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Scott’s Law Plays Important Part in Illinois Traffic Safety, Especially for Emergency Responders
It is a general traffic safety rule to pull to the side
of the road whenever an emergency vehicle approaches. Each
state has its own specifics when it comes to its “move
over” law, but Illinois’ Scott’s Law mandates that when
approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying its
lights, a driver must do all of the following:
- Reduce speed
- Yield the right-of-way by switching lanes away from the authorized emergency vehicle
- Proceed cautiously with regard to safety
Scott’s Law was issued in Illinois in 2002, named after Lieutenant Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department. He was struck and killed by an intoxicated driver while assisting a motor vehicle collision on an Illinois roadway. Drivers who violate Scott’s Law by failing to yield to emergency vehicles or causing accidents or injury to service personnel assisting at roadside emergencies face penalties, which include:
Wrong-Way Crashes More Likely to be Caused by Drunk Drivers
In mid-November, a woman drove the wrong way on the
Stevenson Expressway, causing a grisly head-on
collision
in which two women were seriously injured, according to
the Chicago Tribune. The woman is facing a
DUI charge
in connection with the incident, as well as a charge of
reckless driving. According to the Tribune, police
received several calls alerting authorities to the
wrong-way driver before the accident occurred. The driver
was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries. The
driver of the other vehicle “had to be cut from her
vehicle and was taken to an area hospital with serious but
non-life threatening injuries,” reports the
Tribune.
According to a special report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), wrong-way crashes occur relatively infrequently, and account for only roughly three percent of all accidents on divided highways. The severity of these accidents is disproportionate to other types of crashes, however. As such, wrong-way accidents are much more likely to result in serious injury or death of the people involved. One study reported by the NTSB found that while only 0.3 percent of all highway accidents resulted in death, 22 percent of wrong-way collisions were fatal.
Hit-and-Run Accidents on the Rise
A woman had to have her hand amputated after a grisly
crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway and the man responsible
was held in lieu of $100,000 bond after leaving the scene
of the accident, according to news reports. The man was
driving very fast when he lost control of his vehicle and
crashed into the woman’s car. Her vehicle flipped, landing
on its hood. Two witnesses saw the responsible man stop
and run toward the scene of the accident, but he left
before officers arrived. One possible reason why the man
initially approached the accident and then fled the scene
is because he had been drinking or otherwise had reason
not to be driving. Results of a
DUI
test administered to him after his arrest were not
immediately available.
If you are in a motor vehicle accident, no matter who is at fault, the most important step is to stay put, providing you are not in danger by doing so. Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime that oftentimes carries a heftier sentence than whatever caused the accident in the first place. According to DeadlyRoads.com, Illinois state law clearly states that in the event of an accident that has caused injury or death to anyone involved, drivers of both vehicles are required to stay at the scene of the accident. If a person leaves the scene, he or she has a half hour grace period in which they are required to report the accident and state his or her involvement in it. Any person who fails to comply “shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony,” according to Illinois State Law.
A Victim’s Right to Compensation Following a Motor Vehicle Accident
A
motor vehicle accident
can be a painful experience, one a person often wants to
put behind them as quickly as possible. A car accident
victim may not immediately think about contacting an
attorney to help with their personal injury claim.
However, individually settling a claim with an insurance
company may not result in the full amount of compensation
you are entitled to receive.
A compensation award can help pay for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other costs directly related to the accident. Often injuries immediately arise at the time of the collision, but there are some that may take days or weeks to manifest.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that 22 percent of the nation’s injuries are due to motor vehicle accidents. Common injuries include:
- whiplash;
- fractures and broken bones;
- spinal injuries; and
Maintain Safety on the Road: Designate a Driver This Holiday Season
Due to the upcoming holiday season, travel and traffic
increase this time of year. Unpredictable Illinois weather
causes riskier driving situations with higher levels of
precipitation leading to dangerous conditions on the road.
When mixed with celebratory occasions and holiday
gatherings where alcohol is involved, this can become a
deadly combination.
The most recent statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that in a single year, 886 motor vehicle accidents resulted in fatalities in the United States. Of those accidents, 436 people were killed in accidents where the driver’s blood alcohol concentration was over the legal .08 limit.
