Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog

The Chicago Tribune posted a story early last week on a freak car accident that struck during the windy storm conditions in the city and the woman who stopped to help the victim.

On Tuesday the Good Samaritan, Connie Odoms, was driving in Lindenhurst when she saw a strange accident up ahead on the side of the road. She saw a yellow a car that seemed smashed with a woman trapped inside. The driver was trapped because she had been impaled by a large tree branch that had crashed through her window following high winds in the area.

Odoms worked to calm the driver down and ensure that nothing was moved that could have aggravated the injury. She, along with another driver who stopped to help, dialed 911, called the victim’s husband, and then waited until the ambulance arrived.

Fortunately, the victim seems to be on track to recover. The branch struck her below her lungs and above her stomach, missing most vital organs.

This is not the first time that Odoms has assisted following a car crash. Five years ago she stopped and saved the life of a woman whose car had slammed into a telephone pole in North Chicago.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti applaud people like Connie who work together to keep our roadways safe and protect the lives of victims follow the accident. With so many vehicles using our roads so often, car accidents of one kind or another will always exist. However with proper driving care (and helpful motorist like Connie) we can all do our part to ensure that future crashes are less common, less severe, and less costly.

The American Association of Justice issued a new report today that highlights a clear example of hypocrisy by a major interest group involved in the U.S. Justice System.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has spent millions of dollars and focused immense resources on lobbying campaigns aimed at limiting regular consumers’ access to the courthouse. The group’s affiliate, the Institute for Legal Reform, works every day to add barriers and restrictions to the right of individuals harmed by corporations to file lawsuits against those corporations.

Groups like the U.S. Chamber have worked hard to bar the courtroom door to regular individuals, like car accident victims, who may have been hurt by the negligent actions of large corporations. However, a new AAJ report explains that the U.S. Chamber itself files hundreds of lawsuits each year to advance its own interests. Apparently the justice system is only fair to the Chamber when they are doing the suing.

The National Chamber Litigation Center, the part of the organization charged with filing lawsuits on behalf of the group, annually initiates over 130 suits. Nearly 2 times a week, the group is at it again using the court system to advance it goals—while at the same time claiming that regular individuals shouldn’t have fair access to that same court system.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti continually work for the opposite cause: to allow all victims the same balanced access to the nation’s justice system. We do not believe that there is anything wrong with allowing our truth-finding judicial process to play out. There is nothing to fear from allowing potential victims, no matter where they come from or how much money they have, to enjoy their day in court. In that way, the system truly creates a level playing field where single individuals can stand up to anyone and seek justice. Victims of deadly car accidents caused by a faulty design in a automobile should be able to explain their story to a jury and allowed to confront the company that contributed to their suffering.

As the AAJ President explains, “The Chamber has every right to seek what it believes to be justice in a court of law, even if representing the most deplorable corporate interests. But it must learn that this right to justice belongs not just to their organization or big business generally, but to all Americans.”

To read more about this shameful example of unequal access to American Justice, check out the full AAJ report Here.

Justice News Flash has the latest information on a car accident that injured one pedestrian and killed another early yesterday morning. Two pedestrians were near the road Monday morning shortly after parking their vehicle in North Aurora. A man and a woman, both 22, were still standing near their parked car when a van sped up near them and clipped both of their bodies.

The crash sent both pedestrians flying, and a passerby spotted their bodies lying on the pavement. Emergency crews were called and the victims were rushed to a local hospital. However, the female pedestrian ultimately died from her wounds; the male victim remains in the hospital.

The driver of the van initially left the scene. However, later that afternoon he turned himself in. Police have not yet filed any charges as they are awaiting the completion of a full investigation into the accident.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti send condolences to all those affected by this car crash. Our lawyers have been involved in all types of roadway accidents and understand the mix of emotions that follow these terrible tragedies. As evidenced by the incident here, it is vitally important for all travelers to be on the look-out for safety risks even after they park and exit their car. Any area near paved roadway remains is in the crosshairs for speeding vehicles. A single negligent driver in only a brief moment of error can collide with passersby and cause immense destruction.

