Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Recently, PhillyBurbs reported on a settlement for the family of a girl who was killed in a hit and run accident in 2004 while crossing the street. Although the driver was driving intoxicated and on a suspended license, he was not criminally charged with a driving under the influence or hit and run because it was decided that the road were responsible for the crash. The driver pleaded guilty and received a prison sentence for up to six years.

This accident brings up two issues our Illinois accident attorneys see over and over again: hit and runs and drunk driving. Fleeing the scene of an accident is a very serious crime, as serious as causing the accident itself. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, hit and run accidents make up 15.8% of all pedestrian accidents, and alcohol and drugs play a role in 6%. If you are the victim of a hit and run accident, you should first call the police if you are able to, then use a camera of any type (even the one on most cell phones) to capture pictures of any damage that may be done in the accident. Next, you should go to the hospital and get examined by a doctor or nurse, not only to avoid possible insurance problems in the future, but also to make sure that you are not seriously injured.

A group dedicated to hit and run awareness, DeadlyRoads, reviews state laws, and serious injuries related to hit and run accidents. Like other states, leaving the scene of an accident in Illinois is illegal, and that prosecutors have the authority to go after hit and run drivers. If you cause an accident, the best thing you can do is stay at the scene and help the victims by calling for medical assistance. Investigators have the ability to track down most hit and run drivers, and the punishment will be much worse for you if you flee. In addition to criminal charges, you can also be held accountable in a civil suit.

We were happy to see that this victim’s family was compensated for the careless acts the driver who took her life much too early. Lawsuits such as this help to ensure that justice is served and wrongdoers are held responsible. If you have been a victim in this type of accident, or have lost a loved one due to a negligent driver, please contact us to see how we may be able to help you.

Our Chicago pedestrian accident attorneys recently read with interest a report titled Dangerous by Design released by Transportation for America. The report ranks Illinois the 27th most dangerous state in the U.S., and the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet metro area 38th most dangerous in the U.S. for pedestrians. The report highlights the growing issues surrounding pedestrian accidents throughout the country, noting that although pedestrian deaths account for 12% of traffic-related deaths, little has been done to increase pedestrian safety.

The report calls for more attention to the problems and funding increases to create safer roadways for pedestrians. This funding could be used to improve our nation’s sidewalks, trails and crosswalks to create a safer environment for people on foot. The full report can be viewed on Transportation for America’s website.

Far too often, we do not consider the dangers that surround us as we walk to our homes, work, and for entertainment purposes. However, throughout our practice, our Chicago personal injury lawyers have represented a number of injured victims and the families of people who have been wrongfully killed in Illinois pedestrian accidents.

Like other traffic-related accidents, pedestrian accidents can occur under many different circumstances. Sometimes it is a driver who is at fault. In other instances, the pedestrian themself is to blame for disobeying or ignoring traffic signals or due to distractions such as iPods and cell phones. When a driver is responsible for a pedestrian's injuries or death, the victim or his or her family can file a pedestrian accident lawsuit to recover damages and hold all wrongdoers accountable.

Since 1992, we have helped a number of individuals and families in pedestrian accident cases. Most recently, we filed a lawsuit on behalf of a young man who was severely injured while standing on a sidewalk in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago. He was hit by a City of Chicago worker who was driving under the influence of alcohol.

We have recovered a number of million dollar settlements in pedestrian accident lawsuits, including a $10 million settlement for a young boy who lost his leg and half his pelvis when he was run over by a City of Chicago Fire Department truck, a $1.25 million pedestrian accident settlement for a 50-year-old hit by a bus at a crosswalk, a $1.25 million pedestrian accident settlement for a woman who was struck and required a right leg amputation, and a $900,000 settlement for a pedestrian with disabilities who was struck suffered leg fractures when he was hit by a truck.

We support Transportation for America’s mission to push for safer environments for pedestrians and hope that the organization’s efforts will help to reduce the number of people seriously injured or killed in pedestrian accidents in Illinois and throughout the country.

Recently, our Chicago accident attorneys read an article detailing an accident victim’s struggle to receive adequate compensation from his own insurance company. The plaintiff, a Florida middle school science teacher, was severely injured when another vehicle ran a stop sign and collided with his vehicle – according to Lehighacrescitizen.com. Without delay, the victim received $25,000 from the other driver’s insurance company, but it was not enough to pay for the extensive medical bills that arose from spine and wrist fractures the injured party acquired in the accident.

When the injured party sought relief from his own insurance company, under his Uninsured Motorist policy, the company refused to pay out the entire $2,000,000 UM coverage the victim had purchased in case a situation like this arose. When the company made a $190,000 payment to the victim, a sum significantly less than the policy he purchased, the victim filed suit. Ultimately, the jury decided in favor of the plaintiff and awarded him over $3,000,000 for the damages incurred. Those damages included; previous medical expenses from the surgery he was required to undergo after the several fractures he sustained, future medical expenses for the extensive therapy to regain movement in his arms and hand, loss of earning ability, as well as, the pain and suffering that resulted from the effects of the accident.

