2011 January Archive

A fatal hit-and-run truck accident in Chicago has left a 65-year-old man dead, reports Chicago Breaking News.

According to police, around 5:50 p.m. on Monday, January 17 the man was found with a heavily damaged bicycle on the side of Pershing Road, in the Wentworth Gardens neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. A preliminary investigation indicates the man was hit by a semi-tractor tanker truck with a red extended cab. The truck was seen traveling at a high rate of speed on Pershing Road around the time the man was hit. The man died from multiple, severe injuries after being struck by a motor vehicle, autopsy results show.

Police have stated they want to question the driver of the tanker truck, and are asking anyone with information to call the Major Accident Investigation Unit at 312-745-4521.

While it has been reported that witnesses saw the semi-tractor tanker truck speeding, not much else is known about what caused this Chicago truck crash. An investigation could conclude that the truck driver was driving distracted, perhaps by using a cell phone, and was not aware of his or her speed or that a pedestrian was struck. It is also possible the truck driver was driving while fatigued, which is a common occurrence in the trucking industry.

There are rules in place to limit the hours truck drivers are allowed to drive; however, many businesses and truck operators overlook these regulations and drive long shifts to attempt to make deliveries ahead of schedule, or more deliveries than possible under normal hours. Oftentimes this pressure causes many truck drivers to develop a dependency on over-the-counter or prescription drugs in order to keep them awake, which is very unsafe and risky behavior. An investigation could also determine that the truck driver was simply operating the vehicle in an unsafe manner by driving recklessly and excessively speeding.

When a motorist’s negligence causes an unnecessary fatality, they can be held legally responsible for the accident, death, and any related expenses by the victim’s family if a wrongful death claim is filed. While it is understood that no amount of compensation can possibly replace a lost loved one, coverage could be obtained to help ease the financial strain of a death to help with medical costs, funeral expenses, lost future earnings, loss of love and companionship, and more. To learn how the Chicago wrongful death attorneys at The Bradley Law Firm can help your family during this difficult time, please call 800-360-5072 today.

On Monday, January 24 Chicago Breaking News covered a truck accident that occurred involving an Amtrak train and two semi-trailer trucks. No injuries were reported.

The Illinois truck accident occurred around 10:45 a.m. at the intersection of Explosive Road and Illinois Highway 53, south of the town of Elwood in Will County. According to police, one of the semi-trucks was traveling south on Highway 53 when it began to slow down to make a left turn onto Explosive Road. The second semi-truck then rear-ended the first truck. Both trucks drove off the side of the road, and the rear truck came to a stop on railroad tracks. Both truck drivers got out of their vehicles, and within a few minutes, the truck on the tracks was hit by an Amtrak train. The train did not derail. The Illinois train crash is currently under investigation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that around 380,000 large commercial trucks were involved in traffic accidents in the U.S. in 2008. Just over 4,000 of those vehicles were involved in fatal accidents, resulting in 4,229 fatalities, which is 11 percent of all traffic accident-related deaths for that year. About one out of every nine traffic accident-related fatalities in 2008 were the result of an accident involving a truck. An additional 90,000 people were injured in truck accidents in 2008.

Many factors can contribute to a truck collision in Illinois, including aggressive or reckless driving, distracted driving, speeding, illegal maneuvers, driving while fatigued, and more. There are federal regulations in place to limit the amount of hours truck drivers are allowed to drive; however, many truck drivers and their companies overlook these regulations to make deliveries ahead of schedule or make extra deliveries. As a result, many drivers drive while fatigued, or under the influence of drugs to help them stay awake. This behavior is very dangerous for all motorists on the road and can cause fatal truck crashes in Illinois.

If you have been injured in an accident involving a negligent truck driver, contact The Bradley Law Firm. Our Illinois truck accident attorneys have many years of experience successfully helping injured victims receive compensation for their injuries from negligent parties. Call our lawyers today at 800-360-5072 to schedule a free consultation.

According to The Bloomington Pantagraph, two seniors from Tremont High School died on Saturday morning, January 22 after the pickup truck they were riding in crashed into a bus that was carrying the school’s girls varsity basketball team on Interstate 74. One adult and eight students aboard the bus were taken to a local hospital, and a spokesperson for the school states that none of the bus passengers were injured seriously. Two other passengers from the pickup truck were taken to the hospital, but their conditions are unknown.

Officials state the bus accident occurred around 8:30 a.m. about a half-mile west of Mitsubishi Motorway. The pickup truck was traveling westbound when it crossed the roadway’s median into oncoming traffic and clipped the rear of a semi-trailer truck, then crashed into the eastbound bus. A spokesperson for the school stated it appears as though the truck hit the bus head-on in the Illinois bus crash.

Information regarding the driver of the semi-trailer truck has not been released. The fatal bus accident is under investigation.

Victims injured in bus, car, truck, or motorcycle accidents in Illinois often suffer severe, life-changing injuries that affect the rest of their lives. If it is determined a motorist’s negligence contributed to an accident, they could be held legally responsible for the crash, either partially or in full. Anyone who is injured in an accident caused by another’s negligent actions may be eligible to receive compensation for hospital bills, ongoing medical expenses if needed, vehicle damage, loss of wages, pain and suffering, and more.

