August 31, 2010

Bike Accident Kills Man in Chicago

Accidents on our roadways occur in a myriad of forms, at different times of the day, caused by various errors, and occurring between many different types of vehicles. The most damaging accident in terms of both physical injury and property destruction typically involves crashes where there is a clear size difference between the two moving objects. That damage is compounded as the speed of the crash increases. It is for that reason that truck accidents are particularly harmful. Also, for the same reason, damage skyrockets when smaller vehicles like motorcycles or bicycles are involved.

A recent bicycle accident struck on the north side of the city late on Sunday night that took the life of the bike rider. The Indiana Gazette reported on the tragic accident. Around 9:15p.m. that night, Christopher Hippchens was on his bicycle heading home from Soldier Field where he worked as a cook. He traveled about three miles north, around the 5200 block of North Sheridan and began trying to cross the Dan Ryan Expressway.

Unfortunately, while trying to make the crossing, Hippchens was struck by a fast-moving vehicle. Emergency personnel pronounced Hippchens dead at the scene.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti encourage all users of the roadways—whether in cars, trucks, bikes, or pedestrians—to take extreme care when traveling near other fast moving vehicles. Our city is filled with bike riders who use many of our roadways as their primary means of travel. Because of the size difference and exposure of the individual rider, the risk of injury is drastically increased when a bike rider is involved in a road accident. It takes only a split-second mistake to cause lifelong damage. If you have suffered at the hands of another driver who has made the mistake, please contact a Chicago accident attorney to learn about your rights.

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August 17, 2010

Man Intentionally Drives Car Into Oncoming Traffic

An 80 year old Chicago area man was taken into police custody yesterday after a bizarre act of felony driving that led to a serious car accident involving three vehicles and resulting in severe injury to an innocent driver.

As Fox News Chicago reports, a week and a half ago, George Smith, a St. Charles resident, was driving east on Illinois Route 38 when he suddenly veered his car onto the other side of the road, directly into westbound traffic. Mr. Smith was driving a large SUV, and the vehicle collided head-on with a Volvo, which subsequently hit another smaller car.

The driver of the third car was uninjured, but the Volvo driver remained stuck in his vehicle with severe injuries following the crash. It took emergency crews using special extrication equipment to release him. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital where doctors are still treating his injuries. The intentionally reckless driver, Mr. Smith, was also injured in the car accident. He broke several vertebrae, both legs, shattered his hip, and suffered head trauma leading to bleeding on the brain.

The shocking circumstances of the car crash symbolize in the most egregious way the sad reality that even the more careful drivers are not completely safe while on the road. The decades of legal experience of our car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti have shown that often the most severe vehicle accidents involve one negligent driver who takes other innocent drivers and passengers in their wake.

Rarely will someone come upon a driver so suicidal that they are willing to drive head-on into oncoming traffic. However, virtually everyone will share the road with drivers who go too fast for conditions, become distracted while on the phone, or make risky lane changes in an effort to save a few seconds.

There is only so much care that a single driver can take to avoid deadly car accidents, because no one can control the negligent drivers around them. All it takes is being in the wrong place at the wrong time and a risky fellow driver may cause untold destruction. If you or someone you know has been the unfortunate victim caught in the crosshairs of a negligent driver, please contact our office today to learn more about your rights.

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July 27, 2010

Teen Dead in Flip-over Accident

A car accident on July 24th on I-80 left a teenager dead. The fatal car crash occurred when the teen's sports utility vehicle blew out a tire and she crashed into a median and flipped over. The teen driver was thrown from the car and her personal injuries were so great that she passed away. According to the Southtown Star, the passenger that was in the same car was injured and taken to a local hospital but is expected to recover from his injuries. The young girl was not wearing her seat belt at the time the accident occurred, and it is likely that the lack of a seat belt is what caused her to be thrown from the car when the crash occurred. To read more about this Illinois car crash, please click on this link.

This accident serves as a reminder of how important seat belts are at all times while driving a car. Even if you think you are a safe driver and that because of that wearing a seat belt is not necessary, remember that unexpected events can occur, such as a tire blowing out or another driver that is not paying attention, that can cause you to lose control of the car regardless of if you are being a cautious driver. Because of situations like this, and the possibility of a car crash, Chicago injury attorneys ask all drivers to always wear their seat belt regardless of how short of a trip you are going on or how safe of a driver you feel that you are. In Illinois the seat belt law requires that all front seat passengers always wear their seat belt, that all passengers of drivers under 18 always wear their seat belt, and that all passengers that are under the age of 16 always wear their seat belt regardless of who is driving and of where they are seated in the car. Given that it is the law in the State of Illinois and that simply wearing a seat belt can make the difference between life and death in many situation, please make sure to always wear your seat belt when you get behind the wheel.

July 25, 2010

Illinois Teen Admits to Texting When He Struck a Pedestrian

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.

July 21, 2010

Safety Tips to Prevent Bike Accidents

Bicycle riders need to make sure that they are aware of and follow all of the appropriate laws that are in place to protect both bike riders and other drivers on the road. Similarly, drivers need to be aware of the laws regarding bike riders to also help ensure the safety of all those that are on the road together. One important rule for bikers to always remember and always follow is that bicyclists must travel in the same direction as vehicle traffic and whenever it is safely possible should travel directly to the right of cars, and this is so that everyone is traveling in the same direction which hopefully makes it less likely that a bike and car will get into a collision.

Chicago accident attorneys remind drivers of vehicles to remember a few simple rules regarding bikers so they can do their part to keep the streets safe for everyone. First off, drivers need to make sure to always keep a safe distance and to allow about three feet of passing space between their car and a biker, and make sure to always give them this adequate room in order to keep them safe in the event of a sudden stop. Additionally, when making a turn make sure to check to make sure a bicyclist is not passing on the right or the left before you make your turn, and always use a turn signal to allow the biker to know of your plan to turn, in order to help prevent accidents. Lastly, make sure after parking your car to look out for bikers before possibly opening your door into their pathway. To read more about simple tips to help avoid a bike accident, please click on this link. These few simple safety measures taken by bikers and drivers could make all the difference in preventing biking accidents !

July 15, 2010

Older Man Killed in Wheaton Crash

An elderly man died on July 12th following a car crash in Wheaton. The accident occurred when the elderly man attempted to make a turn and another car hit the driver's side of the elderly man's car. The victim was immediately taken to a local hospital but unfortunately was unable to recover from his personal injuries. At this point in the investigation, which is still underway, the DuPage County police has not arrested anyone or issued any citations in connection with the fatal car crash. According to My Suburban Life, the portion of the road where the crash occurred was closed for about three hours while the scene was being investigated. To read more about this tragic Wheaton accident, please click on this link.

While it is still unknown what caused this tragic accident, many times in accidents that involve elderly drivers the drivers may be unable to react as quickly as they once could which may place them in serious danger in driving situations where they must act quickly so as not to be struck by another vehicle. Illinois accident attorneys remind elderly drivers to always make sure that you have a vision and hearing test regularly and never drive with an expired license. Additionally, if as an elderly driver you ever feel, in any sense, that you are no longer comfortable on the road or that you may not be able to handle certain driving conditions, please make sure to ask for a ride and never drive in a situation that makes you feel unsafe.

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July 11, 2010

Chicago Crashes Leaves Two Children With Severe Injuries

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.

July 9, 2010

New Bicycle Safety Law Signed in Illinois

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.

July 5, 2010

Man Fleeing Cops Kills Woman

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.

June 30, 2010

Driver Found Guilty in Car Accident Trial

A drunk driver that was responsible for the death of five teenagers back in 2007 has been found guilty of five counts of reckless homicide, as well as of sixteen counts of aggravated driving under the influence. The car accident occurred when the woman was driving eight teens, who had been drinking, home from a party in a car that was only intended to seat five. The driver was then distracted by one of the teens, according to her account of the accident, and turned around to see what was going on at which time she lost control of the car and crashed into a utility pole. Five of the teens in the car died as a result of the injuries they sustained in the accident, and three others plus the driver suffered personal injuries from the accident. While the driver claimed that she drank a little bit earlier that evening and that it did not affect her driving, the toxicology reports that showed she was significantly over the limit may have been inaccurate because she suffered liver damage in the accident and that may effect the testing. Regardless of the toxicology reports, the jury found the Defendant guilty of all counts of reckless homicide as well as the driving under the influence counts. To read more about this Illinois car accident verdict, please click on this hyperlink.

This accident is a tragic reminder of why it is so important to not allow more passengers to travel in a car you are driving than there are seat belts in the car. Overcrowding a car can cause an accident that could have been minor to become a tragedy. Illinois accident attorneys remind you to always make sure that not only all of your passengers have a seat belt, but also that they are all always wearing the belts while the car is moving. Even on short trips accidents can occur and seat belts can safe lives.

June 29, 2010

Two Teenage Girls Killed and Three Injured in Northside Accident

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!

June 25, 2010

Teenage Girl Run Over and Killed by Friend's Car

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.

June 15, 2010

Teenage Driver Causes Galesberg Car Accident

A Galesburg car accident occurred on June 13th in which five people had to go to local hospitals for treatment. The accident was caused by a teenage driver that claims to have not seen a car approaching the intersection as she pulled into the intersection. This oversight resulted in a car accident and the young girl's two fifteen year old passengers were seriously injured. Both of the young girls, one of who was the younger sister of the teenage driver, have been listed in fair condition and are expected to fully recover from their personal injuries. The driver of the other car and his passenger, as well as the teenage driver, were all sent to local hospitals but were released shortly after arriving. According to Galesburg's News, tickets in connection with the accident are pending at this time. To read more about this teenage Illinois car accident, please click on this hyperlink.

Teenage driving accidents are unfortunately very common and are the leading cause of death among United States teens. According to the Center for Disease Control's teen driver's fact sheet teen drivers are four times more likely to get into a car accident that adult drivers. The main reasons for the higher incident of car accidents in this age group mostly stems of inexperience. These drivers have just received their drivers licenses which require some practice and training, but does not always seem to be adequate to prepare these kids for the realities of the road. In addition to the lack of experience, young drivers often to not realize the importance of paying complete attention while driving, and are more susceptible to distractions while driving. Additionally, teens often engage in riskier driving behaviors such as speeding, drinking or doing drugs and driving, and not wearing seat belts. Illinois accident attorneys ask you to talk to your kids or any other young drivers you know and remind them of the importance of practice, playing attention and driving safely, because making teenage drivers aware of safer driving could be what saves lives!

June 13, 2010

Illinois Man Killed in Motorcycle Accident

A motorcycle accident that occurred on June 11th caused one man to die from the severe head injuries that occurred when he was thrown from his bike. The accident occurred near Oak Forest on Interstate Highway 57 when the motorcycle driver attempted to pass a car and the front wheel of the motorcycle went off the edge of the pavement and dropped about 3 inches, causing the driver to lose control of the bike and crash. The victim was unfortunately not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and that caused him to suffer severe head injuries which he was unable to recover from. According to Chicago Breaking News, there were no other people or cars involved in this accident. To read more about this Illinois motorcycle accident, please click on this link.

