Yesterday morning, September 20, as my wife and I pulled up to our favorite bagel restaurant, New York Bagel & Bialy, on Touhy Rd. in Skokie, we were in shock with what we saw: a car had driven through the glass storefront of the bagel restaurant, and there was a person lying on the… Read More
New Law Bans Texting While Driving
Previous posts have discussed the relationship between distracted drivers and catastrophic motor vehicle accidents. In an attempt to minimize one cause of distracted drivers, namely sending text messages while driving, Illinois Governor Quinn signed legislation, which takes effect on January 1, 2010, banning texting while driving throughout the state. The City of Chicago previously banned… Read More
Common Neck And Back Injuries Sustained In Car Accidents
Severe back pain as the result of a car accident may be a sign of a more severe injury such as a fractured or dislocated spine or a herniated or ruptured disc, which can be permanent and debilitating injuries. One of the most common forms of back injury sustained in a car accident is whiplash…. Read More
NTSB Motor Vehicle Safety “Most Wanted List” Still Applicable in Illinois
As car accident lawyers and tractor-trailer attorneys in Chicago are acutely aware, transportation accidents continue to take a huge toll on our society not only in Illinois, but nationwide. In November 2008, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) created a Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements, many of which are designed to reduce the… Read More
Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Assessing Liability in a Motor Vehicle Accident
At Passen & Powell, our experienced Chicago personal injury lawyers handle a small number of catastrophic injury cases — involving permanent injury (such as traumatic brain injury, paralysis or disfigurement) or wrongful death. Our top Chicago car accident and truck accident lawyers also handle cases where the injuries are less severe (e.g., fractures, herniated discs… Read More
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist (UM) Claims in Illinois
Despite the catchy Safe Auto jingle, many motorists in Illinois remain uninsured or underinsured. As the economy continues to suffer, more people may see car insurance as a luxury they cannot afford. Unfortunately, the presence of uninsured and underinsured motorists takes a huge toll on our society, especially when those uninsured motorists are involved in… Read More
Client, Not Attorney, Must Sign Response to Request to Admit, Even if Client Cannot be Located
Chicago personal injury lawyers occasionally represent difficult clients, including those that are sometimes difficult to locate. The Illinois Appellate Court for the First District recently decided a case that stresses the importance of effective, timely communication between the client and his or her personal injury lawyer. In Brookbank v. Olson, No. 1-08-1069 (Ill. App. Ct…. Read More
Common Fund Doctrine Applies to Medical Payments in Illinois Injury Settlement
To the relief of Chicago personal injury lawyers, a divided Illinois Appellate Court for the Fourth District recently held that the “common fund doctrine” applied reimbursement of injured plaintiff’s medical payments paid by plaintiff’s insurer. Stevens v. Country Mutual Ins. Co., 2008 WL 5473299 (Ill. App. Ct. 4th Dist. Dec. 31). The facts of the case involve… Read More
Liability for Car Accidents Caused by Drunk Drivers in Illinois
As summer approaches, the number of alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents will begin to rise. As we all know, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can often have catastrophic consequences. Each year, pedestrians, passengers, and drivers of other vehicles are seriously injured or killed by drunk drivers. It becomes critical to speak to a… Read More