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Recent Blog Posts
Understanding the Dangers of ATV Riding
Every year, roughly 40,000 people throughout the country
are rushed to the emergency room due to ATV-related
injuries. ATVs, also known as all-terrain vehicles, are
commonly used as recreational vehicles throughout the
United States.
As winter continues to fade away, and we head into the sunnier months of the year, thousands of Americans will begin to take out their ATVs. However, with the fun comes incredible danger.
Annually, around 150 children under the age of 16 lose their lives while riding ATVs. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, May through September represents the most dangerous period of ATV riding in the United States. From 2009 to 2012, just under 400 Americans died in ATV related accidents in the summer months between May and September. In 2015 alone, 97,200 people suffered ATV injuries nationwide.
How Should I React to Aggressive Driving in Lake County?
Each year, nearly 7 million automobile accidents
occur throughout the United States. Of those accidents,
well over half involve some form of aggressive driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), aggressive driving can be defined
as any form of motor vehicle operation that endangers
oneself and others on the road. Common examples of
aggressive driving
include the following:
- Speeding;
- Tailgating;
- Reckless passing; and
- Overall disregard for traffic guidelines.
While many assume that only a small percentage of drivers engage in aggressive driving behavior, the NHTSA estimates that upwards of 80 percent of all drivers have driven aggressively. Consider the following tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe the next time you encounter an aggressive drivers.
Long-Term Mental Health Ramifications for Car Accident Victims
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), someone across the United States
is injured in a motor vehicle accident every 10
seconds. Throughout the country, as many as 50
million people suffer injuries in automobile collisions
every year. In 2015 alone, over 65,000 people
suffered motor vehicle related injuries in the state of
Illinois.
When victims suffer injuries in motor vehicle collisions, the aftermath can be devastating. From painful rehabilitation to missed time at work, recovering from a car accident injury is an incredibly difficult process. Oftentimes, recovering from a motor vehicle collision can result in unexpected complications, especially for those who suffer brain trauma. Now, recent studies suggest that those involved in even the most minor of car accidents can suffer long-term mental side effects.
Safe Driving Tips for Traveling in the Rain
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), traveling in the rain can present
more hazards than driving in winter conditions. Wet
weather conditions can cause loss of visibility as well as
hydroplaning—the process in which tires get more traction
on the layer of water on the road than on the road itself.
Thus, a vehicle can slide uncontrollably and cause drivers
to temporarily lose their ability to steer or brake.
In many cases, drivers who experience hydroplaning panic and swerve out of their lane, or they slam on their brakes. Both of these instances can result in car accidents and severe injuries.
Safe Driving Navigation
Driving in the rain can be a frightening experience, especially when driving in a downpour. In fact, the U.S. Department of Transportation reports that more than 950,000 automobile crashes are caused by wet pavement each year, which has thus resulted in 4,700 deaths and 384,000 injuries. Therefore, it is essential to consider the following tips when navigating through the rain:
Whiplash Injuries Can Have Long Term Implications
Every year an average of 3 million Americans suffer
whiplash injuries. Whiplash injuries can occur in any
number of activities, but often occur in motor vehicle
collisions. Whiplash injuries are some of the most common
injuries in the aftermath of car accidents and can
occur when a vehicle is moving as slowly as 12 miles per
hour.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a whiplash injury is defined as a rapid back and forth jerking movement of the neck. The vast majority of car related whiplash injuries occur during rear-end collisions. Unlike most injuries, the concern regarding whiplash injuries is not during the initial contact, but rather the long-term effects. Over 50 percent of whiplash victims suffer long-term chronic pain. That said, if you or a member of your family are involved in even a minor vehicular collision, contact our experienced team of Waukegan personal injury attorneys to get the help you need.
