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Keys to Avoiding Car Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
reports a number of factors that contribute to ongoing
car accident
and injury statistics, including everything from
distracted driving, operating under the influence, and
aggressive driving behaviors, such as speeding and
tailgating. While a majority of collisions stem from these
kinds of human negligence and errors behind the wheel,
some crash incidents take place due to circumstances
simply beyond our control.
Vehicle Awareness
Bad weather and changing road conditions, as well as unexpected traffic jams and other external factors, can sneak up on even the best of drivers, quickly placing them in hazardous situations. Although we cannot prevent every unforeseen danger headed our way, we can focus on what we can control, such as our own vehicle and how we operate it on the roadway. Vehicle awareness is a crucial part of taking a proactive approach to motor vehicle accident and injury prevention.
Preparing for Illinois Winter Weather Driving
Although winter has not yet arrived, experts say that
now is the time to winterize your vehicle. This helps to
ensure that
you and your family are ready and safe, long before the winter season arrives. Not sure what to
do? The following provides information on how you can
winterize your vehicle and reduce your risk of an auto
accident this winter season.
Start with Tires and Brakes
There are a number of important steps to winterizing your car, but your tires are arguably one of the most critical. This is because your tires are your contact with the road. They help to ensure you can grip the slick road surfaces. So start by checking your tire tread. You should be able to insert a penny into the grooves, head down, and not see the face anymore. Anything less than that and you should consider adding a new set of tires to your list of purchases – preferably winter-weather tires. If you cannot afford winter tires, make sure you have chains for when the road gets extremely slick. You should also check tire pressure since colder weather can cause you to lose some of the air.
Intersection Accident Prevention
For a number of reasons,
car accidents at intersections are extremely common, especially when it
comes to motorist-to-pedestrian impact. On the surface,
the primary reason for this is simple: Intersections
present an endless potential for accident and injury,
thanks to ongoing, conflicting activities.These collision
hot spots are where two or more highways meet, pedestrian
traffic is abundant, and motorists must make turns. All of
these factors combined create the perfect opportunity for
hazardous incidents to occur at these bustling junctions.
Accident Reduction
Past reports from the National Highway Traffic Administration have revealed that intersection-related crashes account for an overwhelming number of injuries and deaths throughout the United States. Out of over 5 million car crashes that occurred in the year 2008 alone, around 40 percent of them were due to intersection-related incidents. While that may not sound like a lot in the grand scheme of things, it certainly points to a problematic trend across the nation, making it even more apparent that preventing collisions at intersections is something every driver must take seriously.
Ignition Interlock Devices: What Are They and Do They Work?
As we reported this summer, Illinois introduced several
new DUI laws in 2016 in an ongoing battle to reduce the
number of
drunk driving-related accidents. One change that went into effect this year lifted the
prohibition on DUI offenders from driving at all during
the first 30 days of a summary suspension with the use of
an ignition interlock device. Offenders are now permitted
to continue driving with restricted privileges provided
that they install an ignition interlock device and submit
to regular monitoring of the device to ensure their
continued sobriety while driving.
Repeat offenders may also receive restricted privileges with interlock devices, and even four-time DUI offenders, previously banned from driving for life, may be eligible for restricted driving permits, again with an interlock device. Given that DUIs have risen over 20 percent in some areas over the last five years despite DUI law expansions, many are concerned that the devices are not as effective as intended.
Car Accident Liability
When a loved one is involved in a
car accident, the entire family can be dramatically affected. Losing
a family member is a tragic and traumatic event that can
take years to recover from, both emotionally and
financially. In some cases, multiple family members are
involved in the accident, and in some worst-case
scenarios, one family member may have even caused the
accident and injury to another. One such case occurred in
Niles early this year and has led to a lawsuit between
family members.
Grandson Accidentally Strikes Grandmother with Car
In March 2016, a 79-year-old woman asked her 12-year-old grandson to help her place her 2005 Chrysler minivan in gear in a parking lot. The boy did so, and while the woman was walking up to open the driver’s side door, he accidentally shifted the car into reverse while his foot was on the gas pedal instead of the brake. The car struck the woman, and she was pronounced dead at the hospital later that day. The woman’s husband filed a wrongful death suit seeking an unspecified amount of money in Cook County Circuit Court accusing his grandson of negligence, claiming that the boy carelessly failed to keep the vehicle under control, failed to give warning, and failed to yield the right of way.
