Disclaimer: The Law Offices of Steven J. Malman & Associates, PC does not represent the clients whose cases, settlements, and verdicts are discussed on this Blog site. Our Chicago injury law firm is reporting on current events. We are not using this Blog site to offer unsolicited legal advice.

May 30, 2009

Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Christopher Coleman for Murders of His Wife and Her Two Sons

The family of 31-year-old Sheri Coleman has filed an Illinois wrongful death lawsuit against her husband, Christopher Coleman. Coleman is charged with three counts of first-degree murder for her death, as well as the deaths of her two young sons, Garett, 11, and Gavin, 9. All three of them were found strangled in their Columbia, Illinois residence on May 5.

The Illinois wrongful death lawsuit accuses Coleman of being responsible for the three murders. Sheri's family reportedly want to make sure that no on profits from the killings. They are also wondering why her name was taken off the deed of their home last year.

Police discovered the bodies after Coleman, 32, contacted police from a gym to tell them that he called his house that morning and no one answered. The police had been made aware of threats Coleman’s family had allegedly received.

Following the murders, the walls of the Colemans' home reportedly had words spray painted on them in red, including “u have paid,” “punished,” and “whore paid.” According to some police reports, Coleman may have been having an affair with a woman that his wife knew.

Wrongful Death Lawsuits for Murder Cases
If someone you love was murdered, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the alleged killer. Examples of high profile murder cases where a wrongful death lawsuit was filed include:

• The civil suit filed against OJ Simpson. Although Simpson was acquitted in criminal court, a civil court ordered him to pay the familiesof Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman $33.5 million.

• The mother of Lana Clarkson is suing music producer Phil Spector for her daughter's wrongful death. Just this week, Spector was sentenced to 19-year to life in prison for the actress's murder.

Phil Spector gets 19 years to life for actress' murder, Los Angeles Times, May 29, 2009

Family sues husband for wrongful death, UPI, May 26, 2009

Chris Coleman Pleads Not Guilty To Murder Charges, Fox 2, May 20, 2009


Related Web Resources:
Wrongful Death Overview, Justia

Illinois Wrongful Death Act

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May 28, 2009

Chicago Slip and Fall: Two Illinois Personal Injury Lawsuits Seek Judgments Over $50,000

Slip/trip and fall accidents are much more dangerous than they sound. A person who slips and falls or trips and falls can sustain serious personal injuries and permanent disabilities. Last week, two people filed Illinois premises liability lawsuits over injuries they sustained in separate fall accidents.

In the first Illinois slip and fall case, Louis Young is suing Wal-Mart because he claims he slid on a slippery substance that was on a Highland store floor on May 26, 2007. Young says that, as a result, he injured his right knee, foot, and ankle, as well as his left hip. He also sustained a disability that he claims has prevented him from attending to his daily responsibilities and tasks. Young says that his slip and fall injuries have led to a great deal of pain and he has accrued medical expenses.

Young is accusing Wal-Mart of negligence, including failing to properly maintain the store floor so that it was in a reasonably safe condition, failing to remove the slippery substance from the floor, failing to make sure the floor had a non-slip surface, and neglecting to warn him that there was a slippery substance on the ground.

In an unrelated Illinois trip and fall lawsuit, Juanita Osborn is suing Tri-Mor Properties for her personal injuries. The company owns the bingo hall where she claims she tripped on parking blocks and fell as she was leaving the building on December 25.

Osborn says she wouldn’t have tripped over the block if the defendant had installed adequate lighting in the parking lot and she had been able to see the obstruction. She contends that she sustained serious permanent injuries from her Illinois fall accident.

Premises Liability
Under Illinois premises liability law, the owners of private, commercial, or public properties can be held accountable for personal injuries if someone is involved in a trip and fall, a slip and fall, a stump and fall, or a step and fall accident on the premise.

