August 9, 2010

Construction set to improve safety at dangerous Chicago railroad crossing

A rail crossing that is infamous for Chicago railroad car crashes is set to be rebuilt this month in order to improve safety before high school classes resume for students who cross the path over the railroad to get to school. Additionally, the Illinois Commerce Commission has urged that the city of Chicago increase traffic enforcement to reduce Chicago train-vehicle crashes at the congested Nagle Avenue crossing on the Union Pacific Railroad corridor.

According to a Chicago Tribune report, vehicles can be stopped on the tracks at Nagle and many other dangerous Chicago railroad crossings on a daily basis, which is seriously dangerous. Drivers routinely take those risks and despite knowledge of the consistent law breaking, most of the hundreds of tickets issued to drivers at the Chicago railroad crossing for failing to yield to trains or for stopping on the tracks were issued by Union Pacific police, not Chicago police officers. Planned changes to increase safety are planned for between August 23 and September 3 and include new signs, better pavement markings, and new concrete crossing panels. City of Chicago traffic engineers are also evaluating whether changes in the timing of signals would keep the rail crossing clear of vehicles when the traffic lights change from green to red.

More information about the fixes for the dangerous Chicago railroad crossing is available at the Chicago Tribune.

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Posted In: Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian , Public Transit , Train Accidents

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July 22, 2010

Chicago traffic deaths decline due to safer roads and safer vehicles

The numbers are shocking and eye-opening. Nearly 300,000 Chicago traffic accidents occur yearly and a Chicago deadly accident takes place every 21.5 hours. However, one study shows that some measures have resulted in about 200 lives being saved each year in Chicago. The rates of deadly Chicago traffic accidents and serious Illinois personal injuries have decreased significantly since the early 1990’s due in large part to safety enhancements on Illinois roads in addition to newer motor vehicles that offer a better change of surviving Chicago car accidents. The annual number of deaths and injuries from vehicle accidents in the Chicago area fell 12.5 percent from 2002 to 2005 and fatalities alone decreased 30.5 percent from 2005 to 2008, from 629 deaths annually to 437. The statistics are based on data collected by the Illinois Department of Transportation. DuPage County recorded the lowest fatality rates over the entire period studied and suburban Cook County and Lake County had the second lowest fatality rates. Illinois’s tougher seat belt laws as well as roadside checks aimed at catching drunk or otherwise impaired motorists are also helping to cut the rate of deadly crashes.

Nonetheless, there is still a lot of improvement to be made in Illinois road safety. In the city of Chicago, one of the biggest challenges will be decreasing vehicle-pedestrian accidents. Further, despite the greatest decline between 2002 and 2008, the crash rates are still highest in the city – three times the rate of some rural areas. Almost 25 percent of fatal crashes in Chicago involve pedestrians. Additionally, fatal Chicago vehicle accidents occur across the Chicago metropolitan area late at night. Traffic fatalities occurring at night accounted for more than a third of all vehicle-related deaths in the Chicago region in 2008.

You can read the full Chicago traffic deaths and injuries report by clicking the link.

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Posted In: Bus Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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October 19, 2009

Police seek driver in Chicagoland fatal hit-and-run

Police in the city of Berwyn outside of Chicago were seeking the driver of a black Dodge Charger this morning after a fatal hit-and-run. A 47 year-old man was struck and killed in the Illinois hit-and-run. Police ask anyone with information to call them at 708-795-5600.

To read more about the Illinois hit-and-run.

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Posted In: Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian

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June 22, 2009

Chicago man hit by 2 cars dies

A Chicago man has died after a pedestrian car accident this weekend. The 25 year-old Chicago man was walking to a gas station as he was hit by two cars. The first driver left the scene of the car accident without reporting the accident. A search did lead to the arrest of the first driver.

To read more about the Chicago man’s death.

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Posted In: Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian , Wrongful Death

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April 22, 2009

$27.5 million awarded to a woman run over by bus

A jury last week awarded $27.5 million to a woman who lost her left leg after a bus ran her over. The personal injury plaintiff was run over while a bus was turning a corner two blocks from her apartment in 2005. The personal injury plaintiff had her leg amputated and has worn a prosthetic leg ever since.

To read more about the personal injury lawsuit verdict.

