Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog

One local family suffered a tremendous loss this weekend as two brothers were killed in a Chicago car accident involving three vehicles. ABC News has the story of the deadly Maywood crash.

According to police reports the crash may have been caused by road rage. Information is limited but the accident apparently began when the relatives in a white Toyota began speeding and traveling south in the northbound lanes of 9th Avenue. While headed the wrong way down the street the vehicle collided head-on with a Nissan carrying a man, woman, and their young child. The impact sent the Toyota into the air where in landed on the car traveling behind the Nissan.

The two brothers in the Toyota were killed in the accident, and the baby in the Nissan was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. Initially it was suspected that the child would be fine, but her injuries have worsened over the past few days and doctors remain unsure about her prognosis.

Police initially claimed that the accident may have been spurred by a confrontation that the brothers had with another vehicle not involved in the accident. This confrontation may have sparked the driving patterns of the Toyota which led to the accident. However, the authorities have yet to release any more information about the potential cause of the accident, and they continue to investigate to determine what actually happened.

Continue reading " Weekend Chicago Car Accident Claims Life of Two Brothers " »

A continuous theme of so many Illinois car accidents is that way that so many crashes or initial problems on the roadway lead to secondary incidents that are often even more damaging than the first. On highways and other high speed roads especially, drivers often get lulled into a sense of security. In that way their reaction times are weakened and they become more susceptible to causing an accident when they encounter stalled traffic or obstacles on the road.

For example, the Chicago Tribune reported last week on an Illinois woman who was killed after she had stopped her car to assist another ailing motorist. According to reports the 43-year old victim was traveling at night along U.S. 51 between Carbondale and DeSoto when she saw that another driven had driven into a ditch on the side of the road.

The victim was a nurse, and so she pulled her own car over and got out of her vehicle in an attempt to see if the disabled driver was in need of any help. However, just as she stepped on the highway and began walking toward the other driver, she was struck by another car on the highway. Emergency workers rushed to the scene but little could be done, and the woman ultimately died from her injuries.

This tragic accident is indicative of the all-too-common and deadly risks that always exist when a motorist steps out of their vehicle on a high-speed roadway. Investigations are still underway to determine exactly what led to this deadly incident, including where the impact actually occurred, the speed and attention of the driver, among a variety of other factors.

Continue reading " Woman Killed on Highway While Helping Disabled Motorist " »

There are many good reasons why traffic laws near schools and parks are often different from those in other parts of the city. As far too many suffering families know, a Chicago car accident that occurs near a ones of these areas often involves injury to some of our most vulnerable community members—our children. Young kids especially are less familiar with the norms of the road and therefore often fail to act as carefully as necessary when near traffic. The immaturity of young children necessitates the drivers remain particular vigilant when traveling near areas like schools and parks.

Unfortunately, even with added precautions, damaging accidents still strike in these locations.. ABC Local News reported today on just such an accident that struck on the city’s far south side yesterday morning. According to reports an area second-grader was hit after being dropped off in front of his elementary school. Witnesses report that a white vehicle ran into the child, sending him into the air and landing on the road.

Others in the area immediately called for help, and the child was rushed to a local hospital. He suffered severe head trauma, including bleeding on the brain. The driver of the vehicle that hit the child sped off after the accident. Police are still on the lookout for the driver and all involved are encouraging the individual to turn themselves in to authorities.

Continue reading " Chicago Hit & Run Accident Severely Injures 8-Year Old Student " »

A tragic Chicago car crash struck early Sunday morning as two members of a nighttime cleaning crew were killed on the city’s northwest side. According to reports in the Chicago Tribune, the victims were two 57-year old Streamwood residents who were returning home from work when their car was blindsided in the intersection of Diversey and Kostner avenues. The impact sent their car into the wall of a check-cashing store nearby. They were rushed to a nearby hospital, but there was little that medical personnel could do. Both died from their injuries.

Investigations into the accident have shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision. The car that ran a red-light and slammed into the victims’ car was apparently being chased by a third vehicle. The driver of the car that ran the red light reported that he was stopped at a red light at Fullerton and Keeler Avenue when a car pulled up beside them. Passengers in that car apparently started yelling gang slogans and then fired at least one shot at the car.

The surprising appearance of the vehicle caused the driver to run the red light and attempt to speed away. The second car pursed the first and a chase ensued. It was during that chase that the vehicle ran a second red light and smashed into the two unsuspecting victims.

Continue reading " Gang Activity May Be Cause of Fatal Chicago Car Accident " »

The Chicago Sun-Times reported on a frightening area car accident that involving a city worker and several pedestrians. The Chicago car crash struck on Saturday afternoon in the Gold Coast a little after 12 p.m.

