Chicago Car Accident Attorneys Blog

Friends and family are mourning the deaths of two “best buddies” in a Cook County car accident. Veronica Rojas, who was celebrating her 18th birthday, and Natalie Stygar, 17, died early Monday when the Nissan Maxima that they were riding went off the road, hit a fire hydrant, and broadsided a tree. Rojas was the mother of a two-year-old boy.

The driver of the Nissan, Szymon Zawadzki, sustained non-threatening injuries and was also hospitalized. Another passenger, a 15-year-old girl, sustained critical injuries, while 18-year-old passenger in the front seat was treated at Evanston NorthShore hospital before being released. All of the vehicle occupants were from Chicago.

Meantime, Zawadzki, 20, is charged with two counts of aggravated DUI resulting in death, two counts of reckless homicide, one count of driving under the influence, one count of aggravated DUI resulting in great bodily injury, one count of improper lane usage, driving without insurance, and one count of failure to reduce speed.

It is illegal in the US for anyone under the age of 21 to drink alcohol. Driving drunk, regardless of the age of the driver, can prove fatal. A driver who caused serious injury or death because he/she was operating a motor vehicle while under the influence can be sentenced to time in prison. He or she can also be held financially liable in civil court for the Chicago car accident.

Due to their inexperience, most young drivers are already at higher risk than their older counterparts of getting involved in a Cook County car crash. Driving under the influence of alcohol, which clouds judgment, slows reflexes, and impairs the senses, only makes it harder for a young, inexperienced motorist to maintain control of a vehicle—especially during emergency situations.

Driver charged with DUI in deaths of two women in Wilmette, Chicago Sun-TImes, June 29, 2010

2 Chicago teens killed in crash after birthday celebration, Chicago Tribune, June 28, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Teen driver risks in high gear over summer, USA Today, June 21, 2010

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Continue reading " Two Chicago Teenagers Killed in Wilmette Car Accident After Birthday Celebration " »

A man accused of killing an 11-year-old girl in a hit-and-run Chicago, Illinois car crash has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Carlos Rubio was arrested just hours after Itali Hinton was struck and then dragged several feet by a van on East 79th Street on Tuesday evening. She sustained a traumatic brain injury and was soon pronounced dead at University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital.

Rubio, 67, had stopped at the Chicago pedestrian accident site, but then drove off after his vehicle was surrounded by a crowd that had witnessed the incident. He was arrested at around 2am on Wednesday after he was positively identified as the owner of the van that struck Hilton. The vehicle had been damaged on its front passenger-side bumper section.

Illinois law mandates that drivers stop at the site of any accident they are involved in. This allows the motorists to exchange contact and insurance information in the event that any vehicle damage occurred and if someone was injured, render assistance. Some people’s lives have been saved because the other motorist involved called 911 and tried to help.

Losing your loved one in any kind of accident is a devastating experience. You may be able to hold the negligent party responsible in civil court.

Man, 67, Charged in Fatal Hit-and-Run of Girl, 11, My Fox Chicago, June 25, 2010

Girl, 11, killed by hit-run driver, Sun-Times, June 24, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Cyber Drive Illinois

Things You May Not Know About Hit and Run Accidents, Deadly Roads

Continue reading " 11-Year-Old Girl Dragged in Hit-and-Run Chicago Car Accident Dies " »

In just the last few days, a number of people have been injured in Chicago car accidents. Early Monday, Armando Aguirre died in a Cook County motorcycle accident on I-55. He was pronounced dead at the traffic accident site.

Illinois State Police say that the 37-year-old Chicago rider lost control of his bike during an improper lane change. He was with two other motorcyclists and all three of them are said to have been operating their bikes at a high speed.

Also early Monday, five people were hospitalized in four separate Chicago car accidents. Two people who were hurt during a traffic crash that occurred close to the South Ashland Avenue and West 59th Street intersection were taken to hospitals. Another person who was hurt in a Cook County car accident at South Cicero and Archer Avenues was admitted in serious-to-critical condition to an Oak Lawn hospital. In an unrelated collision, a Chicago motorcycle accident victim was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital. And in yet another Chicago auto accident, this one on South Ashland Avenue, another person was injured enough to be admitted to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

On Sunday evening, four people were hurt in a multi-vehicle collision in Chicago’s South Side. All four Cook County car accident victims were admitted to local hospitals in serious-to-critical condition.

