Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Our Illinois accident attorneys were happy to read an article in the Washington Times that discussed a recent bill introduced by a Chicago alderman to ban cell phone use by bicyclists. The bill that would extend hands-free distracted-driving laws to everyone on the road, which would include bicyclists.

The article reported that a high number of cyclists talk and text while they are riding around, even in heavy downtown traffic. Making this distraction illegal could make streets safer for all motorists and cyclists. As we have noted before, Chicago is becoming a very bike-friendly city. Just recently, plans were announced to expand the City’s bike-share program. Mayor Rahm Emanuel also plans to implement over 100 miles of protected bike lanes. Proponents of the new regulations say an anti cell phone law for cyclists could contribute to safer bike lanes. All drivers, no matter what type of vehicle they are operating, should be focusing on the road and their surroundings, not on social media, texting, talking on cellular telephones, or other distractions.

Our attorneys agree that this Chicago bill would further protect the safety of bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists. We also encourage bicyclists to be familiar with the rules and laws for bike operators in their own communities. Chicago Bike Laws is a site where our bicyclist readers can go to look up the City of Chicago’s bike laws. Also, the Illinois Bicycle Rules of the Road is a pamphlet that states general rules and regulations for bicyclists across the state. Some general bicycle safety tips include:

• Riding in single file
• Ride one to a bike
• Avoid riding in the dark
• Check the bike equipment often
• Stay closest to the right side of the road
• Have both hands on the handlebars at all times

Our Chicago accident attorneys encourage bicyclists to put down their cell phones even before this bill is official. When riding your bike in the city, you should wear helmets at all times, and avoid all possible distractions. Unfortunately, when accident occurs between bikes and larger vehicles, it is often the bicyclist who faces the most severe injuries. Following these bicycle safety tips will not only help keep cyclists safe, but will also protect the safety of other people on the road. If you have any question regarding a Chicago bike accident, please contact our lawyers to discuss your possible claim.

Today, the Chicago Tribune discussed how Chicago drivers paid the highest congestion penalty in American last year, meaning time and gas wasted sitting in traffic. The congestion penalty averaged $1,568 in time and fuel per motorist struck. This comes as no surprise to the many commuters in our office who experience Chicago congestion on a day to day basis. Traffic congestion is not only costly to drivers, but can increase the risk for car and trucking accidents. Therefore, we felt it necessary to discuss the dangers that arise in congested areas.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that drivers in areas of congestion tend to become aggressive. When motorists are stuck in traffic, they are more likely to become frustrated, which can result in aggressive behaviors such as lane changes, pushing through red lights or stop signs, following to close, or speeding when giving the opportunity. Aggressive driving behaviors such as this in a congested area can lead to car accidents. Our Chicago car accident attorneys acknowledge that rush hour traffic can be extremely lengthy. However, drivers need to stay calm and not let their frustration affect their driving behavior. The best thing to do is to find an alternate route, but if that is not possible avoid aggressive driving at all costs.

Also be predictable, and don’t make any sudden lane changes to confuse drivers around you. You should also time traffic lights, to make sure that you do not drive through a red light, and finally expect the unexpected. Just because you may be calm, it may not mean that everyone else on the road is. Our Illinois accident attorneys urge all drivers to look out for themselves and others on the road. Drive safely and calmly, and avoid aggressive driving. If you are injured in an accident caused by an aggressive driver, you may be able to seek legal action to recover compensation for damages such as lost income or hospital bills. Contact us to discuss how we may help.

Yesterday, our Chicago car accident lawyers read an article posted by the Chicago Sun-Times regarding a hit and run accident on the West Side of Chicago. The victim was seriously injured when a car hit her and then left the scene of the accident. The car has not been found, and Chicago police are still investigating the accident. After reading this article, our Chicago pedestrian attorneys felt it necessary to remind readers on what to do if you are involved in a hit and run accident.

According to Helium.com, there are close to 700,000 hit and run accidents annually in America. A hit and run accident occurs when the driver hits another vehicle, a pedestrian, or another object, and flees the scene. If you are a victim of a hit and run accident, the first thing you should do is to make sure you are not injured, and that others in your car or with you are not injured. If there are any injuries, take the appropriate medical measures and call 911and report all relevant information and details, including the extent of any injuries, and if you can give them a description of the car and the direction the car was headed. You should also take pictures with either a camera or a cell phone if possible. If there are witnesses of the accident, ask them to stay at the scene to be interviewed, with their statements recorded. And finally after the accident, notify your insurance company and if you or a loved one is seriously injured, contact an Illinois car accident attorney to see how they may be able to help you.