Motorcycle accidents can be very dangerous, mostly because the driver or passengers have nothing surrounding them to protect them if they crash. This is the reason why it is so important for motorcyclists and their passengers to always wear a helmet when on a moving bike. While many motorcycle riders believe that an accident will not occur when they are just going for a quick ride in the neighborhood or that since they have not crashed before that they will not crash now, according to a study funded by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, most motorcycle accidents occur on short trips and close to the point of trip origin. Illinois accident attorneys remind you that even though Illinois does not require adult motorcycle riders to where a helmet, that accidents can easily occur even on a short trip and that the best way to protect yourself and your passengers is to require helmets everytime the bike is moving.

June 9, 2010

Proposed Legislation Aimed at Higher Safety Requirements for Vehicles

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.

June 7, 2010

Two Injured in Illinois Motorcycle Accident

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.

June 6, 2010

Illinois Car Accident Leaves One Seriously Injured

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.

June 4, 2010

Lake Shore Drive Accident Due to Drunk Driver

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.

June 2, 2010

Young Boy Fatally Injured in Rogers Park Crash

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.

May 31, 2010

Chicago Cab Accident Victims Face Caps on Damages

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.

May 27, 2010

Tips for Safe Traveling this Holiday Weekend

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.

May 25, 2010

Cops Plan Seat Belt Crack Down for Upcoming Weekend

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.

May 23, 2010

Chicago Hosts Ride of Silence in Memory of Fallen Bikers

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!

May 21, 2010

Bus Accident in Old Irving Park

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.

May 19, 2010

Chicago Bus Accident Injures 12

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.

May 15, 2010

Chicago Heights Faces Lawsuit for Car Accident

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.

May 13, 2010

Illinois Man Drives Drunk And Kills Young Boy

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.

May 11, 2010

Dangers With Teens Texting and Driving

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.

May 7, 2010

East Alton Car Accident Lawsuit Filed

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.

May 3, 2010

Fatal Hit-and-Run Illinois Accident

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.

April 28, 2010

Group of Illinois Teens Offered Hands On Defensive Driving Education

A group of Illinois teens were given the opportunity to take a defensive driving training course taught by professional drivers in order to help teach them how to deal with certain dangers of the road, such as skidding on the road and obstacles in the road. The reason that these young teens were able to participate in this program was as a reward for having one of the best teen driving awareness programs which works to try to reduce the number of teenage car accidents. This course was taught by professional race car drivers who knew how to handle the situations they were teaching the students. The defensive driving course has very hands on and would teach students how to deal with dangerous situations by showing them what would happen and then how to properly react in order to stay safe. While the students did say some of the things they were taught to do were scary they also said that learning how to react made them feel like it would keep them from getting into a dangerous situation in real life and when they were on the road all by themselves and hopefully helps them avoid car crashes. Parents of these students also agreed that this program was a great idea and that they hope that it will make kids more away of the potential dangers of driving. While parents know the dangers and can try to explain to their children how to avoid them, it can often be hard to explain it in a way that makes sense and parents of children that attended this course felt that this approach was a great experience for their children. To read more about the teenage defensive driving lessons, please click on this link.

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April 26, 2010

Prom Driving Safety Tips

As prom season approaches, please make sure to discuss with your children the importance of safe driving on prom night. Teenage drivers are a very high risk group to begin with, as car accidents are the leading cause of death for children aged 16-19 years old. According to the Center for Disease Control, this age group is four times more likely to crash than older drivers. The high likelihood of teenage driving accidents is due to inexperience , distraction, and other issues common to young drivers. Since teenage drivers are more likely to be involved in car accidents generally, it is important to talk to them about the additional dangers that may present themselves on prom night.

On prom night, many underage kids may consume alcohol and unfortunately may still decide to get behind the wheel. Given the inherent dangers in driving while under the influence, it is crucial for teenage kids to understand that they should never try to drive even after one drink. Additionally, it is important to make sure that they understand that other kids may try to drive while drunk and that it is important to tell an adult or the police if that person insists on driving while under the influence in order to stop them from getting hurt or from hurting others.

An additional problem that presents itself on prom night is that teenage drivers may be driving much later than they are usually allowed to or are familiar with. Make sure teenage drivers understand that if they feel in anyway uncomfortable driving in any situation on prom night that they should call an adult to come pick them up. For more information on teenage driving, please click on this link. Please remember these important tips and talk to your child before prom to try to reduce the number of teenage car accidents this prom season!

April 22, 2010

Marengo Illinois Motor Vehicle Accident Result of Drunk Driver

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.

April 20, 2010

Tragic Train Accident Kills Chicago Woman

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.

April 16, 2010

Illinois Car Accident Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of a Minor Victim

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.

April 14, 2010

New Guidelines for Dementia Patients and Driving

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.

April 12, 2010

Illinois Accident Lawsuit Filed in Connection with Car Crash

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.

April 10, 2010

Illinois Accident Lawsuit Seeks $100,000 in Damages

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.

April 8, 2010

Illinois Man Killed in Motorcycle Crash on I-80

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.

April 4, 2010

Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Drunk Driving in Connection With Fatal Accident

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!

March 31, 2010

Chicago Man Killed in West Side Bicycle Accident

A Chicago bicyclist was killed on March 30th when he was struck by a car on the West Side of Chicago. The biking accident occurred when the biker was riding on North Waller Avenue and a car failed to slow down and struck the biker. According to Chicago Breaking News, the biker’s injuries were so severe that he unfortunately was unable to recover and died shortly after the biking accident. The driver that struck the man was cited with negligent driving as well as failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. To read more about this tragic car accident, please click on this link.

While drivers must always be aware of bikers and be careful to avoid hitting them, there are also certain safety precautions that bikers can take to ensure their own safety. The Chicago accident attorneys at Levin and Perconti offer several tips for bikers to remain safe while on the road. First of all, bikers should always ride as close to the curb as possible and only veer more into the road to avoid other bikers or a dangerous situation in the road. Additionally, bikers should always have at least one hand on the handlebars and never being holding on to something that would make it impossible for them to use both hands when necessary to control the bike. Whenever there is a bike path adjacent to the street, the biker should always ride on the path instead of the street. Bike should never have more people riding that there are seats available. In addition to these safety tips, all bikes should be equipped with reflective lights to help insure cars can see them and should always have a working brake. Following these tips and making sure your bike is safe to be riding can help you have a safe and enjoyable ride!

March 29, 2010

Illinois Car Accident Caused By Black Ice

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.

March 27, 2010

Bicyclist’s Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit

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.

March 25, 2010

Illinois Teenage Girl Struck and Killed by Elderly Driver

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.

March 23, 2010

Other New Illinois Driving Laws

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.

March 21, 2010

Three Illinois Teenagers Injured in Accident

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.

March 17, 2010

Illinois Car Accident Kills Construction Worker

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.

March 13, 2010

Illinois Woman Killed in Early Morning Crash

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.

March 11, 2010

Chicago Woman Dies in Drunk Driving Accident

A Chicago woman died in a car accident on March 9th in which a woman lost control of her car, drove of the highway and struck a light pole. The driver and her nine year old daughter were taken to Christ Medical Center for treatment of their personal injuries and are both expected to recover fully. According to South Town Star, a passenger in the car suffered fatal injuries. The driver of the car has been charged with drunk driving. To read more about this Illinois crash, please click on the hyperlink.

Drunk driving in a very serious crime and in Illinois drunk drivers can face up to a year loss of driving privileges, possible jail time of a year, and a $1000 fine. According to the Illinois State Police’s website, this punishment is just for the first offense and the punishment gets much more severe with more than one DUI conviction. Always remember that drunk driving is very dangerous and can hurt not only yourself but others and that in Illinois the legal limit is a .08 blood alcohol content to be considered under the influence and in turn subject to drunk driving tickets.

If you see a driver that you believe may be impaired please call 911 immediately to give the police the location of the driver. Make sure to stay out of the way of the vehicle but also keep an eye on it to give the police the most accurate description of where the car is on the road. Additionally, if you know that someone is getting behind the wheel and they are intoxicated, please try to stop them and offer them a ride to where they are going. If they insist on driving, please take note of their license plate number and call the police to inform them of the intoxicated driver.

March 7, 2010

Illinois School Bus Accident Injures Eleven

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.

March 3, 2010

Chicago Woman Strikes Police Officer

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.

March 1, 2010

Chicago Taxi Accident Injures Two People

A Chicago taxi accident occurred early on the morning of February 28th in which both the taxi driver and the passenger suffered personal injuries. According to Chicago Breaking News, the car accident occurred when a car traveling on Clark Street crossed over the center line and crashed into the taxi carrying the victims. The car that caused the car accident then sped off and the car was later found abandoned near the crash. Both victims had to be extracted from the taxi and were hospitalized with personal injuries. For more information on this Illinois taxi accident, please click on this link.

Hit-and-runs like this accident are when a driver hits another car and then flees the scene, rather than staying at the scene to talk to the police or the other driver. Many drivers get nervous after an accident and their instinct may be to leave immediately, but it is important to always stay to make sure everyone is okay and, if there are any injuries, that the police and emergency personnel are called. If you were in a hit-and-run accident and would like to talk to a Chicago car accident attorney about what your legal options may be, please follow the link.

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February 27, 2010

Chicago Woman Files Lawsuit Against Taxi Driver

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.

February 21, 2010

Chicago Taxi Accident Leaves Three Seriously Injured

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.

February 19, 2010

Wrongful Death Suit Filed on Behalf of Elderly Woman Killed in Pedestrian Accident

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.

February 17, 2010

Illinois Family Files Wrongful Death Suit over Son’s Death in Car Accident

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.

February 15, 2010

Illinois Woman Faces Charges for Failing to Pay Attention While At the Wheel

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.

February 13, 2010

Cell Phone Distraction More Likely to Cause Accident in Heavily Congested Areas

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.

February 9, 2010

Family of Chicago Car Accident Victim Files Lawsuit

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.

February 7, 2010

St. Clair Car Accident Lawsuit Filed 12 Years After Accident

An Illinois man has filed a car accident lawsuit in connection with an accident that occurred back in 2002. The lawsuit alleges that when the Illinois plaintiff was just a teenager he was struck by the Defendant’s car while he was a passenger in a car driving out of a parking lot. According to The St. Clair Record, the accident occurred in St. Clair County on Illinois Route 159 when the Defendant allegedly cut Plaintiff off while he was waiting to turn out of the lot. The complaint seeks over $50,000 in damages for pain and suffering as well as loss of normal enjoyment of life. To read more about this car accident lawsuit, please click on this link.

While this lawsuit was filed many years after the car accident occurred, this may be done in many types of accident lawsuits. If you or a loved one was involved in a car accident, even if it was many years ago, and you feel like you may be entitled to damages please contact please contact an Illinois accident attorney to discuss your case and see what your possible options may be.

