Chicago Injury Lawyers Blog

According to the Chicago Sun Times, data collected in the last two years shows that Chicago motorcycle crashes are on the rise. The report attributes this increase to the economy and the number or automobile drivers turning to motorcycles as their main source of transportation because motorcycles are cheaper and are more fuel-efficient.

The Sun Times credits the combination of inexperienced riders and drivers who aren't used to seeing so many cycles on the road to the crash increase. Specifically, in Cook County, the number of motorcycle accidents in 2008 was up 26 percent from 2006. And according to the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, the number of motorcycles registered in Cook County and seven surrounding counties was up 6 percent last year over 2006.

As a motorcyclist, what can you do to protect yourself? For one, make sure that you carry enough insurance to protect you if you are involved in an accident. Also, be cognizant of wearing the proper protective clothing and helmets. Finally, if you are in an accident, contact an experience personal injury attorney to discuss your rights. The Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys and Shea Law Group have handled hundreds of cases where motorcycles are involved. If you have been injured in an accident, contact us at 877-365-0040
or online for a free consultation.

Chicago authorities claim that they are finished collecting evidence at Burr Oak Cemetery and now admit that disinterred remains at the Illinois cemetery are likely unable to be identified. As a result, families may never know what happened to their loved ones' remains after an estimated 300 grave sites were desecrated.

The Cook County Sheriff's Office and the FBI's Chicago office had been collecting evidence at the Alsip cemetery since allegations were made that cemetery employees had dug up bodies from their gravesites and relocated them to a vacant lot on the premises while they resold the plots for profit. Four employees have been charged with dismembering a human body and other criminal counts. It is likely that the cemetery will also face civil liability for their alleged actions.

According to the report, investigators had collected 1,200 pieces of evidence, including bones, pieces of burial vaults and headstones. But because cemetery records were found to be disintegrated and rotting, investigators will not be able to identify the remains.

Continue reading "Chicago families still looking for answers after the Cook County Sheriff’s Office investigation into Burr Oak Cemetery allegations" »

The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that criminal charges have been filed against the wrong-way motorist who allegedly caused a car accident that killed a woman and injured two other people near South Halstead Street on the Stevenson Expressway early Saturday morning.

The 23-year old driver was charged with six counts of aggravated DUI, according to an Illinois State Police. But in addition to criminal liability, the victims of this case may be able to impose civil liability against this driver or his insurance company for wrongful death and negligence.

Have you or a family member been a victim of a Chicago car accident where the other driver was DUI? The Chicago car accident lawyers at Shea Law Group have handled hundreds of Chicago car accident claims-- many involving allegations of driving under the influence. We know that in order to maximize the recovery for our clients' damages in thes sorts of cases, we must conduct a proper investigation, preserve all relevant evidence, collect all pertinent medical information and secure the proper expert witnesses to testify on our clients' behalf. We are here to help- please call us at 877-365-0040 or contact us online for a free consultation.

Chicago Now is reporting that a lawsuit has been filed in Cook County Circuit Court against the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) for the death of a Cabrini-Green resident who fell to his death in an elevator shaft on Monday night.

The man, Clarence Allan Walker, lived at 365 W. Oak Street-- one of the two remaining Cabrini-Green Red buildings still standing. According to court documents, when he tried to use the elevator on Monday night, he "was caused to slip and fall to his death onto the bottom of the elevator shaft.” His wrongful death suit claims that the elevator failed to give service and had a history of poor maintenance and poor performance and that the CHA failed to inspect the elevator in accordance with the American National Elevator Safety Code

The lawsuit alleges two causes of action against the Housing Authority, and is asking for an amount in excess $50,000 for each.

Continue reading "Chicago Housing Authority sued for slip and fall death" »

Antonio Olivo from the Chicago Tribune wrote an interesting expose this weekend on the status of porch inspections in the City of Chicago.

In May, a University Village couple fell 20 feet to the concrete—suffering neck and head injuries—after the guardrail of their apartment porch collapsed. According to the Tribune, the porch at the center of this accident is one of about 700 hazardous porches that have been phoned into the city's 311 system that haven’t been inspected by the City.
These statistics are troubling in light of the tragic Lincoln Park accident six years ago where 13 people were killed as a result of a porch collapse. That accident called the entire inspection process into question and resulted in one of the nation's strictest building codes for newly constructed porches and allowed the City to finally enforce codes on landlords who ignored porch hazards for years. But apparently, the standards implemented as a result of that catastrophe have become lax again. City officials say their hard work has reduced the potential threats, but a shortage of inspection manpower and an increase of new reports may mean that bad porches often are discovered only “haphazardly.”