It was just the day before that three people sustained injuries in a Chicago rollover accident on the Dan Ryan Expressway. Two people were thrown from the vehicle, while another person had to be extricated. Police say that the driver may have attempted to “take the exit ramp too quickly.” Also on Saturday morning, four people were transported to local hospitals following three unrelated Cook County motor vehicle collisions in Humboldt Park and Garfield Park.

Chicago man killed in motorcycle accident on I-55, Daily Herald, June 21, 2010

5 Hurt In Crashes Across City Overnight, CBS 2 Chicago, June 21, 2010

3 injured in Dan Ryan rollover, Chicago Sun-Times, June 19, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Cyber Drive Illinois

Car Accidents Overview, Justia

Continue reading " Recent Chicago Car Accidents Result in Injuries and at Least One Death " »

The driver accused of striking 20-year-old Ludjana several times with his vehicle before leaving her at the Chicago car accident site has been charged with first-degree murder. Dido, who was six months pregnant, died of the multiple injuries she sustained in the Chicago pedestrian accident early on June 12, 2010. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office has ruled her death a homicide.

According to police, two groups of people became involved in an altercation on the Northwest Side. The verbal dispute turned physical and Dido reportedly threw a bottle at two people who were fighting. One of the people who was hit in the face was 18-year-old Roberto Garcia.

After both groups walked away from each other, police say that Garcia got into his car and drove towards Dido and her friends. While everyone else ran to the side of the vehicle, Garcia allegedly struck Dido, which caused her to become dislodged under the vehicle. He is accused of striking her at least two more times until he was dragging her under his auto. He then allegedly fled the Chicago motor vehicle crash site and told his friends not to pretend that the incident didn’t happen.

Witnesses, however, identified Garcia as the driver that hit Dido. On Monday, Garcia was ordered held without bond. He plans to appeal during his preliminary hearing, which is scheduled for next month.

Chicago Pedestrian Accidents
Regardless of whether or not a driver intended to strike a pedestrian, the motorist can be held liable for Chicago personal injury or wrongful death. Pedestrians have nothing to protect them from the impact of getting hit by a motor vehicle, and often, the injuries can be catastrophic. If the pedestrian survives with serious injuries, medical care, rehabilitation, and other costs can take a financial toll unless you obtain Chicago car accident recovery.

No bond for man charged in pregnant woman's hit-and-run death, Chicago Sun-Times, June 14, 2010

Pregnant woman killed in Northwest Side hit-run, Chicago Tribune, June 12, 2010

Related Web Resources:
CyberDrive Illinois

Illinois Department of Transportation

Continue reading " Driver Accused of Striking Pregnant Pedestrian During Hit-and-Run Chicago Car Accident is Charged with Her Murder " »

The mother of a Proviso West High School cheerleader who died after she was hit by a car driven by one of her friends on Saturday night claims that the Chicago car crash was no accident. Carmen Harper is convinced that someone tried to intentionally hurt Nakella Harper.

The 18-year-old was attending a graduation party on June 12 when a gang-related brawl broke out. Nakella then ran into the street where she reportedly tripped and fell. An SUV driven by a friend of Nakella's accidentally struck her and the teenager's body, now pinned under the sport utility vehicle, was dragged some 30 to 40 feet.

Nakella was taken to a Maywood hospital where she died. Autopsy results found that her death, from multiple injuries sustained during the Chicago pedestrian accident, was accidental.

However, Carmen Harper is now claiming that she believes that Nakella didn’t just trip and fall but that someone else struck the teenager, which caused her to fall in front of the vehicle that struck hit. Carmen also contends that the car that ran over her daughter was rear-ended by another vehicle. She is asking people to step forward to tell police what really happened.

