An Illinois truck driver was struck and killed over the weekend when a trailer towed by an SUV came loose, crossed the median and struck the semi on Interstate 80-90. The driver of the UPS semi truck was declared dead on the scene from blunt force trauma caused by the trailer. The fatal truck accident raises questions […]
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Train Bound for Chicago Derails
An Amtrak train headed to Chicago derailed yesterday, injuring at least ten people. The train collided with a semi truck at a railroad crossing in Michigan. The engine was overturned and all 68 passengers and five crew members had to be evacuated. The truck driver was also taken to the hospital. Thankfully, none of the injuries suffered […]
Pilot Error Cited in Two Deadly Helicopter Accidents
Two investigations conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board were concluded last week with very similar results. The deadly aviation crashes both involved medical helicopters which were returning home after delivering patients. The NTSB was already aware of an increase in medical helicopter crashes. The safety organization had identified a number of factors that contributed to this […]
Michael L. Teich Named a 2012 Illinois Super Lawyer
Rapoport Sims Perry & VanOverloop partner Michael L. Teich has been selected for inclusion to the 2012 Illinois Super Lawyers list as one of the top attorneys in Illinois. No more than 5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected as Super Lawyers. The list is compiled annually by Thomson Reuters and the […]
Michael L. Teich Awarded Board Certification by National Board of Trial Advocacy
Rapoport Sims Perry & VanOverloop partner Michael L. Teich was recently named a Board Certified* Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, the oldest and largest not-for-profit American Bar Association accredited trial attorney certification board in the United States. The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) is devoted to improving the quality […]
Better Weather Forecasts Make for Safer Travel
The National Weather Service is receiving a significant upgrade in its radar technology this year. By improving the ability to forecast precipitation and storms, it is hoped that the new radar system will help prevent deaths, including aviation fatalities related to bad weather. The upgrade is being compared to the installation of Doppler radar that started nationwide […]
Aircraft Collision Narrowly Averted
An air traffic controller with a history of disciplinary problems almost caused an airline disaster at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport last year, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The narrowly averted airline accident involved an Embraer ER145 jet with 53 passengers and crew and a Cessna 172. The two planes took off at the nearly the same […]
Sleep Apnea and Truck Accidents Draw Federal Scrutiny
The Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee and the Medical Review Board have teamed up to recommend mandatory testing for sleep apnea among obese truck drivers. Sleep apnea has been linked to numerous truck accidents where the driver either fell asleep or was exhausted at the time of the crash. The two committees are preparing a formal recommendation […]
Cook County’s Dangerous Trucks
A number of questionable practices in the Cook County Highway Department have placed workers and the driving public in danger. According to Cook County Inspector General Patrick Blanchard, many of the 320 trucks in the fleet have not passed, and would not pass, safety inspections, increasing the risk of serious truck accidents. While some vehicles have […]
Over the Counter Medication Recall
Consumers should always be on the lookout for announced recalls. Every year, countless people are injured by defective toys, tools, vehicles, food, drugs and other consumer goods. When a product is found to be dangerous, most companies will take the proper steps to limit their liability. While recalls generally come too late for some consumers, […]
Pilot Fatigue and the Duty Time Rule
When the National Transportation Safety Board releases its annual Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements, it almost always contains a goal regarding operator fatigue. As part of the NTSB drive to reduce deadly aviation accidents, it has led efforts to combat pilot fatigue. That is why the NTSB is celebrating a new rule released by […]
David E. Rapoport Receives AV Preeminent Rating: Highest Possible Professional Rating
We are pleased to announce that in 2012 Rapoport Sims Perry & VanOverloop’s founding partner, attorney David E. Rapoport, will mark his 20th anniversary year of receiving the highest possible professional rating,* AV Preeminent, from Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings. AV Preeminent* is a significant rating accomplishment – a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s […]
A Nationwide Ban on Cell Phone Use While Driving?
Distracted driving was linked to more than 3,000 deaths last year, according to estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Cell phone use was a primary culprit in many of those fatal car and truck accidents. The size of the problem has led the National Transportation Safety Board to recommend a nationwide ban on using […]
Rapoport Sims Perry & VanOverloop, P.C., files medical malpractice case based on negligence during the labor and delivery of a baby girl
Rapoport Sims Perry & VanOverloop filed a lawsuit today in the Circuit Court of Adams County, Illinois, against a hospital, obstetrician and her medical practice group all located in Quincy, Illinois, for medical malpractice during the labor and delivery of a baby girl. The lawsuit alleges that during the labor and delivery process the external fetal heart […]
Wisconsin Targets Alcohol & Seat Belt Safety
Wisconsin drivers are about to get a reminder about the dangers of driving drunk and riding in a car without a seat belt. The statewide campaign known as “Booze and Belts” will last until December 17th and is intended to reduce the number of deaths and injuries due to car and truck accidents. Police departments all over […]
Rapoport Sims Perry & VanOverloop, P.C., Proudly Welcomes Octavio Duran as a New Associate
Rapoport Sims Perry & VanOverloop is happy to announce that Octavio Duran has joined its legal team. Mr. Duran graduated from Michigan State University College of Law as its 2011 Class President. Mr. Duran demonstrated excellent advocacy abilities in law school including winning numerous trials under the authority of Supreme Court Rule 711. At the […]
Sightseeing Tour Ends in Deadly Helicopter Crash
A sightseeing tour at the Lake Mead National Recreation area outside of Las Vegas ended in tragedy Wednesday. The helicopter crash claimed the lives of all four passengers as well as the pilot. The crash occurred around 5 p.m. while the helicopter proceeded on its normal course to Hoover Dam. The weather was clear with good visibility […]
FAA Safety Officials Target American Airlines
Cost cutting decisions by an airline can compromise the safety of passengers and airline personnel. The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered an increase in safety checks of American Airlines and its affiliate to ensure that the company’s financial difficulties do not lead to aviation accidents. The inspections are geared toward the areas where an airline might […]
In-Flight Meal Leaves One Passenger Dead
A 73-year-old man ordered the chicken on an American Airlines flight from Barcelona to New York. The meal was allegedly contaminated with deadly bacteria. He became ill and his condition worsened on the next leg of his flight from New York to Miami. The man died shortly after the flight emergency landed in Virginia. The surviving family […]
Airplane Propeller Accident Leaves Woman Badly Injured
A 23-year-old model was struck by an airplane propeller last week at a private airport. Lauren Scruggs had just exited the plane when the accident occurred. As a result of the catastrophic injuries she received, she has had her left hand amputated and has undergone several surgeries. She is currently listed in stable condition, though the long […]