Wal-Mart sued over customer's slip on clear substance, The Record, May 27, 2009

Woman sues bingo hall owner over trip in parking lot, The Record, May 27, 2009


Related Web Resources:
Premises Liability, Justia

Slip and Fall, Nolo

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May 26, 2009

Chicago Motorcycle Accidents: At Least Six Motorcyclists Killed in Area Crashes Over the Memorial Day Weekend

As Motorcycle Awareness month begins to wrap up, our Chicago motorcycle accident law firm is sad to report that there were at least six Illinois motorcyclists killed in three Chicago-area traffic accidents over the holiday weekend. While the number of Illinois motorcycle deaths have recently declined—135 motorcyclist fatalities in 2008 compared to 157 rider deaths in 2007, the motorcycle death tolls from this weekend in the Chicago area alone is a harsh reminder to motorcyclists and other vehicle drivers that it is up to both parties to share the roads safely by driving safely.

In Calumet City, motorcyclist Martez Nile died when in a single-vehicle crash on Crandon Road and Dalton Avenue this weekend. While in Elburn, a St. Charles husband and wife, Wade and Denise Thomas, were killed in a deadly Illinois multi-vehicle crash involving six motorcycles and three motor vehicles. In a third deadly Chicago-area motorcycle accident, riders Sean Darke, Brianna Moore, and Michael Adams died when another rider made an illegal U-turn, riding head-on into the victims’ motorcycles.

As part of the state’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, Illinois State Police, Governor Pat Quinn, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and motorcycle safety advocates want the public to “Start Seeing Motorcycles” on the roads. The IDOT is also offering beginner and intermediate riders free rider courses.

The Illinois State Police is offering new riders a number of safety tips, including:

• Wear an approved helmet and protective clothing.
• Don’t ride above 80% of your riding capabilities.
• Be on the lookout for animals on the road.
• Be aware of your surrounding and the vehicles around you.
• Look around to make sure other vehicles aren't approaching before riding through an intersection.
• Don’t drive drunk.

Just as motorcyclists have to ride responsibly and refrain from going too fast so that they don't place their lives and the lives of others at risk, motor vehicle drivers, whose occupants tend to have the greater safety advantage during accidents with motorcycles, must also take the proper steps so that they don’t get involved in an Illinois motor vehicle accident with a motorcycle rider.

Holiday motorcycle accidents kill six in Chicago area, WGN, May 25, 2009

Motorcycle Enthusiasts Urge Drivers To Be Careful, CBS2Chicago.com, May 24, 2009

Advocates push “Start Seeing Motorcycles” Campaign; IDOT Unveils New Public Service Announcement, Illinois State Police, April 28, 2009


Related Web Resources:
NHTSA

Illinois Department of Transportation

Continue reading "Chicago Motorcycle Accidents: At Least Six Motorcyclists Killed in Area Crashes Over the Memorial Day Weekend" »

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May 21, 2009

Chicago Personal Injury Law Firm: Cyclists Killed in Illinois Bicycle Accidents Remembered During “Ride of Silence”

In Chicago, Evanston, Peoria, and other cities throughout Illinois and the US, bicyclists cycled during a “Ride of Silence” on Wednesday night to remember fellow riders that were killed while riding their bicycles. The occasion is a global event, with bicycle riders participating in rides of silence that took place in 279 locations around the world.

Dozens of Chicago cyclists rode the 10-mile route beginning at Daley Plaza, passing the sites of 5 fatal bicycle accidents. Other Chicago area rides were organized in Evanston, Downer’s Grove, Arlington Heights, and Joliet.

In Evanston, some of the riders who took part in the event had survived their own bicycle accidents to ride again. Bill Rizel suffered a collapsed lung and fractured four ribs after a car hit him on December 2008. Another rider, Jerry Williams says he was involved in five bicycle accidents. One of the collisions left him unconscious for 10 days.

