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Cell Phone Use While Driving a Leading Cause of Accidents
According to studies conducted by the National Safety Council, in both 2016 and 2017, automobile accident deaths in the United States reached 40,000 for the first time in almost a decade. So what is causing the increase in accidents and fatal injuries?
Law enforcement officials throughout the country believe the increase in collisions is largely due to one major issue: cell phone use while driving.
Cell Phone Driving Laws in Illinois
Here in the state of Illinois, hand-held cell phone use is banned for all drivers, regardless of age. Still, despite the state law and an increase in hands-free capability in cars, thousands of Illinois drivers choose to text and check emails and social media while driving. Cell phone use behind the wheel is only legal when a driver is in an emergency situation, pulled over to the side of the road, or the vehicle is stopped and put into park or neutral.
Protecting Elderly Family Members from Nursing Home Abuse
For many Americans, there comes a time when they must consider placing elderly loved ones into the care of a nursing home. When doing so, we place our trust in the facility and its staff. Tragically, some elder care facilities neglect this trust, as more than two million elderly Americans face some form of abuse every year.
If you believe your loved one is a victim of some form of nursing home abuse, it is critical you consult with a legal team immediately to discuss your options.
Types of Elderly Abuse
When trying to identify signs and symptoms of abuse, it is important to fully understand the various forms of abuse elderly Americans face:
Physical Abuse: This can be defined as the use of physical force in order to cause harm or pain. Physical abuse is not uncommon in nursing homes across the country. Fortunately, the signs of physical abuse are easier to recognize than other forms of elder abuse. Next time you visit your loved one, look out for bruises, cuts, and welts.
Holiday Season Brings Risks of Fireworks Injuries
With New Year’s Eve quickly approaching, thousands of Illinoisans are preparing to purchase fireworks for their holiday festivities. Despite stringent laws that prohibit the use of certain kinds of fireworks in Illinois, many holiday parties feature some incredibly dangerous displays of explosive materials. The use of these fireworks can lead to serious injuries, and the healing process can be stressful and expensive. If you have suffered a fireworks injury, a personal injury attorney can help you understand your options for pursuing compensation.
Firework Injuries Rising
While most Americans view fireworks as a fun and festive way to ring the new year, in all actuality, they are a legitimate safety threat. Throughout 2017, approximately 12,900 Americans were hospitalized due to injuries suffered while using fireworks. Tragically, eight of those injuries proved to be fatal. Despite laws prohibiting certain types of dangerous fireworks and countless safety videos designed to reduce fireworks injuries, these injuries continue to rise. In 2017, there was a 15% increase in fireworks injury hospitalizations. Unfortunately, fireworks injuries are often incredibly difficult to recover from, and they can alter a person’s life permanently.
Rear-End Collisions Can Result in Chronic Whiplash Injuries
With winter driving conditions comes a higher likelihood of car accidents. Due to the icy roads, rear-end collisions are among the most common car accidents that occur during winter months. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), upwards of 1.7 million rear-end collisions occur throughout the United States each year, and these collisions account for approximately 40% of all annual motor vehicle accidents. Due to the sheer number of these accidents, it is important to know what types of injury risks they can present. The most common injury suffered during a rear-end collision is whiplash.
Why Whiplash Can Cause Concern
Whiplash injuries can occur in even the most minor of rear-end collisions. Whiplash is defined as a process in which a rapid back and forth movement caused by extreme force results in injury to the neck. Whiplash can lead to chronic neck pain, severe stiffness, and painful headaches. While many people believe that whiplash injuries have a limited impact on one’s life, these injuries can come with a number of painful symptoms that can result in the loss of work hours and expensive physical therapy. From blurred vision to cognitive difficulties, whiplash injuries can change a person’s life for extended periods of time. Do not take a whiplash injury lightly.
School Bus Accident Outside Bloomington Results in Fatality
On Wednesday, December 5th, 2018, a school bus was struck by a commercial truck that was heading the wrong direction on I-74, south of Bloomington. The bus was carrying the Normal Community West High School girls’ basketball team. A 72-year-old volunteer was fatally injured in the accident, but fortunately, none of the student athletes suffered severe injuries in the collision. The accident reminded parents throughout the state of Illinois of the real possibility of their child’s school bus colliding with another vehicle. Every parent worries about the safety of their children, and if tragedy strikes, and your child is involved in a school bus accident, you should contact a legal team that will support you and your family in your time of need.
