Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog

A fatal car accident occurred in the early morning hours of July 30th in which three women were killed. The accident appears to have only involved one vehicle and occurred when the car seems to have been traveling at excessive speeds and then the driver lost control and crashed into a light pole. The car then caught on fire and all three of the women inside the car died. According to the Examiner, the accident is still under investigation but at this time there is no evidence that another car was involved in the fatal accident. Witnesses and police confirm that the car burst into flames as soon as it hit the light pole and there was nothing that could have been done to save the women involved in the accident. To read more about this tragic Chicago car accident, please click on this hyperlink.

This accident shows how dangerous driving at excessive speeds can be. If a car is traveling very fast and crashes into anything, there is a very high likelihood that the car may catch on fire instantly. Illinois accident attorneys ask all drivers to remember this and to never drive at speeds over the speed limit. Aside from how serious an accident can be when traveling at these speeds, it is also much easier to lose control of your car when going this fast. This appears to have been what happened here and the excessive speed at which the car was traveling is likely what led to the car accident.

Two women were killed in a fatal train accident that occurred on July 23rd when their car went around the crossing gates which were down at the time of the crash, crossed over the train tracks and was struck by a passing train. In addition to the two women that were in the car at the time of the accident, two other people involved in the accident suffered personal injuries as well. Both young women that were killed in the accident were killed by multiple blunt force trauma, and according to the Post-Tribune, were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Following the tragic train accident, the train which was involved in the accident was suspended indefinitely. To read more about this train accident, please click on this link.

Illinois injury attorneys remind drivers that they should never try to cross train tracks when the crossing gate are down, even if you think you have time to make it across safely. Often times trains are moving so quickly that even though you may not see it approaching, and therefore believe you have time to cross before it arrives, it is usually moving at high enough speeds that it can approach the crossing much more quickly than you may have imagined. As seen in this accident, it is difficult to judge when the train will arrive at the crossing exactly, and it is always better to be safe than sorry in these types of situation, so please always wait for the train to cross when you come across a train crossing where the gates are down.

An Illinois teen has admitted to text-messaging at the time that he struck a pedestrian in May of this year. The fatal car accident happened when a pedestrian was crossing the street, not in a crosswalk, and the teen driver failed to see him and struck him with his car, causing him to die as a result of the personal injuries that he sustained in the accident. According to News-Gazette, the teen driver has admitted that he was in fact texting at the time the accident occurred, which is likely a a major part of the reason that he did not see the man crossing the street. Shortly after the accident the teen was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and for texting while driving. At this time it is unknown whether the family of the victim will file a civil lawsuit for wrongful death against the driver or if the State will press criminal charges for vehicular manslaughter. To read more about this tragic pedestrian accident, please click on this link.

If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident, in which you believe that another person involved acted negligently, you may have grounds to file a civil lawsuit against that person seeking damages in connection with the accident. If you would like to talk to an attorney about what possible actions you have against a negligent driver, please contact an Illinois injury attorney today. This story further reminds drivers the importance of paying attention to the road at all times while driving and the dangers of taking your eyes off of the road for even one minute.

A car accident occurred on July 21st in which a Chicago cab crashed into a Chicago Loop 7-11 convenience store, resulting in seven injuries. The car accident occurred when a car sped through a red light, forcing a cab to broadside the car and then crash into the front of the 7-11 store. Luckily, the cab did not strike anyone that was inside the store at the time of the crash, but unfortunately several pedestrians involved did get injuries and four people in total had to be taken to local hospitals. According to the Chicago Sun Times, police do not suspect that the driver of the passenger car that caused the accident by running the light was under the influence of alcohol; however he was cited with disobeying traffic signals as well as driving without proper insurance. Later in the evening following the crash, the taxi cab was still lodged in the 7-11 and the store was a mess after a water pipe had burst from the cab accident. Additionally, glass from the storefront was all over the street where the accident occurred and was still being cleaned up well into the night. To read more about this Chicago cab crash, please click on this link.

This accident shows the importance of always obeying traffic lights and never trying to make it through a light that is changing to red. Even if you think you have time to make the light, you may not see another car approaching and an accident while traveling at highs speeds can cause seriously damage and destruction to the surrounding area, as well as seriously injury people that are in the area. Illinois injury attorneys remind you to always err on the side of caution and slow down for yellows and stop fully if the light will change red before you can safely cross through the intersection.

Recent studies have shown that deaths resulting from car accidents in the Chicagoland area have declined. Over the last decade certain safety measures, as well as newer vehicles designs, have lead to a decrease of about 200 fatalities a year. Over the course of a three-year span (from 2005 to 2008) traffic accidents in the seven-county region studied decreased over 30% and the overall injury rate decreased 18% in that same time period. There are several factors that the study, conducted by the Illinois Department of Transportation, cited as reasons for the reduction of crashes in the Chicagoland area. One of these factors is an overall improvement in road conditions, making the roads safer for travelers. These safety features range from adding additional and clearer lane-striping which helps cars stay in the appropriate section of the road, adding cable median barriers which are designed to stop cars in which the driver has lost control of the vehicle and keep out-of-control cars from flipping into traffic that is traveling in the other direction, and better lighting to make late-night driving safer. Another key factor, according to Chicago Breaking News, is the recent influx of safer vehicles that are designed to withstand crash damage better and are able to protect the passengers better in the event of a crash. A third factor that the study showed as a contributing factor is stricter seat belt laws being imposed in Illinois, as well as roadside checks, which often result in stopping drivers that are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Stopping these motorists before they have a chance to get into a crash, that may injure themselves or others, is very helpful in reducing the number of fatal accidents each year.

While these safety measures have led to a reduction in accidents, there is still much more to be done. There are still around 300,000 accidents in the Chicago area each year and a fatal accident occurs as frequently as once a day. The study cites certain factors that need to be worked on in order to better improve the crash statistics, such as finding a way to reduce vehicle and pedestrian accidents in downtown Chicago and finding a way to reduce late night driving accidents. In downtown Chicago about a quarter of the traffic deaths occurred in pedestrian accidents. This number is very high and requires some type of safety measure to ensure that this number goes down. At this point no new measures are in place to make pedestrians safer, but this is an area that the Illinois Department of Transportation has seen needs work and will hopefully find new measures to help reduce the number of these fatal accidents in downtown Chicago. Additionally, the study shows that the number of late-night accidents is significant, accounting for over 35% of all fatal crashes in the area. Certain factors such as impaired drivers, tired drivers, slower reaction time at night, and faster speeds traveled due to the lack of traffic at night, are believed to be the reasons that this statistic is so high. While the hope is that more seat belt laws and road checks will (and as the study shows are) cutting down on some of these late-night accidents, more work still needs to be done. Additionally, while certain areas are better lit and help improve the safety in these areas, many areas still need better lighting to help reduce the number of late-night accidents. Luckily, the Illinois Department of Transportation seems to recognize what needs work to help improve the safety of our roads and will continue to work hard to reduce the number of traffic accidents that occur each year in the Chicagoland area. To read more about this traffic accident study and the plans to further improve the statistics, please click on this link.

A fatal car accident that occurred on July 5th and left a teenage girl dead has been found to be caused by texting while driving. The teenage driver was killed after she got into an accident and her car rolled over and she was ejected from the vehicle. The police investigators found the victim's cell phone next to her body and upon opening it discovered an unfinished text message time-stamped at close to the same exact time of the crash. The victim was also not wearing her seat belt at the time the accident occurred. To read more about this teenage car crash, please click on this link.

This accident is just one of so many accidents that are caused by texting while driving. Studies have shown that text messaging while driving can be as dangerous and impairing as driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. While many drivers think that they can just quickly read or send out a message without getting too distracted from the road, this is unfortunately often not the actual case and so many people get into accidents as a result of text messaging while driving. Illinois injury attorneys remind drivers that it is illegal to send or read text messages in Illinois while driving, and that if you are driving anywhere it is never a good idea because of the inherent dangers it creates. Hopefully the anti-texting laws will create change and people will stop doing something so dangerous and that places themselves and others in such great danger.

A South-side Chicago car accident occurred on June 10th in which 6 people, 2 of which were children, suffered personal injuries. The accident occurred when a car and a sports utility vehicle crashed into each other near the West Elsdon area of Chicago. The four injured adults are at a local hospital and luckily all are either in good or fair condition. According to Chicago Breaking News, the two children suffered more serious injuries, however they do not at this time time appear to be life-threatening. At this time little information is known about the accident, but please click here to read the full article about this Chicago traffic accident.

Although, it is unknown if the children in the car were wearing seat belts, the fact that the children suffered more serious injuries than the adults demonstrates how important it is for children to always wear their seat belts, being that they are more susceptible to injury due to their size. While the general seat law in Illinois requires only that front seat passengers have to be belted, the Illinois law for children under sixteen requires that seat belts must be worn regardless of where they are seated in the car. Chicago accident attorneys remind readers that children that are small are more likely to get thrown in the event of an accident and that seat belts are what often time mean the difference between life and death in a crash. Additionally, while Illinois law allows adults traveling in the back seat to decide whether or not they want to wear a seat belt, the law acknowledges that children may not always choose to and therefore makes it a requirement that all children always wear a seat belt given the huge safety precaution that seat belts create.

Legislation was signed in Illinois on July 5th in which Governor Quinn promised to offer more protection to bicyclists that ride their bikes in Illinois. The goal of the bill is keep both bicyclists and motorists safe on Chicago roads and lead to a decrease in the number of injuries and accidents that occur each year involving bicycles. One of the main steps that will be taken to increase safety is the creation of new penalties to punish motorists that are caught driving either recklessly or too close to bikers. According to Chicago Breaking News, the hope is that creating penalties will create a deterrence to drivers to engage in this type of risky and unsafe behavior, in turn resulting in less bike-related accidents. Another change that will be made under this new piece of legislation is the creation of special "Share the Road" license plates that show the driver's support of bike safety and of which the money generated from the purchase of these plates will be used to pay for biker and driver safety educational programs. To read more about this recently signed bill that is aimed at reducing bike accidents, please click on this link.

Illinois accident attorneys remind all drivers how important it is to watch out for bikers, anytime you are driving in the city. Given the often heavy congestion of the streets in the city of Chicago, as well as the prevalence of bikers in the city, bike accidents occur far too often. While legislation of this sort is definitely a step in a positive direction in helping to ensure that both drivers and bikers remain safe, one of the best steps both drivers and bikers can take is to be alert and aware of their surroundings and not let distractions take your focus off of the road.

Illinois is one of the states that does not have a law requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets while riding. In 2008 alone, there were over 5,000 deaths across the country that were attributed to motorcycle accidents, and the number of these accidents that end in fatalities are highest when the rider is not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. According to The Pantagraph, when motorcyclists are wearing a helmet at the time of a crash they are up to 37 percent less likely to be killed as a result of injuries sustained in the bike crash. The reason that helmets are so crucial, especially with motorcycles, is that there is absolutely no cushioning or protection to keep the rider from suffering serious head and brain injury, absent a helmet. To read more about how important helmets are in a motorcycle accident, please click on this link.

The reason that it is so surprising that Illinois has not yet put a helmet law into effect is that it is clearly known how effective helmets can be at saving lives in the event of a motorcycle accident. The state of Illinois is very strict on enforcing seat belts laws for riders in cars, and a helmet law could be enforced in a similar manner for motorcyclists. Illinois accident attorneys encourage all motorcyclists to always wear a helmet, and to make sure any passenger wears a helmet, regardless whether a law is passed requiring helmet use. The law would certainly help to ensure that more people wear helmets, thereby helping to reduce the risk of serious person injury or death in a motorcycle crash.

A Chicago woman was killed when a man was trying to escape from a police car, that was trying to get him to stop his vehicle, and then struck the woman's car. This fatal accident occurred on July 3rd in Bronzeville on South King Drive shortly after the police attempted to stop a car for a routine type of traffic stop. According to The Chicago Sun Times, the driver that was being stopped refused to stop and tried to flee from the police, at which point the driver speeding off struck the woman's car. The young woman suffered such severe personal injuries that she died as a result of the accident. At this point of the investigation process the death has been ruled an accident and charges are still pending against the driver that caused the fatal car crash. To read more about this Bronzeville accident, please click on this hyperlink.

Many people get worried about getting pulled over for various reasons, ranging from not having proper documentation to not wanting to pay a fine, all of which can lead drivers to try to get away from the police when they attempt to pull them over. Many of these drivers fall to realize what serious and much more severe trouble they may get in to if they try to flee the police, and that they will almost always end up getting caught by the police in this type of situation. Illinois accident attorneys ask all drivers to always stop for a police officer when pulled over and never attempt to outrun them or to get away from the police officers. The result from fleeing the police could not only be larger fines and possibly jail time, but as seen in this terrible accident, could also place others in harms way.

Two Northwest Chicago teenage girls were killed in a fatal car accident that occurred on June 28th. The car accident occurred when the car that the two girls were in struck a tree. There were three other passengers in the car who were injured, however it is unknown at this time who was driving when the car accident occurred. According to the Chicago Tribune, the two girls that were killed in the accident were best friends, and were almost inseparable and the girls and their friends were out celebrating one of the victim's birthdays when the accident occurred. At this point no charges have been filed against the driver, who is unknown but was not one of the victims, but they still could be filed pending the results of the accident investigation. To read more about this tragic accident, please click on this hyperlink.

While it is unknown whether this car was caused by an intoxicated underage driver, teen drunk driving results in a great number of deaths each year. Drunk driving is the leading cause of teenage death and about one person is killed in the United States every forty minutes as the result of a drunk driving accident. Chicago accident attorneys remind you of how preventable drunk driving deaths are and to never get behind the wheel even if you think you are okay to drive but have been drinking. Additionally, please make sure if you have a teenage driver that they understand that it is always a better idea to call for a ride than to drive drunk. The difference in making the choice to not drive after drinking can make all the difference in saving a life, so please always choose to not drink and drive!

A teenage girl from Chicago was killed when she was run over by a car driven by her friend after a gang fight broke out. As she was trying to get away from the fight she fell down and was struck by her friend's car and was dragged a distance. The victim died as a result of the serious personal injuries that she incurred when she was run over by the car. At this point the police believe that a gang fight broke out and the teenage victim was accidentally struck by a car while the car tried to get away from the fight, however, according to WGN TV, the mother of the victim has heard from people that saw the accident that it may not have actually been an accident. At this point, the accident is still under investigation and no charges have been filed. Although, the victims mother claims that people at the scene told her that her daughter's death was no accident, the police reports show no evidence of any witnesses claiming this. This makes the investigation process difficult and what really happened may be hard to uncover. It is important to understand why telling the truth of what you see during a car accident is crucial, because without truthful statements by the witnesses of the accident the police may never know what happened and if someone was at fault, they may never be charged. Please always tell the police exactly what you saw if you witness an accident and if you realize you were not completely accurate when you spoke to the police at first, please amend your statement. If you would like to read more about this tragic Chicago accident, please click on this link.

A recent study shows that older drivers are actually safer drivers than many other age groups. Many people believe, and previous studies have supported, that older drivers are similar to teenage drivers in terms of the frequency of car accidents and overall unsafe driving. However, the recent study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, show that the rate of fatal accidents in which people over 70 were involved has significantly decreased in the past decade. Interestingly enough, the number of accidents in middle age drivers has also decreased, but much less than the decrease seen in older drivers. Several theories are believed to have led to this large decline, including both stricter renewal laws for elderly drivers, as well as older drivers being more aware of what types of environments and driving situations are unsafe for them to be driving in and in turn not driving in these unsafe situations as frequently.

According to Fox News, one of the reasons for this safety increase among older drivers is likely a result of many states are imposing more rules and limitations on older drivers that seek to renew their license. These restrictions include some states requiring vision tests for older drivers, and others not allowing renewal online or even my mail among older drivers. These restrictions among older drivers help to ensure that drivers that are not safe to be on the road will not be allowed to renew their license. However, even in states that do not have strict rules for elderly drivers seeking to renew their licenses, the numbers of accidents among elderly drivers have been decreasing. The study suggests that another reason for the decrease is that even when the law does not try to impose restrictions on elderly drivers, the drivers themselves will often limit themselves. For example, many elderly drivers are aware of certain driving conditions in which they feel uncomfortable and will no longer drive in those situations, such as late at night or on high traffic highways. The combination of these two changes in recent years among elderly drivers has likely been what is reducing the number of accidents among this age group, and hopefully this trend will continue and more elderly drivers will stay safe and avoid traffic accidents. To read more about this study on the reduction in elderly car accidents, please click here.

New legislation in Illinois will make the fines for drivers with small children passengers increase if the driver does not have the appropriate car seat for all child passengers that require car seats. All children under the age of eight in Illinois are required to be in a car seat and up until now the fine for not abiding by this law was a fine of $50. The new law increases the fine to $75 for the first offense and a fine of up to $200 for later offenses. For the first offense, drivers will have the option to take a class that teaches about proper installation of child safety seats as oppose to paying the fine. According to The Chicago Tribune, the purpose of the training class option is to teach drivers about the importance of child safety seats and hopefully lead to less injuries to children in the event of a car accident. To read more about this recent legislation and child safety seats, please click on this link.

It is very important to understand what safety seat is appropriate for each child, depending on weight and age, and at what point a child is safe to just wear a seat belt. Each year thousands of children are killed or seriously injured in car accidents, and making sure that they are properly protected is one way we can help to protect kids in an accident. Chicago accident attorneys ask you to make sure that you have a car seat for all child passengers under the age of eight and that you make sure that the seat is installed properly and has not been recalled for any safety issues. If you are unsure whether or not your safety seat is installed properly, please click on this link to find the location nearest you that you can take your car to have checked to ensure that the safety seat is installed properly.

A Chicago police officer that was involved in a fatal car accident over two years ago is now expected to be called in a civil lawsuit over the same accident, now that the criminal charges against him have been dropped. The police officer was seen on tape drinking earlier in the night prior to the November 2008 car accident in which two Chicago men were killed. According to CBS, in the criminal case, the police officer defendant chose to exercise his right to not testify in the trial, and therefore did not testify about the amount of alcohol that he consumed the night of the accident. The breathalyzer test was also not admitted in the criminal case, and the police officer ended up being found not guilty. To read more about this Chicago car accident lawsuit, please click on this link.

The families of the victims are now suing the bar that was serving the police officer shortly before the accident, in a civil lawsuit. In this lawsuit, the police officer cannot exercise the same right to not testify and is expected to have to testify as to how much alcohol he consumed the night in question. In this civil suit the family is seeking monetary damages from the bar for serving the police officer and allowing him to leave the bar and drive, given the condition the officer was in at the time he left the bar that evening. Chicago accident attorneys remind all citizens that the place of business, or person serving, an intoxicated driver that caused a crash is often held liable or can faces civil lawsuits for serving the driver and failing to stop them from driving. Please stop anyone you know is about to drive when they have been drinking to safe both their life and the lives of others on the road.

Recent legislation is currently underway on a federal level to address the issue of the safety standards with automakers. These actions are in response to the recent issues that the Toyota Corporation has faced due to their cars' acceleration problems. The new laws that are being proposed are attempting to force the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to create, as well as enforce, stricter safety standards for all automakers in an effort to hopefully reduce the number of car accidents that occur due to unsafe vehicles. This new act is called the Motor Safety Vehicle Act of 2010 and would require set standards for electronic components in cars, as well as increased penalties for car companies that fail to maintain the safety standards that are in place.