February 5, 2010

First Cook County Lawsuit Filed in Connection With Toyota Recall

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.

February 3, 2010

Toyota Recall Leaves the Company in Serious Trouble

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.

February 1, 2010

Snowy Weather Leads to Chain-Reaction Accident in Chicago

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.

January 30, 2010

Madison County Bus Accident Results in Lawsuit

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.

January 24, 2010

St. Charles Residents Injured in Elgin Crash

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.

January 23, 2010

Illinois Man Killed in Car Accident

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.

January 22, 2010

Elderly Chicago Man Killed While Crossing Street

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.

January 21, 2010

One Dead in Drunk Driving Accident

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.

January 19, 2010

Two Illinois Teens Dead Following Car Accident

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.

January 18, 2010

One-Vehicle Chicago Car Accident Injures Four

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.

January 17, 2010

Madison County Car Accident Lawsuit Filed

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.

January 16, 2010

Lawsuit Filed in Madison County Over Car Accident

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.

January 15, 2010

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed in Connection with Kane County Accident

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.

January 14, 2010

Chicago Car Accident Closes Lanes on I-290

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.

January 13, 2010

Wrongful Death Suit Filed in Connection with Chicago Car Accident

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in connection with a car accident that occurred on December 20th. The car accident occurred on the West Side of Chicago when an off duty Lockport police officer drunkenly drove into the victim’s car, causing the victim to die as a result of his severe injuries. According to Chicago Breaking News, criminal charges have already been brought by Cook County, but this wrongful death claim is against the bar in which the cop was drinking the night of the fatal Chicago accident. If you would like to read more about this tragic car accident and the lawsuit that was recently filed, please click on this hyperlink.

January 12, 2010

St. Clair Car Accident May Be Caused by Victim’s Heart Attack

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.

January 11, 2010

Illinois Car Accident Leaves One Teenager Dead

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.

January 10, 2010

Young Girl Killed in Tragic Accident

A Hamilton, Illinois car accident that occurred in December of 2009 resulted in the death of a young child. The six year old was not in a booster seat or a child safety seat at the time of the tragic car accident. The car accident occurred on Illinois 96 South when the car that the young children was riding in was struck by a trailer that became unhooked from the vehicle on which it was attached to. According to Connect Tri-States, the driver of the vehicle was charged with leaving the scene of the accident. If you would like to read more about this terrible car accident, please click on the link.

January 9, 2010

Madison County Car Accident Leaves One Dead

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.

January 8, 2010

Teenage Boy Charged in Connection With Fatal St. Charles Car Accident

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.

January 7, 2010

Young Illinois Woman Killed in New Year’s Oak Forest Accident

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.

January 6, 2010

Belleville Car Accident Lawsuit Filed

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.

January 5, 2010

Lawsuit Filed in Connection with Fatal Kane County Accident

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.

January 4, 2010

Illinois Man Killed in One Car Accident

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.

January 3, 2010

Champaign Accident Leaves Chicago Woman Dead

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.

January 2, 2010

Wheeling Woman Dies Weeks After Car Accident As Result of Her Personal Injuries

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.

December 30, 2009

Three Car Accident in Swansea

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.

December 29, 2009

Green County Car Accident Injures Two

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.

December 28, 2009

Young Boy Injured in Hit-and-Run Car Accident

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.

December 27, 2009

Texting Ban Going into Effect in Illinois

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.

December 26, 2009

Ice and Accidents Lead to Closure of the Chicago Skyway

Due to the high number of car accidents resulting from ice on the Chicago Skyway, the highway was closed in both directions on December 23rd. Several accidents occurred over the course of the day and due to the ice getting worse officials decided to close the Skyway until conditions improved. According to Chicago Sun Times, officials were urging drivers to stay off the roads if at all possible when snow turned to ice on the roads. To read more about this highway closure, click here.

December 25, 2009

Ice Causes Many Accidents on Chicago Roads

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.

December 24, 2009

Car Accident Lawsuit Filed in Connection With Illinois Accident

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.

December 23, 2009

Drop-offs Causing Many Fatal Car Accidents

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.

December 22, 2009

Fatal Accident Involving Police Officer

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.

December 21, 2009

Sheriff Charged in Cook County Car Accident

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.

December 20, 2009

Chicago Car Accident Leaves One Dead

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.

December 19, 2009

Edgar County Car Accident Kills One

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.

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December 12, 2009

Drunk Driver Injures Five in Evanston Car Crash

A man has been charged with a DUI after he injured five people in a car accident on December 11 in Evanston. According to the Chicago Sun Times, the drunk driver blew through a red light and collided with another car. Three passengers in his car were injured, along with two people in the other vehicle. No one suffered critical personal injuries, but the victims were taken to local Chicago hospitals following the crash. To learn more about this car accident in Evanston, click on the link.

December 11, 2009

Metra Train Accident Kills One in Bensenville

On December 10, a man was killed when his SUV was struck by a westbound Metra train in suburban Chicago. The train accident occurred when the man’s vehicle stopped on the Metra tracks. The victim’s wife escaped the SUV, but he did not make it out in time and the impact of the collision killed him. A report in the Chicago Tribune did not say why the man’s car was stopped on the train tracks. The Chicago commuter train's service was delayed by three hours as emergency workers cleared the accident. Read the full account of this Chicago Metra accident by following the link.

December 9, 2009

Chicago Car Accident Kills One

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.

December 8, 2009

Chicago Man Faces Felony Charges in Connection with Chicago Car Accident

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.

December 7, 2009

Pedestrian Hit by Vehicle in Chicago

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.

December 6, 2009

Chicago Woman Dies After Driving Into Lake Michigan

A young woman has died after her car crashed into Lake Michigan earlier this morning near downtown Chicago. The Chicago car accident occurred when the driver drove east on Randolph and through the entrance of the harbor and into the water which was about 12 feet deep at the point of entry. According to Chicago Breaking News, there is no evidence of the woman trying to stop her car before the car accident occurred. The victim was alive when the help crews pulled her from the water, but died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital shortly after being taken there. If you would like to read more about this tragic Chicago car accident, please click on this link.

December 5, 2009

Illinois Department of Transportation Tips for Safe Holiday Driving

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.

December 4, 2009

Elderly Chicago Heights Man Dies Days After Being Struck by Car

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.

December 3, 2009

Illinois Woman Struck and Killed by Car While Investigating Minor Accident

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.

December 1, 2009

Southern Illinois Football Coach Dies in Car Accident

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.

November 30, 2009

South Side Accident Injures Eight Including Six Children

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.

November 29, 2009

Seven Car Chicago Accident on I-94

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.

November 28, 2009

Chicago Woman Killed in One Car Accident

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.

November 27, 2009

Decrease in Illinois Deer-Car Accidents

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.

November 26, 2009

Madison County Car Accident Trial Set

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.

November 25, 2009

Joliet Accident Kills Elderly Man

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.

November 23, 2009

Accident on Dan Ryan Injures Eight

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.

November 22, 2009

Illinois Police Cracking Down During the Holidays and Trying to Reduce the Number of Fatal Accidents

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.

November 21, 2009

Mother Killed in Madison County Accident

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.

November 20, 2009

Chicago Car Accident Injures Five

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.

November 17, 2009

Illinois Announces Campaign to Reduce Car Accident Fatalities

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.

November 16, 2009

Peoria Car Accident Injures Three

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.

November 15, 2009

Charges Filed In Chicago Car Accident on South Side

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.

November 13, 2009

Bartlett Car Accident Involves Five Vehicles

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.

November 12, 2009

Illinois Car Accident Victim Files Lawsuit

A man who alleges that he was in a car accident in which the driver of a Metro vehicle was at fault, which occurred in January of this year, filed a car accident lawsuit in St. Clair County last week. The complaint alleges that because Plaintiff was rear-ended by a Metro car, Plaintiff continues to suffer constant pain of his body and mind. According to The Madison St. Clair Record, the two-count lawsuit blames the driver of the Metro car for driving too fast, failing to sound his horn, failing to keep a proper distance, failing to reduce speed, failing to maintain a proper lookout and for following too closely. Plaintiff and his car accident attorneys are seeking upwards of $50,000 in connection with this car accident lawsuit, including medical costs incurred and lost job time. If you would like to find out more about this Illinois car accident lawsuit, please click on this hyperlink.

November 11, 2009

Elgin Woman Killed in Streamwood Accident

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.

November 10, 2009

Teenage Boy Killed in Car Accident

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.

November 10, 2009

Oak Lawn Accident Kills One

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.

November 9, 2009

$1.5 Million Settlement in Winnebago Car Accident Case

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.

November 8, 2009

Two Men Charged After Chase Results in Death of One Woman

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.

November 7, 2009

Crystal Lake Man Charged in Accident

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.

November 6, 2009

Pedestrian Killed by Teenage Driver

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.

November 4, 2009

Car Accident Lawsuit Filed By Passenger Against Driver

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.

November 3, 2009

Drunk Driving Charges For Man Driving in Accident that Killed Pregnant Woman

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.

November 2, 2009

Woman in Illinois Car Accident Sues Driver

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.

October 30, 2009

Long Grove Woman Settles with Lake County

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.

October 29, 2009

Illinois Woman Settles in Connection with Crash That Left Her Paraplegic

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.

October 28, 2009

Chicago Police Pursuit Ends in Fatal Crash

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.

October 27, 2009

Chicago Cops in Car Accident

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.

October 26, 2009

Family Files Lawsuit Over Double-Decker Bus 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.

October 25, 2009

Woman Dies in Chicago Car Accident on Birthday

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.

October 24, 2009

Second Accident Occurs Within Feet of Other 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.

October 23, 2009

Pregnant Mother Killed as a Result of Car Accident and Baby Dies Shortly After

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.

October 22, 2009

Teenage Girl Taken Off Life Support Following Car Accident

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.

October 21, 2009

Pregnant Woman Killed in Chicago 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.

October 20, 2009

Wheeling Woman Cited in Accident with Police Car

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.

October 19, 2009

Retired Mundelein Police Officer Killed in 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.

October 18, 2009

Local Panhandler Dies in Hit-and-Run

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.

October 16, 2009

Worker Killed in Avon Pedestrian Accident

A Chicago man was killed on the morning of October 15th, when he was struck by a car while he was placing traffic counters near Farmington on Manley Road in Avon. The fatal car accident occurred when the driver crossed into the westbound lane and struck the victim, who it is believed to not have seen anything coming. According to The Peoria Journal Star, the driver immediately stopped and called 911 and at this point has not been ticketed and his speed is unknown. The car accident attorney for the company the victim worked for says that the victim was well aware of safety protocol and appears to have complied with it completely at the time of the fatal car accident.

October 15, 2009

Two Cases in Connection with Fatal Chicago 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.

October 14, 2009

Drunk Driver Faces Charges in Park Ridge Car Accident

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.

October 13, 2009

Victim Files Car Accident Lawsuit in St. Clair County 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.

October 12, 2009

Chicago Police Officer Killed in Fatal Car Accident

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.

