Chicago Accident Lawyer Blog

February 11, 2013

Car Accident Sends Three People to Area Hospitals

The Chicago car accident lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer became aware that three people were injured early Saturday in an accident that involved a car and two taxicabs at a busy intersection in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

The accident occurred two hours after midnight when a Ford Crown Victoria taxicab, which was going southbound on Halsted Avenue, intending to make a left turn onto Fullerton Avenue. As it was making the left turn, a Subaru that as westbound on Fullerton Avenue hit the taxicab, veering it off and striking a Toyota Camry taxicab, which was behind the Ford and was waiting to make a left rurn as well. .

The Ford taxicab had two passengers, a 23-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, who were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago with non-life threatening injuries. The Subaru driver, a 22-year-old man, was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical in a sable condition. The driver of the Ford taxicab was cited for failure to yield while making a left turn.

February 9, 2013

48 Chicago Pedestrians Killed in 2012

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Chicago pedestrian accident attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. read in the Sun-Times that pedestrian deaths due to pedestrian accidents with cars have risen from 2012 to 48. There were 35 pedestrian deaths in 2011, 30 in 2010 and 31 in 2009.

A city of Chicago study found that 80 percent of vehicle-pedestrian accidents occur at intersections and mostly involve pedestrians walking in the cross walk. The study also shows the number one cause of pedestrians being hit by cars is drivers failing to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians. Drivers in Illinois are required by law to come to a complete stop when a pedestrian is in a crosswalk. (625 ILCS 5/11-1002)

Distracted drivers has been suggested as a possible culprit in the up-tick in pedestrian deaths. Both drivers and pedestrians are texting, on the cell phone or listening to music on their phone or I-Pod and are not paying attention to road hazards. Chicago injury lawyers, Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.have handled cases where the defendant who caused the injury to the plaintiff was on a cell phone or was yelling at children in the car and was distracted when the accident occurred.

February 5, 2013

The City of Chicago is Liable to the Estate of a Domestic Violence Victim

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers report that the City of Chicago is liable for the wrongful death of a victim of domestic violence for failure to arrest the assailant despite several 911 calls, the Illinois Appellate Court decided on January 17, 2013.

Henry Fenton was murdered by his girlfriend’s son, Rovale Brim, following a violent argument between Fenton, his girlfriend, and her son. The facts recited by the appellate court reveal that on March 4, 2002, Fenton called 911 at 1:37 am, alerting the emergency operator that his girlfriend’s son was arguing in loud and boisterous fashion and was violent. The operator dispatched police officers who were confronted with an “angry, drunken, and boisterous Rovale” who was yelling at his mother, and was making violent movements with a bottle in his hands. The officers separated the individuals, and escorted Rovale to his basement bedroom where he lived. They did not arrest Rovale at this time.

Fenton dialed the emergency 911 line for a second time at 2:30 am, and when the officers arrived at the home, they saw a similar situation as was developing earlier. At that time Rovale’s mother asked that he be removed from the residence. The officers allowed drunken Rovale to leave the residence, and wait outside in a zero degree temperature, for a girlfriend to pick him up. The officers left, while Rovale was waiting outside about a block from the home of his mother and Fenton.

February 4, 2013

Illinois Agency That Investigates Doctors Cuts Staff

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

The Chicago personal injury attorneys from Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. saw in the Chicago Tribune that the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the agency that investigates complaints about doctors announced that it will be eliminating 18 of 26 positions in the medical unit. The cutbacks will drastically hinder the ability of the agency to investigate complaints regarding doctor misconduct.

The remaining eight positions will most likely consist of three lawyers, two or three investigators and one licensing position.

Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen’s Research Group voiced his concern, stating: “They are greatly reducing their ability to investigate and properly police doctors.” He further stated: “This is a major threat to the health and safety of the people of Illinois.”

February 4, 2013

Medical Condition A Contributing Factor In Chicagoland Bus Crash

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Chicago bus accident attorneys read in the

January 31, 2013

Proposal Would Require Electric Cars To Make Sound

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys read proposed standards of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for electric and hybrid vehicles to make noise. These vehicles are much quieter at low speeds than traditional gas or diesel powered vehicles making them harder to detect by pedestrians and bike riders.

