Chicago Car Accident Attorneys Blog

According to a 2008 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey, at least 1 in 12 drivers surveyed say they drive drunk at least once year. 1 in 5 admitted that when they drove under the influence they did so within 2 hours of consuming an alcoholic beverage. This, despite the fact that 4 out of 5 of the 6,999 motorists surveyed consider driving drunk to be a serious threat to safety. NHTSA Administrator David Strickland says it is clear that more needs to be done so that people that know drunk driving is dangerous will stop doing it.

According to the US Department of Transportation, 1/3rd of all deadly US auto accidents involve a drunk driver. The auto death rate could be cut significantly if people stopped driving drunk.

The NHTSA survey found that about 17.2 million Americans have gotten behind the steering wheel of a vehicle even though they suspected that their BAC was over the legal limit. 8% of people have gotten in a car driven by someone that they suspected was drunk. 40% believe that they can drive after having 3 drinks. 11% think that they can still drive after 5 drinks.

It goes without saying that if you or someone you love was injured in a Chicago car accident involving a drunk driver that you believe caused the crash, there is a good chance you may have grounds for a Chicago injury case against him/her. Most drivers never intend to hurt anyone when driving under the influence, but unfortunately, injuries and deaths happen.

Just recently, one adult was injured and the allegedly drunken driver’s son, age 4, was killed in a Chicago car crash that occurred on August 15 at Fullerton and Kostner. Police say that Letecia Medel, 24, had a blood alcohol level of .151 when her vehicle did not stop at a red light and rear-ended a Honda Civic that was stopped. Her vehicle then drove into the next lane where it hit a Chevrolet Tahoe. The impact from the traffic collision also caused the Honda to strike another vehicle before it ended up against a building.

Medina, Jonathan, her 2-year-old son, and her husband fled the Cook County car accident site. At the hospital, Jonathan, who was suffering from a lacerated liver and numerous contusions, was pronounced dead.

Woman charged in DUI crash that killed 4-year-old, Pioneer Local, August 23, 2010

Government study: 1 in 12 drivers admit driving drunk, USA Today, August 26, 2010

Related Web Resources:
DUI Fact Book, Cyber Drive Illinois (PDF)

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Nearly eight months after a driver in a car fleeing police allegedly struck his wife and son during a Rogers Park pedestrian accident, Felix Worthon is suing motorist Ralph Eubanks for Chicago wrongful death. Worthon, his 48-year-old wife Maria, and their 6-year-old son Jeremia were crossing a narrow street at the time. Maria, whose body was thrown some 100 feet after she was struck, died at the Rogers Park car crash site. Jeremia sustained critical injuries.

According to Cook County prosecutors, Ralph Eubanks, the driver of the 1998 Grand Prix that struck Maria and Jeremia, was fleeing police and allegedly driving at about 70 to 80 mph. He did not slow down or stop at the Rogers Park car accident site.

Eubanks was apprehended with traces of ecstasy, cocaine, and marijuana in his blood. He is charged with aggravated driving under the influence, first-degree murder, and leaving the scene of a deadly car accident site. At his bond hearing after the deadly Rogers Park traffic crash, prosecutors said that Eubanks has never had a driver’s license. He also has three prior convictions for driving without one and has spent time behind bars for drugs, weapons, and possession of a stolen vehicle-related convictions.

Worthon is also suing the owner of the vehicle, Dennis Jeter. Worthon contends that Jeter gave his “explicit permission" for Eubanks to use the vehicle.

Drunk driving and drugged driving are negligent acts that claim the lives of many people each year. Do NOT speak with the other party’s insurer about your Chicago car accident case without exploring your legal options first.

Suit filed against driver, car owner in fatal crash, Chicago Breaking News, August 9, 2010

No Bond For Driver Held On Hit-Run Murder Charge, CBS2, December 24, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Drugged Driving, NIDA

Impaired Driving, CDC

Lilia Galvez is suing Bella Guller for the death of her unborn baby. In her Cook County car accident lawsuit, Galvez, who was pregnant at the time of the Niles, Illinois traffic crash on July 7, 2008, claims that she miscarried her baby when her car was struck in the by Guller, who was backing up her auto.

Galvez is seeking over $100,000 plus legal expenses from Guller.