Hit and run accidents are common and are often tied into other driving offenses. Drivers will often make the decision to leave the scene because they are intoxicated, driving without insurance or driving on a suspended license. However, the consequences and punishment will be far worse for you if you flee. Hit and run is a serious offense, and citations and tickets will be issued related to how severe the damage of the accident is, how the driver interacts with the police and other law enforcement, and also the driver’s past history regarding criminal activity and driving tickets or citations. Both civil and criminal penalties may be issued to the driver, including fines, a suspended or even lost license, and even jail. According to Deadly Roads, the Illinois state law regarding hit in runs is that, “The driver of any vehicle involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in personal injury or death of any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident, or as close thereto as possible and shall then forthwith return to, and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident”.

Continue reading "Chicago Woman Seriously Injured in Hit and Run Accident" »

Last week, our Chicago car accident lawyers read on ChicagoABCNews’ website about a tragic accident involving two pedestrians in Chicago. A two-year-old and her grandmother were pronounced dead after a van when a van failed to yield and hit them while they were crossing the street at a crosswalk. According to the report,

This incident made us think about a recent Chicago Tribune study surrounding Chicago pedestrian accidents at crosswalks. The study showed that 80% of pedestrian accidents in the City of Chicago happen at intersections, when people are crossing street while the walk signal is lit. In reviewing this statistic, along with others, the City of Chicago has since announced new ideas to address this public safety problem. This includes identifying dangerous intersections where city officials can concentrate law enforcement, identifying how to better engineer the infrastructure of crosswalks, and educating drivers and pedestrians alike. Chicago’s streets are crowded with cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians, so it is important that everyone on the road, regardless of their means of transportation, look out for each other in order to protect their safety, along with others on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that since 1998, pedestrian accidents in crosswalks have steadily increased.

Pedestrian accidents can lead to serious injury and possible fatality, as shown in the accident discussed above. Pedestrians have the right of way at cross walks and drivers are required to yield. Therefore, it is important that drivers avoid distractions in order to focus better on what is occurring on the road. Staying focused allows drivers to better pay attention to signs, traffic lights, others on the road, and better notice smaller vehicles and pedestrians. As we have noted before on our blog, pedestrian accidents can occur in the middle of the intersection at the crosswalk, but also in places that may not be expected, such on the shoulder of the road, or even on the highway. In order to avoid these accidents, drivers should be alert at all times and avoid driving while distracted or intoxicated.

When a driver’s negligence causes others to suffer serious personal injury or death, it is important that victims hold all wrongdoers accountable. This Chicago report did not elaborate on whether or not the victims’ families will take legal action, however there could be a cause of action since the driver failed to yield to the pedestrians. Unfortunately due to these mistakes, a family is now without a grandmother and grandchild.

Our Chicago accident attorneys support the City of Chicago’s initiatives to better protect pedestrians and smaller vehicles from the serious injuries that can occur from automobile-pedestrian or automobile-bicycle accidents. We also encourage drivers to be on the look out for others on the road and remind pedestrians to remain alert to in order to avoid any potential accident. If you have been injured, or have lost a loved one, please contact us to review your case and see how we may be able to help you.

Earlier this week, the Chicago Tribune reported a Chicago pedestrian accident involving a woman who was arrested for driving under the influence. Two hours later, she was released and thirty minutes after she was released, the woman was killed on the Eisenhower when a truck hit her while walking near the median . The victim's family questions why the police released her while she might have still been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, instead of keeping her held in custody until she was sober. When looking back on reports, police say that the woman appeared sober and alert when they dropped her off at a nearby gas station. Further investigation continues to determine why the woman was walking by foot on the Eisenhower after being released from the police station.

It is unclear in this case who is to blame, and whether or not the police should have released the woman. It makes our Illinois car accident attorneys question what is the proper protocol for releasing DUI drivers, even if they are able to post bond right away. If the police hadn't released her so close to her arrest, her death may have been avoided.

The story also brings up issues of pedestrian safety. Even though drivers on the highway probably would never expect to see a pedestrian on a roadway such as this, they need to pay close attention and avoid all distractions. In this case, if
the truck had seen the woman walking down the highway, he maybe could have
avoided hitting the walking woman. According to Directgov, "Pedestrians MUST NOT be on motorways or slip roads except in an emergency."

Our Chicago accident attorneys hope that readers take driving under the influence seriously and realize that it can lead not only to arrests, but to dangerous decisions that can lead to personal injury or death. If you have been involved in a pedestrian accident, a DUI accident, or a distracted driving accident, or have lost a loved one due to another driver's negligence, please contact our Illinois accident attorneys to see how we may be able to help you to receive fair compensation, and also some peace of mind. Lawsuits do not only help to receive monetary compensation, but also bring attention and awareness to the issue at hand. Please contact us to talk about your legal rights and a potential lawsuit.

Over the weekend, CarmiTimes reported a serious accident involving a tour bus occurred, injuring several people. A group of people was headed to Chicago for a family reunion, including several children. In the accident, several children and adults were tossed from their seats when one of the bus’s tires blew out, forcing the driver to lose control of the automobile, drive off the road, and crash into a tree. A total of thirty-seven people were sent to the hospital.

