Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Chicago Breaking News reported last week on new developments in the investigation into a tragic car accident on the Stevenson Expressway.

The Chicago car crash struck on the Stevenson near the Damen exit. The negligent driver, later discovered to be drunk, drifted while in his car and cross onto the shoulder. While driving out of his lane the man’s vehicle slamming into the victim who was standing out of his disabled vehicle. The reckless driver did not stop to provide any aid or determine the consequences of the crash. The man kept driving and his whereabouts were initially unknown

The victim was rushed to a local hospital in serious condition. Later that evening he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the medical facility.

Eventually police caught up with the negligent driver. His blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit when tested after his arrest. The driver admitted that he had been drinking before getting into the vehicle. On at least three different occasions in the past the man has been convicted on DUI charges—being released from aggravated DUI probation only last year.

Continue reading " Deadly Chicago Car Crash Caused By Drunk Driver " »

We have frequently posted to the blog various accidents that kill or injure local citizens on our roadways each day. Far too many of those Illinois car crashes involve drunk drivers. It takes no more explanation for all to understand the extreme risk taken by those who get behind the wheel after drinking.

The Belleville News Democrat recently reported on one Illinois drunk driving victim who recently learned that the drunk driver who nearly killed him has been found. The victim is still recovering from the accident from May of 2009 on the Martin Luther King Bridge in Belleville. On his way home across the bridge, the victim’s car was smashed head-on by a drunk driver in a pickup. The reckless traveler had just left a local bar before getting in his vehicle, crossing the center line, and slamming into the innocent victim. It was lucky that the collision did not send crash didn’t cause either vehicle to careen off the bridge. The innocent victim was in a coma for over a month

Following the accident, the victim filed an Illinois car accident lawsuit against the tavern owners who had carelessly let the drunk driver leave in his vehicle. The dram shop act allows this sort of lawsuit to hold the bar owners accountable for the often deadly effects that their over-serving has on nearby roadways.

The negligent driver in this case fled the area following the accident. This driver’s fleeing made it difficult to continue with the lawsuit, because the man was needed to testify. However, he was recently found in a St. Louis jail—he had been arrested on rape charges. He can now testify in the Illinois drunk driving lawsuit regarding his actions before the deadly crash.

Continue reading " Illinois Drunk Driving Victim Comforted After Reckless Driver Caught " »

A Chicago area-family is in mourning today after a 16 year old teen was killed in a car accident in Joliet.

Police are still investigated the details of the Chicago car crash. However, initial reports indicate that the teen was driving north of Route 59 shortly before 7 p.m. on Sunday evening. For reasons yet unknown, the boy’s vehicle left the road, struck multiple objects in the car’s path and eventually came to a rest in a residential back yard.

Emergency responders were on the scene quickly, but there was nothing to be done. The officials reported the young man dead at the scene—caused by head and brain injuries sustained in the wreck. A complete investigation is currently underway to better understand was lead to these devastating crash.

When a child dies in these accidents, the effects are felt throughout an entire community. For many friends of the young victim, this may represent the first time that they have had to come to grips with the loss of someone close to them. It is a traumatic experience for so many, and a reminder of the continued need to take all steps possible to avoid future catastrophes.

Continue reading " Teen Killed in Deadly Chicago Car Crash " »

The Pekin Times reported last week on the finding of a coroner’s inquest jury following a deadly car accident that killed two area teens. According to the jury, while the teen driver had taken a pair of unnatural substances before the crash, the icy roads were the main cause of the Illinois car crash. The jury left open the possibility that a lack of safety rails at the site increased the seriousness of the injuries.

The incident occurred on I-74, where the driver and two teenage passengers were traveling in the westbound lanes early one morning in late January. At mile marker 125 tire track analysis reveal that the car veered into the median—it was a point in the highway where the road veers slightly right. Another vehicle was headed eastbound. The second vehicle was able to swerve out of the way, but not before causing the teen to lose control of his car. The out-of-control car clipped the end of a semi and then crashed into a school bus traveling in the same direction.

