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Safety Tips for Driving in Extreme Cold
On January 30, Chicago experienced its second-coldest day in recorded history. With a high of 10 degrees below zero, the freezing temperatures prompted school and work closures throughout the city. For commuters in the greater Chicago area, the dramatic lowering of temperatures is a genuine cause for concern. While driving at extreme temperatures is always accompanied by a certain amount of risk, there are a few simple steps you can take to lower the chance of a motor vehicle collision.
Driving Safely in Freezing Temperatures
When driving in temperatures below freezing, it is important to act with extreme caution. Adjusting your driving habits to the inclement weather and preparing for potential hazardous scenarios can make all the difference in ensuring the safety of you and your family.
Winter Vehicle Preparation
As a cold-weather driver, there are certain steps you should take prior to driving your vehicle for safe operation. The first step to take is ensuring you have maximum visibility from your vehicle. You can do this through the use of a snow brush or scraper, and clearing all windows and mirrors of any frost, snow, or ice. If the windshield cleaning solution dispenser in your car is frozen, you can clean it at a gas station. Also, winter tires can increase traction and lower the risk of accidents caused by ice or snow on the road.
Recognizing Signs of a Drunk Driver
On January 21, a Markham woman fatally injured an off-duty Cook County Sheriff's deputy. The accident occurred when the 21-year-old woman was backing out on a busy street and crashed into the 33-year-old deputy’s vehicle. The deputy was quickly rushed to Christ Medical Center, but the medical team was unable to successfully treat his numerous injuries. As authorities arrived at the scene of the accident, the cause quickly became clear: the female driver was drunk and now faces multiple felony charges.
Unfortunately, in Illinois and throughout the United States, drunk driving remains common. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), more than 300 Illinoisans died in accidents involving drunk drivers during a recent 12-month study. Still, strict enforcement of DUI laws has helped reduce inebriated driving deaths by 43 percent since 1997.
CTA Bus Accident Illustrates Danger to Public Transit Users
On January 23, a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus crashed into a pole on Chicago Avenue, resulting in injuries to 15 people, including 13 bus passengers. The accident occurred when the bus driver lost control of the vehicle due to ice on the road and veered into oncoming traffic. In an attempt to avoid a collision with any other vehicles, the driver rapidly changed direction and ultimately collided with a street pole. While no passengers were killed in the accident, injuries to the 13 riders were severe enough to require hospitalization. For users of Chicago-area public transit, the collision served as a stirring reminder that accidents do occur while riding on public transportation.
Bus Accidents in the United States
While the vast majority of Americans believe they are entirely safe while utilizing public transportation, bus accidents are actually quite common in the U.S. According to studies conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), around 225 Americans were killed in bus accidents in 2016. In the 10-year span from 2006-16, intercity transit bus accidents accounted for 13 percent of all fatal bus accidents across the country.
Traumatic Brain Injury Effects After an Accident
An average of 153 Americans die from injuries related to brain trauma every day. Traumatic brain injuries are defined as an injury to the head that disrupts normal brain function. While the volume of fatal brain injuries is alarmingly high, the vast majority of these injuries are non-fatal and often present life-changing symptoms. A 12-month study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found more than 2.8 million Americans suffered brain trauma that required hospitalization.
If you or a member of your family suffer a head injury in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Causes of Brain Trauma
Suffering brain trauma can be a life-altering event. From chronic headaches and memory loss due to a concussion to permanent brain damage, brain injury symptoms vary. Listed below are some of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries.
Combatting the Fatigued Driving Crisis
When most of us think of reckless driving habits, including those that often cause car accidents, we envision speeding drivers or motorists driving under the influence of alcohol. The truth is, reckless and dangerous driving come in many forms, and one of the most common is drowsy driving. With early-morning commutes, late-night drives home, and lengthy trips, drivers commonly fall asleep at the wheel.
Fatigued Driving Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 4,100 Americans were injured in collisions involving a drowsy driver in 2017. Of those injured, 795 people were killed. Fatigued driving is incredibly dangerous for a number of reasons. While it impacts reaction time and general awareness, the danger is obviously magnified if the driver actually falls asleep at the wheel, even for a moment.
