Articles Posted in Car Accident

Hit and run accidents are a troubling and unfortunately common occurrence in Chicago’s busy streets. A hit and run crash happens when a driver involved in a collision leaves the scene without stopping to provide contact information, rendering aid, or reporting the incident to law enforcement. Illinois law strictly prohibits leaving the scene of an accident, and doing so can carry both criminal penalties and civil liability. In 2021, Illinois saw a significant increase in fatal hit and run crashes, with 117 reported incidents statewide, nearly 48 percent occurring in Chicago alone, a clear indication of the disproportionate impact on the city’s roadways. Hit and runs often leave victims feeling shocked, vulnerable, and unsure where to turn next, especially when injuries, medical bills, and property damage are involved. The actions a victim takes immediately after the incident can deeply affect their health outcomes, insurance coverage, and ability to recover compensation. Continue reading

Rideshares (Uber, Lyft, and other Transportation Network Providers, or TNPs) are an entrenched part of Chicago’s transportation network. They offer convenience, reduced need for parking, and often a safer alternative to drunk driving. But rideshares also create unique safety and legal issues: from verifying that the vehicle picking you up is the right one, to understanding who’s liable if a crash or assault occurs. In this blog, we discuss practical, Chicago-specific safety tips for riders, summarize the legal and insurance landscape you should know, and explain what to do if you’re injured in a rideshare crash. Continue reading

Car accidents often look sudden and obvious: bent metal, airbags, broken glass, but many of the injuries caused by motor vehicle collisions don’t announce themselves right away. Some symptoms take hours, days, or even weeks to appear. That delay can affect your health and your ability to protect your legal rights. In this blog, we explain why symptoms can be delayed, the most common delayed injuries and warning signs, helpful statistics, and clear next steps you should take after a collision. Continue reading

Driving downtown Chicago, whether you’re commuting into the Loop, delivering goods, or navigating crowded side streets after a late shift, demands constant attention. Congested intersections, pedestrians, bicyclists, streetcars, delivery vehicles, and unpredictable traffic patterns leave almost no margin for error. When a driver is tired, that small margin disappears. Fatigue slows reaction time, blurs judgment, and produces microsleeps, all of which create a real and immediate risk to everyone of a serious car accident. In this blog, we discuss why driver fatigue is especially dangerous in an urban environment like downtown Chicago and explain what to do if fatigue-related negligence causes you harm. Continue reading

When people talk about a car’s “black box,” they usually mean the vehicle’s event data recorder (EDR). An EDR is an electronic device built into a vehicle that captures short bursts of technical data immediately before, during, and after a car accident, things like vehicle speed, brake use, airbag deployment, and sometimes steering or accelerator inputs. EDRs don’t record conversations or continuous GPS history like a phone app, they capture a snapshot of the seconds surrounding an “event” such as a collision. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) explains that EDRs are intended to improve traffic-safety research and crash investigation by providing objective, sensor-based records of a crash. Continue reading

The Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/I-94) is one of Chicago’s busiest and most critical traffic corridors, funneling commuter, commercial, and long-distance traffic through the city’s south side. Its high volumes, complex interchanges, and frequent weather swings make the Dan Ryan a location where a single mistake or a sudden hazard can quickly cascade into a multi-vehicle pileup. These car accidents are not only disruptive, closing lanes for hours, they also cause major injuries and fatalities and complicate insurance and liability questions for victims. In this blog, we explain why pileups happen on the Dan Ryan, summarize what the data and news reports show, list common injuries and legal challenges, and provide practical steps crash victims should take after a car accident. Continue reading

When maneuvering through the heart of Chicago, you may find yourself questioning whether a U-turn is allowed, and more importantly, whether it’s safe. The rules may differ subtly from the rest of Illinois, and the risks are tangible: U-turns can lead to serious, and sometimes deadly, car accidents. This blog unpacks the law, local restrictions, accident data, and practical advice for navigating, or avoiding, U-turns in Chicago. Continue reading

“Full coverage” is a phrase most drivers toss around like it’s a single, well-defined product, but it isn’t. When someone says they have “full coverage,” they usually mean they have more than the state-required liability; what they actually have is a bundle of different coverages, each with its own rules, limits, and fine print. That misunderstanding can cost you time, money, and leverage after a car accident. This post peels back the marketing-speak and explains, in plain English, what those coverages are, how they affect a car accident claim, and what you should do to protect yourself. Continue reading

A car accident can be a jarring and overwhelming experience, leaving you unsure of what steps to take. However, the actions you take immediately after an accident can significantly impact your safety, health, and ability to recover compensation for your injuries.

At John J. Malm & Associates, we understand the challenges Chicago car accident victims face. With over 90 years of combined litigation experience and a proven track record of recovering millions for our clients, our award-winning team is here to help you navigate this difficult time. Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do after a car accident to protect your rights and ensure the best possible outcome. Continue reading

If you drive Chicago’s Eisenhower Expressway—better known as I‑290—you know it can feel like a battlefield. Long stretches of heavy, stop-and-go traffic. Mash-ups with I‑294, I‑88, and I‑90. Short ramps. Sudden bottlenecks. It all adds up to a roadway infamous for crashes. In fact, the Illinois Department of Transportation reports that on one particular 8‑mile stretch between Manheim Road and Cicero Avenue, around 2,000 accidents happen each year.

But what makes I‑290 so crash-prone? In this blog, we discuss the top six causes of car accidents on I-290 and what you can do if you suffered injuries in a crash. Continue reading