Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Tyson Guthrie, 27 of Elburn, Illinois aways wears a helmet when he's riding his motorcycle. For him it's playing it safe.

However, motorcyclists across the state disagree. Illinois is only one of three states that do not have any laws about wearing helmets on a motorcyle. Iowa and New Hampshire are the other two states. Twenty-six states have helmet laws restricting the wearing of helmets to young or new riders. Twenty one states require helmets all the time.

Two fatal motorcycle accidents were reported since Memorial day weekend, fueling debate
for mandatory helmet laws.

Continue reading " Motorcyle helmets: The debate continues " »

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Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich rejected legislation allowing semi trucks to travel at 65 mph along rural interstates in Illinois.

Gov. Pat Quinn is taking into consideration.

The speed limit for semi trucks on illinois interstates is 55 mph. Illinois lawmakers gave the okay to a plan that allows semis to travel at 65 mph, the same speed as automobiles, on interstates outside of Chicago and the metro area of St. Louis.

Quinn has not made his position clear and no one from his office was available for comment.

Some groups believe that trucks moving at 65 mph, the same pace as the rest of the traffic on the road, is actually safer. Illinois Senators agreed and voted 40-8 in favor of the increase.

Opponents believe that it makes Illinois interstates less safe since a majority of truckers are currently driving over the 55mph limit.

Sate Senator Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawille, believes that increasing the speed limit to 65 mph for semis means that they would probably go faster, possibliy more than 70 mph.

"If they were to enforce the law at 65, theyd be for it," said Luechtefeld, who voted "no."

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According to a federal report that focuses on distracted driving behavior, putting your makeup on while driving is just as dangerous as using your cell phone or reading a book. Officials believe that distracted driving was key in a collision that cause the death of a Lake Zurich motorcyclist.

Illinois prosecutors are looking at whether Lora Hunt, 48 of Morris, should be charged criminally for polishing her nails while driving her car which struck and killed a motorcyclist.

The issue has been intensely debated in Illinois. Should a distraction like painting your nails while you drive be considered criminal behavior, comparable to driving under the influence?

In the accident that killed Anita Zaffke, 56 of Lake Zurich, Hunt admitted that she was painting her nails and did not see Zaffke until it was too late.

Continue reading " Illinois Distracted Drivers Task Force: Distracted drivers who cause deaths should face prison sentence " »

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According to Florida police, last fall Kenenth Upmann hit a child with his car.

Upmann was arrested last Friday by Sheriff's deputies in Joe Davies County, Illinois. Florida authorities asked that Upmann be held so he could be brought to Floriday to face charges.

Illinois authorities released him from before Florida police could come and get him.

On October 7, 2008, Upmann struck 3 year old Gage Root and dragged him for almost 45 feet.
He survived but is now confined to a wheel chair.

An arrest warrent was issued for Upmann's arrest based on evidence Florida police were able to collect.

Continue reading " Illinois, Florida authorities at odds over hit and run case " »

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James, Powell, 71, of Matteson was killed when the van he was driving hit the back of a semi-truck. Powell was trying to avoid another accident on the Dan Ryan, according to Illinois State Police.

Powell of 624 Hghland Rd., was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:25 am.

According to Police, a car headed southbound on the Dan Ryan hit the retaining wall and stopped in the center lanes around 4:00 a.m. just south of 79th st. To avoid hitting the car, the semi truck slammed on its brakes. Powell was unable to stop his minivan on time and hit the back of the semi-truck.

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Posted In: Car accidents , Car accidents

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Ryan Hennemann, 13, of southern Illinois, was killed on Saturday in a freak accident involving a dump truck.

Ryan was on his way to see his girlfriend at the time when the driver of the dump truck offered topay Ryan and his friend to help him dump some gravel near a pile of rocks. Somehow, the dump truck tipped over ton Ryan and crushed him.

The driver of the druck was arrested because he was driving on a suspended license. There is also an oustanding warrant from California on the driver.

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Kelly D. Rossi, 32 of Schaumburg, Illinois was killed early Wednesday morning when the car he was driving left the road and struck a parkway tree. Rossi was headed south on Salem Drive in Schaumburg at around 2:15 a.m according to police.

Rossi was take to Alexian Brothers by ambulance where he was pronounced dead. Rossi, was the person in the car. He was not wearing a seatbelt, according to authorities.

Police are asking anyone with any information about the accident to contact them at 847-882-3534.

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A Spring Grove man was charged with involuntary manslaughter/reckless homicide resulting from a car crash last Halloweeend that killed an East Dubuque woman. Tabitha Carroll, 32, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Jeffrey C. Repec, 21, of Spring Grove, Illinois was driving under the influence of narcotics when the semi truck he was driving struck and pushed Carroll's pickup truck into a stopped IDOT dump truck.

Carroll was a passenger in the pickup which was being driven by her husband Randolph. Their 3 year old son was also in the truck. They were on their way back from a Huntley pumpkin farm in East Dundeee when they were struck by Repec. Both Randolph and his son were airlifted from the accident scene to area hospitals.

According to a news release, Repec had marijuana in his system at the tme of the accident. The results were based on a urine test.

In addition to the manslaughter/reckless homicide charges, Repec was also charged with 3 counts of aggravated driving under the influence of narcotics. Two of the counts are Class 4 felonies and one is a Class 2 felony.

Carroll's family has filed a wronful death lawsuit against Repec and his employer, Geils Farms of Harvard.

As of Wednesday, Repec remained locked up with his bond being set at $150,000.

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