This Sunday, 2 people suffered serious injuries in a 4-vehicle accident in Chicago's South Side.  According to police, the accident occurred at the intersection of Ewing Avenue and 106th Street at 7:30 a.m.

Witnesses told police that a 1992 Oldsmobile Sierra traveling southbound on Ewing was speeding, possibly driving as fast as 100 miles per hour, when it crashed into a vehicle traveling eastbound on 106th Street.  The collision created a chain reaction, with the cars hitting 2 other vehicles.  

The victims were both taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in serious to critical condition.  One of the victims was the driver of the Oldsmobile, but reports did not indicate in which vehicle the other victim was traveling.  The driver of one of the third and fourth vehicles hit was treated for minor injuries at the scene of the accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, filing a bodily injury claim can help you receive the compensation you deserve.  Contact the Chicago bodily injury claim attorneys of Friedman & Bonebrake, P.C. by calling 312-466-8200 today. 

The Chicago personal injury lawyers of Friedman & Bonebrake, P.C. would like to announce that this week, the Illinois Supreme Court has approved of a pilot program that lets media cameras enter the state's circuit courts for the first time.  Previously, cameras were only allowed in Illinois Appellate Court and Illinois Supereme Court hearings.

The program allows reporters to use still and video recording cameras in Illinois's 23 circuit courts.  Cameras will be allowed to capture both criminal and civil proceedings.

A spokesperson for the Illinois Supreme Court noted that the program is a pilot program that will be used "on an experimental and limited basis."  While federal courts do not allow cameras, many states' courts do.  

A professor of broadcast and online media said of the program, "My excitement isn't just for the newsrooms that might benefit from this, but it's for the citizens who will now have free access to something that they were just hallway observers for."

To learn more about the new pilot program, visit Chicago Tribune.

Friday evening, 4,200 people were left to save themselves as the Costa Concordia cruise ship tipped over onto its left side.  The ship crashed when it drove into rocks along the shore of an Italian island, according to the ship's company, Costa Cruises (which is owned by Carnival Cruise Lines).

The cruise began only hours before the fatal boat accident, and training on what to do in an emergency was scheduled for Saturday.  Surviving passengers and crew members on the ship say that escaping the wrecked ship was chaos.  

Sources reported that the ship's captain abandoned the ship, leaving staff and passengers without instruction or aid.  Costa Cruises has blamed the accident on driver error, saying that the captain traveled on an unapproved route.

The cruise ship captain is being held in police custody while he is investigated for manslaugher, driver error, and abandoning ship.  Currently, 11 people have been reported dead and 24 are still missing. 

Last year, Honda issued the recall of 603,000 vehicles for possible airbag defects.  The car manufacturer has received reports of 12 injuries and at least 1 death caused by broken metal sent flying at drivers and passengers when their vehicles' airbags deploy.

Honda models included on their list of recalled vehicles with the potential for an airbag defect include older models of Civics, Acuras, Accords, Pilots, CRVs, and Odysseys.  Used car dealerships franchised by Honda were advised to stop selling the recalled vehicles.  Dealerships will be examining vehicles for airbag defects and repairing any problems.

Owners of vehicles included in the recall should have been notified by Honda of the recall and possible airbag defect. 

Last month, Build-A-Bear Workshop issued its third recall in 2011. 30,000 "Colorful Hearts Teddy Bears" are being recalled for a potential choking hazard.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, due to substandard fabric the eyes on the teddy bear could become loose and fall off. No injuries related to the recall have been reported.

The "Colorful Hearts Teddy Bears," which are white with multicolored hearts, were sold online and in stores throughout the United States and Canada from April to December. Consumers who have purchased the bear can return it to any Build-A-Bear Workshop location for a coupon on any stuffed animal.

If your child has suffered a choking related injury because of a faulty toy or other product, contact the Chicago choking hazard lawyers Friedman & Bonebrake, P.C. at 312-466-8200.