Chicago Injury Lawyers Blog

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.

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" »

With Memorial Day and summer parties right around the corner, underage drinking becomes more prevalent—and exposes parents to increased exposure to civil and criminal liability for their kids’ actions. A law that went into effect in October, 2004 called the “Drug or Alcohol Impaired Minor Responsibility Act” exposes adults who allow under-aged drinking to a wide range of liability.

Take for example George Baldwin of Lake Forest, who received a $2.5 million settlement this winter from a case involving his ex-girlfriend’s mother, whom he claimed allowed her two daughters to drink and give him and a friend alcohol. Allegedly, an argument ensued and the two younger men left and got in a car accident that left Baldwin paralyzed from the chest down.

On the civil side, insurance companies that are involved in nearly every Chicago car accident case are starting to find that jurors will hold parents at least partially responsible for injuries caused by underage drinking on their property. Insurance carriers are now starting to take this into consideration when deciding to how settle cases and there may be a time when insurance coverage is denied in cases where parents allow their kids to drink --which could open parents up to costly personal liability for the damaged party’s accidents.

Monetary sanctions are only the beginning. In addition, providing alcohol to someone younger than 21 is a misdemeanor in Illinois, punishable with up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Continue reading "Chicago area parents who let kids drink can be subject to huge penalties " »

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that a three-car accident has left seven injured and one person dead Sunday evening. According to report, the crash happened about 7:50 p.m. near 43rd Street and Western Avenue.

It is unclear at this time who was at fault for the crash or whether there was negligence involved that could lead to a Wrongful Death claim.

An experienced car accident lawyer can prove that you were the victim of a negligent driver by evaluating your case-- taking into consideration the specific facts of your case and the law as it applies to you. The 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, and secure the proper expert witnesses to testify on your behalf. If you have been injured in a car crash, we can help. Please contact us at 877-365-0040 to set up a consultation.

A Chicago police department officer was rear-ended by a Northwest Side man Saturday night. As a result, the man was charged with DUI. EMS responded to the accident scene at the 3800 block of West Lawrence Avenue, according to a Chicago Sun Times report.

A total of two ambulances were sent to the scene and the officer was taken to Resurrection Medical Center in “stable” condition, police said. The driver refused medical treatment.

If you have been injured in an accident involving DUI, the experienced Chicago car accident attorneys at Shea Law Group can help. Please contact us for a consultation.

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.

Continue reading "Chicago cell phone users: the new drunk drivers" »