Firey Illinois Crash Was Caused by Drunk Driver

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A crash early Wednesday morning on the Eisenhower Expressway was not merely an accident, according to local police. The driver of the vehicle was legally drunk and under the influence of alcohol when she crashed her car in Elk Grove Village in the early morning hours, backing up traffic and causing delays for several hours.

It now appears that the woman was driving a minivan northbound on I-290 near Biesterfield Road when she lost control. The van veered across all lanes of traffic before striking a poll and coming to a stop where the car caught fire. The fire spread rapidly and engulfed the entire vehicle within minutes in a hot and intense burn.

Another driver saw the crash and stopped to help because he believed it to be the appropriate thing to do. Ironically, this Good Samaritan had just seen the movie Fast & Furious 6, a theatrical release known for its car racing, crashes, and action stunts. As the Good Samaritan approached the car, he noticed the driver was still inside and that she was obviously injured. Her face was cut and bleeding and she seemed to be searching for something within her vehicle. After confirming that there were no other people inside the minivan, the Good Samaritan told the female driver that her vehicle was on fire and that she needed to get out, immediately, because he feared the fire spreading or the vehicle exploding.

The injured driver exited her vehicle and emergency reponders provided her with transportation to a local hospital where she was treated for her injuries. Authorities stayed at the scene to put out the fire and investigate the crash, including why it occurred, and in combination with other information, they came to the conclusion that the woman was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. She was arrested and cited with driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a crime in the state of Illinois.

Drunk driving is dangerous and often deadly to motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists in Illinois and along the Illinois roadways. A drunk driver is more likely to ignore hazards in the road than a sober driver, weave in and out of lanes of traffic, and drive at erratic speeds, all of which can lead to an accident that causes injuries.

There are tough traffic and criminal penalties for drivers under the influence but what some people do not realize is that in many instances, there may also be a civil case against a drunk driver who causes injuries. In a civil case, a person may bring a financial claim for injuries and damages they sustained as the result of the drunk driver, including medical bills and lost wages.

Each case is different and each set of facts are unique so if you have been injured in an accident with a drunk driver, you should contact an attorney to see if you have a claim. The drunk driving injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. offer a free telephone consultation with no obligation to anyone injured in a drunk driving collision. We have a lawyer standing by 24 hours a day to take your call and answer your question at (312) 924-7575 or toll free at (855) 529-2442 so please call us now.

Prior Blog Entries:

Minimum Auto Liability Rates Set to Increase in Illinois, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published May 29, 2013.

Wrong Way Driver on Chicago Skyway Causes Crash That Injures 4, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published May 27, 2013.

Resources:

Woman escapes burning minivan on I-290; Good Samaritan stops to help, by Karen Jordan and Jessica D'Onofrio, ABC Chicago, published May 29, 2013.

Photo Credit: Image ID: 1391671, Krappweis, stock.xchng.

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Firey Truck Crash Seriously Injures 4 in Illinois

A three vehicle crash on the Edens near Northbrook left four people injured on Sunday night, according to the Chicago Tribune. The Illinois State Police Department reported that a truck traveling northbound attempted to switch from the right lane to the center lane when it was not clear to do so, striking a vehicle in the center lane. The truck then veered hard to the right where it struck a second vehicle. After the second impact, the driver of the truck lost control, veered left across all lanes of traffic, and stuck a wall on the highway shoulder.

After the truck came to a rest, one of its gas tanks caught fire. Four people were injured in the collision and transported to local hospitals. A 10-year-old girl and a woman both suffered life-threatening injuries and their present conditions are not known.

Another woman and a man also were injured in the crash which caused traffic in both lanes to be diverted for a period of time.

Illinois State Police confirmed they cited the driver of the truck for improper lane usage, failure to have insurance, and failure to display a medical card and log book.

This collision is a reminder of just how serious crashes with semis can be. Semi trucks can be 20 times larger than a standard passenger car with a mass to match. This means that in a collision, a standard passenger vehicle is no match for a semi and often suffers extreme damage.

In 2011, there were 10,033 crashes involving semi trucks and 93 fatal crashes involving semis in Illinois. This number accounted for 3.6 percent of all crashes but 9.7 percent of fatalities. Of those fatalities, 74 were occupants in vehicles other than the semi and 4 were pedestrians, meaning that 15 of the deaths involved semi-truck drivers and occupants.

Semi truck collisions are also particularly deadly because semis often travel at high rates of speed. Truck drivers spend a large percent of their time on highways and freeways which allows the truckers to drive fast. Increased speeds means that the forces involved in any collision are significant and can lead to serious injuries.

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