The bill, as it stands now, has been amended and changed some from the original proposal and may go to the U.S. House as soon as later this week. According to The Washington Post, some people who are strong advocates of the original bill contend that the bill as it stands now does not impose the level of safety standards that are needed to keep drivers safe and argue that the original bill is what is really necessary. Regardless of what the bill says, there is no doubt that new safety measures and requirements need to be implemented in light of the recent safety issues with Toyota vehicles that have led to several fatal car accidents. To read more about the proposed federal legislation known as the Motor Safety Vehicle Act of 2010, aimed at creating safer cars and reducing auto injuries and fatalities, please click on this link.

A Fieldon,IL motorcycle accident occurred on June 6th when a motorcycle driver tried to pass a car and the car being passed veered into the motorcycle's lane. The motorcycle then scraped against a guardrail and turned onto its side, causing the driver and passenger to be thrown from the bike. Both suffered serious personal injuries and were hospitalized in Jerseyville. The car who swerved into the path of the victim's motorcycle was not involved in the accident itself and did not even stop at the scene. According to The Telegraph, no citations were issued in connection with this Illinois motorcycle accident. To read more about this Illinois accident, please click on this link.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's Annual Traffic Safety Facts report, in 2008 over 5,000 motorcycle riders were killed in motorcycle accident and accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities in that year. Our Illinois injury attorneys remind riders that they are at a higher risk for being seriously injured in an accident because they are not protected by anything, like a driver of a car is. Therefore, it is very important for motorcyclists to be aware of cars' blind spots and be extra cautious when driving next to a car or passing a car. Similarly, we ask truck and passenger vehicle drivers to be cautious and always do head checks so as not to hit motorcycles which can easily be hidden in a car's blind spot. These small steps can make all the difference in the number of motorcycle accidents that occur each year, and can help keep motorcycle riding a safe and enjoyable activity for many.

An Aurora man suffered serious personal injuries in a car accident that occurred on June 5th on Route 25. The car accident occurred when the victim crossed his car into the lanes of oncoming traffic and struck another car head on. The driver and passengers in the car that was struck by the victim's car did not suffer any serious injuries. At this point, the Kane County Police Department is still investigating the crash and are not sure what caused the driver to cross into oncoming traffic. According to Suburban Chicago News, alcohol and drugs have not been ruled out as factors so far in the investigation. The Route on which the accident occurred was closed for several hours following the crash for clean up. To read more about this Kane County car accident, please click on this link.

Many accidents occur in Illinois everyday that are the result of distracted or impaired drivers. It is very important for drivers to never drive when under the influence of drugs or alcohol or if they are too tired or do not feel well enough to be behind the wheel. Illinois accident attorneys also remind drivers that even if you are not impaired while driving, that allowing distractions to take your focus off the road can be just as dangerous. Never talk on your cell phone, send or recieve texts, let the radio distract you, or try to do other things such as eating while driving. These seemingly minor distractions can be enough to lead to a car crash.

A Lakeview Chicago car accident that occurred on June 3rd was likely caused by a drunken driver who lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a three foot divider on Lake Shore drive. Luckily, no other cars were involved in the Chicago accident and the driver only suffered minor personal injuries and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital for treatment of those injuries. According to The Chicago Sun Times, following the accident the driver was temporarily stuck in his car, but was able to be extracted and was not seriously injured. No one else was traveling in the car when the accident occurred and at this time it is unknown what charges are likely to be filed against the driver. If you would like to read more about this Lakeview car accident, please click on this link.

While luckily no one died in this drunk driving accident, many people are injured or killed at the hands of drunk drivers every year. According the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, thirty two percent of all highway fatalities were caused by impaired drivers. These accidents are completely avoidable because no one should ever get behind the wheel after they have been drinking. Our Illinois injury attorneys remind readers that even "buzzed" driving is drunk driving and ask that you do not get behind the wheel if you have been drinking. It is always better to be safe than sorry so please hand the keys over to someone else or call a cab or another ride. Illinois police will charge you with drunk driving if you are pulled over and are found to be over the legal blood alcohol limit, so please err on the side of safety to protect yourself, your loved ones, along with other passengers and pedestrians on our streets and highways.

A young Rogers Park boy was killed when he was crushed between two sports utility vehicles while trying to cross the street. The deadlypedestrian accident occurred on May 30th after the young boy and his sister got out of their father's car to cross the street to go to their aunt's house. An allegedly drunk driver crashed into the back of one of the two parked cars causing that car to crash into the parked car in front of it, trapping the young boy between the two. According to The Chicago Tribune, the boy's younger sister who was crossing the street with him was not hit and did not suffer any personal injuries. The suspected drunk driver is still in custody pending charges for this horrific incident. To read more about this terrible Rogers Park accident, please click on this hyperlink.

This is one of the many accidents that are the result of drunk drivers during holidays such as memorial day weekend. Given the holiday weekend, the number of accidents greatly increases, the traffic on the road becomes more dense and busy, and the number of drunk drivers on the road increases. Chicago injury attorneys remind drivers not only to make sure to never drink and drive, but remind pedestrians and drivers to be even more aware and cautious of drunk drivers during holiday weekends. While the Chicago police do try to take extra measures to ensure the safety and well-being of Chicago residents, they can not be there to stop every drunk driver, so if you see a driver that you believe may be under the influence of alcohol, please call 911 immediately. Your vigilance may help to prevent others from being harmed or killed by an impaired driver.

A recent study has shown that Chicago cab companies have a complex system in place that may limit the amount that passengers are able to collect in the event of a personal injury or wrongful death resulting from a cab accident. The way the system is structured, a person injured is likely to never recover more than the $350,000 minimum required by the City of Chicago, even in cases where the injured party requires lifetime medical care or when the family is suing on behalf of a victim that was killed as a result of an accident.

According to The Chicago Sun Times, this change in damage recovery resulted about twelve years ago when Chicago stopped cab companies from being able to have a monopoly on owning cabs within the city, and as it stands now, no one company can own more that twenty five percent of city-issued taxi medallions. Prior to this, two Chicago cab companies had a complete monopoly on the system and typically held multiple layers of insurance, which would be available to protect the company in the event of a lawsuit and provide higher monetary damages for victims. The new system allow companies to argue that the driver is a private agent and without being able to show that the driver is an agent of the company, the recovery can be much lower for victims. While the legislature coming in to stop monopolies is good for cab companies and clients alike, these changes made it harder for injured victims of Chicago taxi accidents to recover the amount they deserve for the harm or injury caused. To read more about the damage recovery caps for cab accidents in Chicago, please click on the link.

With the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, many more people will be on the road than usual and according to AAA about 28 million people are expected to be traveling by car this weekend. With the wave of travelers, it is important to remember certain safety tips if you are going to be on the road this weekend. Even before you leave there are certain safety precautions to take to avoid car accidents. Always make sure to be well rested, because being tired can distract your focus from the road and making driving very dangerous. Additionally, if you feel too tired while driving please stop and rest before resuming driving. Before you leave make sure to inspect you car, making sure the oil and fluid levels are where they should be, the brakes are working, tires are full, and any other minor maintenance is taken care of. You would not want to get stuck on the road because of a small problem that could have been taken care of before you left. When you are ready to get on the road, make sure that all of you passengers are wearing their seatbelts and never drive with a suspended or expired license or if you have been drinking. When you are driving make sure to not let distractions take your focus off of the road. This can include using your cell phone, adjusting the radio, or trying to eat while driving. All of these activities take your focus off the road, if even just for a second, and can result in a car crash.
The increase of drivers over holiday weekends, and in the summer in general, make accidents more frequent and likely, so please be extra cautious and alert while driving this holiday weekend. Chicago injury attorneys bring you these tips to have a safe and fun holiday weekend and to remind you that these few simple steps can make all the difference in having a safe and easy drive.

In Illinois, cops are planning to crack down on seat belt usage this holiday weekend. The law in Illinois is that all drivers, all passengers riding in the front seat of a car, and all passengers under nineteen riding anywhere in the car, must be wearing a seat belt at all times the car is in motion. According to The Chicago Tribune, while this law is always in effect, Illinois state police say that they will be extra hard on people this weekend and be watching for seat belt violations extra carefully. The reason behind this crackdown is that holiday weekends are always a time of higher accident rates and more careless driving, so the cops want to make sure that everyone is wearing seat belts to try to keep the roads safer and any injuries less severe. To read more about the Illinois State Police’s safety plans to help keep people safe in the event of car accidents during the coming holiday weekend, please click on this hyperlink.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belt usage has been steadily on the rise in recent years, and in 2008 was up to ninety percent. While these numbers are good and it is obviously good that the statistics continue to rise in this regard, it is important for everyone to wear a seat belt. Chicago injury attorneys remind readers that seat belts can safe lives and can be what keeps someone from receiving serious personal injuries if they are involved in a car crash. Please make sure to do your part to reduce traffic accident injuries and always wear your seat belt and make sure that your passengers always wear their seat belts.

A group of about 100 bicyclists rode on what they refer to as the “Ride of Silence” which is a route that was created to commemorate those who have been killed in Chicago biking crashes. This is an annual Chicago event, and many that participate are people that have been directly or indirectly affected by one of these biking accidents. This event is not only to commemorate these fallen individuals and to honor their memory but also to try to raise awareness for bikers. According to Northwestern Medill, this is just one of the many similar biking events all over the country that have similar goals. To read more about this tribute to fallen bikers in Chicago bicycling accidents, please click on this link.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, between 2006 and 2008 15 cyclists were killed in Illinois. Many passenger car drivers and large truck drivers fall to beware of bikers, and while the number of fatal accidents is not very high, there are many smaller accidents involving bikers all the time. One bicyclist says that a common problem is pedestrians stepping into the street and not realizing they are stepping into a biker’s path, causing the cyclist to get knocked off their bike and oftentimes into traffic. Another common problem is people opening their car doors and not realizing they are opening it into a biker’s path. Bicyclists over the age of eleven in Illinois are required to ride on the street and not on the sidewalk, so these types of issues are often very prevalent in Chicago. Our Chicago accident attorneys encourage drivers and pedestrians to be alert and to try to help keep cyclists in Chicago safer!

A car and bus accident occurred on May 20th in which ten people were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their personal injuries. The Chicago bus accident occurred in Old Irving Park Neighborhood on North Pulaski Road when a car tried to make a turn and ended up turning directly into the path of the bus. According to Chicago Breaking News, at least six ambulances arrived at the scene and of the ten people injured, six were listed in serious to fair condition, three were listed in fair condition and one was listed in serious to critical condition. While little more is known about this Chicago bus crash, please click her for an article about the accident.

While bus crashes can be very dangerous and result in serious injury when they do occur, they are still, for the majority of the time, a very safe way to travel. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2008 there were 247 total bus crashes that resulted in a fatality and only twelve of those occurred anywhere in the state of Illinois. This low number of accident compared to the number of car accidents in a given year show that bus travel is overall very safe. Illinois accident attorneys remind drivers to be careful when driving near a bus and to make sure to always give them an appropriate amount of safe. Busses are large and much more difficult to maneuver in emergency situations and also have much larger blind spots than a passenger car does.

A Chicago car accident occurred in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on May 10th that resulted in the injury of twelve people, two of whom suffered serious personal injuries. The accident occurred when a sports utility vehicle tried to pass a car that the driver felt was driving too slowly by getting into a lane in which a Chicago Transit Authority bus was traveling, causing the bus to hit another car while it swerved to avoid hitting the original sports utility vehicle that had cut into the bus’s lane. The bus then struck the side of the Rowe-Clark Math and Science Academy Building. The driver of the SUV tried to leave the scene, however he did not get very far because his car had suffered damage in the accident which caused him to have to stop about a block away. So far the driver of the SUV has been cited for following too closely. According to The Chicago Sun Times, the scene was not as bad as initially thought and many bystanders helped out by helping get the injured passengers of the bus. Of the twelve injured, none were children and two people have since been listed in critical condition, nine have since been listed in fair condition and one has since been listed in good condition. The accident occurred around four in the afternoon and while the bus routes on that street had to be rerouted temporarily, the buses were back on schedule by around seven that same evening. To read more about this Chicago bus accident, please click on this hyperlink.

A person was seriously injured in Chicago in a pedestrian accident at 63rd and Damen on the morning of May 16th. The pedestrian was struck by a fire truck that had its lights and sirens on. The victim was distracted by a personal electronic which caused them to not to hear the approaching truck. According to Chicago Breaking News, the victim was taken to Stroger Hospital for treatment of their personal injuries.

While many people acknowledge that drivers must pay attention to the road and avoid being distracted by things such as cell phones and radios, it is also important to keep in mind that pedestrians need to be aware of their surroundings when walking through the city. This concept of “distracted walking” was the subject of a New York Times article, addressing how the rise of the mobile gadget causes walkers to be distracted and not pay attention to where they are going. In 2008, over 1000 distracted walkers suffered some type of personal injury in accidents with cars, which was double from this type of injury reported the previous year.

This type of accident is something that all Chicago pedestrians need to be aware of with the rise in cell phone and mp3 player usage, as it is an issue that is unlikely to get better until pedestrians become more aware of the problem. Our Chicago accident lawyers encourage all walkers to make sure to remain alert, especially when using portable electronic devices. We hope that by raising awareness surrounding this issue, the number of pedestrians injured due to distractions will be lowered.

The city of Chicago Heights is facing a lawsuit in connection with the fatal car accident in which the Chicago Heights police handed over car keys to an apparently drunk driver who then got into a fatal accident, which resulted in the death of his girlfriends five year old son who was a passenger asleep in the back seat of the car when the accident occurred. The police gave the keys to the passenger to take the car home after pulling a woman over and taking her to the police station for driving with a suspended license. The woman claims that she informed the police that her boyfriend, who was the passenger, was intoxicated because she had been with him when he was drinking earlier that evening, and that the police ignored what she told them. According to The Chicago Tribune, the woman, who was also the mother of the young boy who died in the accident, has filed a lawsuit against both the City of Chicago Heights and against her boyfriend who was driving while drunk when the car accident occurred. The Illinois car accident lawsuit seeks over $50,000 in damages. To read more about this tragic car accident and the accident lawsuit that was filed, please click on this link.

Illinois injury attorneys remind you that if you or a loved one was injured in an accident that you believe was due to the negligence of another, you may have a claim against that person. If you would like to call an accident attorney to further discuss the options you have available to you, please click on this link.

An Illinois drunk driving accident that occurred on May 10th is the topic of major discussion, since the drunk driver was given the keys to the car by a policeman shortly before the fatal accident. The Steger car accident occurred shortly after the cops pulled over the child's mother for failing to use her turn signal and then took her keys from her because she was driving with a suspended license. The police then gave the keys to her boyfriend, who was in the passenger seat, to drive himself and her five-year-old son home.

According to the Chicago Sun Times, the Chicago Heights policeman involved claimed that he had no idea that the boyfriend had been drinking when he gave him the keys to the car. About 40 minutes after the police let the car back onto the road, the boyfriend, who was legally intoxicated, slammed the car into a tree, instantly killing the young boy. The drunk driver has been charged with felony driving under the influence and reckless homicide for the accident. Aside from the death of a young boy, there are questions as to whether the police officers who pulled the car over should have realized that the man was under the influence of alcohol. The police officers at the scene say that there was no evidence that the man was impaired and that they did not realize that he could be drunk when they turned the keys over to him. If you would like to read more about this Chicago accident, please click on this link.

The dangers of texting while driving are well known, however many teen drivers fail to let this stop them. Recently, a large sampling of teenagers were interviewed about texting habits many said that they are so used to texting while doing everything and claim that it is too hard for them to promise that they will not text while they are driving. Out of the approximately 800 teens questioned, on average they reported that they send about 50 text messages each day and over a quarter of them admitted to texting while driving. Many of these teens admit to knowing that it is bad and very dangerous, however many of them admit that they think that one text message at a stoplight wont hurt. Unfortunately, text messaging can be so distracting that even this type of thinking can lead to car accidents.

In 2008, over 6,000 people were killed and over 500,000 people were hurt in car accidents that were the result of distracted drivers. While many teenagers will not agree to never text while driving, it is very important to try to get through to teenagers as to how dangerous it is too text while driving, and that even just sending or reading one text message can distract a driver enough to lead an a dangerous accident. Parents are an important tool is showing kids how dangerous texting while driving is and in making it a priority to make sure their kids do not text while in the car. One young driver took it upon herself to show other teens the dangers of texting while driving and created a public service to combat teenage texting while driving. Please click on this link to see the PSA against teenage texting and driving.

Given the recent rise in temperature, more and more motorcyclists are on the road in Chicago. While motorcycle riding can be a very enjoyable hobby for many people, it is important to remember to always be safe and aware when operating or riding on a motorcycle. Taking a few simple safety precautions can be the difference between life and death in the unfortunate case of a motorcycle accident. To read about Share the Road Safely’s motorcycle safety tips, please click on this link.

The first and possibly most important safety measure that all motorcycle operators and riders should take is to always wear a helmet. Brain injuries are the most common injury with a motorcycle accident and wearing a helmet is a simple way to help avoid this type of injury. While helmets are not required in the state of Illinois, riders should take it upon themselves to always wear helmets. Since motorcycles are so small and do not really offer any protection it is important to be extra cautious and alert and always pay attention to the road. Additionally, be aware of were a truck’s blind spots are and make sure to stay out of these areas and make sure to always maintain a safe speed always following the speed limit of the area you are driving in. Before you get on your bike to go for a ride make sure that you have recently done a safety inspect on the bike. Please follow these few simple tips to stay safe and avoid traffic accidents!

A car accident lawsuit was filed in connection with a June 2008 East Alton car accident in which a Wood river man was injured. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the driver that allegedly rear-ended him while he was stopped at a flashing red light. The victim claims that as a result of the accident he was suffered crushed and displaced neck bones and muscles, and he seeks monetary damages to cover his medical costs and money he lost as a result of the accident. The complaint alleges that the Defendant acted negligently when she failed to reduce her speed to avoid an accident, failed to keep her car under control, failed to keep a proper lookout in order to avoid an accident, for failing to obey a traffic signal and for driving without headlights on. According to The St. Clair Record, the plaintiff seeks an unspecified amount. To read more about this car accident lawsuit, please click on this link.

Often times car accidents are caused by a driver that fails to pay enough attention to the road and their surroundings. When a driver does not pay enough attention while driving and causes a car accident, they may be charged with negligence. If you or a loved one were involved in a car accident where you feel another person involved acted in a negligent manner and were at fault for the car accident, please call an Illinois car accident attorney today to further discuss what options are available to you.

Oprah Winfrey has started a new campaign urging everyone to make their cars “no phone zones”. The goal behind this campaign is to get people to not use their cell phone to call or text while they are driving, with the goal of reducing car accidents. Cell phone use in cars has been proven to be very dangerous, and the distraction that it causes to drivers has even been compared to the impairment that alcohol can have on a driver. Oprah is asking her viewers to “sign” a no phone zone pledge on her website having them agree to not use their phone while driving, and already has over 200,000 people that have agreed to partake in this pledge.