Car Accident Fatality Rate Highest during Winter Holiday Months
Car accidents
are all too common throughout the year, but fatality rates
spike during the winter months from Thanksgiving through
New Year’s Day. More cars than ever are on the road with
families driving out of town to visit friends and family
for the holidays, and often during the worst weather of
the year. Holiday parties also often involve alcohol, and
many drivers fail to take precautions to avoid buzzed or
drunk driving.
Holiday Season Car Accident Injury and Fatality Rates
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that monthly fatality rates peak in the last quarter of the year, and the two of the four deadliest days on the road include December 23 and December 24. The number of motor vehicle fatalities are typically higher in the six holiday periods of the year, including Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Who Is Liable for Injuries in Bus Accidents?
Public transportation is a way of life in the
Chicago-metro area. Every day, thousands of commuters ride
the bus to work both in and out of the city, and children
are transported to and from school by bus nearly every day
of the year. With so many buses on the road,
car accidents
are inevitable, and on many occasions, injuries result.
Early this year, at least five people were injured when a school bus and a car collided in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago. Yet another accident left 25 people injured, including several high school basketball players, when a car sideswiped a school bus. In most car accidents, it is relatively simple to determine who is at fault and, therefore, who is liable for any injuries sustained, but when a bus is involved, there may be many factors involved that can affect who is responsible for covering the damages.
Comparative Negligence in Illinois Car Crashes
When a
car accident
occurs in Illinois, it can be a frustrating and difficult
time for all parties involved. In particular, when it
seems clear that one driver’s negligence has caused the
accident, the injured victims tend to feel angry that the
at-fault driver could have been so careless on the road as
to cause a dangerous accident. As such, many car accident
victims in Lake County consider filing a car accident
lawsuit. While it can be hard to focus on filing a claim
when you are recovering from injuries and dealing with the
aftermath of a serious traffic collision, a car accident
lawsuit can allow you to recover damages for your losses.
But what happens when you may be partially at fault for a
crash in Lake County, IL, or at least partially to blame
for your injuries?
Many car accident victims erroneously believe that they should not file a lawsuit if they bear any responsibility for the injuries they sustained in a car accident. However, this is a misconception that we want to clear up. To be sure, anyone in Lake County who is injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver may be able to obtain financial compensation by filing a claim, even if she or he is partially to blame for the accident.
Whiplash Injuries from Car Accidents
Rear-end collisions have long been a common type of car
accident on the highways. They are more prevalent today
than ever before, as we continue to see significant
increases in rear-end collisions due to crowded highways,
heavy traffic, and the rise of distracted driving
incidents, such as texting while driving. Whiplash is one
of the most common injuries drivers experience when
involved in a rear-end accident, resulting from the
forceful back-and-forth movement of the neck upon impact.
Injury Prevention Basics
More than two million Americans each year experience whiplash firsthand, but many drivers are unaware of some basic facts surrounding the condition. Whether you have recently been involved in a rear-end accident or you know someone who has, the following information is essential to whiplash awareness:
Headrests make a difference.
Five Effective Bicycle Accident Injury Prevention
Bicyclists in the state of Illinois, like bike riders
all across the country, regularly enjoy the benefits of
bicycle transportation to commute and for leisure, but
bike accident
statistics consistently show us that extra precautions
need to be made to ensure rider safety. Bicyclist safety
is just as important for driver and pedestrian safety, as
it only takes one accident to impact anyone in the
collision’s path.
The Big Picture
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in the year 2013 alone, there were an estimated 494,000 emergency department visits as a result of bicycle-related injuries. Within the same year, there were over 900 bicyclist fatalities, and data from the year 2010 revealed those involved in non-fatal crash-related injuries incurred lifetime medical costs due to their accidents. Despite the fact that only one percent of all trips made in the United States are by bicycle, studies show that bike riders have an overall higher risk of injury and death, even more so than those operating motor vehicles.
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.
