidents, even if the driver is located, in my experience most of the time they are not insured. The Illinois personal injury lawyer that gets involved in the case could very likely pursue a hit and run / uninsured motorist claim against the driver's own policy.

Illinois auto accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have reached a $50,000 insurance policy limits settlement on an uninsured motorist claim. The case stems from an accident that occurred on June 18, 2010 around 5 PM.

Our client was hurt when his vehicle was T-boned by a vehicle being driven by an uninsured motorist at the intersection of S. Jeffery Blvd. and 68th St. in Chicago, Illinois. Our client was traveling northbound on Jeffrey approaching 86th Street when the uninsured defendant drove his vehicle eastbound, going the wrong way on 86th Street (a one-way westbound street). Further, our client had no stop sign in the right-of-way, while traffic on 86th Street (traveling in the proper direction) had a stop sign.

As the plaintiff went through the intersection the front side of the defendant's vehicle struck the driver's side of our client's car. The force of the impact caused the plaintiff's vehicle to roll over.

Following the collision, the client had an immediate onset of severe back pain, neck pain and chest pain. He was transported from the scene of the collision by ambulance to Christ Medical Center.

At Christ, the client complained of back pain, neck pain, and chest pain. A history was taken, he was examined, and diagnostic testing was performed. CT scans showed several fractured vertebrae in his spine, as well as a left posterior 3rd rib fracture, cervical soft tissue contusions, and paraspinal hematomas. He also received treatment for a tongue contusion, left hand abrasion, and medial knee abrasions.

He had to undergo several months of follow-up treatment with medical doctors in the Chicago area due to injuries sustained in the accident.

If you have been injured in a collision, contact the Chicago car crash attorneys at Abels & Annes for a free consultation. Call 312-924-7575. There is no attorney's fee unless you win.

An Illinois pedestrian accident has resulted in a 58-year-old woman losing a leg and a 21-year-old hit and run driver being held in police custody, according to the Chicago breaking news center. The collision took place on the south side of Chicago when a driver, who resides in the 6500 block of South Claremont, drove a 1993 Buick onto a sidewalk and hit the pedestrian who was waiting for a bus. The vehicle struck a bench and a light pole.

The incident took place at the intersection of 69th and State Street on January 26 just before 4 PM. The pedestrian suffered severe injuries and was in critical condition. She lost her right leg, her left leg was fractured and she lost vision in one of her eyes.

After causing the accident, the 21-year-old driver fled the scene. The news story does not report exactly how she she was caught, however police are giving praise to community members for distributing more than 500 pamphlets regarding the incident and canvassing the area.

The motorist has been charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, damaging public property, driving without a license, driving without insurance, failing to render aid to an injured person, failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident and negligent driving. On Saturday a Cook County Judge ordered the defendant's bond be set at $100,000.

As far as a civil claim is concerned, no amount of money will be able to make this pedestrian victim whole again. That being said, the defendant in this matter is uninsured. Once a Chicago personal injury lawyer gets involved in the case, he or she will look into whether the victim has auto insurance and if an uninsured motorist claim can be pursued.

Click here to read more about Illinois hit-and-run claims.

Read the story as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read the story as reported by NBC news here.

A Chicago suburban pedestrian accident has left to teenagers seriously injured, according to Tribune Local Aurora. The Aurora Police Department is now seeking help to find the hit-and-run driver that was involved in the October 22 crash.

The teenage boys that were injured in the accident are ages 15 and 16. They were hit by a Dodge Ram pickup truck in the 700 block of Fifth Avenue while they were crossing the street in a marked crosswalk. The collision reportedly knocked 16-year-old pedestrian about 15 feet in the air and the 15-year-old was dragged by the vehicle for approximately 100 feet.

Accident witnesses stated that the driver stop for second, and then fled the scene westbound on Fifth Avenue.

The pedestrian accident victims were taken by ambulance to an area hospital. Their injuries are supposed to be non-life-threatening, including fractures, cuts scrapes.

The Aurora Police Department is asking anyone with information about the hit-and-run accident to call police officers handling the investigation at 630-256-5333, or anonymously call crime stoppers at 630-892-1000.

As far as a civil claim is concerned, unfortunately hit-and-run drivers are usually not caught by police. Once a Chicago area pedestrian accident attorney gets involved in the case, they will most likely look to set up hit-and-run / uninsured motorist claim on the teenagers' (or their family member's) own auto insurance policy. The fact that the teens were not in a motor vehicle the time of the accident is irrelevant, and they should have coverage for the accident from their own insurance carriers.

Read more about Illinois uninsured motorist claims here.

