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Drunk Driving Accidents: Who Is Liable and How Can You Protect Yourself?
As many law enforcement officers and lawyers will tell you, drunk driving car accidents are a matter of negligence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that in the year 2010 alone, there were 112 million reported incidences of adults getting behind the wheel after drinking too much. The CDC also tells us that alcohol-impaired drivers are behind at least one in every three reported crash deaths, and 85 percent of those drinking and driving episodes are due to binge drinking. Drunk driving is an ongoing problem here in the state of Illinois and nationwide, making it imperative now, more than ever, to inform and protect ourselves as we travel the roadways.
Who Is Usually at Fault?
When we think of drunk drivers behind the wheel, we may immediately picture young, underage teens who have access to alcohol at parties or those who struggle with alcoholism. While it is true that these are common scenarios for drunk driving accidents, the reality is anyone and everyone is at risk for making the wrong decision to drink and then drive. It is very common for even the most responsible driver to make one poor decision to get behind the wheel after they have had too much. The decision to drive intoxicated is an isolated one for some, while it may be an ongoing problem for others. Whatever the case, the CDC reports that there are certain groups of people who are more likely to get behind the wheel intoxicated, including the following:
- Men, in general, are often found to be responsible for drinking and driving incidences. In a study done in 2010, men were found to be responsible for four out of five episodes, or 81 percent of all cases that year.
Farm Equipment Crashes Are Devastatingly Common in Illinois
It happens every year: as spring morphs into summer and the growing season begins, tractors and other large farm machinery take to the fields. They also take to the roads. Unfortunately, auto accidents involving farm machinery also increases during this time of year. Learn more about how to avoid such accidents, and what your options might be if one does occur, with help from the following information.
Sharing the Road with Farm Machinery
There is little more frustrating than being late for work or an appointment and finding yourself stuck behind slow-moving farm machinery. As your stress mounts, you may be tempted to go around. Be careful! This is one of the most common ways that accidents involving farm machinery occur. Hills, curves, stress, and limited vision all contribute to this devastating type of accident.
Injured at a Crosswalk? Know Your Rights in a Pedestrian Accident
Have you been injured by a car or bicycle as a pedestrian? Such an accident can leave pedestrians severely injured and may result in death. The good news is that Illinois law is often on the side of the pedestrian. In many circumstances, a pedestrian has the right of way, and it is the fault of the driver if a pedestrian is hit.
How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents?
According to the most recent data available, there are 4,637 pedestrian-involved accidents a year in Illinois. Of these, the Illinois Department of Transportation reports that 126 were fatal. A vast majority of the accidents occurred on city streets in urban areas.
Nationwide, there were 4,884 pedestrians killed and 65,000 reported injured in 2014. This means that a pedestrian is injured every eight minutes in this country.
School Buses Crashes Can Cause Serious Injuries
Although school bus crashes are fairly infrequent, their catastrophic capabilities make them greatly concerning. Not only are they able to cause harm to several victims all at once, victims are also at an increased risk for serious injury. As such, parents should know how to protect their children, and their family’s financial future, should a school bus crash ever happen to their child.
How Big Is the Risk?
Data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows that bus crash incidents and fatalities have been steadily decreasing over the last several years. However, there are still some 234 incidents that result in fatality each year. There are also many others that result in non-fatal injuries to passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists. Further, each incident has the potential to harm dozens of people. An example is a crash which took place this past winter in Chattanooga, which killed six children and injured several others. The bus driver is currently being held on charges of vehicular homicide and was allegedly responsible for the crash.
Dealing with Aggressive Drivers
Driving can be dangerous business, especially when there are aggressive drivers on the road – and there certainly are a lot of them. In fact, one study suggests that as many as 80 percent of all drivers have participated in some form of aggressive driving. That is not the worst of the problem, however. There have been murders, shootings, and intentional attempts to run others off the road. Learn how you can protect yourself from a potential crash with an aggressive driver, and what your rights are, should an accident happen to you or someone you love.
