DUI Driver Rear-Ends Chicago Cop

In one of the more boneheaded accidents I have heard about lately, an alleged DUI driver hit a Chicago cop car on Saturday night, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The accident happened in the 3800 block of West Lawrence Avenue around 8 pm when a man from the Northwest Side rear-ended an unmarked police car. The driver was later charged with driving while under the influence.

Two ambulances responded to the crash and the police officer was taken to Resurrection Medical Center in reportedly stable condition. The DUI driver refused treatment.

The hurt officer reportedly worked in the tactical unit. The exact nature of his injuries have not been reported. However, in a rear-end collision, back and neck injuries seem to be the most common in my experience.

Chicago Resident Killed In Motorcycle Accident

A Chicago woman died last Monday from injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash in Janesville, Wisconsin, according to the Gazette Xtra. The crash occurred last Saturday on a highway ramp connecting Interstate 90 & 39 to Highway 14 East.

The 42 year old woman was riding as a passenger on a motorcycle when the driver, also a Chicago resident, exited the interstate by mistake. When the driver braked and down shifted, he lost traction and the motorcycle hit the ground.

Both were taken by ambulance to an area hospital for medical treatment. The motorcycle driver was treated and released. Alcohol was not a factor in the accident. The Wisconsin State Police are handling the investigation.

In this type of case, the Estate of the passenger can make a claim against the motorcyclist and his liability insurance carrier. While the crash occurred in Wisconsin, it is likely that the lawsuit will be filed in Cook County, Illinois. Both people involved in the accident were from Chicago, and the personal injury lawyer that gets involved in the case will likely prefer to file suit here.

Fulton County, Georgia Jury Returns $2.3 Million Verdict for Botched Circumcision

A Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia jury has just returned this afternoon a verdict in the amount of $2.3 Million in a medical malpractice case involving a botched circumcision. The trial on March 16, 2009, and the jury deliberated from 10:30 a.m. yesterday until about 1:45 p.m. today, when they returned a verdict in the amount of $1.8 million for the minor child, and $500,000.00 for the mother.

The case involved an alleged botched circumcision, in which the young male child involved (who was 2-days old at the time of the incident), had about five millimeters (or about one-third) of his glans penis negligently removed during a circumcision procedure on November 6, 2004. This is obviously a significant permanent injury that will go with the child the rest of his life.

Defendants not only contended they had committed no negligence, and that any injury was an accepted risk of the procedure, but also somewhat surprisingly contended that the incident did not even occur, asserting that the child was suffering from a congenital deformity of the penis. I guess the jury just didn't buy that argument. There are some detractors of the Georgia Civil Justice System who might decry this verdict as excessive, but my guess is those who do have 100% of their penis. Bless this Fulton County jury for taking into the consideration the emotion toil this unnecessary deformity will have on this child as he grows into a young man...something he will have to live with every day of his life, all due through no fault of his own.

2 Year Old Pedestrian Hit And Killed By Car In Chicago

In Chicago, Illinois, a two year old boy died Saturday afternoon after being hit by a car in an alley, according to the Chicago Tribune. The pedestrian accident took place in the block of 7200 South Sacramento Avenue around 4:45 p.m.

The child was taken by ambulance to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and was pronounced dead around 90 minutes after the accident.

The driver, a 40 year old Chicago woman, was ticketed by the Chicago Police Department for failing to keep a proper lookout for a pedestrian in the road. The exact facts as to how the accident occurred have not been reported.

The NHTSA reports that in 2007, children 14 and under accounted for seven percent of pedestrian fatalities in the United States (306 out of 4,654 deaths). Of those child fatalities, 187 (61%) were male children. Nearly 100 of the children killed were ages 1-3. Eighty percent of the child pedestrian deaths took place at at non-intersection locations. In the same year, around 70,000 pedestrians were injured nationwide, and 14,000 of those injured were children 14 and under.

Chicago Police Officer Causes Deadly Car Accident

In Chicago, Illinois a deadly car crash early Friday morning has resulted in criminal charges against an off duty detective from the Chicago Police Department, according to chicagobreakingnews.com. The auto accident happened on the Dan Ryan and resulted in the deaths of two people after their car burst into flames.

The collision occurred when Joseph Frugoli, 41, rear-ended a vehicle that was disabled on the side of the expressway. His blood alcohol content was allegedly three times the legal limit of .08. He has been charged with reckless homicide, aggravated driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident. He is scheduled to appear for his bond hearing Sunday morning and in currently in police custody.

The police department has started an internal investigation and the detective has been relieved of his police powers. Reportedly, the detective was walking away from the crash scene when he was apprehended.

Andrew Cazares, 23, of Summit, Illinois and Fausto Manzera, 21, of Chicago were the victims in the accident. The crash took place around 3:30 a.m. near 18th Street in the southbound lanes of the Dan Ryan. Cazares had pulled his Dodge over to the side of the highway, possibly for a flat tire, when a Lexus SUV driven by the detective slammed into them.

Click here for an accident photo.

This is the second deadly hit-and-run car crash in the news over the past several days where the at fault driver tried to walk off from a deadly accident. In California, a minivan ran a red light and killed LA Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart. The defendant fled the scene on foot and was captured by police a short time later.

Chicago's Top Cop To Get Tough On DUI Police Officers

In Chicago, Illinois, just days after an off-duty detective rear-ended and killed two people in a car accident on the Dan Ryan Expressway, Police Superintendent Jody Weis is saying that he is going to change how the department handles cops that drive while intoxicated, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. A new policy is now in place that notifies a watch commander whenever there is a possible cop DUI. The watch commander must then go out to the scene of the occurrence. The policy is to apply to both on duty and off duty officers.

Fifteen officers were arrested last year for DUI, compared with eight in 2007. Some of those arrests were well publicized. As for last week's accident, the detective's blood alcohol level was allegedly three times the legal limit. He has been charged with reckless homicide, DUI and leaving the scene of an accident.

Last week's accident received more unwanted attention this week when the Judge set bond in the amount of $500,000. There were protests at the Courthouse when this occurred, as family and friends of the victims felt the officer received preferential because of his employment. The detective has posted bail and will appear in Court again on May 1, 2009.

Chicago Area Couple Injured By Falling Arches At McDonald's

A Naperville, Illinois couple has been seriously injured in a bizarre accident at a McDonald's in Eastern Arizona, according to the Daily Herald. A giant set of golden arches fell and crushed their SUV.

They were reportedly just sitting in the parking lot in a Chevy Trailblazer when high winds toppled the arches over. The winds were in excess of 55 m.p.h. The accident took place on Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. on the Navajo Nation reservation in Window Rock.

One occupant sustained a large laceration on his head. The other had to be freed from the vehicle by emergency personnel and had head, neck, back and arm injuries. They were taken to a local hospital by ambulance, however the female victim was later airlifted to a hospital in Phoenix, AZ and is reportedly in critical condition.

It has not been reported if the couple has retained a personal injury lawyer, but there is a good chance that they will. The couple has a strong premises liability case against McDonald's. Giant golden arches do not fall over in the wind unless someone was negligent.