An Illinois auto accident has resulted in the death of a man from Peoria Illinois, according to the Chicago Tribune. The crash occurred this past weekend in Will County on Interstate 55.

The victim from Peoria, age 44, died shortly after his Ford Mustang was involved in a separate accident with a Toyota. Just before 7 AM the driver rear-ended a Toyota Camry. After the accident his car was stopped in the left lane of the Interstate.

Unfortunately, the Peoria resident remained in his car while the occupants in the vehicle ahead of him got out to inspect damage. At that time, another Toyota Camry driven by 28-year-old St. Charles resident rear-ended the Mustang with great force, causing it to move forward and strike the occupants of the first Camry.

The driver sitting in his Mustang died at the scene. The three occupants outside their vehicle were were taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Hospital and Silver Cross Hospital.

The Illinois State Police responded to the accident and handled the investigation. The driver of the second Camry involved was ticketed with failure to reduce speed, driving too fast for conditions and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

The investigation is ongoing.

Due to the fact that the driver of the second Toyota Camry did not have insurance, the Illinois personal injury attorneys that get involved in the case will look to set up an uninsured motorist claims on the injured parties' own auto policies. Click here to read more about Illinois uninsured and under-insured motorist claims.

An Illinois auto accident on S. Lake Shore Dr. has claimed the life of a 22-year-old passenger, according to NBC news. The crash occurred in the area of Hyde Park just after 12 PM on Saturday.

A 20-year-old woman was driving the car when lost control and hit a light pole. The vehicle was headed northbound and the payment was wet at the time of the occurrence. Both driver and passenger were rushed by ambulance to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The passenger died a couple hours later at the hospital. The victim was a resident of the 7000 block of S. South Shore Drive.

The at fault driver was ticketed by the Chicago Police Department for driving without insurance. The major accident investigation unit is handling the accident.

As far as a civil claim is concerned, due to the fact defendant was reportedly uninsured, hopefully the victim was covered by his own policy of auto insurance. It is not been reported if the Chicago car accident attorney is involved in the case yet. When a lawyer gets involved, one thing he will look to do is set up an uninsured motorist claim on the passenger's insurance policy. He will also look to verify whether there was any insurance covering the at fault driver.

Click here to read the story as reported by WGN news.

A woman from Chicago was killed a week ago Sunday in an Illinois car crash that occurred in suburban Glendale Heights, according to the Daily Herald. The accident took place around 9 PM at the intersection of Bloomingdale Road and North Avenue.

The victim, Lual Mang, 67, was riding as a passenger at the time of the accident. Glendale Heights police ticketed the driver of the car she was riding in with disobeying a traffic control device and driving without insurance.

The passenger was rushed by ambulance to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood were she was pronounced dead a short time later.

As far as a negligence claim is concerned, hopefully the victim had her own policy of auto insurance. If she did, her family will be able to bring in uninsured motorist claim with her own auto carrier. The insurance carrier of the victim will essentially step into the shoes of the uninsured party and pay on the claim. It was not reported if a Chicago injury lawyer is involved in the case yet.

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

Click here to read more about Illinois uninsured motorist claims.

Chicago car crash that occurred on Sunday night has resulted in five people being injured, including three teenagers, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The accident took place when a northbound SUV on Interstate 55 was on a connecting ramp to Lake Shore Drive when it rolled over.

All five of the injured were hospitalized in serious to critical condition after the crash. Two of the injured were taken to Cook County Hospital and three were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital by ambulance.

A total of seven people were riding an SUV. The 18-year-old driver of the SUV is likely to be issued multiple citations, as two of the teenage passengers were not wearing seatbelts.

The Illinois State Police investigated the accident. They believe speed was a major factor in the crash, but they do not believe drugs or alcohol played a role. Their investigation is ongoing.

The accident temporarily shut down parts of Lake Shore Drive near downtown.

It is not been reported if Chicago car accident lawyers are involved in the case yet. In this type of accident, the hurt passengers all have a right to bring injury claims against the at fault driver. If the SUV driver does not have enough insurance to cover the accident, the injured passengers could have the right to make underinsured motorist claims against their own auto insurance policies.

Click here to read more about Chicago car accident claims and Illinois uninsured / underinsured motorist claims.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Chicago Breaking News Center.

NBC news is reporting that a total of nine people have been hurt, seven seriously, in a Chicago car crash. The accident happened in the Logan Square neighborhood on the north side just after 2 AM on Saturday morning. It is being reported that a driver of a silver Infiniti caused the accident, however there is no indication that the crash was alcohol related, that according to the Chicago Police Department.