Cook County, Illinois Car Accident Cases
It is important that you work with an experienced Chicago car accident law firm that knows how to pursue your recovery. While it can feel terribly confusing and overwhelming so soon after a traffic crash to take legal action, the sooner your legal team starts investigating the evidence and speaking to witnesses, the more you are strengthening your chances for a successful outcome.

Chicago car accident injuries can be extremely painful, life-altering, and costly, which is why it is important that your Cook County injury lawyers able to do everything possible to help you obtain the maximum recovery. There may be more than one party who should be held liable.

For example, in another Illinois car accident case, Giard L. Dion is suing 17 defendants for injuries he sustained during a drunk driving accident. He is asking for over $2 million.

On July 21, 2009, Dion was involved in an Illinois car accident with Michael P. Quirk who, according to Dion’s Illinois injury complaint, was driving his vehicle while drunk. Dion says that as a result of the drunken driving crash, he suffered permanent and severe injuries, experienced great anguish and pain, lost wages, incurred medical costs, and his ability to earn a certain income has been diminished.

Dion is suing the parties that allegedly either supplied Quirk with alcohol or let him drive while drunk. Defendants include Relmss Services, PT's, VGC Holdings, Platinum of Illinois, PT's Brooklyn, North County Grocer and Liquor, Michael Ocello, Sam Patel, Ola Dodolewa, Nitin Singh, Lucky Singh, Adodo, Shivam Enterprise, Shanta, Platinum of Illinois, and Salas Investments.

Lawsuit: Niles crash led to miscarriage, Pioneer Local, July 8, 2010

Jersey County man seeks $2 million in auto accident case, The Record, July 6, 2010

Related Web Resources:
CyberDriveIllinois

Car Accidents Overview, Justia

A Bucktown man who was injured in a hit-and-run Chicago taxi accident on May 14 remains in critical condition. Daniel Firkins was leaning through the window of a taxi that he had just summoned when, during a disagreement, the cab driver stepped on the gas and drove away with the 32-year-old still partially in the vehicle. The taxi driver then fled the car accident scene.

Firkins sustained a traumatic brain injury, two skull fractures, and other miscellaneous injuries. Tire marks on his leg also indicate that the cab had run over him. On Wednesday, his mother said that her son, who was placed in a drug-induced coma, may not make it.

David and Maureen Firkins are asking for help in identifying the cab driver. They considered the driver’s actions intentional and not accidental. The taxi involved in the Chicago cab accident is a white taxi with blue stripes.

Hit-and-Run Injury Victims
If you or someone you love was injured in a Chicago car accident involving a hit-and-run driver, you will need help collecting damages. Sometimes this means getting the company that provides the victim with insurance to pay damages. At other times, it means going after the driver’s insurer and other liable parties once the driver has been apprehended.

Motorists are supposed to stop at a Cook County car accident site to exchange contact and insurance information with the other parties involved. They also should call 911 in the event that medical help is required. It is a crime to hit-and-run. Not helping an injured motorist or pedestrian can cause the victims’ injuries to become more serious or, worse yet, lead to Chicago wrongful death.

Parents keep vigil over man dragged by cab, Chicago Tribune, May 19, 2010

Man critically injured in taxi accident, ABCLocal, May 19, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Hit-and-Run Accidents, Deadly Roads

Continue reading "Chicago Taxi Accident Victim Remains in Critical Condition" »

A woman who suffered a traumatic brain injury and was left partially paralyzed in a Chicago, Illinois car accident is suing the Checker Taxi Company for personal injury. 38-year-old Joyce Kilburg was riding in the cab on October 6 when the taxi, a Ford Crown Victoria cab, crashed.

Kilburg fell into a coma that doctors did not think she would regain consciousness from. However, not only did she wake up, but she is also learning to walk again.

Munawar Mohiuddin, the cab driver, claims that sudden acceleration caused the catastrophic taxi accident. Following the Chicago, Illinois motor vehicle accident, a judge ordered that the black box be preserved. There have been other acceleration accidents involving Crown Victoria vehicles in the past. However, the black box is now missing.

Kilburg’s Chicago, Illinois injury lawsuit alleges that the taxi company got rid of the black box to cover up the actual cause of the accident. If sudden acceleration was the cause of the crash, the evidence from the black box is key to winning an auto products liability lawsuit against Ford.

Spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and other catastrophic injuries can be very expensive to treat and recover from. Not only will the injury victim likely need to undergo numerous medical procedures, extensive rehabilitation, and possibly even require specialized nursing care, but he/she may no longer be able to work, which can lead to a loss of income and benefits.