A tire blow out is defined as a rupture that air escapes through to the point where the wheel and steering can no longer support the weight of the automobile, according to CarPartsPlus. When a tire blows out while driving, it can cause a serious problem especially when on the highway or interstate. The National Safety Council provides several tips that can be helpful when in this type of accident. Our Illinois car accident attorneys encourage drivers to follow these safety tips in case a blow out should occur.

An important thing to remember when a tire blows out is not to slam on the brakes, but instead let your car gradually reduce speed and coast to safety. If possible, move the automobile towards the emergency lane or towards the nearest exit. You should steer as your vehicle slows down so it rolls to a safe place. Try to avoiding stopping in traffic and to lower your risk of a rear-end accident or side collision. It is also important to turn the emergency flashers on in your car immediately.

The National Safety Council concludes that the most important things to remember when having tire issues on the highway are:

• Never stop in the middle of traffic
• Get the vehicle safely away from the roadway and oncoming traffic before attempting to change a tire
• Only change the tire if you can do it without putting yourself or anyone else in danger
• And finally, after changing your tire, make sure to get it checked out by a professional to make sure there is no damage left over

Our Chicago car accident attorneys encourage all drivers to take the proper safety steps when a tire blows out or fails on the road. If you have been injured in this type of accident, or have lost a loved one, there are some instances when the tire company may be liable. Please contact us to talk about your legal rights to a potential lawsuit.

Yesterday, BND reported an Illinois car accident involving a woman who was driving south on a highway when her vehicle crossed the center line and was hit by a tractor-trailer truck. The victim was pronounced dead at the accident site. It was also reported that the woman was not wearing a seatbelt. There will be further investigation to see if there were alcohol or drugs involved in the accident.

This tragic accident alarms our Illinois car accident attorneys because the victim’s death might have been avoidable if the woman had been wearing a seatbelt. According to BuckleUpIllinois, it is state law that driver and front seat passengers and people under 18 years of ageare required to wear seat belts. It is also the responsibility of drivers who transport children between the ages of 8 and 16 to make sure that the children are properly fastened into a seat belt or other child seating system.

The Illinois Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Evaluation shows that close to 93% of drivers use seatbelts, and close to 92% of passengers do. However, the rate is lower in the City of Chicago and on residential roads. Also, during weekdays, it is shown that people wear their seat belt less. Although majority do wear seatbelts, it is crucial that all drivers and passengers wear a seatbelt because if an accident occurs, it could be life saving. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, wearing a belt system reduces risks of serious injury or even death by half when used by the automobile’s driver and front seat passengers.

According to a study by James Madison University, 20% of all drivers will be in some sort of car accident or traffic crash this year. 75% of car crashes fatalities or injuries occur near the driver’s homeand more than 50% of all crashes involving injuries are usually when the driver is operating at a speed under 40 MPH. Knowing all of these statistics, our Illinois car accident attorneys cannot stress the importance of seatbelts enough. Seatbelts are lifesavers, and can seriously reduce the number of injuries and fatalities. Buckling up isn’t only the law, it is evident that it is effective and can help you should you be in a serious car accident.

Our Illinois injury attorneys know that at one point or another, most people will experience a car accident, and the possible devastation it may cause. Wearing a seatbelt can reduce the seriousness of injuries, or even prevent fatalities, when it comes to a car accident. Please buckle up.

Last week FoxNews reported a fatal car accident involving cell phone usage. A young adult was found to be texting two to three minutes before the accident occurred, and due to her distracted driving, she crashed into a garbage truck head-on. The young woman died during the crash and an unsent message was found on her phone when investigating the accident site.

Texting while driving, and driving distracted in general, is extremely dangerous and, as illustrated here, can cause harmful injuries or even death. A new organization called TXTResponsibily raises awareness to the issues that texting while driving pose. They are working towards new texting laws and educational awareness campaigns to spread the message. As mentioned in previous posts, our Illinois injury attorneys continue to encourage drivers to focus on the road and avoid all distractions. Distraction.gov has a feed on their site with recent accidents to bring awareness to the frequency of these accidents. The site also has a list of top Illinois texting laws including:

• A ban on all cell phone use for all types of bus drivers
• A ban on all cell phone use for all drivers under the age of 19
• A ban on all texting for all drivers
• A ban on all cellphone use for school zones or highway construction zones

According to the site, there are three types of distractions on the road, visual, manual and cognitive. This basically means when drivers aren’t looking at the road, when they are not steering the wheel, and not focusing. There are many types of distractions that drivers partake in, including cell phone usage and texting, using a GPS or social network, talking to others, or using other technologies.

Our Illinois car accident attorneys plead with all drivers to put distractions aside when on the road, because not only can they harm themselves, but also other drivers on the road. Distraction.gov also reports some alarming statistics including that in 2009, 20 percent of crashes involved reports of distracted driving and that “using a cell phone while driving delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent.” These statistics show that there is a severe issue in America when it comes to drivers focusing on the road.

