Illinois Injury Law Blog

Reeling in the wake of a three-car crash in Park Ridge, a Chicago man told investigating officers that that he hadn't had much sleep.

According to The Chicago Sun-Times, the driver said he worked nights, and rest was hard to come by.

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys know that with a sagging economy, many residents in Illinois and elsewhere have had to take on second and even third jobs to make ends meet. Extra shifts and late hours can mean danger when those workers get behind the wheel.

The AAA Traffic Safety Foundation reports that drowsy driving is often underestimated and under-reported. Last year, the foundation conducted a national phone survey to gauge drowsy driving habits.

What they found is startling.

Despite the fact that almost all the motorists surveyed (96 percent) said they believed it was unacceptable for drivers to operate a vehicle while sleepy, nearly a third said that within the last month, they had driven when they were so tired they could barely keep their eyes open.

The car accident in Park Ridge happened earlier this month, when police reported the driver, 26, was traveling east on Dempster Street when he struck a vehicle stopped at a traffic signal. The car he hit then struck the car in front of it.

The young driver was hit with two traffic citations.

In this case, no one appeared to have been seriously injured. But many others who come in contact with drowsy drivers aren't so lucky.

The AAA found that in 2010, one in six fatal accidents and one out of every eight total accidents involves a sleepy driver.

Most sleepy drivers are men, the study reports, and the majority of crashes happened when they drifted into another lane.

Scarier still, more than half of these incidents happened on six-lane highways.

And while the Chicago driver reported his night shift was the culprit, AAA found that one in four drowsy driving crashes happen between the hours of noon and 5 p.m.

Young drivers - those under age 24 - were particularly at risk, and more readily admitted driving while tired than older motorists. Often, these individuals are trying to juggle college courses and multiple jobs, leaving them more prone to drowsiness behind the wheel.

Still, similar to drunk drivers, drowsy drivers may have a hard time realizing when it's time to pull over - or better yet, not get behind the wheel at all.

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys are asking you to heed the AAA recommendations for recognizing when you're too tired to drive:

--You have trouble keeping your eyes open or focused.
--You find it hard to keep your head up.
--You feel irritable or restless.
--You realize you're missing traffic signals or your intended exit.
--You find yourself drifting into other lanes or jolted by the rumble strips.
--You keep yawning or rubbing your eyes.
--You have trouble remembering the last few miles you drove.

If you are experiencing any of these, please, prevent an accident by either pulling over or not getting behind the wheel at all.

Continue reading "Chicago Man Cites Lack of Sleep in Three-Car Crash in Park Ridge" »

You may be looking forward to hosting family gatherings or the extra traffic running through your home this holiday season. But there is probably at least one member of the family that isn't all that excited about it. Our Cook County dog bite accident attorneys want to remind pet owners that all the extra activity and break in normal routines can cause a lot of anxiety for a dog. Anxious and stressed out dogs can become vicious and are highly likely to bite or attack causing dob bite injuries to children in Chicago and elsewhere in the state.

American Humane Association reports that on average 4.7 million dog bites occur annually nationwide. Hospital emergency rooms throughout the country treat roughly 800,000 dog bite injuries annually. More than 70 percent of dog bites on adult victims are to the arms, hands, legs and feet compared to 65 percent of dog bite injuries on children being to the neck or head.

Children under 12 years-old are at risk in 50 percent of dog attacks; 82 percent of the victims treated at the hospital are children 14 years-old or under. In addition, more than two-thirds of fatal dog attacks involve children ages 9 and under. Parents who leave their newborn unsupervised with a dog put their children at considerable risk of being attacked and killed. The odds of newborn deaths from dog attacks are 370 to 1 compared to an adult being attacked and killed by a dog.

Most pet owners have a misconception that their dog won't hurt anyone, especially if a dog is particularly friendly or accepting of visitors at home. Dog behavior is unpredictable and should never be taken lightly. According to doggone safe, the holidays are an extremely stressful time for dogs so pet owners should look for some clear warning signs from your dog when they become anxious. Stress signals include: tail is down or tucked between the legs, ears are pinned straight back, rapid panting, sweaty paw pads, furniture is used as a protective barrier, yawning or constant licking of chops, fur is raised on their back or the dog stares intensely at the person who is bothering them.