According to reports a Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation worker was driving north in a city-owned vehicle on State street when he lost control of the vehicle near the three-way intersection at Rush and Cedar streets. The pick-up truck in which he was traveling veered off the road on to sidewalk and collided with several pedestrians who were nearby—a child, her caretaker, and models in a wedding photo shoot were some of the victims.

Police remain unclear what caused the man to lose control of the vehicle. Witnesses to the accident explained that the driver appeared “very disoriented” after the crash, and police appeared to perform a field sobriety test on the man. It remains unclear whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident.

Several individuals were injured in the accident, some of them critically. In total six people were hit, with police reporting that two of them were in critical condition. A two-year old was injured, but she is expected to survive the accident. Her caretaker was one of the two critically injured pedestrians. The other critically injured man was the photographer from the photo shoot.

Continue reading " Chicago Worker Loses Control of Car, Hits Several Pedestrians " »

Blog readers know that many Chicago car accident lawsuits are filed by the surviving family members of those who have been killed in a crash. Just as third-parties are often capable of suing on behalf of their loved ones, the specific entities that may be named as defendants in those suits are often much more varied that some suspect possible. In the end, the law is flexible in that it seeks to hold all negligent parties responsible for their actions which cause harm to others.

For example, the Chicago Tribune reported on Friday of a new wrongful death lawsuit that has been filed against the Chicago-based beverage company which produces a drink known as Four Loco. The family of a 15-year old Washington D.C. teen filed the suit against Phusion Projects—the maker of the drink—following the death of their son in a road accident last September.

The drink contains a very high amount of alcohol combined with caffeine, creating a potent mix for many drinkers. The victim in this case drank two of the beverages at a tailgating event for a concert. After returning home the teen became disoriented and was struck by a car on a highway near his house. He died the following day from his injuries.

The suit claims that the company was careless in creating the product which they report “desensitizes users to the symptoms of intoxication and increases the potential for alcohol-related harm.” The plaintiffs are also claiming that the drinks are marketed to college-age and underage individuals, increasing the risk of abuse.

Continue reading " Chicago Drink Manufacturer Named in Car Crash Wrongful Death Lawsuit " »

On this blog we often discuss the damaging effects of Illinois car crashes. Of course the costliest consequences of these accidents are the personal injuries and deaths that remain far too prevalent a problem. The problem is most prevalent for teen drivers in particular as these crashes continue to be the one of the leading causes of death for young community members. Each year more than 30,000 people lose their lives in vehicle crashes across the country.

There are many ways to calculate the losses from these accidents. As reported in Morning Call this week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released information that shares the monetary cost of car accidents in medical and work losses alone. In total, the consequences of these accidents in those two measures amount to $41 billion nationwide.

Illinois suffers more losses from these accident than many other locations, as it is in the 10 states with the most medical and work losses. The data shows that the state loses $1.32 billion each year because of these car and trucking accidents. Medical costs are seemingly self-explanatory. The work loss information includes analysis of victim salaries, fringe benefits of household work, and expected loss of earnings.

Continue reading " llinois Car Accidents Costs Over $1 Billion Annually " »

Local law enforcement officials are always considering different ways to make our roadways safer. While deaths on highways and byways have decreased in the long-term, the total number of victims from these Chicago car accidents is far too high to ignore. State lawmakers often try to tackle the problem by passing new regulations which address various aspects of road safety, from seat-belt laws to distracted driving bans. However, those laws do not have the desired effect unless motorists are held accountable when they fail to follow the law.

That is at the root of an annual initiative conducting by over a dozen law enforcement agencies targeting road safety. The Naperville Sun reported on the cooperative road safety effort that took place on May 9th along a 65 mile stretch of Illinois Route 59. The effort was widely publicized in the hope that motorists would pay attention and understand their conduct behind the wheel would face particularly close scrutiny in that area on that day. However, despite the publicity, it seems that this year’s enforcement totals will set a new record for the project.

The Naperville police department alone issued 182 tickets —when other agency totals are added that figure may triple. Those totals are likely to surpass the 548 citations issued in the 2009 enforcement effort.

In total, 93 of the Naperville tickets were issued for seat-belt violations, 47 for speeding, 15 for no insurance, 4 to unlicensed drivers, and the remainder for a variety of other issues. One local law enforcement official explained that he was surprised by the total: “We’d actually like for the totals to have been lower. We were hoping people would pay more attention than this.”

