Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Chicagoans awoke this morning to news broadcasts explaining a severe winter storm that is approaching our area. Initial estimates show that the developing weather system will begin hitting the city in the early evening on Tuesday. It will likely continue until the following afternoon. Up to 22 inches of snow is expected to fall in many places. Even worse is that high winds and drifting snow are expected to make traveling extremely difficult in many parts of the city and state.

The approaching blizzard will certainly affect all travelers this week.

Blog readers are well aware of the seemingly daily stream of Illinois car accident stories explaining the latest victims of weather related crashes. For example, an Illinois woman was killed last Thursday when she lost control of her car on a snow covered road. The Telegraph Herald explained that the victim of the car crash was traveling on Illinois Route 84 around 8 a.m. when she lost control of her vehicle. The car spun out, swerved into oncoming traffic and was hit on the passenger side by a pick-up truck.

Emergency officials rushed to the area, but there was nothing they could do. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Continue reading " Weather-Induced Illinois Car Accidents Continue " »

The Quad City Times reported this week on a fatal car accident that struck in Carroll County.

The two-vehicle crash occurred shortly after 8 a.m. on Thursday morning. A 44-year old driver was traveling south in his Ford pick-up truck on Illinois Route 84. Another 44-year old traveler was headed in the opposite direction at the same time in a Toyota Camry. Shortly before the two vehicles crossed paths on the road, the northbound Camry driver lost control of her car.

The vehicle spun erratically before sliding into the southbound lane directly in the path of the pick-up truck. The two collided, causing extreme damage to both vehicles. The female driver sustaining catastrophic injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene.
Police are still investigating the accident to determine what might be at the root cause of this Illinois car accident. However, snow was falling in the area at the time of the collision. There were many reports of slick, dangerous road conditions, and it is therefore likely that weather played a role in the incident.

Continue reading " Icy Roads Kills Woman In Illinois Car Accident " »

KPLR News reported on a tragic car accident that struck in the town of Belleville, Illinois this weekend. On Saturday, a sophomore student at the local high school was headed to a cheerleading competition when she was involved in deadly single-car crash.

The girl was rushed to a local hospital and then airlifted to a larger facility in St. Louis. Unfortunately there was little that doctors could do, and she passed away later that evening. Police are yet unclear what caused the crash; they are continuing their investigation in hopes of finding some answers.

The local school is pulling together in the wake of the tragedy. The counselor explains, “I think for many of our young people it’s very confusing, not understanding why this happened.” The principal revealed that for many students this was the first time someone close to them had passed away.

It is difficult to read these Illinois car accident stories and make sense of the tragedy. There are few things more devastating than the loss of young community members. Car crashes are the most common way that young people are killed. It is vital that everything be done to better understand and prevent these tragedies.

Continue reading " High School Teen Killed in Illinois Car Accident " »

There are countless causes for the car accidents that plague our streets daily. Many of them stem from distracted drivers who fail to focus on the dangers in front of them while behind the wheel. Others involve icy roads and dangerous weather that is not properly managed. However in some cases the problem has nothing to do with driver action, but instead stems from physical problems with the car. If the car itself malfunctions there is little the driver and passengers can do to prevent accidents.

For example, MSNBC explained a recent car accident lawsuit involving an auto dealership repair service. The family of a couple killed in a rollover accident filed suit against the Ford dealers who had recently performed a tire repair on the victim’s E350 Sportsmobile. The plaintiff argued (and the jury agreed) that the tire repair was faulty, leading to a right-rear tire tread separation. That tire separation caused the van to rollover while the couple was inside.

The jury ultimately awarded the family $14 million for the losses.

Continue reading " $14 Million Wrongful Death Lawsuit After Bad Tire Repair " »

A Chicago family is grieving this weekend after a deadly car crash took the life of a 17-year old girl and severely injured her 14-year old sister. The accident occurred on the 6700 block of North Artesian Avenue and North Shore Avenue.

As reported in the Chicago Tribune, around 2 a.m. the girls were in a Ford Explorer with two other friends on Artesian Avenue when the SUV they were traveling in ran a stop sign. Failure to see the sign at the intersection caused the vehicle to slam into a westbound car. The collision sent the SUV off the road, eventually slamming into two parked cars before being crushed by a tree.

The victims were rushed to a nearby hospital. The 17-year old girl was pronounced dead shortly after; her sister remains hospitalized. Three others were injured, and they remain in the hospital from guarded to critical condition.

The crash represents the tragic consequences of failure to properly abide by traffic signs at all times. Even in the middle of the night, it takes only one driving mistake to lead to a deadly collision. The cause of this particular miscalculation may never be known. However, statistics show that it is always dangerous for several teens to drive in the same car—they are more prone to distraction.

Continue reading " Failure to Stop Caused Deadly Chicago Car Accident " »

The Chicago Tribune wrote this week on an undercover squad car that ran into a fire hydrant, injuring both officers inside.