The inquest jury met to hear the information about the case and make an official determination as to the cause of death. Toxicology results reported that the teen driver had ingested marijuana and amphetamines hours before the crash. The jury determined that the main culprit in the accident was not the drug use, but the icy road conditions. Several other accidents occurred on nearby roadways around the same time as drivers struggled to handle the dangerous weather conditions.

Also at issue was the lack of guardrails present at the accident site. In the last three years, a total of five people have now died at the exact spot in the highway where the two teens were killed. The inquest jury decided to leave the question open as to whether the lack of guardrail was a main factor in the deadly crash. Illinois Department of Transportation officials are examining the issues to determine if safety changes need to be made.

Continue reading " Ice, Drugs, and No Guard Rails Factored Into Deadly Illinois Car Crash " »

The Northbrook Patch reported yesterday on a car crash involving several local teens on a major Illinois expressway. The Chicago car accident occurred on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) late Tuesday afternoon.

Shortly before 5:30 p.m. near the Willow Road exit, the car carrying five area teens was moving at high speeds on the interstate. Police estimate that the vehicle was traveling in excess of 80 miles per hour when the young driver lost control of the wheel. The vehicle flipped over in the confusion, sliding into a ditch, and coming to a stop on the side of the road against a tree.

The five teens all suffered injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals. Fortunately, emergency responders do not believe that any of the injuries were life-threatening. No other cars were involved in the crash. The driver was issued several citations for the actions that led up to the crash.

Unfortunately, speeding, risky lane changes, and distracted driving remain a prevalent problem with many teen drivers. As studies have frequently demonstrated, this is especially true when young drivers are in a vehicle with their friends. It is vital that steps be taken to curb these risks and ultimately save young lives.

Continue reading " Five Teens Injured in Chicago Car Accident " »

In many ways improving road safety revolves around actions 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.

Unfortunately drivers are killed every day because of their failure to wear the appropriate safety devices. For example, KAIT 8 News reported on an Illinois car accident last week that took the life of a 78-year old woman.

The victim was traveling on US highway 63, near the Illinois-Missouri border, when her car ran off the road. The vehicle flew down an embankment on the side of the highway, hit a culvert, flipped into the air, and landed upside-down. The woman was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident and died as a result of her injuries.

Continue reading " Illinois Woman Killed in Single Car Accident " »

ABC News reported late last week on a car accident that sent seven people to the hospital in critical condition.

The early morning Chicago car accident struck on the city’s near west side on Thurday. Around the United Center an SUV carrying several passengers was traveling down a one-way street in the 1800 block of West Warren Boulevard. Unexpectedly, the SUV was slammed head-on by another SUV that was traveling the wrong way down the road.

The impact caused substantial damage. Seven people were rushed to local hospitals, all in critical condition. One of the victims was a newborn baby—literally born the day before and on her first ride from the hospital. Police ticketed the negligent driver of the SUV headed in the wrong direction.

The shocking circumstances of the car crash symbolize the sad reality that even the most careful drivers are not completely safe while on the road. Rarely will someone come upon a driver so negligent that they drive head-on into oncoming traffic. However, virtually everyone will share the road with drivers who go too fast for conditions, become distracted while on the phone, or make risky lane changes in an effort to save a few seconds.

There is only so much care that a single driver can take to avoid deadly car accidents, because no one can control the negligent drivers around them. All it takes is being in the wrong place at the wrong time and a risky fellow driver may cause untold destruction.

Continue reading " Chicago Car Crash Critically Injures Seven, Including One Infant " »

Another impaired driver unwisely sat behind the wheel this weekend, leading to a deadly car accident that took the lives of two young women.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times the deadly Chicago car crash occurred on Sunday afternoon. A 23-year old man was driving his four-door Chevrolet around noon with two female passengers. Witnesses report that the driver had just come over a hill in the road when the vehicle began spinning out of control.

The erratic car had apparently hit an ice patch. It eventually spun off the concrete and into a tree on the side of the road. One of the female passengers was ejected from the car following the impact; she was pronounced dead at the scene. The second passenger survived the initial crash and was rushed to a nearby hospital. Unfortunately her injuries ultimately proved too severe, and she died shortly after.

Police initially determined the accident to have been completely weather-related. However further investigation revealed that the driver’s impairment also factored into the crash. The male driver was ticked for driving under the influence of cannabis.