Suit: Taxi company tried to cover up details of crash, WBBM Radio, February 24, 2010

Woman files lawsuit over cab crash, ABC7Chicago.com, February 24, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI Guide.com

Brain Injuries Overview, Justia

22-year-old Nick Sord is charged with aggravated drunk driving and reckless homicide for the Cook County car crash that killed his passenger early on December 31, 2008. Sord, an Orland Park restaurateur, crashed his Mercedes SUV into a pole after a night out.

The SUV drove into a ditch before partially rolling over. According to the Cook County Sheriff’s office, Sord’s BAC was nearly three times the legal limit.

Mejia, a New Lenox resident and a University of Illinois at Chicago student, sustained multiple injuries before she as pronounced dead at a Harvey Hospital. Sord was treated and later released from an Oak Lawn hospital for cuts and a broken wrist.

Sord and Mejia were formerly used to date but her mother says they broke up in August. Their families did not approve of their relationship.

Cook County Car Accident Cases
A person accused of driving drunk can face criminal charges and be sued for Cook County personal injury or wrongful death if someone was injured or killed. Driving under the influence of alcohol is extremely dangerous and destroys the lives of the victims, their families, and the drunk driver, who not only faces prison time but must live with the guilt of knowing that someone else died because of the motorist’s recklessness and carelessness.

Just last week, Ali Hosseini, a man who was charged with drunk driving after he allegedly struck a motorcyclist in 2007, now faces upgraded charges of aggravated DUI and reckless homicide after the victim died on January 2. Keith Kreinik underwent over 20 surgeries and spent over two years in treatment for the injuries he sustained during the Chicago car accident.

Hosseini, who had been free on bond, was taken back into custody. His bond was increased to $100,000. He was allegedly under the influence of heroin, alcohol, codeine, and morphine at the time of the tragic Northwest Side crash.

High alcohol level cited in fatal crash, Chicago Tribune, January 2, 2010

Man charged in fatal crash, Southtown Star, January 2, 2010

Bond raised for man accused of DUI in 2007 crash, Chicago Breaking News, January 9, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Motor Vehicle Safety, CDC

Impaired Driving, NHTSA

A man who a jury awarded $1.3 million for serious injuries he sustained in an Illinois motorcycle accident is now asking for sanctions against, as well as half a million dollars in damages from the responsible driver's insurance company. Steven Thomas Kirk, an Alton resident, severed his foot and part of his leg when he was injured in a June 30, 2006 traffic accident.

Kirk was riding his motorcycle when a vehicle driven by Enver Hamiti, who is also an Alton resident, hit him. Police cited Hamiti for not obeying a stop sign. Kirk, who was under the influence at the time of the Illinois motor vehicle accident, was not cited for causing the crash or ticketed for drunk driving.

Kirk sued Hamiti for Illinois personal injury. He says the motorist did not attempt to assist him or call for help. Kirk says that while he lay on the street with his leg detached, someone came up to him and robbed him, stealing a diamond earring that he was wearing.

A jury awarded him $1.8 million. It did, however, subtract 20% for the plaintiff’s contribution to causing the traffic collision.

Now, Kirk is accusing Hamiti’s insurer, Mercury Insurance Co., of persuading (maybe even bribing) a witness to lie about what she saw. During the civil trial, the witness said she saw Kirk weaving and speeding on the road. She claimed she lived in an apartment close to where the motorcycle accident happened and that “Friends” was on at the time.

The Illinois motorcycle accident, however, happened at 11pm and “Friends” was on at 9pm that night. During cross-examination, the witness said that her lease on the apartment started six months after the motorcycle collision.

Kirk is seeking sanctions and another $500,000 in damages.

Amputee seeks sanctions against insurance company post-trial , The Record, December 2, 2009

Alton man seeks more damages after jury award, The Telegraph, December 1, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Motorcycle Accidents, Justia

Mercury Insurance Co.

The 4-year-old Fox Lake toddler who was seriously injured in a Lake County, Illinois car accident last August is still recovering. Skiler Wright was hit by a car that was backing out of a driveway. The little girl got caught under the gas tank, muffler, and bumper and was dragged 200 feet.

Skiler, who weighs just 24 pounds, sustained a skull injury, lost a significant portion of her scalp, and injured her shoulder in the Fox Lake pedestrian accident. She already has had eight surgeries.