Dragging Death of Cheerleader No Accident, Mother Says, NBC, June 14, 2010

Teen dies after being dragged by SUV, Chicago Tribune, June 13, 2010

Continue reading " Mother Claims Daughter’s Chicago Car Dragging Death Was No Accident " »

Six months after the Park Ridge City Council decided not to impose a ban on hand-held cell phones while driving, its aldermen have agreed to reconsider whether the decision was the right one. Meantime, Chicago, Winnetka, and Evanston have put laws into place that only allow drivers to use hands-free phones while driving. Throughout Illinois, hand-held devices while driving in construction and school zones are prohibited, as is texting while driving.

Driving with a hand-held cell phone device requires a motorist to take at least one hand off the steering wheel, which can make it harder to stop or swerve or maintain control of the vehicle during an emergency situation. This can result in catastrophic Cook County, Illinois car crashes, which is why many cities and states have started making it illegal to talk with a phone in hand while driving.

There are also more experts who are now saying that driving on any kind of cell phone—whether hands-free or hand-held—ups the chances that a motorist will become involved in and/or cause a traffic crash. In March, the National Safety Council released a white paper talking about the risks involved with cell phone use coupled with driving and noted that regardless of whether or not a driver is holding the phone, the brain is still multitasking, which is not a safe activity to engage in while operating a motor vehicle.

The NSC reports that not only does cell phone use while driving impair driving performance and driver attention, but also it weakens the brains ability to catch onto driving cues. Drivers using cell phones tend to “look at” without seeing up to 50% of information found in the driving environment. This type of inattention blindness can make it hard for motorists to evaluate their surroundings, note possible hazards, and respond appropriately to unexpected occurrences. Unfortunately, it is no longer unusual news to hear that someone was injured or killed because another person was using a cell phone. Cell phone accidents claim many lives each year.

Park Ridge to reconsider ban on cell phone use while driving, Chicago Tribune, June 11, 2010

The National Safety Council Releases White Paper on Brain Distraction During Cell Phone Use While Driving, NSC, March 26, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Distracted Driving, NHTSA

No Phone Zone, Oprah

Continue reading " Preventing Cook County Car Accidents: Park Ridge Aldermen Reconsidering Whether to Ban Motorists from Using Hand-Held Cell Phones " »

Joshua Lemond is suing Jean E. Frillman for Illinois injuries to two minors. Lemond contends that his daughters, Caitlin and Kelli, got hurt on June 15, 2009, when the vehicle the three of them were riding in was hit from the side by the auto that Frillman was driving.

The Lemonds claim that Frillman caused the Illinois car crash, did not maintain control of her car, drove too fast, did not yield the right-of-way, ignored a red light, and disregarded other traffic signs. They say that as a result of the Illinois car accident, they experienced pain and suffering and acquired medical bills.

They are seeking a judgment of over $50,000 plus costs.

Common Kinds of Illinois Car Accidents
• Rear-end crashes
• Side swipe collisions
• Intersectional accidents

Sideswipe collisions, also known as side impact auto crashes, T-bone collisions, and broadside crashes. This type of crash involves an object or vehicle hitting the side of another auto. As the human body absorbs forces from the side, these kinds of car accidents can cause serious and debilitating injuries, which can be costly to treat and may result in permanent injuries.

Child Accident Injuries
No parent ever wants to see his or her child get hurt. It can be especially frustrating to know that your son or daughter is suffering from injuries sustained in a car crash caused by another party’s negligence. You may be able to obtain Illinois personal injury compensation on their behalf.

Father sues over girls' auto accident injuries, The Record, June 9, 2010

Related Web Resources:

CyberDrive Illinois

Illinois Department of Transportation

A 21-year-old woman who is charged in the Illinois car accident that left two construction workers with minor injuries says she had been using her cell phone while in the construction zone. Megan C. Gates is charged with failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident, using a cell phone in a construction zone, and violating Scott’s Law.

Illinois State Police say that Gates, who was driving her 2006 Honda CR-V SE just after midnight on Interstate 55/70, had entered the construction area when she swerved to avoid hitting an animal. She struck the a parked construction truck on the driver’s side, causing her own vehicle to flip over.

