Chicago Car Accident Attorneys Blog

A single-car crash on the Far South Side has left one woman dead and a 9-year-old with injuries. The Chicago car accident happened on Tuesday, as 28-year-old Yvonne Kemp lost control of the Ford Escort she was driving on I-57.

The vehicle crossed the right and center lanes before driving off the embankment and striking a light pole, which then broke and landed on the car and caused the vehicle’s roof to cave in.

Katrina Jackson, who was a passenger in the car, died from her Chicago, Illinois motor vehicle crash injuries. Another passenger, a 9-year-old girl, was ejected from the vehicle. She landed on the grass and the light pole fell on her. She sustained non-fatal injuries.

Kemp, who is the girl’s mother, was charged with drunken driving.

Drunk Driving Crashes
Drunk driving-related injuries and death are preventable. Ways to avoid causing drunken driving accidents:

• Don’t drink and drive
• Don’t let your friends drink and drive
• Appoint a designated driver
• Make overnight arrangements if you plan to/end up drinking too much
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact 911

Warning signs that someone on the road may be driving drunk:
• Dangerous passing
• Making excessively wide turns
• Driving too slowly
• Weaving
• Driving without the headlights on
• Driving on the center line

It is negligent behavior for a motorist to get behind the steering wheel of a car while under the influence of alcohol or drug.

One charged with DUI in I-57 crash that killed one, ejected child, Sun-Times, March 11, 2010

1 charged in fatal I-57 crash, Southtown Star, March 10, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Drunk driving can be stopped, Alcohol Problems and Solutions

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Continue reading "Chicago Car Accident on I-57 Injures 9-Year-Old and Kills One Woman" »

A Joliet teenager has died following a New Lenox car collision on Monday night. 16-year-old Emily A. Dukovac was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead at 6:34 pm.

The Will County car accident took place at New Lenox and Cherry Hill Roads when a Chevrolet Cavalier carrying Dukovac and two other 16-year-old girls failed to stop at a stop sign and was hit by a Ford F-150 pickup truck. The truck hit the Chevrolet on the passenger side, fatally wounding Dukovac, who was in the backseat. The other two girls sustained nonfatal injuries.

According to the Will County Sheriff’s Department, at the time of the Illinois car accident, the weather was clear, the road conditions were “good,” and alcohol, drugs, or speeding don’t appear to have been involved. The 49-year-old Joliet pickup trucker did not sustain any visible injuries. All three car crash survivors were taken to the hospital.

Will County Car Collisions
Our Chicago, Illinois car accident attorneys cannot stress enough the importance of obeying all traffic signs, signals, and laws. It is especially important that teen drivers learn Illinois’ driving laws. They already suffer from the disadvantage of lacking driver experience, which increases their chances of becoming involved in a teen driving accident. Failure to obey traffic laws can prove catastrophic. Not only is this tragic for any victims involved, but it is also a tragedy for the driver, who in many cases lacked the skills, knowledge, and maturity to avoid causing a car crash and made an irreversible mistake.

Common causes of teen driving accidents:

• Driver inexperience
• Speeding
• Easily prone to distraction
• Text messaging
• Talking on cell phones
• Drunk driving
• Drugged driving

Plainfield high school mourns Joliet girl killed in New Lenox crash, Chicago Tribune, March 9, 2010

Joliet teen dies, 2 other girls injured in wreck, Chicago Sun-TImes, March 9, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Teen Drivers, CDC

Illinois Graduated Licensing System, CyberDriveIllinois.com

Continue reading "Will County, Illinois Car Crash Kills Joliet Teenager and Injuries Two Others" »

A Cook County woman who lost her husband and son when the 1984 Chevrolet Astro Van they were riding in rolled over on March 3, 2009 in Mexico is suing the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. Alicia Mendoza and Roberta Graff filed their Cook County wrongful death lawsuit over the deaths of Jose L. Mendoza Sr., Jose Mendoza Jr., and Leonardo Medina. Graff submitted the complaint on behalf of Medina.