The medical bills for her treatments are racking up. Skiler’s dad, an iron foundry worker, is on short-term medical leave and her mother is a pregnant, stay-at-home mom. Their health insurance coverage is only taking care of a portion of the little girl’s medical treatments.

This week, the driver of the vehicle that struck Skiler was charged with a traffic violation and a misdemeanor. Pamela Simone, a 36-year-old Fox Lake resident, posted bond after turning herself into the authorities.

Simone was driving on a revoked license at the time of the catastrophic Lake County, Illinois car crash. Previous to losing her license she was charged four times with driving on a suspended license.

2008 Children (Under age 15) Traffic Safety Facts (NHTSA):

• 1,347 child traffic deaths
• 193,000 child traffic injuries
• About 4 child traffic deaths/day
• 270 child pedestrian deaths
• 13,000 child pedestrian injuries
• 44 Illinois child pedestrian deaths

Drivers must exercise caution anytime they are operating a motor vehicle so that they don’t accidentally strike a pedestrian. Kids are especially at risk of sustaining serious injuries during an Illinois pedestrian accident, which is why a motorist needs to look out for them when backing out of driveways, crossing intersections, or driving through areas where there are schools.

Woman who struck, dragged toddler charged with misdemeanor, Daily Herald, October 29, 2009

Fox Lake toddler recovering after being dragged 200 feet by car, Daily Herald, October 22, 2009

Lake County, Illinois Car Accident Leaves 3-Year-Old in Critical Condition, Malman Law, August 26, 2009

Related Web Resources:
NHTSA

Backover Accidents, Kids and Cars/Consumers Union

In Cook County, Illinois, a jury has awarded $25 million to a man who is now a paraplegic after he was injured in a Schaumburg car accident in April 2004. Andrzej Chraca can only walk using a cane and leg braces because he fractured a vertebra in his spine.

The Cook County car accident happened as Chraca’s vehicle and a car driven by Steve Miles crossed an Elgin O'Hare Expressway intersection at the same time. Both men have argued that each of them had the right-of-way. Miles, who was working for the Illinois Department of Transportation at the time of the Schaumburg, Illinois auto crash also sustained permanent injuries, including a mild traumatic brain injury and partial paralysis to the right side of his body. Chraca and Miles haven’t been able to go back to work since the auto accident happened.

Even though investigators were not able to figure out who ran a red light and witnesses at the Chicago personal injury trial offered contradicting testimony, the jury ruled in favor of Chraca—although they did find him 5% responsible for driving too fast—because Miles’s car struck Chraca’s vehicle.

After making a slight deduction for comparative negligence, Chraca’s $25 million award was reduced to $23,838,668. The IDOT is responsible for $2 million because Miles was operating IDOT equipment when the deadly Schaumburg car accident happened.

Proving liability in a Chicago car accident can be complicated. There may be inadequate evidence and conflicting testimony from various witnesses.

Schaumburg man gets $24 million judgment in crash suit, The Daily Herald, September 9, 2009

Cook County jury awards $24M to man hurt in Schaumburg crash, Sun Times, September 9, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Spinal Cord Injury : Quadriplegic and Paraplegic Injuries, Apparelyzed

Car Accidents, Proving Fault, Nolo

Continue reading "Cook County Jury Awards $25 Million Schaumburg Car Accident Lawsuit to Partial Paraplegic" »

Chicago auto products liability lawyers are watching and waiting to discover if indeed the allegations brought by a former Toyota lawyer who is accusing the automaker of concealing key evidence and information in hundreds of rollover lawsuits are true. If so, a number of Toyota rollover lawsuits that were either settled or with verdicts that came out in favor of the carmaker may have to be reopened.

Last July, Dimitrios Biller sued the his former employer for wrongful termination. He says Toyota made him resign because he disagreed with the way they allegedly mishandled key evidence in over 300 personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Biller, who was given a $3.7 million severance package in 2007, is now ready to talk about why he says he was let go.

Biller worked for the world’s biggest automaker from 2003 to 2007. While employed by Toyota, he defended the company against rollover lawsuits filed by plaintiffs and the loved ones of victims that died in catastrophic traffic crashes.

Biller is accusing Toyota of keeping electronically stored data from plaintiffs instead of turning over the information to their products liability lawyers. He also says that Toyota destroyed documents about roof crush issues that were relevant to these cases.

