Articles Posted in Wrongful Death

A young girl, age 11, from Chicago’s Northwest suburbs was killed by a tree that fell on her tent during a storm overnight while she was camping with her family in Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin.

first responders found the young girl and her father trapped under a tree that had fallen on their tent in the park near Baraboo, Wisconsin.

The girl did not survive. Her father and another camper, a 14 year-old boy who was fortunately unharmed, were taken to a nearby hospital where they were both treated and released.

A man was charged with aggravated driving under the influence after a fatal car crash on the Eisenhower Expressway took the lives of two west suburban women last Saturday morning.

Let’s be straight with it, no one should every be hurt or killed by a drunk driver. There should be no easier choice for anyone than between taking a life or taking a taxi. Yet, according to some of the latest statistics published by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, just in 2011, there were 38,704, DUI arrests state-wide.

Although thousands get arrested, not every DUI arrest leads to a conviction. People who are charged with DUI’s often hire lawyers; so should their victims.

A three-car crash at Milwaukee and Oriole in Niles claimed the life of a Chicago woman on Monday afternoon. The crash involved a Jeep that collided with the victim’s car while turning left onto Milwaukee Avenue when she was also trying to turn left. After being struck by the Jeep, the victim’s car was facing the wrong way on Milwaukee when it was hit head-on by a Ford SUV, which was the cause of her death.

In cases involving wrongful death, claims brought in a civil action may arise out of the Illinois wrongful Death Act, See, 740 ILCS 180/ (the “Act”). The Act entitles the injured party to maintain an action for the wrongful or negligent acts of the responsible party. With over 29 year of experience, The Klest Injury Law Firm continues to represent individuals and families who have lost loved ones as a result of a fatal accident.

To speak with an experienced attorney from the Klest Injury Law Firm, dial 866-264-7639 for a free consultation.

Lake Zurich police are still searching for the driver of a light colored SUV that struck three teens from behind who were walking to the annual Alpine Fest at Lions Park along the shoulder of Church Street after 9:00 p.m. last Friday evening, killing Gabriella Drozdz, 18, and injuring her friends.

No course of legal action can ever bring back a loved one who was killed by a motorist. It is especially hurtful when justice is forestalled by a hit and run driver who continues to evade police and refuses to come forward to take responsibility for his cowardly actions.

Although a family can never truly be made whole after the devastating loss of a loved one, Illinois law does provide recourse for some insurance policy holders. Illinois statute requires insurance companies to offer uninsured motorist coverage. It is meant to protect a policyholder who is injured or killed by an uninsured or underinsured motorist, even in cases where a hit and run driver strikes a pedestrian and the driver or vehicle owner’s identity is unknown.

This morning, a 2005 Pontiac Montana minivan barreled into two vehicles that were stopped and waiting for traffic on the Jane Adams Memorial Tollway, killing a 20-year-old Rolling Meadows, IL, woman and injuring several others.

According to officers with the Illinois State Police’s Tollway District, the suburban Chicago car accident happened just before 1 a.m. in the westbound lanes of the Jane Adams approaching the Devon Toll Plaza. The 40-year-old driver of the Pontiac Montana struck two vehicles, a Ford Explorer and a 1998 Ford Windstar minivan. The force of the impact caused the 20-year old victim, a passenger of the Ford minivan, to be thrown from the vehicle. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, she was pronounced dead at 3:20 this morning. None of the other accident victims were seriously injured. Nevertheless, police stated that all of them were taken to area hospitals.

An Illinois State Police sergeant said that the driver of the Pontiac was given citations for speeding and for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash. Police also stated that an autopsy is scheduled for later today for the 20-year-old Rolling Meadows Woman who died this morning after the crash. Local police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal car accident.

A Chicago woman now faces DUI charges stemming from a Chicago car accident that occurred on May 1st on the Dan Ryan Expressway. The accused, Joannie Pittman, has been charged with reckless homicide and aggravated DUI. Pittman’s bond was set at $350,000.00. According to reports, Pittman lost control of her vehicle on the busy expressway on the outbound lanes of the Dan Ryan near the 75th St. exit. She reportedly struck a guardrail before rolling the car over and ejecting the children and striking another vehicle.

One infant was killed as a result of the car crash while seven other individuals were injured including three children. Sources indicate that the baby and other minor passengers were all in the vehicle that Pittman was driving. The Chicago car accident shut down all outbound lanes of traffic. Eleven month old Everett Branlett of Chicago was taken to Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital where he died. Three other children were also taken to Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital for treatment. Two of the injured adults were taken to University of Chicago Hospital in serious condition, one was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, IL, and another was taken to Stroger Hospital. A State Police statement has indicated that alcohol definitely played a role in the fatal Chicago car accident.