If you or someone you know has suffered following a roadway accident, please contact a car accident lawyer to explain your story.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported on a car crash that struck last week on the Stephenson Expressway. Early on Friday, around 12:45am, in the southbound lanes of I-55 near Damen Avenue, a car crashed into the median of the highway. It was a single vehicle accident. The driver was not injured, and following the wreck he got out of his vehicle to assess the situation.

At that time another driver saw the immobilized vehicle and pulled over in an attempt to help the driver of the first crash. It was at that point that the Good Samaritan who stopped to help was struck by another vehicle that was speeding along the highway. The victim suffered severe head trauma following the accident and was rushed to a local hospital. Luckily his injuries are not suspected to be life threatening.

The driver of the vehicle that hit the man admitted to police that he had fallen asleep at the wheel. While temporarily incapacitated, he drifted into the shoulder where the Good Samaritan was struck. He himself was not injured in the car crash, but police have charged him with several traffic citations.

This particular incident over the weekend highlights both the importance of remaining on the look-out for negligent drivers anytime near the road and the obvious need for all drivers to remain awake and alert at all times. Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti know that injuries and deaths following these accidents are common no matter what the circumstance. Anytime someone is near a travel area, the possibility for a car crash exists. We urge everyone, including those exiting their vehicle following a minor accident or those stopping to help others, to remain alert and aware of all dangers. It only takes one negligent driver to cause severe damage to all in their path.

The Tribune Local reported earlier this week on a car crash involving a small vehicle and a speeding Metra train on Dundee Road in Northbrook.

On Monday, an elderly driver barreled through a closed gate at a Metra railroad crossing. The car was halfway across the tracks when an oncoming train struck, severing the vehicle in two. The power of the collision was so strong that one part of the car ended up breaking through a fence and entering the yard of nearby home and the other half was propelled down the street.

Investigators are confident that the lights indicating an oncoming train were flashing and the gate blocking the roadway was down.

Amazingly, the driver will appear to survive the collision. A passerby got to the vehicle first, noticing that the elderly driver had a cut across his head but was otherwise mobile. However, the driver was also talking only a little and appeared to be delirious. Fortunately, he was wearing his seat belt and his airbag deployed properly.

In the Chicago area, our car crash lawyers at Levin & Perconti are committed to helping out in the aftermath of all tragedies on the road. Our attorneys have decades of experience handling affairs as they relate to the car accidents and are finely tuned to legal issues that are involved in these accidents. It is particularly important to at least have a consultation with an attorney following an accident, because there are legal matters to consider in almost all accidents including single-car accidents, multi-car accidents, collisions with trains, and all other tragic combinations.

The world’s largest ophthalmic education conference was held at Chicago’s McCormick Place this weekend. While the program is all about the proper care for human eyes, one presentation explained how the importance of vision is imperative in reducing car crashes, as reported in SNS Media.

Most drivers are aware that good vision is an important part of safety on the roadway. But new research seems to quantitatively back up the notion that improved vision clarity leads to specific reduction in damaging car accidents. The data presented at the ophthalmic conference studied over 27,000 patients who had cataracts removed from at least one eye over a ten year period between 1997 and 2006. The driving records of those patients where then analyzed to determine the link between the surgery and roadway safety could be found.

The positive effect on crash reduction was startlingly clear. Researchers found that cataract surgery reduced car accidents by 12.6%. This was true even after accounting for other potential confounding factors.

The number of injuries and deaths that strike each day on America’s roadways is staggering. Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti are frequently involved in the aftermath of these tragic circumstances, attempting to sort out the legal liabilities and ensure that the victims of these car crashes receive the necessary compensation to help handle the losses from the incident.

Even as we work to help families after the accident, we are well aware that in the ideal world, the crash would never have occurred in the first place. That is why this blog often discusses steps that can be taken to improve safety and awareness while on the road. From unique concepts like improved cataract surgery to basic ideas like avoided distracted driving, each small step taken is another action which may save a life and ensure that more families do not have to undergo the struggle of these catastrophic events.