Our own Chicago accident attorney Susan Novosad, who has dealt extensively with cases of motor vehicle accidents and insurance policy limits, provides helpful advice to help drivers avoid situations such as this one. Susan explains that, “drivers need to take steps to protect themselves.” In order to do this, she adds, “Drivers should begin this process by contacting a qualified insurance professional for rate information for uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage to provide added insurance protection. Let your insurance professional know that you want to take steps to protect yourself and your family in the event of a serious accident caused by a driver either without insurance or with low liability insurance policy limits.”

Virtually all city residents have heard stories of pedestrians who have been hit by cars while traversing the ins and outs of their neighborhood. Like all other cities, Chicago remains a patchwork of moving people and machines throughout the business day. The potential for collision remains high. Sadly, Chicago car accidents involving pedestrians and a variety of moving vehicles on the road is far too high. It is incumbent upon all drivers to exercise reasonable care every moment that they are behind the wheel.

The same deadly consequences of pedestrian accidents exist throughout the country. For example, just last week the San Francisco Examiner reported on a deadly accident and the ensuing lawsuit. It was explained how a likely settlement has been proposed in the case related to a fatal car accident. Last February a 63-year old woman was walking across a street. She was within the clearly delineated crosswalk at the time. Unfortunately, a city employee was driving a public vehicle on the street at the same time, and he did not see the woman in the crosswalk. While speeding, the man ran across the intersection and struck the woman. She died from her injuries.

A car accident was filed by the surviving husband and son of the victim seeking to hold the negligent driver and city responsible for the conduct of their actions. Just recently the city has proposed to settle the case for $1.56 million—it is awaiting approval by the area’s legislative body before being officially offered. Similar settlements have been approved connected to accidents of the same nature. A $2.4 million settlement was reached with a man who suffered a debilitating brain injury following a run-in with a squad car. Similarly, a $1.75 million settlement was given to the family of a woman killed after being hit by a city public works truck. Overall, the city reports that about 22 pedestrians are killed yearly while 800 are injured because of car and truck accidents.

Continue reading "Fatal Pedestrian Accident Leads to Likely $1.56 Million Settlement for Family " »

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

An Illinois 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.

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.

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

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

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

A 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.

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.

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

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

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

A 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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

A 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The 17-year-old driver in a fatal car accident that occurred on July 8, 2008 has been indicted on charges of manslaughter. The high school student, who is being tried as an adult, could face 3 to over 12 years in prison. The teen failed to slow down at a curve and lost control of his Toytoa Tacoma truck, causing it to roll several times after going airborne and land on its rooftop. One of the passengers, another high school student, was pronounced dead at the scene. It is not yet known whether the passenger’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. Read more about this fatal car crash.

A jury recently awarded $1.85 million to a man who suffered serious injuries as a result of a motorcycle accident. He collided with an automobile after a delivery driver carelessly waved the vehicle into the path of the victim's moving motorcycle. As a result, the victim suffered significant injuries that required several surgeries. The lawsuit was brought against the company that owned the delivery vehicle.

During the trial, the victim’s attorney presented the case in front of a jury who found the company 100% responsible for the motorcyclists’ injuries. The jurors awarded the man for both past and future medical bills, as well as pain and suffering. Please follow the link to read more about this motorcycle accident.

A settlement amounting to over $500,000 was reached recently in a personal injury lawsuit filed on behalf of a man killed in a car accident in Champaign County, Illinois. The lawsuit claimed wrongful death because the allegedly intoxicated woman that collided with the victim had been previously been stopped by a police officer and friend who, according to the lawsuit, should not have allowed the woman to drive. After the woman continued to drive, she crossed the center line and hit the victim’s car, leading to his death. Read more on this car accident settlement.

A $28.7 million verdict was given in an automobile accident trial that left a four-year-old a paraplegic. The plaintiff was a four-year-old foster child who was a back seat passenger in the defendant’s vehicle when the defendant crossed the center line of travel and struck an oncoming vehicle. It was alleged that the defendant was failing to watch the road in front of him when the car accident occurred. The minor plaintiff was riding in the defendant’s car, returning home from their day car center. The four-year-old sustained permanent spinal cord injuries as a result of the automobile accident and was rendered a T-8 paraplegic. He is paralyzed from his ribcage down. The plaintiff now resides with his adoptive family and is bound to a wheelchair. The automobile negligence trial lasted two and a-half days and the jury found in favor of the plaintiff. To read the full story, click here.

A 24 year-old who received serious personal injuries in a car crash last year has settled his car accident lawsuit. The personal injury plaintiff’s arm was badly broken when a vehicle that he was a passenger in slammed into a utility pole.

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A jury recently awarded a widow and her three children $11.5 million in damages against the drivers of the vehicle that caused the car accident. The car accident resulted in the wrongful death of a police officer. The driver failed to stop at a stop sign and attempted to make a left turn eastbound, causing the officer to swerve to avoid a direct impact.