NHTSA Administrator David Strickland stated: “Our proposal would allow manufactures the flexibility to design different sounds for different makes and models while still providing an opportunity for pedestrians, bicyclists and the visually impaired to detect and recognize a vehicle and make a decision about whether it is safe to cross the street.”

The NHTSA proposal would require electric vehicles traveling under 18 miles per hour to make sufficient noise so that pedestrians and bicyclists could detect them even when factoring in street noise and background noise. Each make and model would be required to emit the same sound.

January 27, 2013

Truck Accident In Alsip, Illinois Injuries Two

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

The Chicago truck accident lawyers at Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. report that two people were critically injured in Alsip, Illinois on Saturday, January 12 when a passenger car rear-ended a semi truck. The crash happened at 6 a.m. when the Ford Taurus of one of the victims became stuck under the semi truck . The driver of the Taurus and his passenger had to be extricated from their car and were by emergency personnel and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and were listed in critical condition.

According to the truck driver who was from McAllen, Texas, the truck driver had just begun a left turn when he felt something strike his trailer.

The Illinois Department of Transportation reminds drivers to be extra careful around trucks and to be aware that trucks have blind spots. The IDOT urges drivers to remember:

January 12, 2013

Chicago Pedestrian Hit In Crosswalk; Critically Injured

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Our Chicago pedestrian injury lawyers learned that a Chicago man was critically injured Saturday morning when he was struck in a pedestrian accident, while attempting 95th Street at 95th and Jeffery Boulevard on the South Side. The victim was crossing in the crosswalk when he was struck, according to the police. The man who struck the pedestrian with his vehicle stayed on the scene until the police came. The pedestrian was listed in critical condition and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

A city of Chicago study found that 80 percent of vehicle-pedestrian crashes happen at intersections and involve pedestrians walking in a crosswalk. The CDOT study also found that the number one cause of pedestrians being hit by a motor vehicle is the motor vehicle fails to yield the right of way. There are over 3,000 vehicle pedestrian crashes a year in Illinois. Illinois law states that a motorist must stop, not just yield for any pedestrian who has already entered the crosswalk. Anyone living in Chicago knows that motorist rarely stop or yield for pedestrians in a crosswalk.

The Chicago law firm of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. litigates many cases of pedestrians getting hit by motor vehicles while crossing in the crosswalk. Many of these crashes cause serious injuries such as traumatic brain injury and broken bones. The Chicago personal injury law firm of Zneimer & Zneimer will work for you to make sure that the injured plaintiff recovers the maximum compensation for their injuries.

January 9, 2013

TV And Furniture Tip-Over Deaths On The Rise

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

The Chicago product liability attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. reviewed a report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) stating that 349 individuals (84 percent being children younger than 9 years old) were killed by toppling TV’s or furniture between 2000 and 2001. The year 2011 had a record 41 deaths caused by toppling TVs or furniture. The CPSC is urging that TVs and furniture be anchored to stabilized to prevent tip-overs.

CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum urged: “We know that low-cost anchoring devices are effective in preventing tip-over incidents…I urge parents to anchor their TVs, furniture and appliances and protect their children. It takes just a few minutes to do and it can save lives.”

It is estimated that43,000 people are injured in tip over accidents with 59% percent of these injuries are to children under the age of 18. TVs seem to be particularly deadly, accounting for 62% of the deaths. In 57 percent of the death cases the victim was hit on the head by the falling object.

January 8, 2013

Chicago Jogger Attacked By Pit Bull Loses Leg

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Chicago dog bite injury lawyers at Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. have learned that a South Shore Chicago jogger, Joseph Finley, was attacked by a pit bull one year ago and ended up losing his leg. Mr. Finley stated that he considers himself lucky to even be alive after the attack and has urged there be laws restricting the ownership of pit bulls.

Statistics support the contention that pit bulls are a more dangerous bred of dog than other breeds. In 2004 there were 22 dog bite related deaths in the United States. In 2005 there were 29 deaths caused by dog bites. In 2006 there were 26 dog bite related deaths. In 2007 there were 33 dog bite related deaths in the United States. Pit bull type dogs were responsible for 67% of fatalities. Rottweilers were second and accounted for 12% of fatalities.

The Center for Disease Control reports that there are 4.7 million dog bites annually in the United States. Approximately,800,000 require medical attention. Approximately 334,000 have to go to the emergency room. Sadly, about 50% of these bites involve children.