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European Drivers Less Likely to Drive Distractedly
As cell phone use has become ubiquitous while driving, so has distracted driving. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every day nearly 1,100 people are injured and more than nine people are killed in motor vehicle accidents that involved a distracted driver.
There are three classifications of distracted driving: visual, manual, and cognitive. Visual distraction involves taking one’s eyes physically of the road, such as looking at a phone. Manual refers to taking one’s hands off the wheel, like searching a car for a phone. Finally, cognitive refers to taking one’s mind off the act of driving. And while many states have enacted hands-free driving laws that require the use of Bluetooth or similar technology to talk on the phone while driving, many critics of these laws argue that even such hands-free devices fail to resolve cognitive distractions behind the wheel.
Tips for Avoiding Tractor-Trailer Crashes
Some of the most severe accidents that occur on America’s roads are motor vehicle accidents involving large trucks. Not only is this due to the size of a large truck and the impact it can have on a smaller vehicle, such as a passenger car, but it is also due to the nature of the trucking industry.
The trucking industry has come under fire as of late, after a highly publicized accident in which a fatigued driver, operating a truck, caused a fatal crash. According to a publication from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, the effects of large trucks have a much greater impact on the occupants of vehicles in accidents, and the risks are higher when more people are in the vehicle at the time of a crash.
Fatalities in Car Accidents Caused by Faulty Air Bags
Sometimes safety precautions can be dangerous. Front air bags in a motor vehicle, meant to break the blow of a hard-hitting accident to the driver and passenger seat, can be more dangerous than helpful, despite their intention to keep the person from being ejected from the car through the windshield.
In fact, according to a publication abstract of the US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health (NIH), front air bags were not deployed in approximately 18 percent of accidents that were fatal for a front occupant of the vehicles studied. This seems an extremely high percentage when considering that air bags are required by law and strictly regulated.
Procedure Following a Tollway Accident in Illinois
Tollway accidents can be some of the most common motor vehicle accidents that occur in the state of Illinois, due to the number of highways that are toll roads.
If a driver is involved in a tollway accident, the Illinois Tollway website notes that the first step to handling this type of accident (pending no injuries occurred and all involved vehicles are able to be operated) is to drive to the closest plaza or facility for Tollway maintenance and request a "Tollway employee notify a trooper that you would like a crash report.”
Next, if the driver is able to move his or her vehicle, it is important to remove it from the road. The Illinois Tollway website states that leaving a car in place, even if just for police to see where the vehicle was, is dangerous and can be hazardous to both the involved drivers and other drivers on the highway.
Road Deficiencies Lead to Car Accidents
When a motorist drives on a state-sponsored road, there are several factors that he or she may take for granted. The fact that the road is a safe place for motor vehicles, of course, is one of them. If you are in a car accident due to a defect in a state-sponsored thruway in which a person was gravely injured, you may be eligible for compensation. The same goes for defective automobile equipment that led to the cause of injury or death, such as a defective car seat or tire.
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration’s SaferCar.gov is an agency responsible for not only cataloging defective roads, but also for registering vehicle complaints “to ensure [drivers and passengers] stay safe on our nation’s roads and highways.”
Talking to Insurance Companies after a Car Accident
In the event of a car accident, drivers need to exchange insurance information so that insurance companies can determine who will pay for damages sustained. Each driver is responsible for reporting the accident to his or her own insurance company, and should also provide answers and detailed specifics about the accident. Each driver may be obligated to make his or her vehicle available for inspection by his or her insurance company and provide documented proof of the accident (such as a photo). However, working with an insurance company prior to contacting a lawyer can result in less payouts for injured parties.
With that said, if you are involved in an accident, you are not legally liable to provide the same information to the other driver's insurance company. In fact, this is where many drivers often go wrong, which can thus result in a loss of money in the settlement process.
Analyzing the Facts: Chicago Pedestrian Crashes
A City of Chicago Department of Transportation report shows that Chicago children were the most likely pedestrians to be involved in motor vehicle accidents. High school-age children, ages 15 to 18, had the highest rate of pedestrian accidents, and elementary-age children (five to 14 years) had the second highest crash rate.
While seniors were the second least likely to be involved in a pedestrian crash, the proportion of seniors who were killed in such accidents was higher than other age groups. Frailty and likelihood to be suffering from other debilitating conditions was a probable cause for these disproportionate figures. Seniors were involved in 6.2 percent of pedestrian crashes while they were involved in 9.5 percent of all fatal crashes in the City of Chicago.
The number of pedestrian crashes involving children has decreased in recent years, however. Between the years of 2005 and 2009, “the annual number of pedestrian crashes involving five to 18-year-olds decreased by 28 percent,” from 964 in 2005 to 698 in 2009.
Increased Number of Drunk Drivers on Labor Day Weekend
Just days ago the South Elgin Police Department announced that they will be increasing the number of officers on the streets patrolling for drunk drivers around the Labor Day holiday. Officer Dan Eichholz told the Chicago Tribune that the department received a special grant to deploy these officers, who have been “tasked with the specific function or detecting and arresting impaired motorists.”
The Illinois Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded the grant as part of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) funds allocated to help keep the roads safer. The increased enforcement effort is part of the Illinois DOT “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket” campaigns.
How to Aviod Common Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents can be some of the most dangerous when it comes to great injury or bodily harm. In fact, a head injury is one of the most common causes of fatality. However, according to RideApart.com, a resource for motorcycle advocates and enthusiasts, there are several steps one can take to ride safely and ensure protection.
The first thing cyclists can do to prevent or mitigate chances of injury is to get educated on the risks of riding and take the responsibility seriously. The second is to wear safety gear. The purpose of wearing safety gear exceeds merely injury prevention. Safety gear can also “make riding more comfortable, put you in better control of your bike, and help you be seen by other drivers,” reports RideApart.com.
Aggravated DUI Convictions Carry Heavy Sentences
According to the Illinois State Police Department, an Aggravated DUI is a Class 4 felony in the state of Illinois and is defined by any crash that results in great bodily harm or permanent disfigurement. When an Aggravated DUI is committed, a hefty fine or sentencing may result and an offender may be convicted with a Felony (Aggravated) DUI if any of the following offenses are committed:
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DUI without a permit or valid driver’s license;
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DUI without vehicle liability insurance;
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DUI after being previously convicted of a reckless homicide “while DUI or Aggravated DUI involving a death”; and
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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