Free Consultation 847-662-3303
Recent Blog Posts
Avoiding Car Accident Injuries: Wear Seat Belts in the Back Seat
The importance of wearing a seat belt when driving or riding in a car is well known, but while adults usually ensure that children are safely buckled up, they sometimes neglect to wear their own safety belts. When adults ride in a vehicle’s back seat, they may feel that a seat belt is not necessary. However, this negligence can result in serious injuries in car accidents.
Adult Seat Belt Usage
A recent survey performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that while 91 percent of the adults surveyed always wear a seat belt when they are in a vehicle’s front seat, only 72 percent always wear a seat belt in the back seat. People gave a variety of reasons for not wearing seat belts, including a belief that seat belts are not necessary because back seats are safer than front seats. People were also less likely to wear seat belts when riding in taxis or ride-sharing services like Uber, with only 57 percent of people saying they always wore seat belts in hired vehicles.
Illinois Ranks as One of the Safest States, but Still Needs Improvement
Every year, over 40 million people are injured and 146,000 people are killed in accidents that could have been prevented, according to data from the National Safety Council (NSC). The NSC notes that these numbers are on the rise, with deaths from car accidents, poisoning, drowning, choking, falls, and fires having increased 7 percent since 2014.
The NSC recently released its State of Safety report for 2017, looking at each state in the United States and giving them grades for safety on the road, in the home, in the workplace, and in the community. Illinois ranked second in overall safety, but it received a “B” grade, since the NSC noted several areas in which safety could be improved.
Road Safety
Traffic safety was one of the key focuses of the NSC’s report, as over 40,000 people died while on the road in 2016. While Illinois ranks #1 in road safety, the state still saw 1,108 fatalities in 2016, and the report noted several areas in which safety could be improved, including:
How an App May Cause Your Next Car Accident
There are countless apps available on mobile phones—messaging apps, navigation apps, and game apps. There is something for everyone.
Although apps provide a great deal of entertainment and a way to make connections that transcend borders, they can also lead to distracted driving.
In fact, many of these apps were developed with the intention of being used on the road.
The Pokemon Go game allows motorists to search for Pokemon while driving. Drivers can use Snapchat, a messaging app, to posts photos that list the vehicle’s speed. Waze, a popular navigation app, gives drivers reward points when they report traffic incidents.
Even the useful navigation app by Google Maps can cause drivers to be distracted every time they have to look to the phone for directions or to accept a different route.
We Can Decrease Drunk Driving Accidents. Here’s How.
Every year in the U.S. there are approximately 111 million instances in which adults drive after drinking over the legal limit. About 10,265 people die in drunk driving accidents across the country annually. Every two minutes, a person is injured in an alcohol-related traffic accident.
While the statistics do not resemble the number of alcohol-related traffic accidents during the drunk driving epidemic of the 1970s and 1980s, the rate of drunk driving is still a concern among many, and researchers and policymakers are seeking ways to address the issue.
What Can Be Done?
Whether it be a change in policies or the leverage of social media campaigns, there is much that can be done to combat driving under the influence:
-
DUI laws. Since the 1970s, the national drunk driving rate has decreased by 57 percent. Many in the science, policy, and government sectors attribute the rollout of DUI penalties and an increase in the drinking age to the reduction. Whether strict driving-under-the-influence laws are correlated with low drunk driving rates is up for debate. For example, South Dakota has the most lenient DUI penalties in the U.S. and has the highest drunk driving rate among all states. However, Arizona also has some of the toughest DUI laws in the U.S., but in 2013, the state had the 17th highest DUI fatality rate in the U.S. In Illinois, more adults commit alcohol-impaired driving than the U.S. average—regardless of the state’s relatively strict DUI laws.
How Google’s Self-Driving Cars Teach Safe Driving
The safety of vehicles with autonomous technology is being debated across the globe. Those who drive vehicles with autonomous technology oftentimes become too dependent on the vehicle—which can lead to catastrophic accidents. However, self-driving cars can teach drivers of any vehicle more about safer and better driving.