WGN TV reported this evening on some good news following a damaging car accident that struck late last night. Around 11p.m. at the intersection of Western and Pershing, a man was involved in a single car accident. The driver of a Ford pickup truck had smashed his vehicle into a support beam for a metal bridge.

Fortunately, a Good Samaritan was nearby when the accident struck. The rescuer, a Chicagoan and 17 year veteran of the city’s Department of Water Management, rushed to the scene after the crash occurred. He knew that time was crucial, because the truck engine was already starting to catch fire and the crash victim was still inside.

The Good Samaritan quickly drove his own SUV to block the intersection and, along with another passerby, rushed to pull the unconscious victim out of the crashed truck. The two forced open the door and eventually carried the man across the street.

Only seconds later the pickup burst into flames.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti applaud the brave efforts of fellow community members, like those in this case, whose quickly thinking saves lives following car accidents. These rescuers are a testament to the community spirit that exists in our city. Our car crash attorneys recognize that most drivers carefully follow road rules with a focus on road safety. However, if you are ever a victim of an accident in which another driver fails to drive carefully, be assured that your legal rights provide support for your losses.

Chicago’s Breaking News Center discussed a unique car accident last week involving a Chicago Police Department squad car.

Two Chicago police officers were riding in the squad car on the city’s west side when the crash occurred. They had received an emergency call and were racing to the scene when the car was struck on the side by another vehicle. The impact drove the squad car into the side of a nearby building. Both officers were taken to a local hospital with injuries. Fortunately, the injuries were not life-threatening.

It is unclear exactly what led to the impact, but the squad car’s sirens and lights were activated at the time of the crash.

This accident is a reminder that yet another complication to all driving experiences is the possibility that emergency vehicles may be using road in a high speed situation. It is imperative that all drivers be on the lookout for these vehicles, providing them with a clear passage when rushing toward a city emergency.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti continue to urge all drivers to be aware of the various dangers that exist on our roadways. Time spent taking extra care while behind the wheel is time always well spent. Unfortunately, even when perfect caution and skill is used by drivers, they may still fall victim to the most serious car accidents. That is true because it only takes a single negligent driver to cause severe harm to countless careful drivers.

If a dangerous driver has caused harm to you or someone you know, please contact a car accident lawyer to learn more about your rights.

The St. Clair Record is reporting on a wrongful death lawsuit filed following a car accident that claimed the life of a father and his nine month old son. The mother and wife of the two victims filed the suit following the tragic deaths in November of 2008.

The man and his son had stopped their car on a local road in southern Illinois at the time of the accident. The father was standing outside of the car while the young child was inside. It was at that time that the car was struck by a man driving a tow truck. The stopped car was driven into the father, who died at the scene. The young child initially survived, but he died several days later at a local hospital.

It was later determined that the negligent driver was drunk at the time of the crash.

The lawsuit following the deadly accident involves several different potentials defendants. The driver of the truck himself is named as a defendant as are the owners of the towing company and the owners of the taverns that sold alcohol to the drunk driver.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti are experts at understanding the various factors and legal issues that play a role in handing affairs following these accidents. We encourage all victims and their families to at least speak with an attorney following any type of car accident. Even if you are not sure about whose fault it was or what factors are important for a legal case, a car crash attorney will be able to help explain the legal landscape of the situation.

Chicago Breaking News reported yesterday on a three-car accident that struck on the Stephenson Expressway over the weekend, killing an Illinois man.

Early Saturday morning, shortly before 7am, a 44 year old Peoria man in a Ford Mustang rear-ended a Toyota Camry that was in front of him on I-55. No one was hurt that in that initial accident, but the driver and passenger of the Camry got out of their vehicles to examine the damage. The driver of the Mustang stayed in his car.

At that time, another driver, also in a Camry, came upon the accident site. That driver was driving too fast for conditions and failed to properly slow down when coming upon the accident site. As result, his car slammed in the Mustang that had already been involved in the first accident. That impact caused the Mustang to against move forward, hitting the first Camry driver and the passengers who were examining the wreck.