Continue reading " Chicagoland Traffic Safety Initiative Set to Break Record for Total Citations " »

A Chicago car accident attorney knows that typically the most damaging area accidents strike on our local highway system. The high speeds and often darting traffic is ripe for large accidents that ensnare several vehicles.

For example, the Chicago Tribune reported earlier this week on a five car accident that struck on Monday morning during rush hour. According to reports, the crash occurred shortly before 7:30 am on the eastbound Elgin-O’Hare Expressway. Apparently, a westbound car may have crossed over into the eastbound portion of the highway and directly into on-coming traffic.

Police are still piecing together what happened after that initial collision, which ultimately involved three other cars. By the time authorities arrived, one vehicle was stopped upside-down on the eastbound lane and four people were injured. Fortunately, all of the victims are expected to recover from the accident.

As this incident demonstrates, at first impression it is often difficult to determine what exactly causes certain crashes. However it is vital that full and complete investigations be conducted into the incident so that the victims are better appraised of their legal situation to help receive compensation for their losses. Depending on the circumstances a car malfunction, distracted driver, or other main factor may have been at play in this situation. Each possibility may present a different legal

It is impossible to fully understand your legal rights and responsibilities until a proper examination has been conducted into all facets of an accident. Experienced attorneys can help conduct that analysis and explain what it means in terms of the law.

Continue reading " Five Vehicle Chicago Car Accident Temporarily Closes Elgin-O’Hare Expressway " »

The arrival of warm weather means that many more outdoor activities can be enjoyed by area residents. From trips to the beach to cozy meals in outdoor cafes, Chicago is truly a wonderful city to enjoy in the summer. However, the improving weather also means that construction crews are able to work on many projects that were put on hold in the winter.

Road construction always poses new driving risks, and it is important for all area travelers to be aware of the work and prepared for the changes to their driving routine.

Late last month the Chicago Tribune published a story that summarized many of the various summer road construction projects that are set to begin onmajor area highways. Interstate 80 will be widened to three lanes in the stretch between Route 45 and Route 30. I-80 is also undergoing some resurfacing and bridge inspections over the summer. U.S. Route 30 is itself being widened to three lanes on an 8.5 mile stretch near Mokena and New Lennox. Various other areas roads will also see improvements.

The start of these construction projects mean that traffic is going to build up in many different areas across Chicagoland. Closed lanes and reduced speeds are required for the projects to be completed. However those lane mergers and slow-down areas remain real risk spots for Chicago car accidents. It is important for all drivers to become accustomed to the change areas and remain on the lookout for other drivers who may not be so careful in the construction zones.

Continue reading " Be Sure to Drive Safely In the Chicago-Area Summer Construction Season " »

Seven Chicagoans were injured last weekend in a two car accident in Park Ridge. Journal & Topics News reported a string of stories on the Chicago car crash.

The bizarre accident struck on Thursday night. One of the drivers explains that a small green car began chasing his vehicle around 11:15 p.m. while he was traveling on Irving Park Road and Austin Boulevard in Chicago. The driver explains that those in the car were flashing what appeared to be gang signs along with a silver handgun.

Apparently the Audi driver attempted to get away, only to be pursued all the way into the Park Ridge intersection of Dee and Oakton streets. The two cars approached the intersection where a red light was before them. However, the Audi driver claims that he knowingly ran through it to avoid stopping next to the other car. While running the light, the car broadsided a minivan that was rightfully traveling through the intersection.

Witnesses report that the green car then intentionally rammed the Audi, with the occupants getting out and yelling to one other to shoot the Audi passengers. Those passengers apparently fled on foot before the confrontation. All told, seven people in the minivan and Audi were injured in the crash. Fortunately, none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening. Police are still investigating the claims, but they did cite the Audi driver for speeding, running the red light, and driving without insurance.

This bizarre car accident is a testament to the unpredictability that exists on roadways throughout the city. The minivan driver in that situation could have never known that an errant car would come careening through the intersection at that moment.

Continue reading " Road Rage May Have Caused Chicago Car Accident that Injured Seven " »

My Fox Chicago reported on Friday of a car crash involving a CTA bus. The Chicago car accident occurred in the early morning, around 3:15 a.m. at the downtown intersection of Washington and Clark streets.

A CTA spokesman explained that the bus and car were traveling in the same direction, eastbound on Washington as it approached Clark Ave. Without reason the car apparently tried to make a right hand turn onto Clark in front of the bus. The bus was unable to stop to avoid colliding with the car. As a result of the collision, three people on the city transportation vehicle were taken to the hospital with injuries. Those victims are apparently in good condition and are expected to make a full recovery. It is unclear if the driver of the car was injured.

No traffic citations have yet been issued, but a CTA spokesman explained that she expected some tickets to be issued by local law enforcement.