October 11, 2009

Drunk Driving Charges Filed in Connection with Lakeview Car Accident

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.

October 9, 2009

Downtown Chicago Car Accident Injures Five

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.

October 8, 2009

Elderly Chicago Man Dies as a Result Of Critical Injuries from Pedestrian Accident

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.

October 7, 2009

Victim in Bus/Van Accident Dies

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.

October 6, 2009

Drunk Driver Charged in Fatal Car Accident Case

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.

October 5, 2009

Widow Speaks Out in Response to Fatal Crestwood Accident

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.

October 4, 2009

Two Dead and Two Seriously Injured in Chicago Car Crash

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.

October 3, 2009

Eight Car Pile-Up Result of Speeding Driver

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.

October 2, 2009

High School Student Tragically Killed in One Car Accident

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.

October 1, 2009

Plainville Accident Leaves One Dead

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.

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September 28, 2009

Aurora Woman Dead After Hit-and-Run

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.

September 27, 2009

Chicago Car Crash Leaves Nine Injured

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.

September 24, 2009

CTA Bus Accident Injures Five

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.

September 23, 2009

Madison County Car Accident Lawsuit Filed

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.

September 22, 2009

Former Chicago Bears Playing Sued in Connection with Car Accident

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.

September 21, 2009

Pedestrian Killed in Fatal Bus Accident

A Chicago man was fatally injured after being hit by a bus late in the evening of September 20th. The victim had been standing on the sidewalk near a bus stop when a bus struck him as it pulled away from the stop. The victim was killed instantly according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. No one on the bus was injured resulting from the fatal accident. The bus accident is still under investigation. For more information on this fatal pedestrian accident, click here.

September 20, 2009

Chicago Man Charged in Fatal Accident

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.

September 18, 2009

Mandatory Insurance Law in Illinois Poses Serious Punishments for Drivers that Fail to Comply

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.

September 17, 2009

Car and IDOT Mower Accident on US 24

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.

September 16, 2009

Car Accident Lawsuit Filed in Connection with Fort Russell Area Crash

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.

September 16, 2009

Four Personally Injured n South Side Automobile Crash

Four people, including at least one child, were seriously personally injured in a two-vehicle automobile crash on the South Side of Chicago. Emergency crews were called to the intersection of 63rd Street and Damen Avenue. Five ambulances were called to the scene after the automobile accident. One person was taken to Stroger Hospital and is serious to critical condition with personal injuries while three other were taken to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn. If you have been injured in an automobile crash, contact an Illinois lawyer. To read more about the Chicago car crash, please click the link.

September 15, 2009

Palatine Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit Filed

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.

September 14, 2009

Teenager Dead After Head-On Collision

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.

September 12, 2009

Illinois Woman Killed in One-Vehicle Car Crash

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.

September 11, 2009

St. Clair Woman Files Car Accident Lawsuit Against Drunk Driver

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.

September 10, 2009

Chicago Car Accident Settlement Over $23 Million

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.

September 9, 2009

One Dead In Carpentersville Car Accident

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.

September 9, 2009

Six People Taken To Hospitals after Chicago Automobile Crash

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.

September 8, 2009

Car Accident in Sesser Injures Four

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.

September 8, 2009

CTA Bus Crash Personally Injures 11

One person was critically personally injured when a CTA bus hit a light pole on the West Side of Chicago. Eleven people were transported to area hospitals with personal injuries. One was in critical condition, eight were in fair condition and two were in good condition after the bus accident. The bus accident was originally reported as having involved a bus and a car, but it was simple the CTA bus hitting a light pole. If you have been injured on the CTA, please find an Illinois lawyer. To read more about the bus accident, please click the link.

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September 7, 2009

Emergency Contact System Implemented for Illinois Drivers

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.

September 7, 2009

Husband and Wife Killed in Illinois Motorcycle Accident

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.

September 6, 2009

Five People Personally Injured in Automobile Accident

Five people were personally injured in an automobile accident outside Ford city mall on Chicago’s Southwest Side. Four of the victims were taken to an area hospital and are in serious-to-critical condition. The fifth was taken to the hospital with personal injuries in fair-to-serious condition. The car crash occurred at 76th Street and Cicero Avenue. If you or a loved one has been involved in a car crash, find an Illinois lawyer. To read more about the automobile accident, please click the link.

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September 5, 2009

Two People Personally Injured in Chicago Crash

Two people were seriously personally injured in a two-vehicle crash on the Northwest side of Chicago. Fire Department crews responded to the pin-in automobile crash on the intersection of Central and Devon Avenues. Two people were taken to the hospital with personal injuries. One vehicle broadsided another in the car crash. If you have been involved in an automobile accident, find an Illinois lawyer. To read more about the Chicago car crash, please click the link.

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September 5, 2009

Driver in Lake County Accident Found to be Driving with Revoked License

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.

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September 4, 2009

Three Car Accident Injures Two

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.

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September 3, 2009

Homer Glen Woman Killed in One Car Accident

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.

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September 2, 2009

Two Dead in Logan Square Accident

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.

September 1, 2009

Will County Car Accident Leaves One Dead

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.

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August 31, 2009

Tinley Park Man Killed in One Vehicle Accident

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.

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August 30, 2009

Man Killed in Illinois Auto Crash

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.

August 29, 2009

Charges Filed in Four Fatality Car Accident

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.

August 28, 2009

Oakwood Car Accident Injures Five

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.

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August 27, 2009

Illinois Toddler Struck and Dragged by Vehicle

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.

August 26, 2009

Motorcycle Driver Killed in Chicago Car Accident

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.

August 25, 2009

Illinois Car Accident Injures One

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.

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August 24, 2009

Illinois Man Killed in Chicago Area Scooter Accident

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.

August 24, 2009

Six People Personally Injured in Rollover Crash

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.

August 23, 2009

Skokie Couple Killed in Early Morning Accident

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.

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August 22, 2009

Chicago Car Accident Injures Four

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.

August 21, 2009

Two Cops and One Civilian Injured in Chicago Car Accident

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.

August 19, 2009

Oak Lawn Bicyclist Killed in Traffic Accident

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.

August 18, 2009

Chicago Car Crash Leaves Chicago Man Dead

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.

August 17, 2009

Lenzburg Woman Killed in Car Accident

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.

August 16, 2009

Sick Toddler Dies On Way to Hospital Following Car Accident

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.

August 15, 2009

Pekin Teen Faces Serious Charges in Fatal Car Accident Case

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.

August 14, 2009

Morris Accident Injures Young Woman

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.

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August 13, 2009

Criminal Charges May be Filed in Illinois Car Accident

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.

August 12, 2009

Hoffman Estates Car Accident Leaves Three Injured

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.

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August 11, 2009

Three Injured in Chain-Reaction Car Accident Near Schaumburg

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.

August 10, 2009

Ramps On Chicago's Kennedy Expressway to Be Redesigned

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.

August 9, 2009

Three Injured In Car Accident

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.

August 8, 2009

Motorcyclist Injured in Car Crash

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.

August 7, 2009

One Killed in I-57 Car Accident

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.

August 6, 2009

Man Dead After Suffering Incident While Driving

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.

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August 5, 2009

Bail Set at $750,000 for Driver Involved in Fatal Car Accident

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.

August 4, 2009

Charges Filed Against Drunk Driver

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.

August 3, 2009

Eight Injured in Chicago Car Accident

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.

August 2, 2009

Failed Brakes Possibly to Blame for Car Accident

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.

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July 31, 2009

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Illinois Woman

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.

July 30, 2009

Motorcyclist Injured in Accident

A young Illinois man was injured in a motorcyclist accident in the Chicago suburbs on the afternoon of July 28th. The motorcyclist was driving at an excessive speed and then collided with a passenger car. The car driver was not injured, but the motorcycle driver was seriously injured and taken a local hospital. The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, which may have led to more serious injuries. For more information on this motorcycle accident, click here.

July 28, 2009

Motorcyclist Injured in Accident Near Chicago

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.

July 26, 2009

Lawsuit Filed Over Illinois Car Crash

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.

July 25, 2009

One Killed in Illinois Car Crash

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.

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July 23, 2009

Three Dead in Illinois Car Accident

Late in the evening of July 17th a car accident occurred on a private Illinois lane in which a the driver of a car was driving too fast and struck a vehicle on the private road. The driver of the car, as well as the two passengers in the car, were killed on impact or shortly after the impact from the car accident. The property owner heard the car crash and went out to try to help but it was too late. For more information on this car accident, click here.

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July 22, 2009

Car Accident in Illinois Claims Lives of Two Teens

Two teenagers were killed and three more injured in a one car accident that occurred in Illinois on the evening of July 21st. The driver lost control of the car because of standing water in the road due to heavy rain. The car left the road and struck a tree after hitting the water patch. Rescue crews tried to help the car accident victims by transporting them by helicopter, but the weather prevented the helicopters from flying. For more information on this Illinois car accident, click here.

July 21, 2009

Two Injured in Illinois Car Crash

A car accident occurred on the morning of July 18th, in which a vehicle crashed into a fitness club while the driver was trying to park their car. Two members of the club were injured and taken to a local hospital for treatment of their personal injuries and their conditions are currently unknown. No charges have been filed against the driver and there is no evidence of drugs or alcohol being a cause of the car accident. For more information on this car accident, click here.

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July 20, 2009

Berwyn Man Killed in Little Village Accident

A five vehicle crash resulted in the death of an Illinois man. The crash occurred early on the morning of July 19. The victim was the driver of one of the vehicles involved in the fatal car accident and was pronounced dead at the scene. While the car crash involved five cars, one of the cars left the scene before the investigation was complete. For more information on this car accident, click here.

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July 19, 2009

Several People Injured in Illinois Car Accident

An Illinois car accident resulted in several injuries including a man with a severed arm. The car crash occurred early this morning on the south side of Chicago. Reports show that up to five people were taken to the hospital following the car accident and that one of the victims had his arm severed in the crash and was scheduled for surgery to hopefully have the arm reattached. There is no further information on the condition of the victims. For more information on this car accident, click here.

July 18, 2009

Alleged Drunk Driver Faces Lawsuit

A lawsuit has been filed by four people who claim that an allegedly intoxicated driver hit them while they were crossing an intersection. The Illinois car accident occurred last July on Route 3 when the four plaintiffs were riding in a car and the alleged drunk driver failed to yield and ended up colliding with the vehicle in which they were driving. The complaint is for the personal injuries suffered by all as well as past and future medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. The complaint also names the shop in which the defendant consumed alcoholic beverages prior to the accident as a defendant. For more information on this car accident lawsuit, click here.

July 17, 2009

More Developments on Police Officer Fatal Car Accident Case

The judge in the case involving a police officer that got into a fatal accident while talking on his cell phone and driving at excessive speeds has taken the state’s request to dismiss the lawsuit under advisement. The state wants the claim to proceed in claims court instead of the circuit court because of a Act which makes government officials immune from facing lawsuits based on actions that were done during the course of their employment. The state is arguing that a personal phone call taken shortly before the car accident did not affect the officer’s driving and that it will not be possible to show that the phone call was the cause of the accident. The attorney for the couple that is suing him say that to make a personal phone call and drive at that fast of speeds was a personal choice and was out of the scope of his job and he should be held personally accountable. For more information on this pending decision, click here.