What to do After a Hit and Run Accident
On Saturday, January 5, two Chicago police officers were injured when their vehicle was struck by a vehicle believed to have been stolen. After the collision, the driver fled the scene, leaving the officers with severe but non-life threatening injuries. For Illinois drivers, the hit and run collision served as a reminder that some drivers will attempt to flee the scene of an accident even when it involves law enforcement.
After a hit and run accident, one must act quickly and calmly to help ensure law enforcement officials are equipped with the requisite information to find the perpetrator.
Contact Medical Assistance
In the aftermath of a hit and run crash, the first thing to do is assess the well-being of yourself and fellow passengers. If any member of your party has suffered injuries, it is important to contact medical personnel as quickly as possible. With many car accident injuries, symptoms are delayed for some time. The only way to ensure no one has suffered some form of injury is through examination from knowledgeable medical personnel.
Seeking Legal Representation After a Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision
Nothing compares to the pain of losing a family member. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon on our roadways. More than 40,000 Americans lost their lives in car crashes in 2017, and the vast majority were caused by driver negligence. While moving forward after a family member is tragically killed is incredibly difficult, facing the financial problems of life without a spouse or parent can compound the difficulty.
If your loved one was fatally injured in a car accident, it is critical to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent party. An experienced legal team can help you and your family receive the compensation you deserve.
Traffic Fatalities Rising in the U.S.
According to a recent study conducted by the National Safety Council, traffic deaths have risen nationwide by 6 percent since 2015. Here in the state of Illinois, traffic collisions are more common than many of us would assume. According to the Illinois State Department of Transportation (IDOT), over 66,000 people were injured in car accidents throughout the state in 2016. Approximately 1,000 Illinoisans were killed in motor vehicle collisions that year.
Holiday Season Provides Reminder of Drinking and Driving Dangers
On New Year’s Eve, a 25-year-old woman was arrested on DUI charges after crashing her vehicle into Riverside Brookfield High School. The collision, which occurred around 2:40 a.m., was one of only a handful of drunk driving collisions in the greater Chicago area during the recent holiday season. For law enforcement officials and the public, the low number of drunk driving accidents represented a victory for anti-DUI initiatives.
Holiday Drunk Driving
The holiday season brings celebrations, and many of those involve the consumption of alcohol. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over half of American adults admit to drinking more during the holidays. It should come as no surprise that more than 33 percent of all December traffic fatalities occur between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.
Ensuring That Your Child Avoids Severe Car Accident Injuries
On December 23, 2018, a car crash in the Little Village
neighborhood on the Southwest side of Chicago resulted in
the hospitalization of two children. The injured children,
ages 3 and 10, were both rushed to Stroger Hospital.
Fortunately, no one was fatally injured in the accident,
but the crash did serve as a reminder of the risks that
young children face when traveling in motor vehicles. If
you or a loved one are injured in a
motor vehicle collision, it is important to contact a legal team to learn about
your options for receiving compensation for your
damages.
Simple Steps to Protect Your Children From Injury
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), transportation injuries are the most common cause of fatalities among children. While car crashes are often unavoidable, there are a few ways you can lower the chances of your children suffering severe injuries in a collision:
Rush Hour Driving Tips for the Chicago Area
For most of those working in the greater Chicago area, commuting through heavy traffic is part of the necessary daily routine. While consistently dealing with traffic can bring complacency behind the wheel, rush hour driving can be quite dangerous.
On December 20, commuters in Illinois were reminded of the increased risk that comes with heavy traffic, as a four-vehicle collision on the Kennedy Expressway resulted in the death of one man. If you regularly commute through heavy traffic to get to and from work, these simple tips could help you avoid a car crash.
Maintain Safe Traveling Distance
When driving in heavy traffic, you should expect a lot of starts and stops. If you do not keep a consistent safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, it is possible you could cause and be the victim of a rear-end collision. The commonly used rule of thumb is to maintain a three-second distance between you and other vehicles.
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.
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