Continue reading " Chicago-Area DUI Crash Kills Two Women " »

A local man is dead following a Chicago car crash that struck early yesterday morning near the United Center.

According to Pioneer Local News, the car accident occurred around 2:50 am on Monday morning. The driver was traveling southbound in a Jeep on Wolcott Avenue. The man mistakenly missed a stop sign at the intersection of Wolcott and Washington Boulevard. As a result, the Jeep was hit on the side by a Toyota Prius that was rightfully traveling through the intersection.

The impact sent the Jeep barreling over, and the driver exited the vehicle through the sun-roof. Unfortunately, the victim suffered massive head injuries as a result of the collision. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. The driver and passenger of the Prius suffered injuries and were taken to a local hospital.

While investigations are pending, authorities initially indicate that alcohol may have factored into the Jeep driver’s failure to stop at the appropriate time.

Continue reading " Chicago Car Accident Claims Life of Area Man " »

The weather remains one of the most potent causes of truck accidents. This weekend’s strange mix of snow, rain, and freezing conditions has posed unique hazards of which all drivers should be aware. ABC Local News is already reporting on several car accidents that have plagued motorists throughout the area.

Overall, the Illinois Department of Transportation sent out more than 170 salt trucks in heavily traveled areas to improve the icy road conditions. However, there is only so much that those trucks can do to improve road safety. The responsibility for safe driving while on the road remains with the men and women behind the wheels of their cars and trucks.

According to reports, several Chicago car accidents have occurred on roadways across the region. Slick streets in Suburban Skokie have been blamed for a collision between two vehicles there. Also, three-cars collided on Lake Shore Drive due to icy patches on that highway. The Drive was shut down between Division and North Avenue for an extended period following that crash.

Reports of the dangerous weather conditions should make all drivers take caution, especially those operating large semi-trailers and trucks. Each driver has the responsibility to account for the dangerous roadways in front of them. If you or someone you know is injured in an accident caused by another driver’s failure to take safety measures in bad weather, be sure to consider if a car accident lawsuit is an appropriate next step.

Continue reading " Icy Roads Cause Dangerous Chicago Car Accidents " »

Last month the Chicago Tribune shared the story of a woman killed in a deadly car crash after the car she was traveling in was hit head-on by a drunk driver on Illinois Highway 394.

The accident occurred early last month on the Bishop Ford Freeway. The negligent driver was a Lynwood village official. He was so impaired by alcohol that he ultimately drove his car onto the highway headed in the wrong direction. The victim was a passenger in a car headed south on the highway. Eventually the drunk driver’s vehicle collided with the oncoming car.

The victim died at the scene, and there were several other injuries. The negligent driver was injured as was the driver of the car carrying the deceased victim. The family of the victim has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver and the city of Lynwood—the driver was in a city owned vehicle at the time.

Drunk driver remains a problem of troubling proportions. The statistics are always sobering. Last year over 250 Illinoisans were killed in alcohol-related crashes. Nationwide around 11,000 people die yearly because of drunk drivers. Over 1/3 of all car crashes have alcohol-impaired driving as a cause.

Continue reading " Illinois Wrongful Death Caused By Drunk Driver " »

Many Illinois community members are mourning the death of a young girl following a tragic car accident that took her life in Arizona this weekend. WHBF News reported on the details of this tragic story.

The 11-year old child was traveling in her family’s Honda near a local mall when the accident occurred. Reports indicate that the car crash was caused by a negligent driver. The family’s vehicle was rear-ended by a car that had just run a red light at high speed.

The impact caused severe damage to the vehicle and shocking injury to all inside. The young girl’s 15 year old brother remains in a coma and the family’ mother is in a critical condition at a local hospital. Obviously this car accident has wrecked unbelievable devastation on this family and their loved ones.

When a child dies in these accidents, the effects are felt throughout an entire community. For many friends of the young girl, this may represent the first time that they have had to come to grips with the loss of someone close to them. It is a traumatic experience for so many, and a reminder of the continued need to take all steps possible to avoid future catastrophes.

Continue reading " 11-Year Old Illinois Car Accident Victim Killed By Negligent Driver " »