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Spotting Aggressive Driving Behaviors
The number of
car accidents
caused by aggressive drivers on our roadways is staggering
and continues to grow as time goes on. The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive
driving as incidents that occur when “an individual commits
a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger
other person or property.” There are a number of factors
that contribute to the rising number of these incidents,
from increasingly crowded city and roadways to heightening
stress levels of the drivers operating vehicles. While we
cannot prevent all aggressive driving related accidents, we
can be alert to other drivers around us displaying
threatening behavior. The simple practice of defensive
driving can go a long way in the prevention of serious
injury and fatality on the highway. To protect yourself and
others on the road, it is important to watch for the
following behaviors:
- Speeding and Tailgating: The NHTSA reports that speeding is one of the most prevalent aggressive driving behaviors on the roads today. Speed is a factor in almost one third of all fatal crashes. If someone is speeding around you or riding your tail, move to the right lane and allow them to pass, or pull to the side of the road if necessary to protect yourself from someone who is driving at an extreme speed. Never hesitate to call 911 to report reckless driving behavior;
Prominent Chicago Chef Killed in Auto Accident
In April this year, a 15-car pileup occurred on I-290,
the Eisenhower Expressway, killing one and injuring three
others. The one fatality was a renown Chicago chef and
restaurateur, famous in the French restaurant community.
The victim, who was 71-years old, was returning to his Oak
Park home from his Bucktown restaurant when he was struck
by another vehicle. Illinois State Police indicated that
snowy and icy conditions caused a chain reaction accident
that ultimately led to the series of
car collisions.
With the number of cars in the Chicago metro area, multiple-car accidents are a frequent occurrence. Just this month, another person was killed and one injured in a four-vehicle crash that occurred during Friday rush hour on the Kennedy Expressway when a Dodge Caravan collided with a car, forcing that car to hit another, which caused that car to hit another. A 20-year-old Plainfield woman was killed near Pontiac in May after her car struck another vehicle, and several others were injured when debris from the initial accident struck their cars.
“Pathletes" Especially at Risk of Injury during Summer Months
Car
accidents in a congested, traffic-heavy city like Chicago
are exceedingly common year-round. However, during warm
weather months, many more
accidents injure and kill both pedestrians and
cyclists. With spring temperatures on the rise and training for
the Chicago Marathon to begin in the next several weeks,
many serious runners will begin flooding the lakefront
trail, the Bloomingdale Trail (the “606”), and even
streets.
Chicago is also home to thousands of avid cyclists who use the paths and roads daily. The city estimates that up to 30,000 people use the lakefront trail alone every day, but that number increases to as many as 70,000 on a summer weekend day. The combination of so many runners, pedestrians, and cyclists on paths and trails can have disastrous consequences.
Dangers of Buzzed Driving
We have all heard the opinions and controversy surrounding
the topic of
buzzed driving, but when it comes to car accident statistics, there is
one undeniable truth: Buzzed driving is still considered
drunk driving. Even just a little buzz, or just one drink
too many can impair a driver and cause them to make a poor
decision behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) stresses the fact that
drinking alcohol impairs more than just our ability to
drive, it affects our judgement about whether or not we can
or should get behind the wheel.
What the Statistics Indicate
According to the NHTSA, almost 10,000 people die on our
roadways each year due to drunk driving and America has more
drunk drivers than most countries have people. Every 23
minutes, an impaired driver claims a life between the hours
of midnight and 3 a.m. These drunk driving statistics
include buzzed drivers, who by definition are found to have
a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .01 to .07. Although
this BAC is technically under the legal limit acceptable for
driving, studies have shown that even these levels of
alcohol in the system can be dangerous. One such study
conducted in 2013 by Professor Emeritus David P Phillips
(Department of Sociology, University of California at San
Diego), published in the Injury Prevention Journal found
that, “Even minimally ‘buzzed’ drivers are 46 percent more
likely to be officially blamed for a crash than are the
sober drivers they collide with.” The study concluded that
there is no such thing as safe drinking and driving, and
that even buzzed drivers put themselves and others at risk
the moment they get behind the wheel.