According to PC Mag’s website, Oprah has many organizations behind her and in full support on this pledge, including the Department of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and many others. Many states (close to half) have enacted anti-texting laws that make it illegal to text while the car is in drive. Illinois is one of the states that has an anti-texting law which went into effect earlier this year. Additionally, a law has gone into effect nationwide that bans the use of cell phone for text messaging among all government workers. Congress is looking into more options including a possible incentive program for drivers that avoid texting while driving. While these laws are very important in preventing car crashes, more steps need to be taken by individual drivers to help fix this dangerous problem. To read more about Oprah Winfrey’s new anti-texting campaign, please click on the hyperlink.

An Illinois car accident on April 30th left one man dead and is believed to have been caused by a drunk driver. The accident occurred on I-94 very early in the morning while the victim was doing road construction on this stretch of highway. The driver that struck the man fled the scene but his car was later tracked down and the damage to the car confirmed that it had been the one involved in the hit-and-run accident. The driver was then charged with driving under the influence and for leaving the scene of an accident.

According to Chicago Breaking News, the mother of the driver called police after seeing her son’s car and believing that he might have been involved in a serious accident. The area where the accident occurred was well marked and a couple lanes were closed off to keep the worker safe, but the drunk driver made an illegal u-turn in that area and struck the worker. The driver never stopped and that is why he is being charged with fleeing the scene.

Hit-and-run accidents are a very serious problem and if you are ever involved in an accident you should never flee the scene. Many people do because they are scared of getting into trouble, but the reality is that you face much more serious trouble if you are found to have fled the scene of an accident. Additionally, if anyone is injured you should stop and see if you can help them because it could be too late once the paramedics arrive and additionally if you do not call the paramedics to the scene because you flee, the person may not receive medical attention for way too long. To read more about this tragic hit-and-run crash, please click on this link.

Motorcycle accidents account for about ten percent of all fatalities every year and it is extremely important for all motorcycle riders to remember that safety is very important. Unfortunately, in Illinois there is no law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets but it is crucial for anyone that wants to drive or ride on a motorcycle to understand the importance and safety in wearing a helmet. Illinois is one of only three states that have absolutely no helmet requirements, even among people younger than 18. Until this legislation is changed and the law requires this extremely important safety measure to be taken, riders must make it a point on their own to make sure they and their passengers always wear a helmet. Motorcycle crashes can be very dangerous because the riders are not protected or surrounded the way they are in a vehicle and this is how so many traumatic brain injuries occur as a result of motorcycle accidents. Brain injury is what causes the most motorcycle related deaths, and if all riders would always wear a helmet the number of brain injuries would be greatly reduced. Traumatic brain injuries are injuries that cause the disrupt the normal functioning of the brain after a blow or some kind of startling jolt. According to The Brain Injury Association of America, wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of brain injury, following a motorcycle accident, saving as many as 1,500 lives a year. To learm more about the extreme dangers of motorcycle accidents, please click on this hyperlink.

Given the recent surge of warmer weather, more people are riding motorcycles and this safety issue becomes more prominent. Please remember that whenever you or a loved one gets on a motorcycle to always wear a helmet, so you can have fun safely!

A car accident that occurred on April 2nd left two Illinois men with serious injuries. According to the Rockford Register Star, the car accident occurred when the car they were traveling in left the road, crossed over the center lane and left the road on the other side causing it to roll over multiple times and crash into a tree. Both the driver and his passenger were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their serious personal injuries and it was found that the two men were only wearing chest belts and not lap belts.

The driver of the car involved in this accident was found to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. He has been charged with driving under the influence, driving while his license was revoked, improper lane usage, and for driving with no proof of insurance. To read more about this particular Illinois DUI car accident, please click on this link for more information.

Car crashes caused by drunk driving are far more common than they should be, as this is a completely avoidable issue. If you or someone you know wants to drive home after consuming more drinks that the legal maximum, please do not drive and stop any person that is trying to. Driving drunk not only puts the driver at risk but puts anyone else in the car’s life at risk as well as anyone else on the road. Even if you have had below the legal limit to be considered able to drive, but do not feel like you should be behind the wheel of a car, please do not drive. Given how dangerous it is to drive drunk, it is always better to err of the side of safety.

A fatal train accident occurred on April 16th in which a Chicago woman’s car was struck by an Amtrak train and she was killed. Upon investigation it was discovered that the trains warning system (to alert drivers when a train is approaching) was not properly reconnected after the track had been worked on. Unfortunately, this meant that there was no adequate warning for the young woman whose car was struck to let her know the train was coming and to keep her from crossing. According to Chicago Breaking News, after the repair work was done on the tracks, the workers thought they had appropriately hooked the warning system back up but unfortunately had not causing the warning system to not go into effect with an approaching train. To read more about this tragic accident, please click on this link.

While this accident was a result of human error on the part of the train workers, it is important for all drivers to be very cautious when driving over train tracks. If there are safety alerts telling you a train is approaching, never try to cross even if you cannot see the train. Trains travel at very fast speeds and can approach much quicker than you may realize and could be very close even if you can not see it from the intersection. If you are at a train track and the warning systems are not activated but you can see or hear a train nearby wait anyway just to be safe. If you are ever not sure if it is safe to go at that time, in order to avoid a car accident, please err on the side of caution.

A wrongful death lawsuit settled for just over $2 million dollars in connection with a June 2009 accident in which four people died and another was seriously injured. The car accident occurred after an off duty police officer was at a bar and drank a great deal of alcohol before getting behind the wheel of her car and then later drive into oncoming traffic. The court found both defendants, the police officer responsible for the accident and the bar responsible for serving her liable for the wrongful death of the four individuals. The lawsuit money was divided up between the families of the four victims, the sole survivor and the plaintiff’s attorneys. According to the Courthouse News Service, manslaughter charges are still pending against the police officer. To read more about this car crash lawsuit settlement, please click on this hyperlink.

It is important for bars and any establishment that serves alcohol to realize that they may be held liable for over-serving customers or for failing to stop them from leaving if they are aware that the person is clearly intoxicated. While not all drunk driving accident lawsuits choose to name the bar as a defendant in the case, this may be an option, so we encourage owners to be aware and alert of what is going on throughout your establishment in order to protect patrons and others on the road. If you or a loved one was injured in a drunk driving accident and would like to discuss your legal options, please contact an Illinois accident attorney today.

A car crash lawsuit has been filed by the father of a young car accident victim. The car accident occurred last May, when the minor girl was a passenger in a car in which the complaint alleges the driver had just bought alcohol and had been consuming it prior to the accident. The driver lost control of her car while driving in Fairview Heights, IL and crashed into a tree. The lawsuit alleges that the driver was driving negligently while under the influence of alcohol. According to the St. Clair Record, the lawsuit seeks damages of over $150,000 for the physical and emotional injuries that the young girl suffered, as well as for the loss of her being able to do her usual activities. To read more about this Illinois car accident lawsuit, please click on this link.

According to Illinois DUI laws, the penalties for driving under the influence (with a blood alcohol content of over .08) are very severe, including up to a year in jail for the first offense (one year and a half if someone under 16 is in the vehicle), up to a $2,500 fine (more if someone under 16 is in the vehicle or if the driver’s blood alcohol content is over .16) and a mandatory license suspension of at least a year. The punishments increase exponentially if a person is caught driving under the influence more than one time. Aside from the possible punishments for drunk driving, a person should never drive under the influence of alcohol because not only are they placing themselves in extreme danger but are also putting anyone else on the road in danger in the event of a car crash.

A recent study was done to help determine when people suffering from various types of dementia should no longer be legally allowed to drive. The issue with people with advanced types of dementia driving is that dementia affects the brain and memory and in its advanced stages can affect a person’s memory, attention, language, and ability to problem solve. This can be dangerous for a driver because paying constant attention to the road and being oriented to what is going on is crucial to be safe on the road and help avoid car accidents.

According to The American Academy of Neurology, new guidelines have been issued to determine at what level of advancement people with various forms of dementia are no longer safe when driving. A type of rating scale has been implemented that allows doctors to use a combination of information received from both a person with dementia’s caregiver and from an observation of the person themselves to determine what level of dementia they are suffering from. The reason that this testing scale is appropriate is that doctors have found that not all patients suffering from dementia are incapable of safely driving and that as many as 76 percent of patients with mild dementia are safe to drive.

It is important for caregivers to be alert and aware of dementia patients driving and if anything seems out of the ordinary such as car crashes, moving violations, avoiding certain driving conditions, or generally becoming more aggressive or impulsive, as these may be warning signs of dementia advancing or getting to a point that may make driving unsafe. If you notice these type of changes, please contact a doctor to the get the dementia patient tested for driving. To read more about the new guidelines for safe driving and dementia patients, please click on this hyperlink.

The victim of a car accident has filed a lawsuit against the other driver after the driver allegedly crossed over the median and crashed into the victim’s car. The car accident complaint alleges that the plaintiff was driving on I-64 in Illinois when the accident occurred and the crash aggravated a pre-existing condition that he had which caused him great physical and mental pain and kept him from being able to do his usual duties. According to the Madison Record, the lawsuit alleges that the defendant negligently failed to keep his car under control, was driving too fast, did not keep a proper lookout, didn’t stop in time or slow down to avoid an accident, and failed to stay within his lane. The lawsuit seeks more than $50,000 in damages in addition to the costs of the lawsuit. To read more about this St. Clair County car accident lawsuit, please click on this link.

A victim of a car accident has several options when filing a lawsuit against the driver they feel was responsible for the accident. The actual damages incurred in the accident, including medical expenses for the victim and the damage to property, are not always the only options available. A victim or the family of a victim can often seek compensatory damages which do not account for actual costs incurred but rather monetary damages to try to make the person whole again following the accident. These may be for future lost wages when someone cannot work in the same way they were able to work prior to the accident or in anticipation of future medical expenses that have not yet come about. Additionally, in the event that a victim in the car accident was killed, the family filing the wrongful death lawsuit can seek compensatory damages for having to live with the loss of their loved one as a result of the accident. If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident and you would like to know more about what options are available, please contact a Chicago accident attorney at Levin & Perconti to discuss the details of your case.

A St. Clair County car accident that occurred last August has led to the filing of a car accident lawsuit by one of the drivers involved that was hurt in the car accident. The car accident lawsuit alleges that one of the other drivers struck another car from behind and that second car then struck the plaintiff’s car causing the plaintiff injury. The complaint names both drivers as defendants in the lawsuit. The initial driver allegedly caused the crash and failed to maintain a proper lookout as well as other negligent actions, while the second driver allegedly also acted negligently when she failed to maintain a proper distance between the cars to avoid a car crash. According to The Madison Record, the lawsuit seeks over $100,000 in damages, which include medical bills, lost wage, suffered earning capacity and property damages. To read more about this car accident lawsuit, click on this link.

Often times car accidents may not be due only to one person’s negligent behavior but can be a combination of negligent actions taken on the part of multiple people. If you or a loved one was involved in a car accident and you feel that the accident was caused by the negligence of one or more than one other person involved, please contact an Illinois accident attorney to see what options you may have in pursuing a lawsuit. Even if you are not sure if you have a case against another driver, please contact an attorney to discuss the possibilities available to you.

An Illinois man was killed in a motorcycle accident that occurred on April 7th. The accident occurred on I-80 when the motorcyclist tried to brake while rounding a curve and lost control of the bike, causing the bike to throw the rider off and hit a guard rail. According to The Southtown Star, at this point the investigation has shown that there was no sign of alcohol but that the driver was speeding at the time of the horrible one-vehicle accident. To read more about this tragic Will County accident, please click on the link.

Motorcycle accidents can be very dangerous and new safety measures are constantly being taken to try to make them safer for riders. A recent study by the Highway Loss Data Institute has shown that a recent effort requiring mandatory training for riders is not nearly as effective at preventing dangerous motorcycles accidents as was hoped. The study compared accident statistics in states that required training to those in states that do not, and the numbers were not significantly different. Some argue that even if these programs are not being offered to reduce accidents, they are still important to teach new riders how to operate motorcycles before allowing them on their own on the road. An additional argument showing why they may still be important is that there are certain types of risky behaviors, such as speeding like in the New Lenox crash, that often cause accidents that will not be eliminated no matter how well a person knows how to properly operate and ride a motorcycle. While it is unfortunate that these measures have not been found to help prevent accidents, the New York Times Wheels Blog mentions that certain precautions taken do help prevent fatalities, such as antilock brakes on bikes and helmets worn by riders. The Chicago accident attorneys of Levin & Perconti urge motorcyle drivers and passengers to remember to always ride at a safe speed and to wear your helmet to avoid serious personal injuries.

In Illinois, all drivers must have car insurance for every motor vehicle they own including cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses. All drivers must carry their insurance card, issued by the insurance company upon issuance or renewal of the insurance policy, with them at all times and be willing to show it to any police officer that asks. While it is very important to always keep your insurance card with you at all times, if you forgot it but the insurance policy is up to date some officers will allow you to prove that you have current insurance in either court or by mail to avoid a penalty. In Illinois, if a person is found to be driving without car insurance, the first offense will result in the suspension of the drivers license until the driver pays a $100 fee and shows prove of current evidence. According to Cyber Drive Illinois, the driver will also be fined $500 for driving without insurance and will be fined $1000 for driving the same car in the time period in which the license plate is suspended. Aside from just checking at traffic stops or after accidents, Illinois has started randomly selecting cars and sending the owners a questionnaire asking for current insurance policy information, and that information will be double checked with the insurance provided. To read more about the Illinois requirements for car insurance and where you can obtain car insurance, please click on this link.

The Chicago injury attorneys at Levin & Perconti strongly believe in the importance of car insurance, not only to keep drivers from getting fines, but to protect drivers in the event of a car crash. Under Illinois law, the minimum amount of insurance required is as follows: $20,000 for the injury or death of one person in a car accident, $40,000 for the injury or death of more than one person in a car accident, and $15,000 for damage to another person’s property. While this is the state required minimum, there are certain more extensive types of policies that can protect and cover drivers even if the other person involved in the accident and who is at fault has little or no insurance themselves. One type of policy that is available in Illinois is underinsured motorist policy which means that you are protected by your insurance company and can recover damages when the other driver that caused the accident’s minimum coverage will not cover the damages. Additionally, in Illinois there is the option of obtaining and uninsured motorist policy. This is similar to the previous policy but means that your insurance company will protect you against uninsured drivers that are at fault for an accident as opposed to drivers with minimum insurance. Levin & Perconti recommends these policies because of how much protection they can offer to drivers in the event of an accident with a driver who is at fault but their insurance will not be able to cover the damages of the driver who is not at fault. Damages from a car accident can be extensive, so it is always good to protect yourself and your loved ones by having a thorough and extensive car insurance policy.

An Illinois man has pled guilty in connection with a drunk driving car accident that killed one person and injured two others last year. The fatal accident occurred when the driver crashed into a mailbox, car and two trees. The driver was going 77 miles per hour in a 25 miles per hour zone and his blood alcohol level was .277. According to Suburban Chicago News, the crash did not involve any other cars but killed one passenger and injured two others. from the car involved in the crash. The sentencing phase of the trial has not occurred yet, but the driver can face anywhere between three and fourteen years in prison in connection with pleading guilty to this criminal charge. To read more about this Illinois car accident, click on the link.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), drunk drivers accounted for over 30% of all traffic deaths in 2008, with over 11,000 victims to drunk drivers getting behind the wheel. Driving while under the influence of alcohol is so extremely dangerous because a driver’s reactions and ability to safely and defensively drive is lost when a person is drinks. While there is a legal drinking limit, if you are ever unsure of your blood alcohol level or feel that you are impaired and should not be on the road, hand over your keys and let someone else drive. With drinking and driving it is always better to err on the side of safety and not drive after consuming alcohol. Also remember that when you get behind the wheel after drinking, it is not only your own safety at risk!

A car accident lawsuit has been filed against a police officer who is believed to have been texting while driving, which then caused a fatal accident. The car accident occurred several weeks ago and happened when the police sergeant allegedly unsafely and illegally changed lanes to enter the highway and crashed into a passenger car killing one of the people in the vehicle. According to WOAI's website, the family of the victim, as well as a surviving passenger from the crash, have filed the wrongful death lawsuit against he police officer, even though the police reports show that both drivers were to blame. The attorneys representing the victim are trying to ensure that phone records are not destroyed or tampered with so they can see if the officer was in fact texting at the time of the accident. If the officer is found to have been texting when the accident occurred this could be very serious because of how recent studies have shown the danger of texting while behind the wheel. Texting while driving is becoming outlawed in many states, including Illinois. To read more about this tragic accident, please click on the link.

According to the Health Finder website, over half a million people were injured and close to 6,000 killed last year in accidents that were caused by distracted drivers using their cell phone (either talking on or texting). Given the incredibly high number of accidents caused by driver distraction with cell phone usage, many states are cracking down on this problem by banning certain phone actions while driving. It is virtually impossible to pay complete attention to the road while checking your cell phone for a text or responding to one and this is a problem that is entirely avoidable. This distracted while driving danger also applies to police officers, and not just other drivers, and if the police officer in this case was found to be texting at the time of the accident he could face serious consequences. Even if the practice is not outlawed where he was driving, the court is very likely to find that he was at fault and that the other driver was not at fault if the officer was distracted by his cell phone at the time of the accident. Please remember how dangerous cell phones can be in terms of distracting a driver and that even one second of not paying attention to the road can lead to tragic accidents.

An Illinois woman that suffered serious personal injuries in a car accident this past December has filed a lawsuit against the driver of the car who the victim alleges caused the accident. According to The Telegraph, the complaint alleges that the defendant was negligent in that he failed to keep his vehicle in control, failed to stop his car in time to avoid a car accident, failed to keep a proper lookout, and that he crossed the center line. The police reports from the car accident show that the defendant lost control of his car and caused the accident because his car struck black ice and he could not control the vehicle once it struck this very dangerous type of ice. To read more about this car accident and the lawsuit in connection, please click on this link.

Black ice can be even more dangerous that other types of ice because it is more transparent, appearing the color of the ground below it, making it at times impossible for drivers to see. This type of ice occurs when very few air bubbles get trapped inside the ice which is what makes the ice so transparent. This type of ice can be very dangerous on the road to drivers and is also often a danger to pedestrians that may also not notice it while they are walking.

According to the United States Department of Transportation website, icy pavements cause close to 200,000 car crashes yearly and account for 3% of all motor vehicle accidents each year. When the pavement condition is altered, such as when there is ice or black ice, the vehicle performance and driver’s capability to handle the vehicle are both compromised. Because of these problems that occur with ice it is important for drivers to be extremely cautious when driving in icy conditions, preferably choosing not to drive if possible. If you must drive be sure to drive slowly and very cautiously while always paying extra careful attention to the road.

The family of a bicyclist that was killed in a car accident in 2008 has had filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver of the car. The car crash occurred while the driver was text messaging and got distracted, causing the driver to crash into the bicyclist. The driver, in his distracted state, failed to stop at a stop sign and was ticketed for causing the accident in which the young man was killed. According to About Lawsuits, the lawsuit alleged that the driver was grossly negligent when he intentionally took his eyes off the road while driving. To read more about this accident and car accident lawsuit, please click on this link.

Many states have chosen to deal with the dangers of texting while driving by enacting laws that make it against the law to text message while driving. Illinois is one of the states that have enacted anti-texting laws. In Illinois a law was enacted on January 1, 2010 that makes it against the law to compose or read text messages while driving or at any type the car is in drive, and carries a fine of $75 per offense. Unfortunately, while this law is a great attempt to try to curb the presence of texting while driving, Illinois officers have said that this law is actually very difficult to enforce. The law does not ban drivers from scrolling through their contact lists on their cell phones or for dialing numbers, and both of these acts look very similar to text messaging. At this point the Illinois law is proving hard to enforce however hopefully drivers knowing they may be ticketed for texting will make them reconsider doing it and realize the danger that it creates.

