Chicago Accident Lawyer Blog

The dangers of traveling on Chicago’s busy roadways were demonstrated once again in an accident occurring on June 28, 2013, in the 10300 block of South Stony Island Avenue. According to officials, a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus was attempting to make a right hand turn, when it violently collided with a dump truck traveling westbound, thereby resulting in collision with two other motor vehicles.

Upon arriving at the accident scene, the severity of the accident became immediately apparent, as is evidenced by an ‘EMS Plan I’ being placed into force. An EMS Plan I is a type of response plan, reserved for major incidents, in which the emergency response team consists of 5 Ambulances, 1 ALS Engine or Truck, 1 Truck, 1 Battalion Chief, 1 Paramedic Field Chief, and 1 Assistant Deputy Chief Paramedic. Officials reported that the driver of the CTA bus had to be cut out of the wreck, and was subsequently transported by ambulance in serious-to-critical condition. A passenger in the CTA bus, as well as the driver of the dump truck were also transported in serious-to-critical condition, and a motorist in another vehicle was taken to the hospital in fair-to-serious condition.

Details regarding the precise cause of the accident were not immediately available, however, the investigation is still ongoing. The bus accident and truck accident attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. have witnessed the devastating effects that serious motor vehicle accidents, like this one, can have on the injured. Often, the tragic consequences of such tragic accidents have a profound impact on not only the injured, but the family members of the injured as well. The fear of work loss, mounting medical bills, as well as general emotional trauma, are common familial after-effects suffered as a result of a severe motor vehicle collision. Therefore, it is important to discuss your legal rights with a legal professional specialized in personal injury as soon as possible following the accident. A Chicago truck or bus accident attorney will safeguard your legal interests, by ensuring the preservation of important evidence, communicating with the insurance companies, and seeking, on your behalf, the compensation that is deserved.

Pursuant to the Illinois Child Passenger Protection Act, all child passengers under the age of 8 years old are required to be restrained by a car or booster seat. However, use of a child restraint system is only the first step in protecting your most precious cargo in the event of a motor vehicle accident. As the National Institute of Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated, the key to safety is “the right seat, the right size, the right use.” Our injury and accident attorneys understand that it may be difficult for parents to determine if they are using the appropriate car seat in the proper manner. The foregoing is provided by the lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. to guide Chicago parents in protecting their child passengers, in hopes that it may aide in the reduction of child car seat injuries and fatalities that occur as a result of a car accident.

Choosing a car seat that is both age and size appropriate for your child can drastically decrease the likelihood of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Further, considerations as to age and size must be an ongoing process as your child grows. Our injury and accident lawyers recognize that although a car seat might be suitable for a child of a certain age, it may not be suitable for that child’s size. The safety risks involved encompass both car seats that are too large for the child, and therefore may not protect against injuries in the event of a collision, as well as car seats that the child has outgrown.

The NHTSA, and the injury attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. as well, urge parents to fill out the manufacturer’s registration form, and submit this form to the manufacturer immediately following the purchase of a new car seat. By submitting such registration, and keeping all contact information current, you can ensure that you will be notified of important safety recalls pertaining to your specific child restraint device.

Recent tragic accidents, which took the lives of 15 teenagers, and numerous others, are a reminder to the Chicago attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. of the dangers of teen driving.

In one of the accidents, which occurred on March 12, 2012 in a small Illinois community in Will County, 4 teens ages 14 to 17 drowned after their vehicle plunged off a bridge. It is uncertain as to whether road conditions or speed played a role in this accident .

On the same day, another accident occurred in Ohio, which took the lives of 6 teens, ages 14 to 19, when the SUV, being operated by one of the victims crashed into a guardrail and flipped over into an adjacent pond. It was later discovered that the SUV, which was only equipped for 5 passengers, was carrying 8 passengers, none of whom were wearing safety belts. Investigators also reported that the driver was traveling faster than the posted speed limit.