July 16, 2009

Two Car Accident in Chicago Suburbs Injures Two

Two injured in a two car accident that occurred in the Chicago suburbs on the evening of July 15th. One of the injured victims was injured severely enough to need to be airlifted to a hospital because of his serious head injury. At this point there is no more information on the cause of the accident or the severity of other people’s injuries. For more information on this car accident, click here.

July 15, 2009

New Developments in Police Officer Fatal Car Accident Case

More information has been found in connection with a fatal car accident in which a police officer was going over a hundred miles an hour and crossed a median slamming into a passenger vehicle in November of 2007. The car accident killed two sisters and injured two other sisters. The family of the sisters who were injured in the car accident have filed a personal injury suit against the police officer, claiming negligence. There is a Act that grants immunities to state employees for mistakes made while performing official duties. The attorney for the girl’s family claims that since the accident occurred while the officer was talking on the phone, emailing and driving at excessive speeds, the officer cannot claim that he is entitled to protection from this Immunity Act. This issue is still pending in this case, and the police officer has criminal charges for the death of the two girls and injuries of the two others pending. For more information on this car accident suit, click here.

July 14, 2009

Three Killed in Truck Accident

Three people were killed when a truck struck a vehicle in the evening of June 13th. There were five people in the car, three were pronounced dead at the scene and two were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their personal injuries. The condition of the hospitalized is unknown at this point. The car accident occurred at the railroad intersection where the vehicle was crossing the tracks. For more information on this car accident, click here.

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July 13, 2009

Young Illinois Man Charged with Drunk Driving

A head-on collision occurred on the morning of July 12th when the driver of a car was going the wrong way on the Stevenson Expressway. The driver has been charged with drunk driving. Three people were injured and remain hospitalized, including the driver facing these charges. In addition to being cited for drunk driving, the driver was cited for driving the wrong way. For more information on this car accident, click here.

July 12, 2009

Suit Filed Over Illinois Car Accident

An Illinois woman has filed a suit against the driver of another vehicle who she claims failed to stop for traffic causing that car to crash into the vehicle in which the woman was riding, back in July of 2007. The complaint alleges that a car accident occurred when the vehicle the woman was in was stopped at a red light and the defendant allegedly failed to stop and crashed into the back of the vehicle. The complaint alleges that the victim suffered from a pre-existing medical condition in which the car crash aggravated her injuries and she is seeking more than $50,000 in damages plus court costs. For more information on this car crash complaint, click here.

July 11, 2009

One Injured in Illinois Car Accident

On the morning of July 10th an Illinois woman suffered minor personal injuries after she was involved in a two-car accident. The car accident resulted in both cars ending up in a ditch and two of the people in the other car involved in the accident fled the scene on foot and have not yet been identified. The woman who was injured was not seriously injured and the two small children that were with her were luckily not injured. For more information on this car accident, click here.

July 10, 2009

Illinois Woman Held in Connection with Fatal Motorcycle Accident

Illinois woman being held in jail after crashing her minivan into a motorcycle, killing the driver on the evening of July 9th. The driver was traveling west and allegedly crossed into the opposite lane and then struck the motorcycle. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of the crime and was not wearing a helmet at the time the fatal crash occurred. The minivan driver was issued a ticket for failure to reduce speed and unlawful possession of a controlled substance after what was found to be cocaine was found in her vehicle. The tests have not yet come back showing if the driver had cocaine in her system at the time the car accident occurred. For more information on this fatal accident, click here.

July 9, 2009

Hit and Run Leaves Illinois Man Dead

A car accident that occurred on July 7th, resulted in the death of one person involved in the fatal accident. The victim was driving slowly due to heavy traffic and was rear ended by another vehicle. The car that rear ended the victim immediately fled the scene and has not been found at this point in the investigation. The victim was taken to a local hospital following the car accident and was alert and talking but then suffered a heart attack after suffering spinal injuries resulting from the car accident. The victim did have a history of heart problems but the car crash is believed to be the cause of the victim’s heart attack. For more information on this fatal hit and run accident, click here.

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July 8, 2009

Two Injured in Illinois Rollover Car Accident

On July 7th, two people were hospitalized after they were involved in a rollover car accident. The car accident occurred near the Dan Ryan/Bishop Ford Expressway split on 1-57 and involved two cars. The two injured were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in serious to critical condition, and four other people involved refused treatment at the scene of the car accident. For more information on this car accident, click here.

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July 6, 2009

Truck Driver Kills Bicyclist

On Sunday, July 5th an Illinois woman was killed while riding her bicycle. The bike accident occurred when a pickup truck struck the woman and her daughter while they were riding bicycles. The victim’s daughter suffered injuries, but they are not life-threatening. The driver of the truck involved in the fatal accident has been charged with improper lane usage, and at this point there is no evidence of drug or alcohol involvement and speed does not seem to be a factor in the terrible crash. For more information on this terrible truck accident, click here.

July 4, 2009

Illinois Car Crash Kills One

On the night of July 1st, an Illinois man was killed in Kane County when he lost control of his car and struck a utility pole. The car accident ejected the driver from his car and he suffered life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead when he was taken to a local hospital. The police have said that speed was a partial reason in the crash but have not determined if drugs or alcohol were involved. For more information on this Illinois car crash, click here.

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July 3, 2009

Chicago Cop in Car Accident

Chicago cop received minor personal injuries on July 2nd in Chicago when he swerved to avoid hitting a car and ended up hitting a building. This car accident occurred when a car pulled out in front of the officer and he attempted to avoid a car crash. The cop was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his personal injuries. For more information on this car accident, click here.

July 2, 2009

Tips for Staying Safe This Holiday Weekend

It is important to remember over the holiday weekend to be careful when traveling. One important suggestion to help stay safe in your travels is to not text while you are driving a car. Don’t forget that other drivers could be texting while driving and so it is extremely important to pay close attention when driving in order to avoid car accidents. While holiday travel has been lower over the past couple years, more holiday car travel is expected this year because gas is lower than it was last year. Another important caution to take when traveling this holiday season is too make sure never to drink and drive. For more information of ways to stay safe this Fourth of July weekend, please click here.

June 30, 2009

I-55 Illinois Car Accident Leaves One Dead

A Chicago man was killed when he lost control of the car he was driving and got into a car accident on I-55 late on the evening of June 29th. The driver lost control of his car and drifted off onto the shoulder of the interstate and the vehicle ended on in a ditch after rolling over twice. The victim died of blunt force trauma and alcohol is suspected to have been involved in the car crash. No one else was involved in the car accident. For more information on this car accident, click here.

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June 29, 2009

Six Injured in Chicago Car Accident

Six people, 2 of which were children, were hurt when they were involved in a car accident on the south side of Chicago on June 28th. The driver of the car lost control but no other cars were involved in the car crash. The two children were taken to the University of Chicago Children’s Hospital in serious but stable condition for treatment of their personal injuries. The driver of the car involved in the car crash was taken to a local hospital in serious condition and another passenger was taken to a hospital in fair to serious condition. Two other parties involved in the car accident refused treatment at the scene of the crime. For more information on this car accident, click here.

June 28, 2009

Car Accident Believed to Be A Result of Texting While Driving

A teenage girl was killed in a car accident that the authorities believe to be a result of her text messaging while driving. The teenage girl was driving in a Chicago suburb and lost control of her vehicle because she was attempting to text while driving. The police are saying that texting while driving is even more dangerous than trying to change the radio while driving. The General Assembly of Illinois is trying to pass a bill that would make text messaging while driving illegal, as a result of the increased car accidents resulting from text messaging while driving. Current Illinois law makes talking on the phone and texting illegal while driving for anyone under the age of nineteen. For more information on this car accident, click here.

June 27, 2009

Young Boy Killed After Being Hit by Car While Riding His Bike

A pedestrian accident that occurred last week resulted in the death of an 11-year-old boy. The car accident occurred earlier last week when a car hit the young boy who was riding his bike. The boy was hospitalized after the car crash and has since died as a result of the severe personal injuries sustained in the accident. No citations have been issued in connection with the accident. For more information on this bike accident, click here.

June 26, 2009

Fiery Crash Leaves One Dead

One killed and three seriously injured in a car accident that occurred in Chicago early this morning. Both cars caught fire after the accident and the person that died was in a sports utility vehicle that was involved in the crash. Several others were seriously injured from the fire and two teens suffered only minor personal injuries. Both cars were seriously burned and one was so badly burned that the make and model could not even be determined. The scene was under investigation and no further information is known as to the cause of the fiery car crash. For more information on this car accident, click here.

June 24, 2009

Bus Accident Kills Former Alderman

Former Chicago area Alderman was killed early on the morning of June 22nd when he drove his car into the path of a local bus. The victim was taken from the scene to a local hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. The autopsy shows severe cardiac disease that was present long before the car crash and may have precipitated the accident and therefore the cause of the car crash is still under investigation. The bus driver and two passengers on the bus were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their personal injuries, but none of the their injuries appear to be severe. The victim was on his way to volunteer as a local hospital when the car accident occurred. For more information on this bus accident, click here.

June 23, 2009

Five Injured in South Side Car Accident

A two-car accident on the South Side on June 22nd, left three children and four adults injured. None of the injuries appear to be life threatening at this point. Several of the victims were taken to the University of Chicago Hospital in fair to serious condition with one child taken there in serious to critical condition. Another adult victim was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious to critical condition and the rest were taken to Jackson Park Hospital in good condition. No more information is known as to the cause of the car accident. For more information on this car crash, click here.

June 22, 2009

At Least One Killed in Train Derailment Accident

On the night of June 19th, a train derailed in Rockford, Illinois that filled many cars with highly flammable gas and led 14 of the cars to explode. This train accident involved vehicles in some manner but the details of the role of the vehicles are unclear, as well as the cause of the train accident. Three people that were stopped at a train crossing were suffered burns and one woman was killed, but the cause of her death is not known. Many homes in the area were evacuated as a result of the train derailment and subsequent fires. For more information on this truck accident, click here.

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June 21, 2009

One Killed in Car Accident

One man is dead after crashing his car into a viaduct in a Chicago suburb early on June 20th. The car accident is believed to have occurred because either the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel or may have been texting while he was driving. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and he was the only person in the car and was not wearing a seatbelt when the accident occurred. The car accident is still under investigation. For more information on this car crash, click here.

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June 20, 2009

Woman Charged in Suburban Chicago Car Crash

A Chicago woman has been issued two citations in connection with a fatal car accident that occurred in May, in which a woman that was crossing the street with her two small children was killed. The driver in the car accident has been cited for failing to exercise due care to pedestrian and improper lane care. There is no evidence of alcohol or drug involvement or any mechanical or road problems that could have caused the fatal car crash. For more information on this car accident, click here.