Biller claims that Toyota withheld records about the testing and the designs of vehicle roofs. He says the carmaker has never come up with a document to prove that its roof strength standard is tougher than the federal government’s requirement. Bill claims that currently, there are people who are driving Toyota vehicles that fail to meet the carmaker's own internal standard.

The allegations that Biller is making against Toyota are serious and could impact the outcome of hundreds of products liability cases that were already closed. Our Chicago SUV rollover accident law firm will be watching closely to determine if indeed Toyota has been keeping key information from plaintiffs who perhaps should have received a larger recovery for their injuries, pain and suffering, and losses.

Rollover accidents continue to claim many lives in the US on a regular basis. This is why automakers must design their vehicles in a manner that decreases the chances of a rollover accident and if a rollover crash does happen, the vehicle’s roof should be sturdy enough so that it doesn’t crush inward to cause serious injury or death to vehicle occupants that are secured by their seat belts.

Toyota Accused of Hiding Evidence, CBS News, August 29, 2009

Toyota May Face Push to Reopen Rollover-Crash Cases, Bloomberg, September 1, 2009

Toyota Accused of Concealing Evidence in Rollover Lawsuits, NY TImes, August 31, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Car Accidents, Justia

Rollover and Roof Crush, IIHS

The US Department of Transportation says that 1,043 people died in Illinois traffic accidents last year. Alcohol was a factor in 362 fatalities, while speeding was involved in 385 of the deaths.

Other 2008 Illinois Traffic Safety Facts provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• 133 Illinois motorcycle rider deaths
• 135 Illinois pedestrian deaths

2008 Traffic deaths in 10 Illinois Counties:
• 274 Cook County fatalities
• 44 Will County deaths
• 40 Kane County fatalities
• 36 Madison County deaths
• 31 St. Clair County fatalities
• 27 La Salle County deaths
• 26 Lake County fatalities
• 24 DuPage County deaths
• 23 Champaign County fatalities
• 20 Dekalb County deaths

The Illinois traffic fatality count was lower last year than it was in 2007 when there were 1,248 deaths. Nationally, there was an overall drop in traffic deaths and injuries between 2008 and 2007. There were 37,261 fatalities last year compared to 41,259 deaths during the year prior. Other substantial declines in the number of traffic fatalities included 25,351 passenger occupant deaths (29,072 fatalities in 2007), 11,883 drunk driving deaths (compared to 13,041 in 2007), 10,764 light truck occupant deaths (12,458 in 2007), 4,378 pedestrian fatalities (4,699 pedestrian deaths in 2007), and 716 pedalcyclist deaths (701 fatalities in 2007). Motorcycle rider fatalities, however, did increase from 158 deaths in 2007 to 188 fatalities in 2008.

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says that the annual total for the number of traffic deaths reached its lowest level last year since 1961. The trend appears to be continuing this year, with the first quarter of 2009 showing a decrease in traffic deaths compared to the same period in 2008. From January – March 2009, 7,689 people died in US traffic accidents. There were 8,451 fatalities for the first quarter of 2008.

There are many reasons why an Illinois motor vehicle accident might happen. Many catastrophic Chicago car crashes occur because another party was negligent.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood: Overall Traffic Fatalities Reach Record Low, NHTSA, July 2, 2009

Related Web Resources:
2008 Traffic Safety Annual Assessment Highlights, NHTSA, June 2009 (PDF)

Illinois Traffic Safety Facts for 2008, NHTSA (PDF)

Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities For the First Quarter (January–March) of 2009, NHTSA, June 2009 (PDF)

Continue reading "NHTSA Reports 1,043 Illinois Traffic Deaths in 2008" »

A deadly East Garfield Park car accident that occurred early this morning has left one person dead and at least three others with injuries. The Chicago motor vehicle collision occurred at California Avenue and Jackson Boulevard.

One of the vehicles, a Jeep Cherokee, burst into flames. Its occupants, with their clothes on fire, ran from the scene.

Details about what caused the fiery crash are still unclear, but one one the vehicles seemed to have flipped over. While one victim was pronounced dead at the Chicago car crash site, two victims, both 15, were taken to Stroger Hospital in serious condition. Another victim was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital. Two other teenagers that were involved in the Illinois auto collision walked into the Mt. Sinai emergency room on their own.

Chicago Car Accident Lawsuits
The best way to determine whether you have grounds for filing a Chicago car accident lawsuit is to talk to a Chicago personal injury law firm that has experience dealing with these types of cases. You need to make sure that you have someone on your side that has the skills and resources to prove that the other party is liable for your injuries.