School Bus Fatality Statistics
When our children ride a school vehicle, we put our trust in the school and the bus driver to take care of our children. Sadly, school bus accidents are more common than most of us would like to believe. A study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) analyzed school vehicle fatalities from 2004 to 2013. In that time period, more than 1,200 Americans were fatally injured in these types of accidents. Every year, approximately 134 people die in these tragic accidents throughout the United States.
Operating Your Motorcycle Safely and Avoiding Accidents This Winter
While many recreational motorcyclists choose to lock up their bikes for the winter, those that rely on their motorcycle as their primary means of transportation continue to ride throughout the winter months. Riding your motorcycle during the winter requires extreme precision and care. Listed below are some simple tips that could help you avoid being injured in a motorcycle accident this winter:
- Wear Proper Equipment: While riding your motorcycle, it is important to wear the correct protective equipment. Warm clothing can protect against cold winter weather, and body armor can protect motorcyclists from further injury in the event of a collision. However, the most important piece of equipment you can wear is your helmet. Helmet use saves thousands of lives throughout the United States each year. If you choose to ride your motorcycle this winter, it is best to wear a helmet that offers full face protection, as well as clothing, boots, and gloves that cover any exposed skin.
Pursuing Compensation After a Snowmobiling Accident
Illinois residents have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. In the summer, thousands of Illinoisans enjoy boating on Lake Michigan and hiking throughout the state’s incredible parks and forests. In the winter time, Illinois is known for its expansive snowmobiling recreation areas.
While snowmobiling is a fun outdoor activity for those that live in colder climates, snowmobile accidents are fairly common, and these accidents can lead to serious and fatal injuries. If you or a loved one are injured in a snowmobile accident, it is possible your injuries were caused by the reckless or negligent actions of another party.
Snowmobiling Accidents Common in the United States
Throughout the United States, more than two million people use snowmobiles each winter. Snowmobiles can be incredibly dangerous due to their size (some snowmobiles weigh over 600 pounds) and speed (snowmobiles can travel as fast as 90 mph). A staggering 14,000 people are injured in snowmobile crashes across the United States each year, and an average of 200 Americans are killed on snowmobiles on an annual basis. The leading causes of snowmobiling injuries include traveling at excessive speeds, consuming alcohol while operating a vehicle, and traveling on unmarked or unsafe terrain. Snowmobile injuries can range from broken bones to severe organ damage. The most common fatal snowmobiling injuries are traumatic brain injuries.
Driving Safely and Avoiding Car Accidents During the Winter
On the afternoon of Monday, November 26th, 2018, five people were severely injured in a multiple car crash on the Ohio Street Feeder Ramp down to the Kennedy Expressway. According to the Illinois State Patrol, the accident was caused by dangerous winter driving conditions.
Staying safe while driving in winter weather can be a difficult proposition. If you or a loved one are injured in a car accident this winter, you should seek out legal representation as soon as possible.
Dangerous Areas and Conditions for Winter Driving
While driving in snow and ice can be dangerous no matter what the situation is, there are a number of road environments that are increasingly dangerous throughout the winter months:
- Ramps and Bridges: Due to the raised nature of bridges and ramps, they are more likely to accumulate ice. Ice can affect a driver’s ability to stop their vehicle while also impacting their steering capabilities. Next time you drive on a ramp or bridge, learn from the mistakes of others and slow down.
Inadequate Maintenance a Common Cause of Commercial Trucking Accidents
Every year, thousands of commercial trucking accidents occur throughout the United States. Many of these accidents are caused by reckless driving, such as speeding, inebriated driving, and drowsy driving. While driver error is the leading cause of commercial trucking accidents, a large number of these accidents have nothing to do with driver negligence and are actually caused by inadequate or improper maintenance.
Commercial trucking companies have a responsibility to adequately maintain their vehicles to ensure the safety of the public. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident involving a tractor-trailer truck, it is entirely possible that the accident was caused by negligence at the company level.
Common Forms of Improper Truck Maintenance
Common Forms of Truck Driver Negligence
Throughout 2016, approximately 4,500 Americans lost their lives in accidents involving large commercial vehicles. This incredible number of fatalities involving commercial trucks and buses marked a 5% increase in comparison to 2015.
Commercial truck drivers have a responsibility to drive safely, since the sheer size of their vehicles gives them the potential to cause a great deal of damage to standard passenger vehicles. Of all the fatalities involving large commercial vehicles in 2016, only 16% of those killed were the drivers of the commercial vehicles. If you or a member of your family have been injured in a truck accident, you should work with a legal team that will protect your right to compensation from the parties who were responsible.
Forms of Negligence by Truck Drivers
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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