The car accident occurred on Monday night in the Little Village neighborhood. The car was not involved in a chase or any official traffic stops. But shortly before 8 p.m. on the 2400 block of St. Louis Avenue, the unmarked car slipped off the road and into a hydrant near the intersection. Fortunately, the air bags deployed on both the driver and passenger’s side, saving the officers from more severe injuries.

Investigations following the crash reveal that it was likely induced by the weather. Sleet had fallen that night, and ice was developing on certain areas of the road. Driving conditions were hazardous for all travelers. With more snow and even colder temperatures descending on the city this weekend, the driving hazardous will remain active for the foreseeable future. All drivers should remain alert to the special dangers the cold and ice poses.

Continue reading " Chicago Squad Car Slams Into Fire Hydrant " »

CBS News reported on a tragic car accident last week that took the life of a 17-year old girl. Initial reports indicate the road and weather conditions likely caused the accident.

The young victim was the passenger in a car driven by her best friend. While traveling on a local road during the afternoon, the car hit an ice patch and spun out of control. The errant car spiraled into oncoming traffic. The driver was injured and the 17 year old passenger was killed in the wreck.

The girl’s mother suggests that the county should have done a better job treating the roads. She explains, “Yes, it definitely could have been prevented. I blame the state. I blame the county. They needed to make the roads safer for the public.”

Spokesmen for the country claimed that the roads were treated more than once in the usual manner to ensure their safety. They are investigating to determine if more should have been done.

With the winter in full swing in our city, new challenges will 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.

Continue reading " Icy Roads Lead to Deadly Crash, Teen Killed " »

The Daily Herald reported last week on a train accident that struck on the city’s west side. The incident involved an outbound Union Pacific-West line train that struck a pedestrian on the tracks.

The crash occurred shortly before 7 a.m. on Friday morning by the Kedzie Metra station near Cicero and Lake. Few details on the train crash are available, except that one pedestrian was killed in the accident. Metra trains were delayed for hours following the crash. Investigators are still working to determine exactly what happened.

It is imperative that extra precautions be taken by all travelers around these intersections. There are several areas in the city where drivers and walkers often take unnecessary risks. For cars, one of the most common risks involve stopping on the tracks instead of always allowing the gap to remain when traffic builds up across the intersection. The consequences of collision are too high to justify taking any chances with that conduct.

Continue reading " Fatal Train Accident with Pedestrian Shuts Down Metra Lines " »

The Chicago Tribune wrote yesterday on a morning car crash on the I-290 expressway that took the life of a driver.

Early Friday morning, around 3:35 a.m., the victim was driving westbound of the highway nearing the Thorndale exit. Without notice, the victim’s car was rear-ended by a second car traveling behind. The collision caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. It spun off the road, careen through a ditch, and eventually slam into the side of a tree. The driver was killed by the impact of the car on the tree. The driver of the second car which caused the accident was not hurt in the incident.

Police are still investigating. It is unclear if weather conditions, speeding, distraction, or something else led to the deadly incident.

Continue reading " Chicagoan Killed in Car Crash on Eisenhower " »

When car manufacturers unveil new safety features on vehicles they are often only available on the most expensive lines of cars. That means they remain out of reach for the normal driver and family. However, experts are noticing that the trend is finally changing. Tampa Bay Consumer Online wrote today about the advanced car safety features that are now making their way into most lower-priced cars.

The new safety features are being added to cars to attract new buyers in the midst of the still potent automobile downturn. With a recent series of car recalls, manufacturers are also attempting to regain trust with the average driver.

Some of the new features include traction and stability control. When installed the device detects when a wheel slips, allowing for automatic compensation to the other wheels. Many experts believe this should be a mandatory technology as it helps avoid slips, spinouts, and rollovers.

Cameras are also becoming common on many vehicles. These devices connect to the dashboard to provide views of everything that is happening around the car—attempting to eliminate all blind spots. Back-up cameras and warning systems are particularly popular. They may help avoid hitting an unseen child behind the car or bumping into a vehicle while getting out of a parking spot.

Continue reading " New Car Safety Features Becoming Available to More Drivers " »

A 25-year old Chicago man died early yesterday morning in a car crash according to reports in the Chicago Tribune.

The fatal accident occurred on the corner of South Indiana Ave. and East 69th Street. Around 2 a.m. a police SUV cruiser was traveling down Indiana Ave. with its emergency lights activated. The officers were responding to a south side call. The victim was heading down 69th street with two passengers in the car. The driver ran the red light in front of him and his vehicle collided with the police car before slamming into a pole.

The driver was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. His two passengers remain in critical condition. The driver leaves behind many children. The victim’s family remains confused about the cause of the crash. They have voiced a hope that an investigation will reveal more about the events that led up to the deadly collision.

An aunt explained, “We are just looking for the truth. We need some answers.”

Continue reading " Chicago Man Dies After Car Crashes Into Police SUV " »

NBC Chicago News reported last week on a car accident that left two high school students injured.

