Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

EDHS senior Chance Oster took a few minutes to chat before being killed in a car accident. "I mean it's a big thing," Oster said. "Acting this out, me being the dead one, it shows that me being dead might change some people's minds and make different choices."

A mock accident was preformed at the EDHS parking lot last Friday afternoon, one day before the school's prom.

It was the school's eighth performance of the mock accident since 1996, and it tends to turn some heads just one day before dolling up for prom. "We just look to impress upon young people what could happen if they make a poor choice and choose to drink and drive," said EDHS Principal Greg Herbst.

"We'd be naive if we didn't think it happened, and we'd be irresponsible if we didn't try and show them some of the negative things that can happen with those poor choices.

"It's a biannual event, we do it on even years, and this is my third one. It's quite a cooperative effort. East Dubuque Fire Department; Menominee-Dunleith Fire Department; East Dubuque Police Department; Paramount EMS; Galena EMS; we've had people from Rockford Hospital here; Bill Miller lets us use one of his caskets to make it as realistic as possible. If we can change the actions or decisions of just one student, than it's worth it."

Continue reading " Mock accident makes big impression on Illinois High School Seniors " »

A bill approved by the Illinois House makes unlawful for a tow truck operator to stop at the the scene of an accident to solict business. It also specifices that a tow truck operator cannot stop at the scene of an accident unless they have to been called to the location.

State Rep. Michael Zalewski believes motorist who have been involved in an accident are vulnerable and fall prey to unscrupulous towing companies.

"Wreck chasing" as it is known by authorities, is the practice of coercing drivers who have just been in an accident, to have their cars towed without knowing the cost of the tow and storage fees. Only to receive exorbitant bills from the tow truck operators.

There are no laws currently that protect drivers from these tow truck operators.

Michael J. Zalewski represents the Southwest side of Chicago, portions of Berwyn, Brookfield, LaGrange, Lyons, Riverside, Stickney and Summit. Mr. Zalewski can be reached in his office in LaGrange.

Add Chicago Heights, IL to the list of cities throughout the country charging accident victims a "crash tax" intended to recoup expenses involved from emergency responders. Doesn't matter if you caused that accident or not, if you're on the scene, you could get a bill.

Such was the case with Cary Felmdan. He was on his motor scooter in Chicago Heights, when he was hit from behind. A concerned citizen who witnessed the accident called 911 and a fire truck showed up at the scene of the accident.

Although Feldman was fine and did not require any treatment, he received a bill for $200 from the Chicago Heights Fire Department.

Continue reading " Illinois municpalities charge "Crash Tax" " »

Police charged three teenagers reckless conduct. Allegedly they were having a two car paintball fight when one of the vehicles involved in the paintball fight struck an unrelated third car.

The teens were driving two cars and were headed east on Hemmingsen Rd in Grafton Township. They were throwing paintballs at each other from the moving vehicles.

One of the vehicles involved in the accident was a 1998 Caravan. The windshield of the Caravan was covered in paint. The driver, Samuel X Cox ,18, of Huntley, struck a Volkswagen Beetle being driven by Christina Park-Tegtman, 31, of Genoa. The car was also carrying a one year old girl.

Warrants were issued for the adults involved in the paintball fight which include Cox, his passenger, Julio de la Luz, 18, of Lake in the Hills and Donald Peryer, 19, of Lake in the Hills who was drving the second vehicle involved in the paintball fight.

Nancy Shcuster-Waites and Daniel Shanes are two Lake County Judges who want to educate teenagers about how dangerous it is to "party." They have presented the "7 Reasons to Leave the Party" program at Vernon Hills High School.

Part of the presentation includes demonstrating a breathalyzer and the passing of a medical urinalysis container. If you are convicted of drug use you would be required to provide a urine sample, on a regular basis, in the presence of a probation officer.

Waites and Shanes took the students through a house party. Going room to room discussing the charges they would face if they were caught partying by police and were underage at the time.

According to Shanes, because you are under 18 does not mean you'll be charged as a juvenile. Depending on the circumstances, you may be charged in adult court.

A juvenile could be charged with minor consumption of alcohol, to illegal possession of durgs and drug paraphanalia to criminal sexual abuse.

According to Waites, "A 15 year old person cannot consent to sex." An 18 yeard old who has sex with a 15 year old can be charged with criminal sexual abuse and must register with the state as a sex offender. "When people see sex offender next to your name, they don't think 'he's 18 and had sex with a 15 year old.' They think he's a pedophile."

The charge of sex offender will follow them to college where they will have to notify authorities of their addresses and where they will have to check-in to their dorm room and register.

Illinois is a zero tolerance state. Anyone under the age of 21 caught consuming alcohol can lose their driver's license or have to wait longer to get it.

In addition, anyone who is charged with DUI now must use a portable breath test everytime they drive their car. The drivef must blow into the machine, which checks for alcohol, to start the car, and breath every 10 minutes after to keep the car running. This costs the driver about $1,500 per month

Continue reading " Lake County judges offer sobering information about underage partying " »