Pet owners should use the following dog bite prevention tips to help reduce the risk of injuries to visitors or children coming to your home this holiday season:

-Instruct visitors to leave their pets home. Too many dogs under one roof and engaged in stressful situations can make for a disaster.

-Children should be taught to leave a dog alone. If the dog approaches a small child, teach the child to stand still and let the dog get used to him or her before they try to reach and pet the animal.

-Dogs are protective by nature so don't encourage any horseplay or unusual activity that may cause the dog to react by attacking.

-Put your pet in a crate or enclosed room with a chew toy or bone until all the visitors arrive. Once everyone is settled, let the dog out to get acclimated to all the visitors on the dog's own terms.

-Remind everyone sitting at the table not to feed the dog, especially small children.

-Keep children and pets supervised at all times by assigning an adult to each one and making sure no incidents arise.

-Keep a close eye on your pet's body language to pick up on any non-verbal cues they may be giving off.

If your pet is showing signs of anxiety or aggression, don't take any chances around small children or visitors. Put the dog in a contained area to prevent a dog bite incident and reduce the risk of injury caused when someone is being attacked by an anxious pet.

Continue reading "Holiday Gatherings Can Stress Out Your Pets, Leading to an Increase in Dog Bite Injuries in Cook County, Statewide" »

Imagine sitting in a restaurant and the next thing you know a taxi cab lands inches away from where your table is located. Seems unlikely but alarmingly it happens in Chicago establishments. It just goes to show that patrons who dine out are not immune to a variety of dangers and possible injuries caused by a restaurant-related accident in Chicago or elsewhere.

Patrons at a newly opened restaurant in West Town found themselves in this situation recently but thankfully lived to tell about it. Chicago Sun Times reports the restaurant, with a full wall of storefront plate glass windows, is located on W. Division Street with nothing but a sidewalk between the restaurant and street. A handful of patrons were dining in the establishment around 10:15 a.m. when a taxi cab came crashing through the windows and landed partially inside the restaurant. The taxi cab hit tables and booths where the diners were sitting and injured two people. Local authorities report the cab driver lost control, possibly due to wet pavement, causing the cab to crash through the front windows. One injured patron was taken to Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, and authorities stated there were two passengers in the cab that may have also been injured.

Illinois personal injury lawyers can only imagine how scary a restaurant-related accident like this is when it occurs without warning and as quickly as the blink of an eye. We can assure you that restaurant and business owners have a responsibility to keep patrons, customers and employees safe. When an injury does occur, negligence or premise liability can often be traced back to the store or restaurant owner. In situations like these, establishment owners should take necessary precautions such as parking stops or protective barriers that keep vehicles from entering a building. A restaurant or store that lacks safety features or preventative measures, especially when lined with windows along the storefront, can lead to serious injuries or death for anyone dining or shopping at the time of an accident.

InsuringMyRestaurant.com offers these potential liabilities that can injure or harm patrons or employees:

-Food contamination through food poisoning or injury from hazardous substances located in the food.

-Property damage as a result of something done by the owner or one of your employees.

-Slip and fall accidents from objects displaced or left obstructing a path or lack of signage displayed to alert customers of a hazardous area on the premises.

-Liquor liability when an intoxicated patron causes property damage or personal injury.

-Assault or violent act either to a worker or patron by another employee or customer.

-Auto-related accidents either from valet service, delivery service, or any other accident that may involve a vehicle.

Patrons should always consider potential dangers before being seated in a restaurant. Look for wet floor signs to avoid a slip accident. Ask to be seated away from a patron you suspect could be intoxicated to avoid violence or an assault incident. Diners may also want to check reviews written for restaurants in your area to make sure there are no reported cases of contamination or food poisoning.

Continue reading "Chicago Restaurant Owners' Negligence Could Result in Injuries to Patrons " »

A recent firework accident in Chicago left a 47-year-old man dead, according to The Republic. The actual cause of death is currently being investigated by the DuPage County coroner's office. Witnesses believe his death was a direct cause of the exploding firework.

The man was reportedly lighting fireworks in a parking lot when one exploded near the ground and killed the man. Others suffered injury from the explosion, according to the Addison Fire Department.

Our Illinois personal injury lawyers recognize that the 4th of July holiday is quickly approaching and we urge all residents to be cautious when lighting off fireworks. Oftentimes the holiday can result in serious, and even fatal, injuries. We ask everyone to make safety as a number one priority for the upcoming holiday. Leaving the fireworks to the professionals is always your best bet.

