Illinois Injury Law Blog

Earlier this year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) launched its SaferProducts.gov database.

This database was recently mandated by Congress as part of the the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. Consumers are now able to submit reports of harm or possible risks from products they own or may be contemplating for purchase. The database is meant to eliminate the use of faulty producst that may result in issues regarding product liability in Illinois and elsewhere in the United States.

The CSPC believes that this new database will provide a simple way for consumers to learn about product hazards and provide the consumer with safety information on products they research.

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys understand this new database is beneficial for consumers as information regarding faulty products that residents may not know about will now be more readily available. Residents are urged to check this site to learn about reviews and safety rating of their popular household items.

“CPSC stayed on time and on budget in building this new database,” said Chairwoman Inez Tenenbaum. “Through SaferProducts.gov consumers will have open access to product safety information that they have never seen before and the information will empower them to make safer choices.”

Consumers are also able to submit reviews and report complaints pertaining to products. After these reports are submitted by the public, the Commission will forward the review to the manufacturer. Once the manufacturer receives the review or complaint, they will have 10 business days to respond. At the end of their 10-day deadline and once all requirements are met, the consumer submission and the manufacturer's response will be posted on the site.

The CPSC is asking that all information and claims submitted to the database be truthful and accurate. Reports that fail to meet the posted requirements will not be published on the site. Reports that release confidential information will be flagged and removed from the site as well.

“I believe that an informed consumer is an empowered consumer,” Tenenbaum said. “The ability for parents and consumers to search this database for incidents involving a product they already own or are thinking of purchasing will enable them to make independent decisions aimed at keeping their family safe.”

Earlier this year, the CPSC started registering businesses to their site and accepting these consumer reports. Since the beginning, they've posted about 1,500 reports. Nearly 1,400 product manufacturers have signed up on the Business Portal portion of the website so that they will receive reports regarding their products in a timely manner.

“We will continue to accept written, phone and fax reports, as we have for decades,” Tenenbaum said. “What is new and significant today is that we are launching an up-to-date system for letting consumers review safety reports alongside manufacturer comments about those reports.”

The CPSC continues its efforts to protect the public from unreasonable risks of death or injury pertaining to the use of the thousands of consumer products.

Deaths, injuries and property damage from the use of faulty consumer product costs the United States more than $900 billion annually.

Continue reading " New Database Looks to Increase Product Liability in Chicago and Elsewhere " »

A tour bus driver who was allegedly involved in a vehicle-pedestrian accident in Illinois is now facing aggravated DUI charges. These charges are on top of multiple sex charges involving children after police determined he was wanted in two separate cases, according to the Chicago SunTimes.

The Northwest Side man was accused of driving under the influence when he struck the young pedestrian as she attempted to cross the street in the 500 block of North Columbus. Court documents report that the driver tested positive for cocaine. The accident happened at about 7:00 p.m. just blocks from the woman's home. The woman died, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Our Chicago injury lawyers urge pedestrians to be careful when traveling through our busy city streets as some of the most devastating injuries can arise from vehicle-pedestrian collisions. It is critical to take immediate action in order to protect your rights.

"When I heard the details of the crash, you know, the driver heard two bumps, it just crushes me. I know. I know what it's like," said Lorraine Wesolowski, a spokeswoman for The Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists.

The driver was held without bond at a hearing last week. He reported to have repeatedly told the paramedics that he didn't see the pedestrian as he was attempting to make a right-hand turn.

The driver has reportedly received roughly 20 previous traffic violations between 1988 and 2008. He had been working for that bus company for six months.

After the arrest for the bus accident, authorities discovered that he was wanted in two sexual-assault cases involving minors. Authorities report that in addition to the aggravated DUI charges, the driver is also facing charges of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under 13.

"The whole Pontarelli family is deeply saddened by this tragedy, and our thoughts are with this young girl's family," said Pontarelli Group Charter spokesman Arthur J. Rento.

There have been more than 4,000 pedestrian fatalities, and approximately 59,000 pedestrian injuries, because of traffic accidents in 2009 in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. It's estimated that a pedestrian is killed every two hours because of a traffic accident. Illinois saw more than 100 pedestrian fatalities in 2009 because of traffic-related accidents.