The men who had gotten out of their car suffered non-life threatening injuries. However, the Mustang driver suffered severe trauma while in his car during the second impact. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Even a short look at this blog will reinforce the reality that Chicago car accidents strike both on the streets within the city and on the many highways that lead up to and around our metropolis. The potential for serious harm and death following these accidents is possible no matter where the crash occurs. However, with increased speeds on the highways the likelihood of severe injury following a highway crash is greatly increased. Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti have worked with victims of all forms of car accidents. We are committed to providing the very best in efficient, expert legal guidance any time that tragedy strikes. Be sure to contact our car crash lawyers if you or someone you know has been involved in one of these accidents.

An 18 year old Maine college freshman was killed this weekend following a tragic car accident from earlier this week, reports Sea Coast News.

The young woman was driving south on Interstate 295 when she lost control of her 1995 BMW. Her vehicle crossed the median of the highway and started driving head-on toward northbound traffic. Eventually her car struck a Ford Escape headed in the opposite direction.

The driver of the Ford SUV received only minor injuries, but the young woman was rushed to a local hospital with critical injuries. She fought the injuries for several days before passing away yesterday.

After investigating the accident authorities now believer that the teen’s distraction may ultimately have been the culprit that led to the fatal accident. Police investigators discovered that the young driver had received a text message shortly before the crash. A partial response message was found among the wreckage on the victim’s phone. The text message distraction was likely compounded by the fact that it had been raining heavily that afternoons, making the roads extremely wet and slippery.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti continue to be saddened by news of deaths on our roadways due to distracted driving. Most drivers are well aware of the risks when actions are taken that take hands and minds off of the road. However, there is a difference between understanding the actions that lead to unnecessary road risks and actually implementing changes in our driving processes to eliminate those directions. We encourage all drivers to practice safe driving techniques and to a contact a car accident lawyer any time you are harmed by a distracted driver.

A deadly Tuesday night car crash in Evergreen Park took the life an 18 year old Chicago man. The young man died following an accident on 95th Street and Central Park Avenue in Evergreen Park, reports the Southtown Star.

Around 9:30pm the victim was driving with a passenger and attempting to make a left turn off of 95th Street. At the same time an Evergreen Park Police Officer was following a speeding car in preparation for making a traffic stop. As the teen was turning left, his car collided with the eastbound squad car.

Investigators were not yet clear about the series of events that led to the tragic car crash, but they did confirm that alcohol was not involved. Police officers are reviewing tapes to determine how fast the officers was traveling and whether or not the squad car’s lights and sirens were engaged. They are also still determining if the teen driver stopped appropriately at the stop sign at the intersection.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti send thoughts to all those harmed in this tragic car accident. This accident is a reminder that vehicles of all types pose risks while on the roadway, from police cars and school buses to work trucks and bikes. While we may never reach the point where our roadways are without risk, we can ensure that the chance of becoming a victim of these crashes is dramatically lowered. To do that, we all have to ensure that we drive with vigilance—keeping our eyes on the road and our minds from wandering.

CBS 2 Chicago reported yesterday on developments in the legal case stemming from a fatal traffic accident that struck in north-central Missouri involving an Illinois man. The Illinois man, Jeffrey Fleming, has been charged with hitting the back of a horse-drawn buggy, ultimately killing the buggy driver, 29 year-old Eli Borntrager.

The accident occurred in January of this year. Fleming told officials that he did not see the buggy in front of him while driving. When he did become aware of the moving vehicle, he claims to have made failed efforts to avoid hitting it. He denied being distracted by anything at the time. However, records uncovered by investigators following the crash revealed that Fleming sent a pair of text messages just two minutes before the crash. However, the driver still claims that he was not on the phone or texting at the exact moment of the crash that took the life of Bomtrager.

It should go without saying that sending text message while driving constitutes an extreme act of driving negligence. The act requires drivers to take their eyes completely off the road for a considerable length of time. In addition, the mental act determining what to say and how to type it into the phone means that the driver is not using all of his senses to look out for potential obstructions in front of him. Together, the combination is ripe for deadly accidents. They occur much too frequently on our local roadways.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti hope that all local drivers take time to consider the various accidents that occur each day. The tragic incidents should serve as steady reminders of the need for constant vigilance while on the road. With an endless amount of distractions bombarding us all the time—from cell phones to bright billboards—it is imperative that we all make a conscious effort to honor basic vehicle safety: proper speed, elimination of distractions, and careful observation of all road rules. It is only that way that we can stop the deadly car accidents like the one here.

