Posted On: December 31, 2008

Potholes Cause Accidents throughout Chicago

Harsh December weather has caused the streets in Chicago to look more like the moon than paved roads. Usually, the Department of Transportation logs around 300 pothole complaints in December, while this year the numbers are in the upwards of 900. The transportation commissioner said that many of this winter’s potholes are bigger than last year’s worst-in-a-decade batch. This year, the city has concentrated on arterial streets and emergency situations, the holes big enough to damage cars. Chicago Transit Authority bus drivers and other city workers have been asked to call in pothole locations. While people have problems with misaligned cars and spare tires Chicago must respond quickly. To read the full story, click here.

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Posted On: December 30, 2008

New Mandated Sensors for Drivers Convicted of DUIs

Motorists convicted of drunken driving in Illinois will have to blow into device to prove their sobriety every time they get behind the wheel come January 1, 2009. If the driver fails to blow into the device their car will not start. The restriction is part of a new law that is a huge Illinois crackdown on drunk drivers. The measure is one of the strictest in the nation and is aimed at first-time offenders convicted of driving under the influence. Those convicted will have 14 days to get a breath-alcohol ignition-interlock device installed in their vehicle’s dash. If the driver has a blood-alcohol content above .024 the engine won’t start. Those with multiple DUI convictions previously could have been ordered to install the device. This legislation could affect as many as 40,000 offenders a year. Sponsors responded to a concern from Mothers Against Drunk Driving that alcohol-related crashes and arrests had stopped declining in recent years, thus the group argued that technology could be used to get more drunken drivers of the roads. Last year in Illinois, there were 508 deaths from car crashes involving alcohol. Other states who have implemented this legislation have found a decrease in their alcohol-related traffic fatal car crashes. To read the full story, click here.

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Posted On: December 30, 2008

Floor mats to blame in some car accidents

Defectively designed floor mats may be to blame for some car accidents that occur. In some cases, pedals have stuck to the mats, causing car accidents. In others, the mats interfered with one or more pedals.

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Posted On: December 29, 2008

9 injured in South Side Chicago bus crash

A car struck a CTA bus in South Side Chicago this afternoon and nine people received personal injuries. The Chicago car accident also caused a bicycle accident after the initial collision. Nine people were taken from the Chicago car accident scene to area hospitals. Six of those receiving personal injuries were listed in fair condition, two in good condition, and one listed in serious-to-critical condition.

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Posted On: December 29, 2008

Illinois car wreck kills 3

Three people from the south suburbs of Chicago were killed in an Illinois car accident today between New Lenox and Joliet. The car crash happened this morning on U.S. 30. One was pronounced dead at the scene and the other two were pronounced dead just hours later at Silver Cross hospital in Joliet.

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Posted On: December 28, 2008

Icy Roads Prompt Multiple Crashes in Chicago Suburbs

Police in Chicago’s north and northwest suburbs called out the salt trucks after icy roads caused a series of automobile accidents. A few of these car crashes ended with cars sliding into ditches. Illinois State Police contacted authorities after a series of “fender benders” and cars sliding into ditches. No serious personal injuries were reported in any of the car crashes. In the northwest suburban Carol Stream, a series of car crashes related to slippery roads were reported. None of the car crashes were serious and police had salt trucks en route to the scene. One person in the Chicago suburb of Wheeling was hospitalized with personal injuries after a head-on automobile crash. A minivan and a small pickup truck collided head on, leaving the driver of minivan trapped inside. It took crews about 10 minutes to cut the driver out after the automobile accident and the motorist was transported to the hospital with non life-threatening personal injuries. Black ice was likely the cause of the car crash. To read the full story, click here.

