Chicago Injury Lawyer Blog

A Lake Villa woman has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs and causing death or great bodily harm in relation to a crash that happened last month when she ran her car into a motorcyclist who was riding with his 9-year-old daughter. The rider’s daughter survived but was critically injured. The driver, who reportedly had marijuana, cocaine, opiates and benzodiazepine in her system when the crash happened, is currently being held at the Lake County Jail in lieu of bond.

Motorcycle accident victims can suffer devastating consequences when they are involved in automobile accidents. The Klest Injury Law Firm handles all type of vehicle related personal injury matters including motorcycle accidents. If or a loved one has been injured in a Chicago area motorcycle accident and would like a free consultation, please click here or dial 866-264-7639.

© Joseph G. Klest, 2011.

This morning, a motorcyclist was hospitalized after an accident on the Edens Expressway near Highland Park. According to Highland Park Police officials, the crash occurred around 7 a.m. in the southbound lanes. The rider was taken to Evanston Hospital; however officials have given no word as to the person’s condition.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 3,846 motorcycle crashes in the state of Illinois in 2009. In the same year, motorcycle crashes accounted for only 1.3 % or all motor vehicle accidents, but the crashes that resulted in the death of the rider reached 14.3 % of all motor vehicle fatalities in the state. Nearly 82 % of those killed were not wearing a helmet.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please click here, or dial 866-264-7639 to speak to an experienced attorney from the Klest Injury Law Firm.

© Joseph G. Klest

Naperville, IL – A man and a woman riding a motorcycle on Wednesday night in Naperville were hit by a car that drove into oncoming traffic. According to Naperville Police, a 2004 Honda Accord was traveling west on Warrenville Road near Herrick Road at approximately 6:30 p.m. The car crossed the center line colliding with one other car before it hit the motorcycle. The motorcyclists were seriously injured and taken to Edward Hospital in Naperville. Police are currently continuing the investigation.

To speak to an experienced motorcycle accident attorney from the Klest Injury Law Firm, click here, or dial 866-264-7639 for a free consultation.

© Joseph G. Klest, 2011.

Illinois is one of the few states without a motorcycle helmet law. This means that motorcycle riders throughout the State are not required to wear a helmet while riding regardless of age. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 130 riders died as a result of crashes involving motorcycles in 2009. Those 130 people who lost their lives represent over 14% of all motor vehicle fatalities in the State. However, motorcycles account for only about 3% of all registered motor vehicles in Illinois. The Department of Transportation also reported that 82% of riders killed were NOT wearing a helmet.

Nevertheless, under the laws of the State of Illinois, motorcyclists still have a choice as to whether or not to wear a helmet. Making the decision to wear a helmet may save a riders life.

To speak to an experienced motorcycle accident attorney from the Klest Injury Law Firm, click here, or dial 866-264-7639 for a free consultation.

© Joseph G. Klest, 2011.

A 24 year old man was pronounced dead yesterday from injuries he sustained in an Island Lake, IL, motorcycle accident. The deceased, who has been identified as a Crystal Lake, IL, resident, was struck by an SUV near the intersection of Route 176 and Hale Lane. The motorcycle accident victim was reportedly operating a 2001 Yamaha motorcycle at the aforementioned intersection when a GMC Jimmy SUV that was attempting to make a left turn from 176 onto Hale Ave hit him. The Illinois motorcycle accident occurred around 1:00 p.m. yesterday.

The motorcycle accident victim was rushed to Centegra Hospital with critical injuries. He was pronounced dead at 1:42 by the McHenry County Coroner’s Office. He was reportedly not wearing a helmet at the time of the motorcycle crash. The driver of the SUV was issued a citation by local police for failure to yield. His identity has not been released. Investigators shut down Route 176 for about three and a half hours following the motorcycle crash. Police anticipate toxicology reports from the accident within four to six weeks. The Chicago area motorcycle accident is still under investigation.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Chicago area motorcycle accident, you should speak with an experienced injury lawyer to preserve crucial evidence and protect your rights. To speak with a Chicago motorcycle lawyer, please click here.

© Klest Injury Law Firm, 2011.

A motorcycle accident on Chicago’s Southwest Side has claimed the life of a Chicago area man. According to reports, 36 year-old Edil Vega was killed early yesterday morning when his motorcycle collided with a vehicle on the Southwest Side. Edil, a resident of Homestead Dr. in Hampshire, IL, was reportedly involved in a high speed collision near the intersection of 55th St. and South Laramie Avenue. The Chicago motorcycle-car accident occurred around 2:30 a.m. early yesterday morning according to Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Amina Green.

The injured motorcyclist was taken to Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL. He was pronounced dead at 3:58 a.m. according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. The driver of the car involved in the accident suffered no injuries. Further details regarding the Illinois motorcycle accident are not available at this time.

Operating a motorcycle can be extremely dangerous, especially on busy Chicago expressways. Motorcycle accident victims can suffer devastating consequences when they are involved in accidents with automobiles. The Klest Law Firm handles all type of vehicle related personal injury matters including motorcycle accidents. If or a loved one has been injured in a Chicago area motorcycle accident and would like a free consultation, please click here.