Chicagoans are well-aware of the prevalence of bike accidents on our city’s streets. A large, diverse city like ours is filled with various modes of transportation. Semitrailers, city trucks, SUVs, small cars, bikes, mopeds, Segways, and walkers all travel on and across miles and miles of city roadways morning, noon, night. Because of that there are countless opportunities for deadly collisions, especially when any of those travelers fails to abide by appropriate standards of care.

In particular, dangerous crashes involving cars and bikes seem to be especially common, as both types of travelers attempt to share the same roadways—often with very little room for error. Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti have been involved in several accidents involving collisions between bikes and cars. Because of the virtually non-existent protection offered by bikes, these bike crashes very frequently involve severe injury.

It is for that reason that it is of vital importance for bikers and car drivers to abide by local driving rules at all times. It is possible for the various kinds of travelers to share the road safely but only when both ensure that they stay in their designated lanes, travel at appropriate speeds, and stop at the appropriate lights and signs. The consequences are too high to act otherwise.

For example, the Millburn-Shorthills Patch a story today about a vehicle crash this morning involving a bicycle and a car. The bike rider was in serious condition following the morning accident. In that case a biker was traveling down a hill when he failed to yield and hit a car turning left at the base of the hill. As is common in cases like these, the driver of the car was uninjured, but the bicyclist remains in the hospitals from his injuries.

Chicagoans are well-aware of the prevalence of bike accidents on our city’s streets. A large, diverse city like ours is filled with various modes of transportation. Semitrailers, city trucks, SUVs, small cars, bikes, mopeds, Segways, and walkers all travel on and across miles and miles of city roadways morning, noon, night. Because of that there are countless opportunities for deadly collisions, especially when any of those travelers fails to abide by appropriate standards of care.

In particular, dangerous crashes involving cars and bikes seem to be especially common, as both types of travelers attempt to share the same roadways—often with very little room for error. Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti have been involved in several accidents involving collisions between bikes and cars. Because of the virtually non-existent protection offered by bikes, these bike crashes very frequently involve severe injury.

It is for that reason that it is of vital importance for bikers and car drivers to abide by local driving rules at all times. It is possible for the various kinds of travelers to share the road safely but only when both ensure that they stay in their designated lanes, travel at appropriate speeds, and stop at the appropriate lights and signs. The consequences are too high to act otherwise.

For example, the Millburn-Shorthills Patch a story today about a vehicle crash this morning involving a bicycle and a car. The bike rider was in serious condition following the morning accident. In that case a biker was traveling down a hill when he failed to yield and hit a car turning left at the base of the hill. As is common in cases like these, the driver of the car was uninjured, but the bicyclist remains in the hospitals from his injuries.

WGIL News reported this weekend on a tragic car accident that took the life of a northern Illinois woman.

50 year old Penny McKinney-Green was driving her pickup truck this weekend in the early morning, around 6:30 am. She was traveling east on route 116 with one passenger. An SUV with one passenger was traveling westbound on the same highway. As the two cars were passing each other, the driver of the SUV lost control of the vehicles due to water that was on the road. The SUV slid into the eastbound lane and hit McKinney-Green‘s truck head on.

McKinney-Green was rushed to a local hospital when emergency crews arrived. However, she died at the facility shortly after. The driver of the SUV was ultimately ticketed for driving too fast for conditions—he should have known that the roadways were wet and posed a threat.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys send sincere condolences to all those in pain following this tragic crash. Our lawyers have decades of experience working with families following accidents like this that take the life of a family member. In dealing with the grief of these losses, the legal component of the car crash often is not on the minds of family members. That is logical and understandable. However, there is always a point when the legal rights of the victim should be remembered, and that is where our car accident attorneys come in. Expert legal eyes are able to examine the causes of the accident to guide loved ones through the process of vindicating the claim. If you or someone you know may be in that situation, please contact an attorney today.