Free Consultation 847-662-3303
Recent Blog Posts
Getting Compensation for an Accident Caused by a Driver Running a Red Light
It is against the law in Illinois, but it is not
uncommon for a driver to drive through a steady red-light
signal, and many drivers intentionally do so. This
typically happens when a driver is in a hurry or the light
abruptly turns red on them. Driving through a red light is
dangerous as it can cause a
car accident
resulting in serious injuries or even death.
Illinois Law on Red Lights
Illinois law provides that a driver must come to a complete stop at a red traffic light. A driver must remain at a complete stop until an indication is given to proceed through the intersection, usually by a green light. If the driver’s intention is to turn right at the intersection, a driver facing a steady red-light signal may turn after stopping completely and ensuring that making the turn is safe. A driver can also proceed to turn left after stopping if he or she is on a one-way street and is turning left onto a one-way street.
Why Tailgating Is Dangerous and How to Avoid the Dangers
Tailgating is a form of aggressive driving and an increasing problem in Illinois and across the country. In fact, the National Highway Safety and Transportation Authority (NHTSA) estimates that nearly one fourth of all vehicle accidents are rear-end accidents, and many of these are the result of vehicles following too closely. It is also illegal in Illinois.
Reasons Why People Tailgate
Although tailgating is generally seen as a type of aggressive driving, the reasons behind it are varied. Some drivers tailgate because they are late, others because they are impatient, yet others do so because they are just plain rude or full of anger and rage. There are also those motorists who tailgate but are simply unaware that they are tailgating.
Why Tailgating is Dangerous
Tailgating is dangerous because it creates unsafe and dangerous driving conditions for everyone sharing the road with the tailgating driver. A tailgating driver does not have enough distance to safely bring their vehicle to stop if the driver ahead suddenly stops. Similarly, if there is a stopped vehicle or another hazard ahead and the driver in the car in front swerves to avoid the hazard, a tailgating driver may have little to no time to stop to avoid an accident.
Are Seat Belts Required for School Bus Passengers in Illinois?
This seems to be a simple question to which the answer
intuitively seems to be yes, kids riding in school buses
should be required to wear seat belts. This is because we
know lives are saved in cars when victims of an accident have their seat belts on. So, it would seem logical
that bus riders wearing seat belts will save lives as
well.
However, this might not actually be the case. When school bus drivers were surveyed, most of the drivers--those who have direct, hands-on experience with bus safety--strongly oppose the idea of requiring seat belts in school buses.
Why Bus Drivers Are Opposed to Seat Belts in School Buses
The school bus drivers who were surveyed raised several concerns regarding why requiring seat belts in school buses might not be a good idea. Some of these concerns include the following:
Can Moped or Scooter Drivers Be Held Liable for Accidents they Cause?
For various reasons, not the least being prices of gas
going up, more and more motorists in Illinois are looking
for alternative means of getting around. As a result, the
use of mopeds, scooters, and motorcycles has gone up and
continues to increase. However, with increased use of
these alternate means of transportation, there is also an
increase in the number of
accidents
associated with them.
Moped Laws in Illinois
Motorized pedal cycles, otherwise commonly referred to as “mopeds” are two wheeled vehicles which are classified as motorcycles under Illinois laws. One can pedal these mopeds like a bicycle or drive them like a motorcycle. Mopeds are not intended to be heavily used or in large numbers on public roadways but there is high enough usage to require laws to regulate them.
In order to be considered as a moped, the vehicle must meet the following criteria:
What You Should Know About Vehicle Recalls in Illinois
There has been a sharp increase in the number of
vehicles affected by safety recalls in recent years, not
just in Illinois, but across the country. The number of
such recalls sharply increased from almost 13 million
recalls in 2011 to over 51 million in 2016. Vehicles are
recalled if there is new information that shows a vehicle
has a safety issue or problem that must be fixed. It is
important to have the problem fixed because failure to do
so can lead to a
serious motor vehicle accident.
Vehicle Recall Procedures
A recall may be issued by an automaker on the manufacturer’s own initiative or by operation of law. A recall usually means that the vehicle in question has a design, production, or operation flaw. This decision is often based on the manufacturer’s own studies or data from accidents involving the vehicle subject to recall. The latter, meaning data from accidents, is gathered and shared by agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which can order recalls without the manufacturers’ concurrence.