Concerning Aggressive Driver Statistics
Aggressive driving can take many forms, and it can lead to varying degrees of potential harm. Behaviors that tend to be the most dangerous are those that involve shooting another driver (approximately 37 percent of all road rage incidents involve the use of a firearm), intentionally trying to run another driver off the road (as many as 2 percent of drivers admit to trying to run another aggressive driver off the road), and intentionally bumping or ramming another vehicle (about 3 percent of all drivers have admitted to doing so). These are not the only behaviors that can cause harm, however. In fact, there are other, seemingly less aggressive behaviors that can negatively affect other drivers. Examples include:
Left-Hand Turns and Pedestrian Accidents
Every day, traffic converges all across our state’s roadways, often causing unfortunate pedestrian accidents that are at times inevitable. While we cannot avoid each and every pedestrian accident that takes place, a number of collisions are able to be prevented, however, especially when drivers are at their utmost level of alertness when operating vehicles and are made aware of the dangers they pose to those commuting by foot. Studies show that drivers making left turns at intersections are particularly prone to causing accident and injury to pedestrians when their paths cross. Drivers who collide with pedestrians commonly experience injury as well, at times making impact with other vehicles in the midst of the collision.
Pedestrian Accidents More Common in Urban Areas
Self-Driving Car Accidents
By 2020, 10 million self-driving cars will hit the roads. Many drivers see easy commutes and the ability to relax while driving in their futures. However, a study conducted by the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute finds that there have been more car accidents involving vehicles equipped with autopilot technology than there have been with conventional cars.
Because self-driving vehicles are relatively new, many drivers do not understand what legal options they have when they are in accidents that involve automated cars. While studies show that most accidents involving vehicles with autopilot technology are the fault of the vehicle’s driver or other drivers, there have been car accidents that resulted from defects in such cars.
How to Avoid a Car Crash during a Rainstorm
The rainy season sees its fair share of car accidents on the road. Whether it is torrential downpours or light showers, driving during a storm can cause car crashes. While you should avoid driving in the rain, Illinois weather can be unpredictable and you may find yourself caught in the middle of a downpour during your commute.
How to Stay Safe in the Rain
However, there are a few steps you can take to keep yourself and other drivers safe:
- Turn on your headlights. Even if you believe it is not dark enough outside to warrant switching on your vehicle’s headlights, it is best to stay on the safe side. When it is raining, the skies are usually cloudy and there is little sunlight available. Other drivers may be older or have poor vision, so having your headlights on can help them detect your vehicle. Keep in mind, however, not to turn on your fog lights if it is not foggy outside. Intense headlights can make it more difficult for drivers to see what is going on in front of them.
Prevention of Child Passenger Injury
When it comes to child passenger car accident and injury, the stakes are high for everyone involved. Whether you are a parent, caregiver, or simply a neighbor helping transport a friend’s child for an afternoon errand, driving with a child passenger is a serious responsibility.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that car collision injuries are one of the biggest leading causes of childhood death in the United States, and sadly, many of these deaths are preventable. In the year 2015 alone, nearly 700 children ages 12 years and younger died as automobile occupants, and an overwhelming portion of those children were not restrained in a child safety or booster seat and were not wearing seatbelts.
How to Help Prevent Child Passenger Injury and Fatality on the Roadways
Steps to Take after a Car Crash
No matter what the circumstances surrounding a car accident may be, one thing is certain: Everyone is stunned in the moments following a collision. Whether you were alone at the time of the impact or you were the passenger in someone else’s car, shock takes over as you begin to process what has just taken place. Even the most minor fender-bender can wreak havoc on one’s nerves, but minor and severe accidents alike all require the driver - and any passengers involved - to be vigilant immediately after the crash. More often than not, your attentiveness in the moments following the accident can make a big difference when it comes to protecting your rights later on.
Acting Quickly
Understandably, not every driver is able to make sharp observations or think critically in the moments directly after a crash. Due to the shock and any immediate needs that demand your attention, such as moving the car off the highway or tending to injuries, you may not have the chance to assess the scene and take notes. A few simple observations, however, can help tremendously in your case, should you experience injury of any kind.
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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