Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Chicago car accidents occur without discrimination in every neighborhood of our city on a daily basis. Many Chicagoans will at one time or another be involved in a car accident; unfortunately far too many of those accidents will involve serious injury and death.

Another deadly car accident struck on the northwest side of the city last week, reports WGNTV News. The crash occurred on Friday evening, around 11 pm, on the 3900 block of West Addison Street—on the corner of Addison and Pulaski. Details are still murky, but police believe that a car driven by a young man crashed into another vehicle carrying an older couple in their early-50s. The impact of the two vehicles was severe, and emergency crews rushed all three individuals involved to hospitals immediately.

Both the man and woman in the car that was struck eventually died from their wounds while the younger man remains in serious condition at a local hospital.

Police have not issued any citations as of yet and are still investigating the accident.

Continue reading " Two Killed in Chicago Car Accident " »

A Chicago-area sheriff’s deputy was injured early last week after being hit by a car on Interstate 88. The accident occurred early in the morning, around 5:40am in the aftermath of two separate car crashes, according to KWQC News.

The first accident was caused by a car hitting a deer which closed down the left lane of the highway. The traffic build up following that incident caused another multi-car wreck. Emergency personnel rushed to the scene to help handle the aftermath of both of those accidents.

One officer was trying to divert traffic at that time when an oncoming driver lost control of her vehicle. The driver failed to take appropriate care when coming upon an accident scene—not reducing speed or moving over. Her car swerved around a flashing squad car and struck the standing officer several times. He suffered serious injuries on his head and leg but is expected to survive the encounter.

One officer explains, “You have got to slow down. You have got to pay attention. Scan ahead and see what’s happening at the scene before you enter and it’s too late.”

Continue reading " Illinois Police Deputy Hit By Car While Attending To Highway Crashes " »

With the winter season descending upon the city, new challenges will soon face drivers in their attempt to remain safe on the road. With cold weather typically comes snow and ice. Chicagoans are used to dealing with an abundance of both for the several months when cold weather descends upon the area. Yet no matter how experienced city drivers may be with tough conditions, many often fall victims to weather-induced accidents.

Car accidents are already occurring as a result of the change in season. WGN Breaking News reported on one of those crashes earlier this week. Six people were injured in a crash on the city’s far south side. Four victims were in serious to critical condition, while two other has less threatening injuries.

Shortly before 10pm on Thanksgiving night icy road conditions caused our vehicles to become tangled in a wreck. The multi-car accident struck near East 130th Street and South Stony Island Avenue. The specifics of the accident remain unclear, but emergency personnel believe that ice on the road played a major role. Salt trucks were dispatched to the area shortly after the crash.

Continue reading " Icy Conditions Cause Multi-Car Accident " »

The Skokie Patch reported this week on a devastating car accident that ripped one car in half and sent four people the hospital. Speeding and alcohol played a role in the wreck.

Police reports indicate that the negligent driver was traveling eastbound on Oakton Street near Kenneth Avenue in Skokie when the car accident occurred. The driver’s Pontiac car collided with a Toyota Camry that was attempting to make a left hand turn. The Camry was literally severed in two by the collision and the Pontiac had a third of its front compressed inward. Amazingly, while the three people in the Camry and the Pontiac driver were taken to the hospital, none of them suffered life threatening injuries.

Investigations into the cause of the crash indicate that the Camry driver’s blood alcohol level was well above the legal limit. Several empty liquor bottles were found in the vehicle. Also, witnesses recount that the driver was traveling at a very high rate of speed, likely much faster than the posted limit.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys reiterate our repeated refrain for all drivers to ensure their own driving is safe this holiday season. The total number of travelers driving under the influence of alcohol increase significantly during these times, as many families celebrate the festivities. It is vital that all those using the roads this season take care to use designated drivers if necessary and to remain on the look-out for potentially impaired drivers. In addition it is at times like that that simple safety measures like seat-belts are even more essential.

See Our Related Blog Posts:

Head-On Chicago Car Accident Kills One and Injures Three

Five Injured in Lake Shore Drive Car Accident

The Chicago Sun-Times reported on a tragic hit and run accident that struck in the north side of the city early yesterday morning.