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Posted On: December 23, 2008

Car Accidents Caused by Flooding Waters

A massive water main break trapped a dozen commuters in their cars as the swift, water flooded cars on a suburban road, many rescuers in helicopters and boats had to pluck people from the whitewater unleashed by an aging pipe. Two people in a minivan climbed into a basket lowered by a helicopter as the floodwaters raged past them which sprayed water on a rescuer reaching out to save them. Some people were rescued by boat from waters hitting and flooding cars. Everyone appeared to be safe despite severe personal injuries reported of hypothermia. Temperatures were in the 20s. Officials said 135 million gallons of water per minute were gushing out at one point. Due to the flooding water, fire officials did not allow utility workers to immediately shut down valves where the break occurred but they were able to shut down two valves farther down the pipeline. To read the full story, click here.

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Posted On: December 23, 2008

Man Survives 125-foot fall in Dan Ryan Crash

A man whose car crashed on Chicago’s Dan Ryan bridge near 25th Street is expected to live despite falling 125 feet after being ejected when he tried to close his drivers’ side door when it flew open. The man is listed in critical condition with personal injuries at the hospital, but all indications show that he will live. A gold 1992 Toyota Camry headed south on the expressway hit a wall near 26th street early in the morning, and the 20-year-old driver was ejected in the car crash. He was the only person involved in the car crash. The driver told police he tried to close his broken drivers’ side door after it flew open, causing him to lose control of his car, which hit the right median and careened to the left lane, striking the wall and ejecting him. After the man fell about 125 feet to a rail yard, a railroad worker called authorities to tell them someone had just flown off the bridge. To read the full story, click here.

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Posted On: December 22, 2008

Automobile Accident Closes Elgin-O’Hare Expressway

The Elgin-O’Hare Expressway’s eastbound lanes between Lake Street and Gary Avenue in Hanover Park, Illinois were shut down after multiple car crashes. Automobile spinouts were reported early in the morning do the icy roadways. Three personal injuries were reported, although no one was hospitalized with personal injuries. The Illinois State Police stated that some vehicles spun out as they stopped to look at the previous car crash. The expressway was re-opened to all traffic after being originally diverted due to the car accident. To read the full story, click here.

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Posted On: December 20, 2008

Police car accident results in $13 million settlement

A police car accident that resulted in an 11 year-old boy receiving severe brain injuries has now settled. The city has agreed to pay $13 million to the car accident victim.

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Posted On: December 18, 2008

Second car accident lawsuit filed against pop star

R&B singer Brandy faces a second car accident lawsuit stemming from the December 2006 car accident. In December 2006, Brandy was driving her 2007 SUV when she collided with another vehicle driven by a 38 year-old. Brandy’s SUV smashed into a 1989 Toyota Tercel driven by the 82 year-old personal injury plaintiff. A fourth car broadsided the 38 year-old driver, who died the following day as a result of major blunt force trauma.

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Posted On: December 14, 2008

1987 car accident that resulted in brain injury subject of tonight’s documentary

The lives of an Illinois couple were forever changed in 1987 when the wife was involved in a horrific Illinois car accident. The Illinois car accident resulted in a brain injury and the wife was left cognitively impaired and unable to walk. Tonight, Discovery Health Channel will air a documentary tonight telling the story of their love and life after the 1987 Illinois car accident.

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Posted On: December 13, 2008

Family sues after carriage overturns

A family’s ride in a horse drawn carriage has resulted in a car accident lawsuit. While on a scenic ride, the family’s carriage overturned. Now the family has filed a personal injury lawsuit against the carriage company.

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Posted On: December 12, 2008

Macaulay Culkin’s sister killed in traffic accident

Macaulay Culkin’s 29 year-old sister was struck and killed by a car this week. She was rushed to the hospital with massive head trauma and died the next day. The driver in the car accident stopped, rendered aid, and identified himself as required by law.

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Posted On: December 11, 2008

$11.5 million awarded in car accident

A jury recently awarded a widow and her three children $11.5 million in damages against the drivers of the vehicle that caused the car accident. The car accident resulted in the wrongful death of a police officer. The driver failed to stop at a stop sign and attempted to make a left turn eastbound, causing the officer to swerve to avoid a direct impact.

