Chicago Car Accident Attorneys Blog

A bicyclist was injured on Tuesday night when he was involved in a Chicago car accident in the Hamilton Park neighborhood. The rider was taken to an Oak Lawn hospital. Police are investigating the Chicago traffic crash.

Meantime, students are mourning the loss of a 10-year-old boy injured in another Illinois bicycle accident. Bryan Baker died from injuries he sustained when he was hit by a pickup truck on Wednesday night. Baker was a fifth-grader at Washington Elementary School in Pontiac.

The bicycle accident took place on Illinois 116. The cause of the collision is under investigation.

Baker’s death comes less than two weeks after a 55-year-old Gibson City Woman was also killed in an Illinois bicycle accident in Ford County. Jeanne C. DeWall, who was hit by a 2005 Buick LeSabre, was pronounced dead at the crash site. The driver of the car, 73-year-old Paxton resident Robert W. Watson, says he did not see Baker and could not avoid striking DeWall, who was delivering newspapers for the News-Gazette at the time. No tickets have been issued.

Chicago Bicycle Accidents
If you or someone you love was injured in a Chicago bicycle accident, an experienced Chicago injury law firm can help you determine whether you have grounds for a case. While a bicyclist can be at fault for causing the traffic crash, there have been many accidents that could have been avoided if only the vehicle driver or another party hadn’t been negligent.

Ways That Drivers Can Avoid Causing Bicycle Accidents:
• Watch out for bicyclists
• Don’t speed
• Adjust your driving to the road and weather conditions
• Don’t talk on the cell phone or text while driving
• Be extra careful when driving in areas where there are schools
• Don’t drive drunk
• Obey traffic signs and traffic laws
• Pay attention when driving

Bicyclist critical after Hamilton Park car crash, ABC Local, September 29, 2010

Students mourn loss of 10-year-old Pontiac boy, Pantagraph.com, September 30, 2010

Victim in fatal collision identified, News-Gazette, September 20, 2010

Related Web Resources:
BicycleSafe.com

Safe Bicycling in Illinois (PDF)

A multi-vehicle Chicago car crash on the Northwest Side has claimed the life of one woman while injuring two men. The traffic collision happened Thursday afternoon on West Devon Avenue close to a Cook County forest preserve.

According to police, a 2005 Toyota Corolla driven by Jenny Muresan was headed eastbound when it went over the center line and hit two vehicles. Muresan, who was in her 20’s, was ejected from her car as it spun out of control. She died at the Chicago auto accident site. A fourth vehicle was also involved.

Two other car crash victims, both men in their 60’s, were taken to the hospital in serious-to-critical condition. As of Friday, one of the men had reportedly been released while the other man’s condition had stabilized.

According to CBS2Chicago, there are some who say that the stretch of road where this Chicago car accident happened is a dangerous one. It has no stoplights and drivers have a tendency to go fast even though it is not a highway. Considered a shortcut to O’Hare Airport, thousands travel through West Devon Avenue on a daily basis. Barnet Fagel of the National Motorists Association says that the “curvature of road” and “abundance of tree growth” makes it hard for motorists to see too far down the street.

There may be more than one party who should be held liable for your Chicago car accident. A reckless driver, a negligent automaker, or the city, county, transportation department or another entity that contributed to causing your Cook County car accident may owe you and your family Chicago injury recovery.

Fatal Accident Occurred On Dangerous Roadway, CBS2Chicago, September 24, 2010

1 dead, 2 hurt in fiery Northwest Side crash, Chicago Breaking News, September 24, 2010

A Berwyn man is in the hospital with after he was hit by a car on Monday. David Paraiso, 52, was crossing the street when the Cook County pedestrian accident happened. Paraiso broke his shin, fractured his collarbone, and sustained scalp injuries.

According to police, the driver of the vehicle that struck Paraiso, 20-year-old Margaret Mary Vivanco, was distracted driving at the time. Witnesses say that she was talking on a cell phone when she ran a red light, struck a car, and then hit Paraiso. Vivanco is charged with aggravated reckless driving.

2009 US Distracted Driving Accident Facts (NHTSA):
• 5,474 distracted driving accident-related deaths.
• Cell phones were a factor in 995 of the fatalities.
• 448,000 injuries.
• Cell phone use was a factor in 24,000 of the injuries.
• The 20 and under age group has the greatest proportion of distracted drivers.
• Of the motorists involved in deadly distracted driving crashes, drivers in their 30’s belonged to the group most likely to have been using cell phones.

Cell phone use and texting are two of the most deadly forms of distracted driving activities. Unfortunately, many people continue to text and talk on handheld cellular phones while driving, which increases their chances of being involved in a car crash and causing injuries or deaths.

This week, the US Department of Transportation kicked off its 2nd Distracted Driving Summit, where safety officials, law enforcement, lawmakers, victims, and others gathered to figure out how to defeat the problem, which US Transportation Ray LaHood Is now calling an epidemic.

Distracted drivers never intend to cause harm to anyone when reading, talking on the phone, surfing the Internet, shaving, eating, or engaging in any other act that takes their focus away from driving. However, lives are lost and people are hurt on a regular basis because of distracted driving.