June 19, 2009

At Least One Killed in Train Accident Near Chicago

At least one person has been fatally injured when an Amtrak train on its way to Chicago hit a car, which was on the train tracks. Initial reports show that there were two fatalities, but at this point only one is confirmed. The fatal accident occurred in the afternoon of June 18th and no one aboard the train was injured. The investigation is ongoing and no further information is known at this point. For more information on this Illinois train accident, click here.

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June 18, 2009

Charges Made In Fatal Chicago Motorcycle Accident

Charges have been made against a man involved in a car accident that occurred last Thursday, June 11th that left one motorcyclist dead. The car accident occurred in South Chicago Heights and occurred when a passenger car was trying to make a left into a gas station and was hit my a motorcycle. The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet and is believed to have been dead on the scene of the crime. The passenger in the car was inured as well and taken to a local hospital for treatment of her personal injuries. The driver of the car has been charged with reckless homicide and may face additional charges when the results of blood and urine test are back. For more information on this fatal motorcycle accident in Chicago, click here.

June 17, 2009

Two-Car Suburban Accident Leaves No Serious Injuries

On the morning of June 16th, a sports utility vehicle ran a light in a Chicago suburb causing a car accident. The SUV tipped over once the other car struck it. Luckily, no one was seriously injured. The driver of the car and 3 people from the SUV were taken to a local hospital, but only as a precautionary measure. The intersection where the car crash occurred was shut down for a little while but has since reopened. No citations have been issued in connection to the car accident at this point. For more information on this car accident, click here.

June 16, 2009

Sentencing in DuPage County Car Accident Related Death

Last summer in DuPage County, a motorcyclist was killed after a minor car accident. Following this car accident in which a sports utility vehicle rear ended a motorcycle, the driver of the car did not want to stop and wait for police and kept driving away when the motorcycle driver tried to stop him. When the car eventually stopped in a driveway, the motorcyclist pulled up behind him to talk and the car driver put his car into reverse and drove over the motorcyclist causing a fatal skull fracture. The driver did not report the accident and a witness was the one that identified the car driver. Following this fatal accident, the state charged the car driver with reckless homicide. The driver just pled guilty to the charge of failure to report an accident involving death and received a five-year sentence and in exchange for this the state dropped the reckless homicide charge. For more information on this fatal accident and settlement, click here.

June 15, 2009

Teen Killed in West Chicago Car Accident

On the morning of June 14th in West Chicago, a teen was killed in a fatal car accident in which he was a passenger. The Chicago car accident occurred when the sports utility vehicle in which the teen was the front seat passenger in struck a tree. The teen was pronounced dead on the scene and his death was caused by mass trauma. The driver of the vehicle has been charged with drunk driving, unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor and failure to reduce speed to avoid a car accident. The two passengers in the backseat were taken to local hospitals to treat their minor personal injuries. For more information on this car accident in Chicago, click here.

June 14, 2009

Suburban Man Seriously Injured in Drunk Driving Accident

A car accident occurred on the I-90 in the suburbs of Chicago on the afternoon of June 12th, leaving one person involved in critical condition. The driver of the original vehicle that caused the horrible accident was driving westbound and rear ended the car in front of him which then led to chain reaction of cars hitting each other. The victim was in a car in that chain reaction and suffered from brain trauma. The victim is currently in the hospital and his status is listed in critical condition. The driver of the original vehicle is facing a felony aggravated DUI charge, after he originally refused to take a blood alcohol test right after the car accident but was still over the legal limit hours later when he was tested. For more information on this car accident, click here.

June 13, 2009

Traffic Sign Seriously Injures One in Chicago

One person was critically injured after running into a signpost on the feeder ramp of the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago. The car accident occurred when a passenger car hit a digital sign on the expressway and the sign then fell onto the vehicle. One person was taken to a Chicago hospital with serious personal injuries after this car accident and is listed in critical condition. For more information on this Chicago car crash, click here.

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June 12, 2009

Car Hits Chicago CTA Train on Tracks

On the morning of June 11th, a multi-car accident led a car to jump a barrier and hit a CTA train. The blue line of the train was closed down for several hours following the car accident and a shuttle bus was used to transport passengers during the shutdown of the train line. The driver of the car that hit the train was cited for improper lane usage and not having insurance. Several people involved in the car accident were taken to local hospitals for their minor personal injuries but no one was seriously hurt. For more information on this car accident, click here.

June 11, 2009

Motorcyclist Killed in Suburban Chicago Crash

A fatal car accident in South Chicago Heights early this morning left one dead. A motorcyclist collided with a car that was turning, and the motorcycles driver was declared dead at the scene after he was thrown from his bike. This fatal motorcycle accident occurred when the passenger car turned left in front of the motorcycle driver. The passengers of the car were okay with only the passenger suffering minor personal injuries. For more information on this fatal car accident, click here.

June 10, 2009

Elderly Woman in Chicago Suburbs Loses Control of Car

On June 4th in the Chicago suburbs, an elderly woman lost control of her car striking another vehicle and then hitting a nearby apartment building. According to the police, age was an factor in this car accident. The Chicago car crash occurred when the woman made a quick right and sideswiped another vehicle and then careened through a parking lot and into an apartment building. The elderly woman was taken to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries to treat her minor personal injuries, and no one else was injured in the accident. The elderly woman was issued a traffic citation for failure to reduce speed to avoid a car accident but is not being held liable for anything more serious. For more information on this car accident, click here.

June 9, 2009

Chicago Police Officer Injured in Car Crash

A South Side car accident left a police officer in the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. The car crash occurred while the officer was in his own vehicle on his way to work on the morning of June 5th. Reports show that one person was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious to critical condition but there is no definite word as to whether this was the police officer or someone else involved in the car accident. For more information on this Chicago car crash, click here.

June 8, 2009

Fatal Car Accident on South Side

Early on the morning of June 7th, one person was killed and two others were hurt on the South Side of Chicago when the car they were all in struck a light pole. This fatal accident occurred a little after midnight and the driver was ticketed with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, driving without insurance, driving without a license, negligent driving and having a passenger riding in the vehicle without a seat belt. One of the victims in this fatal car crash was pronounced dead on the scene and one other victim is reported to be in critical condition and the last passenger is in stable condition. For more information on this fatal accident, click here.

June 8, 2009

Five Injured in Northwest Chicago Accident

A Sunday night car accident on the Northwest side of Chicago left four police officers and one other person injured. A passenger van collided with a police car in which the four officers were riding. No charges have been made at this point but charges are likely pending. All five of the injured victims were taken to local hospitals to treat their personal injuries and are reported to be in either fair or good condition. For more information on this Chicago car crash, click here.

June 7, 2009

Fatal Crash In Chicago Due to Drunk Driving

Early this morning a fatal car accident on the South Side of Chicago left one man dead. The car accident occurred when a sports utility vehicle ran a red light and crashed into a smaller passenger car. The sports utility vehicle then hit a pole instantly killing the driver. The driver of the passenger car was listed in good condition and suffered no serious personal injuries but has been charged with driving without a license, without insurance and while under the influence of alcohol. For more information of this fatal car accident, click here.

June 5, 2009

Fatal Accident May Have Been Caused by Alcohol

A fatal car accident that occurred last Sunday left one man dead. The driver of the other vehicle is in custody and is cooperating and is believed to have been under the influence of alcohol when the fatal accident occurred. No official charges have been made as of now but the police chief said that the driver had a blood alcohol level that was twice the legal limit. The suspect also has an active warrant for failing for appear on another drunk driving charge. For the full story on this fatal car accident, click here.

June 4, 2009

Daughter of Fatal Car Accident Victim Files Wrongful Death Suit

The daughter of the victim of a fatal accident victim has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver of the other vehicle, the actual car owner and the City of Chicago. The accident victim was involved in the fatal crash this past May when he was driving home, with the rest of his family, from visiting his son in the Cook County Jail. The driver of the other vehicle ran a red light and hit the victim’s car. The other driver was criminally charged by the State for reckless homicide and aggravated drunk driving when his blood alcohol level was found to be more than double the legal limit. The daughter of the victim has since filed this wrongful death suit. For the full story of this wrongful death suit, click here.

June 3, 2009

One Dead, Four Injured in Perry County, IL Auto Accident

A 20-year-old man from Coulterville,IL was killed on June 1 in an Illinois auto accident. Four other people in the vehicle suffered accident injuries. It was reported that a pick-up truck struck their vehicle in the middle of an intersection in Perry County, IL. Unmarked roads may have been to blame for this tragic car crash. According to a Sheriff from Perry County, there were no stop signs at the intersection, forcing drivers to cross through the intersection with extreme care. The driver of the truck was taken to a local hospital after the accident but later released. The injured remain hospitalized. Read more about this Illinois car accident by accessing the link.

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June 2, 2009

One Person Injured in Car Accident Involving Taxi and Bus

On the night of June 1st in downtown Chicago, one person was taken to the hospital in good condition after the taxi they were a passenger in was involved in a car accident involving a bus. All the passengers on the bus declined medical treatment and were transferred to another bus following the accident. There is no further evidence as to what caused the bus accident. For more information on this car accident, click here.

June 1, 2009

Three People Killed in the Chicago Area in Separate Crashes

On May 31st, three Chicago-area men were killed in three separate car accidents, two of which involved motorcycles. The two motorcycle accidents resulted in the immediate death of the drivers, and the other accident involving a car resulted in the death of the driver as well. There is no further information on the cause of any of the crashes. For more information on these car accidents, click here.

May 31, 2009

Chicago-Area Man Killed in Rollover Car Accident

Early in the morning of May 31st, a Chicago-area man was killed in a car accident that occurred when the car that he was a passenger in sped through a red light and struck a car that was driving through the intersection. The car that had been speeding then hit a pole and rolled over. The victim of the car accident was one of four passengers and was the only fatal injury. The driver of the speeding vehicle was taken to a local hospital in critical condition and the driver of the other vehicle sustained minor personal injuries. Police are still investigating whether alcohol was involved in the crash. For more information on this car accident, click here.

May 30, 2009

Two Killed In Will County Car Accident

A driver and his passenger were involved in a fatal car accident in Will County on May 30th. Both men were killed when the car that they were riding in crashed into another vehicle. They were both pronounced dead at the scene of the car accident. There are no further details as to the cause. For more information of the car accident, click here.

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May 29, 2009

Woman Injured in Illinois Car Accident Sues Other Driver

A woman was injured in a car accident in Caseyville, IL when she was stopped at a traffic light and was then rear-ended by another vehicle. Aside from suing for personal injuries sustained in the accident, the victim is suing for pain and suffering, lost wages and for the depreciation in the value of her vehicle. For more information on this Illinois car accident, click here.

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May 28, 2009

Nine Injured in Three Vehicle Accident in Chicago

A three-car accident occurred in Chicago's South Side when the driver of a car sped away after police saw an occupant of the car shoot a person on the sidewalk. The car sped away and got on the Dan Ryan Expressway and then exited and crashed into two other cars leading to this three-car accident. The officers arrested three occupants of the original vehicle. Two men that were in the original car has to be taken to the hospital and were in serious to critical condition and five others involved in the accident were taken to a local hospital in fair to serious condition. For more information on this Chicago car accident, click here.