Whenever you are behind the wheel remember how distracting text messaging is to a driver and how much focus it takes off the road. Always refrain from texting while driving and if it is a matter that must be taken care of immediately, please pull off the road while you are texting. This simple act of refusing to text while driving will make you safer on the road and may prevent car crashes.

A Southern Illinois car accident that occurred on March 24th injured two teenage girls and left a third girl dead. The tragic accident occurred when the three girls were bike riding on the side of a road in Gallatin County and an elderly man crossed over the center line striking the three young girls. According to The Associated Content, while one girl suffered injuries so severe that she died as a result, the other two girls were hospitalized with their injuries and will hopefully recover fully. To read more about this horrible Illinois car crash, please click on the link.

Unfortunately, the elderly population makes up for close to 15 percent of all traffic accidents even though the elderly population makes up only about 9 percent of the overall population. Elderly drivers and the families of these drivers should make sure that any elderly driver has a current driver’s license, has had their vision and hearing checked recently and that their reflexes are quick enough for driving. It is important to make sure that elderly drivers are in a safe position to be on the road alone, to help keep them safe as well as other drivers they may encounter.

The new texting ban that went into effect in Illinois earlier this year is not the only new cell phone law aimed at reducing Illinois car accidents that Illinois drivers need to be aware of. In addition to the texting ban, the Illinois legislature also passed a law that makes talking on a cell phone while in a school zone or construction zone against the law because of the possible danger in causing car crashes in these areas. This goes for all times of day and is in effect even during hours where children and construction workers are not present. The construction zone law also apples to temporary work areas as long as a speed reduction sign is posted. The law does not ban blue tooth use, speaker mode, or emergency 911 call in these restricted areas.

Some police officials have issues with these laws now that construction season is about to start in Illinois. The public has not been made aware of these laws in very much depth and certain officials believe that it is unfair to ticket without proper warning. The hope with these officials is that officers will only issue warnings to people until the public is better informed of the new law at which time there will be a zero tolerance policy. To read more about these new laws in Illinois, click here.

A car accident on March 17th left three Illinois teenagers injured. The Peoria car accident occurred when the young driver waved to people in another car and lost control of his car and crashed into another car. According to PJ Star, the driver and the two passengers in the car were taken to a local hospital for treatment of their personal injuries. The driver and passengers in the car that was hit were not seriously injured. The teenage driver of the car that caused the accident was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. To read more about this Peoria car accident, please click on this link.

Accidents like this are unfortunately more common than one may think. According to the CDC website, car accidents are the leading cause of death among teens and while the ages between 15-24 only make up for about 15% of the population, this age group accounts for about 30% of car accidents. Texting, radio playing and talking to friends can easily distract young drivers. Young drivers often lack the experience necessary to drive safely on the road and often get into accidents caused by not paying attention to the road and other drivers or by inexperience and not knowing how to handle certain situations. It is important to try to help teenage drivers understand the importance of paying attention while driving and not letting distractions keep then from focusing on the road.

The Toyota recall continues on and at this point it is unknown what Toyota intends to do to combat the problems they have been facing in the past few months. Documents that were recently released show that back in 2007 Toyota was first made aware by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of floor mats becoming jammed and cause the gas pedal to get stuck, causing car accidents. Toyota’s response in 2007 was to develop a “game plan” to keep from having to have a huge recall. At this time Toyota only recalled a small number of cars (55,000) with a specific type of single floor mat in order to “solve” the problem causing vehicle crashes. Unfortunately, this did not solve the problem and three years later Toyota is in the middle of multiple recalls due to problems in their vehicles. Most recently, Toyota has recalled more than 400,000 cars and are being forced to change the brake pedals in response to a faulty brake pedal. This comes in the wake of recent recalls due to gas pedals causing acceleration and airbag problems, in all totally about 6 million cars. Toyota has faced drops in sales due to all the recent problems that were found in their vehicles. In February of 2010, Toyota sales slipped close to 9% and Toyota had pulled eight models from their line up. More than 20 people have died as a result of recent Toyota car problems and it is crucial that Toyota take active measures to ensure that safety is their priority and reduce the number of car crashes caused by their vehicles.

An Illinois construction worker was killed on March 16th when he was struck by a car on Interstate 80. The victim was patching potholes on the highway when he was hit by a car at such a high speed that the victim was forced through the windshield. According to The Chicago Tribune, the driver of the car fled from the scene of the car accident and is still being sought out. Many hit-and-run accidents occur every year when people either get scared and don’t know how to handle the situation or think they can avoid the consequences caused by their negligence. If you are ever involved in an a car crash, make sure to stay at the scene for the police.

The accident occurred in a construction zone that was clearly marked. The construction zone signs are intended to protect both the construction workers as well as the drivers. It is important to always be aware when driving and make sure to take note of construction zones and follow the construction zone special rules. According to the Illinois Tollway website, first of all pay attention so you know where the construction zone begins and ends as well as what the reduced speed limit is in that area. While in the construction zone, obey the reduced speed limit whether you can see workers or not. The penalty for hitting a construction worker may be up to $10,000 and up to 14 years in jail. To read more about this car crash in which a construction worker was fatally injured, click on the link.

An Illinois woman was killed earlier this morning when her car was struck by a passenger van. The North Side Chicago accident occurred when a van struck her car, and she was pronounced dead shortly after the accident at Northwestern Memorial Hospital as a result of multiple personal injuries sustained in the crash. According to Chicago Breaking News, this car crash is still under investigation and there is no information at this point if any citations were issued or if any charges will be filed. To read more about this Chicago car accident, click on the link.

If a loved one was killed in a car accident and you believe that the driver that caused the car accident may have been negligent, or was responsible for the car accident in some other way, you may be entitled to compensation on the part of your deceased loved one. Even if charges were not filed against the driver in connection with the accident, there may still be civil options available to the family of the victim and a wrongful death lawsuit may be appropriate to compensate the family of the victim. If you would like to discuss possible options following an accident in which a loved one was killed, please contact a Chicago accident attorney today.

A Hanna City car accident occurred on the morning of March 4th in which three vehicles were involved, including a school bus full of eighteen students ranging in ages. According to PJ Star, eleven people were injured in the car accident that occurred when the school bus was stopped to pick up a student and another car was stopped behind the bus and a third car struck the stopped car from behind, causing that car to strike the bus. Between the three cars there were multiple injuries and the victims were taken to local hospitals for treatments of their personal injuries. To read more about this Illinois bus accident please click on the link.

Luckily, buses are built to stand up to accidents well and are one of the safest vehicles to be riding in at the time an accident occurs. This is likely why only several of the children on the school bus suffered injuries and none of them seemed to be too severe since all children were reported to have been released from the hospitals later that same day. While the statistics show that school bus accidents result in less injuries, there are still safety measures that could be implemented on school buses to further improve safety. According to Web MD, one major improvement would be a mandatory seat belt law for school buses and another very helpful improvement would be compartmentalized seating that would better protect the kids in the event of a bus accident. While school buses are safer than some other vehicles, it is important to always be aware of stopped school buses to avoid accidents. School buses stop frequently so make sure to always be paying attention to the road, and pay extra attention in areas where you know school buses often travel.

A car accident lawsuit has just concluded with a verdict in favor of the plaintiff of close to $2 million dollars. The car accident occurred in 2007 when a teenage girl was killed in a car accident in which another teenager was driving and tried to jump a hill going 60 miles per hour and crashed into a tree. According to KTIV’s website, the driver is currently in jail for manslaughter and this was a civil wrongful death lawsuit filed by the victim’s parents against the driver and his ex-wife (who was the owner of the car). The driver of the car was driving without a license at the time of accident and this is why the parents could sue the owner of the vehicle. In this case the owner of a vehicle was held liable because she knowingly allowed someone to drive her car without a driver’s license. To read more about this car crash settlement, please click on the link.

In Illinois there are certain laws that affect both unlicensed drivers as well as minors involved in a fatal car accident. In Illinois if a minor is involved in a car accident and criminal charges are pending, they cannot be issued a driver’s license or renew a learner’s permit until the charges are cleared. Additionally in Illinois the owner of a vehicle can be held liable when they negligently entrust their vehicle to an unlicensed driver. Both of these driving laws deal with issues and consequences of car accidents similar to the one mentioned above.

On February 27th a Chicago woman got into a car accident in which she struck an Illinois police officer on I-94. The accident occurred when the police officer was pulled over on the side of the highway and was standing outside of her patrol car and was then hit by the Chicago woman. According to Chicago Sun Times, the victim was conscious when emergency crews arrived and is believed to have suffered multiple broken bones but is expected to recover fully. To read more about this Chicago pedestrian accident, please click on the link.

The driver has been charged with aggravated reckless conduct for her failure to notice the police officer in time to avoid striking her. In Illinois there is an additional penalty for driver’s who fail to yield to emergency vehicles or cause accidents or injuries to public safety personnel. According to the Illinois State Police website violation of this law, Scott’s Law, can lead to up to an additional $10,000 in fines and a suspension of driving privileges for up to two years. In addition to the reckless conduct charge, the driver in this car accident was also charged under Scott’s Law, cited for improper lane usage, failure to reduce speed and operating an uninsured car. Driver distraction can be very dangerous and can lead to very serious car crashes. It is important for all drivers to be alert and pay attention every time they get behind the wheel.

A Chicago woman who was injured in a taxi accident has filed a car accident lawsuit. The accident occurred several months ago when the victim was the passenger in a taxi and the driver lost control and crashed into a tree. The victim was in a coma for a month after the crash and her husband was told she had less than a one percent chance of survival. Luckily, the victim has since recovered. According to ABC local, the victim and her husband have since filed a lawsuit against the taxi driver to cover their doctor’s bills of close to one million dollars. The taxi driver is claiming that the car sped up on its own and this is what caused the accident, and not his negligence, however the black box for the taxi that would store this data seems to have gone missing. To read more about this car accident lawsuit, please click on the link.

Taxi drivers are often involved in car accidents and if the victim believes that the driver may have been negligent and caused the accident, the passenger may be able to file a lawsuit against the driver. If you or a loved one have been involved in a taxi accident and feel that the driver may have been at fault and that you are entitled to compensation, please contact a Chicago car accident attorney.

There are certain issues that affect elderly drivers and that are important to keep in mind as you get older. Safe Roads Alliance offers some of the obstacles that elderly people may face on the road as well as links to other useful information regarding the elderly and driving. With age, certain physical changes can make it harder to driver, such as possible hearing and vision impairment, slower reflexes and medication interactions. To see more about what affects elderly drivers, please click on the link. According to the National Institute on Aging, the elderly body may be affected in many ways that can affect driving such as joints may get stick, muscles may weaken, visions may change, hearing may get worse and reaction time may be slower.

While many elderly drivers are aware of conditions that affect their driving abilities and are able to monitor themselves and know when they should not be on the road in order to hopefully avoid car accidents. Unfortunately, some times people do not realize that their conditions are affecting their driving and making it dangerous for them to remain on the road. According to the AARP website, there are certain steps someone should take if they believe an elderly friend or relative should not be on the road, and they include: assessing the situation by riding with the person firsthand, talking to the person about driving and your caring about their well-being, and then suggest alternate options to their driving such as taking a driving refresher course, limiting driving to certain times of day or in familiar areas only, or finding alternate modes of transportation, whether it be public transportation or rides with other drivers, in order to avoid car crashes.

Some states have taken a new approach to handle the dangers behind teenage driving. New York recently put certain laws into effect that will restrict young drivers in the hope that they will lead to fewer teenage car accidents. According to an article on WIVB.com, the law requires more driving time between when teenagers receive their driver’s permits and their driver’s license. Teenagers must clock 50 hours, certain ones at night time, with only people over 21 in the car with them at the time. This law relies on parents of teenagers to be honest and to respect the reasoning behind the law of trying to make sure teenagers are ready and have practice when they are allowed to be behind the wheel without any supervision. Illinois has been looking into their teenage driving laws, and while Illinois did recently add extended driving time with parents before licensing, many feel that Illinois could use stronger teenage driving rules. Please click here to see the discussion on Illinois driving laws.

The reason that stricter teenage driving rules are so important is because teen drivers are involved in so many tragic car accidents every year. According to the CDC's fact sheet on teen driving, in 2008, nine teenagers between 16 to 19 died daily from injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents. Teen drivers are commonly involved in car crashes because of lack of experience, underestimation of dangerous situations, speeding, and drinking. If states impose stricter laws on teenage drivers, there will be a reduction in these tragic yet preventable automobile accidents among teenagers.

A Chicago car accident occurred early on February 20th and left three Illinois residents seriously injured. The accident was at the intersection of Clark and Division and was caused by a car crashing into a taxi as it was going through the intersection. According to The Chicago Sun Times, the taxi then hit a pole and the car that caused the accident crashed into another taxi. Three people were listed in serious to critical condition and two were in good condition following the accident. At this point it is not known whether any of the victims were pedestrians or if they were all passengers in the cars. To read more about this Chicago car accident, please click here.

Given the high frequency of taxis in the city, taxis are often involved in car accidents. As a passenger in a taxi, you should always wear a seatbelt to protect yourself in the event of a taxi accident. While many people ignore seatbelts in taxis or find it not as important and necessarily to wear a seatbelt in a taxi as they do in a car, an accident can be just as dangerous so seatbelts are very important. Please make sure to always make a conscious effort to wear your seatbelt while traveling in a taxi, and encourage others to as well.

A car accident wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in connection with the death of a Illinois woman who was killed when struck by a vehicle in October of this past year. This pedestrian accident occurred in Evanston when the elderly woman tried to cross Sheridan Road and the car accident lawsuit alleges that the driver was negligent because she failed to keep a proper lookout in addition to driving too fast given the weather conditions. According to The Pioneer Local, the suit seeks over $200,000 in damages. To read more about this tragic accident, please click on the link.

While there has been a decrease in pedestrian deaths over the last decade, this is still a serious problem that drivers and pedestrians need to be aware of. In 2007, 170 pedestrians were killed and 1000 were injured in Illinois. Pedestrian accidents are much more common in urban areas, so residents of Chicago need to be extra cautious when walking and when driving. The best way to try to avoid pedestrian accidents is to make sure you are always alert, paying attention to the road and following street signs while either driving or walking. To read more about pedestrian accident rates and ways to avoid these horrible accidents, please click on the link.

The family of a young Illinois man who was killed in December has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver of the car that killed their son. The car accident occurred when the Defendant was driving under the influence of alcohol and caused the crash in which the young man was killed. According to The Southtown Star, the family is seeking over $50,000 in damages in connection with this accident. The Defendant is also facing criminal charges for drinking and driving and is currently undergoing treatment for alcohol and drug abuse. He has also had his license suspended until 2013. To read more about this tragic accident and the wrongful death lawsuit, please click on this link.

Drunk driving is a leading cause of fatal car accidents and these types of accidents are very preventable. Please make sure that you never drive when you have had too much to drink and always try to encourage others to stay out of the driver’s seat when you feel they have been drinking. Drunk driving causes so many deaths a year, see here, and it will help greatly if everyone does their part to try to keep less drunk drivers off the road.

An Illinois woman is facing criminal charges for a car accident in which an Illinois motorcyclist was killed. According to Suburban Chicago News, the woman was allegedly painting her fingernails at the time she struck the man and is being charged with six counts of reckless homicide. The car accident occurred last May at the intersection of Route 12 and Old McHenry Road, when the Illinois woman struck the motorcyclist who was stopped waiting for the light to change. To read more about this Illinois car accident and the charges the woman is facing, please click on this link.

This accident is yet another example of why it is so important to always pay attention while driving. As seen by the cell phone ban going into effect all over the country, distracted drivers are the cause of a great deal of car crashes. Many people think that it is okay to take your eyes and focus off of the road when stopped in traffic, stopped at a light or when you are driving slow but being distracted at any point while the car is on the road can be very dangerous and it is important to always stay focused.

A recent study has found cell phone distraction is more likely to cause car accidents in densely populated areas. The study looked at the rates of car accidents in densely populated areas before and after the cell-phone ban laws went into effect. The results of the study showed that there was a higher drop in car accident fatalities in the heavily congested areas, as well as a higher drop in non-fatal car accidents. According to Science Daily, the reasoning that the conductors of the study believe that there is such a difference based on the congestion of the city, is because in a higher traffic area it is much easier to hit a car when distracted by a cell phone, because the cars are so much closer to each other. In other words, if you are driving on a road with no traffic and you get distracted and lose control of your car for a second, there is a much lower chance you will hit something than when you are stopped right behind another car in a heavily congested area. To read more about this study, please click on this link.

This study is very relevant for drivers in Chicago, because the city of Chicago is very densely populated and the streets are often very congested. To read about car accident rates in the city of Chicago, please click on this link. While the cell-phone ban is currently in effect in Chicago, many drivers still ignore the law and continue to use their cell phone while driving in the city. In addition to the law and potential citations you an receive for using your cell phone while driving in the city, this study offers an additional reason to not let yourself be distracted by your cell phone while driving in a heavily congested area.

The number of drunk driving accidents and drunk driving fatalities each year are very high and are avoidable and something that needs to be addressed. According to Alcohol Alert, Illinois is among the top ten states in terms of number of alcohol-related fatalities and in 2008 there were 434 alcohol deaths. Each state has two types of offenses that may be issued in connection with driving under the influence, one of which is the offense of driving under the influence and the other which is driving with a blood alcohol concentration of over 0.08. To read more about the drunk driving statistics and what legal measures are being taken to keep drunk drivers of the road, please click on this hyperlink.

While the state-imposed punishments are definitely a deterrent and hopefully do keep the number of alcohol related car accidents much lower than they could be, it is not possible for cops to see and in turn stop everyone that is driving under the influence. Because of this, it is important for drivers to make a personal choice to not drive while under the influence, to try to discourage others from driving under the influence, and to report any erratic drivers that they see while on the road. Making these choices to help fight the drunk driving problem in our state could make a huge difference and help fight this terrible and avoidable problem that leads to many deaths and car crashes every year.

The family of a Chicago baby that was killed in a fatal car accident last week has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver of the car that caused the crash. According to the Chicago car accident attorney who filed the case, the accident occurred when the plaintiff was fleeing from a previous crash at 100 miles per hour with headlights that were not operating correctly. According to Chicago Breaking News, the accident occurred at the corner of Parker and Cicero Avenues in Chicago and while the baby’s parents survived the crash, two of their friends who were passengers in the car were also killed. Read the report about this deadly Chicago car crash.

The driver who fled the scene but was later detained. He was released without criminal charges but faces several driving violations. The wrongful death lawsuit filed by the baby’s parents seeks an unspecified amount of money for both their baby’s death and their own injuries sustained in the collision. If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a car accident and feel that you may be entitled to compensation by the person responsible, please contact an Illinois accident attorney to further discuss the case and the possible options you may have.