In Peoria, the children of Jesse “Jay” Jackson, who died in a 2006 Illinois bicycle accident that occurred close to Princeville, participated in the 10-mile loop. Like everyone else there, they had to obey all traffic laws, use a helmet, and cycle no faster than the speed limit maximum designated for the ride.

Bicycle Accidents
Bicyclists are prone to serious injuries whenever they are involved in an Illinois traffic accident—especially if a car, a bus, or a large truck is involved. As an injured Chicago bicycle accident victim, you may be entitled to Illinois personal injury compensation.

Common Bicycle Accident Scenarios:
• A driver fails to yield, striking the bicyclist or turning in front of a bicyclist’s travel path.
• The bicyclist fails to yield and gets hit by a car.
• A driver fails to see the bicyclist.
• A bicyclist is struck by a motor vehicle from behind.
• A motorist opens the door of a parked car, striking the bicyclist.
• The bicyclist was driving at night without a headlight.


'Ride of Silence' commemorates fallen cyclists, The Daily Northwestern, May 21, 2009

Silent ride packs loud message, PJStar.com, May 20, 2009

Cyclists remember fallen riders, ABClocal.go.com, May 20, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Sharing The Road With Bicycles, SmartMotorist.com

Ride of Silence

NHTSA

Continue reading "Chicago Personal Injury Law Firm: Cyclists Killed in Illinois Bicycle Accidents Remembered During “Ride of Silence”" »

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May 20, 2009

Illinois Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit: Family to Receive $12 Million Birthing Malpractice Settlement

In Winnebago County, Illinois, the family of 4-year-old Jeremy Law has agreed to settle its birthing malpractice lawsuit with a Rockford hospital for $12 million. This is the largest personal injury settlement to ever be issued in this county. Jeremy now has Cerebral palsy.

Patricia Law was admitted to St. Anthony Medical Center's labor and delivery area on November 7, 2004. A nurse gave her Pitocin to induce labor. Dr. Fernando has stated under oath that he gave Patricia the drug because nursing workers had told him that the baby was positioned heads-down and ready to be delivered. He says he would have performed a Caesarian birth if he had been notified that the baby was in breech position.

Even though the baby’s fetal heart beat became irregular, the nurse administered more Pitocin and did not conduct a vaginal exam to check the baby’s position. Some 15 minutes later, the baby experienced bradycardia and there was not enough oxygen traveling to his brain. It wasn’t until 20 minutes later that Jeremy was delivered by emergency Caesarean.

According to the Illinois medical malpractice lawsuit , hospital staffers neglected to identify that Jeremy was positioned in his mother’s womb for a breech delivery, neglected to detect signs of fetal distress, and neglected to deliver him by Caesarean procedure in a timely manner. Because of their medical negligence, the complaint contends that Jeremy sustained major brain damage because he did not receive enough oxygen during his delivery.

Pediatric neurologists have told the Laws that Jeremy’s developmental age will not go beyond what is now—that of a 2-month-old infant. He will continue to physically develop but he won’t be able to roll over, hold his head up, crawl, sit, stand, or grasp.

Illinois Cerebral Palsy Lawsuits
In order to prove that your child was the victim of birthing malpractice that caused his or her Cerebral palsy, you will need the help of an experienced Chicago birthing malpractice lawyer that understands the complexities involved in these kinds of Illinois medical malpractice cases. In many cases, a child with Cerebral palsy will require specialized medical attention and nursing care for life. The financial toll is generally too much for a family to carry without obtaining obtaining damages from all negligent parties.

You and your child may be entitled to Illinois birthing malpractice damages for the devastating harm, pain, and suffering that all of you must now endure.

$12 Million Settlement in Birth Injury Lawsuit Against OSF Healthcare, Business Wire, May 20, 2009

Related Web Resources:
NINDS Cerebral Palsy Information Page

Cerebral Palsy Program/Guide

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May 18, 2009

Chicago Dog Bites and Dog Maulings: Highland Park Waits to Decide on Proposal to Ban Pit Bulls

In Chicago’s Highland Park, officials have agreed to hold off on making a decision about a proposal to ban pit bulls from the city until they do further research. The proposal had met with resistance from pit bull advocates.

Highland Park Mayor Michael Belsky put forth the prohibition proposal after a teenage girl had to have hundreds of stitches sewn into her face and shoulder after a pit bull attacked her.

The dog bite victim, 14, was petting Bam Bam, a 9-year-old male pit bull earlier this month when the pet attacked the girl. Following the Chicago dog bite incident, Bam Bam was euthanized. The pit bull's owner was cited for failing to vaccinate the dog for rabies and not having a dog license. Bam Bam was on a leash when the Highland Park dog attack happened.

Legislation targeting specific breeds has met with resistance from orgaizations such as the American Kennel Club and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Opponents of such legislation say that the dog owners, not a specific breed, should be punished.

Dog Bite Prevention Week
Throughout the United States, May 17 - 23, 2009 is dog bite prevention week, which is designed to promote awareness among dog owners and people that are around dogs so that dog attacks don't happen.

Dog Bite Facts:
• Approximately 4.5 million dog bite injurires occur annually.
• 885,000 of these dog bite victims will need to see a doctor for their injuries.
• 31,000 dog bite victims had to undergo reconstructive surgery in 2006 to heal their dog bite injuries.
• The age group at highest risk of becoming a dog bite victim is children, ages 5 to 9.

Some Steps Illinois Dog Owners Can Take to Prevent Dog Attacks or Dog Maulings:
• Leash your dog.
• Socialize your pet.
• Train your dog.
• Teach your dog how to play in a non-aggressive manner.
• Teach your dog how to obey you.
• Don’t leave your dog unsupervised when children are around.
• If your dog is an aggressive or dangerous dog, keep him or her away from others or properly restrain your pet so no one gets hurt.

You or your child may be entitled to Illinois personal recovery for a Chicago dog attack incident.

Highland Park waits on pit bull ban, Chicago Tribune, May 15, 2009

Dog Bite Prevention, CDC


Related Web Resources:
Tips to Prevent Dog Bites, American Kennel Club

City of Highland Park, Illinois

Continue reading "Chicago Dog Bites and Dog Maulings: Highland Park Waits to Decide on Proposal to Ban Pit Bulls" »

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May 15, 2009

Cook County Wrongful Death Lawsuit filed by Widow Claims Contaminated Water in Crestwood Village Caused Husband’s Cancer Death

The widow of a man who died of lymphoma in 2003 is suing the Illinois village of Crestwood for his wrongful death. Michele Maan De Kok’s Cook County, Illinois wrongful death lawsuit contends that he became ill after drinking contaminated water while living there from 1969 to 1990.

John Maan De Kok was diagnosed with stage IV non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2000. When he died, he left behind his wife Michele and their two young children. Maan De Kok’s family members had no idea why he had this particular kind of cancer, which is normally found in industrial workers that have been around hazardous chemicals. It wasn’t until Michelle read last month’s Chicago Tribune report that she linked the contaminated water to her husband’s death.

The newspaper conducted an investigation that found that for over 20 years, Crestwood leaders allowed people to drink water from a well that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency had discovered contained toxic chemicals. Crestwood village reportedly told the EPA that it was going to shut down the well. Village officials also told residents that the water they were drinking was treated and came from Lake Michigan even though drinking water continued to come from the contaminated well until December 2007.

Following the Tribune’s publication of its findings, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn asked the Illinois EPA to explain how residents were allowed to drink the tainted water for all those years and why they were never notified that they could have been exposed to toxins. Last month, Illinois EPA officials offered a number of explanations. They said the well had been contaminated for so long that it did not fall under a 2005 state law requiring an issue of notification, the pollutants in the tap water didn’t go above legal limits, and the toxins did not pose a public health risk.

However, the well in Crestwood contains twice the legal limit of vinyl chloride, which has been linked to cancer. According to the US EPA, any kind of level of exposure to this chemical is not safe.

Also last month, a Crestwood resident filed a proposed class-action lawsuit for the thousands of residents that lived in the village between 1986 and 2007. The defendants in the complaint are the Village of Crestwood, current Mayor Robert Stranczek, and former Mayor Chester Stranczek. Joseph Marzano's complaint accuses the defendants of negligence and recklessly disregarding the village residents’ safety.

Illinois Wrongful Death
You may be entitled to Illinois wrongful death recovery if your loved one died because another party acted negligently or carelessly.

Crestwood Water: Cancer Victim's Widow Sues Village , May 15, 2009

Lawsuit filed over Crestwood water contamination, Chicago Breaking News Center, April 24, 2009

Crestwood residents angry about tainted water, ABC Local, April 20, 2009


Related Web Resources:
Village of Crestwood

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency


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May 13, 2009

Chicago Wrongful Death Lawsuit To Be Filed After Garage Door Crushes 6-Year-Old South Side Boy

In Illinois, the family of 6-year-old Dijion Sanders is filing a Chicago wrongful death lawsuit. The garage door crushed the boy in his Calumet Heights home on Saturday night.

Sanders was transported to the University of Chicago’s Corner Children’s Hospital where he was soon pronounced dead. His family plans to sue the owner of the home, the garage door manufacturer, and the installer of the door for his wrongful death. They contend that the door should have had electronic sensors.

Products Liability Lawsuits
The manufacturers and sellers of consumer products are legally obligated to make sure that their products are safe for use. This means that they must design, make, and/or sell products that are free from dangerous defects, come with the proper safety warnings and precautions, and include correct and complete operating instructions. If someone gets hurt or dies because the manufacturer or another liable party failed to fulfill its duties of care to the product's consumer or user, the responsible party can be sued for Illinois products liability or wrongful death.

Examples of product defects include:
Design defects: The product has a defect in its design and this defect led to an injury or death.

Marketing defects: Insufficient instructions or inadequate warnings or marketing that didn’t provide enough/the right information.

Manufacturing defects: Defects that occur during the manufacturing process.

A product liability claim can be filed on the grounds of negligence or breach of warranty. A products liability lawsuit can also be brought on the grounds of strict liability. In these cases, the liable parties may not have necessarily done anything careless or negligent, but the product that caused the injury or death proved to be dangerous or defective despite the liable parties best efforts.

Family Sues After Garage Door Crushes Boy, CBS2Chicago.com, May 13, 2009

Boy killed by garage door, Chicago Breaking News, May 10, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Products Liability Overview, Justia

Premises Liability Overview, Justia

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May 10, 2009

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago Sued by Two Women Alleging Clergy Sex Abuse in the 1960’s

Two women who say they were the victims of clergy sex abuse in the 1960’s are suing the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. The priest named in the federal lawsuit as their perpetrator is Anthony Vader, who church officials removed from public ministry in 2003 because of his misconduct.

The two plaintiffs are African-American. In their clergy sex abuse lawsuit, they accuse the Chicago archdiocese of racial bias in terms of how they treat sex abuse victims that are black. They claim that the archdiocese places a higher burden of proof that sex abuse occurred on African-American victims. The spokesperson for the archdiocese claims that this allegation is false.

The child sex abuse victims are both 58-year-old women. They studied at Laurence Catholic School in Chicago. The school is no longer open. Vader served as parish pastor at the school from 1964 to 1968.

One of the women says that Vader molested her over a five-year period—from the time she was 9 to 14. She says that she experienced post-traumatic stress, nervous breakdowns, anxiety, and other mental and emotional issues because of the abuse he inflicted on her. The other woman says that Vader abused her before she turned 13 and when she was 17. The women’s attorney is calling for a settlement and noted that one of the women is dying from cancer.