While driver negligence is one common cause of deadly Chicago motor vehicle crashes, there may be other reasons why a motorist could be held liable for Illinois personal injury or wrongful death.

Just last night, in Broadview, a female driver is accused of stabbing another motorist to death in an incident involving road rage. Police say the victim, 35-year-old Adrean Price, got into a dispute with a woman riding in another vehicle.

The two cars stopped at an intersection close to Eisenhower Expressway and they both left their vehicles to continue their discussion. The other motorist allegedly stabbed Price, who got back into her vehicle, drove to a gas station, and crashed into a parked vehicle.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office says Price was transported to Loyola University Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Police say the other woman also was injured during the altercation.

Woman stabbed to death in road rage incident, Chicago Breaking News, June 26, 2009

1 dead, 4 hurt in Garfield Park crash, Chicago Sun-Times, June 26, 2009

1 killed, several hurt in East Garfield Park crash, Chicago Breaking News, June 26, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Car Accidents, Nolo

Drivers.com

Continue reading "Fiery Chicago Car Accident Kills 1 and Injures at Least 3 Others" »

Last month, our Chicago car accident law firm posted a blog about a catastrophic Illinois motor vehicle accident involving a drunk driver that claimed the life of a 48-year-old Chicago Heights man. Now, Debrasha Piper, the daughter of car accident victim Calvin Hatten, is suing the alleged drunk driver, the vehicle owner, and the city of Chicago for her father’s wrongful death.

The deadly Chicago car crash occurred on May 10. Two days later, driver Juan Cayetano was charged with aggravated drunken driving and reckless homicide. He also received tickets for driving an uninsured vehicle and not having a valid driver’s license.

Hatten and his family were on 43rd street that evening when they were hit by a 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier, operated by Cayetano, who had just run a red light. The impact of the collision forced Hatten’s car to collide with a Toyota Corolla that was stopped at a red light.

Hatten died from his injuries and seven other people also got hurt. Prosecutors say that Cayetano’s BAC was .206. The legal limit is .08%. Hatten leaves behind his two teenage daughters and his wife of 30 years.

Chicago Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving accidents destroy not just the lives of the people that are killed and injured, but also the lives of surviving family members. Not only must the people that are left behind deal with the sudden and unnecessary loss of someone they love, but a young child may be forced to grow up without a father or mother, and a spouse may have to deal with losing not just a partner, but coping with the ramifications that come with raising and supporting a family alone.

Daughter of fatal-crash victim files suit, Sun-Times, June 4, 2009

Victims of Drunk Driving, About.com

Related Web Resources:
Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Chicago DUI Accident Lawyers: Recent Drunk Driving Crashes Cause Fatalities and Injuries, ChicagoCarAccidentAttorneysBlog.com, May 15, 2009

Continue reading "Chicago Car Accident Lawsuit Sues City, Car Owner, and Alleged Drunk Driver for Man’s Illinois Wrongful Death" »

In Illinois, the man charged with two counts of first degree murder and two counts of attempted first degree murder in last week’s Humboldt Park car accident that left two people seriously injured and two women dead has been denied bail. Joshua Enriquez is accused of purposely rear-ending the vehicle that the victims were riding in.

The May 3 Chicago car accident took place close to Kedzie Street and Augusta Boulevard when Enriquez, in a Jeep, allegedly rammed his vehicle into the back of a Grand Am. The impact of the crash pushed the other vehicle into a tree, before it then hit several parked cars and rolled over. Enriquez than reportedly fled the crash site. He was arrested on Friday.

According to certain news sources, Enriquez allegedly got into a verbal altercation with the four women while at a gas station prior to the Chicago motor vehicle accident. One of the women is reportedly Enriquez’s ex-girlfriend, Karina Paredes.

The two people that died in the Cook County traffic accident are 19-year-old Nicole Mijares and 22-year-old Gabriella Almanza. Their respective causes of death were multiple injuries from a Jeep. Two other women were taken to local hospitals in reportedly serious-to-critical condition. They are Paredes and driver Maria Ortega, who is the sister of Almanza. Ortega sustained a fractured foot during the crash and had to have 57 stitches sewn into her face.

Enriquez claims he is innocent.