The National Council on Firework Safety offers you these firework safety tips to help you celebrate injury free:

-Only light fireworks outdoors.

-Always keep water, either a hose or a bucket, near you when lighting fireworks.

-Never relight a "dud." Wait 20 minutes and then allow it to soak inside a bucket of water.

-One use fireworks as they're intended. Do not try to combine them together or alter their function.

-Obey local laws pertaining to the use of fireworks.

-Don't drink and light fireworks. Always have a "designated shooter."

-If you are the designated shooter, wear glasses when lighting a firework.

-Do not allow those under the age of 12 to handle sparklers or any other firework.

There were an estimated 7,000 people who were treated in emergency rooms for injuries from fireworks in 2008. This number averages out to more than 19 people severely injured from fireworks every day. More than half of the 7,000 injuries were sustained by children. More than two out of every three of injuries in 2009 happened between June 20th and July 20th, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of these injuries were to the hands and fingers, eyes and legs.

Most of the injuries from fireworks were caused by firecrackers as they resulted in approximately 900 injuries. Sparklers came in a close second as they caused roughly 800 injuries and firecrackers ranked third causing an estimated 500 injuries.

Continue reading "Season Approaching for Increased Risk of Firework Injuries in Illinois and Elsewhere" »

Trampoline accidents cause nearly 100,000 visits to emergency rooms each year, a Seattle Times article reports.

Our Illinois personal injury lawyers understand the devastating and life-altering injuries that can come from a recreational activity. Trampoline parks are becoming more popular throughout the U.S. and will likely increase the chances of injury caused by a trampoline accident in Chicago once more parks are established in our state.

Trampolines are a huge hit on the west coast, and three new parks have been proposed in Buffalo Grove, Naperville and Niles. Owners of the parks say it is a safe and fun activity for all ages, but critics aren't so sure. The Carol Stream park has been open since November and has already had 16 emergency ambulance calls. Injuries reported thus far have included head injuries, a broken ankle and a dislocated shoulder. One child escaped a serious injury when she landed on her neck and had momentary breathing difficulty and tingling in her arms.

Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, sees these parks as a breeding ground for catastrophic injuries. Backyard trampolines almost tripled the amount of trampoline injuries in the 1990s, including 11 deaths.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends only using trampolines in a supervised setting such as a gymnastics facility and discourages using them in backyards or allowing children younger than 6 to participate.

All customers must sign a waiver releasing trampoline parks from liability if they are injured or killed. Owners of the parks say that no activity is without risks. The Carol Stream park boasts that it has an injury rate of two per 1,000 customers, but the closest hospital to the park has seen a noticeable rise in the number of traumatic injuries since it opened. They have seen many youths come in with fractures to the legs and arms, and one patient with a broken neck. Parents of the injured children have told the ER staff they didn't realize how dangerous the park could be.

Park participants - the average age being 16 - must watch a safety video prior to getting on the trampolines. Some rules of the park include no running, no shoes, no roughhousing and no double bouncing. There is never to be more than one jumper on a trampoline at a time. Owners of the parks point out that football, basketball and bicycling produce more injuries than trampolines.

According to the Illinois Department of Labor, because trampoline parks have no moving apparatus, they are not regulated by any federal agency or state. Proposed trampoline parks fall to municipalities for review, but municipalities rarely get involved in safety issues. A former U.S. gymnast who insures gymnastics facilities won't sell the coverage to trampoline parks because he feels they don't provide adequate training and supervision. By contrast, at a gymnastics club, gymnasts are taught individually and held or "spotted" until they have sufficiently developed each new skill.

Continue reading "Trampoline parks in Chicago pose risk of serious injuries to children and adults" »

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" »

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys know that with the winter season, many Illinois families take weekend recreational getaways to the mountains for skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling. In other cases, a premise liability injury or car accident can bring the issue of insurance coverage to the forefront.

Along with the Illinois Department of Insurance Director Michael T. McRaith, we remind families that the time to review health, home, renter and car insurance policies for appropriate coverage is before you are involved in an Illinois injury accident.