According to their Illinois wrongful death complaint, the catastrophic van accident happened because of a tire defect that resulted in tire tread separation and failure.

Also named as defendants in the Illinois wrongful death complaint are Martha and Ruben Mendoza. They lent the van to the deceased. The lawsuit is seeking over $300,000 from the Mendozas and over $600,000 from the tire company.

Common Kinds of Tire Defects:

• Tire failure
• Tread separation
• Tire blowouts
• Rim blasts
• Tire explosions

Tire issues can occur because of design flaws, manufacturing defect, or due to negligence during installation/repair. In the event that a tire blowout happens or tread separation occurs, there is a good chance that a driver can lose control of the vehicle, causing the auto to crash into other cars or roll over. Spinal cord injuries, head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, quadriplegia, paraplegia, and death can result.

Tire manufacturers, retailers, and tire repair and installation shops are supposed to make sure that tires are in proper working condition, no defects exist, and no maintenance errors are made that can cause a tire-relate crash to occur. Injured parties may have grounds for filing a Chicago, Illinois defective tire lawsuit or wrongful death complaint.

Suit: Defective tire led to triple-fatal crash, Chicago Sun-TImes, February 26, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Products Liability, Justia

Motor Vehicles, Recalls.gov

19-year-old Kimisha M. Moore is charged with aggravated reckless conduct for her alleged role in the Chicago car accident that left an Illinois State Trooper with serious injuries on Saturday night. Police say that Moore was looking at her cell phone when she accidentally struck the trooper, who was standing in the express lane’s right shoulder on I-94.

According to Chicago police, the trooper had stopped a vehicle on the Dan Ryan’s Expressway when a Toyota hit her. The trooper sustained a head injury and leg injuries from the Chicago cell phone accident and went into surgery at a Cook County hospital. Following the procedure, she was transferred to the ICU where she was in “stable” condition on Sunday morning.

Moore also received citations for failure to reduce speed, improper lane usage, violating Scott’s Law, and operating an uninsured vehicle.

Our Chicago, Illinois car accident lawyers cannot stress enough that distracted driving is dangerous and can kill people. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that over 500,000 people every year sustain injuries because drivers were not paying attention to the road. Cell phone use and texting have rapidly become two of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving.

Teenagers are one demographic who are especially at high-risk of getting into a distracted driving accident. Not only are they more easily distracted than their adult counterparts, but also they are more likely to text or use a cell phone while driving. They also lack the experience that older drivers have when it comes to preventing car accidents as they are about to happen.

Driver distracted by phone when she hit trooper on Dan Ryan: prosecutor, Chicago Sun-TImes, March 1, 2010

Woman Who Hit State Trooper Was Using Cell Phone, NBC4, March 1, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Scott's Law Brochure, Illinois State Police

Distraction.gov

Continue reading "Chicago, Illinois Cell Phone Accident: Teen Was Looking at Phone When She Hit State Police Trooper on Dan Ryan Expressway" »

A father and daughter are suing Carlo Gordon for personal injury. David and Lauren Levy claim that they were injured on July 17 when their 1995 Saturn was rear-ended by Gordon, who they allege dropped his cell phone while driving a 2003 Buick Lasabre.

Lauren is a minor. She was driving the car and her dad was with her as a passenger. David and Lisa Levy, Lauren’s mother, are the plaintiffs of the Illinois car accident complaint.

David and Lauren say they sustained head and neck injuries and experienced loss of their normal lives, disability, serious physical pain, and mental anguish. Lauren also injured her back, while David hurt his shoulder. The two of them claim their injuries, time off work, and medical bills have cost over $60,000, and they are seeking compensation for injuries and damages, in addition to costs.