If you were injured in a Chicago car accident because another driver behaved recklessly or negligently—whether with malice or by accident—you may be entitled to Illinois personal injury compensation. If you were the victim of a violent crime that left you with injuries, you also may have grounds for filing a civil lawsuit seeking damages from the negligent party.

No Bail for Man Charged in Humboldt Park Crash, Chicago Breaking News Center, May 11, 2009

Car Crash Survivor: Suspect Could Have Stopped, ABC Local, May 11, 2009

Suspect held in deaths of two women in West Side car wreck, WBBM, May 10, 2009

Two women killed in Humboldt Park crash, Chicago Sun-Times, May 3, 2009

Related Web Resource:
Illinois Criminal Code

Continue reading "Chicago Car Accident: Judge Denies Bail to Man Charged in Humboldt Park Auto Crash that Killed 2 Women and Injured 2 Others" »

In Adams County, 19-year-old Matthew Ruble has been charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence and two counts of reckless homicide in the deaths of two 18-year-olds. He also was charged with not wearing a seat belt and leaving a deadly crash site. If convicted of all charges related to their Illinois car crash fatalities, he could face up to 50 years in prison.

According to Illinois State Police, at around 2am on Sunday, Ruble was driving his vehicle on the wrong lane on Illinois 104 close to Five Points when his car collided head-on with the vehicle driven by 17-year-old Ashley Graves. Graves sustained serious injuries, while her two passengers, Alissa Zornes and Jordan Schieferdecker, died of their injuries. Graves, Zornes, Schieferdecker, and Ruble are all from Quincy. Ruble sustained facial injuries during the Illinois car accident.

Police say that Ruble tried to flee the crash site but was apprehended. He reportedly admitted to be drunk while driving and was more concerned about his pickup truck. Two witnesses who had also been riding on Ill 104 that night said that a pickup truck had nearly struck the vehicle they were in.

Prior to this deadly Adams County car accident, Ruble was a “person of interest” in an Illinois hit-and-run collision that occurred in Payson when a house was hit by a truck fitting a description matching the one that the 19-year-old was driving. He also had received a number of traffic tickets in Pike County and in 2008 was convicted of misdemeanor consumption of alcohol by a minor.

Not only can negligent Illinois drivers be held liable in criminal court for causing deadly car crashes, but they can be sued for wrongful death.

Matthew Ruble faces up to 50 years in prison after being charged in fatal crash that killed two Quincy teens, Whig.com, April 21, 2009

20-year-old Quincy man faces prison time, Connecttristates.com, April 19, 2009

Related Web Resources:
2009 Rules of the Road, Cyber Drive Illinois

Continue reading "Chicago Car Accident Law Firm: 19-Year-old Quincy, Illinois Man Charged With Drunk Driving Deaths of Two Teenagers" »

In Chicago, five people were rushed to the hospital early today following a two-auto collision that occurred on the Loop. The Illinois motor vehicle crash, which occurred at Franklin and Madison streets after 1am, involved a Pontiac Sunfire, which was heavily damaged, and a Chevy Ventura van that landed overturned on a pedestrian crosswalk.

Four of the five people that were injured sustained critical injuries. Two of them were transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital while the other two were transported to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County. The four people riding inside the van declined medical care.

The cause of the Chicago car accident is not known at this time and an investigation is pending.

Every car crash is different, which is why, if you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, it is important that you are represented by an experienced Chicago motor vehicle collision law firm that knows how to investigate and pursue your case. A good Chicago car accident law firm will know how to fight for your right to financial recovery. Not only does this include having the knowledge and experience to examine the evidence and prove liability, as well as advocating on your behalf when dealing with insurers and their legal representation, but your injury attorney must also know know how to assess your injuries and losses so that you receive all the compensation that you are entitled to and need.

Especially during accidents involving catastrophic injuries, your Chicago personal injury lawyer will need to know how to make sure that your ongoing and future medical expenses and any lost wages can be factored into the equation when advocating for your settlement or arguing for your verdict before a Chicago jury.

Spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, severed limbs, and severe burn injuries can take years—if not a lifetime—to cope with. A good Chicago catastrophic injury attorney will have the manpower and resources to make sure that you are taken care of and that your family has what they need.

4 Hurt In Loop Crash, WBBM780, March 20, 2009

Related Web Resources:
National Spinal Cord Injury Association

Traumatic Brain Injury Information Page

International Society for Burn Injuries

Continue reading "Chicago Car Accident on the Loop Critically Injures Four People" »