Around 3:30am on Sunday morning a red car was speeding northbound on Ridge Road, near the 5900 block. In circumstances that are still being investigated, the driver of the vehicle plowed into a pedestrian who was walking nearby. Several witnesses were present at the time of the car crash, yet it remains unclear what happened. The victim remains in critical condition after suffering serious head wounds in the car accident. The police sergeant involved in the crash indicated that the man’s condition was grave.

There are no skid marks which would have indicated an attempt to stop. It is also yet unknown if the car entered the sidewalk to cause the crash. A red light camera may have provided a picture of the car or the accident, but those records are still being investigated.

The police may have located the car suspected of being involved in the accident yesterday afternoon. It was found in a motel parking lot near 6000 Lincoln Ave.

Continue reading " Man In Critical Condition Following Chicago Hit & Run " »

The Carmi Times wrote last week about efforts that the Illinois State Police will undertake to ensure our state roadways remain safe during the holiday season. The focus of the effort is two-fold: ensure that riders are wearing the appropriate safety devices and not impaired.

Last Thanksgiving season twelve people died in car accidents, five of those deaths involved drunk driving. Over eight hundred Illinoisans were injured in car crashes in that same span. Data shows that the problem is highest during late-night driving—more drivers are impaired and less are properly buckled up. The chance of suffering death or serious injury is reduced drastically when safety belts are worn.

The risk of death or injury should be enough for everyone to take the simple steps to ensure that they do not drive impaired or improperly secured. However, on top of that, there are legal consequences to all of these acts.

A police Captain summarizes the effort, “No one wants to start the holidays off wrong with a safety belt ticket or a DUI arrest. Save your money for turkey and buying presents for loved ones—don’t throw it away simply because you failed to buckle up or were driving impaired.

Continue reading " Illinois State Police to Target Impaired Drivers & Seat-Belt Violators During Holidays " »

A car accident took the life of a Chicago-area teen last weekend according to a report by the Chicago Tribune. Around 9pm on Saturday night the victim was driving his 2001 Volkswagon Jetta on Garys Mill Road in Winfield, Illinois. Winfield is a suburb about 25 miles west of Chicago.

Several residential homes have driveways that connect to Garys Mill Road. A Ford pick-up truck was exiting one of those residential driveways onto the road as the teen approached. For reasons yet unknown to investigators, the two cars did not adequately account for one another. The Jetta ultimately smashed into the exiting truck.

Emergency personnel rushed the teen to the hospital following the accident. He was placed a life support, and he eventually passed away from his injuries.

Continue reading " Car Crash Kills Chicago Area Teen " »

Early in October we posted a story on a tragic car accident involving a teen driver and a squad car. An 18 year old man was killed and his 17 year old passenger severely injured following the crash with an Evergreen Park squad car.

The car occupied by the two teens was broadsided by the police car shortly before midnight on October 5th near 95th Street and Central Park Avenue. When the accident happened the officer was attempting to initiate a traffic stop on a different car. The squad car was not marked. Investigators are still looking into crash cam data to piece together the cause of the collision.

According to the policy of the department, an individual officer has discretion of when to initiate a traffic stop. Squad cars often reach high speeds when attempting to make the stops. The officer charged with taking into account other conditions (like location on the road and the weather) to determine the appropriate speed in any given situation.

The mother of the killed teen has now filed suit against both the city of Evergreen Park and the police officer involved in the crash for her son’s wrongful death, according to the Reporter Online. The suit alleges that the officer’s negligent driving led to the crash. The family is seeking compensation for the death, incurred costs, and other losses stemming from the incident.

Continue reading " Lawsuit Filed Against City Following Deadly Squad Car Accident " »

Much focus on improving road safety revolves around actions to be taken while on the road—traveling at a safe speed, obeying traffic lights, watching for stop signs, and similar actions. These calls for careful, safe driving are obviously focused on limiting the negligence on the road that leads to serious car accidents. However, the fact remains that no matter how careful one drives, there is always a consistent risk of being caught in the crosshairs of another driver’s own misconduct. Unfortunately, even the most careful drivers fall victim in deadly car accidents all the time.