Drivers Traveling at High Speeds Endanger Others
In the early morning of April 2, police located a
missing man involved in a late-night car crash in Des
Plaines. The vehicle, which carried two occupants, was
traveling at excessive speeds when the driver lost control
and hit an electrical box and utility pole before
ultimately skidding across the road into a ditch. Both
passengers sustained injuries and are now in stable
condition.
Throughout 2015, well over 300,000 motor vehicle accidents occurred in the state of Illinois. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, nearly one in every three vehicular collisions involved drivers traveling at high or excessive speeds. Driving at speeds higher than the speed limit endangers both the driver and others on the road.
A recent study conducted by the US Department of Transportation found that the vast majority of American drivers commonly disregard speed limits. If you or a member of your family are injured in an automobile collision, contact our experienced team of Waukegan personal injury attorneys today.
Teenage Driving Deaths Rising Nationwide
A recent teen driving tragedy has reminded parents
across the nation of the emotional and trying decision of
allowing teenage children to drive. Late on Sunday, March
25, an automobile collision occurred in Des Plaines.
The 16-year-old driver suffered serious injuries;
however, he remains in stable condition. The other three
vehicle occupants suffered fatal injuries in the
collision.
Every year, upwards of 2,700 teenagers are killed in automobile collisions throughout the United States. To this day, driving remains one of the most dangerous activities for teenage children. If you or a member of your family are injured in an automobile accident, contact our experienced team of Waukegan personal injury attorneys for assistance with your case.
Teen Driving Fatalities Nationwide
Technology is Changing Our Roadways. Is it for the Better?
In a society driven by constant technological
advancements, our nation’s roadways continue to change.
Today, GPS systems do our navigating, and fleets of
self-driving cars are heading into the marketplace in
hopes of doing our driving too. Many technological
developments have altered our society for the better;
still, that has not always been the case with regard
to travel. Smartphone technology continues to distract
drivers, and now it seems even self-driving cars are
running into problems.
On Sunday, March 18, a self-driving Uber vehicle struck a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona. The driver of the car placed the vehicle in self-drive mode and averted his eyes from the road. By the time the driver directed his eyes back to the road, it was too late. The self-driving car failed to notice a pedestrian crossing the road. The pedestrian was fatally injured.
Buckle Up: Ensuring Safety of Child Passengers
On Sunday, March 25, a two-year-old child was ejected
out of the back of a vehicle after the vehicle was hit in
a side-swiping collision. The accident, which occurred in
Winter Haven Florida, served as a stark reminder of the
dangers of driving with small children. Two child seats
and a booster seat on board when police arrived at
the vehicle. The Winter Haven police are currently
investigating whether or not the child restraint systems
were properly and safely utilized.
In the four year span between 2010 and 2014, just under 3,000 children under the age of 15 suffered fatal injuries while riding in cars. Nationwide, that number averages to roughly 11 children a week. Of those fatally injured in car accidents, 43 percent were either unbuckled or improperly restrained in their child restraint systems.
If your child is injured in an automobile collision, the aftermath can be emotionally devastating. Contact our compassionate team of Waukegan personal injury attorneys to receive the help you and your family need.
Elmhurst Accident Showcases the Harsh Realities of Commercial Trucking
On March 1, a fiery collision between a Kenworth semi, a
2004 Chrysler, and a Peterbilt semi, reminded us of the
dangers of commercial trucking. The collision, which
occurred on Interstate 290, ultimately resulted in one
fatality, and both truck drivers were rushed to the
hospital.
Since 2012, an average of 600 commercial truck drivers have suffered fatal injuries each year. Commercial trucking ranks as one of the most dangerous occupations in America, and is only consistently topped by the construction industry with regard to on the job fatalities. That said, what makes commercial trucking even more dangerous is the fact that others on the road can be injured as well.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), passenger vehicle fatalities far out number fatalities of the truck driver when collisions with large trucks occur. If you or a member of your family are injured in a collision involving a commercial truck, contact our experienced team of Waukegan personal injury attorneys today.
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.