Infiniti was headed westbound on Fullerton Avenue when it hit another Infiniti vehicle at or near Sacramento Boulevard. The at fault driver then fled the scene of the accident and headed back east on Fullerton at a high rate of speed. As the silver Infiniti fled, it crashed into a taxicab in a Toyota in the 2900 block of W. Fullerton Ave.

The force of the impact ejected three people from the Infiniti, injured the taxi driver and passenger, and injured the woman driving the Toyota. According to witnesses, the at fault driver was alert after the crash, however the three passengers that were ejected were unresponsive.

The injured victims in the accident were taken by ambulance to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, Norwegian Hospital, Illinois Masonic Medical Center, and St. Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center. The severity of the injuries has not yet been reported.

In an accident like this, it is a good idea to seek help from a Chicago injury lawyer. The first potential problem is whether or not the at fault Infiniti driver had auto insurance. In my experience, most drivers that flee the scene are uninsured. The next issue is, if there was insurance, whether there's enough insurance money to go around. Because so many people were injured in this car crash, there will most likely not be enough insurance.

What could happen is that, with the help of the Chicago car crash attorney, the injured parties will be able to make uninsured motorist claims, or underinsured motorist claims, against their own auto insurance policies. Click here to read more about Illinois uninsured and underinsured motorist claims.

Click here to read the story as reported by CBS News and ABC News in Chicago.

An average of 6,934 fatal crashes each year involve an unlicensed driver over the age of 16, according to research released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Chicago car accident attorneys and the personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes frequently post about fatal Chicago car accidents, both here at Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog and on our sister site, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog.

The fact is, unlicensed drivers frequently have poor driving records and carry little or no insurance. A Chicago car accident with an uninsured motorist can require a skilled Chicago car accident lawyer to help you and your family protect your rights and recover the compensation you deserve.

In Illinois, 202 fatal crashes involved an unlicensed driver in 2007, according to NHTSA data --11th highest of all 50 states. The 10-year average pins 1 of every 6 fatal Illinois car accidents on an unlicensed driver.

And fatal accidents caused by unlicensed drivers are on the rise, from 11 percent a decade ago to 14 percent last year. Men were almost twice as likely to be involved in an unlicensed fatal crash as were women.

Unlicensed young adult drivers, ages 21 to 40, averaged 4,179 fatalities per year, or more than half of all fatal crashes involving unlicensed drivers.

Continue reading "Unlicensed drivers responsible for 1 in 6 fatal Illinois car accidents" »

In the Chicago suburb of Berwyn, Illinois a mother and daughter were injured in an auto accident on Tuesday. The driver who hit them was distracted at the time of the crash, as she was busy lighting a cigarette. To make matters worse, the driver was uninsured. The injured mother has retained Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes to pursue an uninsured motorist claim against her own insurance carrier.

The accident took place during daylight hours at the corner of Kenilworth Ave. & 19th St. in Berwyn. The intersection is uncontrolled by traffic signals (no stop lights or stop signs). When the plaintiff arrived at the intersection she yielded to a car that arrived before her and then proceeded when it was her turn. When she was most of the way through the intersection the uninsured driver entered the intersection without stopping or yielding and struck her car.

When you approach an uncontrolled intersection in the State of Illinois, the driver that arrives first has the right-of-way. If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the right has the right-of-way.

The mother and child were taken by ambulance to MacNeal Hospital. The mother sustained neck and head injuries. She is going through follow-up treatment with an orthopaedic physician.

The Berwyn police department investigated the car crash.

Over the past year the use of cell phones and texting while driving have been a hot topic in Illinois, and new laws have been passed. We should not forget that other activities, such as smoking or eating food, can be just as distracting or more distracting than cell phone use.

Drivers who cause a car accident without automobile insurance face up to a year in jail under a tougher new Illinois uninsured motorist law signed by Gov. Pat Quinn on Friday.

Chicago personal injury attorney Dave Abels was interviewed about the new law earlier this summer and has published several blogs about the need to crack down on uninsured motorists and to raise the state's mandatory minimum insurance coverage.

"The way the law stands right now it just doesn't provide real protection for people who are seriously injured in auto accidents," said Abels, of Abels & Annes, a Chicago law firm that handles car accidents, motorcycle accident and other personal injury claims. "It covers you for small accidents but not the big accidents that you really care about where your life is changed forever."

The new law makes driving without insurance a misdemeanor criminal offense and carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine. The old law carried a fine of up to $1,000 and a license suspension of 3 to 6 months.

The new law, which The Southern newspaper noted was heavily supported by lawmakers this spring before heading to Gov. Quinn for his signature, is named after Johnston City native and Southern Illinois University graduate Michael Dean.

