Chicago Accident Lawyer Blog

Plainfield police say a 12 year old boy is responsible for 5 area fires that occurred during the Christmas season. The boy originally came forward to police as a witness but investigators decided to keep an eye on him after realizing his story didn’t hold up. Police caught the boy on Monday allegedly breaking into a car. After bringing him into the station the boy confessed to setting the fires. Plainfield Police Chief John Konopek said the boy was motivated to see how big the fires would get. The boy has been in foster care for several years with the same family since his mother died of cancer. The boy is being held for starting five fires on the same block from December to January. Police say the boy entered unlocked cars that were either in the driveway or in attached garages and started the fires with whatever he found inside the vehicles. The boy who has no prior criminal record but now faces five counts of arson, three counts of burglary, and two counts of criminal damage to property. Although there was extensive property damage, there was no personal damage and no one experienced burns because of the fires. If you or someone you know is the victim of a fire and experiences burn injuries it is important that you know your legal rights. Experienced attorneys Zneimer & Zneimer can help you know your legal rights. Call and schedule a free consultation.

20-year old Melissa Lech was killed by a hit and run driver in 2008. Police didn’t have leads as to the identity of the driver of the vehicle that struck and killed Melissa as she was walking on the side of the road. Melissa was returning from a night out with friends. Melissa and her friends were returning from a White-Sox game and had gone into a Joliet sports bar. Since Melissa wasn’t of age she walked home and was struck and left on the side of the road to die. Sunday morning David H. McCarthy, 27, of Naperville showed up at Michelle Lech’s Joliet home and confessed to driving the vehicle that killed Melissa Lech. Michelle Lech is Melissa Lech’s older sister. Joliet police arrested David McCarthy Sunday night. “It appeared he was expecting them,” said Joliet police Cmdr. Brian Benton. McCarthy confessed to killing Lech’s sister at her kitchen table and as he was talking Michelle Lech spoke to her husband in polish and told him to get McCarthy’s license plate number. During the years since 2008 the Lech family offered a reward for any leads and the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup to participate in efforts to find Lech’s killer. It is unfortunate that a young woman would lose her life in such manner. Although McCarthy shouldn’t be regarded as brave, it is a relief that Melissa Lech’s killer was finally caught. If you or anyone you know have been involved in a pedestrian accident contact attorneys at Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. for your free consultation.

A 2 year old Aurora girl was hurt in her home over the weekend when a TV fell on top of her. Unfortunately such stories have been in the news much too often recently. The toddler, Aurora police said, had a boxlike TV fall from a bookshelf onto her in the 100 block of South Union Street. The girl’s 18 year old uncle was babysitting her and 3 other children at the time. The uncle was also looking after an 18 month old boy, a 17 month old girl, and a 6 year old boy said Police spokesman Dan Ferrelli. The uncle was looking after the 17 month old in the living room while the other children were in another room. He then heard a loud noise and went to check on the children, he found the 2 year old lying under a 20 inch TV. The TV was on top of a cabinet and was not bolted to the wall. The girl was taken to an area hospital around 2:50 p.m. and was later airlifted to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Thankfully the hospital determined she had no fractures and her injuries were not life threatening. Police do not suspect foul play and will not charge the uncle. Thankfully this child was not seriously hurt but it’s an incident that has become too common. Although accidents such as these are preventable victims should take the time to learn their legal rights. Experienced attorneys at Zneimer & Zneimer can guide you through learning your legal rights should you experience a similar situation. Contact Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. for a free consultation.

Continue reading " TV’s and Dressers: A Danger to Your Children " »

This week a pit bull was shot by police officers in Elgin after it attacked a neighbor’s dog, another pit bull. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt but the pit bulls life could have been spared if the owners were more responsible and ensured the pit bull was restrained. It was reported that around 6:30 p.m. Monday night the pit bull got loose and attacked a neighbor’s dog causing residents to call police. Jose Diaz arrived when police arrived on the scene and said the pit-bull, Rocco, belongs to his 19 year old son, Christian Diaz. The dog was taken to his girlfriend’s house which was why he was not in his kennel at the time. Diaz said he is unsure how the dog got out but somehow it managed to go into the neighbor’s yard with another pit-bull. Diaz made an attempt to keep the dogs apart with a folding chair however he was not successful. In the process the neighbor’s pit-bull bit Diaz’s hand, Diaz said “after Rocco saw I got bit…he went after the dog. That’s when he decided to go all out on him.” At that point no one could get the two dogs apart so police shot Rocco who police say was killed instantly. Diaz said there was nothing they could do.

Continue reading " Pit Bull Killed After Viscious Attack " »

Wednesday morning around 4:20 a.m. two people were injured in a wrong-way crash on the outbound Kennedy Expressway. The crash was located in the northbound lanes of the Kennedy Expressway south of North Avenue, as stated by Illinois State Police District Chicago Trooper Mark Hall. A third vehicle had its side-mirror clipped however the driver of that vehicle was not injured. The driver of the car headed in the wrong direction and the driver of the vehicle he crashed with were taken to area hospitals in “very bad shape,” Mark Hall said. This accident occurs just weeks after 4 men were killed in another unrelated wrong-way crash on I-80 in south suburban Hazel Crest. Unfortunately police were not able to get to the drivers before the accidents unlike the video included above. The accident in Hazel Crest caused the I-80 to be closed as firefighters worked to control the fire and investigate the incident. If you or someone you know have been involved in a car accident contact experienced attorneys Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. for a free consultation.