If you have been injured in a bus accident in Illinois, contact The Bradley Law Firm. Our Illinois bus accident lawyers offer their legal assistance to anyone who has been injured by another’s negligence. Call 800-360-5072 today.

TribLocal.com reports that a semi truck driver was injured in a truck accident on I-94 close to Gurnee, IL right before the Grand Avenue exit on Monday, January 17. The accident occurred when the large truck overturned onto the freeway’s median around 9:45 a.m. A passenger motor vehicle was also involved, but no occupants were injured in the collision. The semi truck driver was taken to a local hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

According to State Police District 15 Master Sgt. S. LeGrand, several other weather-related traffic incidents involving spinouts and property-damaging accidents occurred on Monday. The reasons he cited were motorists driving too fast for winter weather conditions as well as motorists not giving the proper following distances to other vehicles on the road.

During the winter time, it is critical that all motorists adhere to safe driving practices, or an injury accident can result. Weather.com recommends that all drivers:

• Decrease speed and leave plenty of room in case of a sudden stop—leave at least three times as much space between your vehicle and others than normal.
• To prevent skidding, brake gently, and if your wheels lock up, ease your foot off the brake.
• No matter the time of day, turn your lights on to increase visibility.
• To keep traction, use low gears.
• Be aware of how your vehicle handles winter conditions—practice driving in snowy, icy conditions in a parking lot so you know how well your car handles.

If you get stuck in the snow, do not spin your wheels—doing so will only dig you deeper. Turn your wheels from side to side to try to push snow away. Lightly touch the gas to attempt to ease your car out. It is a good idea to have an emergency winter weather kit in your vehicle at all times during the season. Include a shovel and kitty litter or sand in the kit. You can use the shovel if your vehicle gets stuck to clear snow away from the vehicle, and then put the kitty litter or sand in the wheel’s pathway to help with traction.

During the winter, ice and snow can quickly change the condition of the roads, and drivers who drive recklessly without caring about the safety of other motorists can easily cause an Illinois car crash. If you have been involved in a car accident in Illinois that was caused by another driver’s negligence, you have legal rights to pursue a claim against them to obtain compensation for your injuries and losses. At The Bradley Law Firm, our car accident attorneys in Illinois help injured victims understand their rights following a car crash injury. Call us at 800-360-5072.

According to The Chicago Tribune, a proposal for changes in workers’ compensation laws in Illinois was approved on Monday, January 10 by the House Executive Committee after an 8-3 vote. The full House will vote on the matter on Monday, January 17.

The goal of the new legislation is to reduce business expenses, and has been heavily derided by doctors, attorneys, and union leaders. If the House passes the legislation, supports estimate there will be a reduction of about 15 percent in medical fee expenses. Additionally, workers’ compensation benefits would be capped at age 67 or five years after a workplace injury, whichever is later, which means that benefits can now continue into a person’s years of retirement.

Another change the new legislation would bring would be that an injured worker would need to first see a physician chosen by an employer, which supporters say will prevent the chances of “doctor shopping” by an injured employee to find the most favorable opinion. The new legislation would also give an employer better opportunities to assign blame to a worker injured at work if they were found to be on drugs or drinking when the injury occurred. Furthermore, the legislation would limit the cost of medical implants at 25 percent above the net price of a manufacturer.

Currently, workers’ compensation benefit expenses are costing Illinois employers approximately $2 billion a year. If the new legislation passes, cost reductions are projected to be between five and 12 percent, which would be significant. However, the president of the Illinois AFL-CIO has argued that the legislation falls “woefully short” of what working class Americans need when injured while working.

Unfortunately, if a worker is injured or becomes ill on the job, oftentimes employers deny the condition was caused at or as a result of their workplace. It can be very difficult for injured employees to obtain the compensation they deserve, and that is why it may be crucial to consult with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer who can advise you on the right course of action. At The Bradley Law Firm, our Illinois workers’ compensation attorneys provide legal assistance to those who have been injured or become ill while at work throughout the state of Illinois. If you are finding it difficult to be adequately compensated after a workplace injury in Illinois, call us at 800-360-5072 today.

According to Heartland News, a car accident on Saturday, January 8 has put a woman and two children in the hospital and the driver of the other vehicle behind bars for drunk driving.

The accident occurred shortly after 4 p.m. on Route 4 in Randolph County, IL north of the intersection of Pyatt-Cutler Road. According to Illinois State Police, a Ford F-150 pickup truck, driven by a 52-year-old male, was driving southbound when the vehicle rear-ended a Mitsubishi passenger vehicle driven by a 29-year-old woman. The force of the collision caused both vehicles to roll over and leave the roadway.

The passenger vehicle also contained two occupants, a boy and girl, both age five. The woman and the boy suffered major injuries in the crash and were airlifted to a local hospital. The girl sustained only minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. All three were reported to be wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. The driver of the pickup truck sustained minor injuries. According to police, alcohol was a factor in the crash and the driver now faces aggravated DUI charges for the Illinois drunk driving accident.