According to police the accident occurred around lunchtime near the Lane Tech campus at the corner of Addison and Western. A 61-year old driver was at the intersection when he apparently “blacked out” while behind the wheel. As a result the car left the road and hit two high school girls who were walking nearby. After that the car careened into the side of a sandwich shop. Investigators believe that it is fortunate that more students were not harmed by the out of control vehicle.

One of the injured girls suffered a broken ankle while the other suffered a series of less serious injuries. Both were in the hospital for a short while but have been released. The negligent driver was cited by the police for this driving.

Continue reading " Chicago Student Hit By Car Near School " »

My Fox News is reporting on a strange new Chicago car crash lawsuit filed in the wake of a deadly car accident early last year.

The 20-year old victim died on News Years Eve 2009 following a single car accident in suburban Cook County. She was in the vehicle with her boyfriend who was driving. The male driver had consumed too much alcohol before getting into the car. His blood alcohol level was over two times the legal limit as he carried the couple on the suburban roads.

Unfortunately, the intoxicated driver eventually lost control of the vehicle. The car careened into a pole on the side of the road before rolling into a ditch. The young female passenger died, but her boyfriend survived the crash. The driver is now awaiting trial on charges of reckless homicide and driving under the influence.

The recently filed lawsuit, however, names the Cook County Sheriff’s Department as plaintiffs for the manner in which they conducted an investigation into the crash. According to the suit, several officers stripped the deceased victim completely naked on the side of the road and took pictures of the body. The suit claims this was done in view on onlookers and against all protocols.

The Department denies the allegations, claiming that they had “never before heard of the bizarre scenario this lawsuit describes.”

Continue reading " Chicago Car Accident Lawsuit Accuses Police of Improper Investigation " »

The Chicago Tribune reported late last month on the settlement of a well-know car crash lawsuit.

The lawsuit stemmed from a bizarre (and infamous) accident involving an off-duty highway patrol officer, his wife, 13-year old daughter, and brother. The four travelers were on a highway last August in a loaned Lexus ES 350. Strangely the vehicle began to pick up speed and the driver was unable to slow the car down. The vehicle reached speeds of up to 120 miles per hour.

One of the men in the car called 911 as the problem continued, hoping to get assistance. No help came, however, and the car eventually hit another vehicle before slamming into a ravine. All four people in the car were killed as a result of the accident.

A lawsuit filed against Toyota was settled shortly after the incident. The settlement documents were unsealed recently, revealing that the car-maker paid $10 million to the family of the victims.

Investigations after the crash revealed troubling information about Toyota accelerator problems. Specifically, the driver’s side doormat was found to have trapped the accelerator pedal, making it impossible for the car to stop. The company eventually recalled over 5.4 million cars over concerns about the problem. Later examination revealed that as many as 93 people may have been killed because of the error. The company was fined a record $16.4 million by the federal government for their failure to initiate a recall in a timely manner.

Continue reading " Car Maker Pays $10 Million Settlement Following Deadly Crash " »

Car travelers have many different obstacles of which to be aware when using local roads. From other cars and pedestrians to semi-trailers and bicyclists, our roadways remain bustling areas of intersection that pose constant risks. One of those risks that is often underappreciated is that posed by speeding trains at railroad-road crossings. The danger remains potent for those in cars any time they travel near railroad tracks.

Day after day more travelers are hurt or killed in run-ins with speeding trains. The Chicago Tribune reported on another train accident near our city late last week. Witnesses report that the driver of a westbound car was at a crossing on 97th Street and Eggleston Avenue around 6:40 p.m. A train that had left Union Station shortly before was headed south toward the intersection. The crossing gate was lowered, blocking traffic from the on-coming train.

However, for reasons that will likely never be fully known, the young driver attempted to drive around the warning gate. The car was struck by the speeding train. Emergency responders rushed to the scene. A 20-year old female passenger was pronounced dead shortly after while the male driver was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

Continue reading " One Dead after Chicago Amtrak Train Hits Car " »

My Suburban Life reported this week on a few issues that may affect all drivers on Illinois roads this New Years’ holiday. The Illinois State Police plan on providing a strong showing of troopers on the roads during the holiday to ensure that all drivers are secure and abiding by safe driving practices.

The Department is deploying Alcohol Concentration Enforcement details for the holiday weekend, which is intended to provide even more disincentive for drinking and driving. There will also be several roadside safety checks, and new details concentrating on distracted driving. Those distracted driving forces will be watching for cell phone calls and texting while driving. On top of all of that, even more troopers will be focused on seat belt compliance, traveling too closely, and improper lane usage.

In addition, the Illinois Secretary of State issued a statement urging all drivers to be extra safe this holiday weekend. Jesse White explains, “Please don’t drink and drive and remember to buckle your safety belt—it’s your best defense against a drunk driver. If your celebrations for 2011 include drinking, designate a sober driver or use public transportation.”

Continue reading " Illinois State Police to Provide Close Supervision of Roads During New Years " »