May 27, 2009

Police Officer Robbed After Car Accident

A three-car accident occurred this morning injuring five people including a police officer. All five were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The police officer was responding to a call when the car accident occurred and it appears that someone robbed him between the time the crash occurred and the time help arrived. The officer’s gun is missing and his star is possibly missing as well. The authorities have a cell phone video from a witness of the crash that they are looking at for clues as to what happened to the police officer’s belongings following the car accident. It is believed that whomever took the items moved the officer, which may have exasperated his injuries. For more information of this car accident, click here.

May 26, 2009

Two Seriously Injured in Wacker Drive Car Accident

Two people were seriously injured and another was in stable condition following a car accident in downtown Chicago. The three people involved in the accident were sent to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The car accident involved two cars and no more is currently known as to what caused the crash. For more information on this car accident, click here.

May 25, 2009

Teenager Killed in Hit-And-Run Car Accident

Early in the morning of May 22nd, a young boy was killed in a terrible hit-and-run pedestrian accident, by an off duty police officer. The boy was killed instantly and the police officer just drove off after hitting the boy with his vehicle. The boy was riding his bike and although the light was red, the police officer continued through the light striking the boy. The officer has been stripped of his police powers but at this point no criminal charges have been filed for this hit-and-run car accident. For more information of this terrible pedestrian accident, click here.

May 24, 2009

Third Motorcyclist Dies as a Result of Crash

On May 23rd, a motorcyclist made an illegal u-turn on I-57 causing a four-vehicle accident. The area where the motorcyclist turned around was reserved for emergency vehicles only, and when he made his turn he crashed into three motorcycles that were headed northbound. Two of the people involved in the crash were pronounced dead the night of the accident, and a third was pronounced dead the next day. The driver of the motorcycle that made the turn was not seriously injured and has been charged with disobeying a traffic control device. At this point there is no evidence that alcohol was involved in the accident. For more information of this four-vehicle accident, click here.

May 20, 2009

Palos Park Car Accident Leaves One Dead, Three Injured

One person was killed and three more injured in a three-car accident in the Palos Park area. The accident occurred on Route 83, which was closed down for several hours following the crash in order to investigate what caused the terrible car accident. It seems that one of the cars swerved into the opposite lane striking a truck and a sport utility vehicle, both of which flipped or rolled over. The driver of the car that caused the car accident was the person who was killed and no charges are expected to be filed on any of the other drivers. For more information on this Chicago car accident, click here.

May 19, 2009

Eight Injured in Chicago Car Accident

On May 18th, eight people were injured in a six-car accident in Chicago on I-57, including three children. The injured victims were taken to local Chicago hospitals to treat their personal injuries resulting from the car crash. The Chicago Sun Times does not mention whether the cause of the car accident has been determined For more information on the Chicago car accident, click here.

May 17, 2009

Car Accident in Chicago Kills One

On May 17, three vehicles were involved in a car accident in Chicago that killed one. The accident occurred when one vehicle attempted to merge into the local lanes of the Dan Ryan Expressway. The vehicle collided with one vehicle that crashed into another as they were traveling inbound on the expressway. Four people were hurt in the car accident and taken to local Chicago hospitals. A report by the Chicago Sun Times did not reveal if the crash was alcohol-related. Read more about this Chicago car accident by following the link.

May 16, 2009

Swansea Man Killed in Belleville Car Accident

A conversion van was headed west on Illinois 161 when it crossed the center line and collided with another car. The impact caused the van driver to be ejected from his vehicle. He was flown via helicopter to a hospital with serious personal injuries. The driver of the car, a 79-year-old man from Swansea, was killed instantly. An article from the Belleville News-Democrat did not reveal what may have caused the van driver to lose control of his vehicle and cross the center line. The tragic Illinois car accident closed the road for several hours while emergency workers cleaned up debris. To read the full story on this car accident in Belleville, follow the link.

May 15, 2009

Train and Car Collision in Chicago Injures One

A person was hospitalized in critical condition after suffering personal injuries in a Chicago car crash. The person was injured when the car they were riding in collided with a train traveling on the Norfolk & Western lines in Southwest Chicago. A report on Chicago Breaking News does not reveal what caused the car accident to happen. There were no other injuries reported in the crash. Read more about this Chicago train accident.

May 14, 2009

84-year-old Man Injured in Urbana Car Accident

An elderly man had to be extricated from his vehicle after an Urbana car accident on May 13. According to The News-Gazette, the man did not stop at a red light and was struck by an SUV. The impact caused his vehicle to collide with another car before coming to a stop. The 84-year-old was cut from his car and taken to an Urbana hospital where he remains in fair condition. A passenger in the SUV was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries and released. Read the full story of this car accident in Urbana by clicking the link.

May 13, 2009

Chicago Car Accident Shuts Down Lake Shore Drive

One person was killed and two others critically injured in car crash in Chicago on May 13. The car accident occurred along Lake Shore Drive and shut down the northbound lanes of the busy roadway for several hours. According to the Chicago Sun Times, rainy weather and recently paved roads may be to blame for the accident. Two of the victims were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The third victim was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center where they later died. Follow the link to read more about this fatal car accident in Chicago.

May 12, 2009

$3.5 M Settlement in Chicago Car Accident

In November 2005, a 56-year-old woman died in a Chicago car accident when a police car blew through a stoplight at 60mph and collided with the SUV she was riding in. On May 11, her family finally saw compensation for the loss of their loving mother and grandmother. Chicago City Council approved a settlement of $3.5 million for the victim’s family. According to the family’s attorney, the police officer was driving too fast for conditions to back-up another officer in a minor incident. To read the full account of this Chicago car accident settlement, follow the link.

May 10, 2009

Woman Sues Over Injuries Sustained in Swansea Car Accident

A woman is suing another woman in St. Clair County for the personal injuries she sustained in a car accident that occurred in May 2007. The lawsuit alleges that the defendant driver collided with the plaintiff at an intersection in Swansea. It also alleges that the defendant was negligent because she failed to obey a traffic signal or stop to avoid the accident. The plaintiff is seeking over $50,000 in damages for medical costs. She suffered unspecified back and hip injuries in the accident. Follow the link to read more about this Swansea car accident lawsuit.

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May 9, 2009

Alcohol to Blame in Fatal Illinois Car Accident

A 27-year-old man from Kilbourne, IL was charged with aggravated DUI after killing two men and injuring another in a car accident in Mason County, IL. The driver’s farm truck struck a station wagon that the three victims were driving in around 6 p.m. on May 6. The driver, who is now being held on $250,000 bond, did not sustain any personal injuries. Read more about this tragic Illinois car accident.

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May 8, 2009

One Man Killed in Illinois Car Accident

A Springfield man was killed on May 7 when another vehicle collided with his pick-up in Sangamon County. A report in The State Journal Register said that one man was cited for driving in the wrong lane after his SUV crossed the center line and collided with the victim’s pick-up truck. The victim had to be cut from the wreckage and was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The driver who caused the car accident suffered injuries and was taken to a local hospital where he remains in fair condition. Read the full account of this Illinois car accident.

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May 5, 2009

Lake Zurich Accident Kills Motorcyclist, Driver Distraction is to Blame

A woman could face reckless homicide charges for a recent Lake Zurich accident. The collision killed a 56-year-old Lake Zurich woman who was riding her motorcycle when the accident occurred. The driver at fault admitted to painting her nails as she was driving. According to Chicago Breaking News, the crash occurred as the motorcyclist slowed down at a stop light. The driver did not see her because she was distracted and crashed into the motorcyclist. Distracting activities such as applying makeup or texting while driving draw the driver’s attention away from the road. Many car accidents occur each year because of driver distraction and in many cases, these accidents lead to serious personal injury or death. Read the full account of this deadly Lake Zurich accident.

May 4, 2009

Chicago Hit-and-Run Accident Kills Pedestrian

A 22-year-old DePaul University student is being held on $80,000 bail for the hit-and-run death of a pedestrian in Chicago on April 30. The Chicago Tribune reports that the woman was driving a rental truck at 65 mph when she hit the 57 year-old man as he was crossing at a cross walk. The rental truck drug the man over 100 feet. After the accident, the woman kept driving. Police found her in distress several block away from the pedestrian accident. Read more about this Chicago hit-and-run accident.

The accident comes several weeks after Chicago police began a sting campaign to increase awareness of pedestrians at crosswalks. At many of the city's busiest crosswalks, vehicles consistently fail to yield to pedestrians, greatly increasing the risk for pedestrian accidents that may cause injury or death. Chicago police will now issue tickets to drivers who do not yield to pedestrians crossing the street.

April 29, 2009

Schaumburg Car Accident Kills One

A fatal car accident happened in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg on April 29. According to Chicago Breaking News, one vehicle was involved in the accident and no other injuries were reported. The car accident occurred when the victim’s car crashed into a tree. She was taken to a local hospital in Elk Grove Villlage where she later died from injuries sustained in the accident. It is reported that she was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Read more about this Schaumburg car accident.

April 28, 2009

One Woman Dies in Olympia Fields Car Accident

On April 26, an Olympia Fields woman was killed and her husband was injured after their car was hit by another driver. The Southtown Star reports that Janice Lipschultz, 79, died at a local hospital shortly after the car accident and her husband remains in St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields. The fatal accident was caused when a car driven by Lateisha Weathers smashed into the driver’s side of Lipshultz’s vehicle. Weathers was cited for driving on a suspended license and without insurance. Read more about this fatal car accident near Chicago by following the link.

April 27, 2009

Albany Park Accident Injures Chicago Police Officer

A Chicago police officer was injured on April 25 in a two car accident in Albany Park. The Chicago Sun Times reports that the officer was driving an unmarked police car that was rear-ended by another vehicle. The injured officer was taken to Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago where he was listed as stable. No word on whether the other driver was injured or ticketed in the accident. Read more about this Albany Park car accident.

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April 26, 2009

Elderly Man Killed In Chicago Car Accident

A 91-year-old man from Orland Park, a suburb of Chicago, died on April 23 in a car accident three blocks from his home. According a report in the Southtown Star, the man was driving home when he drove through a red light. A box truck that was driving through the intersection crashed into the man’s vehicle as he drove through the light. Emergency workers extricated the man from his severely damaged car and took him to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. The driver of the box truck did not suffer any personal injuries and will not be charged. Read more about this tragic Chicago car accident.

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April 25, 2009

Car Accident in Belleville, Ilinois Leaves One Woman Dead

Recently, a woman was killed in Belelville, IL in a single car accident. The crash occurred in the early morning hours of April 24 on Lebanon Ave. in Belleville. According to an article in the Belleville News Democrat, the woman was traveling westbound when suddenly her car crossed the center lanes. She first hit a grassy patch before hitting a culvert and finally a concrete barrier at the entrance of a parking lot. A witness also noted that she was thrown from her vehicle. There is a currently an investigation underway to determine the cause of the crash. Read more about this fatal car accident.

