Illinois Injury Attorney Blog

Emily W. Myers, 21, and Alex E. Myers, 23, both from Arcola, Illinois, were injured when a truck ran the Ford Taurus being operated by Emily Myers off of Interstate 74 near Mansfield, Illinois, on Thursday night.

Both Emily and Alex had to be extracted by emergency personnel after their car hit a ditch embankment, flipping over twice, skidding across the eastbound interstate lanes and coming to rest in the eastbound lanes facing west. By the time the vehicle stopped, the driver's door was pinned against the guard rail. The Pair were both wearing seat-belts, and were taken to Provena Covenant Medical Center in Urbana, Illinois, where they were treated and released.

According to the accident report, Illinois State Police (out of Pesotum), found that Emily Myers was driving in the right westbound lane, before she attempted to pass a semi-tractor trailer that was driving next to her on Interstate 74 at about 8:45 p.m. Thursday evening. As Myers attempted to pass the semi-truck, reportedly operated by Mark E. King, 44, of Rockford, Illinois, King moved into the left lane and caused Myers' car move off the Interstate to avoid impact.

King was ticketed for improper lane usage, state police reported.

Continue reading "ARCOLA RESIDENTS INJURED AFTER THEIR CAR IS FORCED OFF THE ROAD BY A TRUCK ON INTERSTATE 74" »

Champaign police were forced to close the east and westbound lanes of Interstate 74 for about 10 to 15 minutes while a utility pole was put back in place by AmerenIP workers following a one-car accident that cut power to more than one hundred homes on Sunday morning. According to Champaign police, an eastbound car left Bloomington Road causing it to strike a utility pole and roll over twice. The impact forced Bloomington Road to close for several hours and cut off power to 117 residences and businesses for several hours.

The driver of the car, whom has not yet been identified, was apparently uninjured. While there was not mention of any tickets being issued, the AP reported that police did not believe the man was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He reportedly hit a patch of ice. There were no other passengers in the vehicle.

Continue reading "SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT ON BLOOMINGTON ROAD IN CHAMPAIGN ILLINOIS CUTS OFF POWER TO 117 HOMES" »

At around 7 p.m. Thursday evening, two Jeffersonville, Indiana police officers responded to reports of a domestic dispute at a Jeffersonville Motel 6 on Eastern Boulevard. When the officers arrived, guests reported that a man pulled a gun and shot the two officers. Jefferson police department reported that both officers, 39 year-old Dan Lawhorn and 32 year-old Keith Broady, were transported to University Hospital in stable condition.

SWAT officers and members of the Jeffersonville Police Department surrounded the motel searching for the suspect.

Continue reading "TWO JEFFERSONVILLE INDIANA POLICEMEN SHOT WHILE INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS OF DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE AT NEARBY MOTEL 6" »

Richard A. Shatto, a 38-year-old Hoopeston man, was killed in a Vermillion County Illinois car accident at 12:11 a.m. Sunday on Illinois 9 just west of Rankin, Illinois. According to police, Shatto was driving a 1997 Chevy Lumina west on Illinois Highway 9 when his car left the road and hit a guardrail. The vehicle then corrined into a field and turned over. According to reports, Mr. Shatto was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle. Although he was airlifted by helicopter to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 1:30 a.m. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Continue reading "HOOPESTON ILLINOIS MAN KILLED IN SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY 9 JUST WEST OF RANKIN ILLINOIS" »

The Champaign County Coroner's office has confirmed that Richard Shatto, 38, of Hoopeston, was the decedent driver in a one-car accident at 12:11 a.m. Sunday on Illinois Route 9 west of Rankin in Vermilion County. Shatto was pronounced dead just after 1:30 a.m. Sunday at Carle Foundation Hospital, after the 1997 Chevy Lumina he was driving westbound left the roadway, striking a guard rail and ejecting him while overturning in a field.

Continue reading "VERMILLION COUNTY MAN DIES IN A ONE-CAR ACCIDENT ON ROUTE 9 WEST OF RANKIN ILLINOIS" »

At approximately 3 am, January 17, 1009, a Central Illinois teen lost control of his vehicle and struck a utility pole. Autopsy report confirmed that 18-year-old Alexander Smith died from injuries sustained in the one-car accident. The accident occurred at County Road 1000 N near the intersection of County Road 1700 East. Preliminary investigation has lead the Sheriff's Department to believe that Smith lost control of his vehicle causing the same to collide with the utility pole.

Local media outlet, WCIA 3 News, spoke with Smith's parents, who were told the news of their son's untimely death while vacationing in Florida. They reportedly flew back to Central Illinois Saturday.

According to his parents, Alex was an only child. His father described him as "a kind-hearted young man who was loved by everyone he ever met". Alex was taking mechanic classes at Parkland Community College, and had recently moved to a Philo apartment complex.

The Illinois Worker's Compensation Commission issued new rates as both the state’s average weekly wage and the state’s minimum wage again increased. The new statewide average weekly wage effective for the period July 15, 2008 through January 14, 2009 is $912.56.

This means the maximum TTD rate is increased to $1,216.75. This makes the minimum rate for death benefits, permanent total disability benefits, and member amputation rate benefits equal to $456.28.

Further, the state’s minimum wage increased on July 1, 2008 from $7.50 an hour to $7.75 an
hour. Therefore, the Commission instituted new minimum temporary total disability and
permanent partial disability rates. These new minimums starting with accident
dates on July 1, 2008are as follows:

Single with no dependents $206.67;
Married, no child or single with 1 child, $237.67;
Married with 1 child or single with 2 children, $268.67;
Married with 2 children or single with 3 children, $299.67;
Married with 3 children or single with 4 children, $310.00 (maximum).
The maximum permanent partial disability rate also increased as of July 1, 2008, but this rate
will not go into effect until the rate is published sometime in December 2008.

Continue reading "ILLINOIS WORKER'S COMPENSATION COMMISSION ISSUES NEW RATES" »