Distracted driving is reported to be the number one killer of American teens, according to Negligent Driving. Distracted driving is not something to be taken lightly, and our Illinois accident attorneys are aware of the severity. If you have been injured due to a negligent or distracted driver, or have lost a loved one to another’s mistake, you may be able to receive fair compensation and some piece of mind. Filing a law suit would not only help to cover medical fees, medication costs, or doctor’s appointments, but it would also help to continue to bring attention to the risks that driving distracted have. Please contact our Illinois car accident attorneys to see how we may be able to help you.

Because summer is coming to an end, our Illinois car accident attorneys thought it would be helpful to remind drivers of what to do when driving near school buses, or through school zones. According to the Illinois State Police website, drivers should operate with caution when sharing the road with school buses. The Illinois state laws requires that all school bus drivers stop prior to crossing a railroad, and when doing so, use the warning lights. Drivers should be aware of these stops and should be prepared to stop behind school buses. Other drivers should also always maintain a safe following distance behind buses in case an emergency occurs and the bus needs to back up.

There are also specific laws to protect children when they are being picked up or dropped off by school buses. When buses are stopped with their lights on and the stop arm fully extended, children assume it is safe to cross. In actuality, this moment is where the majority of injuries and fatalities occur due to motorists who don’t stop or illegally pass a bus. It is important to always remember to stop whenever you see flashing signals, red signs, or the stop sign on a bus. All buses have the extended control arm to warn drivers behind and ahead to stop. If you see flashing yellow lights, that means that the school is preparing to stop and you must come to a full stop. Drivers who do not stop can be ticketed. The penalty for a first offense of passing a bus of $150. The second offense within five years of the first conviction has a minimum fee of $500 and a suspended license.

With many kids starting back to school this week and after the holiday, our Illinois injury attorneys also thought it was important to reminder drivers of school zone laws. According to CyberDriveIllinois, a school speed zone is a “special speed limit while passing schools.” On school days, there are more children around schools than on weekends or evenings so the speed limit is reduced to protect children on or near the streets. The legal speed limit in a school zone is 20 miles per hour. Drivers who do not follow this limit will be ticketed.

As the new school year begins, we hope that it is a safe one for students and all drivers who share the road with them. Our Illinois injury attorneys advise readers to practice extreme caution in school zones, around buses, and near children. If you or a loved one has been injured during a school bus or school zone related accident, please contact us to see how we may be able to help you.

Yesterday, BND reported on a Belleville, Illinois car accident in which an SUV operated by a teenager collided head-on with a van operated by a woman with children in the back. The accident also involved three other cars. The operator of the minivan was airlifted to a hospital with serious, but not life threatening, injuries. The five children in her car were taken by ambulance to a hospital.

The driver of the SUV was a 17-year-old teenager who swerved into the opposite lane for an unknown reason. He also hit another driver who was trying to turn left. After initially hitting the minivan and the driver who was turning left, the cars caused a chain reaction that included two more vehicles that were behind the minivan. The citation for the teenager was improper lane usage, and when taking to police, he recounts, “I don’t remember what happened; I just hit the car.”

New drivers on the road, teenagers specifically, pose a lot of risk to not only themselves but also towards other drivers. Teenage drivers are not only inexperienced compared to veteran drivers, but are also more prone to distractions such as their telephones, texting, social media, friends and music while driving. While it is not confirmed why the teenage driver swerved into the opposite lane, it is not improbable that there were distractions involved.

We encourage teenagers to be involved with programs such as Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) to learn about safe driving practices. Parents should also talk to their teens about safe driving. Many parents take steps to limit the number of passengers their teen drivers can have, but it is difficult for parents to monitor other distractions. As we mentioned in a recent blog post, we also hope car companies and cell phone companies will continue to create new technology that limits the use of certain features whilst driving.

At one time or another, we all will have a teen driver in the family. It is important for teens to learn smart driving practices early, so they develop the skills needed to drive safely throughout their lifetime. Just like all other motorists, teen drivers have a responsibility to obey all traffic laws, signs and should be prepared to react to unusual conditions. When they fail to do so and cause personal injuries to someone else, it is important that they are held responsible. Our Illinois car accident attorneys have successfully handled many cases involving negligent driving, and if you have been a victim or lost a loved one due to another driver’s mistake, we may be able to help you receive fair compensation.

In warmer weather, there is a tendency to see more bicyclists on the roads, sidewalks, and bike paths. Our Chicago injury attorneys always notice an increase in the number of calls we receive about bicycle accident injuries in the spring and summer. Bicyclists in Illinois are responsible for following rules similar to most other motorists, so we thought it would be helpful to remind our readers-bikers and drivers alike-about basic bike Rules of the Road in Illinois.

Bicyclists should drive in the same direction as other motorists on the road, but in some instances road blockage can cause the cyclist to have to move inward to avoid the obstructions. Bicyclists have the right-of-way on the road when it comes to bicyclists and motorists. If your car is riding next to a bicycle and for whatever reason you are required to pass it, the Illinois Rules of the Road booklet suggests that drivers "do so slowly and leave at least 3 ft. of passing space".

