Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

In a recent survey conducted by Northbrook based Allstate Insurance, nearly 70 percent of hit- and-run acidents which take place on American roadways involved parked vehicles.

At 70%, New York City ranked first with the highest incidence "hit while parked" accidents,. Chicago and Phoenix ranked second with 67 percent.

While most states legally require the driver to notify and identify themselves to the owner of the parked vehicle, the majority of drivers do not.

Bill Daly, an assistant VP with Allsate auto claims says, "Leaving the scene of an accident without stoppping is a very serious matter. If you caused damage to a vehicle you may be liable and can be held responsible. Collision coverage will protect you if someone hits your parked car and can help pay for repairs."

Posted by Donald W. Fohrman | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Community News

Bookmark:

The Illinois Supreme Court reversed a 2005 medical malpractice law which placed a cap on pain and suffering awards. The Court stated that the caps are unconstitutional. The law capped non-economic damages at $1,000,000 against a hospital and half that amount against a doctor.

The Illinois Supreme Court determined that the caps violated a jury's right to determine such damages.

It is the third time the Illinois Supreme Court reversed legislative attempts to cap awards.

In 2007, after hearing the case of Abigaile Lebron v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, a Cook County judge ruled the caps as unconstitutional. Lebron's family filed suit again Gottlieb after the child was born with brain damage.

Unless there are extraordinary circumstances, the courts will stay with what is considered to be established law. The law determinig the caps violated the separation of powers between the legislature and the courts was ruled on twice before by the Illinois Supreme Court.

Business groups, doctors and hospitals in Illinois lobbied hard for the caps in 2005. They argued that doctors were leaving Illinois to practice in other states because of the high premiums they had to pay for medical malpractice insurance.

Posted by Donald W. Fohrman | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Medical Malpractice

Bookmark:

Several Illinois law makers are taking aim at red light cameras. State Senator Jon Millner believes that in certain locations they are effective in reducing accidents involving pedestrians. However, he believes that in some cases, they are not used fairly. Millner wants every ticket reviewed by local police before it is issued.

Senator Millner also wants to have every red light camera head to be painted yellow so that drivers can see the cameras. He also wants a sign on every red light camera in Illinois warning drivers about the camera.

Representative Jack Franks believes that the fines for tickets issued because of a red light camera, should be reduced to $50 and that a driver should not receive a ticket for a rolling stop.

Senatory Dan Duffy believes that red light cameras are a "racket" and that all of them should be taken down except at railroad crossings and construction sites.

Posted by Donald W. Fohrman | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Community News

Bookmark:

Rockford Federal authorities said a Morrison man faked an accident to avoid doing jury duty. Gerald Lee Mance, 60, of Morrision, who appeared for jury duty on November 30, but failed to appear the next day. Mance filled out a false accident report saying that he had been in an accident with a deer and coulnd not make it for jury duty

Instead of jury duty Mance was sentenced to 30 days of home confinement and 90 days probation. He was also fined $5,000.

Mance was found in contempt of federal court on Thursday.

Posted by Donald W. Fohrman | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Community News

Bookmark:

Roads were icy on I74 on Wednesday morning after a major winter storm dumped several inches of snow on area roads. In East Peoria, drivers who were trying to avoid a two car crashed ended up becoming invlved in the accident themselves.

Three peope were sent to St. Francis Medical Center.

State Police Capt Dean Kennedy said that between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., there were at least six accidents, mostly on I39, which were caused by slick road conditions. Approximately 7 other cars had slid off roadways.

Posted by Donald W. Fohrman | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Car accidents

Bookmark: