Illinois Injury Law Blog

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys and Illinois workers' compensation lawyers have been monitoring a series of hearings stemming from the natural gas pipeline explosion that killed 7 in San Bruno, Calif. on Sept. 7.

The explosion is just one more deadly event associated with a chain of national spills and accidents capturing headlines nationwide. And one that hits close to home. In early September, Chicago residents and workers alike began expressing concern after an Enbridge Energy Partners pipeline southwest of the Chicago area began leaking crude oil just two days after the explosion, CNN reports.

This most recent leak comes after a string of leaks associated with the Enbridge pipeline that moves 670,000 barrels a day from Wisconsin to Indiana. The company has been investigating pipeline integrity and reviewing spill accidents since early summer after an 800,000 gallon spill into the Kalamazoo River in Michigan exposed the community to the volatile carcinogen, benzene.

The media attention swirling around the increasing number of large natural resource spills of all kinds – from the BP spill in the Gulf to the San Bruno natural gas leak to the Kalamazoo River dumping – has lawmakers on the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials questioning regulatory and oversight procedures.

Ten days after the vice-president of U.S. operations for Enbridge assured members of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that his company was capable an almost instantaneous response to leaks detected at the company control center, nearly a million gallons were dumped in Michigan.

On the heels of the spill, Committee Chair Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) questioned the timeliness of Enbridge reporting of the accident to the National Response Center. Oberstar said the company was aware of “hundreds of defects in the line” and still failed to act to address them.

In a hearing before Congress this week, one Michigan mother tearfully spoke to the committee about how the spill has affected her family. The President and CEO of Enbridge also addressed the committee saying he was “deeply concerned” about the incident.

Whether these accidents or hearing investigating same will lead to more safety protocols or industry-wide reforms is yet to be seen. But when proper safety procedures are ignored, the results can be deadly.

Continue reading " California natural gas pipeline explosion resonates across Illinois " »

In late April, as her husband and screaming passengers watched, a 50-year-old woman whose arm was trapped in closed CTA bus doors was dragged about 20 feet before the bus driver stopped. The victim has since been treated to address possible nerve damage. Earlier this week she filed a Cook County personal injury lawsuit against the CTA and one of its drivers, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Meanwhile, a Chicago Sun-Times article reveals that incidents of theft and robbery on CTA buses have been climbing steadily for five years. Robberies alone are up 77 percent since 2006. In 2009, there were 1,942 reports of criminal acts on CTA buses. So far in 2010, crime on CTA buses is up 12 percent despite only a 0.4 percent increase in ridership over last year.

CTA authorities assure their buses are safe, citing a decline in the number of aggravated assaults and batteries occurring on their transports. Nor have there been any homicides since 2008, when a Julian High School senior was killed by gunfire after being caught in a shootout between two men arguing on a CTA bus.

In an effort to undermine criminal activity, the CTA is mounting an aggressive public awareness campaign using flyers and posters that remind passengers to keep an eye on their electronic gadgets and pay attention to their surroundings. And, they’ve added more security cameras which have helped law enforcement in making arrests.

But the bottom line is this: CTA has an obligation to its employees and passengers to provide an environment free of hazards – criminal- or traffic-related – that may cause injury to those who rely upon public transportation. When the agency fails, and someone is serious injured or killed, the CTA can and should be held responsible.

Continue reading " Passenger lawsuit against CTA brings to light potential injury issues involving Chicago bus accidents " »

The Land of Nod, a Northbrook-based toy company, has issued a nationwide recall for 2,100 asparagus from the six-piece “Play With Your Veggies” toy set. The set sold for $25, and was available through The Land of Nod catalogue and stores in Illinois and Washington between October 2007 and February 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports.

The set of six felt wool vegetables manufactured in Nepal include: an asparagus bunch, a tomato, a head of lettuce, an onion, a carrot and a radish. The asparagus bunch is the only vegetable in the set that poses potential injury to children. A metal wire, if exposed, could cause a laceration or puncture injury. To date, no injuries have been reported, although wire exposure has been documented. The Land of Nod is offering a free replacement asparagus bunch upon return of the defective part.

The Chicago personal injury attorneys at VanPopering Law Office are dedicated to helping parents of injured children across Illinois. We understand that injuries to a child due to the negligence of a manufacturer or defective toy are a frequent cause of injury in young children. If you are the parent of an injured child, speaking with our lawyers can help you understand your rights.

In 2008, there were 19 reported toy-related deaths among children aged 8 months to 9 years. Of those, 16 were boys. During the same time, 235,300 children sought emergency care due to toy-related injuries. About 35 percent of injured children seen in hospitals were under age 5 with 27 percent seeking treatment for a laceration injury, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Toy companies and manufacturers of children's products have an obligation to ensure the safety of consumers. Unfortunately, makers of child toys are some of the worst offenders when it comes to the sale of dangerous or defective products. So far this year, the federal government has announced more than 100 recalls involving toys and other products marketed to children.

Continue reading " Northbrook-based “The Land of Nod” recalls 2,100 “Play With Your Veggies” toys that pose potential laceration injury to children " »

State and local law enforcement from more than 300 agencies will be out on Illinois roads this Labor Day weekend conducting 200+ roadside safety checks, including DUI checkpoints and seat-belt enforcement stops, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.

On the cusp of the holiday “You Drink & Drive. You Lose” DUI crackdown, the Illinois Department of Transportation released data this week reflecting a steady statewide decline in alcohol-related car accident fatalities since 2002. Since then, the number of alcohol-related Illinois motor vehicle fatalities has dropped from 442 to 322, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

Chicago car accident attorneys at VanPopering Law Offices have a proven track record representing clients involved in hit-and-run and drunk driving accidents and crashes with underinsured and uninsured motorists. We understand that many victims suffer both short-term and permanent injuries and can be overwhelmed dealing with vehicle repairs, rehabilitation therapy, insurance companies and medical claims.

IDOT officials credit more aggressive law enforcement efforts and public awareness campaigns for the downturn. “It is inappropriate to drink and drive regardless of the time of day," said Acting Illinois State Police Director Jonathon Monken.

"Statistics tells us your chances of being involved in an alcohol related crash or fatal crash increases dramatically at night. Therefore, in addition to efforts put forth during the holiday travel period, the Illinois State Police will focus our efforts on DUI and seat belt enforcement during night time details throughout the Labor Day weekend," said Monken.

Our attorneys wish you a safe and happy holiday, and want you to know we are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions if you are injured in car accident.

At VanPopering Law Office our goal is simple: to assist those who have been injured or the families of those who have been killed due to the negligence of another driver. Our attorneys practice in all geographic areas in the greater Chicagoland area, including but not limited to Joliet, Rockford, Aurora, Waukegan, and anywhere in between.

Continue reading " Authorities targeting drunk drivers over Labor Day; Illinois car accidents a risk " »