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Effective this year, the minimum coverage is now $25,000 per person / per accident for liability auto insurance. This provides both “sides” a bit more security but it still may not be enough in many situations. Copyright According to the Illinois Secretary of State, this protection is one of the most significant consumer protection measures “on…

The other driver had no insurance? Not “enough” insurance? Happens ALL the time! I get these questions daily. My clients are shocked to learn that (a) people actually drive cars with no insurance – as in 0 insurance; (b) they were hit and injured by someone with a basic policy of only $25,000.00 of coverage (the minimum…

Stay home when it’s snowing / “blizzardy” / wet roads when it’s cold out! Not worth driving to – anywhere! Did you know these alarming statistics provided via NHTSA?: On average, there are over 5,870,000 vehicle crashes each year. Twenty-three percent (23%) of these crashes—nearly 1,312,000—are weather-related. Weather-related crashes are defined as those crashes that occur…

The roads have been treacherous lately. Drive slower. Drive safer. The U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) did an investigation of the long term effects of anti-lock brake systems in 2009 here. Interestingly – and logically – ABS systems are not fool proof for slippery roads. You should not rely on them –…

Many of my clients are often surprised to learn how medical bills are handled – and paid (or not) – in relation to an auto accident (and when it is not their fault!). Even if you have health insurance, there is a possibility that your health insurance company may deny coverage and payment.The hospital or…

New data released in October 2014 (for the year 2012 – most recent) by the U.S. Dept. of Transportationshows “large trucks” involved in 3,753 fatal crashes also involved 115 “invalid” licenses. Invalid license has been defined as: Those who had either no license or did not have a valid license or proper endorsement for the class…

Police play important roles in security and, sometimes, as witnesses. I am often asked about police coming to the scene and the tickets issued (or not) and what it all means in the civil context (as opposed to criminal) case. My clients are often surprised about the ticket issued. I have written on that extensively…

Trucking accidents can be the most deadly. It is obvious and goes without saying that the sheer weight and force behind such a 5-ton+ behemoth can result in serious injuries by even the slightest bump much less at “normal”, or worse, high speeds. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Transportation…

Some drivers that rear-end my clients think they can blame the snow and ice – or bad weather. Wrong. Drivers must slow down even more, be extra cautious and keep a proper lookout – all per Illinois law – or risk liability for an accident. In fact, such accidents may even warrant “partial” summary judgment in…

Under Illinois personal injury law, “punitive damages” (those meant to deter and “punish” the wrongdoer) must be brought pursuant to “permission” by the Court. See 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/2-604.1 (Lexis 2014). Many clients want to seek the “maximum” in certain automobile accidents and seeking punitive damages would clearly be an attempt to do just that. However,…

As CBS Chicago recently reported, a new study released by DePaul University warns that annual spending of perhaps up to $2 billion per year on infrastructure and repairs to Chicagoland’s most widely-used public transit — namely Metra and the Chicago Transit Authority. The findings suggest that, while ridership has steadily increased in recent years, the spending necessary…

In a recent decision, it was reported here that a New Jersey Appeals Court held that a person who is texting a driver could very well become a defendant in a lawsuit and be liable to someone who was injured due to such texting. Texting another driver while you are NOT driving could get you sued! Don’t…

On Friday, April 5, 2013, a terrible school bus accident carrying numerous school children flipped over and per the latest news reports, many children were injured and perhaps one adult is dead. Apparently, school buses are not required to have seat belts and this is yet another situation where innocent children are exposed to the…

The State’s trend towards making a concerted effort to improve transportation safety continued with a move by Governor Quinn that went largely under the radar. The announced $21 million grant has the outward goals of trying to improve pedestrian safety in school zones, but it looks as though some of the proposed uses may have positive residual…

As an article from the Chicago Tribune illustrated, many prominent auto makers have been in the process of issuing safety recalls in regards to side airbag components that don’t deploy as they should following a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is looking into the matter even further, after asking component maker Autoliv Inc. to…

There have been proposed ideas that have worked their way through the legislature to improve safety for drivers on the road. Take the bitter dispute over the signed law permitting the City of Chicago to install speeding cameras, for instance. As discussed in the past, many attempted to spin this as nothing more than a…

We were pleased to hear word of a Cook County verdict in which the family of an accident victim killed after she was struck by a semi-truck in the middle of an Indiana Highway. A jury awarded $4.25 million dollars to the family of a young woman that was struck and killed by a truck…

We’ve spent time examining several potential new auto safety laws that took shape throughout last year. While most, if not all, of these are still in their initial phases, some of them (such as Chicago’s speeding camera proposal) made headlines. One that was flying a bit under the radar was a proposal that would raise the age…