Driver on cell phone hit Berwyn pedestrian, police say, Chicago Tribune, September 23, 2010

Distracted Driving, 2009, Traffic Safety Facts, NHTSA (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
Distracted Driving, Distraction.gov

CyberDriveIllinois

Continue reading " Cook County Cell Phone Accident Causes Serious Injuries to Berwyn Pedestrian " »

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Highlights of 2009 Motor Vehicle Crashes Research Note is out, and our Chicago car accident lawyers are happy to report that the number of Illinois traffic deaths dropped last year. While there were 1,043 Illinois motor vehicle fatalities in 2008, 911 Illinois traffic deaths occured in 2009. 319 of those fatalities were alcohol-related.

The decline in highway deaths was also reflected nationally. There were 33,808 US motor vehicle traffic crash deaths last year—the lowest number of fatalities in 60 years. Consider that there were 37,423 traffic deaths in 2008. That’s a 9.7% drop. Even the number of US motorcyclist fatalities, which has been going up for the last 11 years, finally saw a decline. There were 4,462 motorcycle crash deaths last year, down from 5,312 fatalities in 2008.

While any decline in traffic deaths is always progress made in saving lives, there are always more lives that can and should be saved. There also continue to be thousands nationally and hundreds throughout the state that must contend with catastrophic injuries, costly medical expenses, the loss of a loved one, and other damages. Our Chicago car crash law firm would be happy to evaluate whether you have a case for Cook County personal injury or wrongful death.

More 2009 Motor Vehicle Crash Facts:
• 503 large truck fatalities
• 4,092 pedestrian deaths
• 630 pedalcyclist fatalities
• 2,217,000 traffic accident injuries
• 10,839 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities

Highlights of 2009 Motor Vehicle Crashes, NHTSA (PDF)

U.S. Traffic Deaths at Lowest Level Since 1950, NHTSA, September 9, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Illinois Department of Transportation

CyberDrive Illinois

According to myFoxChicago.com, numerous Chicago motor vehicle injuries and deaths occurred over the Labor Day weekend, including:

• On Saturday, a Chicago motorcycle accident claimed the life of Lyons resident Lissette Loncola, who was a passenger on the bike. Several other people were injured.

• Also on Saturday, a three-vehicle Chicago car accident on the Northwest Side injured at least eight people. Oscar Reyes was cited for negligent driving, leaving an accident scene, failure to report the auto crash, and neglecting to stay in the lane.

• A Chicago pedestrian accident sent four people, including an 11-year-old girl, a 15-year-old boy, and a 12-year-old girl to the hospital after they were struck by a stolen 1999 Chrysler 300. The people riding in the car fled the crash site.

• 67-year-old Lual Mang died from injuries she sustained during a Glendale Heights car accident on Sunday.

• Also on Sunday, a Rogers Park bicycle accident involving a Mini Cooper claimed the life of 67-year-old man.

• A fiery Englewood car crash on Sunday claimed the life of one female motorist, whose vehicle hit a curb or a viaduct wall before hitting another auto and bursting into flames. The driver died at the Chicago car accident site.

• Five people, including at least three teens, were hospitalized after an SUV rollover crash on Lake Shore Drive. Speed was a likely factor.

• A multi-vehicle Chicago car crash at West Belmont Avenue and North Pulaski Road left at least three people with critical injuries.

• On Monday night, a Des Plaines bicycle accident claimed a 52-year-old cyclist’s life after his bike collided with a vehicle in the curb lane.

• A man was flown to the hospital after he was injured in a head-on Chicago car accident close to Fox Lake last night.

Holiday Weekend Crashes Kill 6, Injure Dozens More, myFoxChicago, September 7, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Traffic Accidents, Nolo

Car Accidents, Justia

Continue reading " Chicago Car Accidents Injures Kills Six People and Injures at Least Two Dozen Others Over Labor Day Weekend " »

According to Allstate Insurance’s 2010 “Best Driver Report,” Chicago ranks at 167 out of the 200 on this year’s list of safe driving cities. This means that Chicago is an easy place to get into a Chicago car accident. On average, Chicago drivers are involved in one collision every seven and a half years. Last year, Chicago was ranked number 170.

It is probably a good move then that local law enforcement officers will take part in a statewide and nationwide campaign to crack down on drunk drivers, safety belt law violators, and other reckless motorists. The traffic safety campaign, called You Drink & Drive. You Lose. is running now until the end of Labor Day.

The Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Traffic Safety says that late nights are when fatal drunk driving crashes are most likely to happen. This is also when less people are using seat belts or child safety seats. Last year in Illinois, 795 of the motor vehicle fatalities that occurred between midnight and 3am involved an inebriated motorist. Only 25% of those that died were properly restrained.

That said, failure to use a safety belt and drunk driving are not the only reasons that Chicago auto crashes happen. Collisions also occur because of speeding, failure to obey traffic laws, distracted driving, drugged driving, auto defects, road defects, and other causes.

While it is always good news when law enforcement and government officials step in to try and prevent motor vehicle crashes, it is still up to drivers to operate their vehicles safely. If you or your loved one was injured in a Chicago auto accident, our Chicago, Illinois car accident law firm would be happy to offer you a free case evaluation.

Chicago listed as easy place for car accidents, Chicago Sun-TImes, September 2, 2010

Illinois Law Enforcement Increase Number of Late-Night Patrols Against Impaired Driving and Safety Belt Violators Over Labor Day Weekend, Illinois State Police, September 2, 2010

Sixth Annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report™" Reveals New Safest Driving City, Allstate, September 2, 2010

Related Web Resources:
CyberDrive Illinois

Transportation Accidents, Chicago Tribune