Blog readers may recall that last summer, Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation for bicyclists into law in order to better safeguard cyclists around Illinois. The law, which has recently been established as effective, created penalties for motorists who drive aggressively towards cyclists. We urge motorists to pay close attention to bicyclists, however, it is also crucial that cyclists still operate their bikes safely and wear a fitted helmet to lower their risk for serious injury should accident occur.

When a bike and car are involved in an accident, the bicyclist usually suffers from worse injuries due to the sheer size difference. When drivers are aggressive, disobey road signs or do not pay attention to smaller vehicles or bicycles on the road, a serious accident can occur. If a cyclist is involved, especially one who is not wearing the proper safety equipment such as a helmet, it is probable that the smaller vehicle or bicyclist will suffer from more severe injuries.

Continue reading "Attention to Bicycle Safety Can Reduce Chance of Illinois Car Accident " »

Tailgating is one of the most common causes of Illinois car accidents. The term tailgating refers to when one vehicle follows another vehicle without leaving a safe distance in between. Tailgating, along with speeding, weaving lanes, flashing headlights, and other driving issues, are all considered to be aggressive driving behavior, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These behaviors can lead to increasing fines, suspended licenses, or violations. Most people who tailgate follow too closely because they are in a rush, are trying to speed on the road, or trying to get the car in front of them to move over. This act may seem like a one-time thing and harmless, however it has the potential to create serious Illinois car accidents, leading to possible personal injury or wrongful death.

In the Illinois Rules of the Road booklet, they suggest that drivers use a two-second rule to help regulate a safe driving distance. The rule suggests that all drivers pick a stationary object on the road ahead of them. As soon as the vehicle ahead goes past the stationary object, count two seconds out loud, aiming not to pass the same object within the two-second count. If you do pass the stationary object within the two-second rule, you are considered as following to closely. If the car in front of you brakes suddenly, this can lead to a rear-end accident. It is also important to remember that when being followed to closely by someone else, it is considered aggressive driving to slam on your brakes causing them to either have to swerve or rear-end you. If someone is tailgating your vehicle, try to move over to the next lane slowly or pull off of the road onto the shoulder allowing the tailgating car to pass.

According to the Illinois DMV Vehicle Code, it is stated that, “The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.” Not doing so is considered aggressive driving and can result in citations.

Aggressive driving can cause severe accidents, such as pedestrian fatalities, or harm to yourself or other motorists on the road, and even wrongful death. If you have been injured in an accident caused by an aggressive driver, or have lost a loved one due to a negligent driver, you may be able to receive fair compensation and peace of mind knowing that the wrongdoers were held accountable for their actions. Please contact our Illinois accident attorneys to review your potential case.

Recently, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention published an article detailing the increasing medical and work-loss costs that result from motor vehicle accidents. According to the article, over 30,000 people are killed in motor vehicle accidents each year and the costs (medical and work-loss) of those accidents totaling $41 billion. California was at the top of the list with $4.16 billion while Illinois motor vehicle accidents were in 8th with $1.32 billion.

In order to prevent such significant losses, life and monetary, the CDC recommends that states adopt the following strategies. Those policies include: stricter child passenger policies, advanced driver’s education for teenagers, mandatory motorcycle helmet laws, in addition to, mandatory seat-belt laws. The CDC extensively encourages the need for compulsory seat belt laws due to the fact that seat belts reduce the risk of death in half in the event of an accident.

Fortunately, just this week, Illinois adopted stricter seat belt laws to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, all passengers, including those riding in the back seat of a car, are now required by law to wear their safety. Illinois police officers are allowed to stop cars and trucks where they see unbuckled passengers and may fine violators up to $25.

Our Illinois accident attorneys strongly encourage the use of all safety precautions in motor vehicles, whether you are the operator or passenger of one, especially the use of seatbelts. It is sometimes easy to forget about the safety feature that could one day save the life of you or your loved ones. With the 4th of July quickly upon us and more vehicles traveling the roadways it is always important to remember – “Click It or Ticket.”

All Chicagoans remain buried in piles of snow after a blizzard slowly dragged through the northern half of the state yesterday and this morning. Up to two feet of snow were piled on many areas, making the storm one of the largest to strike the city since records have been recorded over the last 120 years. The snowfall has been complicated by driving wind, piling ice, and snow drifts over 6 feet high.

Travel in the city has truly reached a standstill.

The transportation nightmare was perhaps most apparent on Lake Shore Drive. As The Beacon News explained this afternoon, Lake Shore Drive remains entirely shut down as emergency crews work to remove hundreds of stranded vehicles. The cars have been stuck since last night as the blizzard conditions hit the area hard.

A CTA bus jackknifed across the highway yesterday afternoon after coming upon another car accident on the highway. The stuck bus stopped all traffic behind it. Emergency crews were unable to get to the stranded bus because of worsening weather conditions, and so there was nothing to do but wait. In total over 700 cars were stuck on the highway, and some of them still remain trapped.