What You Should Know About Motorcycle Accidents in Illinois
If you drive on any major road on a regular basis, you
have almost certainly encountered motorcycles. Some riders
ride alone while others like to travel in groups of two or
more. Unfortunately, there are certain riders who insist
on riding recklessly, exceeding the speed limit, and
weaving in and out of traffic. Such riders may be
confident about what they are doing, but the reality is
that this reckless driving of a motorcycle can and does
lead to
serious accidents causing injuries or death.
In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of accidents involving motorcycles has been going up even as those involving all other motor vehicles have been going down. The CDC says the economic burden from motorcycle crash injuries and deaths in one year alone totaled more than $12 billion. Given the rise in the number of people using motorcycles, the CDC has sounded an alarm, calling this increase in motorcycle accidents a major public health concern, besides the associated economic loss.
Can I Be Compensated in Illinois for Injuries Caused by Objects Falling From Another Vehicle?
Driving on any Illinois road exposes drivers to many
dangers, among which is falling objects from trucks and
other motor vehicles. Some of the products hauled in our
streets daily include, construction materials, gravel,
demolition debris, furniture, and many other kinds of
cargo. It is not uncommon for some of these objects to
become loose and fall off the trucks carrying them. It is
therefore important to keep a safe distance and obey all
other traffic rules to avoid these falling objects which
can cause
serious accidents
or even death.
Federal and State Laws on Carrying Loads
Federal and Illinois state laws require drivers of flatbeds or any vehicle carrying a load to safely secure the load with devices that prevent the cargo from falling onto the roadway. The laws also prohibit tractor-trailers from being driven on any roads unless and until their cargo is safely secured and covered to prevent spillage or falling.
Sleepy Truck Drivers Can Cause Serious Accidents
Anyone who has driven a semi-truck for a living can tell
you that it is not an easy job. Truck drivers are expected
to drive extremely long distances and endure erratic sleep
schedules. However, this is no excuse to drive unsafely.
Fatigued truck drivers can make careless driving errors or
even fall asleep at the wheel putting other motorists in
life-threatening danger. If you were injured in an
accident caused by a fatigued or otherwise
negligent truck driver, you could be eligible for compensation.
Recent Study Highlights the Danger Fatigued Truck Drivers Pose
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently conducted an extensive study regarding truck accidents. According to their research, approximately 13 percent of serious traffic accidents involving large trucks are caused by a fatigued driver. When drivers are too sleepy, they can drift into other lanes without knowing it or even crash into other vehicles. Considering many truck drivers are operating vehicles that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, a truck accident can cause severe damage. Other causes of serious truck accidents include equipment failure, driver error, driver drug and medication use, and distracted driving.
Obtaining Compensation for a Reckless Driving Accident in Illinois
We have all, at one time or another, seen or heard about
an aggressive driver putting everyone at risk of serious
motor vehicle accident
as they aggressively drive on the road, highway, and even
on residential and city streets. These aggressive drivers
seem have little or no regard for their own lives or those
with whom they share the road. The response in Illinois,
as in all states across the country, has been to pass
stricter laws that address this problem of aggressive
driving that has only gotten worse over the years.
What Is Reckless Driving?
Illinois law defines reckless driving as driving any vehicle with willful or wanton disregard of other persons or property, or causing a vehicle to be airborne by failure to obey slow down warning signs such as those on railway crossings.
Examples of aggressive or reckless driving behavior include:
Getting Compensation for a Fatigued Driver Accident in Illinois
It is not covered enough in the media, but fatigued
driving is a major problem in Illinois and across the
United States. The number of
accidents
and fatalities caused by fatigued driving is alarming. A
drowsy or sleepy driver is as dangerous on the road as one
who is under the influence of drugs and other controlled
substances.
Reasons for Fatigued Driving
Fatigued driving usually occurs when a driver has not had enough sleep, but it also can happen when the driver has untreated sleep disorders, is taking medication, has alcohol in his or her body, or has worked long hours at work. For anyone who has experienced this, it is not easy to know the exact moment sleep takes over and you find yourself gone, albeit momentarily. Others may not be as lucky as falling asleep at the wheel can result in serious, even fatal accidents.
Contact a Lake County Vehicle Accident Attorney Who is Ready to Help You
If you or a member of your family has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact our office. Call 847-662-3303 to set up a free initial consultation at one of our four convenient locations. There is no risk because we only collect fees if you collect compensation. With offices in Libertyville, Waukegan, Richmond, and Chicago, we represent clients in Lake County, Cook County, DuPage County, and McHenry County.
Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.
