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Recovering Non-Economic Damages from Car Accidents
As explained in a previous post, victims of
motor vehicle accidents
can file claims for both economic and non-economic
damages. Economic damages include lost wages and medical
expenses, while non-economic damages involve the pain and
suffering the victim has had to live with since being
injured in the accident.
Pain and suffering is not only the physical pain a car accident victim endures from their injuries, but can also include the psychological and emotional pain the victim is struggling with. This can include symptoms such as anxiety, depression, fear, and insomnia.
It is very unlikely a victim could receive pain and suffering damages if they have not sought any medical treatment. This is why it is important to see a medical professional immediately after an auto accident. Victims should also keep a log documenting their symptoms, as well as any medical treatment they receive.
When the At-Fault Driver Is Someone You Know
No matter how minor or serious injuries received are, a
car accident
is still an emotional experience. When the driver of the
car is a family member or friend, it can make the whole
ordeal more difficult than if the negligent driver was a
stranger.
Understanding Your Priorities
Your first priority after a car accident, no matter who was at fault, is to make sure you get the medical care you need. Even if your injuries do not require immediate medical attention, you should still see a medical professional as soon as possible. It is not uncommon to have injuries where symptoms do not appear until a day or two after the accident.
If the driver who caused the accident is someone you know, you need to refrain from discussing the accident with him or her. You do not have to stop talking to them altogether, but it is not in your best interest to say anything about the car accident. This includes giving them detailed information about how you are recovering.
Dooring Bicycle Accidents in Illinois
“Dooring” is one of the most common types of
bicycle accidents
that occur in Illinois today. This type of accident refers
to any incident in which a cyclist is riding on a road and
runs into an open — or opening — door of a parked car.
Most often this accident is the fault of the motorist, who
does not look before opening the driver’s door of the
vehicle, and opens the door of the car into an oncoming
bicycle.
While bike lanes have helped to reduce the number of bike accidents, in many cases they can actually make the possibility of these incidents greater, because the cyclist is less likely to be paying full attention. Some cyclist advocate agencies argue that bike lanes lead to a false sense of security for cyclists. As such, it is increasingly important that cyclists pay full attention at all times while riding in a busy car city, such as Chicago, even and perhaps especially when riding in bike lanes.
How Often Does Defective Equipment Cause Truck Accidents?
In January of 2014, two Ohio men were killed when a
tractor trailer hitch failed and the 12-ton trailer the
truck was hauling became detached. Both young fathers were
traveling on the interstate when the
trailer plowed into their vehicles. It took almost two years before the company that
manufactured that trailer hitch finally admitted the
trailer hitch was defective and issued a recall.
The Alabama company did not even begin investigating complaints about the hitch until 17 months after the fatal accident. According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the locking mechanism can erode over time and this causes the pin, which is supposed to lock the trailer and tractor together, to become loose. The company issued a recall for 6,800 hitches, which were sold to Daimler, Kenworth, Mack, Navistar, Kenworth, Peterbilt, and Volvo. The company stopped manufacturing this particular model in 2013.
Motorcycle Crash Statistics
This weekend we turn the clocks ahead, a sure sign that
winter is getting ready to exit and spring will soon make
its debut. Along with the warmer weather comes many
outdoor activities. One of those activities that has grown
in popularity over the past few years is motorcycle
riding. Unfortunately, along with that increased
popularity comes an increase in
motorcycle crashes. Almost 5,000 people are killed each year in motorcycle
accidents.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 80 percent of all motorcycle crashes result in either serious injuries or death. When a person climbs onto the seat of a motorcycle, they are completely unprotected, compared to the protection offered when driving a car or truck. There is no roof, no doors, no seat belts and no airbags. Other vehicles also offer more stability because they sit on four wheels, unlike the motorcycle which sits on two wheels.
High Percentage of Teen Drivers and Fatal Crashes
The parents of a young man who was killed in a
fatal crash
caused by speeding released a video he was recording at
the time of the crash. The family hope that the shocking
footage will help convince young people to slow down and
help save lives.
The crash occurred in Sussex, England. The 21-year-old victim, who was a passenger but owned the vehicle, was recording the video as his 20-year-old friend, who was unlicensed, hit speeds of 90 mph. According to the coroner’s report, the two were highly intoxicated on drugs. They can be heard in the video prodding each other. The passenger says to his friend, “You’re doing 90 boy, slow down,” and seconds later the car crashed into the wall of a church. The two were killed instantly.
Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of young people in this country. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 4,000 teens between the ages of 15 through 20 are killed every year in car crashes. Another 250,000 are seriously injured.
Driving Selfies Increasing Despite the Dangers
Last summer was a record-setter in shark attacks around
the world. There were 98 documented attacks, leaving many
of the victims with loss of limbs, and there were even
reports of several fatal attacks. Shows like “Shark Week”
and films such as the classic “Jaws” leaving many of us in
fear of being attacked by a shark. However, statistics
show that
taking selfies
is much more dangerous and risks of being killed much
higher than the risks of swimming in the ocean where
sharks live.
In 2015, there were six people killed in shark attacks. In that same time period, there were hundreds of people who were killed or injured while attempting to take a selfie. One of the places that has seen a marked increase in the number of people taking selfies is behind the wheel of a car. Instead of concentrating on the road, these drivers are concentrating on getting their best angle – usually so they can post it to their social media pages.
Use of Sleep Aid Drugs May Increase Automobile Accident Risk
In a sleep deprived country, the use of sleep aids have
become extremely popular. In fact, somewhere around 8.6
million of the 50 to 70 million Americans suffering from a
sleep disorder or sleep deprivation regularly take
prescription sleeping pills. Unfortunately, a recent study
determined that these very same medications could lead to an
increased risk of an
automobile accident.
Effects of Sleeping Pills Comparable to Driving under the Influence
Conducted by the University of Washington’s School of Pharmacy, study authors examined the medical and driving records of more than 400,000 people enrolled in a health plan between 2003 and 2008. Only six percent had received a new prescription during the study time period, and all took one of the three most commonly prescribed sleep aids: zolpidem (Ambien), trazadone (Oleptro or Desyrel), and temazepam (Restoril).
Feds Hold Summits Seeking Answers to Decreasing Vehicle Accident Fatalities
A recent CNBC report may have you gripping the wheel a
bit tighter as it is estimated that by the year 2035,
there will be 1.7 billion vehicles on the road worldwide.
Although the projected growth will be heavily evident in
China, the United States is expected to see a boost
upwards as 660 vehicles per 1,000 U.S. citizens, will be
making the daily commute a bit more congested. As this
occurs, it is only logical that the number of
car accidents
will also be on the rise.
The report appears to have caught the attention of both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT).
In response to the steep increase in the number of car accident fatalities in 2015, The U.S. DOT and NHTSA organized one of several regional summits driven to address traffic safety behavior changes.
Accident Aftermath: How to Protect Yourself after a Vehicle Accident
Anyone who has been unfortunate enough to experience a
motor vehicle accident
is familiar with the initial state of shock and panic that
occurs just seconds after the accident. Victims experience
a range of emotions, from anger and confusion to numbness
and overwhelming fear. The emotional toll can be endless,
especially when the accident is severe and multiple lives
are affected in a mere matter of minutes.
Once the damage is done, there is no going back, but the moments that immediately follow the accident can be crucial. Knowing which steps to take after the impact can decrease the negative effects on your body both mentally and physically, while at the same time protecting your best interests when it is time to file an insurance claim.
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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