Continue reading "Blizzard Causes Chicago Car Accidents, Hundreds Stranded on Lake Shore Drive" »

When car manufacturers unveil new safety features on vehicles they are often only available on the most expensive lines of cars. That means they remain out of reach for the normal driver and family. However, experts are noticing that the trend is finally changing. Tampa Bay Consumer Online wrote today about the advanced car safety features that are now making their way into most lower-priced cars.

The new safety features are being added to cars to attract new buyers in the midst of the still potent automobile downturn. With a recent series of car recalls, manufacturers are also attempting to regain trust with the average driver.

Some of the new features include traction and stability control. When installed the device detects when a wheel slips, allowing for automatic compensation to the other wheels. Many experts believe this should be a mandatory technology as it helps avoid slips, spinouts, and rollovers.

Cameras are also becoming common on many vehicles. These devices connect to the dashboard to provide views of everything that is happening around the car—attempting to eliminate all blind spots. Back-up cameras and warning systems are particularly popular. They may help avoid hitting an unseen child behind the car or bumping into a vehicle while getting out of a parking spot.

Continue reading "New Car Safety Features Becoming Available to More Drivers" »

My Suburban Life reported this week on a few issues that may affect all drivers on Illinois roads this New Years’ holiday. The Illinois State Police plan on providing a strong showing of troopers on the roads during the holiday to ensure that all drivers are secure and abiding by safe driving practices.

The Department is deploying Alcohol Concentration Enforcement details for the holiday weekend, which is intended to provide even more disincentive for drinking and driving. There will also be several roadside safety checks, and new details concentrating on distracted driving. Those distracted driving forces will be watching for cell phone calls and texting while driving. On top of all of that, even more troopers will be focused on seat belt compliance, traveling too closely, and improper lane usage.

In addition, the Illinois Secretary of State issued a statement urging all drivers to be extra safe this holiday weekend. Jesse White explains, “Please don’t drink and drive and remember to buckle your safety belt—it’s your best defense against a drunk driver. If your celebrations for 2011 include drinking, designate a sober driver or use public transportation.”

Continue reading "Illinois State Police to Provide Close Supervision of Roads During New Years" »

The winter roads and holiday festivities come with a host of new challenges for all travelers as they attempt to navigate while remaining safe and secure. WLTZ News recently published a handy list of 10 tips for safe holiday driving.

The list includes a wide range of helpful advice. For example, it is vital to reduce the chance of drowsy driving. Failure to get adequate sleep before heading out on the road often leads to fatigue and accidents. Seven to nine hours of sleep and stops every two hours are all important steps to reduce sleepiness behind the wheel.

Also, maintain the mindset of a defensive driver. It is a virtual certainty that while driving you will eventually cross paths with another driver who fails to abide by basic safety techniques. In those situations, it is important to drive as if you expect the other car to a negligent mistake. In that way a serious crash may be avoided.

Be aware of the weather forecast. There are many easy tools now available to help determine what to expect each day and in the future. Paying attention to the weather allows ample time to prepare for potential problems and avoid dangerous situations.

There is much more useful information on the tip list. Click Here to read it all.

Continue reading "Safe Driving Tips For Holidays" »

Much focus on improving road safety revolves around actions to be taken while on the road—traveling at a safe speed, obeying traffic lights, watching for stop signs, and similar actions. These calls for careful, safe driving are obviously focused on limiting the negligence on the road that leads to serious car accidents. However, the fact remains that no matter how careful one drives, there is always a consistent risk of being caught in the crosshairs of another driver’s own misconduct. Unfortunately, even the most careful drivers fall victim in deadly car accidents all the time.

For that reason, pre-emptive safety measures are of vital importance while traveling on the road. While you cannot permanently insulate yourself against reckless drivers, everyone can take steps to minimize the damage caused by run-ins with other vehicles. The most important and obvious pre-emptive safety measure is the use of seat-belts. The severity of injury is often drastically reduced when safety belts are used. It is of particular importance that all children are securely strapped into an appropriate children’s safety seat every time they travel in a car.

One city police department is hoping to raise awareness of that fact by holding a car seat safety check, reports Today’s THV. Car seats save thousands of young lives a year, yet far too many parents still do not use them or use them incorrectly.

The safety check involves ensuring that cars with children use the devices, and when they don’t, to provide safety seats to the parents. The event also includes demonstrations which show parents the correct way to use the seats. Too often the set-up of the device confuses parents. Also, many parents put blankets and other items underneath the seat straps, an action that makes the device malfunction during an impact.

Continue reading "Police Department Holds Car Seat Safety Check" »

The New York Times recently published a story highlighting a summit this week that discussed the safety issues surrounding aging drivers. The National Transportation Safety Board held the two day public event Monday and Tuesday entitled, “Safety, Mobility, and Aging Drivers.” It included academic researchers, medical experts, industry leaders, law enforcement officials among others to discuss the questions and possible answers relating to improved safety and road access for our elderly community members.

