Author Archives: abryant633

Beware Of New “Traffic Ticket” Scam Aimed At Illinois Drivers

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I wrote earlier this year about a texting scam sent to Illinois drivers regarding fake unpaid tolls. The scammers would send a text threatening drivers license suspensions if the fines were not paid.

The scammers are back at again. NBC 5 Chicago reported this week that a new phishing scam has surfaced. Text messages stating there are “outstanding traffic ticket” with a “final notice” from a number purporting to be the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles. The fake messages warn that if the fines are not paid within 24 hours it could lead vehicle registration suspension, prosecution, credit score impact, and a 35% fee at tolls.

We know these are fake text messages because there is no such thing as the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles. Vehicles are registered through the Illinois Secretary of State’s office.

The Illinois Secretary of State’s office previously issued a warning back in May regarding the similar phishing scam: “These are not legitimate messages from the Illinois Department of Transportation,” a banner on IDOT’s website said. “If you receive a message report it to the Federal Trade Commission and/or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.”

If you receive one of these messages, please remember to ignore and do not click on any of the links as that could lead to stolen personal information on your phone.

If you or a loved one has been injured in Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then reach out to the Chicago personal injury attorneys at The Bryant Law Group, LLC. for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Cook County Sheriff Department Gets Creative In Traffic Safety Initiative

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Fox 32 Chicago reported recently about the Cook County Sheriff Department’s initiative to stop drivers from going onto the shoulders of highways. According to the report, the department is using helicopters to spot drivers who illegally use the shoulder to bypass traffic.

In a late September social media post, the department reported that in a three hours span, deputies issued 120 tickets to motorists caught driving on the shoulder. Of those, 49 were flagged by helicopter surveillance. The Department announced that they had issued over 1000 tickets. Fines for these violations can run from $250 to $1000. Shoulder driving is a moving violation and will affect driver license status if the tickets are not amended.

The Sheriff’s Department insists that this initiative is about safety and not about meeting ticket quotas. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), there were 585 fatal car crashes on road shoulders nationwide in 2023.

Think twice if you are considering taking the shoulder the next you are sitting in a traffic jam in or around Chicago. The Cook County Sheriff’s Department could be watching from above and issue you a very expensive ticket.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then call the Illinois personal injury lawyers at The Bryant Law Group, LLC for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Chicago’s Kennedy Express Lanes Fully Open

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Chicago commuters recieved great news as they were heading to work monday morning. As reported by NBC Chicago and announced by the Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”), the inbound and outbound express lanes on 1-90/94 were fully operational as Monday morning.

Construction on the Kennedy is scheduled to resume through the rest of the fall as construction continues on several outbound ramps. The Wilson Avenue exit ramp is set to close Monday night for an estimated two weeks. The currently closed outbound Kennedy ramp to Division Street should reopen in mid-October. And the Ontario Street feeder ramp to the outbound Kennedy will be shut down in the next week or two. IDOT insists that the entire project will be completed by Thanksgiving.

The inbound express lanes opening is a huge relief for many Chicago commuters. Since this summer it can take over an hour to commute from O’Hare airport to the downtown loop. Hopefully these openings will ease commute times.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or suffered a personal injury, please reach out to the Chicago accident lawyers at The Bryant Law Group, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Kennedy Expressway Contruction Project Nearing End

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There is a light at the end of the tunnel for Chicagoans who travel on I-90/94 Kennedy expressway. The Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) announced this week that they are nearing the end of the years long project.

According to ABC 7 On Wednesday, IDOT reopened three major outbound Kennedy exit ramps: Kimball Avenue, Addison Street and Pulaski Road/Irving Park Road (Illinois 19). The Kimball Avenue ramp to outbound Kennedy was closed on Tuesday night, IDOT said. It is expected to reopen in approximately three weeks. The outbound Kennedy ramp to Addison Street was also closed, it is anticipated to reopen in approximately three weeks. All northbound lanes north of Addison street are now oben.