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April 23, 2009

Fiery Chicago Car Accident Leaves Two Dead

On April 19, two men died in a car accident on Chicago’s South Side. The three vehicle accident occurred when the driver of a BMW attempted to pass a Ford Focus and Chevrolet. The BMW driver lost control of his vehicle and collided with the two other cars before striking a barricade. Upon impact, the BMW burst into flames and the passengers became entrapped in the car. Both men in the BMW died in the car accident. No word on any other injuries. Read more about this Chicago car accident by following the link.

April 22, 2009

Jury Awards Family $13 Million in Chicago Car Accident Case

A Cook County jury recently awarded $13.7 million to the family of a car salesman who was killed during a test drive. The car accident occurred in South Barrington, IL when a potential buyer crashed the car at high speeds. The salesman was thrown from the car and died shortly after at a local hospital. The car accident left two other passengers of the vehicle injured. During the trial, these passengers testified that the car was traveling at 95 mph when the accident occurred. To read more about this Chicago car accident verdict, follow the link.

April 19, 2009

One Person Killed in Skokie Car Accident

A man was killed on April 17 when his car crashed through a fence and onto the Edens Expressway in Skokie, a Chicago suburb. According to a report in the Chicago Sun Times, police suspect that the man suffered a heart attack which caused him to lose control of his automobile. He was taken to a local hospital but died shortly after the car accident. The victim’s vehicle collided with two other cars when it entered the expressway but no one was seriously injured. To read the full account of this Skokie car accident, follow the link.

April 18, 2009

Accident Kills Aurora Motorcyclist

Around 1 a.m. on April 16, a 22-year-old man from Aurora, IL was thrown from his motorcycle and killed. According to a report on Chicago Breaking News, the young man hit the median after losing control of the bike. A driver found him after the motorcycle accident, lying on the road with massive head injuries, and police pronounced him dead at the scene of the crash. The article notes that the motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet, a fact that may have contributed to his brain injury and subsequent death. If you would like to read more about this fatal motorcycle accident, please follow the hyperlink.

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April 17, 2009

Crash in Macoupin County, IL Seriously Injures Driver

A car and truck were involved in an accident on April 15 that left one woman seriously injured and two others with minor injuries. The accident took place along I-55 in Maucopin County. According to a report in The Telegraph, the woman who was critically injured was a passenger in a vehicle that swerved in front of a tractor trailer towing a box truck. The critically injured woman was removed from the vehicle by emergency workers and taken to St. John's Hospital in Springfield, IL. Two children who were also in the vehicle suffered minor personal injuries in the accident. The article did not elaborate on why the driver swerved into the path of the truck. Read the full story of this car accident by clicking on the link.

April 14, 2009

Three Car Accidents Involving Nine Cars Ties Up Suburban Chicago Tollway

On April 14, nine cars were involved in accidents that occurred close together on the Reagan Tollway in suburban Chicago. At first, police believed it was all one accident, but later realized that it was three separate incidents of rear-ending. The crashes occurred near I-355 near Downers Grove, IL. According to a report on CBS 2 Chicago’s website, two people were injured in the car accidents and were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The crash took place in a construction area, forcing other drivers to bypass the accident on the shoulder of the road. Click on the link to read more about this multi-vehicle accident.

April 9, 2009

Third Person Dies After Lake County Car Accident

A six-year-old girl died on April 8, four days after her mother and sister died in a tragic car accident in Barrington Hills, IL. The accident occurred after the vehicle her mother was driving crossed the center line and collided with a van carrying four people. The driver and three passengers in the van were hospitalized with personal injuries. In an article on Chicago Breaking News, it notes that police are still investigating to determine the cause of the crash. Read the full account of this accident by the following the link.

April 8, 2009

Illinois State Police Launch Program to Decrease Motorcycle Accidents

State police in Illinois have announced a program that aims to decrease the number of injuries and fatalities as a result of motorcycle accidents. The campaign will be aimed heavily at motorcyclists but will also educate motorists. The most important thing that a motorcyclist can do can is wear a helmet, along with other protective clothing such as long sleeves and boots. Wearing a helmet will help to reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury if a motorcycle accident occurs. Read more about the Illinois safety program to reduce motorcycle accidents by clicking the link.

If you or a loved one have been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, we encourage you to contact Levin & Perconti at 312-332-2872 to review your case.

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April 7, 2009

Multi-vehicle Accident in Suburban Chicago Leaves One Dead

On April 6, an accident in Oswego, IL, killed one driver and injured four other people. According to an article in the Aurora Beacon News, snow covering a traffic light may have been to blame for the accident. The victim’s car crashed into a southbound pick-up truck as she attempted to turn northbound at an intersection. Her passenger was taken to Rush-Copley Medical Center where he is listed in serious condition. The three other people injured in the car accident were also taken to the Aurora hospital but later released. Police continue to investigate the cause of the accident. Follow the link to read the full account of the car accident in Oswego.

April 6, 2009

Family Injured in Accident Caused by Drunk Driver

A drunk driver killed herself and caused serious injury to four others in a car accident in Prairie Grove, IL on April 5. According to an article on Chicago Breaking News, tests revealed that her blood alcohol limit was over the legal limit. The intoxicated driver crossed the center line and smashed into a Mazda traveling in the other direction. The car was carrying a man, his fiancée, his mother and his 8-year-old son. All of the passengers of the vehicle were seriously injured in the car accident and were taken to local hospitals. The drunk driver was taken to the hospital where she later died during surgery. Read the full article about this fatal car accident near Chicago by following the link.

April 4, 2009

Illinois House Bans Texting While Driving

According to an article on Mystateline.com, over 25% of reported car accidents are caused by distracted drivers. One of the ways that many drivers are distracted is by text messaging while driving. This dangerous practice takes drivers' eyes and minds off the road and can have devastating consequences.

Recently, the Illinois state House passed new legislation that bans people from texting while driving in Illinois. Those who are caught texting while driving will receive tickets and repeat offenders can end up in jail. The new rule will help to decrease the number of car accidents in Illinois. To read more about the new legislation banning text messaging while driving, follow the link.

April 3, 2009

Chicago Man Steals Ambulance, Causes Six Car Accident

A Chicago man is in police custody after stealing an ambulance and causing an accident involving six cars. According to Evanston Police, the man stole the ambulance and began driving at high speeds with the ambulances’ lights turned on. During this time, he struck a parked car but did not stop. His joyride ended when he ran a red light and caused a six car accident. After the accident, the offender attempted to flee on foot but police apprehended him and determined he was intoxicated. No one involved in the car accidents was seriously injured. Read more about this bizarre car accident by viewing the link.

March 29, 2009

Man Killed in Car Accident Near Knoxville, IL

A 61-year-old man from Alexis, IL was killed in a car accident on March 26 while driving near Knoxville. The decedent was driving his Chevy Avalanche in the left lane of I-74 when another vehicle approached his car at a high rate of speed. The second car attempted to pass the Avalanche in the right lane but ended up colliding with the SUV instead. The Avalanche hit the median and rolled, ejecting the driver who was not wearing a seat belt. The driver of the second vehicle had no injuries and was charged with improper lane change. Read the full account of this car accident from the Peoria Journal Star .

March 25, 2009

Illinois car accident may have been caused by gapers block

A three-vehicle car accident near Flossmoor, Illinois was potentially the result of the gapers block in response to an earlier one-car rollover crash. Chicago Police Officer Sgt. Todd Borisy said that the accident may have been caused by an inattentive driver focusing more on the rollover crash than the road. Both crashes resulted in minor personal injuries. Read more about these car accidents.

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March 24, 2009

Seven injured in Chicago car accident

A two-vehicle car accident in the South Loop neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois has sent seven people to the hospital. Three people were taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County in serious condition, while four others were taken to Mercy Hospital in fair-to-serious condition. One child was injured in the car crash. Read more about this vehicle collision.

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March 23, 2009

Man pronounced dead on scene after Chicago-area car accident

A man was pronounced dead after a fatal one-vehicle car accident in Park Ridge, Illinois. The driver had been involved in a hit-and-run collision with some property only minutes before the crash that claimed his life. Witnesses told investigators that the man was driving at high rates of speed when he lost control of his vehicle, ultimately crashing into a tree. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident is being investigated by the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force (NORTAF). Read more about this car accident.

March 22, 2009

Intoxicated driver sued in car accident lawsuit

A personal injury lawsuit has been filed in St. Clair Count, Illinois, in response to injuries caused during a multi-car accident. One woman rear-ended a car, causing collisions between four vehicles. The lawsuit filed by one of the drivers claims that the woman was intoxicated, driving unreasonably fast, failed to keep a lookout, and failed to maintain control of her vehicle, among other things. Read more about this car accident lawsuit.

March 19, 2009

Two-vehicle car crash in southern Illinois injures four

A two-vehicle car accident in Carbondale, Illinois has left four people injured. Two children were injured and were transported to a hospital by ambulance. The crash involved a car and a sport-utility-vehicle (SUV). Emergency responders struggled to extricate one passenger from the car. Nearly an hour after the collision, medics, police and firefighters were still on the scene. Read more about this Illinois car accident.

March 18, 2009

Chicago Policemen Injured in Accident

A car accident on Chicago’s South Side left three policemen injured on March 17. The accident occurred when two Chicago police cars collided. According to an article on Chicago Breaking News, police had not yet revealed the details of the car accident. The report did note that the injured police officers were taken to several Chicago-area hospitals and were expected to be released with no serious injuries. To read about the Chicago cop car accident, please follow the link.

March 17, 2009

Illinois jury awards car crash victims $100,000 in lawsuit

A jury awarded $113,000 to the victims of a January 2007 car accident in southern Illinois. The crash occurred when a True Value Hardware driver was speeding and not properly working his rear brakes. The personal injury lawsuit claimed that the crash caused injuries including hip damage in one victim and shoulder damage in another. Click here to read more about this car accident lawsuit.

March 16, 2009

Police officer in southern Illinois causes car accident

A Creve Coeur, Illinois police officer in a squad car rear-ended a small truck, causing the truck to roll onto its side. The police officer caused the car accident by failing to reduce his speed at a stoplight. The driver of the truck, from Peoria, Illinois, was transported to OSF St. Francis Medical Center with injuries. Read more about this car crash.

March 12, 2009

Lawsuit Filed in Motorcycle Accident Case

A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a Madison County Illinois man who was injured in a motorcycle accident in 2007. The man was riding on his Harley Davidson motorcycle when a woman driving a car pulled out of a driveway and into the oncoming path of the motorcycle. As a result of this accident, the victim suffered injuries, pain and mental anguish. The lawsuit alleges that the woman was driving too fast and failed to control her vehicle. There is no indication in the referring article that she suffered any serious injuries during the accident.

Full coverage of the motorcycle accident can be found by following the link.