Chicago Injury Lawyers Blog

The Orland Park Prairie is reporting that a 91-year-old Orland Park man was killed in a car accident at the intersection of 80th Avenue and Wheeler Drive in Orland Park on Thursday afternoon.

The initial police investigation concluded that the man’s Toyota Corolla was travelling eastbound on Wheeler when he drove through a red light at 80th Avenue. His car was struck by an International Truck traveling southbound. The elderly man was transported to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he later died.

Traffic specialists are still investigating the incident and are searching for witnesses to the crash.

At this time it is unclear if the truck driver is at fault for the accident, but if the police investigation shows that the truck driver contributed to the accident, the deceased man’s family may have a wrongful death claim against the driver, his employer and the employer’s insurance carrier under Illinois Law.

Accident investigations can be complicated, but the experienced Chicago car accident attorneys at Shea Law Group know that in order to maximize the recovery for our clients' damages we must conduct a proper investigation, preserve all relevant evidence, collect all pertinent medical information and secure the proper expert witnesses to testify on your behalf. If you have been injured in a car or truck accident please contact us.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that there was a train accident last night when a car slammed into a train in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. One person was killed. The crash happened Wednesday about 11 p.m. in the Village of Pewaukee, which is two hours outside of Chicago.

Railroad companies are obligated to maintain safety procedures in their day-to-day operations including maintenance standards for their tools and equipment and having training procedures in place for their employees. If someone has been injured or killed in a train accident and these standards have not been enforced, the train company may be liable for their part in the negligence that caused the injury or death.

The forceful impact of a train the collision can result in serious, life threatening injuries. It is for this reason that hiring an experienced personal injury law firm that understands the complexities of a train accident claim is so important. If you have been involved in a train accident, please contact the Chicago Train Accident Attorneys at Shea Law Group for a consultation.

Bloomberg.com is reporting that American International Group Inc. (AIG)--the company that has had nearly non-stop media attention as a result of being bailed out four times by the U.S. government in recent months--is being probed by 50 state insurance regulators who are examining whether the firm violated rules governing workers’ compensation sales. Illinois state regulators are involved in the investigation.

The probe is an offshoot of a 2005 lawsuit initiated by then-New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who said AIG shortchanged the premiums it used when in calculating its obligations to state pools. In most states, companies that sell workers’ compensation must fund pools that serve as insurers of last resort to cover injuries at employers that pose unattractive risks.

In addition, AIG is also is under investigation by a House of Representatives committee over payments made to public relations companies as a result of the federal bailout plan. Edward Liddy, chief executive of AIG, has been asked by the House whether AIG paid public relations firms to attack critics of AIG and the federal bail-out. They are asking for letters, contracts and memorandum between AIG and their PR firm that addresses their communications strategy. The government states the purpose of the probe is to ensure that federal funds are not being misused. The full Financial Times article can be found here.

These probes are interesting for a number of reasons, but highlight what our attorneys have been dealing with for years: insurance is a business and carriers are always looking out for their bottom line. That is why it is important to consult with an experienced Chicago personal injury attorney who has experience fighting insurance insurance companies if you have been injured in an accident. The lawyers at Shea Law Group have handled hundreds of worker’s compensation and accident cases throughout Chicago where insurance companies were involved. We are not pressured by their tactics and as a result, will not settle cases for an unsatisfactory amount. If you have been injured, please contact us at 877-365-0040.

Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich is calling cell phone users the new drunk drivers. And last month, the Vehicle and Safety Committee of the Illinois House approved a bill that would ban texting on cell phones while driving. The bill is now moving to the full House in Springfield. But do bans really affect driver behavior?

As it moves through the Illinois legislature, supporters of the bill contend that sending text messages can lead to tragedies on the road when drivers aren’t paying attention. Information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the driver distraction due to cell phone use and text messaging can be found here.

The City of Chicago has already put a cell phone ban in place since last year, but it is unclear how the ban has really deterred cell phone use while driving. Everyday, Chicago drivers are seen talking and texting while on the road.

Like the Chicago ban, the Illinois plan calls for a $75 fine, and a $200 ticket if the cell phone use causes a car accident- but only time will tell if a ban will actually curb text messaging car accidents. A statewide ban could be signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn as early as May or June.

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