Tag Archives: Chicago truck accident

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

Date
Posted by

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

Date
Posted by

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.

Kennedy Expressway Contruction Project Nearing End

Date
Posted by

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.

Construction On State & Lake CTA Station Begins This Week

Date
Posted by

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.

Jackson County, IL Sheriff Ramping Up Traffic Safety Enforcement

Date
Posted by

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.

Chicago’s State Street Bridge Closes For Repairs

Date
Posted by

The State Street Bridge which is located over the Chicago River and connects the River North and downtown Loop neighborhoods closed earlier this month for emergency repairs. According the the Chicago Department of Transportation (“CDOT”), they recenty became aware of structural problems that needed to be addressed.

A CDOT spokesperson stated that they will begin critical structural repairs that will require a full closure of the bridge to vehicles and pedestrians through November 2025. The spokesperson stated, “as with all our bridges CDOT has been closely monitoring its condition and recent inspection identified deterioration that prompted us to move this repair project forward to ensure continued safety into the operation of the bridge.”

Te bridge repairs will include rehabbing the center locks, steel elements at its center, and replacing worn components that have damaged the roadway during extreme heat.

If you commute into the loop for work by foot, car or bus, this could affect your timing if you take State Street to arrive downtown. The 36 bus has been re-routed to the adjacent bridge. Although construction like this can be annoying for those who live and work downtown, it is improtant that these older bridges are stabilized and brought up to code to aboid any type of catostrophic accident in the future.

Should you or someone you love become seriously injured in a Chicago pedestrian accident or Chicago truck accident, then call the Chicago accident attorneys at The Bryant Law Group, LCC., for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or you can go directly to our website at www.blgchicago.com.

AAA Predicting Record Travel For Memorial Day weekend

Date
Posted by

AAA announced this week that it expects 2025 to be record breaking year for U.S. travelers on the road and in the air Memorial Day Weekend. Despite inflation worries, Americans will be traveling en mass this coming weekend. From Thursday, May 22 to Monday, May 26, travel forecast is an projects increase of 1.4 million travelers compared to last year and, which would set a new Memorial Day weekend record. The previous record was set back in 2005 with 44 million people. AAA has provided drivers with some tips on how to avoid the worst traffic times to help get you to your destination quickly and most importantly, safely.

AAA provided the following best and worst days and times to travel:

Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car 
Date Worst Travel Time Best Travel Time 
Thursday, May 22 1:00 – 9:00 PM Before 12:00 PM 
Friday, May 23 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM Before 11:00 AM 
Saturday, May 24 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM Before 12:00 PM 
Sunday, May 25 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Before 1:00 PM 
(Memorial Day) Monday, May 26 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM Before 2:00 PM 

If you are hitting the road this weekend, be sure to plan ahead and use appropriate safety measures, which means always buckling up and putting your phone away if you are behind the wheel.

Should you or a loved one become injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then call the Chicago accident attorneys at the The Bryant Law Group, LLC., for free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Chicago Adding 11 New Speeder Cameras

Date
Posted by

Multiple news outlets, including WGN, reported this week that the city of Chicago is installing eleven (11) new speeder cameras throughout the city. Speeder cameras, which have long drawn the ire of Chicago residents, will issue a $35 fine for driving 6-10 mph over the speed limit and a $100 fine for those and going 11 mph or more over the limit. These tickets are considered non-moving violations and do not affect your driving record.

The city continues to contend that these cameras are strictly a safety measure and were installed to protect pedestrians, bicyclists and other drivers. Many who live in the city believe they are simply a money grab.

Regardless, the speeder cameras appear to be here for the long haul. The following locations begin enforcement on May 15:

  • 2640 W Peterson Ave – Green Briar Park
  • 6614 N Central Ave – Edgebrook Park
  • 442 E 71st St – Meyering (William) Park
  • 8553 S Martin Luther King Dr – Cole (Nat King) Park
  • 7733 S Cottage Grove Ave – Hirsch Metropolitan High School
  • 3358 S Ashland Ave – Kucinski-Murphy (Vicki Rosebeth) Park
  • 6146 N Sheridan Rd – Park 559

The following locations begin enforcement on June 30:

  • 49 W 85th St – Perspectives High School
  • 614 W 47th St – Tilden High School
  • 1635 N LaSalle Dr – Lincoln Park
  • 5941 N Nagle Ave – Rosedale Park

Up to 50 new cameras are expected to be installed by the end of the year. You can find all Chicago speeder cameras by clicking here.

Should you or a loved become seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then call the Chicago accident attorneys at the Bryant Law Group, LLC., for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firms website at www.blgchicago.com.

What To Do (and Avoid) When Injured In A Car Crash

Date
Posted by

The summer travel season is right around the corner, and millions of Americans will be hitting the roads for road trips and extended vacations. A car accident or a truck accident can be a very stressful moment for many people. It is improtant to keep your cool and think rationally if you happen to be involved in a car crash. Below are a list of items to focus on doing (and not doing) should you have the unfortune to be involved in a traffic accident.

DOs and DONTs:

• Do call the police immediately or have someone at the scene call for you • Do get names, addresses, license plate and phone numbers of those drivers involved. This includes any witnesses.
• Do take photographs of scene and your injuries;
• Do take care of your injuries-concentrate on getting better (i.e. go to the emergency room or set an appointment with your primary care physician);
• Do keep records of your medical treatment and time missed from work;        • Do make sure to purchase adequate full coverage auto insurance, including uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in case you are struck by an uninsured driver or the victim of a hit and run;


• Do not talk or give a statement to the other driver’s insurance company;
• Do not attempt to negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company before your medical treatment is completed;
• Do not wait months from the date of injury before hiring an attorney, as your right to file claim or lawsuit may be barred; and
• Do not wait days or weeks from the time you are injured to seek medical attention. Your health comes first and also insurance companies are wary of paying for medical bills if treatment is postponed.

This is not an exhaustive list, but they are simple steps you can take in order to protect your rights as accident victim to ensure you are compensated for your injuries. Should you or a loved become seriously injured in Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call the Bryant Law Group, LLC., for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to our firm’s website here www.blgchicago.com.

Cook County Court Clerk Offers Amnesty On Traffic Ticket Late Fees

Date
Posted by

If you have any moving violations in Cook County, Illinois traffic court that have accrued late fees, you have the week of April 14 through 18 to pay those fines and have any late fees and collection costs waived.

The deal does not include parking, red light or speed camera violations. Late and collection fees will be waived for the following violations:

Major files include the following offenses:

  • Unlawful use of license or permit
  • Driving while license or permit is suspended or revoked
  • Driving commercial vehicles while license suspended, revoked, cancelled or out of service
  • Eluding or fleeing police
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, intoxicating compounds
  • Reckless driving
  • Street Racing
  • Speeding 26 miles or more

Minor files include the following offenses:

  • Failure to stop at stop sign
  • Disobey solid red signal
  • Failure to wear seat belt
  • No valid state registration
  • Operating uninsured vehicle
  • Failure to produce driver’s license
  • Speeding 1-25 miles over the posted limit
  • Speeding 1-25 miles over in a construction zone
  • Speeding 1-25 miles over in a school zone

Mariyana Spyropoulos, clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, said in the following regarding this week’s progam, “this amnesty initiative is part of a broader effort to remove financial barriers that disproportionately impact working families. By waiving collection fees, we’re helping residents take meaningful steps toward resolving their cases and restoring trust in a system that should work for everyone.”

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call the Chicago accident 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.