Lauren and David claim that Gordon caused the Illinois auto accident when he looked down after dropping his cell phone. He then allegedly failed to: control his vehicle, prevent the Illinois car crash, activate his brakes, slow down his car’s speed, and drive safely. They also are accusing him of following too closely behind their auto.

Cell Phone Accidents
Although still not considered the taboo that drunk driving is, the similarly tragic consequences that can result when driving under the influence or using a cell phone to talk or text message are now undeniable. More than 330,000 people get hurt every year because someone was distracted while using a cell phone or PDA. Thousands are killed. Fortunately, the state of Illinois, a number of other US States, and the federal government are taking steps to discourage drivers from engaging in this dangerous practice.

If you were injured or someone you love died in a Chicago, Illinois cell phone accident, you may be owed personal injury or wrongful death damages.

Dropped cell phone caused driver to lose control, suit claims, The Record, February 11, 2010

Distracted Driving: The Dangers of Mobile Texting and Phone Calls, TechNews Daily, February 26, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Focus Driven

CyberDrive Illinois

US Department of Transportation

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

An Illinois wrongful death lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Mavis L. Stonick, a 71-year-old woman who died from injuries she sustained in a Cook County pedestrian accident last year. Mavis L. Stonick was trying to cross Sheridan Road close to Foster Street on October 27, 2009 when she was hit by driver Judy Lowrance.

Witnesses say that Stonick was walking against the light when the Mercedes-Benz hit her. Rainy weather and darkness may have contributed to the Cook County car crash.

According to the Evanston wrongful death lawsuit, Lowrance was driving too fast for traffic conditions and neglected to keep a proper lookout. The complaint is seeking over $200,000.

Chicago, Illinois Motor Vehicle Accidents
Drivers are supposed to keep a proper lookout, follow traffic laws and traffic signs/lights, driver sober, and obey the speed limit. If weather conditions require, a driver must adjust the vehicle’s speed accordingly so that he/she don’t get involved in a Chicago car crash or a pedestrian accident.

For a person who gets hurt because a motorist was reckless, careless, or negligent, the physical, emotional, psychological, and financial tolls can be devastating. Fortunately, injured parties can turn to the civil court system to demand compensation from the liable party or parties. In some instances, settling may be the best option. Other cases will require that you take your Chicago, Illinois car crash complaint to trial.

It is important that you NOT settle without speaking to an experienced Chicago, Illinois personal injury lawyer first.

Wrongful death lawsuit filed in Evanston death, Chicago Sun-Times, February 16, 2010

Estate of struck Northwestern pedestrian files lawsuit, Daily Northwestern, February 15, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Pedestrians, Traffic Safety Fact Sheet, NHTSA

City of Chicago, Pedestrian Program

Police have charged 48-year-old Eddie Lumpkin with aggravated DUI and reckless homicide for causing the catastrophic Chicago, Illinois car crash that claimed the life of 6-year-old girl Jada Washington and seriously injured her aunt Tiuette Richardson. The two Chicago pedestrians were crossing the street at Ashland and 74th at around 6:30 on Tuesday when they were struck by Lumpkin, who was driving a van.

According to prosecutors, the young girl’s body struck the windshield before flying into the street. Jada was pronounced dead at University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. Richardson injured her shoulder blade and leg, as well as fractured her skull.

Authorities say that prior to the South Side auto accident Lumpkin had been ticked at least 40 times for traffic offenses. Speeding, running red lights, running stop signs, and failing to exercise caution around pedestrians were among the many violations he’d been cited for. He was convicted six times but the majority of tickets against him were dismissed.

Chicago DUI Accidents
Even though people know how dangerous it is to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, there are motorists who still get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle while intoxicated or high. When this happens, the motorist becomes a danger to everyone on the road.

It is bad enough to be the victim of a pedestrian accident let alone get hurt in one that involves a drunken or drugged driver whose vision, reflexes, and ability to stop a vehicle have been severely impaired. While most drunk and drugged drivers never intend to injure or kill anyone, unfortunately there are those who end up doing just that. If his happens, you should speak with an experienced Chicago car accident lawyer right away.

