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Illinois Looks to Eliminate Fatalities from Roadway Departure Crashes
While motor vehicles are an essential, inescapable part of our daily lives, they are also very dangerous. Even though they have plenty of safety features, cars are still large pieces of metal that weigh more than two tons, on average, and travel at high speeds. These factors mean that any collision between a car and a person, object, or other vehicle is likely to result in injuries for anyone involved.
Roadway departure car accidents, which occur when a vehicle leaves the road or crosses the road’s centerline, are some of the most common accidents that take place in Illinois, and account for 33 percent of all fatalities and serious injuries. As part of its plan to reduce the number of fatalities on its roads, Illinois has put several new initiatives into place to reduce the dangers of roadway departure.
New Study Shows Bicycle Accident Fatalities on the Rise
In collisions between bicycles and automobiles, the chance that a bicyclist will be seriously injured is high. Bicyclists may wear helmets and reflective clothing, follow the rules of the road, and do everything they can to stay safe, but they are often struck by vehicles through no fault of their own, resulting in catastrophic, life-altering injuries.
In recent years, this concern has grown as more and more people use bikes for exercise or to commute to work. According to a new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association, the number of fatal bicycle accidents across the United States hit an all time low of 621 in 2010, but ever since then, it has been increasing, with 818 bicyclists dying in collisions in 2015, the most recent year in which data was available.
How to Prepare Your Car for the Winter
While it is not snowing yet, the winter season is quickly approaching. But is your car prepared for the cold?
Making sure your car is ready while the temperature outside drops can prevent car accidents and keep you safe while out on the road. Consider the following tips to help prepare your vehicle for the winter:
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Keep a box of supplies and non-perishable food in your car. In the event that your engine fails or you are stranded on the side of the road because of a severe snowstorm, make sure you have food, water, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, blankets, and other supplies. Keep these supplies in your vehicle all winter long.
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Maintain your tires. Check your tires’ pressure because cold temperatures cause tire pressure to decrease. You should also make sure your tires are not worn out. Worn out tires can make it difficult to drive in snow and on ice. If you find your car often slipping on snowy roads, consider getting snow tires.
Safe Driving Tips with Child Passengers
Driving with children can be taxing, but it is essential to take certain measures to ensure their safety. Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death among kids. More than 600 children aged 12 years and younger died in 2015 from a car accident and thousands were injured. Therefore, it is imperative that parents and caregivers adhere to the road laws and regulations regarding child passengers.
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Make sure children are wearing seat belts. Children should not be sharing seat belts, and the seat belts should be resting securely against their bodies. In addition, children should be using both the lap and shoulder belt.
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Follow the law. Depending on the child’s age, weight, and height, he or she may be legally required to sit in a child car seat or booster seat.
Tips for Safe Driving During the Holidays
During the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve holidays, millions of Americans and their families embark on the road. An estimated 47 million people traveled 50 miles or more on Thanksgiving day. This year, the number is expected to be even higher.
Whether it be going on vacation or to your family’s house, keep in mind the following tips for a safe and fun car trip:
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If you are traveling long distance, make sure your vehicle is well-equipped and in good condition. If need be, clean out your car and have the oil changed.
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Check the weather forecast and traffic conditions. Knowing what to expect and what roads to avoid can ensure the safest trip possible.
Driving During the Winter
Driving during the winter seasons comes with many risks. Slippery roads, snowstorms that can inhibit visibility, and freezing temperatures can all contribute to the occurrence of traffic accidents. In fact, between 2011 and 2015, about 800 Americans died annually in car accidents that were caused by winter weather conditions. However, there are steps you can take to ensure your and your family’s safety while traveling during the winter:
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Keep your car maintained. Before the winter season even begins, take your car in for a tune-up and oil change. Have your mechanic check your tires and consider investing in snow tires. Make sure the exhaust pipes are not clogged with mud, ice, or snow. Blocked exhaust pipes can cause carbon monoxide gas to fill the vehicle.
How to Avoid a Car Accident in Foggy Weather
Fog can be a hazardous weather condition and can be difficult to drive in. In fact, there are more than 31,000 car accidents that result from foggy weather. More than 11,000 people are injured in these incidents and about 511 people are killed. Therefore, it is essential to drive carefully and stay focused when driving in foggy conditions.
Consider the following tips for staying safe on the road while driving in fog:
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It is important to drive slowly during dangerous weather conditions. Driving slowly allows you to stop your car in time if traffic slows down or if the car in front of you makes a sudden stop. Maintaining a safe distance between your car and the car in front of you can additionally help prevent an accident. You can injure yourself and other drivers if you drive too closely to a vehicle and the vehicle makes an emergency stop or stops for any reason.
Study: Pokemon Go Caused 145,000 Car Accidents in the U.S.
A recent study published earlier this month by Purdue University’s professors of finance and management, Mara Faccio and John McConnell, estimates that the popular augmented reality game, Pokemon Go, is responsible for about 145,000 car accidents in the first five months after its release in 2016. Of those car accidents, approximately 29,000 people were injured and 250 people were killed.
The study also shows that the accident frequency rate was almost 27 percent higher at intersections located within 100 meters of a “PokéStops” (referring to landmarks or public places where gamers can obtain collectibles to help them progress in Pokemon Go) as compared to other street intersections.
The study was conducted in Tippecanoe County, Indiana and the report suggests that the cost of users playing the popular virtual reality game while driving in the county is between $5.2 million to $25.5 million within the first five months following the game’s release. The cost includes vehicular damage, personal injuries, and the human lives lost in the car crashes caused by the drivers or passengers playing Pokemon Go.
Common Delayed Mental and Physical Injuries from Car Accidents
Often times, those who are in car accidents do not necessarily experience injuries of any kind right away. Instead, the injuries may appear in the days, weeks, or even months following the accident. Common car accident injuries include both mental and physical injuries and can negatively affect the victim’s life.
Delayed Physical Injuries From Car Accidents
Individuals involved in a car crash may find that they feel the physical effects of the crash later on. Some of the physical injuries that result from car accidents include the following:
- Shoulder or neck pain; stiffness. Whiplash is often the cause of pain in the shoulder and neck area. Whiplash occurs in cases of rear-end car accidents when the speed of the car is less than 14 miles per hour.
Car Accidents Are Leading Cause of Death for Children
Unintentional injury from car accidents is the most common cause of death for children under the age of 15. It is reported that 2,855 children in the United States have died in car accidents between 2010 and 2014. Many children who die due to car accidents were not wearing seat belts. Moreover, 43 percent of children were not properly restrained.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas completed an analysis on the data collected from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The study found that the rate of children’s death in each state varied and that one type of road is more dangerous than other types. In fact, 67 percent of deaths of children occurred on rural roads. Poor lighting, lack of knowledge of the roads, and considerable distance to the emergency room are factors that can help explain why rural roads are considered to be the most dangerous road. The study found that seat belts and restraints can help prevent child injury and death.
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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