Clergy Sex Abuse
The emotional and psychological effects of any kind of sexual abuse on a victim can last a lifetime. Ramifications may include chronic depression, sexual issues, substance abuse, trust issues, and broken relationships. Sexual abuse by a priest can add even more intensity to this act of betrayal. Not only is a trusted adult abusing the victim, but the perpetrator is a supposed representative of God.

While the physical injuries from any type of sex abuse may heal with time, the emotional injuries may be harder to identify. However, there are ways to hold your perpetrator accountable for the harm that you continue to suffer.

Priest lawsuit: 2 women sue Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago and a reprimanded priest, alleging abuse in 1960s and current racial bias, Chicago Tribune, May 11, 2009

2 women sue Chicago archdiocese, priest, Chicago Breaking News, May 10, 2009

The Effects of Sexual Abuse Never Go Away, The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, February 3, 1997


Related Web Resources:
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago

Abuse in the Catholic Church, Boston Globe


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May 7, 2009

Chicago Slip and Fall: Illinois Premises Liability Lawsuit Claims Melted Ice on Store Floor Led to Personal Injuries

An Illinois woman is suing Metro Ice Inc. and Schnucks Markets for personal injury. Patricia Pope says that on June 6, 2007, she sustained injuries to her neck, spine, back, right shoulder, arms, torso, legs, elbows, right foot, right ankle, right interior cruciate ligament, and right posterior cruciate ligament when she slipped and fell while walking down one of the aisles at a Schnucks market in East St. Louis.

Her Illinois slip and fall complaint contends that a Metro Ice employee who was delivering bags of ice accidentally dropped some ice onto the store floor. Pope is accusing employees that worked for Metro Ice and Schnucks of neglecting to properly inspect the floor, failing to wipe the water off the floor, neglecting to post signs that the floor was wet, and failing to let her know that the ground was wet.

As a result of her Illinois slip and fall injuries, Pope says she is no longer able to enjoy the normal pursuits of life the way she used to and she has racked up medical bills because her injuries needed treatment. She is seeking at least $50,000.

Illinois Premises Liability
Grocery stores and other premises that have patrons are supposed to make sure that there are no foreign substances on their floors that can lead to Illinois slip and fall accidents. Liquids, food products, and other foreign substances that spill onto the ground must be mopped up or cleared away to prevent injuries from happening. Premise owners must post signs warning if a floor is wet or slippery because it has been polished or waxed. They must also make sure that floor surfaces are free from objects that can cause slip and fall accidents, such as torn carpeting, uneven flooring, floor tiles that have come loose, or broken steps.

Slip and fall injuries can be painful injuries and they can be costly and take a long time to treat. This is why you need a Chicago slip and fall law firm that knows how to successfully prove negligence against a liable premise owner so that you can obtain the Illinois personal injury recovery that your injuries warrant.

Melted ice causes woman's injuries, suit claims, The Record, May 5, 2009


Related Web Resources:
Slip and Fall Accidents: Proving Fault, Nolo

Premises Liability Overview, Justia

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May 6, 2009

Mother to Receive Illinois Wrongful Death Settlement For Son’s Police Brutality Death From Excessive Taser Use

The mother of a teenager who was Tasered by police has settled her Illinois police brutality lawsuit over his wrongful death. Roger Holyfield, 17, died in October 2006 following an altercation with police. The Illinois wrongful death lawsuit filed by Rita Cummings names the Jerseyville Police Department and the city of Jerseyville as defendants.

Court documents indicate that Holyfield was shouting “I want Jesus” and carrying a Bible when police approached him. The cops claim the boy became combative.

According to the police brutality complaint, Jerseyville cops used excessive and unreasonable force when they arrested Holyfield without sufficient cause. The complaint contends that he was handcuffed, armed, and on the ground facedown when police officers Tasered him a number of times.