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Posted In: Bus Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian , Verdicts and Settlements

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March 16, 2009

Fatal fall on Chicago River walkway ruled an accident

Chicago Tribune reported yesterday that the weekend death of a man who fell in Chicago was ruled an accident by the Cook County medical examiner’s office yesterday. The accident victim died of head injuries.

To read more about the Chicago accident.

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Posted In: Pedestrian , Slip and Fall

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February 21, 2009

Chicago man dies after being struck by vehicle

A Chicago man struck by a vehicle on the near south side died from his personal injuries. At about 6:30 am on Friday, a woman was driving north when a man ran in front of her, causing her to strike him with her vehicle.

To read more about the Chicago car accident.

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Posted In: Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian , Wrongful Death

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February 6, 2009

Pedestrian accidents are too common: what is the solution?

A recent CNN.com commentary highlighted that nearly 5,000 pedestrians were killed and 70,000 injured non-fatally in pedestrian accidents in 2007. Children are especially at risk of personal injuries and wrongful death because of size, immature judgment, and lack of experience. Some suggestions from the CNN commentator included drivers slowing down in pedestrian areas and walkers walking without talking on their cell phones.

To read more of the commentary on pedestrian accidents.

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Posted In: Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian

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January 23, 2009

Pedestrian Hit By Metra Train

A Metra Train struck and killed a pedestrian early in the morning in Palatine, Illinois. Train No. 606 was scheduled to arrive at the station was stopped in the town of Palatine, Illinois and passengers had to board a different train to Chicago after the pedestrian accident. The 39-year-old man was struck by the train near South Plum Grove and Palatine Roads. To read the full story, click here.

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Posted In: Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian , Public Transit , Train Accidents

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January 15, 2009

Wrongful Death Suit Filed After Man Struck by Metra Train

The daughter of a man struck and killed by a Metra train as he crossed the tracks in Chicago, Illinois has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The wrongful death lawsuit claims that the train could have stopped to avoid hitting him but was heavily speeding because the train was behind schedule. The train hit the man near the Edison Park station. The train was not scheduled to stop at the Edison Park station and was traveling at full speed, which is between 50 and 70 m.p.h. The man was fatally hit and pronounced dead on scene. The wrongful death suit claims the train and its conductor should have provided an audible warning, traveled at an excessive rate of speed and failed to engage the emergency brake. To read the full story, click here.

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Posted In: Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian , Train Accidents , Wrongful Death

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December 31, 2008

Ruling deals setback to pedestrian personal injury lawsuits

An out-of-state court reviewing a map of defects in a city’s sidewalks recently ruled that the map was inaccurate and inadmissible as evidence of notice to the city. The city’s most frequent lawsuits to defend are pedestrian lawsuits filed by plaintiffs who receive personal injuries from alleged defects in sidewalks.

For the full article.

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Posted In: Land Owner liability , Pedestrian

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December 19, 2008

Bridge Collapse Leads to Injuries and Death of a Construction Worker

A construction accident on a pedestrian bridge caused the bridge to collapse resulting in several personal injuries. The accident caused a construction worker’s death and caused other construction workers injuries that required medical treatment. There is no determination as to the cause of the bridge collapse as of yet, but it is likely an investigation will be underway. Individuals on the scene described as if they heard a construction explosion when the bridge collapsed. To read more about this story click here.

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Posted In: Construction Injury , Pedestrian

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September 2, 2008

Chicago Man Killed in Hit-And-Run Accident

A Chicago area man was killed in a hit-and-accident over the weekend. He was critically injured after being hit and was later pronounced dead at the hospital. He was crossing the street when he was struck by the vehicle and the driver did not stop. As of now there are no suspects in the hit-and-run accident and no word as to whether the family of the victim will file a wrongful death lawsuit if a suspect is apprehended. For the full story click here.

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Posted In: Pedestrian , Wrongful Death

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September 2, 2008

Resident of Chicago Suburbs Killed in Hit-And-Run Accident

The body of a young man from the suburbs of Chicago was found on a frontage road and is believed to be the victim of a hit-and-run automobile accident. The victim had a bike with him, however being that there was no damage to the bike it is believed that he was walking at the time that he was hit. Police do not have any leads at this point and because of this there is no word as to whether a wrongful death lawsuit will be filed by the family of the victim. For the full story click here.