These recent lane and exit openings are a huge relief for commuters in and out of the city and especially those who are driving to O’Hare airport. If a driver gets on 90/94 north of Ontario, they miss the only onramp to the express lane which has caused terrible gridlock for northbound drivers all summer.

IDOT states that the project will be completely finished on time by Thanksgiving. That cannot come soon enough.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call the Illinois personal injury attorneys at the Bryant Law Group, LLC at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

New Bike Path Connecting Lakefront Trails Coming to North Side of Chicago

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The Chicago Department of Transportation (“CDOT”) commitment to making the city more bicycle friendly and make bike transportation more accessible, is coming to fruition with a new northside bike path. According to Blockclub Chicago, the city is compleing a 2.5-mile bike route connecting the North Shore Channel Trail and Chicago’s lakefront trail. The path will lead to Winnemac Park, Andersonville’s Clark Street and the Asia on Argyle corridor.

CDOT told Blockclub that the only remaining stretch of the path that needs to be completed is of a 1 mile stretch between Damen Broadway through Ravenswood and Uptown. An exact timeline has not been announced, but it is expected to be finished before the end of the year.

The project is called “Winnemac Avenue Neighborhood Greenway.” Neighborhood greenways are bike routes on residential streets that include larger bike lanes (typically on oneway streets) and provide safer and calmer routes than biking on busy streets. You can view a map of the Winnemake greenway by clicking here.

A similar neighborhood greenway was constructed on Dickens street, that stretches from the 606 trail on the west side all the way to the Lincoln Park Zoo and the lake front. Dickens is a a west direction oneway street, but now contains a large bike lane that allows bicyclists to ride in both directions.

I continue to applaud these efforts by the city to improve bicycle accessiblity, especially allowing for paths throughout the city that are calmer and more kid friendly. This is not only safer for bicyclists, but will hopefully lead to less congested roads.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago bicycle accident or a Chicago traffic accident, then call the Chicago injury lawyers at The Bryant Law Group, LLC. for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go to the firm’s website directly at www.blgchicago.com.

Phase 2 Of Grand Avenue Contruction To Begin In 2026

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According to Block Club Chicago and the Chicago Department of Transportation (“CDOT”), a long awaited road improvement project on Grand Avenue will not begin until next year. CDOT announced earlier this week that the city is still going through a formal bidding process for the contruction, which will delay the start, which was originally announced in the summer of 2024.

The project along Grand Avenue, which stretches from Chicago Avenue to Ogden, will include additional protected bike lanes, slower speed limits, bus boarding islands, utility and structural work.

The first phase of the Grand avenue project, which stretched from Chicago Avenue to Damen, was completed last summer.

I applaud these road projects that have occurred piece by piece through the city the last five plus years. The additions of dedicated bike lanes and newer and protected CTA bus stops, makes busy streets and intersections much safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. Also, hopefully, reduce the number of cars on the road, by encouraging people to bike, walk and take public transportation. Also the streets (like Grand) look much nicer and more modern once construction is completed.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago bicycle accident, then call the Chicago accident lawyers at the Bryant Law Group, LLC for a free legal consutlation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Construction On State & Lake CTA Station Begins This Week

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According to ABC 7 Chicago, construction on the CTA train station at State and Lake began this week, which will cause quite a few street closures over the next few weeks and months. The CTA train station, which is over 100 years old, will remain open during construction, but will receive wider platforms and new elevators. The initial phase of the construction project is expected to take four (4) months.

Despite the train stop staying open, there will be multiple street closures that may affect your commute should you take the bus, drive, bike or drive into the downtown loop. Here are the following street closures:

  1. Starting this week: Lake from Dearborn Street to Wabash Avenue will be reduced to one lane.
  2. Next week: State Street lanes will be shut down.
  3. State Street from Lake to Randolph Street will be reduced to one lane in both directions.