Specifically, the summit included discussion and analysis of issues including the role of states to set regulations on elder drivers, the response families should take to insure safety of their older loved ones, and similar issues. These questions are typically full of debate with a need to appeal to both reason and emotion—there are few easy answers.

One member of the Board that organized the summit explained, “”We’re looking to see what can be done with highway design, vehicle design, state programs and policies—things that affect all of us as we age.”

Continue reading "Summit Being Held On Elder Drivers" »

The Miami Herald recently pointed to a new estimate from the National Safety Council that reiterates what most people intuitively know: texting and driving is a deadly combination. The total number of accidents cause by the practice continues to rise with an estimated 200,000 crashes resulting from the practice last year. In fact, a new Car & Driver magazine study found that reaction rates for drivers while texting was three to four times slower than the rate of drunk drivers.

Our Chicago car accident accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti are committed to ensuring that victims of accidents on the road are legally protected when harmed by negligent drivers. Our office has seen more and more victims of car crashes caused by phone distractions. The increase in these types of accidents is no doubt related to improved technology and the increasing functionality of mobile devices.

Nowadays individuals can send messages, pictures, check email, conduct research, and even watch television on their phones. The downside to these clear advances is the increased distraction that leads to deadly crashes on the road.

Those crashes are now having a unique legal impact in that business owners are open to increased legal liability when their employees cause these accidents while using their phone for business reasons.

Several cases have already been documented where companies have settled claims with victims of accidents caused by their employees using the phone for business or simply using a company-issued phone. It is important for all businesses to ensure that their employees are aware of the risk of using a phone while driving. In most cases issuing a company-wide ban on phone use while driving would serve to send a strong message that the reckless behavior is not tolerated.

The world’s largest ophthalmic education conference was held at Chicago’s McCormick Place this weekend. While the program is all about the proper care for human eyes, one presentation explained how the importance of vision is imperative in reducing car crashes, as reported in SNS Media.

Most drivers are aware that good vision is an important part of safety on the roadway. But new research seems to quantitatively back up the notion that improved vision clarity leads to specific reduction in damaging car accidents. The data presented at the ophthalmic conference studied over 27,000 patients who had cataracts removed from at least one eye over a ten year period between 1997 and 2006. The driving records of those patients where then analyzed to determine the link between the surgery and roadway safety could be found.

The positive effect on crash reduction was startlingly clear. Researchers found that cataract surgery reduced car accidents by 12.6%. This was true even after accounting for other potential confounding factors.

The number of injuries and deaths that strike each day on America’s roadways is staggering. Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti are frequently involved in the aftermath of these tragic circumstances, attempting to sort out the legal liabilities and ensure that the victims of these car crashes receive the necessary compensation to help handle the losses from the incident.

Even as we work to help families after the accident, we are well aware that in the ideal world, the crash would never have occurred in the first place. That is why this blog often discusses steps that can be taken to improve safety and awareness while on the road. From unique concepts like improved cataract surgery to basic ideas like avoided distracted driving, each small step taken is another action which may save a life and ensure that more families do not have to undergo the struggle of these catastrophic events.

An 18 year old Maine college freshman was killed this weekend following a tragic car accident from earlier this week, reports Sea Coast News.

The young woman was driving south on Interstate 295 when she lost control of her 1995 BMW. Her vehicle crossed the median of the highway and started driving head-on toward northbound traffic. Eventually her car struck a Ford Escape headed in the opposite direction.

The driver of the Ford SUV received only minor injuries, but the young woman was rushed to a local hospital with critical injuries. She fought the injuries for several days before passing away yesterday.

After investigating the accident authorities now believer that the teen’s distraction may ultimately have been the culprit that led to the fatal accident. Police investigators discovered that the young driver had received a text message shortly before the crash. A partial response message was found among the wreckage on the victim’s phone. The text message distraction was likely compounded by the fact that it had been raining heavily that afternoons, making the roads extremely wet and slippery.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti continue to be saddened by news of deaths on our roadways due to distracted driving. Most drivers are well aware of the risks when actions are taken that take hands and minds off of the road. However, there is a difference between understanding the actions that lead to unnecessary road risks and actually implementing changes in our driving processes to eliminate those directions. We encourage all drivers to practice safe driving techniques and to a contact a car accident lawyer any time you are harmed by a distracted driver.

Anyone who has taken a walk in or around Chicago knows that Chicagoans love their pets. Dogs of all shapes and sizes can be seen traveling on the sidewalks alongside their owners in virtually every neighborhood at all times of the day. However, a new WGN TV article mentions that the friendly animals are now frequently making their way off the sidewalks and into cars.

The results can be deadly.