Unfortunately, as this crash shows, not all motorists follow safe driving practices when behind the wheel. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 33,808 traffic accident-related fatalities in 2009 in the United States, and of those deaths, 10,839 were alcohol-impaired driving fatalities. Thousands more were injured in these accidents. In Illinois, there were 1,043 traffic accident deaths in 2008, of which 356, or 34 percent, were alcohol-related. In 2009 in the state, there were 911 traffic crash fatalities, of which 319, or 35 percent, were alcohol-related. While this is a 13 percent decrease, the NHTSA still categorizes Illinois in the upper third of states in the U.S. in terms of the occurrence of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities.

If you have been injured in a car accident in Illinois caused by a drunk driver, please understand that you have legal options available to you. Anyone injured in a DUI crash in Illinois can seek compensation for coverage of hospital bills, medical expenses, loss of wages, and more. Drunk drivers should be held both criminally and civilly liable for their negligent actions to ensure they do not get behind the wheel drunk again. Please contact the Illinois drunk driving accident lawyers at The Bradley Law Firm today by calling 800-360-5072 to learn how we can help you.

ABC 7 News reports that two students from Lane Tech High School in Chicago were struck by a car Wednesday morning, January 5 at about 11 a.m.

According to police, the students, ages 15 and 16, were crossing the intersection of Addison Street and Western Avenue to get lunch at a sandwich shop when they were struck by a car, which continued on to hit the shop.

The article states one of the teens is in serious condition, and the other is in fair condition as a result of the injuries sustained in the Chicago pedestrian accident. The driver of the car, an adult, is reported to be in serious condition.

In the United States in 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports there were 4,738 pedestrian fatalities in traffic accidents. Another 69,000 pedestrians were injured in these accidents. Overall, on average a pedestrian dies in a traffic accident every 2 hours, and approximately every eight minutes a pedestrian is injured in an accident.

While the details of this specific pedestrian accident have yet to be released, many factors can cause a pedestrian accident in Illinois. One of the most common causes of traffic accidents in the United States is distracted driving, which is when a driver’s attention is taken away from the road, such as using a cell phone or mp3 player. Almost 20 percent of traffic crashes in the U.S. in 2008 involved a distracted driver, which resulted in about 6,000 fatalities as well as half a million injuries, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Other causes for Illinois pedestrian accidents include drunk driving, excessive speeding, reckless driving, or driving while fatigued.

Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents can result in severe injuries, or even death. Unlike motorists or their passengers, pedestrians don’t have the protection a motor vehicle provides. Against the impact of a 3,000 pound vehicle, the human body has little defense. On impact, a pedestrian can be thrown several feet and sustain serious injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury, internal bleeding, broken bones, paralysis, disfigurement, or death.

If you have been in a pedestrian accident in Illinois and believe that a driver’s negligence was a factor in the crash, you have legal rights to pursue compensation for your injuries. At The Bradley Law Firm, our Illinois pedestrian accident attorneys can provide legal assistance to you. We will work diligently to hold those responsible for the accident, your injuries, and any resulting medical expenses liable in a court of law. Call 800-360-5072 to schedule a free, confidential consultation.

The Chicago Tribune reports that deaths related to train-vehicle collisions at Illinois railroad crossings increased in 2010 for the first time in five years.

According to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), last year between January and November, 17 train-vehicle accident related fatalities were reported. This increase in fatalities reversed a five year decline in train-vehicle crash deaths between 2005 and 2009. In the full year of 2007, there were 16 such deaths; 15 in 2008; and 10 deaths in 2009 involving vehicles and trains in the state.

The occurrence of train-vehicle collisions also increased in 2010, up to 76 during the first nine months of the year. In the full year of 2007, there were 130 train-vehicle crashes; 129 in 2008; and 80 in 2009. The decline in accidents in 2009 is attributed to fewer vehicles on state roads and less train traffic because of the nation’s weak economy. The ICC estimates train-vehicle accidents will top 130 for 2010 once all crashes are counted.

Unfortunately, motorists often drive recklessly and sometimes speed through railroad crossings in an attempt to beat an oncoming train, which not only puts their life and their passengers’ in danger, but those on the train as well, in addition to any pedestrians or bicyclists that may be nearby. Motorists can also be driving distracted, perhaps by using their cell phone or eating, and not realize a train is quickly approaching and drive through a railroad crossing, which can cause an accident. Additionally, as a previous blog post noted, not all railroad crossings in the United States are equipped with the same type of equipment to warn oncoming motorists of an approaching train. Only around 42,000 crossings have gates to block traffic from driving through a crossing if a train is oncoming, and a mere 22,000 crossings have flashing lights to warn motorists of an approaching train.

If you have been injured in a train-vehicle crash in Illinois, contact The Bradley Law Firm. Our Chicago train accident lawyers can explain your legal options to you and help you determine if another’s negligence contributed to your accident, as well as explain what compensation may be available to you. Contact us today by calling 800-360-5072 to schedule a free consultation.