For that reason, pre-emptive safety measures are of vital importance while traveling on the road. While you cannot permanently insulate yourself against reckless drivers, everyone can take steps to minimize the damage caused by run-ins with other vehicles. The most important and obvious pre-emptive safety measure is the use of seat-belts. The severity of injury is often drastically reduced when safety belts are used. It is of particular importance that all children are securely strapped into an appropriate children’s safety seat every time they travel in a car.

One city police department is hoping to raise awareness of that fact by holding a car seat safety check, reports Today’s THV. Car seats save thousands of young lives a year, yet far too many parents still do not use them or use them incorrectly.

The safety check involves ensuring that cars with children use the devices, and when they don’t, to provide safety seats to the parents. The event also includes demonstrations which show parents the correct way to use the seats. Too often the set-up of the device confuses parents. Also, many parents put blankets and other items underneath the seat straps, an action that makes the device malfunction during an impact.

Continue reading " Police Department Holds Car Seat Safety Check " »

The New York Times recently published a story highlighting a summit this week that discussed the safety issues surrounding aging drivers. The National Transportation Safety Board held the two day public event Monday and Tuesday entitled, “Safety, Mobility, and Aging Drivers.” It included academic researchers, medical experts, industry leaders, law enforcement officials among others to discuss the questions and possible answers relating to improved safety and road access for our elderly community members.

Specifically, the summit included discussion and analysis of issues including the role of states to set regulations on elder drivers, the response families should take to insure safety of their older loved ones, and similar issues. These questions are typically full of debate with a need to appeal to both reason and emotion—there are few easy answers.

One member of the Board that organized the summit explained, “”We’re looking to see what can be done with highway design, vehicle design, state programs and policies—things that affect all of us as we age.”

Continue reading " Summit Being Held On Elder Drivers " »

A single Chicago motorist was charged with nine traffic violations in conjunction along with a bevy of other criminal charges after a police chase in the city last weekend. The Chicago Sun-Times reported on the story which highlights the unique, dangerous incidents that occur on our city’s roadways each day.

The reckless driver was spotted by police officers running a red light at the intersection of 59th and Wabash early Saturday morning. The officers turned on their lights and attempted to make a stop, but the driver continued to blow through several stop signs and another light before finally pulling over on the 6000 block of South King drive.

Just as officers were getting out of their car, the driver took off again, darting for the Dan Ryan exit at 59th and Wells. He reached speeds up to 80mph on the side streets while darting between lanes dangerously before making it to the highway. Officers followed from a distance until he exited the highway. It was at that point that the driver crashed directly into a Chicago Fire Department truck. The impact was severe, and the driver was almost immediately arrested and then rushed to a local hospital in serious to critical condition. Two firefighters were also taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

It was later that a blood test was taken which revealed the driver had a blood alcohol level of .225---nearly three times the legal limit. The officers also discovered cannabis blunts in the car.

Continue reading " Car Chase Ends With Vehicle Crashing Into Fire Truck " »

The Chicago Sun-Times reported today on a new survey that explains the prevalence of drivers who are asleep while on the road. As the report indicates, sleepiness while driving is an underappreciated problem—drunk driving and distracted driving issues dominate many more headlines. However, the problem is truly hard to underestimated as the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety claims that drowsy drivers are responsible for one in six fatal crashes, and one in eight crashes leading to hospitalization

Nearly 41% of drivers admit to nodding off at some point in their lives while driving, with 10% of those happening within the past year. Men and young drivers were most likely to report drowsy driving, and the occurrences are just as common in the afternoon as the middle of the night.

The problem may stem in part from increasing work hours leading to less sleep time on average for most drivers. Experts consistently find that even adults need around 8 hours a sleep per night. Many people think that they can get by on less, but they suffer the physical consequences nonetheless.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti urge all drivers to take more time to consider their level of alertness every time that they get behind the wheel—whether for a short trip or a longer commute. It is often difficult for individuals to recognize their own drowsy symptoms.