Continue reading "City of Chicago scales back porch inspections despite continued safety issues" »

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that a woman crossing the road during the Tour de France was killed Saturday when she was hit by a police motorcycle that was escorting cyclists. In addition, two other fans were injured when the motorcycle skidded into them after the initial impact. The accident happened during the 14th stage of the competition during the 124-mile route from Colmar to Besancon.

Organizers identified the victim as a 61-year-old woman and Tour de France medical teams treated her immediately before emergency staffers arrived. The other two spectators were only treated for minor injuries. According to the Tribune, deaths on the Tour are rare – the last death was during the 2002 race when a boy was hit by sponsors' vehicles.

Continue reading "Motorcycle Accident kills one, injures two along Tour de France route" »

Working out at a fitness club turned out to be hazardous to the health of two members of the Curves fitness club in Lake Zurich. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that on Saturday afternoon, a 65-year-old woman allegedly crashed her vehicle through glass windows and into the suburban Chicago health and fitness club.

Police report that two people suffered minor injuries in the accident and that the driver says she mixed up her brake and accelerator pedals while parking the vehicle. Thankfully, the injured people were taken to a hospital in the nearby suburb of Barrington in “good condition.”

Continue reading "Lake Zurich car accident leaves two people injured at health club" »

The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that a car was involved in an accident while taking a shooting victim to a hospital in the South Side’s Englewood neighborhood last week.

According to unconfirmed fire dispatch reports, a man suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and two gunshot wounds to the abdomen and was taken to an area hospital. In route, the car crashed near the intersection of Western Avenue and 71st Street. Police did not know where the actual shooting happened but said that initially, the victim appeared to be fatally wounded but showed “signs of life” shortly after crews arrived.

Continue reading "Car crashes in Chicago in route to taking shooting victim to hospital" »

Three men were tragically killed Sunday night in separate crashes in the Chicago area—and Chicago Breaking News is reporting that two of the deaths involved motorcycles.

Victor Calderon, was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident that occurred in the 2100 block of West Fullerton Avenue. He was pronounced dead at Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago.

Henry Manso, was killed in a car crash two hours later at the intersection of Grand and Thatcher Avenues in River Grove. Within twenty minutes of that crash, Todd Filkins, was killed when his motorcycle crashed into another car at the corner of 26th Street and East End Avenue in Chicago Heights.

Continue reading "Three men killed on same night in Chicago car and motorcycle accidents" »

The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that on Friday, the Illinois Senate passed a bill protecting bowling alley owners from lawsuits by people who slip and fall because of going outside in their bowling shoes.

The bill, which is awaiting Gov. Quinn's approval, would allow owners to warn people through posted signs that bowling shoes should be worn only inside the bowling alley. That way, if bowlers venture outside and accumulate rain or snow on their shoes and then slip while bowling, alley owners wouldn't be held responsible.

According to lawmakers, the bill protects bowling alley owners from lawsuits from patrons who leave the alley to and return with wet feet, creating a hazard that could result in slips or falls. The bill doesn’t legislate away plaintiffs' rights to sue when a property owner is negligent though. Chicago store owners still must inspect their property for potential dangers and either fix a problem within a reasonable time period or warn the public of those defects.

Continue reading "Bill would make it harder for bowlers to sue for Chicago slip and falls " »

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the family of a 69-year-old woman has filed a lawsuit against a suburban nursing home for failing to protect her from being sexually assaulted by a 21-year-old mentally ill resident.

The family claims that Maplewood Care's administrator tried to cover up a rape by calling it consensual sex. This case is an example of the dangers that can occur when senior citizens and younger mentally ill residents are both placed in nursing homes without proper monitoring.

What are the signs that your loved one could have been abused in their nursing home:

Frequent arguments or tension between the caregiver and the elderly person
Changes in personality or behavior in the elder
Unexplained signs of injury such as bruises, welts, or scars
Broken eyeglasses or frames
Behavior from the elder that mimics dementia, such as rocking, sucking, or mumbling
Unusual weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration
Untreated physical problems, such as bed sores
Unsanitary living conditions

Continue reading "Chicago Family sues nursing home in alleged sex attack" »

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the bail has been set for the Chicago Police officer who killed a 13-year old boy as a result of a drunk driving car accident.

CPD Officer Richard Bolling has been criminally charged by the Cook County State Attorney’s Office with aggravated driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident where a death or injury occurred and reckless homicide. His bail was set at $2 million.

It is alleged that the boy had sneaked out of his home and was riding his bicycle with friends on Ashland, traveling north in the southbound lane. Bolling was driving his car in the southbound lane and, according to witness accounts, raced through the intersection and hit Trenton. Bolling is alleged to have continued without stopping and was stopped by police shortly thereafter.

It is unclear at this time whether the child’s family is going to pursue civil remedies for the crash, including filing a wrongful death action in Cook County courts.

Continue reading "Bail set at $2 million for Chicago cop charged in fatal hit-and-run case" »