An Illinois resident has filed a lawsuit against Toyota, the maker of the rented car that he was driving and got into an accident in. According to The Chicago Tribune, the car accident that occurred in St. Charles at the end of last year is believed to have been caused by the sticking gas pedals in many Toyota models that have been the source of recent Toyota recalls. This faulty pedal problem makes it difficult for drivers to stop their car in time to avoid an accident which is what this specific car accident lawsuit alleges happened. Although over 5 million vehicles are believed to be affected by this safety issue, the car accident attorney that is representing the victims believes that this lawsuit is the first of its kind to be filed in Cook County.

This specific lawsuit alleges that the driver, who had rented a car from a Chicago car rental, was unable to stop his car in time to avoid hitting another car which was caused by the stuck gas pedal. The car accident lawsuit also names the car rental company as a defendant, for failing to stop renting the vehicle after Toyota had recalled that specific model. The complaint seeks over $50,000 in damages. To read more about this car accident lawsuit and the Toyota recall, please click in this hyperlink.

Many people are concerned with the way that Toyota is handling their recent recalls in the past couple weeks. The problem that have been identified in several Toyota models involve an safety issue where gas pedals have been sticking. This is a huge safety issue as a stuck gas pedal can lead to severe car accidents if the driver is unable to control their vehicle. The more recent concern is not just over the fact that this safety issue exists but that Toyota has been slow in their response to address the problem. To read more about the Toyota recalls, please click on this link.

According to Yahoo News, the Transportation Secretary says that it took Toyota awhile to recall the vehicles once the problem was initially discovered and that the government is considered penalizing Toyota for their delay. Toyota is suffering a big blow to their image with these recent safety issues, with their stock falling, and the company that has always prided itself on safety, losing business to other companies that are stepping up in the wake of these Toyota safety issues. To read more about other companies stepping in, please click on this link. For additional info on the trouble that Toyota may be in for their slow responses, please click here.

These types of safety issues in vehicles are very important to deal with because of the severity of what these issues can cause. Many car crashes may result from these faulty gas pedals and other similar safety oversights, and this is why it is so crucial for car companies to be very thorough in their quality checks and to immediately address any issues that so come up. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed as a result of negligence on the part of a car company or another driver, please contact an Illinois accident attorney to discuss your case and see what your possible options may be.

A chain reaction car accident occurred in Chicago today, which was initially caused by the snow fall earlier this morning. Very early this morning an intoxicated driver lost control on the snowy roads and hit a median on the highway, and then a truck struck the car after it hit the median. According to Chicago Breaking News, another truck trying to avoid the accident was struck by another truck traveling behind it and jack-knifed across all the lanes of traffic. The highway had to be closed for several hours to deal with this horrible mess of cars. To read more about this Chicago accident, please click on this link.

While the city of Chicago does try to prepare for the weather and reduce car accidents by clearing the snow as soon as possible, drivers need to be cautious because all roads usually cannot be cleared in time for the morning commute. Drivers need to be aware of the weather and drive slower and more cautiously given the harsh conditions. If the roads have a lot of traffic make sure not to follow others cars too closely as it is much harder to stop quickly in icy road conditions. Also keep in mind that right when snow (or rain) begins to fall is when the roads may be the most dangerous because the roads are just becoming slick.

A Madison County car accident occurred in January of last year when a Madison County Transit bus driver hit the back of an Illinois driver’s car. The driver and passenger in the car have filed a car accident lawsuit against the bus driver as well as the transit company. The lawsuit alleges that the bus driver is responsible for the accident for failing to yield the right of way to the car, driving too fast, following too closely, and multiple other violations. The plaintiffs are seeking over $450,000 in damages for their injuries. To read more about this Illinois bus accident, please click here.

As you can see given this type of accident, it is important to always be aware of your surroundings while driving and to be sure to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles and to be extra cautious when sharing the road with mass transit vehicles. This type of cautious driving can help prevent car accidents. If you were in a car accident that you feel like was the fault of the other party and would like to file a car accident lawsuit, please contact a Illinois car accident attorney for more information on how to go about this.

Toyota announced earlier today that they are issuing a recall on cars that have a certain type of floor mats that come standard in many of their models. The floor mats are being recalled because there is a serious danger that the gas pedal may get caught in the floor mat and jam, causing drivers to be unable to stop their car in time to avoid car accident. The Toyota models that are directly affected by this newest recall are Highlanders, Corollas, Venzas, Matrixes, and Pontiac Vibes.

The danger behind this type of problem is that if drivers are experiencing stuck gas pedals and are therefore unable to control their vehicle, there will be many more car accidents caused when these drivers are unable to control their car. This extremely dangerous problem must be addressed immediately. Toyota is handling the problem by taking all cars affected and either replacing the gas pedals or modifying the surface on which the pedal sits in order to keep the gas pedal from sticking. If you have any reason to believe your car may be affected by this recall, or even if you have a newer model Toyota, please check this list of recalls issued by Toyota to see if your car is affected so you can take it to your local Toyota dealership to get the problem fixed immediately.

Unfortunately this is not the first of this type of recall that Toyota has been forced to make recently. Earlier this year, Toyota issued a recall for a different problem that also involved unintentional acceleration. An additional recall from 2009 is still in affect as well. According to Consumer Affairs, some customers that experienced problems early on have found that Toyota was not quick to deal with these horrible deficiencies in their vehicles, and while no figures have been released how many car accidents have occurred that may have been avoided in Toyota had immediately dealt with this problem, the likelihood that many of these avoidable car crash occurred is high.

If you find yourself driving and the gas pedal gets stuck, it is important to try to stay calm and Toyota has recommended that if you apply firm and steady pressure to the brake, the car will be able to be controlled again. If you have had an accident as a result of a stuck gas pedal, please contact a local car accident attorney to see what actions can be taken, hopefully in order to keep this scary incident from happening to other drivers.

A car accident on January 21st resulted in the death of a Hardin man. The car accident occurred when the driver of one car involved in the accident was driving on Illinois 16 and lost control of his car and collided with another vehicle. According to My Journal Courier, the vehicle that was struck was the victim’s car and he was pronounced dead at the scene of the car accident. The driver that caused the fatal accident was been charged with driving under the influence, improper lane usage, illegal transportation of alcohol and failing to wear a seat belt. To read more about this tragic car accident, please click on this hyperlink.

An Elgin car accident that occurred on January 23rd on Route 31 resulted in the injury of two St. Charles residents. According to The Daily Herald, the car accident occurred when the car in which the two victims were in was struck by another car. At this point the condition of all the people involved in the accident is unknown but both of the St. Charles residents, as well as the driver of the car that struck them, were taken to Provena St. Joseph Hospital for treatment of their personal injuries. The road was closed for about an hour following the car accident and the driver that caused the accident received several citations. To read more about this Elgin car accident, please click on this link.

A fatal car accident that occurred on January 21st resulted in the death of one Illinois man and seriously injured another Illinois man. The fatal car accident occurred when one of the drivers lost control of his car and struck the victim’s car that was traveling in the oncoming lane on Illinois Route 16 near Illinois Route 100. According to The Telegraph, both drivers were extricated from their cars and one of the men was pronounced dead shortly after the accident. The driver that caused the car accident has been charged with driving under the influence and improper lane usage in connection with the car accident. For more information on this tragic accident, please click on this link.

An elderly Illinois pedestrian was killed on January 21st when a vehicle struck him in Albany Park. The driver of the car responsible for the car accident was unlicensed and was ticketed for driving without a license and for striking a pedestrian failing to exercise due care. According to Chicago Breaking News, the victim was taken to Advocate Illinois Medical Center but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving. To read more about this tragic Chicago car accident, please click here.

A northwest Chicago car accident resulted in the death of an Irving Park man early on the morning of January 19th. The fatal car accident occurred when a drunk driver, who also was driving without car insurance, lost control of his car and hit another vehicle. According to Chicago Breaking News, the drunk driver’s passenger was thrown from the car and died as a result of the car accident. To read any more about this Chicago car accident, please click on this link.

A fatal Bensenville car accident that occurred on January 18th resulted in the death of two teen boys. The car accident occurred when the single car in which both boys were in lost control and slammed into a tree. Both boys were pronounced dead shortly after the car accident. According to Chicago Breaking News, police believe that the car was racing another car shortly before the fatal accident or at least was traveling at too high of speeds for the street. To read more about this fatal car accident, please click on this link.

A January 16th Chicago car accident injured four people, one of which was severely personally injured. The car accident occurred when the car in which the four people were in tried to cross several lanes of traffic, lost control and flipped. The accident only involved one vehicle and all four injured were in that vehicle at the time of the car accident. According to Chicago Breaking News, it seems that the driver was under the influence at the time of the crash. To read more about this Chicago car accident, please click on this link.

A car accident lawsuit has been filed in connection with an Illinois car accident in which the Plaintiff’s claim they have suffered constant pain ever since. The car accident occurred on Illinois Route 4 when the Defendant allegedly negligently failed to reduce his speed when going through an intersection and crashed into the car in which the Plaintiff’s in this car accident lawsuit were the driver and a passenger. For more information from the Madison St. Clair Record on this car accident lawsuit, please click on this link.

A Madison County car accident that occurred in January of 2008 is the subject of a car accident lawsuit that was just filed earlier this month. The Plaintiff alleges that the Illinois Route 157 accident in which the Defendant failed to yield the right of way to the Plaintiff causing the accident that resulted in the Plaintiff’s severe and serious personal injuries of which she is still dealing with. To read more about this Illinois car accident lawsuit, click on the hyperlink.

A car accident lawsuit had been filed in connection with a car accident that occurred in West Dundee in August of 2009. According to The Daily Herald, the wrongful death lawsuit was filed by the family of a East Dundee woman that was killed when she was hit by a car while crossing Route 31. The complaint alleges that the Defendant failed to honk his horn and was not paying attention or driving safely. The plaintiff’s attorney is looking into the Defendant’s cell phone records and the speed the Defendant was going at the time of the fatal car accident. If you would like to read more about this terrible Kane County accident, please click on this link.

A Chicago car accident that occurred on I-290 on January 13th resulted in three lanes of the highway closing for a little while shortly after the car accident, however the lanes have since reopened. According to The Chicago Sun Times, one person was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. At this point it is unknown if more vehicles were involved in the car accident. To read more about this Illinois car accident, please click on the link.

A car accident involving four vehicles, may have been caused by one of the drivers having a heart attack and then crashing into the back of the car in front of him. According to BND, the Illinois police now believe that the driver that caused the Interstate 55/70 St. Clair County car accident may have had a heart attack and died prior to the accident, in turn causing him to lose control of the car and crash into another vehicle. No one else involved in the car accident suffered life-threatening injuries. If you would like to read more about this car accident, please click on this link.

A tragic car accident that occurred on January 7th left an Aurora teenager dead and her parents and sister with severe personal injuries. According to Suburban Chicago News, the car accident occurred on I-57 when the family lost control of their car after attempting to pass another vehicle and ended up skidding off of the roadway in Marion County. Both of the victims parents are listed in critical condition at Saint Louis University Hospital. The young victim was a high school student that was well liked by her classmates. If you would like to read more about this Southern Illinois car accident, please click here.

A young Edwardsville man was killed in a Madison County car accident that occurred on Illinois Route 157 on January 2nd. The young man was a member of the Illinois Army National Guard and was home for the holidays at the time of the fatal car accident. According to Suburban Journals, the young man is survived by his mother, father, stepfather, brothers and sisters. If you would like to read more about this tragic car accident, please click on the link.

A car accident lawsuit has been filed in connection with a June 14th West Chicago car accident in which a recent high school graduate was killed. According to the car accident lawsuit complaint, the accident occurred when another young graduate was driving under the influence and crashed the car in which the victim was riding. According to The KC Chronicle, the family of the victim are suing the young man that was driving, who had a BAC over the legal limit as well as marijuana in his system, for more than $6 million dollars. The driver has already pleaded not-guilty to criminal charges of aggravated driving and reckless homicide. The family of another passenger in the vehicle, who was not killed but suffered serious permanent personal injuries, previously filed a lawsuit in connection with the car accident. For more information on this St. Charles car accident lawsuit, click on the link.

An Oak Forest car accident on January 1st resulted in the death of a young Illinois woman. The car accident occurred when the driver of the car was driving under the influence and heading west on 147th Street, struck a light pole and ended up rolling over with the car ending up in a ditch. The young victim was the passenger in the vehicle and was killed instantly, and the driver only suffered minor personal injuries and was treated and released from Advocate Christ Medical Center shortly after the car accident. According to The Chicago Tribune, the driver and the victim were in a relationship and the father of the driver claims that the victim was distracting the driver at the time of the car accident, however the driver is currently being held in custody for aggravated driving under the influence (the driver’s BAC was three times over the legal limit) and reckless homicide. To read more about this fatal Cook County car accident, please click on the hyperlink.

A lawsuit has been filed in connection with a car accident that occurred in January of 2008, in Belleville. The car accident occurred at the intersection of Illinois Route 159 and Illinois Route 3. The car accident complaint alleges that the driver of the car that was struck has suffered not only his physical injuries but also mental anguish and great financial loss because of his inability to work. According to The St. Clair Record, the Plaintiff’s car accident lawsuit seeks more than $50,000 in damages. To read more about this car accident lawsuit, please click on this hyperlink.

The wife of a man that was killed in a Kane County car accident is suing the police department, claiming that if the police had detained the motorist responsible for the crash when they stopped her shortly before the accident, then her husband would not have been killed. This wrongful death lawsuit is in respect to a car accident that occurred on March 20th in which a woman, that had been pulled over for driving erratically just moments before the Illinois Highway 47 accident, crashed her car into the victim’s car, killing the driver. According to The Chicago Tribune, the lawsuit alleges that the driver of the car that was responsible for the accident was under the influence. To read more about this Kane County car accident lawsuit, click here.

A car accident that occurred on January 2nd, left an Edwardsville man dead. According to The Telegraph, the single-car accident occurred in Illinois Route 157 when the victim lost control of his car and left the road, entering a ditch and flying through the air before striking a culvert, flipping and catching on fire. By the time the firefighters arrived, the car was completely engulfed in flames. Police officials have noticed that a great deal of car accidents have recently ended in extreme fires, and all of these fiery Illinois car crashed are still under investigation. To read more about these Illinois car accidents, please click on the hyperlink.

A Champaign car accident leaves a Chicago woman dead. The car accident occurred earlier this morning when the victim’s car struck a train. The accident occurred on East Bradley Avenue and the victim was immediately take to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana but unfortunately her personal injuries were so severe that she died several hours later from these injuries. According to News-Gazette, the accident is still under investigation by the Champaign police department. If you are interested in further information about this fatal Illinois car accident, please click on the link.

An Illinois woman died the night of December 27th following injuries she suffered in a Deerfield, Illinois accident on December 7th. The victim was a Wheeling resident and suffered major personal injuries in the one-car accident. According to Chicago Breaking News, the Deerfield police are still unaware as to what caused the victim to crash her. For more information on this fatal Illinois accident, please click on the link.

A car accident that occurred on December 27th left four people dead, including one Illinois man. The car accident occurred when a sports utility vehicle when off the road, crossed the median and crashed head-first into another sports utility vehicle. According to The Chicago Tribune, the Illinois man was the driver of the original car and his passenger was seriously personally injured but survived the crash. Three people in the second vehicle were killed and two small children that were passengers were taken to a local children’s hospital, but luckily survived the car crash. To read more about this accident in which an Illinois man was killed, click here.

A Swansea car accident involving three cars that occurred on December 27th, left one man with serious personal injuries. The accident occurred at Illinois 159 and Frank Scott Parkway when a pickup truck tried to make a left turn and failed to yield to another car, causing the pickup to flip over and hit another car. The driver of the pickup truck had to be extricated from the vehicle and was airlifted to a local hospital, and his current condition is not known. According to BND, the car accident caused a major backup on the Illinois 159 northbound. To read more about this Illinois car accident, click here.

A Greene County car accident involving two cars, on December 26th, left the driver of one of the cars and his young passenger seriously injured. According to My Journal Courier, the car accident occurred on U.S. 67 when the injured driver lost control of his car and went into the lane of oncoming traffic, colliding with another vehicle. The driver of the second vehicle only suffered minor personal injuries but the driver that caused the accident and his teenage passenger were left in much more serious condition in local hospitals. The original driver was cited for improper lane usage and operating an uninsured vehicle. If you would like more information on this Illinois car accident, please click on this link.

A Chicago car accident occurred on December 26th in which a driver of a pickup truck sideswiped a young boy, causing the boy to be hospitalized in serious condition. The accident occurred on South Kostner Avenue, and after the car hit the boy the car drove away. The boy then walked home and did not go to the hospital until later that evening when he complained that his head hurt. According to The Chicago Sun Times, the Chicago Police are looking for the hit-and-run driver and ask anyone that has any information in regards to the car accident to please contact them as soon as possible. If you would like to read more about this terrible car accident, please click here.

A new law will go into effect on January 1st in which it will be illegal to text on a cell phone in the state of Illinois. This law includes outlawing texting while at a stop sign or stop light as well as when the vehicle is in motion. According to Review Atlas, hopefully this will reduce the number of car accidents caused by people not paying attention and texting while driving. While the law is directed at all ages, young drivers seem to be most at risk for getting in texting related car accidents and advocates of this law hope that this new law will encourage parents to talk to their teenagers about paying attention while driving. The importance of parents incorporating this advice in a talk about safe driving to their children is that texting can be very dangerous, but the new law may still make it hard to police officers to catch texters while driving. If you would like to read more about this texting ban in Illinois, please click on this link.

Ice on Chicago roadways led to a number of car accidents on the evening of December 23rd. One accident occurred in Oak Brook on a ramp onto the I-294. A number of people were taken to local hospitals following another accident on the Chicago Skyway. The Skyway was closed following the multi-vehicle accident. According to the Chicago Sun Times, the accident was not the first on this highway that day and several other accidents occurred nearby.

An Illinois woman from Braidwood has filed a car accident lawsuit against the other driver involved in a May accident in Coal City. The Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle that was struck when the Defendant’s car attempted to turn and hit the other car. According to Morris Daily Herald, the car accident complaint alleges that as a result of the accident the Plaintiff was thrown from the vehicle. To read more about this Illinois car accident lawsuit, click here.

While the number of car accidents resulting from pavement-edge drop-offs remain high, little efforts are being made to improve the roads safety. These drop-offs cause about 160 deaths a year and injure thousands more, and according to The New York Times, the drops are easily fixable. The drop-offs are common in construction work zones and cause a great deal of car accidents along with other safety hazards at work sites. Unfortunately, the laws and regulations governing safety measures in work zones are virtually non-existent and what precautions are in place are rarely followed. To read more about the issues with dangerous work zones, please click on this link.

A Chicago car accident on the Stevenson Expressway on December 20th left one man dead. The car accident occurred when an off duty police officer’s car veered onto the shoulder of the I-55 and struck a barrier and then flew over the median and struck two vehicles going in the opposite direction. The driver of one of the vehicles was killed in the accident and the police officer and third driver did not suffer life threatening injuries. The area of the I-55 where the car accident occurred was shut down for about five hours to clean up and for police to investigate the crash. The Lockport Police Department, where the off duty police officer worked would not say more than that he was involved in the crash and at this time according to Chicago Breaking News, it is unknown if the police officer’s blood alcohol count was over the legal limit. To read more about this tragic Illinois accident, click here.