Preventing Impaired Driving Accidents
The NHTSA’s statistics surrounding buzzed and drunk driving
are overwhelming, and their ongoing public campaign efforts
continue to emphasize the need for awareness throughout the
country. Putting a stop to buzzed driving begins with every
single driver who gets behind the wheel. Everyone can hold
themselves and their friends accountable for the choice to
drive buzzed. You can practice the following to prevent
impaired driving accidents:
- Always designate a sober driver before you go out. It is common for at least one friend in a group to say they are okay to drive because they are only “buzzed”. Plan ahead to avoid this situation.
Common Pedestrian Accidents and How to Prevent Them
There is no denying that
pedestrian accidents
are just as problematic and dangerous as vehicle and
motorcycle crashes, sometimes even more so due to the fact
that pedestrians are vulnerable in a very different way.
They are out in the open, at the mercy of fast-moving
traffic, with little to protect them. In addition, they
possess a disadvantage when it comes to reaction time.
Unlike motorists, they cannot hit the brake or take a
sharp turn to avoid being struck. They must rely entirely
on their reflexes and the practice of cautious observation
when sharing the roadways.
This is why it is so important for both pedestrians and motorists to familiarize themselves with the common crash types that occur between vehicles and pedestrians, so they are equipped to be alert and take the special precautions necessary to help prevent pedestrian-related incidents.
Collision Risks of Tractor Trailer Trucks
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
reported that over 100,000 people were injured in the year
2012 due to accidents that involved
large trucks, and the number of fatalities increased by 4 percent since
2011. Since then, the statistics have jumped around, but one
factor has remained consistent throughout the NHTSA’s
accident data: Large trucks are targets for collision
incidents all over our nation’s roadways.
Why Are Large Trucks Involved in So Many
Collisions?
Speed: When general car crash statistics are examined, speed is often to blame for one vehicle striking another vehicle. Whether the cause for excessive speed stems from a driver making the deliberate choice to disobey posted speed limits or is a result of an impaired driver putting the pedal to the metal, speeding claims countless lives and causes an overwhelming number of injuries everyday. When it comes to large trucks, speed is less often a factor. Instead, the inability to stop in time is what puts large trucks at risk for collision. Trucks require more time to slow down and come to a complete stop, and when vehicle drivers speed around them, cut them off, weave between lanes, or run red lights, truck drivers are at a serious disadvantage.
SUVs and Rollover Crashes
Rollover crashes
are still increasingly common across the country. In
April, a Milwaukee man was injured in a rollover crash
after a GMC van struck his Nissan van. In January, five
people were injured when the driver of a Chevrolet Tahoe
SUV swerved to avoid an erratic driver, causing the car to
roll over.
Rollover rates were a big concern in the 1990s when the SUV industry was booming, but current reports indicate that safety rates have improved immensely over the years, making SUVs perhaps even safer than cars. But what about accident reports detailing hundreds of injuries per year resulting from rollover crashes, or safety reports showing that rollover crashes are one of the most dangerous types of crashes? Are SUVs still a rollover risk?
Statistics and Studies
New Illinois DUI Laws Effective This Year
Alcohol-related car accidents
remain one of the biggest causes of fatalities in
Illinois, and the state has imposed harsh penalties on
even first-time offenders. Prior to January 1, 2016,
anyone arrested and convicted of driving under the
influence of alcohol was penalized with a mandatory 30-day
license suspension, with longer suspension periods for
repeat offenders. While this law was intended to keep
dangerous drivers off of the roads, it seemed to backfire
in the long-run.
Why Change the Old Law?
Many DUI offenders found legal loopholes and avoided license suspensions thanks to plea deals, while others continued to drive illegally out of necessity to keep their jobs or get their kids to school. Defense attorneys and anti-DUI activist organizations alike supported the removal of mandatory suspensions, instead arguing that ignition interlock devices could allow drivers to remain legally on the road and be monitored to ensure they drive safely.