A Chicago injury law firm will look at how this driver was hired to drive a bus with a poor driving record and outstanding warrants for sex crimes against children.

Continue reading " Alleged Impaired Driver Kills Pedestrian in Bus Accident in Illinois " »

May is designated as National Youth Traffic Safety Month (NYTSM). The month-long campaign is used to empower and engage teens and communities to help to reduce the number of teen car accidents in Illinois and elsewhere across the United States through education, increased enforcement and support for stronger laws, according to the National Organization for Youth Safety.

The Illinois Teen Safe Driving Coalition recently participated with DomeShift 2011 in Springfield. Earlier this month, more than 150 youth, community and legislative leaders gathered to celebrate at DomeShift 2011 as they discussed the importance of teen safe driving and Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) with state lawmakers, according to the National Safety Council. DomeSmift 2011 was used to develop local advocacy plans, implement legislative strategies and educate peers about the principles of the GDL as teens and advocates spoke with key legislators, community leaders and fellow peers.

Our Chicago injury lawyers understand the importance of educating our young drivers about the proper techniques of safe driving. We recognize that May is an excellent time to attempt to raise awareness as the school season will be wrapping up soon and kids will be hitting the roads in full force for proms, graduations and summer break.

The current Illinois GDL requires that a driver be at least 15-years-old to possess a driving permit and must have that permit for at least 9 months before applying for a full driver license. A permit holder is required to complete 50 hours of supervised driving with at least 10 of those hours being completed during the evening hours.

Once a teen is granted their initial license, they're not to transport more than one passenger under age 20 for the first year. They're also not to drive after 10 p.m. or before 6 a.m. on weekdays (with restriction beginning at 11 p.m. on weekends). This initial license is to be held for at least one year or until they've reached 18-years-old. After this initial period, the teen driver may obtain a full license.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 2,400 young drivers (between the ages of 15 and 20) that were killed in traffic accidents in the United States in 2008. Another 228,000 teens were injured in these accidents. In Illinois, nearly 150 teens died in car accidents in 2009.

You can also check out the Illinois Teen Safe Driving Coalition Facebook page for more information.

Continue reading " Illinois Joins National Youth Traffic Safety Month Campaign in Efforts to Decrease Risks of Teen Car Accidents in Chicago and Elsewhere " »

My FOX Chicago reported on the horrific drunk driving accident that left 2 dead and 11 injured, three of which are in critical condition.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers continue to see far too many innocent motorists injured or killed by drunk drivers. A driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over twice the legal limit is accused of crashing her overloaded SUV head-on into a car around 3 a.m. Saturday morning.

The driver was attempting to pass a slow moving car in front of her when she swerved across the center line into oncoming traffic. She collided with the front of the car facing her. After the collision, the SUV flipped over, ejecting passengers all over the roadway and entrapping others.

The SUV was traveling with 11 occupants inside. Miraculously the driver of the vehicle did not require hospitalization but others were not as fortunate. One victim died at the scene and another died about an hour later at the hospital. Three victims are in critical condition on ventilators. Injuries include damage to the brain and lungs, back injuries, fractures and lacerations.

The 39-year-old drunk driver is being charged with two counts of aggravated DUI for an accident that killed 2 people. Additional charges include seven counts of aggravated DUI because the crash resulted in great bodily harm to several victims and one count of DUI involving a crash that resulted in great bodily harm to a victim under the age of 16, according to police. She was also charged with driving on a suspended license, driving without insurance and driving on the left side of the road. Bond was set at $250,000 with a hearing scheduled for later this month. The driver admittedly had been drinking beer the night of the crash after police reported her BAC was .165, according to authorities.

Drinking and driving is just not worth the risk to yourself and others. A first time drunk driving conviction in Illinois carries the following possible penalties:

-Jail: could be up to 1 year.
-Jail: if a child under 16 is in the car, up to 6 months could be added.
-Fines: could be up to $2,500, add a minimum of $500 if BAC is above .16, add a minimum of $1,000 if a child under 16 is in the car.
-License Suspension for a minimum of 1 year and your vehicle registration is suspended.
-Possible installation of a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device.
-Community Service: minimum 100 hours for BAC above .16, add 25 days if a child under 16 is in the car.

Continue reading " 2 killed, 11 injured following a drunk driving accident on Chicago's West Side " »