A Cook County sheriff that was charged in connection with a Chicago car accident in which an Illinois Department of Transportation worker was hit has had a charge of reckless driving added against him. The car accident occurred when the sheriff was off duty on September 2nd and the sheriff initially faced no citations, however the driver struck by the car felt that no citations were issued at the time because the sheriff was wearing his uniform when the car accident occurred. Later that month, police issued the sheriff a citation for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and failure to yield. According to Chicago Sun Times, the reckless driving charge was just resulting added. To read more about this Chicago car accident, click here.

An Alsip man was killed early this morning after the driving was driving on Hoyne Avenue in Chicago and struck a parked car. According to Chicago Breaking News, the Morgan Park accident left only the one man with injuries and we was pronounced dead at a local hospital shortly after the car accident. At this point the fatal Chicago car accident is still under investigation, but if you would like to read more about the accident please click on the link.

A single car accident resulted in the death of a Crisman man early on the morning of December 16th. The car accident occurred in Edgar County on Illinois 1 when the driver drove off the road into a ditch, hit a culvert and flipped his car. According to the Gazette, the driver was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the car accident and was thrown from his car causing him to die of fatal wounds. To read more about this fatal accident, please click on the link.

A North Side Chicago car accident on December 8th resulted in the death of one man. The car accident occurred at the intersection of Hollywood Avenue and Sheridan Road and was caused by a woman rear-ending the victims car at a stopped traffic light. According to Chicago Breaking News, the victim was having a heart attack and therefore did not go when the light turned green and then the woman’s car then struck his and pushed it through the intersection and into a light pole. The victim was alive following the car accident but then died shortly after being taken to a local hospital. The woman that rear-ended the man was cited with following too closely. If you would like to read more about this Chicago car accident and the victim’s life, please click on the hyperlink.

An Illinois man faces felony charges in connection with a fatal Chicago car accident that occurred on December 6th. The Gage Park accident occurred when the driver was driving under the influence and was driving the wrong way on 58th Street, entered the California Avenue intersection and struck a car. According to Chicago Breaking News, the victim was in the car struck by the aggravated driver, and the driver and his passenger refused treatment. The driver was originally ticketed for driving without insurance, driving the wrong way on a one-way street, reckless driving and failing to yield, but upon finding drugs and alcohol in his system the felony charges for aggravated driving under the influence were added. To read more about this Chicago car accident, click on this link.

Very early this morning, a pedestrian was struck by a car in the Austin neighborhood in Chicago. According to Chicago Breaking News, three other people were injured in this Chicago car accident and all four injured were taken to local area hospitals. The car accident occurred near North and Central Avenues on the West Side of Chicago. At this point little is known about the conditions of the victims. To read more about this Chicago pedestrian accident, please click here.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has offered several tips to help keep families safe over the holiday season, hopefully reducing the number of Illinois car accidents this season. IDOT first recommends to make your vehicle winter ready by assuring that you regularly check all car equipment and make sure everything is running smoothly because the Illinois winter weather can be very tough on vehicles. Next, it is important to have an emergency survival kit in your car, in the event of a car accident or other car trouble. This kit should include items such as an ice scraper and other items to clean an icy windshield, jumper cables, antifreeze, shovels, tire chains, salt and other basic tools that could come in handy in an emergency. In the event that you get stuck in your vehicle it is important to have blankets, extra coats, gloves, hats, food, candles, fire extinguisher, flashlights and flares. Also remember to always have a cell phone, preferably with a backup battery source on you at all times when traveling in a car. Whenever you are planning a trip somewhere in horrible weather, make sure you are only driving in these terrible conditions at times when it is absolutely necessary, because so many car accidents happen at times when people should not even be driving in such dangerous conditions. If you must travel check the weather conditions along the route prior to departure to give you a better idea of what to expect. Current road conditions can be found at www.dot.il.gov and Interstate rest areas are equipped with monitors that display this current road condition information as well. Also make sure to always let others know where and when you are leaving and make sure to let them know when you safely arrive. If you are planning to travel to an unfamiliar area try to travel in daylight areas and bring detailed maps along with you. Also, as in any driving situation, make sure you have proper personal identification, car registration and insurance and a full gas tank. When you are on the road make sure to always have your seat belt fastened and drive cautiously, always willing to seek refuge if weather conditions become too severe to continue driving. Always be alert and aware of your surroundings. If you do become stranded make sure to pull off as far of the road as possible to try to avoid a car accident and do not panic! Use your best judgment to determine if you should leave your vehicle to try to seek help (be aware of the temperature outside) and if you decide to stay in your vehicle and wait for help make sure to stay moving when possible to increase body heat. Please follow these tips to avoid car accidents and have a safe holiday season! For more IDOT tips, please click on this hyperlink.

A Chicago Heights man has died after suffering serious personal injuries when struck by a car in a Chicago Heights car accident that occurred on November 28th. According to Southtown Star, the victim was crossing Chicago Road at 15th Street when he was hit by a car that was headed southbound. The man was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn following the car accident and passed away from his severe personal injuries four days later. At this point Chicago Heights police are not commenting on the accident. If you would like more details about this terrible Chicago Heights accident, click on the link.

An Illinois woman was struck and killed by a car while she was out of her vehicle on the corner of 209th Street and Western Avenue in Chicago Heights investigating a minor car accident that she had just been involved in. According to The Southtown Star, the Illinois woman and another woman involved in the minor accident were outside of their cars inspecting the damage when another vehicle hit the two women. One Illinois woman suffered fatal injuries and the other driver, who was a teenager suffered a broken leg when struck by the other car. The South Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating this fatal car accident, and for more information please click here.

A Chicago car accident that occurred on November 29th on U.S 57 in Calumet Park killed a college baseball player. According to The Chicago Tribune, the former Illinois resident who was on his way back to school when the crash occurred was pronounced dead at the scene after his car hit a wall and rolled over. While the details of the accident are not yet known, police know that alcohol was not a factor in the car accident. To read more about this tragic accident, click here.

A single car accident near Effingham resulted in the death of an Illinois man that was the assistant football coach as Eastern Illinois University. According to The Chicago Tribune, the car accident occurred on November 28th, and happened while the coach and his family and another coach were driving back from a playoff football game in Carbondale, when the driver served to miss a deer and rolled over. The coach was the only person fatality injured, but two other people involved in the crash were hospitalized. The coach is survived by his wife and two young children. If you would like more information on this Illinois car accident, please click here.

A South Side of Chicago car accident that occurred on November 27th left eight people injured, including six children. The car accident occurred on Garfield Boulevard when the driver of the car swerved off of the road and struck a tree. According to The Chicago Sun Times, all of the victims were either taken to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County or Mount Sinai Hospital for treatment of their personal injuries. At this time it is unknown whether any of the passengers were wearing seat belts and if the children were in car seats. The car did only have five seat belts, and it is very important for all passengers in car to wear seat belts, especially children, and for their to be one seat belt per passenger in order to avoid serious injury in the event of a car accident. For more information on this Chicago car accident, please click on the link.

A seven car accident on Chicago’s Dan Ryan Expressway that occurred on November 21st just south of Downtown Chicago, caused the northbound express lanes to be shut down temporarily. According to The Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Police Department and Illinois Department of Transportation were available to assist with traffic control, and they said that drivers were getting frustrated and turning around on the expressway which was causing more traffic problems. At this point no injuries have been reported, but the details of the car accident was not completely known. For more information on this Cook County car accident, click here.

A Chicago woman died in a car accident that occurred on November 25th in the South Austin area of Chicago. The car accident occurred when the driver of the car lost control and crashed into an abandoned church. According to Chicago Breaking News, the driver was taken to Loyola Medical Center and is listed in critical condition and the victim that died from personal injuries sustained in the crash was the passenger in the vehicle. For more information on this West Side crash, click here.

A trend has emerged in Illinois in which car accidents involving deer have decreased. In 2008 there were 814 fewer deer crashed that the year people and the number of people injured in these deer and car accidents has also decreased. According to The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), people need to remember that that deer accidents are hard to avoid, and more likely to occur in the fall at dawn and dusk, that it is crucial for drivers to be alert, wear their seatbelt and for motorcyclists to make sure to wear helmets. For more information on the decrease in deer and car accidents and more tips to avoid these types of accidents, please click here.

The trial in connection with a Madison County car accident that occurred in 2006 is set to begin later this week. The Plaintiff is suing Defendant for personal injuries he suffered when Defendant struck Plaintiff’s car on Illinois State Route 159, and allegedly failed to control his car, keep a look out, sound his horn all while he was speeding. According to The Madison St. Clair Record, the Defendant is denying all allegations. The Plaintiff and his car accident attorney seek damages for Plaintiff’s pain, lose wages and medical costs incurred. To read more about this car accident lawsuit, please click the hyperlink.

A Joliet car accident on I-55 left was elderly man that was the chief executive of a uniform hat manufacturer that made hats for the Illinois State Police dead. The victim was driving on the side of the highway on a spare tire with his hazard lights on at the time of the fatal car accident. The driver of the car that struck the back of the victims vehicle was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and at this time no wrongful death charges have been filed. According to Chicago Breaking News, the northbound lanes were all closed for several hours following the accident. To read more about this fatal accident, please click here.

A young Arlington Heights man was died as a result of the personal injuries he sustained in a September 20th car accident. The car accident occurred when the driver of the car lost control of the vehicle and the car crossed the road and crashed into the tree. According to The Daily Herald, the Bass Lake Township accident killed one of the passengers soon after the car accident and the driver is said to have suffered critical injuries. If you would like to learn more about this tragic car accident, please click on this link.

A Chicago car accident on November 21st left eight people injured, including one child. The accident occurred on the Dan Ryan Expressway and involved five vehicles and caused the northbound express lanes to be shut down for about 40 minutes. According to Chicago Breaking News, the cause of the car accident is not known at this point. If you would like to read more about this multiple Chicago car accident, click here.

The Illinois police department is increasing their patrols for the duration on the holiday season. The operation is called “Operation Save 100” with the goal of cutting down at least 100 fatalities caused by car accidents between Thanksgiving and the end of the holiday season. According to the Northwest Herald, the increase will focus on certain areas and will involve seat belt patrols which will hopefully save lives especially when the weather conditions are bad and also will focus on trying to stop drunk drivers. The holiday season is a very dangerous time for drivers in terms of encountering drunk drivers on their way home from holiday parties. To read more about this initiative to reduce fatal car accidents in Illinois, please click on this link.

A car accident that occurred on November 18th on Interstate 270 near Granite City resulted in the death of one woman. The car accident occurred when the woman was driving and then her car flipped and hit a concrete span of an overpass. According to bnd.com, the woman was killed instantly and funeral arrangements are still pending. The woman was on her way to her mother’s house at the time of the accident, where her child was being watched by her mother. For more information on this tragic Madison County car accident, please click here.

A Chicago car accident occurred on November 19th, that left five people injured, three of whom suffered seriously personal injuries. According to Chicago Breaking News, the car crash happened at the corner of 58th and State Street. Three of the injured people were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the other two victims were taken to Provident Hospital of Cook County. To read more about this Chicago car accident, please click on the hyperlink.

Two Illinois residents were injured in a car accident that occurred on November 15th. The accident was a one-car accident that occurred when their vehicle ran off the road, struck an embankment and flipped over, landing on its top. According to The Quincy Herald-Whig, the injured parties were the driver and his passenger, one of which was from Lomax and the other was from Middleton. Following the accident were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their personal injuries. Fore more information on this Illinois car accident, please click here.

Friends and family are reaching out to a family that lost their 4 year old daughter in a tragic chain reaction car accident while the Lake County family was on their way to Disney World for a vacation. The car accident occurred when the driver of an RV, that was pulling a horse trailer, crashed into the family’s minivan causing the minivan to cause into other cars, and in all six cars were involved in the accident. The RV driver claims that he thought he was hitting the brakes but was instead stepping on the gas, and has been cited with driving too fast to avoid traffic conditions, driving an RV and trailer in the fast lane, and driving an RV and trailer with a length that was over limit, The mother and both of the children in the minivan were in critical condition at the scene, and the 4 year old daughter ended up dying of her personal injuries. According to Pioneer Local, a fund as been set up to help out the family and provide for all their medical funds. If you would like to read more about this Lake County family’s car accident, please click here.

With the holidays fast approaching, the Illinois Department of Transportation has announced Operation Save 100, a campaign to reduce the number of fatalities due to car accidents on Illinois highways and roads by 100 from November through New Years of this year. During this time, IDOT will partner with the Illinois State Police and other law enforcement agencies across the state to increase safety operations and complete weekly reports on activity and crashes. Additionally, IDOT will conduct a media campaign that will use interviews, press conferences and news releases to raise public awareness surrounding the safety campaign. Click on the hyperlinked text to learn more about the campaign to reduce car accidents in Illinois.

A two vehicle Peoria car accident occurred earlier this morning on Illinois 8 in Knox County. According to The Register-Mail, an sports utility vehicle crossed over the center line and struck another sports utility vehicle that was traveling in the opposite direction. Both drivers as well as one passenger were taken to St. Francis Medical Center, although the passenger was hospitalized for a condition that was not related to the car crash. The driver that caused the Peoria car accident was cited with improper lane usage. If you would like to read more about this Knox County car accident, please click here.

A Chicago car accident on the South Side that occurred on November 14th, left an elderly woman, and another person involved in the accident, dead. The accident occurred at the intersection of 75th and State when a car ran a red light slamming into a car that was making a left hand turn, causing that car to hit two other nearby cars.. According to Chicago Breaking News, the driver of the car that was turning left was a Chicago resident and was killed as a result of the car accident. An elderly woman that was a passenger in the car that ran the red light was also killed in the accident. There are charged pending against the driver of the car that caused the Chicago car accident. Charges may also be filed by the victim’s families for wrongful death for the two victims. For more information on this fatal Chicago car accident, click here.

A five car accident occurred on Illinois Route 59 on October 10th, but luckily only resulted in minor injuries to the parties involved. The Illinois car accident occurred at the intersection of Illinois Route 59 and S. Park Place Drive in Bartlett, when one of the drivers involved struck the back of another car while he was attempting to change lanes. According to My Suburban Life, the two cars were then propelled into the oncoming lanes of traffic resulting in contact with three other vehicles. Four of the drivers involved suffered minor personal injuries and were taken to local Bartlett area hospitals and are listed in good condition. At this point, police do not believe that the Bartlett car accident was the result of a distract or impaired driver and therefore no charges were filed. Illinois Route 59 was reduced to one lane for about an hour following the accident. For more information on this Illinois car accident, please click on this link.

A young Elgin woman was killed in a Streamwood car accident on November 9th. The victim was a passenger in a car that was struck head-on at the corner of Irving Park Road and Vine Street. The driver involved in the car accident is in stable condition at a local hospital. According to The Daily Herald, the car accident occurred when the driver swerved across the middle line and into oncoming traffic and was then struck by a car head on. No one else in the accident was seriously injured. For more information on this Streamwood car accident, click here.

A car accident that occurred earlier this afternoon resulted in the death of a teenage boy. The car accident occurred in Elgin, on Center Street, and the police are still investigating the crash. According to Chicago Breaking News, there were witnesses to the accident in which the boy died shortly after being involved in the accident. For more information on this Kane County car accident, click here.

An Oak Lawn car accident that occurred on November 9th resulted in the death of a Chicago woman. The woman was walking near Kenton Avenue and 95th street when she was struck and killed by a car. According to Chicago Breaking News, the Oak Lawn police are still investigating the car accident. For more information on this fatal pedestrian accident, click here.

A lawsuit has been settled in which the family of a victim of a 2006 car accident received $1.5 million. The Winnebago car accident resulted in serious brain damage to the victim, whose brother was killed in the car accident and whose sister suffered from permanent brain damage. This is the last of several cases the victim’s family has filed. According to WREX, the car accident involved the victim’s car and a police vehicle. For more information on this Rockford car accident settlement, click here.

Two men have been charged in connection with a November 3rd accident on the Southside of Chicago, after they tried to run over police officers and ended up killing a woman. According to The Chicago Sun Times, the car accident and chase began when two drug officers were conducting a traffic stop on two suspected drug dealers, and when the cops revealed themselves the driver took off. The driver rammed into the cop car and then sped away and struck another car, in which a woman was killed. For more information on this fatal Chicago car accident, click here.

An Illinois man was been charged with reckless driving in connection with a car accident that occurred on November 7th in which a children and her mother were seriously personally injured. According to The Daily Herald, the accident occurred on Pingree Road, after the driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the car in which the child and her mother were traveling. The Crystal Lake car accident is still under investigation, and for more information on this car accident, click here.

A Tinley Park man was killed when he was struck by a teenager who then ran into a stoplight and another car. The pedestrian was killed instantly and the driver of the vehicle that was struck was taken to a local hospital for treatment of her personal injuries. According to The Southtown Star, the car accident occurred on November 4th and the teenage driver has been cited with improper lane usage and driving too fast given the current conditions. For more information on this fatal Tinley Park accident, click here.

A car accident lawsuit has been filed against a man that lost control of his vehicle on August 17th on IL Route 13, and crossed the center line and struck an oncoming car. The lawsuit was filed by the passenger in the car with him, who alleges that he suffered a brain injury, great pain and mental anguish. According to the Madison St. Clair County Record, this St. Clair car accident lawsuit seeks over $50,000 in damages. For more information on this Illinois car accident lawsuit, click here.

The driver that caused the car accident that occurred last month, in which a pregnant mother of five was killed, has been charged with drunk driving. The crash that killed the woman and caused her baby to die after have to be emergency delivered early, occurred in Chicago. According to Chicago Breaking News, the driver could face up to 14 years in prison if convicted. To read more about this fatal Chicago car accident, click here.

A woman that was rear-ended in a car accident in 2007 has filed a lawsuit allegedly claiming that after the Madison County car accident she can no longer properly care for her husband that suffers from Parkinson’s disease. According to The Madison Record the complaint alleges that the car accident occurred when the woman was driving on Landmark Boulevard near US 67 and her vehicle was struck from behind when she slowed down at the intersection. The victim and her car accident attorney are seeking over $100,000, because she can no longer provide the proper care for her sick husband as a result of the personal injuries sustained in the accident. For more information on this Madison County lawsuit, click here.

The victim of a car accident settled a lawsuit for $1.25 million dollars, in connection with a case that would typically never have resulted in the type of personal injuries that she sustained. According to Online PR News, the car accident occurred when the victim was rear-ended by a car that was only traveling 10 miles per hour, and left her with neck injuries that required multiple surgeries. According to the victim’s complaint, the car accident triggered a pre-existing neck condition and the systems did not manifest until shortly after the accident. The car accident was settled in mediation. For more information on this car accident settlement, click here.

The family of the victim of a terrible pedestrian accident, that occurred last year, have filed a lawsuit against the city for $75 million dollars. The lawsuit alleges that the car accident, in which their son suffered serious brain injuries which left him in a coma, was caused by the unsafe condition of the road at the intersection where the accident occurred. The car accident occurred when the victim was crossing the street, where as the complaint alleges the city did not provide proper lighting, signage and safety features, and the teenage boy was struck by a car. The city alleges that the pedestrian crossed the street in unmarked area and that the car accident was not the city’s fault. The police report for the terrible pedestrian accident also alleges that the accident was the boy’s fault and that he failed to yield the right-of-way to vehicles posing an immediate hazard. According to The Orange County Register, the woman that hit the young boy did not receive any citations in connection with the accident. For more information on this pedestrian accident and lawsuit, click here.

