On behalf of Law Offices of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
It was recently reported that more than 26,000 claims for workers' compensation were filed for Illinois state employees between 2007 and 2010. These claims resulted in payment by the state of $295 million in workers' compensation benefits. Some of these claims -- though certainly not all -- were made by corrections workers for carpal tunnel syndrome.
The Belleville News-Democrat reported that the prison guards at the Menard Correctional Center received approximately $10 million in benefits from workers' compensation over a three-year period starting in 2008.
On behalf of Law Offices of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
An Illinois man tragically lost his life in the early-morning hours of April 30. Reports say the 54-year-old was driving to work when he was killed by an intoxicated wrong-way driver. The fatal accident forced the closure of a busy Illinois highway as police investigated the scene and responders cleared debris from the road.
The crash happened around 4:30 a.m. when the car of the 24-year-old wrong-way driver collided head-on with the car of the now-deceased man. Reports indicate that the impact caused the 54-year-old's car to violently bounce across the highway before coming to a stop.
On behalf of Law Offices of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Illinois State Police respond to many incidents throughout the state each night. On April 21 they reported being called to a single-car accident late in the evening. The accident resulted in the death of one man and critical injuries to at least one other.
Unfortunately, the driver of the vehicle fled the scene on foot, and police were still looking for him at the time of a local news report. He left behind a deceased 26-year-old and one other passenger who was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries.
On behalf of Law Offices of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, April 27, 2012
A recent two-car collision in Illinois required that a man be extricated from his vehicle and transported to a local hospital. The crash caused major damage to the vehicles involved, and the 33-year-old driver who was apparently at fault for the crash was cited for failing to reduce speed to avoid a car accident.
The collision happened during the daylight hours. Though the 41-year-old who was injured in the crash slowed his car and signaled that he was going to turn, the other driver apparently failed to react accordingly. The 33-year-old crashed his SUV into the rear of the 41-year-old's car, forcing the smaller vehicle into a ditch.
On behalf of Law Offices of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Illinois police reported a five-car accident in Belleville on April 9 that resulted in a number of injuries. As many as five people were said to have been hospitalized as a result of the chain-reaction car accident. The incident occurred at approximately 3:45 in the afternoon at the intersection of Illinois 161 and Royal Heights Road. Two of the highway's eastbound lanes were closed for about an hour and a half after the collision.
While there was no preliminary word as to what initially caused the accident, each succeeding vehicle apparently struck the one in front of it. Two vehicles, a Volkswagen Jetta and a blue truck, were badly damaged in the crash. Between three and five victims ended up in the hospital, though all injuries were said to be non-life-threatening. There was no further word on the medical condition of any victim.
On behalf of Law Offices of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Belleville residents know that when people drive while under the influence of alcohol, the consequences are often devastating. Motorcyclists, in particular, may be at a greater risk of serious injury when people operate larger vehicles while drunk. That was certainly the case for six Illinois motorcyclists when a man now charged with drunk driving hit them with his pickup truck. Several of the motorcyclists were seriously injured, and sadly the crash took a Pinckney woman's life.
The fatal accident happened near Tamaroa when the driver of the pickup tried to change lanes. When he did, his vehicle sideswiped a van. The truck then veered out of control into another lane, hitting a motorcycle driven by a 61-year-old man from Pinckneyville. Both he and his 42-year-old passenger sustained minor injuries that were soon treated at the scene.
On behalf of Law Offices of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, April 4, 2012
A recent car accident in the northern part of the state brings up some important considerations for Southern Illinois residents who have been injured in multi-vehicle accidents. Police say that four drivers were involved in the crash, which ultimately sent six people to local hospitals. The vehicles involved in the multi-car crash collided almost simultaneously, and authorities have treated the collisions as one car accident.
According to a news report, a car headed eastbound on an Illinois highway apparently crossed the center line and struck an approaching vehicle. Following this initial collision, another car hit the second vehicle from behind. Then a fourth vehicle also entered into the mix. The drivers of all of the vehicles, along with two passengers, were taken away from the scene for medical treatment.
On behalf of Law Offices of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Monday, March 26, 2012
According to Illinois State Police, a tragic car accident in Benton took the life of a 6-year-old girl from Du Quoin. A local news report says the crash happened when the 32-year-old driver of the vehicle transporting the child and other passengers failed to stop at a stop sign. The vehicle collided with an SUV, and victims in both vehicles were seriously injured in the car accident.
Another young child in the first vehicle was seriously injured, as was a 30-year-old passenger. In the SUV, two people, including the driver, suffered major injuries, while two others in the same vehicle were said to have sustained less serious injuries. All parties involved in the accident were apparently wearing seatbelts. They were all taken to hospitals in Illinois and St. Louis for treatment.
On behalf of Law Offices of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. posted in Truck Accidents on Thursday, March 22, 2012
An Illinois interstate was closed on March 17 for approximately 10 hours after two semi-trucks crashed. The fiery truck accident occurred on Interstate 70 near Brownstown in Fayette County. Sadly, one driver died, and the other was seriously injured in the collision.
The accident happened when one of the men, who had stopped his truck to correct an equipment malfunction, attempted to re-enter traffic from the right shoulder. As the truck moved onto the road, it was hit by the other tractor-trailer from behind. The impact caused the second truck to burst into flames, trapping its driver inside.
On behalf of Law Offices of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, March 16, 2012
Southern Illinois residents know that seat belts are intended to keep us safe during a car accident. However, if high speeds are involved or depending on the angle of impact, a seatbelt may not be enough. Sadly, this was the situation last week in which a car was hit by an SUV. All parties involved were wearing their seatbelts, yet serious injuries resulted, and a 6-year-old girl lost her life.
According to a news report, a car was travelling westbound on Park Street Road in Du Quoin when it was struck by an SUV traveling southbound on Illinois 148. Apparently, the SUV did not stop at the intersection's stop sign and drove into the path of the oncoming car.