There are legal consequences for Illinois drivers convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Even a first time conviction can carry a penalty of:
- up to a maximum fine of $2,500;
- possible jail time for up to one year; and
Rollover Crashes among Most Fatal Accidents
Some of the grisliest
car accidents
on major interstates are those in which a car rolls over,
known as a rollover crash. In late November, just before
Thanksgiving, five people were injured in a single-car
rollover accident on I-90, according to Illinois State
Police and as reported by CBS Chicago. Police said the two
children in the car were ejected from the vehicle when it
rolled over, and they were both taken to an area hospital
with non-life threatening injuries. Neither did the adults
suffer life-threatening injuries. This, of course, is a
rare occurrence; all involved in this accident were
extremely fortunate to have not been hurt badly.
According to SaferCar.gov, an initiative of the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), these types of crashes account for 33 percent of all passenger vehicle fatalities, amounting to more than 10,000 people per year. This is a higher fatality rate than other types of highway crashes. The chances of being involved in a rollover crash are much higher if the driver has been drinking or is driving very fast. Taller and narrower vehicles are more likely to rollover if the driver is not observing the speed limit or has been drinking. According to a different NHTSA report, as SUVs have become more popular, the number of rollover crashes has steadily increased—more than doubled since 1991, “growing faster than any other class of light trucks,” according to the NHTSA.
Safety Concerns Surrounding Defective Airbags Continue to Rise
Federal safety regulators have recently called for an
automotive recall of vehicles supplied with airbags
manufactured by Takata. This would be a nationwide
expansion growing from the original two states the recall
was previously focused on. Regulators have information
that the defective airbags are not limited to
high-humidity regions of the United States as previously
thought.
Airbag safety concerning the Japanese manufacturer has been a growing concern since 2008 with over 14 million vehicles from 11 automakers already recalled due to its airbags. The defective airbags are responsible for injury and at least five reported deaths. They are exploding when deployed in a motor vehicle accident, projecting metal debris from its casing and causing harm to drivers and passengers.
Safety Tips for Driving in Heavy Snowfall
When it comes to Chicago winters, two things are for
certain: driving in heavy snowfall and subsequent car
crashes. CBS Chicago reported that as of March 2014, the
city was just 10 inches shy of the all-time snowfall
record in one season, which was 89 inches in the winter of
1978-79. To say that the city experiences harsh winters
with high levels of precipitation is an understatement.
These type of weather conditions lead to problems on the road and an increase in motor vehicle accidents. When it snows, vehicles get stuck in drifts or drivers lose control on icy surfaces. Visibility while driving is also an issue when commuting to and from the city. Accidents at slow speeds are more common due to vehicles sliding through stop signs or traffic lights, which can still lead to serious neck, back, and head injuries.
Dangerous Chicago Intersections Contribute to Thousands of Pedestrian Accidents Each Year
Chicago is a busy metropolis where a majority of people
rely on public transportation and walking to navigate the
city. Despite the cold, winter months, foot traffic
remains steady due to work commutes, holiday shopping and
activities, and out-of-town visitors. The Chicago
Metropolitan Agency for Planning reports that from
2004-2010, there were an average of 3,395
pedestrian accidents
per year.
There are a few streets more congested than others around the city, which can lead to an increased number of accidents. The Chicago Tribune published an article that listed three of the more dangerous intersections for pedestrians including:
- Damen, North and Milwaukee avenues six-way intersection;
Drowsy Driving Blamed for 21 Percent of All Fatal Crashes
It is common for drivers to exercise extra precaution
and designate a driver when alcohol has been consumed to
avoid drunk driving, but drivers should also be aware of
the dangers of
driving while drowsy
to prevent accidents as well.
In a report published by CBS Local in Philadelphia, survey results of over 14,000 car crashes from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety over the past five years identified 21 percent of fatal collisions were caused by drowsy driving. According to the AAA Foundation, it is twice as likely for people who sleep six to seven hours per night to be involved in a drowsy driving accident than those who sleep eight hours or more. People driving on less than five hours of sleep increase their risk up to four to five times more.
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.