Injured in the Illinois traffic crash was construction worker Timothy R. Ahle, who was struck by debris. Another construction worker, Justin W. McQuarry, was struck by the construction trailer when Gates hit the truck. The two men were taken to a Maryville hospital for treatment of their minor injuries.

Gates admits that she was talking on her cell phone while in the construction zone, but she says that she was not using the phone when she struck the truck.

Distracted Driving
These days, people cannot afford to distract themselves when driving by talking on a phone or text messaging. Studies and accident statistics prove that cell phone and PDA use while driving can prove catastrophic.

Drivers need their eyes on the road, both hands on the steering wheel, and their attention fully at the task at hand and on the traffic around them in order to decrease the chances of causing and/or becoming involved in a Chicago car accident. Cell phone use and text messaging while driving can be cited as negligent acts when someone gets hurt or dies in the process.

Motorist blames animal in accident, The Intelligencer, June 4, 2010

Woman charged after crash that injured construction workers, BND, June 3, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Scott’s Law

Distracted Driving, National Safety Council

Continue reading " Woman Charged in Illinois Car Accident that Injured Two Construction Workers Was Using Cell Phone " »

James Sullivan is suing the village of Elmwood Park and police officer Mark Zelasco for injuries to a minor. Sullivan’s daughter Kelly was injured during a Cook County pedestrian accident on the evening of May 18. He is seeking over $150,000.

According to court documents, Kelly Sullivan was at the intersection of 75th and Marwood Avenues when she was struck by an Elmwood Village police car driven by officer Mark Zelasco. She had to be transported by ambulance to a Maywood hospital.

In his Elmwood Park pedestrian accident lawsuit, Sullivan contends that Zelasco was driving in an unsafe manner and at an unsafe speed, did not slow down to avoid becoming involved in a traffic accident, failed to avoid the collision, and did not sound his horn.

Sullivan also claims that because of the pedestrian accident, Kelly will experience future pain and suffering, loss of the enjoyment of her normal life, and is now disabled and disfigured. He is seeking compensation for his daughter’s medical expenses and rehabilitation costs, as well as for the lost wages incurred by family members that have had to take time off work to take care of her.

Steps drivers can take to avoid striking a pedestrian:
• Be extra careful and watchful at intersections and crosswalks
• Don’t drive drunk
• Don’t text or talk on the cell phone
• Obey traffic signals and lights

Dad sues village after girl struck by patrol car, Pioneer Local, June 3, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Village of Elmwood Park, Illinois

Pedestrians, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Continue reading " Cook County Car Accident Lawsuit Seeks Compensation from Village of Elmwood Park for Injuries Sustained by Daughter Struck by Police Car " »

Drunk driving may have been a factor in a Rogers Park pedestrian accident that left a 10-year-old boy with fatal crush injuries on Saturday. Santos and his 3-year-old sister Liliana had just excited their dad’s car and were walking to their aunt’s house at around 5:45 am when he became pinned two parked sport utility vehicles.

The fatal pedestrian accident happened when driver Martin Candia allegedly ran a red light, lost control of his Chevrolet van, and rear-ended one of the SUV’s, pushing it into the other SUV and crushing Santos in the middle. According to boy’s dad, Bulmaro Santos, his son never regained consciousness. He died two hours later.

Meantime, Candia has been charged with reckless homicide, felony drunk driving, and a number of traffic offenses, including driving on a suspended license. His blood-alcohol level was .109 after the Chicago car accident and he failed a sobriety test.

Santos was not the child only child to suffer critical injuries in a Chicago pedestrian accident over the Memorial Weekend. On Friday afternoon, a 13-year-old boy sustained serious injuries when he was hit by a car while crossing the street the Southwest Side Marquette Park neighborhood.

The driver accused of striking him, 19-year-old Steven Mendoza, was cited for negligent driving, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, driving without insurance, and not exercising due care when there was a pedestrian in the roadway.

Six Killed in Holiday Weekend Crashes, MyFoxChicago, June 1, 2010

Boy, 10, crushed between parked SUVs in N. Side crash, Chicago Tribune, May 30, 2010

Continue reading " 10-Year-Old is Crushed to Death in Chicago Pedestrian Accident " »