You can see an artist rendition of the new station by clicking here.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call the Chicago personal injury attorneys at The Bryant Law Group at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Road Safety Improvements Coming To Brighton Park Neighborhood

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Block Club Chicago reported recently that there are several road improvements and additional bicycle lanes coming in the Brighton Park neighborhood along Kedzie and Archer avenues.

The Chicago Department of Transportation (“CDOT”) announced that there will be a complete redesign on Archer Avenue from Western Avenue to 47th Street and South Kedzie Avenue from 28th Street to Archer Avenue. The improvements are part of what the city has called the “Complete Streets Initiative.”

The announced plans include 4 miles of protected bike lanes, added left turn lanes, concrete pedestrian islands, curb extensions and updated bus shelters.

These are much needed improvements as this stretch of roads was considered dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists. According to city officials, Brighton Park had 43 percent more traffic fatalities than other neighborhoods in Chicago. Of the 6,439 traffic accidents on those stretches of the streets from 2019-2023, there were 1,426 people injured and 14 people killed, with half of those killed being pedestrians despite the population only being involved in 2 percent of all car crashes. “The goal of the proposed street transformations is to make Brighton Park a safer neighborhood for drivers, bicyclists and people on foot”, officials said. The new outlet did not provide a timeline on when the project will be completed.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago pedestrian accident, then call the Chicago personal injury attorneys at The Bryant Law Group, LLC., for a free consultation at 312-614-1076, or go directly to the firm’s website www.blgchicago.com.

Jackson County, IL Sheriff Ramping Up Traffic Safety Enforcement

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The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department is joining hundreds of other Illinois law enforcement agencies in the effort to increase traffic safety over the 4th July holiday. The traffic safety campaigns include “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” “Drive High Get a DUI,” and “Click It or Ticket.” The sheriff’s department are deploying additional traffic patrol officers, which is supported by federal traffic safety funds from the Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”). These efforts are part of IDOT’s broader “It’s Not a Game” media campaign, highlighting the dangers of impaired driving.

The initiative will focus on catching impaired and unbuckled drivers from June 20 through July 7. “We’re asking all of our residents and visitors to celebrate Independence Day safely,” said Sgt. Ronald Stanton from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.

4th of July is a busy time on the roads, which a lot of celebrations. Please buckle up and always have a designated driver in your group.

Should you or a loved one unforturnately suffer a serious injury from an Illinois traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then call the Chicago car accident attorneys at The Bryant Law Group, LLC. for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to to the firms website at www.blgchicago.com.

Swim Safety Tips For Kids

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School is out, summer is here and pools are open. This is a fun time of year for all and it’s a great time to remind ourselves how to keep our kids safe at the pool. If you haven’t already, it’s a great time to get your kids into swim lessons. If time or money is an issue, the Red Cross has free online lessons that can be accessed here. Also, the Chicago Park District offers affordable aquatic lessons ($20-$50 for 8 week sessions) at multiple city pools.

The American Red Cross releases swimming safety tips every year, which I have provided below:

  • Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards. Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone.
  • Provide close and constant attention to children you are supervising, even when a lifeguard is present, no matter how well the child can swim or how shallow the water. Avoid distractions including cell phones.
  • Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
  • Designate a “water watcher” whenever in a group setting.
  • Stay within an arm’s reach of any weak or inexperienced swimmer who is in the water. 
  • Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.
  • Do not rely on the use of water wings, swim rings, inflatable toys or other items designed for water recreation to replace adult supervision. 
  • If you have a pool, secure it with appropriate barriers to prevent unsupervised access to the water.
  • If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
  • Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
  • Have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit.
  • Enroll in age-appropriate Red Cross water orientation and learn-to-swim courses.
  • Enroll in Red Cross home pool safety, water safety, first aid and CPR/AED courses to learn how to prevent and respond to emergencies.

Have fun this summer but be always take precautions. If you or a loved one have a suffered personal injury or an accident in Chicago, then call the Chicago accident attorneys at The Bryant Law Group, LLC., for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go to the firms website at www.blgchicago.com.