For the full article.

Posted On: December 7, 2008

Six injured in suburban Chicago car accident

Drifting snow and icy roads are being blamed for the car accident that caused serious personal injuries to six people Saturday evening. The Illinois car accident occurred in a south suburban area of Chicago when a vehicle slid off of the roadway and into a tree.

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Posted On: December 6, 2008

Attorneys allege they cannot get fair trial in car accident lawsuit

Last week, a judge heard arguments for a change of venue in a careless driving case, five months after a car accident killed one person. In July, the driver lost control of his tractor-trailer while driving. The truck overturned and slammed into an SUV, killing the SUV driver. Four others were injured in the truck accident. A wrongful death lawsuit and personal injury lawsuit have also been filed against the driver of the truck.

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Posted On: December 5, 2008

Teen girl killed after Illinois car accident

A 15 year-old girl recently died after being the victim of an Illinois car accident. She was struck by an automobile in a north suburb of Chicago.

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Posted On: December 4, 2008

Paramedics Rescue Three From Burning Vehicle

Three people are in Chicago hospitals with personal injuries after paramedics rescued them from a fiery automobile crash on the South Side of Chicago. Two Chicago Fire Department paramedics were on returning from a previous call when they witnessed an automobile slamming into a light pole and bursting into flames. This occurred on the 5100 block of South State Street. The car crash left the driver and two passengers trapped inside the vehicle. While battling the flames, two paramedics were able to free the three. The driver suffered head injuries, but all of the victims survived despite the personal injuries and are currently recovering at Chicago hospitals. While the investigation continues, no automobile accident lawsuits have been filed. To read the full story, click here.

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Posted On: December 3, 2008

Chicago drivers warned to slow down in the snow

Mayor Daley has warned Chicago drivers to drive slower when the weather turns ugly and snowy. Snowy weather creates dangerous conditions prone to car accidents. And now, Chicago politicians are warning that street plowing will be slower.

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Posted On: December 2, 2008

Woman Cited in Crash That Personally Injuries Five

A woman was cited for negligent driving after a car crash that personally injured four adults and one child in Downtown Chicago. The car crash occurred on East Lower Wacker Drive near North Columbus Drive. A Ford Crown Victoria was traveling east on Lower Wacker Drive when the driver lost control and slid sideways into a vertical pillar causing the car crash. The impact of the car crash crushed the vehicle, with the pillar leaving an 18-inch dent in the car. The 21-year-old driver was cited for negligent driving. Five people, including a young child in a car seat, were in the car during the automobile accident. All five were taken to the hospital with personal injuries that do not appear to be life threatening. The child’s personal injuries were greatly reduced by being in a car seat. The vehicle was totaled in the car crash and towed from the scene. To read the full story, click here.

Posted On: December 2, 2008

Police car speed scrutinized in car crash

An investigation of a car crash that injured a motorist and two police officers has preliminarily shown that one officer may have disregarded a stop signal while speeding. Reports say that an officer was driving his car to a shoplifting call when his car struck a car. The car crash caused one car to spin out of control and strike a person standing by.

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Posted On: December 1, 2008

Driver Hospitalized after Crashing into Chicago Building

A driver was seriously personally injured after crashing into a Chicago Northwest Side building. This car crash prompted a Hazardous Materials response by fire officials. A Level 1 HazMat was called for the incident after the car crashed into a building on the 3300 block of West Peterson Avenue. The driver was taken to the hospital and is in serious condition with personal injuries after his car crashed into the building and hit a gas meter. The HazMat was secured in 10 minutes. The cause of the car crash remains under investigation. To read the full story, click here.

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Posted On: December 1, 2008

Chicago woman charged for fatally running over boyfriend’s ex

A Chicago woman was charged last week for allegedly running over her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend with an SUV during an altercation. The car accident victim was struck by the SUV and pronounced dead at a Chicago-area hospital. The death was ruled a homicide and the driver has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

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