Chicago “true” weather is back again and makes for very difficult driving conditions. Be careful! If someone has rear-ended you or slid into you and you believe they were not careful, contact us here immediately to assess the situation. We take calls and contact 24/7/365. And a reminder to all that not only in “good…

In the past we’ve discussed proposed auto safety measures, such as Chicago’s proposed speeding camera bill, which would post cameras in designated “safety zones,” track speeding cars and issue automated tickets similar to those by red light cameras. An earlier report, however, indicates that this particular proposal may wind up dying on the vine for one…

New traffic safety laws went into effect last year that had lawmakers turning their focus to those proposals. Many of those proposed regulations were discussed at a meeting of the Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Traffic Safety, which outlined the general direction that the legislature sought to take. While we previously reported on several of these,…

As a recent article in Science Now details a new study that is almost certain to stoke a good deal of controversy has put forth a new factor that researchers believe contributes to an increased likelihood of trucking accidents — obesity. The study followed 744 newly-licensed truck drivers and categorized them by height and weight. The results suggested…

With the rash of new laws and procedures that took place this year intended to improve safety for drivers on the road, it is interesting to keep in mind — and take some perspective on — some of the passing trends in automobile safety. Interestingly, the city of Naperville voted to let contracts expire on…

This year has brought into effect a flurry of new laws passed the previous year, many of which are intended to affect the safety of drivers on the road. One such candidate is the requirement that all occupants of cars, trucks, and vans must wear seatbelts. While it may come as a surprise to many that this is…

This year has brought many interesting developments in technology easing its way into lawmakers’ attempts to increase safety on the roads — and the news, unfortunately, forcing their hand. With the rash of prominent stories regarding drunk driving accidents, wrong way driving accidents, and the like, no matter how much lawmakers try to curb the…

As various local news outlets have reported, an off-duty Chicago Police Officer was recently charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries and disorderly conduct for filing a false police report after a rather interesting turn of events stemming from allegations that the officer ran into a pedestrian on a bicycle and is alleged to have…

One of the most discouraging things to encounter in personal injury law is where you endure a lengthy litigation process and even obtain a successful verdict at trial, only for the defendant to turn around and declare bankruptcy in an attempt to discharge your judgment and force you to walk away with nothing. In situations…

One of the oldest maxims in American civil litigation — a concept usually introduced on literally the first day of an aspiring law student’s first year tort class — is that a defendant takes a plaintiff as he or she finds them. This has otherwise come to be known as the “eggshell plaintiff rule,” where…

As we recently discussed, studies on the rates of repeat offenders in drunk driving incidents are leading many states to consider mandating interlock devices that, in theory, prevent drunk drivers from being able to operate their vehicles. Behind these reports, however, is the unfortunate admission that those inclined to make destructive decisions will do so…

One of the most difficult parts of dealing with personal injury cases is having to tell a client that the other driver (whose actions may have very well changed their lives forever) might not have enough insurance to cover their injuries. In a literal sense, this doesn’t stop you from pursuing your claim in court,…

One of the most frustrating parts of a lawsuit is tying up all the loose ends after a case comes to conclusion. Even if you win at trial or your case settles, this, unfortunately, doesn’t conclude things entirely, and often, it can take months to sift through the various entities such as hospitals, doctors, emergency…

As the Chicago Tribune recently reported, an Amtrak train that derailed this past Sunday in southwest Michigan, injuring nine passengers in the process, came within a mere 21 feet from colliding with a parked freight hopper car in the process. In a chilling near-miss story, the train (which departed from Chicago en route to suburban Detroit) was…

As local news outlets are reporting a Cook County jury recently awarded $850,000 in damages to a man that was run over by a garbage truck on the City’s northwest side. The article reports that the man suffered six broken bones and required a skin graft in conjunction with what the article describes as “a crushed foot”…

As you are probably aware, rising fuel costs, environmental concerns, and other issues have led to a significant uptick in the production and marketing of fuel-efficient vehicles such as hybrids and battery-powered engines. While the rising demand for these vehicles certainly comes from a positive place, recent studies suggest that the technology involved in actually…

The Chicago Tribune recently reported the tragic story of a young man killed when his motorcycle was run over by a truck with a trailer attached. As the two vehicles attempted to merge onto the Eisenhower Expressway, the truck apparently pushed the motorcycle up against the wall and eventually ran over the driver, allegedly causing his death.…

Perhaps even more so than an ordinary car-on-car accident, the first few days following a truck collision can be crucial for preserving your rights. When an auto accident involves two ordinary cars, severely damaged vehicles are taken to repair shops where an estimate is done and work performed, which gives a good report about what,…

We’ve discussed many different ways of receiving satisfaction after you have been injured in an auto accident, several of which actually step outside the traditional court system and into alternative dispute resolution such as arbitration and mediation. Another interesting remedy applies when you have been injured in an accident with a State of Illinois employee…