As for the people who dare to drink/get high and drive, our Chicago, Illinois pedestrian accident law firm wants to remind you not to be so reckless. In a city with such good public transportation and so many hotels, there is no excuse for why you need to ever get behind the driver’s seat of a car when you are under the influence.

Prosecutors say motorist charged with DUI in child’s death had cocaine in his system, Chicago Tribune, February 19, 2010

Motorist in girl's death collected at least 40 traffic tickets, ChicagoBreakingNews, February 17, 2010

Related Web Resources:
What is Drugged Driving?, National Institute on Drug Abuse

CyberDrive Illinois

The parents of Joshua Molina, Jr., 13 months, are suing driver Putiporn Kaewmooka for their son’s Chicago, Illinois wrongful death. Joshua Molina and two adults, Aldo Maldonado and Orlando Rodriguez died in a Chicago car accident on February 1 when Kaewmooka struck the vehicle they were riding as he was fleeing from another auto accident site.

According to the couple’s Chicago car accident lawyer, Kaewmooka was driving at speeds of about 80 to 100 mph, not driving in the correct lane, and did not have his car lights on even though it was late at night. Kaewmooka’s Toyota Camry struck the vehicle Joshua Molina Sr., who was turning left.

Young Joshua, who was in a child safety seat, was knocked out of the car seat that he was fastened into and struck the rear window. Rodriguez and Maldonado, who were Joshua Molina Sr.'s best friends, were riding in the backseat of the car with the toddler. Maldonado was thrown from the vehicle.

Amy Alanis and Joshua Molina’s Chicago injury lawsuit is seeking at least $50,000 from Kaewmooka for their personal injuries and their son’s wrongful death.

Kaewmooka, who was charged with traffic citations, has been released on bond. The couple’s lawyer doesn’t believe that police charged Kaewmooka with the proper citations or crimes.

Couple Sues Driver in Crash that Killed Baby, Two Friends, MSNBC, February 12, 2010

Couple sues man in crash that left their baby, two friends dead, Chicago Sun-Times, February 8, 2010

Chicago Car Accident Claims Lives of 13-Month Old Boy and Two Adults, Chicagocaraccidentattorneysblog.com, February 3, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Wrongful Death, Nolo

CyberDriveIllinois

Continue reading "Parents File Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Chicago Car Crash that Claimed Toddler’s Life" »

This week, Illinois State Police arrested 10 people over their alleged involvement in either in providing alcohol to minors or participating in a drinking game at a party that took place before an Illinois car crash that killed two people and seriously injured a third person on October 17.

18-year-old pickup truck driver Evan R. Ibbotson and 16-year-old passenger Jessica Brown died at the crash site. The pickup truck drove off a gravel road before overturning in a ditch. Benjamin L. Jostes, Ibbotson’s 24-year-old half-brother, sustained serious injures from when he was thrown from the truck and pinned under the wreckage.

Jostes, who is one of the people accused of providing alcohol to Ibbotson, has been charged with unlawful delivery of alcoholic liquor to a minor. Other people charged with the same crime are Ellery resident Michael T. Gill, 22, Bone Gap resident Kody J. Bailey, 23, and Albion residents Brandi Wayland, 22, Anson A. Rutger, 23, and Nathan R. Wayland. Ellery residents Ernest J. Fisher, 18, and Brian W. Winter, 19, and two minors were charged with unlawful possession of alcohol by a minor.

Underage drinking is illegal. It can prove especially catastrophic during an Illinois car crash. Teen drivers lack the experience n the road that older motorists that have been driving longer possess. Add intoxication to the equation and the combination has claimed the lives of many teen drivers, their passengers, and people riding in other vehicles, as well as pedestrians.

