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Traffic Fatalities Spike Not Just in Illinois, but Nationwide
Every year, the federal government, through the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), tracks the
number of fatalities that happen in traffic-related
incidents on the road of the United States. Last month,
the NHTSA released its findings for the past year. What
they found was that, over the course of 2015, no fewer
than 35,092 people died on the roads of America in
car crashes
or similar events.
Traffic Fatalities Spiked, Nationwide, in 2015
Taken alone, saying that 35,092 people died on the roads in 2015 is meaningless. Without context, it does not communicate why this number is so worrisome.
The number of people who died in traffic-related accidents in 2015 was a 7.2 percent increase from the total fatalities in 2014. This represents the largest percentage increase in traffic-related deaths since 1966 and breaks a trend that has developed over the past few years towards safer roads and fewer annual deaths.
Chicago Home to First Bike-Share Fatality
With the rise of bike-share programs across the nation,
more Americans than ever are enjoying the thrill of riding
around the city even if they do not own a bike. Chicago
has introduced the Divvy bike-share system, which allows
riders to take bicycles out and about in the city for
30-minute intervals for a small fee. While Divvy and other
programs have made it possible for commuters to trade in
their cars and leisure riders to enjoy the city in a
different way, bicycling in an urban area can be risky,
even for experienced cyclists. In a large metro area like
Chicago, riders are vulnerable to
collisions that may cause injury or even death. One Chicago family now mourns the loss of a daughter
taken too soon because of a tragic accident.
An Experienced Rider Loses Her Life in a Crash
This past summer, a 25-year old woman from Chicago, was killed after a flatbed truck struck her while she was riding a Divvy bike. She was cycling in the Avondale neighborhood on Chicago’s far northwest side, traveling north on Sacramento. A truck, also traveling north on Sacramento, attempted to make a right-hand turn onto Belmont and did not see the woman, causing a collision that ultimately led to her death. Witness reports conflict over whether the woman was continuing to travel north or was making the same right-hand turn, but in either situation, as a cyclist, she had the right of way and the vehicle should have yielded to her.
Safe Driving Habits on the Tollway
Tollway roads in the state of Illinois offer a number of
great advantages for drivers needing to get around quickly
and efficiently. The intricacy of the roadway system
combined with heavy traffic patterns throughout these
roads often creates many opportunities for
tollway accidents, however. Merging lanes, multiple destinations and
exits, and countless drivers flooding the roads during
rush hour times mean higher risk all the way around for
potential accident and injury.
To reduce your chances of being involved in a tollway related accident, avoid the following five habits when behind the wheel:
1. Tailgating: Rear-end collisions are very common on tollway roads, especially in the midst of work zones or tollway lanes, where drivers sometimes slow down or come to a complete halt. Reducing your speed through these areas and giving the car in front of you enough space is crucial to avoid rear-end accidents, which can be especially treacherous on these fast-paced highways.
Defensive Driving and Avoiding Vehicle Accidents
Defensive driving courses exist for a reason: Every
driver can increase their chances of avoiding an
auto accident
when they are properly equipped to practice defensive
driving techniques. Learning how to prevent collisions
always begins with being observant when behind the wheel.
Looking ahead, keeping your eyes on both your side and
rearview mirrors, and watching for any surrounding hazards
is key to stopping an accident before it happens.
Here are some examples of dangerous roadway behaviors and how to spot them before a bad situation turns worse:
1. Erratic movements: Your attentiveness is your best weapon against collision, so staying alert to any erratic driving behaviors around you is one of the best ways to protect yourself on the open road. When you notice another vehicle making fast, careless movements, or maneuvers that indicate the driver is not paying attention to the road (such as swerving into another lane), slow down and steer clear of the vehicle to ensure you are out of its range. Erratic movements can also imply aggressive, reckless driving behavior, which can stem from unstable, angry, and irrational mental states.
New Car Technology May Help Prevent Driver Fatigue Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
reports that up to 6,000 fatal crashes each year may be
caused by drivers who are drowsy behind the wheel.
Driver fatigue
is a major problem in the state of Illinois and all across
the nation, responsible for 72,000 crashes and 44,000
injuries in the year 2013 alone, and those numbers are
likely grossly underestimated.
Root Causes of Driver Fatigue
Everyone is at risk for experiencing driver fatigue when they are overly tired or intoxicated, although statistics suggest that commercial drivers are particularly at risk for operating a vehicle while drowsy. Tow truck, tractor trailer, and bus drivers of all kinds are especially vulnerable, as long and irregular hours tend to wear on the body’s natural sleep rhythms, endangering the ability to remain alert and safe behind the wheel. Other root causes for drowsy driving include a general lack of sleep, working night shifts or excessively long hours, using medications that cause drowsiness, and untreated sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea.