This year came with a flurry of new laws passed during the previous year that finally came into effect. One law in particular has many in the area of auto accident law taking close notice, as it has the potential to be particularly troublesome. A new law, as explained in detail by CBS Chicago, allows motorcyclists…

One of the most frequent problems many injury victims have with the legal process is the length of time it takes to resolve a dispute — and rightly so. Time and time again, insurance companies refuse to pay on perfectly good claims, the congested court system may stall a case for months on end, even…

Each holiday, I like to remind all of the dangers of drinking and driving and the tragic consequences that are simply unnecessary. With the Fourth of July in the middle of the week this year, many people are turning the week into a vacation and we have already been contacted in this past week to…

The continuing trend by national institutes tasked with examining the data surrounding auto accidents recently culminated with the National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”) making an across the board recommendation that all cellphone use be banned while driving. The Chicago Tribune’s examination of the conversation surrounding this proposal in Illinois seemed to indicate that it was unlikely that…

Millions more cars will be on the road from Wednesday through Sunday / Monday this Thanksgiving – as expected as these are some of the busiest days of the year. That means everyone should be much more vigilant and cautious when driving. Drunk driving is especially worrisome during the holiday times. Fatalities often rise over…

On Friday, November 11, 2011, numerous people were injured when a CTA bus struck a light pole at approximately 4:00 p.m. at 95th and Cottage Grove in Chicago, Illinois. Bus drivers and bus companies owe their passengers a duty of care to avoid causing injuries to their passengers and situations can turn into severe hazards…

The insurance laws in Illinois, starting with 625 Illinois Compiled Statutes (or “ILCS” in lawyer lanugage) 5/7-601 sets forth the basic ground rules, noting: No person shall operate, register or maintain registration of, and no owner shall permit another person to operate, register or maintain registration of, a motor vehicle designed to be used on a…

Generally speaking, it is everyone’s goal to settle a case without a drawn-out lawsuit that can take years to prosecute and consume massive amounts of time and resources for all. One of the biggest myths about the settlement process, however, is that as soon as the two sides come to an agreement, the client can…

While the upcoming Fourth of July weekend is one of our nation’s most celebrated holidays, it is also, unfortunately, one of our most dangerous. Anyone who finds themselves out on the road during this holiday might notice a police roadblock searching for intoxicated drivers. While this might seem like an inconvenience to those who aren’t driving drunk…

For reasons that may be fairly straightforward, the importance of a client’s medical records and bills in a personal injury case cannot be overstated. In all but the rarest of situations, medical bills will make up the bulk of a plaintiff’s total damages. A plaintiff’s medical records hold the key to the essence of the case, as understanding the medical…

When a case goes to trial, it is often the case that some of the most important events happen behind closed doors, away from the jury and even away from the client. Before a trial begins, attorneys from each side get together with the Judge and set down some “ground rules” for the trial, including…

Reports are coming in of car crashes in the area during one of the worst blizzards in the Chicago and surrounding suburbs’ recorded history. Numerous motorists were also stranded on Lake Shore Drive. Streets are closed and others are near unable to be traveled upon. Still, the duties of a motorist remain. In fact,no matter the…

On January 20, 2011, we brought a suit against the State of Ilinois, Illinois Department of Correctionsand Illinois’ Department of Central Management Services (among others) alleging a four-car accident. It is alleged that one of the two drivers named struck Defendant Washington’s vehicle pushing it into Plaintiff’s vehicle and pushing Plaintiff’s vehicle into Defendant Brown’s vehicle and…

Today, I filed the second lawsuit in Chicago, Illinois (Cook County Case No. 2010-L-002399) on behalf of Willette Green against Toyota alleging strict liability and negligence. This one involved the death of a pedestrian and injuries to Plaintiff after her 2006 Lexus ES 330 was unable to stop. The lawsuit alleges: On August 26, 2008, the Plaintiff was involved in…

Effective January 1, 2010, using your mobile device can get you a ticket, but worse, they cause accidents which sometimes cause injuries to you and others for life. Bottom line, wait to use your mobile device, focus on the road and be respectful of others around you–especially while doing 65 m.p.h. down the highway. Mobile…

The Illinois State Police is instituting a new speed policy that calls for a “four tier response code system” beginning January 1, 2009. Read the facts of the new policy here. After two sisters were killed when an Illinois State Police Trooper’s squad car crossed an I-64 median last November, Illinois State Police felt it was time to institute a policy…

Many individuals who are in accidents often ask me whether the jury will hear that the defendant received a ticket in relation to the accident. They would love for the jury to hear that! They are often surprised to hear me say “absolutely not.” In fact, I tell them that the Judge–prior to the trial…