A Chicago woman was struck and killed on Tuesday evening in a crosswalk on Columbus at Illinois in downtown Chicago. Witnesses to the accident have indicated that the Chicago pedestrian accident victim had the right of way in the crosswalk when she was struck by a large tour bus. The bus accident victim was rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition. She was pronounced dead at 7:04 p.m.

The bus driver, 47 year old David Soto, was taken into police custody following the fatal accident. At that point he allegedly tested positive for cocaine. He had worked for the Pontarelli Group Charter company for six months prior to the accident. Bail for Soto was denied yesterday at a bond hearing. Police allegedly found an investigative alert for two sex offenses when they ran Soto’s name after his arrest. He was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault in 1993 and was released from prison in 1997 and paroled until 2000. There were also sexual abuse allegations logged against in December of 2008. His driver’s license was reportedly suspended on August 3, 2008, when he received citations for speeding and driving without insurance. His license was valid at the time of the Chicago bus accident. He reportedly claimed that he did not see the accident victim crossing within the crosswalk and thought that he had struck a curb.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a wrongful death vehicle accident, you should contact an attorney to investigate the matter and preserve crucial evidence.

A Chicago woman has been charged with DUI following a Chicago car accident that left eight people seriously injured and two others dead. The accused, 39 year old Kimberly Bradley of the 1300 block of North Parkside Ave. in Chicago, IL, crashed her SUV hear on into a Ford Probe early last Saturday morning. The DUI car accident occurred around 3 a.m. in the 1300 block of North Kostner Ave. According to reports, the accused was northbound on Kostner Ave. when she swerved her vehicle into the center lane and struck 1995 Ford Probe head on. There were reportedly 11 people inside the SUV at the time of the crash.

The collision allegedly caused the SUV to roll over throwing several passengers out of the vehicle. Eight ambulances were dispatched to the scene of the Chicago car accident. One passenger was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash while another was later pronounced dead at John Stroger Hospital. Two other crash victims were taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital with critical injuries. The six other DUI car accident victims had injuries ranging from minor to critical. The driver of the Ford was not injured.

Bradley has been charged with two counts of aggravated DUI involving an accident resulting in death, seven counts of aggravated DUI involving an accident resulting in great bodily harm and one count of DUI involving an accident resulting in great bodily harm to a passenger under 16. Bond has been set at $250,000.00 for Bradley who reportedly remained hospitalized as of Monday afternoon.

A Chicago area car accident led to three deaths on Friday April 15th in north suburban Northfield, IL. The car crash occurred around 7:45 p.m. in the 2200 block of Willow Rd. According to eyewitness reports, a woman was operating a vehicle eastbound on Willow Rd. when she drifted across the center line into oncoming traffic. She then allegedly struck another vehicle head-on. The driver of the eastbound vehicle was identified as 22 year old Sylvia Garcia of the 6400 block of N. Damen Ave. She was pronounced dead at Evanston Hospital around 11:34 p.m. according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The other motorist involved in the Chicago car accident presented in critical condition to Evanston immediately following the accident. The Northfield Police have indicated that the accident victim was 63 year old Soo-Hurn Shin of the 160 block of Princeton Ln. in Glenview, IL. The car accident victim was pronounced dead at Evanston Hospital at approximately 4:05 p.m. on April 18, 2011, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. An autopsy of the crash victim was scheduled for last Tuesday. The fatal Chicago car accident is still being investigated through a joint effort of the Northfield Police Department and the Major Crash Assistance Team.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a fatal car accident, you should speak with a Chicago wrongful death lawyer to assess the tragedy and protect your rights. To speak with an experienced Illinois car accident attorney contact our office today.

A Chicago resident and mother of four was killed on February 4th when a vehicle in which she was a passenger was struck on Illinois 394 near Ford Heights, IL. According to reports, the vehicle in which the Chicago car accident victim was a passenger was struck by a wrong way vehicle on I-394 just south of the I-94. The wrong way driver was reportedly the city clerk for the Village of Lynwood, IL. The wrong way driver, sixty four year old Roel N. Valle, has been charged with one count of reckless homicide and one count of aggravated DUI involving death. His vehicle reportedly stuck the vehicle in which the deceased was a passenger prior to colliding with a vehicle being driven by the deceased’s husband. The deceased’s husband was treated for an undisclosed leg injury. The Chicago car accident occurred around 1:15 a.m.

The wrong way driver was also seriously injured and remains hospitalized. Reckless homicide while operating a vehicle carries a punishment of 2-5 years in jail and DUI causing death carries a sentence of 3-14 years. The driver of the vehicle in which the deceased was a passenger was also charged with DUI and other traffic violations.