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The family of a 69-year-old woman run over and killed in a dangerous mid-block crosswalk by a Chicago firefighter driving too fast for the raining conditions received a $700,000 settlement by a City Council committee. The woman was crossing South Chicago Avenue when she was hit by a two-day-old Ford Expedition carrying the Fire Department’s 6th District deputy chief and his driver. The accident occurred two years ago on the 9200 block of South Chicago. The woman was dressed in dark clothing when she stepped off the center median and into the path of the SUV, which was not on an emergency call and did not have its emergency lights or sirens activated. The crosswalk has blinking lights, but they were not working at the time of the accident. City traffic engineers examined the crosswalk after the accident for possible safety improvements. Chicago Fire Department officials had insisted that the SUV was driving at or below the posted speed limit and the senior stepped right into the path of the oncoming vehicle. To read the full story, click here.

Two teenagers who filed a personal injury lawsuit after a car accident have recently settled their lawsuit against the manufacturer of the vehicle they were driving. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but were quoted to be satisfactory to both parties. In the personal injury lawsuit alleged products liability design default.

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Steven Levin of Levin & Perconti and Stephen Gorman, Attorney at Law, have announced a recent settlement in a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Cook County. Levin and Gorman filed a personal injury lawsuit on behalf of Anastasia Gadomski who was severely and permanently injured when Cater Minnis struck her with his car. The defendants settled for $1.85 million. Anastasia, or “Sissy” as her friends and family know her, was a vibrant and active woman who enjoyed spending time with her family and was always involved in her community. However, the accident has robbed her permanently of her former personality. Sissy was struck by Cater Minnis’s vehicle as he backed out of a parking garage while on business. Minnis is a State Farm Insurance agent based on Chicago’s south side. To read more, click here.

A Cook County jury awarded $2.5 Million to the family of a nonagenarian who was struck by a van while crossing the street. The verdict included $1 Million for pain and suffering because the woman was alive when she was dragged 25 feet by the van. At trial, there was a dispute as to whether the woman or the driver proceeded on a red light. However, the jury did not hear evidence of a ticket given to the driver for “failing to exercise due care to avoid striking a pedestrian.” In reaching this verdict, the jury was asked to consider the quality and dignity of the life the woman led and the strong relationship she had with her family. The verdict speaks to the necessity of the availability of punitive damages, suggesting that many of today’s proposed tort reforms will only harm the families of individuals such as this woman that suffer unnecessarily.

Numerous studies have shown that talking on a cell phone while driving a motor vehicle increases the risk of automobile accidents. In a recent wrongful death lawsuit, a jury awarded $21.6 million to a man who's wife was killed in a car accident by a driver talking on her cell phone. The defendant claimed that although the female driver was negligent, the accident was not caused because she was talking on her cell phone. The jury disagreed.

In February 2007, an elderly couple from Brookfield, Illinois was struck by a drunk driver while crossing the street. The woman was killed at the time of the pedestrian accident and her husband died days later from injuries sustained in the crash. Through her Illinois personal injury attorney, the couple's daughter sued the driver in a civil wrongful death lawsuit which recently settled for $500,000. The criminal trial is still going on in Cook County. An off-duty Chicago police officer saw the accident and apprehended the driver, who intended to leave the scene. He was charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence. The couple's daughter said that the settlement provided some degree of closure noting that with less to worry about she could have time to grieve the loss of her parents.

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The Illinois wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of a 15-year-old in Southern Illinois has resulted in a $10 million ruling in Saline County Circuit Court. The teen was killed in an automobile accident after the car he was in was struck by a farm truck. The defendants admitted negligence; the truck failed to stop at an intersection, striking the victim's car and ejecting him and another passenger from the vehicle. The injuries sustained by the teen resulted in his death. Such a high award is uncommon in Southern Illinois, but in this case the court found that the survivors of the teen had incurred a significant loss of society and that the wrongful death warranted the compensation of $10 million.

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A $1,400,000 settlement was recently reached that alleged wrongful death, personal injury and property damage on behalf of a 75-year-old woman who was killed in a car accident when the principal of a local high school returning from a school trip swerved into oncoming traffic. The woman's husband, also 75-years-old, suffered major injuries. Plaintiffs in the case also include the couple's 11 children. The Plaintiffs also received a $100,000 settlement from the life insurance policy of the principal, who also died in the accident.

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The Illinois 1st District Appellate Court vacated a direct verdict for GM and remanded the matter for trial, finding that the plaintiff did present enough evidence of a design defect to warrant product liability. In 1999, the plaintiff sustained a severe burn injury after the rear seat of his van exploded into flames after trying to start the van for 10 minutes. At trial in the Cook County Circuit Court, the plaintiff alleged that the design defect rendered the van a fire hazard, but the jury found in favor of GM. The appeals court, however, ruled that GM should have tested the van in order to detect the defect and prevent automobile accidents, and the fact that the victim repeatedly tried to start the van was an act an ordinary consumer would perform without “expect[ing] the interior of the van to ignite.” The plaintiff’s expert presented sufficient evidence to support that specific industry standards of care were not met for the particular defects he identified.