A suburban Chicago husband and wife were killed Monday night when their motorcycle was hit by a vehicle. The deadly motorcycle accident occurred near West Dundee and North Quentin roads in Palatine, IL. According to reports, the car was leaving a gas station on the southwest corner of the intersection when it collided with the motorcycle. The couple was rushed to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL. Michael Kelm, a 65 year old resident of the 100 block of Weymouth Lane in Schaumburg, IL, was subsequently pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. according to the Cook County Medical Examiners Examiner’s Office. His wife, 54 year old Susan Kelm of the same address, was pronounced dead at the same hospital at 3:46 p.m.

The woman driver of the vehicle was issued a citation for failure to yield according to the Cook County sheriff’s police. The tragic Chicago vehicle crash is still under investigation. The accident occurred in unincorporated Cook County.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident and would like to speak to an attorney, please click here.

The Memorial Day weekend turned out to be a deadly one for Chicago area motorcyclists as three separate accidents resulted in six deaths. The largest of the three accidents occurred in South Suburban Oak Forest. According to police, a southbound biker entered an emergency turnaround on Interstate 57 near the 185th Street exit on Saturday night. The motorcyclist reportedly turned around to go back north at which point three other northbound bikers crashed into the motorcyclist. The accident claimed the lives of 47 year-old Michael Adams of Kankakee, IL, 34 year-old Sean Darke of the South Side of Chicago, and 20 year-old passenger Brianna Moore of Calumet City. The biker that attempted to make the northbound turn survived the tragic accident and received two traffic citations. Another biker was listed in critical condition and two more in stable condition following the Chicago expressway accident.

Just twelve hours earlier Wade and Denise Thomas of St. Charles, IL, were killed when their motorcycle was struck in a chain reaction vehicle accident in Elburn, IL. That accident involved three vehicles and six motorcyclists.

A third Chicago area motorcycle accident claimed the life of 30 year old Martez Nile when he crashed his motorcycle at Dalton Avenue and Crandon Road in Calumet City yesterday. Details of the motorcycle crash have not yet been released.

Continue reading "Chicago Memorial Day Motorcycle Accidents Result in Six Deaths" »

The accident that caused his death occurred when the driver of 2003 Subaru ran a stop sign at the intersection of Addison and Osceola.
Boria was taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park ridge where he was pronounced dead.

Increasingly drivers are distracted by their cell phones. If a wrongful death claim is brought for John’s death the Subaru driver’s cell phone records should be subpoenad to determine if cell phone use was a contributing factor. There should also be an investigation of the scene to see if brush overgrowth or other factors may have obstructed the driver's view of the stop sign.

Continue reading "John Boria was killed riding his motorcycle on the northwest side of Chicago." »

Visibility and the ability to stop in time are issues that are frequently involved when determining liability in a motorcycle accident case. These issues can be difficult to investigate without the help of an experienced Chicago motorcycle accident attorney.

At Joseph Klest, Attorney at Law, we are a Chicago-based personal injury law firm that has represented thousands of men and women who have been seriously injured in traffic accidents while riding motorcycles in Chicago and in other cities in Illinois. We know what to look for when determining liability and estimating the compensation amount that you will need to pay for your medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, and other recovery costs, such as lost wages, any permanent disfigurement or disability, as well as pain and suffering.

Chicago Motorcycle Accident Attorney Klest works with qualified experts, including a human factors expert, medical experts, and an accident reconstruction specialist, to determine the causes of a motorcycle accident. Speeding, roadway defects, driver inattention, a defective motorcycle, a fixed object that shouldn't be on the road, and drunk driving are some of the common causes of motorcycle accidents.

Motorcycle Injuries
Injuries in a motorcycle accident tend to be very severe and frequently catastrophic. Motorcycle riders don't have a lot of protection when they are on the road, and traumatic brain injuries, first-degree burns, road burns, spinal cord injuries, severed limbs, broken bones, permanent disfigurements, psychological and emotional trauma, and even wrongful death can occur when a motorcyclist is struck by a car, another motorcycle, or a large truck.

Chicago Attorney Joseph Klest personally handles all of his firm's personal injury cases. He will zealously prosecute your motorcycle accident case to help you achieve the best outcome possible. He is someone that you can talk to, and he will tailor his approach and objectives for your case to your needs. Mr. Klest and his team will work hard to find creative solutions and approaches that can get the job done.

If a settlement cannot be reached, Mr. Klest is a well-respected and skilled trial attorney who has won thousands of personal injury litigation cases in court. He has secured large verdicts for many of his injury clients throughout the greater Chicago area, including clients that have been hurt in motorcycle accidents in Will County, DuPage County, Cook County, and Lake County. Visit our firm's Success Stories page to see some of our recent case results.

No Motorcycle Helmet Law in Illinois
Because Illinois does not have a motorcycle helmet law, a motorcyclist is not required to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. Helmet use—or lack of one—is therefore not a factor when determining if another party was at fault in causing a motorcycle crash.

If you have been seriously injured in Illinois and are the victim of a motorcycle accident that was caused because another person or party was negligent or careless, Attorney Klest would like to offer you a FREE consultation. He is happy to give you immediate advice on the initial steps that you can take to protect your right to receive compensation.

Joseph Klest, Attorney at Law has offices conveniently located in Chicago and Schaumburg, Illinois, and he can also meet with you outside the office. To schedule your complimentary consultation with Attorney Klest, call us today at (312) 527-2779, (847) 969-9510, or (630) 529-7848 or contact us online.