A Long Grove resident involved in a Lake County car accident in early 2008 on Route 176 has just settled a lawsuit in connection to the accident for $125,000. According to The Daily Herald, the car accident involved the Long Grove woman and a police car, and occurred when the cop was trying to receive information over his radio and then struck the back of the woman’s car. While the county did settle with the woman, they do not admit liability and cops are personally immune from liability when they are responding to a call and get into a car accident. For more information on this car accident settlement, click here.

The victim of a car accident that occurred in 2005 and which left the Morristown woman a paraplegic has settled her car accident lawsuit. The woman will receive $4 million dollars to help pay for her medical bills and living expenses, as well as money to try and help compensate her mental anguish. According to The Daily Record, the car accident occurred on Route 287 when a car rear-ended the woman and her car then collapsed onto her and the rear of the car crushed forward into her, which caused severe injuries to her spinal cord leaving her with permanent personal injuries. For more information on this car accident and the lawsuit and settlement, click here.

A Chicago car accident that occurred earlier today resulted in the death of one man and left two others with severe personal injuries. The car accident occurred on West Congress Parkway following a police chase that began when police tried to question a man they believed might have been attempting to break into a car, and the man then jumped in a car that then sped away. According to the Chicago Sun Times, the cops were then pursuing the car and the car lost control and crashed into a tree. At this point, the investigation of the car accident and chase are still under investigation.

A Chatham car accident that occurred on October 26th left two Chicago police officers hospitalized. The accident occurred on East 79th Street, on the South Side of Chicago, when the cop driving lost control of the car and struck a pole. Luckily, no pedestrians were injured in the accident. According to Chicago Breaking News, the cops were on there way to respond to a call at the time of the car accident.

A bus accident lawsuit was just filed in connection with an Illinois accident that occurred in May in which two people died in a double-decker bus accident. The two victims in the accident were killed when they were standing on the open deck of the bus and the bus traveled under a I-57 bridge not allowing enough clearance. According to the Journal Gazette/Times-Courier, the two victims suffered massive head injuries and later died of the personal injuries sustained. The accident lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of the driver and the company, citing that there were other higher overpasses they could have used. For more information on this fatal Illinois bus accident lawsuit, click here.

A car accident earlier this morning left a woman dead. The car accident happened early this morning, on what happened to be the victim’s birthday, when she was driving down South Chicago Avenue and lost control of her car. She then struck a car and the force of the impact caused the car to roll over and the driver to be ejected from the vehicle. According to WBBM Newsradio 780, the driver was pronounced dead on the scene and the passenger was taken a local hospital for treatment of her personal injuries resulting from the car accident.

A car accident occurred on Highway 14 on October 21st just a few feet from where emergency personnel were responding to another car accident. Three people were injured in the second accident, and one victim was killed in the initial accident. The second accident occurred when a driver of one of the cars braked while passing the scene of the other crash, and a bus was not able to stop in time and crashed into the back of the first car which spun into a third car. According to The Gazette Extra, the injured parties were the people in the cars and no one on the bus was injured in this car accident.

The baby of the pregnant woman that was killed in the car accident mentioned above, that occurred on October 21st, has died. The baby was delivered in an emergency surgery but had suffered such serious personal injuries as a result of the accident in addition to being so premature and unfortunately died several days after the surgery. According to Chicago Breaking News, the mother, who died shortly after surgery, had five other children who are currently staying with their great-grandmother. The driver responsible for the fatal car accident is in police custody and facing many citations and at this point it is unknown if he will face criminal charges.

The autopsy of a teenager that was severely personally injured, causing her to be pronounced brain dead, is scheduled after she was taken of life support earlier this week. The victim was in a one-car accident on October 16th in Mossville. According to the Peoria Journal Star, the car accident occurred when the car in which the victim was a passenger in made a sharp right turn and slammed into a guardrail after it had been speeding on Route 29 just north of Illinois Route 6. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence after her blood alcohol content was tested and found to be over two times the legal limit (the driver was also a teenager and therefore not old enough to drink), leaving the scene after the accident and fleeing and eluding a cop after being initially approached following the tragic Mossville car accident.

A car accident occurred this morning on the West Side of Chicago in which a pregnant woman was killed and four other were injured, at least one of which was a child. According to Chicago Breaking News, the accident occurred at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Kostner Avenue and four of the victims were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their severe personal injuries and are listed in serious-to-critical condition. A fifth victim of this Garfield Park car accident was taken to a different local hospital and is listed in good condition.

An Illinois woman has received citations in connection with a Chicago car accident where the woman drove through a stop sign and hit the back of a cop car. According to Chicago Breaking News, the driver has been cited with failure to produce a valid driver’s license, driving without insurance, damage to city property and failure to yield to a stop sign. Seven people were injured in the accident, five of which were taken to local hospitals. Luckily, no one suffered life-threatening personal injuries in this Cook County Car Accident.

A retired police officer was killed in a Vernon Hills car accident on August 15th when the car that he was a passenger in was struck by another car. According to Suburban Chicago News, the car accident occurred on Route 50 when the driver of the car the retired officer was in made a left turn in front of a car that then struck the original car. The retired police officer was the only person injured in this fatal car accident.

A fatal car accident occurred in Chicago on October 17th when a car struck a local panhandler and drove away without stopping at the scene. The accident occurred on the corner of Roosevelt and Cicero and friends say they had warned him that it was a dangerous intersection, and he had even been struck by a car at that intersection previously. According to ABC, a gas station video caught the October 17th car accident on video and police are looking for a red vehicle with extensive front end damage and possible windshield damage. Many people could vouch for what a great guy the victim of this fatal hit-and-run accident was.

An East Moline woman was killed on October 12th when she was involved in a car accident south of Le Claire. According to The Des Moines Register, the car crash occurred near US Highway 67 and West Canal Shore Road and the other car appears to have been heading southbound on US 67 when the driver crossed the middle line and struck the victim’s car, causing this fatal car accident.

A woman was charged with aggravated DUI after allegedly being the cause of a North Side Chicago car accident on August 1st in which a motorcyclist was killed. The accident occurred in the early morning hours at the Ashland and Wilson intersection. According to Chicago Sun Times, the woman took a field sobriety test and then was given a blood alcohol test when she was taken to a local hospital. In connection with this lawsuit, a nurse at the hospital has filed a civil lawsuit because she was arrested when she refused to give the driver a blood test when she arrived at the hospital. The civil lawsuit claims that an officer ordered the nurse to take a blood test and when she refused telling him that the woman would have to be a patient of the hospital before she could administer the test, she was arrested. For more information on the criminal and civil case in connection with this Chicago car accident, click here.

An arrest has been made in connection with a Park Ridge car accident that occurred on October 11th that left two dead and four more injured. The driver that caused the fatal car accident has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence. According to Pioneer Local, the crash occurred when a car, in which the victims were traveling in, was headed east on Oakton Street when it collided with a car going north on Riverside. The second car claims they had the green light at the time of the fatal Park Ridge car accident.

A lawsuit was filed in connection with a St. Clair County car accident in which the plaintiff was thrown from his vehicle when another vehicle struck the rear of his car. The car accident lawsuit alleges that the plaintiff suffered personal injuries to his neck, back, internal and external organs and a herniated disc. According to The St. Clair Record, the car accident attorney claims that the driver negligently failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to keep his vehicle under control, followed too closely and failed to stop to avoid hitting the plaintiff. The truck accident lawsuit seeks more than $50,000 in damages.

A Chicago police officer was killed when he got into a fatal car accident early this morning. According to WBBM 780, the car accident occurred on the Kennedy Expressway at a curve at West Bryn Mawr Avenue and it may have been caused by the officer losing control on the curve, however the cause for the crash is still unknown. The officer died of multiple injuries from the car crash and he was not on duty at the time of the car accident. For more information on this Chicago car accident, click here.

A DUI charge has been filed in connection with the previously mentioned Lakeview car accident on October 8th, in which five people were injured when the driver was driving drunk and struck a parked car. According to Chicago Breaking News, the driver has also been charged with three misdemeanor counts of the endangering the life and health of a child and with one count of reckless driving. For more information on this drunk driving car accident criminal case, click here.

A settlement has been reached in connection with a March 2008 car accident in which a police patrol car crossed a double yellow line and struck a group of bicyclists. According to KLIV 1590, two of the bicyclists were killed and their families filed lawsuits in connection with their wrongful deaths. One of these lawsuits was previously settled, and the other one was just settled for $1.2 million dollars. There are two more lawsuits still pending in connection with this tragic car accident. For more information on this fatal car accident, click here.

A car accident that occurred late on the evening of October 8th in the Lakeview area of downtown Chicago, injured 5 people including three children. According to Chicago Breaking News, the driver of the car was drunk and driving on North Western Avenue when he struck the end of a parked car. All of the injured people were passengers in the drunk driver’s car and all but one woman, who denied medical attention, were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their personal injuries. There is no current information on the status of the victims. For more information on this Chicago car accident, click here.

An elderly man died on October 7th as a result of severe personal injuries sustained when he was struck by a car at 980 N. Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago 17 days before his death. According to Chicago Breaking News, an autopsy determined that his death was a result of the injuries sustained in the pedestrian accident. The driver of the car that struck the victim was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian at the time of accident. For more information on this pedestrian accident, click here.

One of the victims in the South Side of Chicago van and CTA bus accident on October 6th has died as a result of injuries sustained in the bus accident. According to Chicago Breaking News, the victim was in the van which appears to be an adult day care van and was pronounced dead early this morning. The bus accident occurred when the bus was stopped at 83rd and Cottage Grove and the driver of the van was driving too close behind and struck the bus. The van driver has been cited for tailgating the bus. For more information on this bus accident, click here.

An Ohio man has been charged with drunk driving and reckless homicide in connection with a car crash that occurred in Chicago at 59th and Ashland early on the morning of October 3rd. According to ABC news, the drunk driver allegedly ran a read light and struck a car in which two Chicago residents were riding and were immediately killed. For more information on this Chicago car accident, click here.

The widow of a Chicago man that was killed in a multi-car crash this past weekend is speaking out in anger. According to ABC news, the car crash was caused by a driver who had past reckless driving charges against him who was speeding and had drugs in his system at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Crestwood on Cicero Avenue and involved eight cars, but the widow’s husband was the only person killed in the accident. She is speaking out over the problem with the driver being allowed on the streets when he already had a reckless homicide charge against him. For more information on this fatal Chicago car accident, click here.

Two people died in a car crash on the West Side of Chicago neighborhood of Austin on the evening of October 2nd. Only one car was involved in the crash and the accident occurred when the car hit a pole. The driver and one passenger of the vehicle were killed as a result of the car crash, and two other passengers are listed in critical condition. According to the Chicago Sun Times, the Major Accident Investigation Unit is currently investigating what caused the fatal Chicago car accident. For more information on this awful crash, click here.

An eight-vehicle car accident occurred on October 1st in which a Chicago suburban man was killed. The Chicago car accident occurred when one of the drivers was speeding and plowed into seven cars in front of him. Other than the one victim which was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, no one else suffered serious personal injuries. According to Chicago Breaking News, the driver that caused the car crash was on parole for a 2006 reckless homicide conviction, but at this point no charges have officially been filed against the driver in connection with this accident. For more information on this eight car Chicago accident, click here.

A Lehigh High School student was killed on September 28th when the car she was driving skidded off a wet and windy road and into a tree. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene of the car crash, after the roof of the vehicle was crushed in from the car accident. According to the Chicago Tribune, the rural road on which this car crash occurred was shut down for about three hours for cleanup. The victim was a well-liked student at her high school, and was both a cheerleader and a member of the track and field team. The school held a grief counseling meeting for the students to help them deal with this tragic accident. For more information on this tragic car crash, click here.

The driver of a vehicle that lost control and crashed into a tree on the morning of September 29th was killed as a result of the car accident. According to the Chicago Tribune, the car crash occurred on I-84 east near Plainville/New Britain. The lanes around the car accident were closed for awhile, but reopened later that morning. For more information on this fatal car accident, click here.

According to the Chicago Tribune, on September 28th an elderly woman was run over by her own van and died as a result of the car accident. The car accident occurred when the woman got out of her car and started to walk away and then the car rolled backwards. The driver tried to get back into the car to stop it, but she was caught under the wheel and then the car rolled over her. For more information on this fatal car accident, click here.

A car accident lawsuit has been filed in connection with a 2008 accident in which a man was struck by a car after stepping of a bus. According to Philadelphia Daily News, the victim was a passenger on the bus and exited the bus after the driver failed to pull over into the bus lane and remained in the traveling lane. The car accident lawsuit alleges that because the bus driver did not pull over into the appropriate lane, a car hit the victim as it tried to pass the bus. The victim suffered serious personal injuries and is confined to a wheelchair. The damages sought are more than $50,000. For more information on this car accident lawsuit, click here.

According to the Daily Herald, a car accident that occurred on the evening of September 27th left an Aurora woman dead. The Aurora police received a call from a Chicago man saying that he thought he had just struck a woman while driving, and when the cops arrived at the scene the woman was not conscious, not breathing and was suffering from massive personal injuries. The police picked up the caller from his house and he has been arrested in connection with this Aurora hit-and-run car accident. For more information on this Kane County car accident, click here.

A car accident occurred late on the evening of September 16th on the North Side of Chicago. This Chicago car accident involved two cars but the cause of the car crash is not known at this time. According to Chicago Breaking News, two people involved in the car crash were in serious condition and seven others involved were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their less severe personal injuries. For more information on this Chicago car accident, click here.

A Northern Illinois University student was killed in a car accident over the weekend of September 17th. The victim was a passenger in a car that apparently lost control while driving at an extremely high speed. The car then crashed into a tree and the passenger was killed. According to the Daily Chronicle, the driver and another passenger suffered serious personal injuries as a result of the car accident. For more information on this fatal car accident, click here.

According to Newspost Online, television show host Larry King is facing a car accident lawsuit in connection with a car crash he was involved in last year. The car accident complaint alleges that the two motorists that are filing the lawsuit were left with serious personal injuries as a result of the crash. The defense argues that the Plaintiffs brought a frivolous claim and that no one was injured in the car accident and that the Plaintiffs just brought a lawsuit because of King’s star status. For more information on this car accident lawsuit, click here.

A bus accident on September 22nd on Chicago’s West Side left five people injured. The bus accident occurred when a CTA bus was rear-ended by a car. Two of the five people injured were listed in serious-to-critical condition and taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital and the other three victims of the bus accident were taken to other local hospitals and are listed in good condition. According to Chicago Breaking News, the bus driver was among the injured people. For more information on this Chicago bus accident, click here.

According to the Madison-St. Clair Record, a car accident lawsuit has been filed in connection to a 2007 Belleville car accident. The complaint alleges that while the Plaintiff was stopped at a light, the Defendant failed to stop at the light and rear-ended Plaintiff’s car. The Plaintiff’s car accident attorney is alleging that the Defendant failed to keep the vehicle under proper control, failed to see the Plaintiff’s vehicle, followed the vehicle too closely and finally failed to reduce speed in order to avoid a car accident. The Plaintiff alleges that he has suffered serious personal injuries in connection with the car accident and is seeking over $100,000 in costs and relief. For more information on this Madison county car accident lawsuit, click here.

According to WBBM Newsradio 780’s news website, Former Chicago Bears player has been accused of fleeing the scene after a car accident in January 2008 in the Northwest Side of Chicago. When he was exiting the highway, he allegedly struck another car that was stopped at a light. The driver of the car that he hit has filed a car accident lawsuit and claims that the former Bear’s player got out of his car and was “mumbling incoherencies” and then fled the scene before the cops had time to arrive. The driver took down the license plate number and this is how he is able to identify the driver. The car accident lawsuit asks for damages in connection to the personal injuries that the Plaintiff suffered. For more information on this car accident lawsuit, click here.

A Chicago man was charged with reckless homicide following a fatal car accident that occurred on September 19th. The driver that caused the car accident was drunk while driving the car that he then got into a car accident. The driver has been charged with leaving the scene of a car accident resulting in personal injury or death, in addition to drunk driving charges, operating a motor vehicle without insurance and failing to stop at a red light. For more information on this fatal car accident and arrest, click here.

A couple who were both hit by a car got their car stolen the same day while they were in the hospital receiving treatment for their personal injuries. The car accident occurred on September 14th, and that same day their car was stolen from their home. Two teenagers were later arrested and charged with stealing the car and the couple is expected to fully recover. For more information on this car accident and car theft, click here.

Illinois law requires that all drivers have car insurance when operating a motor vehicle. In order to be in compliance with this mandatory insurance law, the minimum coverage amounts are as follows: as least $20,000 for the injury or death of one person in a car accident, at least $40,000 for the injury or death of more than one person in a car accident and at least $15,000 for damage to the property of another person in a car accident. Every driver must carry their insurance card in their vehicle and present it to any requesting law enforcement officer. Insurance companies will automatically send an insurance card to their insured and will send a new one when the previous one expires. The Vehicle Renewal Registration Application that all drivers must fill out when renewing their registration each year now has a signature requirement promising that they have current insurance to cover the registration period. Drivers that fail to keep their insurance current, or lack insurance completely, are subject to a $100 reinstatement fee as well as current proof of insurance on the first offense. If it is a repeat offense, the driver is subjected to a four-month suspension period of their license in addition to the punishments of a first time offender. For more information on the mandatory insurance requirements, click here. If you have been injured in a car accident involving an uninsured motorist, the Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti may be able to help you seek justice. Call 312-332-2872 for a free consultation with an accident lawyer.

A car accident occurred on September 15th when an Ursa man driving his car got into an accident with an Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) mower on US 24. The car collided with a rotary mower pulled by the IDOT tractor The driver of the car was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his personal injuries. The driver of the car was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid a car accident. For more information on this Illinois car accident, click here.

A lawsuit has been filed in connection with a car accident that occurred last year on Route 40 in Fort Russell. The car accident occurred when the Defendant allegedly tried to pass the car the Plaintiffs were in but instead hit them. The Plaintiffs claim serious personal injuries resulting from the car accident and are suing Defendant for failure to maintain control of his vehicle, failing to maintain a proper lookout, failing to yield the right-of-way, driving too fast and attempting to pass in unsafe conditions. For more information on this car accident lawsuit, click here.

The victim in a car accident involving a police officer in Palatine in July is suing the village of Palatine and the officer after he was struck while crossing the street. The car accident lawsuit alleges negligence, failure to keep a good lookout and operating the car too fast and without headlights. The defense attorney is claiming that the victim was under the influence of alcohol and stepped into the street, not in a crosswalk when the car accident occurred. The Plaintiff’s car accident attorney claims that whether or not his client was drinking that night makes no difference and that it doesn’t justify hitting a pedestrian. For more information on this Palatine car accident lawsuit, click here.

A Garfield Park teenager has died resulting from personal injuries sustained in a head-on car accident that occurred on September 9th. The victim was the back seat passenger in a car that crashed head-on into another vehicle. All of the occupants of the car the victim were in were taken to a local hospital, as well as the two passengers in the other car. At this point the details of the car crash have not been released. For more information on this Cook County fatal car accident, click here.