Education on the Hazards of Distracted Driving for Young Adults
Distracted driving
is not a new controversy, but in recent years its impact on
accident statistics has certainly intensified and gained
more media attention than ever before. Due to the
increasingly wide range of devices we use to manage and
navigate our everyday lives, using those devices in the car
has naturally become a way of life for many. Sadly, the use
of any technological device while behind the wheel is one of
the most dangerous behaviors a driver can adopt. While this
is true for any driver, it is especially a concern when it
comes to young, less experienced drivers. If you are a
parent, guardian, teacher, or mentor of a teenager or
college student, you can play an important role in steering
the youth in your life away from distracted driving
behaviors. Impress the following upon your teenager or young
adult: Hands-free devices are still dangerous - While the
use of a hands-free device certainly helps eliminate some
distraction while behind the wheel, the distraction still
exists. Even when your hands are on the wheel, your driving
skills suffer when your attention is pulled away to a screen
or dial. Even simple actions such as adjusting the radio
volume or station can deter you from keeping your mind on
the road. Passengers matter - Remind your young driver that
their influence as a passenger is just as strong as when
they are the driver of a vehicle. They have the power to add
to - or reduce - the driver’s distraction. By remaining
calm, quiet, and limiting their interaction with the driver,
they can help them stay focused on the road. Additionally,
they can be a voice of reason. When they see the driver
using a cell phone or other device behind the wheel, they
can speak up and call the driver’s attention to the
dangerous behavior. Young people are more at risk for
distracted driving accidents - Distraction.gov, the official
U.S. government website for distracted driving, reports that
young people are the most apt to talk and text behind the
wheel of a car. The 15 to 19 year-old age group is most at
risk. In fact, 10 percent of all drivers from 15 to 19 years
old who are involved in fatal car crashes are reported as
distracted at the time of the accidents.
Your young adult driver has the power of influence as both a driver and a passenger, and you possess the same influence as a parent or friend of a young person. If you have been injured in a car accident that stemmed from distracted driving, be sure to speak with a professional Lake County car accident attorney right away. Call Salvi & Maher, LLP today at 847-662-3303 to schedule a free consultation.
Rights of Drunk Driving Accident Victims
No matter where you reside, many laws exist to fight and
prevent impaired driving and the fatality and injury
statistics that sadly accompany
drunk driving accidents. The state of Illinois has its own set of laws in place to
combat the problematic behavior of driving under the
influence, and police work hard to enforce these laws to
hold offenders accountable for their actions.
Are Victims’ Rights Protected?
DUI offenders are held responsible for their actions, but
how do these repercussions affect the victims of a crash?
When it comes to drinking and driving, state law focuses on
punishment and fines placed upon the driver found guilty of
driving under the influence as a main avenue for addressing
the problem. Convictions and their consequences vary,
including everything from short-term and long-term loss of
driving privileges to imprisonment and community service.
Conviction fines can spike as high as $25,000, and a third
conviction or an Aggravated DUI (that results in serious
bodily harm or disfigurement) are deemed Class 2 or Class 4
felonies, which impact a driver’s record for a significant
amount of time. Apart from enforcing certain laws on those
guilty of drunk driving that bring considerable consequences
to the forefront, criminal charges alone do not do much to
protect the rights of victims following an accident. Victims
of drunk driving incidents are protected under certain basic
at-fault motorist laws, however, and one course of action
they can pursue to protect themselves is to file a personal
injury claim. There is also something called civil
liability, which refers to the driver who caused the crash
and their responsibility to pay for certain damages, such as
automobile damages and medical bills to gaps in employment
compensation.
Knowing Where You Stand
Since 1995, the Zero Tolerance state law has enforced a range of penalties for drunk driving offenders, but only so much can be done on the end of criminal charges where victims are concerned. Regardless of the circumstances that surround your accident, this is why it is so important to speak with a qualified, knowledgeable Lake County drunk driving accident attorney if you are a victim of an impaired driving collision. Personal injury claims can be tricky, so it is crucial to ensure you are equipped with the proper legal representation and that your rights are protected. Call Salvi & Maher, LLP today at 847-662-3303 to schedule a free consultation.
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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