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Defining Aggressive Driving
It is easy to get frustrated on the road. It happens to
the best of us — the most calm, the best drivers, the
easiest going. Yet
aggressive driving
remains a serious danger for motorists on America’s
highways, and can result in some of the most grisly
crashes and motor vehicle fatalities.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aggressive driving is any time that a driver commits a series, or a combination, of driving infractions that endangers other drivers or vehicles on the road. Aggressive driving is defined as any time that a driver disobeys three or more moving violations in one sequence of driving. And example of this would be if a motorist was speeding down the highway, passing another car on the right, and failing to use a signal to change lanes.
Right of Way Rules in Illinois
According to a study conducted by the Federal Highway
Safety Administration (FHSA), more than two-thirds of
drivers
fail to stop and yield
the right of way to another driver at stop signs at
intersections. This study was conducted using 40,000
drivers, which demonstrates that drivers who may have the
right of way need to be vigilant of approaching vehicles
not obeying right of way rules of the road.
One of the most important safety tips a driver can do to avoid a vehicle crash is to heed to all traffic signs. Stop signs and yield signs should be followed. These signs are specifically instructing drivers they do not have the right of way. Sometimes, however, right of way laws can be confusing, but there are certain constants that often apply and can help you avoid getting into a crash. These include:
Bicycle Accidents: Sharing the Road
Although the cooler weather has arrived, many bicycle
enthusiasts are still pedaling away on Lake County roads.
However, one news story highlights just how dangerous
recreational bike riding
can be no matter how experienced the rider.
A North Carolina man recently traveled to France, where he competed in a 750 mile race with 6,000 other bicyclists. The man came back to America with not a scratch on him from that competition. However, shortly upon his return home, he was riding his bicycle when a vehicle struck him. Luckily, he was not injured in the accident. Unbelievably, less than a week later, the man was riding his bike, this time on his way to work, when he was again struck by a vehicle whose driver was not paying attention to the road. This time, the man was not so lucky. As the car hit his bike, the man went flying over the handlebars and smashed into the ground. He suffered a broken elbow.
Who Is Liable for Pot Hole Accidents?
You might think that reckless drivers or overloaded
trucks pose the biggest
car accident
risks on Illinois roads. However, there is a hidden hazard
that causes thousands of crashes each year: potholes.
Potholes result from the buildup of water in the soil under the road. They can form almost overnight, and many are deep enough to bring a car to a dead stop. In Illinois, winter is known as pothole season due to increased rainfall.
Who Is Liable for Pothole-Related Accidents?
Potholes can cause major physical and property damage, but who is responsible for paying for these accident-related expenses? The answer is not as straightforward as you might think.
In most cases, local governments are responsible for maintaining the city’s roads, but the state of Illinois bears responsibility for some state roads. The laws that govern liability in these cases vary from city to city, and it is possible that multiple parties, including private companies, are legally responsible for the condition of the roads.
Five Most Common Car Crash Injuries in Illinois
Despite advances in vehicle-safety technology,
car accidents
remain common causes of serious injuries and fatalities in
Illinois. Unfortunately, even the safest drivers can fall
victim to the negligence of other road users.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car crash injuries sent more than 2.5 million Americans to emergency rooms in 2012. These hospital visits are not cheap; in fact, Americans will each pay $3,300 on average for treating car accident injuries in their lifetimes. Read on to learn five of the most common car crash injuries in Illinois:
1. Neck Injuries
A collision can bring your car to a dead stop, whipping your head forward and straining your neck. In most crashes, motorists sustain varying degrees of whiplash. However, some victims require emergency treatment for cervical dislocations and disc injuries.
Public Transit Accidents: Investigation Reveals Alarming Information about CTA
Those that take public transit typically do so to save
money or the environment, but they also believe they are
getting an added benefit: the reduced risk of an accident.
But public transit accidents
do happen and they occur more frequently than most people
realize. In fact, a recent news team investigation
revealed that Chicago’s public transit system, CTA, has
one accident every 36 hours.
Major Summer Crash Prompts Investigation
This past summer, a CTA bus jumped a curb on Michigan Avenue during the evening rush hour. Seven people were injured and one person was killed. That accident prompted the news team’s investigation of CTA crashes. In all, they uncovered hundreds of accidents that resulted in nearly 500 injuries and four fatalities.
Elderly Drivers at Increased Risk for Car Crashes
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report
that there are over 36 million drivers over the age of 65
who are on U.S. roads today. However, senior drivers are
also more at risk of being injured – or killed – in a
motor vehicle accident
than younger drivers.
Each year, there are approximately 5,500 senior drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes – 15 fatalities every day. Another 215,000 are injured every year. That is almost 600 elderly drivers injured per day.
Issues with older drivers typically begin around the age of 70. In fact, in 2013, over 4,000 of the elderly motor vehicle fatalities were 70 years of age or older. The dangers increase as drivers enter their eighties. The reasons for these increased numbers are linked to a senior’s increased risk of medical complications, as well as their increased risk for sustaining an injury in a crash, compared to a younger driver’s risk.
Common Mistakes Drivers Make after a Car Accident
Immediately after a
car accident
it can be hard to know what to do. Even in accidents where
nobody needs emergency treatment, everyone will still be
experiencing some type of shock. The actions you take in
the moments and days after a car accident can make a big
difference in your ability to get properly compensated for
your injuries. Here are three common mistakes people make
after they have been in a car accident.
Mistake One: Admit Fault or Apologize
You have just been through a traumatic event. You may see that the other driver is hurt. The natural human thing to do is sometimes to say you are sorry. You never want to admit that you were at fault for the accident or apologize to the other driver. This human kindness can later be used against you, even if you were not at fault for the accident.
Are Hands-Free Devices Any Safer Than Handheld Cell Phones?
Illinois’s Cell Phone Laws
Since 2014, Illinois has banned the use of all handheld devices while driving. It also has a specific ban on texting while driving. Illinois does generally allow for the use of hands-free devices such as speakerphones, bluetooth headsets, and voice activated devices.
However, Illinois is one of the few states to also prohibit all cell phone use in certain situations. This includes while driving in school zones and construction zones. Novice drivers are also prohibited from using a cell phone at all while driving.
Study Offers New Hope for Spinal Cord Injury Victims
According to national statistics, the number one cause
of
spinal cord injuries
is motor vehicle crashes. Almost 40 percent of the more
than 10,000 new spinal cord injuries which occur each year
are a result of car crashes.
Victims of spinal cord injuries also have an increased mortality rate – almost five times higher – than someone without a spinal cord injury. Statistically, the majority of victims of spinal cord injuries are male, with more than half of victims receiving their injuries between the ages of 16 and 30.
The cost of spinal cord injuries can be astronomical. The initial hospital stay after an injury is 15 days, and that is followed by a stay at a residential rehabilitation facility. That stay is usually around 45 days. The follow-up medical expenses the first year alone are approximately $200,000. However, that number almost doubles if the victim is a quadriplegic.
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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