Just like a truck, large buses have the capacity to cause immense damage when they are involved in road accidents. In fact, when caught in accidents public transportation vehicles often involve tremendous damages because of the amount of people aboard the machines. Of particular concern is the fact that many passengers aboard transit vehicles are not properly secured. All Chicago commuters know that sometimes one is lucky only to get a seat at all and seatbelts are always non-existent. For that reason, it is vital that all public transit drivers (and all those who drive near CTA vehicles) to exercise as much care as possible.

Continue reading " CTA Bus Crash Injures Several Passengers " »

The Chicago Sun-Times reported today on a tragic Streeterville bus crash that took the life of a pedestrian. According to reports, a 47 year old man was behind the wheel of a tour bus in Streeterville when he attempted to make a right turn onto North Columbus Avenue. Unfortunately, a pedestrian was crossing the street at the time and was struck by the large vehicle. The 26 year old female bus crash victim had taken four to five steps from the curb when she was hit. She lived in the area and was only blocks from her home. Paramedics tried to save the victim, but nothing could be done.

The bus driver told authorities that he did not see the victim as he tried to make the turn. Later the man was tested and it was discovered that he was under the influence of cocaine while behind the wheel.

Further investigations revealed many other indicators about the man’s past which should have raised a multitude of red flags for the tour bus company that hired him six months earlier to drive the bus. Since 1988 the man has been ticked roughly 20 times for various traffic crimes. In addition, following the accident it was discovered that he was wanted for sexual assault of children. Two girls were apparently molested by the man when they were 6 and 7 years old in 2006 and 2007. The driver had previously spent time in prison for aggravated criminal sexual assault in 1992.

Tragic deaths in Chicago truck crashes remain far too prevalent an occurrence. It is particularly egregious when the negligent drivers of these large machines are under the influence of substances like drugs and alcohol. For example, just last October our attorneys at Levin & Perconti earned a record $6.5 million Illinois truck crash settlement for the surviving family of a woman who was killed when a truck driver rear-ended the family’s vehicle. The driver was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the accident. In that case the truck owners did not perform drug tests on their employees nor did they perform background checks or obtain driving records.

Continue reading " Criminal Charges Filed in Chicago Car Accident that Killed Woman in Streeterville " »

Chicago car accidents lawyers and drivers are well aware that there remain certain sections of our city’s roadways that are more difficult to navigate than others. Many intersections involve three or four roads converging at various angles making it extremely difficult and confusing for drivers to sort through. As a result, many drivers find themselves injured in crashes, often caused by fellow travelers who make mistakes when trying to get through the busy and dangerous intersections.

Fortunately, steps may be taken soon to fix one of those particularly challenging intersections. The Roscoe View Journal reported last week on a proposed re-route of Elston Avenue by the Chicago Department of Transportation. The changes would occur at the Damen-Elston-Fullerton intersection on the western edge of Lincoln Park. The main goal of the remap would be to divert Elston around the current intersection only to return to its regular path further north.

If completed the troublesome six-corner intersection would be reverted to a more manageable four corner intersection. The proposal is seen as more effective than other options (like building an overpass), because it would only take one year to complete instead of several.

The local alderman has cited safety concerns and traffic delays as the main motivation for the project. The area has consistently ranked in the top 10 intersection for Chicago car accidents—one year ranking as the second most dangerous intersection in the city. There were over 90 crashes at this intersection last year alone—reaching an unacceptable average of two per week.

Continue reading " New Construction Plan Could Relieve Accident Prone Chicago Intersection " »

A recall was recently announced that may affect vehicles currently used by area drivers. A Chicago car accident attorney knows well that the ultimate causes of many car crashes is traced back to problems with the design and manufacture of the vehicle itself. That is why when these recalls are announced it is vital that the dangerous machines be taken off the road and fixed as soon as possible.

This latest car recall was announced by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and includes over 58,000 Kia Spectra sedans from 2004-2007. The Associated Press reports that problems have been found with the straps that hold the fuel tank. Those straps are at risk of corroding. The corrosion is often caused by the road salt that is used during inclement weather. The salt enters the car, attaches to the straps, and causes their deterioration. When that occurs, the fuel tank may fall from the vehicle, hit the ground, and leak dangerously. Leaking fuel is an obvious and dangerous problem.

The recall effects cars sold and registered in several states, including Illinois. In June, all those who own these cars can go to a dealer to eliminate the problem. The straps are replaced by new hardware that is zinc-coated and resistant to corrosion.

Continue reading " Illinois Car Accident Lawyer Shares Information About Vehicle Recall " »