Holyfield started throwing up. He was rushed to the hospital and died on the way there. According to the medical examiner, his died from natural causes as a result of excited delirium. His family, however, says that he died because of police brutality and the use of the Taser.

Exited delirium has been cited as a cause of death by people who were acting in a hyperactive or erratic way before dying while in police custody. It is a state that is often noted after a person has been Tasered by police and only shows up as a cause of death when the person was restrained. A special prosecutor who investigated Holyfield's case, however, says the two Jerseyville cops that confronted the teenager are not criminally liable for his death.

Use of Tasers by police to apprehend suspects has generated some controversy in light of the fact that some suspects have died after they were stunned by Tasers. Amnesty International says that Taser use is a factor in at least 350 fatalities. In December 2008, Amnesty reported that about 90% of Taser-elated deaths involving police were suspect who did not seem to pose a threat.

Illinois Police Brutality
Police are never allowed to use excessive force of any kind when questioning, apprehending, arresting, or guarding a suspect or a defendant. If you feel that you are a victim of police brutality, you may have grounds for filing a Chicago personal injury lawsuit.

Illinois mother settles stun gun wrongful death lawsuit, Justice News Flash, May 4, 2009

Settlement in Ill. teen death involving stun gun, Chicago Tribune, May 3, 2009

Taser Abuse in the United States, AmnestyUSA.org


Related Web Resource:
Less than Lethal, Amnesty USA (PDF)

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May 4, 2009

Driver Charged with Causing Fatal Lake County, Illinois Motorcycle Accident Says She Was Painting Her Nails

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s office is considering filing criminal charges against a female driver who may have caused a fatal Illinois motorcycle accident because she was busy painting her nails. Police say that Morris resident Lora Hunt told them that she did not see Anita Zaffke, who was stopped at an intersection on route 12, until her Chevrolet Impala struck the Honda motorcycle because she was applying nail polish.

Zaffke was thrown 200 feet from her motorcycle and died about an hour after the catastrophic Illinois motorcycle crash from abdominal and chest injuries. She was wearing a motorcycle helmet when the deadly collision happened.

Hunt received a citation for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver inattention is a contributing cause of 80% of all auto accidents. The following activities while driving can increase the chances that the motorist will become involved in an auto accident:

• Reaching toward a moving object increases the chances of a collision or near-collision by nine times.
• Glancing at an external object increases risk of an auto crash by 3.7 times.
• Reading while driving increases the traffic crash risk by 3 times.
• Putting on make up increases the chances of a collision by 3 times.
• Using a cell phone increases traffic collision risk by 3 times.
• Listening to a handheld device or talking on one increases the chances of an auto accident by 1.3 times.

AAA says that distracted driving causes up to 8,000 US auto collisions a year. Driving while distracted is a kind of negligent driving that can be catastrophic for those around the distracted motorist. Not only can it destroy the lives of the motorcyclists, car drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, or others who may get hurt because a motorist was too distracted while behind the wheel, but the responsible party will have to spend the rest of his or her life living with the knowledge that someone was seriously hurt or died just because the motorist was reading, eating, talking on the phone, putting on make up, or engaged in another type of distracted driving activity.

You may be entitled to Chicago personal injury or wrongful death compensation from the distracted driver that caused your Illinois motor vehicle accident.

Charges mulled in fatal nail-polish crash, Chicago Breaking News, May 4, 2009

Driver painting nails runs red light, kills cyclist: cops, Chicago Sun-Times, May 4, 2009

NHTSA, Virginia TechTransportation Institute Release Findings of Breakthrough Research on Real-World Driver Behavior, Distraction and Crash Factors, NHTSA

Related Web Resources:
Distracted Driving, AAA

Distracted Driving, National Safety Council

Continue reading "Driver Charged with Causing Fatal Lake County, Illinois Motorcycle Accident Says She Was Painting Her Nails" »

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