A car accident settlement resulted in more than $1.2 million dollars in damages to the two parties that were involved in a two-car accident in 2008. The car accident occurred with a sleep-deprived police officer was speeding and crossed into oncoming traffic, hitting a car in that lane. The victim of the car accident suffered major personal injuries and had to undergo multiple surgeries. The other party that was involved in the settlement was the driver of a car that struck the victim’s car after the car accident. The car accident attorney also brought a negligence claim for their client against the police department because the officer had worked so many hours consecutively. For more information on this car accident settlement, click here.

A Savanna woman was fatally injured in a car accident that occurred late in the evening of September 11th. The one-car accident occurred in Carroll County when it seems that the victim lost control of her car while trying to turn a corner, and hit a tree. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene of the car crash. For more information on this Carroll County car accident, click here.

A St. Clair woman filed a car accident lawsuit against a driver who caused her to get into a car crash in 2008. The car accident occurred when the Defendant crashed into the back of the Plaintiff’s car, causing her to then rear-end another vehicle. The Defendant was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol when the crash occurred. The Plaintiff and her car accident attorney are seeking more than $50,000 in damages for the medical costs and pain and suffering that the Plaintiff suffered. For more information on this car accident lawsuit, click here.

A Cook County car accident lawsuit recently settled for close to $24 million. The car crash lawsuit resulted from a 2004 car crash in which an Illinois Department of Transportation’s vehicle struck the Plaintiff’s car on the Elgin-O’Hare expressway. The police could not determine who was at fault in the accident, so the trial was used to determine whose fault the car accident was. The jury found for the Plaintiff after determining that his car was struck by the other vehicle. The car accident attorney for the victim said that the large settlement was for serious personal injuries suffered by his client, including back fractures and partial paralysis. The total award amount was slightly higher, but the jury found that the victim was 5% contributory negligent which slightly lowered the judgment amount. For more information on this Cook County car accident settlement, click here.

A fatal car accident in Carpentersville on September 9th occurred when a van traveling on Illinois Highway 31 entered oncoming traffic and collided with a pickup truck. The driver of the van was taken to a local hospital where she was then pronounced dead. No one else was personally injured in this fatal car accident. For more information on this Kane county car accident, click here.

Six people were taken to hospitals with personal injuries following an automobile crash on Chicago’s West Side. The people were taken two different hospitals with personal injuries. Three are in serious-to-critical condition and the others are in fair-to-serious condition. Chicago police said two vehicles were involved in the automobile crash on North Hamlin Avenue. If you have been involved in a car accident, please contact an Illinois lawyer. To read more about the automobile accident, please click the link.

Four people were personally injured in a car accident in Sesser, Illinois at the end of August. Luckily the four people that were injured of the six involved in the car crash are all reported to not have life threatening injuries. At this point the cause of the car accident is still unknown and the Illinois State Police are still investigating. For more information on this Sesser car accident, click here.

A new emergency contact system was been created in Illinois in order to help the families of car accident victims receive word of the accident sooner. Illinois drivers can now enter their emergency contact information on the secretary of state’s website, www.cyberdriveillinois.com, so their families can be contacted as soon as possible following a car accident. This information will only be available to law enforcement and emergency services people and will remain confidential to the public. This will hopefully help families be notified of a car accident as soon as possible. For more information on this new system, click here.

A woman was ticketed after her car and motorcycle collided near Palatine, Illinois. The automobile accident left the biker and his wife dead. The woman was ticketed for failing to yield from a private drive in an automobile crash that killed two. The car was leaving a gas station when it collided with the motorcycle. It is unclear whether the two were wearing helmets during the motorcycle crash. To read more about the wrongful death, please click the link.

A car crash on the Ohio turnpike resulted in the death of an Illinois woman. The Naperville woman was an older woman and it seems that she drove off the road, then returned to the road and overturned on the evening of September 5th. She was transported to a local hospital but was pronounced dead when she arrived. For more information on this Illinois woman killed in a car crash, click here.

The driver of the car that got into an accident in Fox Lake when it struck and dragged a child 200 feet on August 25th has been found to not be legally allowed to operate a vehicle. The driver was driving on a revoked driver’s license when the car accident occurred. The driver’s license had been revoked after she was charged with driving on a suspended license four times within several months. The driver is currently in jail for failing to appear in court on unrelated charges. The young victim of the Lake County car accident is improving but is still in serious condition. For more information on this Lake County car accident, click here.

A car accident in Savanna, Illinois on September 3rd left two people seriously injured. The three-car accident occurred when a car was struck from behind by a pickup truck which then entered oncoming traffic striking another car. Two of the people involved in the car accident suffered serious personal injuries, but the third driver refused medical treatment. The car accident is still under investigation. For more information on this Carroll County car accident, click here.

A Homer Glen woman was killed as a result of a one-car accident on I-80 on August 21st. The victim was driving her SUV when she tried to change lanes, realized another car was in her blind spot and swerved out of the way and into a median. After hitting the median her car crossed two lanes of traffic and landed in a ditch striking a pole. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene of the car accident. For more information on this Illinois car accident victim, click here.

Two people died and two more were injured when a car and a garbage truck got into a car accident earlier this morning. The car accident occurred in Logan Square and one of the victims was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident and the other died shortly thereafter in a local hospital. Two other people were hospitalized for their personal injuries, including the driver of the garbage truck. For more information on this Chicago car accident, click here.

A Will County car accident left one man dead after a car hit the vehicle he was driving after failing to stop for a stop sign. The two-car accident occurred on August 29th on Route 129. The passenger in the victim’s car suffered only minor personal injuries and the driver of the car that caused the car accident was left uninjured. The other driver was cited for disobeying a traffic control device as well as failure to reduce speed to avoid a car accident. For more information on this Will County car accident, click here.

A car accident occurred in Juneau County on August 23rd injuring a family of six from Chicago. The I-90 accident occurred when the driver of the car swerved into a ditch after a car cut into the lane she was driving in. When the car entered the ditch, it overturned injuring the driver and her five other passengers. For more information on this car accident, click here.

A Tinley Park man was killed in a car accident on August 31st after he ran a red light and his car jumped the curb and hit a utility pole. The victim was pronounced dead from the multiple injuries sustained in the car crash and at this time there is no information as to what caused the victim to crash his car. Toxicology tests are pending and witnesses claim that they victim slumped over the wheel immediately prior to the car accident. For more information on this Cook County car accident, click here.

A man from the far Chicago suburb of Essex was killed in an automobile crash after the driver of another vehicle ran a stop sign and their cars collided. The car crash occurred when a Chrysler sedan broadsided the man’s vehicle. His wife, who was in the vehicle as well, was personally injured. The man was pronounced dead at the hospital. The driver of the sedan was cited for failure to reduce speed and disobeying a traffic signal. There was no indication that drugs or alcohol played a role in the automobile accident. To read more about the Illinois automobile crash, please click the link.

A Midlothian, Illinois couple en route to Colorado to greet their son as he returned from Iraq was involved in a van crash. The husband was killed in the automobile accident in Colorado. His wife was at the wheel of their van and lost control, driving off the left side of the road. As she overcorrected the vehicle, it began to roll. All the windows broke and her husband was thrown from the van. The woman has been charged with the misdemeanor count of careless driving that caused death. The son was told of the automobile accident and the death of his father when he landed in Colorado. To read more about the tragic automobile accident, please click the link.

A car crash that killed four people on May 24th of this year is believed to have been the result of an East Carondelet woman driving under the influence of alcohol. The drunk driver’s car crashed into a SUV and three occupants of the SUV were killed in the accident, as well as the passenger in the drunken woman’s car. The Illinois woman was charged with 32 counts of aggravated driving, some relating to the deaths and others relating to the other injured passengers (four more were injured in the SUV). The charges were recently filed against the driver after investigation into the car crash showed that she was under the influence while driving. For more information on this Clinton County car accident, click here.

A car accident on I-74 that occurred on August 27th injured five people. The car accident occurred when a semi was driving on Interstate 74 and collided with a car pulling a trailer. Two other vehicles were then involved in the car crash, and the drivers of all four vehicles, as well as one other passenger, were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their personal injuries. For more information on this Oakwood car accident, click here.

A Illinois toddler is in the hospital after she was struck and dragged by a car on August 24th in Fox Lake. The car accident occurred when the young girl was playing in the street and a car backed out onto the road and ended up pinning her under the vehicle. The driver did not notice the young girl pinned under the car for about 200 feet. Luckily, the girl survived the car accident and while she is in critical condition she is stable. Charges against the driver are pending. For more information on this Lake County car accident, click here.

An Illinois motorcyclist was killed early this morning in Chicago when his motorcycle was involved in a car accident. The car accident occurred when the victim struck a car that was making a left turn and had a green light. No citations have been issued in connection with this car accident. For more information on this Chicago motorcycle accident, click here.

A one vehicle accident on Illinois 141 earlier this morning left the driver with minor personal injuries and two traffic citations. The car accident occurred when the driver crossed over the center line into the opposing traffic lane and drove into a ditch, causing his car to overturn. Luckily, the driver was wearing a seat belt and so his injuries were only minor. For more information on this White County car accident, click here.

An Illinois man was killed while riding a scooter in Humboldt Park on August 23, 2009 when he struck a vehicle. The car accident occurred early in the morning hours and the victim was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a local hospital. The car involved in the car accident did not stop and fled the scene following the accident and therefore no one is in custody for the fatality. For more information on this Chicago car accident, click here.

Six people, including two children, were personally injured in a rollover automobile accident on Chicago’s Southside. All of the personally injured were in fair to serious condition. Police investigators stated that the automobile accident involved a rollover vehicle. If you have been involved in an automobile accident, find an Illinois lawyer. To read more about the rollover crash, please click the link.

A car crash early this morning left two Skokie residents dead. The car accident occurred near Skokie very early this morning when the vehicle the victims were in overturned. At this point it is unclear what caused this fatal car crash. Both people involved were pronounced dead shortly following the car accident at an area hospital. For more information on this Skokie car accident, click here.

A car accident earlier tonight on the Kennedy Expressway left three motorcyclists and another person injured. This car accident occurred in downtown Chicago and seems to have been a chain reaction in which three motorcycles struck each other and then one hit a car. Luckily traffic was moving slowly and all the motorcyclists were wearing helmets so no one was fatally injured. All of the motorcycle drivers as well as the driver of the car involved in the car accident were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their personal injuries. For more information on this Cook County car accident, click here.

Two Chicago police officers and one other person were injured in a Chicago car accident that occurred on August 19th. The car crash occurred when a police car and another vehicle crashed into each other. Both of the police officers were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and the civilian was taken to another local hospital and all were treated for minor personal injuries. For more information on this Chicago car accident, click here.

A car accident on I-90 on August 18th in a construction zone leaves four people dead. The car accident occurred when a car swerved into oncoming traffic hitting a van. The driver of the car was killed instantly and three people that were traveling in the van were also killed in the car accident. The area of the I-90 around the car accident was closed for several hours following the crash. For more information on this I-90 fatal car accident, click here.

An Oak Lawn man was killed on August 18th when he was riding his bicycle and was hit by a car. The car accident left the bicyclist dead just hours after the car hit him. The car was driven by a Chicago woman who hit the victim as he was biking across the traffic. The fatal accident reduced traffic to two lanes for three hours to allow the police to investigate the traffic accident. For more information on this Cook County car accident, click here.

A stolen SUV was involved in a South Side fatal car accident on the morning of August 17th. The stolen car slammed into concrete pillars after the driver lost control and was thrown from the vehicle and died immediately. There were beer cans found around the scene of the fatal accident but at this point it is unclear whether the victim was under the influence when the crash occurred. There were two other people in the car and they are both fine after the accident. For more information on this Chicago car accident, click here.

A Freeburg car accident that happened earlier today on Route 13 resulted in the death of a Lenzburg woman. The fatal car accident occurred when a pickup truck in which a teenager was driving crossed the center line and crashed head on with the victim’s car. The teenage pickup driver has been charged with a DUI. The teenager’s three passengers were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their personal injuries resulting from the car accident. For more information on this Freeburg car accident, click here.

A car accident occurred on the South Side of Chicago on the morning of August 8th. A mother was rushing her very sick child to University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital and ran a red light causing her car to crash into another vehicle. It is confirmed that the child has died, but it is not believed that the car crash caused his death. For more information on this Cook County car accident, click here.

A Pekin teen was charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of drugs after causing a fatal car accident in Tazewell County in which two Peoria residents were killed on July 11th. In convicted of the charges, the Pekin teen may face up to 28 years in Prison. Other drivers claim that the teen’s vehicle was swerving all over the road and other drivers had to dodge the car prior to the fatal car accident. For more information on this fatal Tazewell County car accident and the pending case, click here.

A car accident on Illinois 47 injured a Morris woman on August 11th. The young woman was taken to a local hospital for treatment of her personal injuries. The other driver was ticketed for going too fast given the road conditions and has a court date scheduled. The ticketed driver says that he was looking at traffic while trying to make a right turn when he rolled forward and struck the injured woman’s car. For more information on this car accident, click here.

A three-car accident that occurred in Illinois on August 9th may result in criminal charges. Four people were injured in the car accident which occurred when one of the cars involved was traveling at a very fast speed, crossed the center lane and then struck another car. The car that was struck then slammed into a parked car. Open containers of alcohol were found in the original car which caused the car accident. The car accident is still under investigation. For more information on this Illinois car accident, click here.

A car accident in suburban Chicago early this morning caused three people to be injured. The car crash involved five cars and none of the injuries were life-threatening. At this point, the cause of the accident is still unknown but police continue to investigate. I-90 outside of Chicago was blocked for about an hour to clean up. For more information on this Cook County car accident, click here.

A four car accident on Route 53 near Schaumburg on August 10 resulted in the injury of three people, one of which was critically injured. The collision appeared to be a chain-reaction accident occurring when a truck rear-ended an SUV, forcing the SUV into other vehicles. All the victims were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their personal injuries. The Sheriff’s department and Illinois State Police are still trying to piece together what happened to cause the car crash. For more information on this Schaumburg car accident, click here.

Three ramp entrances to the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago have been closed in an attempt to reduce car accidents and to help improve traffic flow. Certain ramps are set to be closed permanently, while others are being closed temporarily and are being redesigned to hopefully help reduce the likelihood of car accidents in these areas. For more information on this ramp closing/reconstruction project, click here.

Three people were injured on August 8th on the Northwest side when a car crash occurred. Two of the victims were seriously injured and taken to a local hospital and a child that was also seriously injured was taken to Children’s Memorial Hospital for treatment of their personal injuries. Three other people were involved in the car crash, however they refused treatment at the scene. For more information on this car accident, click here.

An Illinois man suffered personal injuries when he got into a car accident with a car driving in front of him. The motorcyclist was driving along when the vehicle in front of him swerved to avoid getting into a car accident with a car that was backing up in the driving lane of the highway. The motorcyclist then clipped the back of the car that was backing up and was forced to take his motorcycle down and was thrown off. For more information on this motorcycle accident, click here.

An Illinois man was fatally injured when he was driving on I-57 and crossed over four lanes of traffic and then struck a median that divided the sides of the highway. The driver was pronounced dead not long after he arrived at the hospital. The police are still investigating what happened to lead to the car accident and that this point there is not much information because the driver was the only person in the vehicle. No one else was injured as a result of this car accident. For more information on this car accident, click here.

A man was found dead in his car following a car accident in which his car veered off of the I-290 earlier today. It seems as if the victim had suffered some type of incident while driving that caused him to cross all lanes and hit a light pole. Luckily, his car did not strike any other vehicles while crossing the highway and no one else was injured in this car accident. The official cause of death will not be known until an autopsy is completed. For more information on this fatal one-car accident, click here.

An Illinois man that was involved in a car accident when he hit a man and his dog, while allegedly rushing to get home, resulting in the death of both the man and the dog. The driver has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence and reckless homicide and bail has been set at $750,000. Witnesses say that the car went out of control, struck mailboxes and then ran into the victim and his dog. The driver then attempted to flee on foot and when caught admitted to having been drinking and smoking marijuana. The bond was set high and the driver has been appointed a public defender to represent him at trial. For more information on this truck accident, click here.

Charges have been filed against a South Side woman that is suspected to have caused a car crash after she drove the wrong way and killed one woman and injured two others on August 2nd, on the I-55. The driver has been charged with six counts of aggravated DUI, two counts for each of the three victims in the car crash. For more information on this fatal car crash, click here.

Eight people were injured on the morning of August 1st in a car accident in Chicago, when the driver of a minivan intentionally slammed into a SUV, causing the SUV to flip over and hit a pole. Two people are listed in critical condition, five are in stable and the last one is listed in good condition. There is not much more information on why the minivan intentionally started hitting the SUV, but witnesses saw it intentionally hit the car which caused the SUV to lose control. For more information on this car accident, click here.

A car accident occurred on July 27th, when a vehicle’s brakes failed to work and struck the rear of a van which then struck the rear of a pick-up truck. The impact caused the initial car to go into a ditch, cross a driveway and strike a trailer that was on someone’s property. The driver of the initial car was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and was taken to a local hospital for treatment of her personal injuries. For more information on this car accident, click here.

Due to the large number of car accidents resulting from drivers texting while driving, Illinois House Bill 71 was passed by both houses. If the bill is signed into law by the governor, police can pull over and fine anyone found texting while driving. The bill has certain exceptions for situations such as emergencies, or when the texting can be done hands-free. For more information on this Illinois text ban legislation, click here.

A lawsuit has been filed against a woman that allegedly sparked a chain-reaction accident in which an Illinois couple was killed in May of this year. This wrongful death suit has been filed, however the Illinois woman has not yet been criminally charged, pending the outcome of a traffic accident reconstruction report. The lawsuit claimed that the woman rear-ended a car that was then pushed into oncoming traffic, where a group of motorcyclists were passing and two of them were killed. For more information on this wrongful death lawsuit, click here.

A recent study shows that text messaging while driving is very dangerous and more likely to lead to car accidents than previously suspected. The study showed that the risk was up to 23 times greater that a car accident would occur while texting than it was while not texting. The danger is due to the fact that the drivers get distracted and take their eyes of the road, which can lead to car crashes. Fourteen states currently ban text-messaging while driving, because of the dangers of texting while driving. For more information on this recent study, click here.

A motorcycle driver was injured when he crashed into a construction barrel on the evening of July 26th in the Chicago suburbs. The motorcyclist was listed in serious condition after the accident forced him off the motorcycle due to the impact of the crash. Luckily, the motorcycle driver was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. For more information on this motorcycle accident, click here.

One person died and four were injured on the evening of July 26th on the Southside of Chicago in a car accident. All of the victims were taken to local hospitals for treatment of personal injuries. One of the victims that was injured in the car crash, not the one killed, was a child who was struck by one of the vehicles on the sidewalk. There is no further information as to what caused the car crash or about the condition on the victims. For more information on this car accident, click here.

An Illinois woman has filed a lawsuit against the person who rear-ended her car and allegedly caused her serious personal injuries. The complaint alleges that the car accident occurred when the defendant negligently drove into the car behind the plaintiff, causing that car to then crash into the plaintiff’s car. The lawsuit seeks a judgment of over $50,000 dollars for the personal injuries and the mental anguish suffered by the plaintiff. For more information on this car accident, click here.

An Illinois man was killed in a one-car accident that occurred early on the morning of July 24th. Two other people were injured in the car accident, when the car hit a pole. The driver was the person who was fatally injured after he was ejected from the vehicle following the car crash. The conditions of the injured people is not currently available and the cause of the accident is still under investigation. For more information on this fatal car accident, click here.