Certain “behaviors” and mechanisms were installed in self-driving cars to improve safety and prevent traffic accidents. Drivers can learn from such behaviors to avoid collisions while on the road.
The Behaviors of Autonomous Vehicles
Keep your eyes open. Self-driving vehicles such as Google’s driverless car constantly and consistently watch other vehicles, pedestrians, movements, objects, and all other activity on the road. Through its sharp observations, Google’s driverless car can predict what other drivers intend to do, not just where the other cars are currently located. For example, if it sees a cyclist that will need to get around a vehicle that is in front of it, the car will slow down or give the cyclist space.
Bars Involved in Pub Crawls May Be Liable for Drunk Driving Damages
Drunk driving is one of the most common causes of car accidents, and more than 10,000 people die in drunk driving accidents every year in the United States. When you or a family member are injured in an accident involving a drunk driver, navigating the legal system as you seek compensation for your damages can be a daunting prospect. However, a recent case in the Chicago suburbs highlights how Illinois’ dram shop laws may allow you to recover damages from a bar or restaurant that was responsible for a driver’s intoxication.
Pub Crawls and Dram Shop Liability
In February 2017, Crystal Lake resident Lawrence Madigan was killed in a head-on collision with Tyler Stewart, who was driving home after a pub crawl that had taken place in multiple Chicago suburbs, with the participants traveling between bars using Metra. Stewart was also killed in the crash, and according to sheriff’s report, a blood test performed after the accident found that he had a blood alcohol level of .167, which is more than twice the legal limit.
The Dangers of Bicycle “Dooring” Accidents in Chicago
Chicago has been named America’s Best Bike City, but there are still plenty of dangers for cyclists throughout the city. One of the most common and dangerous types of bicycle accidents is “dooring,” in which a cyclist is struck by a car door that is opened in their path.
Even though Chicago has added over 100 miles of bike lanes to its streets in the past several years, the prevalence of dooring accidents has increased during that time, demonstrating the need for both drivers and cyclists to stay safe when using the road.
Increased Instances of Dooring
In April of 2017, the Illinois Department of Transportation released the latest road accident data for Chicago, covering the year 2015. This report showed that 302 bicyclists were doored in 2015, which was a 50 percent increase from the previous year. There were a total of 1,720 accidents involving bicycles in 2015 (an increase three percent from the previous year), resulting in 1,644 injuries.
Tips for Sharing the Road Safely With Motorcycles
When you drive, you have to share the road with a wide variety of other vehicles, and it is always good to remember that everyone has an equal right to safety on the road. This includes not just standard four-wheeled vehicles and large trucks and buses, but also motorcycles.
Motor vehicle accidents can be especially deadly for motorcyclists, since they do not have the protection of a large vehicle or safety features such as seat belts and airbags.
When you drive, it is important to practice good driving habits which will help protect not only your own safety, but the safety of everyone with whom you share the road. Unfortunately, many drivers do not drive as safely as they should around motorcycles, since their small size can make them harder to see.
7 Steps to Take After a Rear End Collision
Rear end collisions are some of the most common types of car accidents, but while types of crashes may often seem to be minor, they can result in a great deal of damage to your vehicle and long-lasting effects to your health.
Following a rear end collision, you may have the impulse to quickly survey the damage and move on, but in order to avoid future difficulties, you should take the following steps:
-
Check for injuries - If the drivers or passengers of any vehicles involved in the accident were injured, you should immediately call 911 to receive medical help.
-
Call the police - You should always file an accident report with the police. Make sure to stay at the scene of the accident until the police arrive. An officer will be able to assess the situation and create an official report of the incident.
School Bus Safety Tips for Drivers and Parents
Fall is back to school season, and as students return to their studies, many of them will be traveling to and from school via bus. While school buses provide a number of safety features, children may still be at risk in school bus accidents.
In order to avoid injuries, drivers and parents should practice the following safety tips around school buses.
Safety Tips for Drivers
-
Understand school bus signals - When school buses are about to stop to load or unload children, yellow lights will flash at the front and back of the bus. When buses are stopped for loading or unloading, red lights will flash, and a stop signal arm will extend from the left side of the bus.
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.