One of the study’s experts explains, “So many people don’t realize how tired they actually are. They overestimate their ability to power through.”

Do your part to ensure you do not drive while drowsy. Common corrections include ensuring that you get enough sleep, scheduling driving breaks while on long trips, traveling at times when you are normally awake, and stopping the moment you find yourself sleepy.

It was a tragic day on Chicago’s roadways on Thursday. As WGN TV reports, three separate motorists were killed in different car accidents in a two hour span that evening.

The first crash involved a tow truck driver who was changing a tire on a semi truck on the shoulder of I-65, just south of I-80. While underneath the large machine, he was hit by a Land Rover that plowed into the back of the tow truck. He suffered immediate life-ending injuries and was pronounced dead on that scene.

Shortly after that, a single vehicle crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway, near 26th Street, took the life of a 34-year old woman. The driver was behind the wheel of Chrysler Pacifica when she lost control and hit a concrete barrier head-on.

Finally, an hour after the second fatal crash, a rollover accident killed a man who was driving north on I-55. The man crashed into a wall just before the Dan Ryan interchange and was pronounced dead shortly after at a nearby hospital.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti seek to provide legal redress and recovery for all those who suffer following these tragic accidents. As is clear from a single night in one city with three separate deaths, fatal car crashes strike with far too much frequency. The distractions, complications, and negligence that lead to these accidents are varied but consistent. Be sure that you or loved ones do not attempt to navigate the legal waters of these situations alone. Contact a car accident lawyer to ensure that all matters are properly handled.

The Courier News published a story last week that serves as a reminder to all drivers of the need to maintain careful driving at all times, but especially when traveling at high speeds.

The story discusses a traffic death on Interstate 90 last month to emphasize the risks associated with distractions while on or near the highway. The victim had pulled his car over to the highway shoulder in the evening, around 8pm. For reasons that investigators have yet to piece together, the man walked near traffic and was hit by a tandem truck; he was throw to the side of the road. When he was eventually discovered by emergency personnel and rushed to the hospital, it was too late. He died a few hours later.

However, police have still been unable to contact the driver of the big rig that hit the man. They believe that the driver may have been distracted or at least remains unaware that he or she hit anyone on that night.

Police officers are using the case to explain the increased incidents of distracted driving that they have reported recently. Officers in the Chicago area receive around 100 calls per month from people who report seeing drivers who are using text messages while on their phones on the interstate. Nationally, over 200,000 car accidents a year are caused by the practice.

Several states have already banned the practice. However, amazingly, many reports indicate that accidents following the ban may have increased in those states because individuals who attempt to hide their phone while texting while driving cause even more distraction.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti will continue to raise awareness of the issue in an effort to save lives. The injury, death, and destruction of entire families that often result from distracted driving is far too high a risk to take for whatever action causes the distraction. No text message being sent at a certain moment is worth risking the most precious thing that we have—our lives.

The Miami Herald recently pointed to a new estimate from the National Safety Council that reiterates what most people intuitively know: texting and driving is a deadly combination. The total number of accidents cause by the practice continues to rise with an estimated 200,000 crashes resulting from the practice last year. In fact, a new Car & Driver magazine study found that reaction rates for drivers while texting was three to four times slower than the rate of drunk drivers.

Our Chicago car accident accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti are committed to ensuring that victims of accidents on the road are legally protected when harmed by negligent drivers. Our office has seen more and more victims of car crashes caused by phone distractions. The increase in these types of accidents is no doubt related to improved technology and the increasing functionality of mobile devices.

Nowadays individuals can send messages, pictures, check email, conduct research, and even watch television on their phones. The downside to these clear advances is the increased distraction that leads to deadly crashes on the road.

Those crashes are now having a unique legal impact in that business owners are open to increased legal liability when their employees cause these accidents while using their phone for business reasons.

Several cases have already been documented where companies have settled claims with victims of accidents caused by their employees using the phone for business or simply using a company-issued phone. It is important for all businesses to ensure that their employees are aware of the risk of using a phone while driving. In most cases issuing a company-wide ban on phone use while driving would serve to send a strong message that the reckless behavior is not tolerated.