You may be able to hold a drunk driver liable for your Chicago, Illinois car accident injuries. There also may be other liable parties, such as the bar that overserved an already drunk patron who then got behind the driver’s seat of a car or an adult who served alcohol to a minor.

Ten arrests in Ill. teens' Oct. deaths, Courierpress, February 11, 2010

2 Albion teens killed, 1 injured in crash, Daily Republican Register, October 19, 2009

Related Web Resources:
(720 ILCS 5/) Criminal Code of 1961, Illinois General Assembly

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Continue reading "10 People Arrested in Connection with Illinois Car Crash that Left Two Teenagers Dead" »

In Cook County Circuit Court, Ed Izenstark filed his Chicago, Illinois auto products liability complaint against Toyota Motor. Corp. over the sticking gas pedal defect that has led to the recall of over 2.3 million Toyota vehicles in the US. The 23-year-old St. driver is seeking over $50,000 in Cook County personal injury damages after he was involved in a St. Charles, Illinois car accident on December 26.

Izenstark filed had rented a 2010 Corolla from a Hertz located in the Chicago area. According to his Chicago car accident lawsuit, he crashed into another vehicle when his gas pedal got stuck. Izenstark and another passenger sustained injuries.

The sticking gas pedal defect is at the center of one of two major recalls by Toyota involving accelerator problems. To date, Toyota has recalled 5.3 million autos over concern that sudden acceleration might occur. Millions of other Toyotas have been recalled in Europe and China.

Last week, Toyota announced that it had figured out how to fix the sticking gas pedal defect. Repairs on the affected vehicles are being completed.

Over 60 Runaway Toyota car accidents have occurred in the US in the last few months. Last December, four people died in a single car crash involving a Toyota that investigators believe accelerated out of control. In August, another four people died when the other accelerator defect, this one involving the gas pedal getting entangled with the driver’s side floor mat, caused another deadly runaway Toyota car accident.

Meantime, Toyota’s troubles seem to be growing. Yesterday, the automaker announced two recalls. One global recall involved 437,000 Prius and Lexus hybrids over an ABS software defect. The car manufacturer issued a separate recall involving 7,300 Camrys (2010 model) because of a brake defect that make it difficult for a driver to stop his/her car.

Toyota sued in car crash, Chicago Tribune, February 5, 2010

Toyota Begins Fix for Sticky Gas Pedal Problem, KHON2.com, February 6, 2010

Related Web Resource:
Toyota Motor Corp.

A man whose car was rear-ended by a Madison County Transit District bus is suing the bus operator and the transit district for Illinois personal injury. The Edwardsville bus crash occurred on January 9, 2009.

Police cited bus operator Terry L. Cook with failure to reduce speed to avoid a motor vehicle crash. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was placed on supervision for 90 days.

Plaintiff Alphonzo Gordon says he sustained serious and permanent injuries during the Illinois bus accident. He is accusing the bus driver of negligence, including failure to yield the right of way, failure to use ordinary care to ensure other motorists’ safety, and failure to warn of the bus’s approach. Gordon also claims that Cook drove his bus at an unreasonable and improper speed, followed more closely than what was prudent, and operated a vehicle that was equipped with inadequate brakes.

Gordon is seeking over $50,000 against the bus crash defendants. Bus passengers Britanny Grant and Zavonda Murray are also suing for Illinois personal injury damages.

Illinois Bus Accidents
As the operators of common carrier vehicles, commercial bus drivers owe a duty of care to their passengers and other motorists and pedestrians to exercise even more caution than other motorists so that Chicago, Illinois motor vehicle crashes do not happen.

Getting hit by a vehicle as large as a commercial bus can prove catastrophic for the victims. It can also cause serious injury to bus passengers who are likely not wearing safety belts to keep them secure during a rear-end crash, a side-impact crash, a rollover crash, or any other kind of bus crash.

Metro-East man files lawsuit after bus collision, KMOV, January 28, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Madison County Transit

Truck and Bus Drivers, FMCSA