Preventing Work Zone Accidents
Even the safest drivers can fall victim to serious work
zone related
car accidents. Disorientation due to changing road conditions cause a
myriad of potential hazards, particularly rear-end
collisions. In fact, rear-end accidents are one of the
leading causes of work-zone-related crashes. Everyone can
do their part to prevent accidents in construction zones,
but collision avoidance requires special attention to our
surroundings and an enhanced level of roadway alertness.
Here are five work zone driving habits that are guaranteed to help prevent auto accident and injury:
Maintaining Safe Distances
Keeping a safe distance between you, other vehicles, and the construction workers and their equipment is one of the most effective ways to prevent an accident and even has the power to save a life. Do not crowd surrounding vehicles by tailgating. Be patient, give everyone space, and resist the urge to speed through flagger work zones.
Taxi Accidents in Chicago
The Chicago metro area and its roads is often a recipe
for disaster. Commuters coming in and out of the city,
event traffic, and general rush hour disorder contribute
to a commotion of congestion, frustration, and, often,
exasperation for drivers. One way to avoid such worries is
to simply take a cab. It may be easy, but any Chicagoan
also knows that the sheer number of taxis on the road
significantly contribute to traffic, and that oftentimes,
cab drivers are not the most cautious motorists, and many
people learn that
lesson the hard way. Taxi cabs are not immune from accidents, and some
unlucky riders may find themselves involved in a crash
while in a cab in Chicago.
Taxi Crash Data Not Readily Available
Despite anecdotal evidence showing that taxi crashes do occur with some frequency, data showing actual accident rates is surprisingly hard to find. A Chicago Police officer and spokesman interviewed by the Redeye indicated that traffic crash reports do not include any check boxes to designate whether any vehicles involved were rideshare vehicles or taxicabs. The narrative portion of the traffic report is more likely to indicate that a vehicle was a taxi, but whether this information is actually included depends on the reporting officer’s level of detail in the report. The license plate portion may also indicate taxis because they have specially issued Illinois license plates, however, without a human eye reviewing every report, there is no way to easily generate metrics showing the percentage of accidents involving taxis.
Auto Accidents Can Have Long-Term Consequences
Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) estimate that more than 2.3 million
people are
injured in auto accidents
each year. Some of these injured parties are victims of a
negligent driver – someone who was intoxicated, texting
while driving, or otherwise behaving in a way that
compromised the safety of those around them. The end
result is a life that has turned upside down. Sadly, it
may be a long time before things are set right again. For
some, life will never be the same.
Long-Term Injuries and Wrongful Death
While some injuries do heal over a relatively short time period, there are those that can have long-lasting effects. Those that experience such injuries are likely to need rehabilitation, long-term medical care, and they may miss time from work. Some may be so severely injured that they are unable to return to the activities that they used to enjoy. Examples of severe and long-lasting injuries include:
Cell Phone Use and Driving: Putting Everyone at Risk
Nine times out of ten, when we hear about
cell phone-related car accidents, we instantly think of texting and driving. Gone are the
days we need to hold our phone to handle a call.
Hands-free devices and ever-evolving auto technologies
make it easier today, more than ever before, to speak on
the phone while driving without putting ourselves or
others in danger. While many of these technological
advances allow for safer phone calls, cell phone use to be
a prevalent problem and an ongoing danger on the roadways.
Three Types of Distraction
While other forms of distracted driving take our attention from the road - like eating, putting makeup on, attending to children, or playing with the radio - cell phone use is especially distracting as it disturbs our focus in three crucial ways: visually, manually, and cognitively, all at once. According to the CDC, texting while driving in particular combines all three forms of distraction, making it one of the most dangerous distracted driving behaviors out there.
Obtaining Compensation after a Hit-and-Run Accident in Illinois
Typically, if you are injured in an accident, you file a
claim with the driver that hit you. Unfortunately, this is
not always an option in a
hit-and run accident. Even if the other driver is eventually tracked down,
they may not have had insurance (which is fairly common in
hit-and-run accidents). You can still receive
compensation, however. The following information explains
how.
Hit-and-Run Accidents often Caused by Intoxicated Drivers
Lack of insurance is just one major issue with hit-and-run accidents. Many have been linked to intoxicated drivers. Others have also been linked to individuals who are driving without a license (potentially due to suspension from a previous DUI conviction). What is worse is that, collectively, hit-and-run accidents are on the rise, increasing by a concerning 13.7 percent over a three-year period.
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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