Dean was hit and killed by an uninsured driver while driving on Illinois 13 in July 2006.

Abels said the new law is a step in the right direction but noted that Illinois still needs to address its low mandatory insurance limits of $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," Abels said. "I have handled car accident death cases where the victim incurred over $500,000 in medical bills."

Continue reading "Illinois tougher uninsured motorist law passes" »

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 " »

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.

A single car accident on the South Side of Chicago just before 9:00 p.m. on Saturday night has resulted in the death of it's driver and severe injuries to three passengers, according to WBBM News Radio. The SUV, a Chevy Blazer, crashed into a viaduct. The vehicle was moving northbound on South California Avenue, just south of its intersection with West 31st Street at the time of the accident. At least two of the men involved in the accident were reportedly trapped in the SUV. The viaduct, which is just north of the Chicago River, supports railroad tracks.

Emergency crews responded to the scene where they found the SUV wrapped around the support of the viaduct and they then extracted two of the occupants. The driver and one passenger were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital. The other two passengers were taken to Stroger Hospital. The driver was pronounced dead a short time after the accident. The passengers were reportedly in critical condition.

From the perspective of a Chicago personal injury attorney, it has been my experience that passengers riding in an at fault vehicle sometimes mistakenly believe that they do not have a claim. For example, in the above case, while it is tragic that the driver past away, the three injured passengers can still make a claim against the driver’s insurance company. Further, because all three passengers' injuries were severe, the driver may not have enough insurance to cover the loss. If that is the case, the passengers will have the right to make an under-insured motorist claim against their own insurance policies.

Attorneys from our firm often handle and successfully resolve injury cases resulting from injuries to car accident passengers. Just today our law firm interviewed a passenger who suffered severe lacerations as a passenger in a Chicago auto accident. Unfortunately, the client has significant injuries and there is only minimum insurance coverage of $20,000 available.

If you are a driver or a passenger that has been injured in an auto accident, please contact Abels & Annes for a free consultation.

In the Chicago area suburb of Bartlett, Illinois, a DUI driver has caused a six car accident, according to Chicagobreakingnews.com. The accident occurred at the the intersection of Illinois Route 59 and Army Trail Road on Saturday night as the defendant weaved in and out of traffic moving southbound in a 1995 Nissan Maxima.

The at fault driver fled the scene of the accident on foot. However, he was quickly apprehended by Bartlett police not far from the accident. He now faces criminal prosecution for felony aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended license, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and failure to reduce speed to avoid and accident. The defendant was taken into custody and transported to the DuPage County Jail in Wheaton, Illinois.

Often, hit-and-run drivers do not have valid and/or adequate car insurance. If you are the victim of a hit-and-run car accident in Illinois or if you have been hit by a driver who did not have valid automobile insurance, you may still have an opportunity to recover damages caused by the car accident.

In unfortunate situations such as this, you can make an uninsured motorist claim against your own insurance policy. When you are the victim of an automobile accident caused by someone without valid car insurance, your insurance company will pay on your claim to recover for damages and/or personal injuries caused by that automobile accident.

Personal injury lawyers from our firm can initiate an uninsured motorist claim and attempt to negotiate a settlement on your behalf . If a satisfactory settlement cannot be obtained, under the terms of your policy the next step would most likely be to resolve your case in arbitration.

Attorneys from Abels & Annes, P.C. often handle and successfully resolve uninsured motorist claims. If you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident, or if you have been injured by an uninsured or under-insured driver, please contact Abels & Annes at 312-924-7575 for a free consultation.

A Chicago resident that was hit by a vehicle on Monday evening remains in a hospital, according to the Chicago Tribune. The accident happened in the area of Harlem Avenue and Lake Street in River Forest, Illinois.

After the accident, the driver fled the scene. The car was later stopped in Oak Park and the driver, a Chicago resident, was taken into custody.

The severity of the pedestrian's injuries have not been reported, but the fact that she is still hospitalized is not a good sign. Statistically, pedestrians involved in accidents are seriously injured. Click here to read a recent article we posted on pedestrian injuries.

In this case, the victim most likely has a civil case against the driver, however, the chances are good that the driver had no insurance. It has been my experience that most drivers that flee the scene of an accident are uninsured.

If the hit-and-run driver was uninsured, hopefully the victim has her own auto insurance policy with good uninsured motorist coverage. She can make a claim on her own policy and recover for her injuries, medical bills and other damages.

If you have been the victim in a pedestrian accident, or if you have been injured by an uninsured driver or a hit-and-run driver, contact Abels & Annes for a free consultation.