A Chicago jury awarded plaintiff, Martha Aguado $227,201 in her case against the City of Chicago for a broken patella she suffered as a pedestrian as a result of falling in a pothole in a crosswalk at Western Ave. and Foster Ave. in the City of Chicago. The plaintiff claimed that a puddle covered up the hole. When the jury was asked whether the condition of the City of Chicago’s crosswalk/sidewalk presented an unreasonable risk of harm on the premises, the jury answered “yes”.
Cell Phone Fact Sheet
According to the National Safety Council:
Drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to be in an auto crash while using a cell phone.
There is no difference in the cognitive distraction between hand-held and hands- free devices.
Chicago Police To Enforce Crosswalk Laws
This week Chicago police will begin pulling over drivers who do not yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. Moving-violation ticket fines range up to $500.00. The city will use plainclothes police officers posing as pedestrians at intersections without stop signs to implement the sting operation.
Additionally, legislation has been introduced in the Illinois Senate that will require Illinois drivers not only to yield but to come to a full stop when pedestrians are in a crosswalk. Violators would face a minimum $150.00 fine.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics show that there have been more than 6,000 auto-pedestrian crashes in Illinois, with more that 3,000 of these accidents occurring annually in the city of Chicago.
Nearly 100 Children Died In Backovers In 2007
Nearly 100 Children were killed and 2,000 injured in 2007 when they were backed over, mostly on residential driveways the National Highway Traffic Safety Council reported.
The report found that 221 people were killed and 14,000 were injured by backing vehicles. Ninety-nine of the deaths and 2,000 injuries were children under 14 years old.
Legislation sponsored by former New York Senator Hilary Clinton will require vehicles to offer additional mirrors, sensor devises and cameras to help reduce blind spots with the intention of reducing the number of these tragic accidents.
Elderly Man Struck By Cab On Chicago Northside
A taxi struck and killed Minh Pham, 89, on Saturday, on the Northside of Chicago about one block from his house. The accident happened at about 9 a.m.
The taxi driver was cited for no insurance and for failure to exercise due care for a pedestrian in the roadway.
Delay In Cancer Diagnois Leads To Illinois Verdict For Plaintiff
Over the course of years Debbie Blake, deceased, complained to her doctors about shoulder pain. She was prescribed pain medication and anti-inflammatories but nothing relieved the pain. After years she was finally sent for an MRI which revealed a cancerous tumor located in her lung pressing on her brachial plexus. The MRI also showed that the cancer had metastasized to her brain which eventually lead to her death. A jury found against BroMenn Physicians Management Corp. for failing to diagnose the cancer sooner, depriving the plaintiff a chance to be cured. The jury awarded the estate of Debbie Blake $704,636.
Saftey Council Calls For Ban On Cell Phones While Driving
The National Safety Council is calling for a complete ban on cell phone use while driving, even cell phones that are “hands free”. The group cited research in which it was found that the use of a cell phone while driving increases the risk of a crash by four fold.
Chicago Boy Dies From Dog Attack
A four year old boy was attacked and mauled by the family’s Rottweiler on the Southwest Side of Chicago on Sunday. The boy was identified as Alex Angulo. The boy was taken to Holy Cross Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A neighbor on the 3800 block of West 61st Street said he feared the dog because it appeared aggressive and sometimes got free from the backyard where it was confined.
Chicago Crash Injuries Six Under L Tracks
Six people were critically injured in a car crash Saturday night at the intersection of Ashland and Lake in Chicago. A Chevy Impala and a Dodge Durango collided at the intersection, sending the Durango into an “L” support base.
Four people from the crash were taken to John H. Stroger Hospital and two people were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital. All were in critical condition.
Crash Injuries Two Children In Chicago Loop
Two children were critically injured in a car crash Sunday morning outside of the Art Institute in Downtown Chicago. The crash involved two vehicles, one being an SUV.
The children were taken to Children’s Memorial Hospital.