McRaith advises policyholders that “whether you enjoy snowboarding or are traveling to a warm destination during the winter season, be sure to check your insurance policies to ensure you understand your coverage and have the right protections in place.” Our Illinois injury lawyer couldn’t agree more.

The IDI recommends that before hitting those recreational winter sports, double check your health insurance coverage and homeowner policies to know what coverage limits and deductibles you need to consider and what to do in the event you are injured while out-of-town.

Keep in mind that recreational gear is generally only covered up to a certain limit that may or may not be sufficient to completely replace your equipment. With that said, a recent article in the Chicago Tribune serves as a reminder that not all ski accidents happen at resorts. Just last week a backcountry skier was rescued by Rocky Mountain National Park rangers after the 55-year-old skier fell nearly 1,000 down a mountain.

As for snowmobiles, the Illinois General Assembly reminds Illinois snowmobile enthusiasts that as of April, 2011, amendments to the Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act go into effect. Mandatory liability insurance is among the requirements. Just in 2009, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources reports, there were 37 reported Illinois snowmobile accidents, one fatal.

Allstate Insurance provides the following tips for snowmobilers:

~ Know your terrain. Avoid crossing frozen bodies of water where you know there is no guarantee the icy surface will hold the weight of your ride.

~ Stow away a basic toolkit for emergency repairs. Be familiar enough with your machine to know how to make simple fixes.

~ Have a travel plan and ride with a buddy if you can. Tell someone where you are going, how long you plan to ride and when to expect you back.

Finally, the best way to avoid a travel disaster – from weather delays canceling your flight to an unexpected hospital stay – is to carry travel insurance. AOL Travel reports that can find domestic or international annual travel insurance that will cover everything “from acts of God to acts of terrorism” and can be invaluable to make last-minute rescheduling less nightmarish.

Continue reading "Proper insurance critical in event of a Chicago injury accident" »

Student athletes attending Chicago public or private schools will now have to produce written medical clearance before being allowed back on to the play or practice fields after demonstrating signs of a concussion, the Chicago Sun Times reports.

To enforce the ordinance, Chicago City Council members also agreed to use school exemptions from water and sewer fees as leverage against the non-compliant.

The anti-concussion ordinance spans elementary through high school aged students and includes practices as well as games. Our Illinois injury lawyers note that women’s hockey and soccer ranked first and second for sports posing the greatest risk of concussion. Football is third. With that said, the Centers for Disease Control report that slip-and-fall accidents and car accidents are the two most common causes for a Traumatic Brain Injury. Falls are responsible for more than a third of all traumatic brain injury accidents; car accidents another 17.3 percent.

That's right: A concussion falls into the same injury category as the brain injury suffered by Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head. Assault accounts for about 10 percent of all brain injuries.

A TBI can range in degree from mild to severe and is caused by a knock to the head sufficient in strength to disrupt “normal” brain function. A concussion is a TBI. So is a gunshot wound to the head. In short: a TBI can cause a headache, or it can be fatal. In every instance, a person sustaining a blow to the head should be examined immediately by a medical professional.

The CDC reports that 1.7 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury each year at a cost of $60 billion in medical care and time away from work. Of them, 52,000 die and another 275,000 require hospitalization. Concussions, or mild TBI, are responsible for about 75 percent of all TBI accidents. And more than a third of all injury-related fatal accidents are caused by a traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries are more commonly seen in men and young boys – infant to age 4 – have the highest rate of TBI-related emergency room visits, hospitalizations and fatalities.

Regarding concussion-type TBI specifically, the CDC provides the following details. A concussion can impact the injured person’s ability to think clearly and may affect sleep patterns and mood. In some patients recovery is quick; with others, symptoms can last weeks, even months.

~ PHYSICAL signs include: headache, blurred vision, nausea, sensitivity to noise and light, equilibrium dysfunction and exhaustion.

~ COGNITIVE signs include: inability to think clearly, concentrate, retain grasp of short-term information and confusion.
~ EMOTIONAL signs include: irritability, increased emotionalism, anxiety and sadness.

To recuperate, the CDC first and foremost recommends rest. Rest, patience (give yourself time to heal), and avoid alcohol and other drugs that may inhibit your recovery. Do not operate heavy equipment (at home or work) or drive a car until cleared to do so by a physician.