Continue reading " Wrong Way Drivers Continue to Wreak Havoc in Illinois " »

Drivers in Chicago are aware that there is a ban on using cell phones while operating a vehicle and now that could extend to anyone operating a bicycle. If House Bill 3849 gets approved by state lawmakers police officers across Illinois will be able to hand out tickets to anyone caught either talking or texting on their mobile device while riding a bicycle. “This addresses beyond the road, this addresses the bike path as well,” Said Representative Kelly Cassidy of Chicago. Cassidy also says this bill is the result of bicycle safety groups calling for such a law. This law would be similar to the law already enforced on Illinois motorists. There was a 5-4 vote on Wednesday, February 8th where the House Transportation Committee endorsed the texting while biking ban with a goal of reducing accidents. If you or a loved one has been involved in a bicycle accident contact expert attorneys Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. for a free consultation.

Continue reading " Text While Biking, Get a Ticket " »

Over the weekend 80 year old Anibal Calderon was beaten to death at an Oak Park nursing home. Police said that another resident of the Oak Park nursing home is responsible. Police are still investigating the incident which occurred at the Oak Park Healthcare Center located at 625 N. Harlem Avenue in Oak Park. A nurse found Anibal Calderon lying unconscious Sunday night in the nursing home’s Alzheimer’s and dementia ward. He was taken to Rush Oak Park Hospital and was later transferred to Rush University Medical Center. He later died early Tuesday. Police believe a 66 year old man, who is also a resident at the Oak Park Healthcare Center, beat Calderon in the head with an object. Police say the incident began with an argument between the two residents and the 66 year old man ended it by beating 80 year old Calderon. An autopsy report determined Calderon died from head injuries and blunt trauma from an assault. Anibal Calderon’s death has been ruled a homicide by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. Incidents such as these can be prevented if nursing homes take the necessary precautions to keep their residents safe. Victims should understand their legal rights. Our expert attorneys Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. can help victims know their rights. If you or a loved one experienced a similar situation please call our office and schedule a free consultation.

Earlier this week Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill allowing the City of Chicago to use cameras to catch speeding drivers near schools. The bill known as S.B. 965 will go into effect on July 1 and allows speed enforcement cameras within 1/8 of a mile, or one city block, around schools and parks between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. each weekday. The speed enforcement cameras are to be used within 1/8 of a mile around parks from one hour before the parks open to one hour after they close, which means cameras will be shut off only between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. It also allows using existing red light cameras and mobile cameras to catch speeders within 1/8 of a mile of schools and parks in Chicago.
The Expired Meter website issued a Freedom of Information request on all calls, emails and letters from the public to the governor’s office to learn about the response to the legislation. So far it has been negative; of the 224 calls, letters, and emails about the speed camera bill, an overwhelming 91 percent were opposed to it. Governor Quinn’s response was, “You may get letters, perhaps emails. You know, you study each communication, but… I’m not sure that’s a scientific sampling of all the people of Illinois, I think there are some people who are for the bill and some aren’t for it and, you know, that happens in a lot of situations.”
Mayor Rahm Emanuel released a statement on Monday morning thanking Quinn.
“Since day one as mayor, my top priority has been to ensure that Chicago’s children can focus on their studies, not worry about their safety… I am grateful to Governor Quinn for supporting one more step in our comprehensive strategy to keep Chicago’s children safe.” The mayor stressed that this is one of many measures taken to improve children’s safety. He cited previous measures such as stronger curfew laws, after school and safe passage programs, as well as more cops and crossing guards at schools. The Chicago accident and injury firm Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. handles cases involving a reckless driver.

Continue reading " Children’s Safety Will Hit Your Wallet " »

As reported in CBS' Historic Auburn-Gresham Building Torn Down After Partial Collapse, shortly after noon on Tuesday, January 31st, four people were injured when a three story historic building partially collapsed. The building, located on the northeast corner of 79th and Halsted, has been vacant for 20 years and was originally constructed in the 1880’s. It is owned by the city of Chicago. The debris falling from the building injured people on the street and caught two others under scaffolding.
Firefighters worked to remove the victims and searched under the rubble for an alleged fifth victim. According to the Chicago Fire Department it appears the top of the building’s brick façade collapsed along the roofline causing it to fall below. The scaffolding surrounding the building buckled as the roofline collapsed, trapping several pedestrians. Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Robert Hoff included that a tree had grown through the building’s roof and believes years of neglect, along with recent weather conditions, and the age of the building led to the building’s collapse.
Three victims were taken in fair-to-serious condition to local hospitals while a fourth victim was taken to St. Bernard hospital in good-to-fair condition. Their injuries were not life threatening. As of yet no fifth victim has been found and officials stress that news on the alleged fifth victim are unconfirmed. Carl Dean who was walking under the scaffolding around the building when he was thrown to the ground described it as, “I heard just a little crackling noise, you know, like pebbles falling onto the tin roof. Before you know it, the whole thing came down. I was trapped under it.” Tuesday night crews worked with a crane to bring down the upper floors and demolish the building.
Victims should know their legal rights. Thankfully no one was critically hurt but shame on the property owner for letting the building get to such condition. Since there was a tree growing through the building it is fair to say that the responsibility falls on the property owner for not keeping up with the building. Blaming recent weather conditions hardly seems to justify the tree growing through the building.
If you or a loved one have experienced a similar situation and need to know your legal rights contact expert lawyers Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. for a free consultation.