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Posted In: Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian , Wrongful Death

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July 15, 2008

PACE Bus Accident Causes Injuries in a Chicago, Illinois Suburb

A PACE bus accident resulted in injuries to a woman and injuries to three children. The bus accident occurred when a PACE bus hit four pedestrians in a Chicago, Illinois suburb. Luckily the pedestrian victims sustained only minor personal injuries. The PACE bus accident occurred in the Chicago, Illinois suburb of Oak Park, late Monday evening. The negligent bus driver was cited for failing to yield for pedestrians, likely the cause of the pedestrian bus accident. To read more about the personal injuries sustained by the accident victims click here.

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Posted In: Bus Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian

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July 15, 2008

Chicago, Illinois CTA Blue Line Accident Leaves One Dead

Another Chicago, Illinois CTA accident occurred early yesterday morning. This time the CTA blue line was the sight of the CTA “L” accident. A man was hit by a CTA train car, Chicago, Illinois police are currently investigating the most recent CTA accident. Over the summer several fatalities have occurred when people were hit by CTA trains and CTA cars. The most recent incident according to witnesses occurred when the man jumped in front of the CTA car. Hopefully the CTA will implement stricter security and new ways to avoid such tragedies. After a wave of CTA accidents, CTA car accidents and CTA pedestrian accidents some changes need to be made. It is unlikely that the CTA blue line will be the last accident sight of its kind this summer. To read the full story click here.

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Posted In: Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian , Public Transit , Train Accidents

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June 24, 2008

Motorcycle Accident leaves Pedestrian Dead

A woman in a Northwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois has passed away after a pedestrian accident occurred. The pedestrian was caught in a motorcycle accident which left her suffering from serious personal injuries eventually resulting in her death. The death has thus far been declared a motor vehicle accident. There is no word yet if any personal injury lawsuits or wrongful death suits have been filed against the driver in the motorcycle accident. To read more on this tragic story click here.

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Posted In: Motor Vehicle Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Pedestrian

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June 6, 2008

Metra Train Strikes, Kills Pedestrian

An outbound Metra Train struck a pedestrian in Wheaton, Illinois Friday morning during the morning commute. Authorities have stated that the man was killed by the Metra Train, but have declined to say whether operator error was to blame, which could make Metra liable for a wrongful death lawsuit.

For entire article click here

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Posted In: Pedestrian

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May 1, 2008

Local Teacher Killed in Logan Square Bicycle Accident

A schoolteacher died in a Chicago bicycle accident yesterday in Logan Square. She was riding on Kedzie Avenue when she was struck fatally on her bicycle by a car. This is the second bicycle related death in Logan Square in the past ten days. Another cyclist was killed in a bicycle accident when he attempted to make a left turn in front of a car. This unfortunate bicycle accident shows that there are dangers to riding bicycles in Chicago that cyclists should know about. It is important to always wear a bicycle helmet, obey traffic signals, and always be vigilant around cars and trucks in hopes of avoiding a bicycle accident.

Read the full story here.

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Posted In: Bicycle Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian , Wrongful Death

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August 1, 2007

Second lawsuit filed in Chicago park fight

A second lawsuit has been filed in the aftermath of a fight occurring in Chicago’s Durkin Park, this time with the family of two teens suing the city for personal injuries caused by failing to respond to 911 calls. When a fight broke out in Durkin Park last month, there was a 26 minute delay between when 911 calls were first received and when authorities were actually dispatched to the scene of the fight. As a result of this delay, the fight escalated, leaving one teen unconscious. The teens in the lawsuit were injured while attending to the unconscious teen when a 15 year old drove an SUV into the teens. One of the teens was injured and suffered a broken foot and injuries all over his head and body.

Click here for the full article
Click here for a prior post on Durkin Park

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Posted In: Injuries to Minors and Children , Pedestrian

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The purpose of this blog is to deliver news and information that is relevant to our areas of practice. The news and information reported on this blog represent the legal actions of attorneys throughout the United States. Our firm does not claim to represent plaintiffs in all of the lawsuits, settlements, and jury verdicts reported, only those noted as Levin & Perconti cases.

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