Continue reading "Concussions more than just a headache for injury victims in Chicago" »

Snowmobiling is a popular winter activity in Illinois, Michigan and throughout the Midwest. But like most motor operated vehicles, there are dangers to consider when driving or riding them.

During this winter season, our Chicago accident lawyers want you to be mindful of the dangers so that your hobby is a safe but enjoyable snowmobile riding experience.

The Peoria Journal Star reports that snowmobile accidents have been on the decline. Illinois, during the 2009-2010 winter season reported 37 accidents and one fatality. Previously in 2007-2008 there were 66 accidents and 7 fatalities reported.

Skiing accidents in Illinois are another winter danger. The National Ski Areas Association reports an average of 40 deaths per year occur in skiing accidents. And about 50 skiers suffer life-altering injuries, including paralysis, each year.

Snowmobile riding requires drivers to be aware of the many potential dangers. Engine noise, your helmet and weather conditions decrease your hearing and visibility while out on the trails. Protecting yourself and/or your passenger should be a top priority. Be on the look out for water, thin ice, snow drifts and branches on the trail. Pay attention to other snowmobiles, skiers, snowboarders and hikers that could be in the area.

Drinking alcohol and riding is never a good idea. Alcohol decreases your reaction time and will slow your response to an unforeseen situation. Alcohol also increases your vulnerability to the cold which could lead to hypothermia.

If you are charged with a DUI while driving a snowmobile it will result in your car driving privileges being suspended.

With so many potential obstacles to avoid, snowmobile riding at night is very dangerous. Your chances of getting lost are also a concern as the sun goes down. If you must ride at night; dress warmly with reflective clothing. Never go out alone, take someone with you who knows the area. And make sure all the lights are working on your machine.

If you must ride over frozen water, stay on the trail. The only time to leave the trail is if you or the rider in front of you hits slush. If you fall through the ice, kick hard until you reach the ice edge and pull yourself onto the ice. Then roll away from the opening and get help.

Dress warmly to make your snowmobiling adventure more enjoyable. Dress in layers that release moisture but retain the heat. Take extra clothes along in case you get wet. Sun glare off the snow can cause permanent eye damage, make sure to have UV protected helmet visor, goggles or sunglasses.

It is helpful to have a basic repair kit for your snowmobile including:
-Spare belts and spark plugs.
-Rope, duct tape, knife.
-Extra tools, nuts and bolts.
Don't be a victim of a Chicago accident this winter. Be smart and be safe.

Continue reading "Snowmobile accidents, skiing accidents, a winter danger in Illinois" »

An apartment fire off W. Jackson on the Near West Side left one elderly woman trapped upstairs in the rear of the building. Fire crews were able to locate and rescue the 80-year-old, who was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital and remains in critical condition. A second uninjured victim was also rescued, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Chicago premises liability lawyers know that more than 3,500 American are killed and another 20,000 are injured each year in home and apartment fires that are, in most cases, utterly preventable.

With winter quickly approaching, now is the time for landlords, property managers and homeowners to perform annual maintenance on fire safety equipment such as smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and sprinklers, and have furnaces and ventilation systems checked. It is also a good time for tenants and family members to review – or make – a fire safety plan that includes an exit plan and a meet-up point a good distance from the structure. If there are children in the home, hosting a mock fire drill can be a fun family exercise.

In the U.S., fire claims a life every 162 minutes and most victims succumb from smoke inhalation. Lit tobacco products is the most common cause for residential fire-related deaths and cooking equipment is responsible for most home fires and home fire injuries. In 2006, fire departments responded to 412,500 residential fires that claimed 2,620 lives and injured almost 13,000 Americans.

The Federal Emergency Management Administration and FireSafety.gov offer several tips to help families prepare, plan and respond in the event a fire erupts:

~ First and foremost: get out – now is not the time to worry about gathering material possessions. It takes less than 30 seconds for a small fire to become a killer.

~ NEVER re-enter a home or structure that is on fire.

~ NEVER open a door that is hot to the touch.

~ Smoke, toxic fumes and heat are far more dangerous than the fire itself. Heat can cause clothes to melt to skin and fumes can render a victim unconscious or damage lung tissue in a matter of seconds.

~ Expect darkness – fires are bright, but smoke is dense and dark – be prepared to find your way out in total darkness.

Continue reading "Apartment fires can lead to premise liability issues for Chicago landlords" »

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" »