It is not surprising that many dog owners travel with their animals in the car. After all, car travel is often the only way to move the pet long distances. However, what is alarming is that 21% of owners who travel with their pet admit to holding the animal on their lap while behind the wheel. A majority of owners—even those who do not drive with the dog in the driver’s seat—admit to petting the dog while moving in the vehicle.

As with any other distraction in the car, these interactions with dogs while moving at high speeds could very well lead to tragic accidents. When accidents strike both the people in the car and the animals are likely to be hurt. The risk of harm increases with animals in the car, because in many crashes they act as projectiles. A design company confirmed that a large dog, around 80lbs, exerts 2,400 pounds of force if involved in a 30mph crash.

In the end, the risk and potential harm make travelling while distracted by pets an ill-advised choice. Be sure to contact a Chicago car accident lawyer if you have been involved in any car crash with a distracted driver.

Recent studies have shown that deaths resulting from car accidents in the Chicagoland area have declined. Over the last decade certain safety measures, as well as newer vehicles designs, have lead to a decrease of about 200 fatalities a year. Over the course of a three-year span (from 2005 to 2008) traffic accidents in the seven-county region studied decreased over 30% and the overall injury rate decreased 18% in that same time period. There are several factors that the study, conducted by the Illinois Department of Transportation, cited as reasons for the reduction of crashes in the Chicagoland area. One of these factors is an overall improvement in road conditions, making the roads safer for travelers. These safety features range from adding additional and clearer lane-striping which helps cars stay in the appropriate section of the road, adding cable median barriers which are designed to stop cars in which the driver has lost control of the vehicle and keep out-of-control cars from flipping into traffic that is traveling in the other direction, and better lighting to make late-night driving safer. Another key factor, according to Chicago Breaking News, is the recent influx of safer vehicles that are designed to withstand crash damage better and are able to protect the passengers better in the event of a crash. A third factor that the study showed as a contributing factor is stricter seat belt laws being imposed in Illinois, as well as roadside checks, which often result in stopping drivers that are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Stopping these motorists before they have a chance to get into a crash, that may injure themselves or others, is very helpful in reducing the number of fatal accidents each year.

While these safety measures have led to a reduction in accidents, there is still much more to be done. There are still around 300,000 accidents in the Chicago area each year and a fatal accident occurs as frequently as once a day. The study cites certain factors that need to be worked on in order to better improve the crash statistics, such as finding a way to reduce vehicle and pedestrian accidents in downtown Chicago and finding a way to reduce late night driving accidents. In downtown Chicago about a quarter of the traffic deaths occurred in pedestrian accidents. This number is very high and requires some type of safety measure to ensure that this number goes down. At this point no new measures are in place to make pedestrians safer, but this is an area that the Illinois Department of Transportation has seen needs work and will hopefully find new measures to help reduce the number of these fatal accidents in downtown Chicago. Additionally, the study shows that the number of late-night accidents is significant, accounting for over 35% of all fatal crashes in the area. Certain factors such as impaired drivers, tired drivers, slower reaction time at night, and faster speeds traveled due to the lack of traffic at night, are believed to be the reasons that this statistic is so high. While the hope is that more seat belt laws and road checks will (and as the study shows are) cutting down on some of these late-night accidents, more work still needs to be done. Additionally, while certain areas are better lit and help improve the safety in these areas, many areas still need better lighting to help reduce the number of late-night accidents. Luckily, the Illinois Department of Transportation seems to recognize what needs work to help improve the safety of our roads and will continue to work hard to reduce the number of traffic accidents that occur each year in the Chicagoland area. To read more about this traffic accident study and the plans to further improve the statistics, please click on this link.

A recent study shows that older drivers are actually safer drivers than many other age groups. Many people believe, and previous studies have supported, that older drivers are similar to teenage drivers in terms of the frequency of car accidents and overall unsafe driving. However, the recent study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, show that the rate of fatal accidents in which people over 70 were involved has significantly decreased in the past decade. Interestingly enough, the number of accidents in middle age drivers has also decreased, but much less than the decrease seen in older drivers. Several theories are believed to have led to this large decline, including both stricter renewal laws for elderly drivers, as well as older drivers being more aware of what types of environments and driving situations are unsafe for them to be driving in and in turn not driving in these unsafe situations as frequently.

According to Fox News, one of the reasons for this safety increase among older drivers is likely a result of many states are imposing more rules and limitations on older drivers that seek to renew their license. These restrictions include some states requiring vision tests for older drivers, and others not allowing renewal online or even my mail among older drivers. These restrictions among older drivers help to ensure that drivers that are not safe to be on the road will not be allowed to renew their license. However, even in states that do not have strict rules for elderly drivers seeking to renew their licenses, the numbers of accidents among elderly drivers have been decreasing. The study suggests that another reason for the decrease is that even when the law does not try to impose restrictions on elderly drivers, the drivers themselves will often limit themselves. For example, many elderly drivers are aware of certain driving conditions in which they feel uncomfortable and will no longer drive in those situations, such as late at night or on high traffic highways. The combination of these two changes in recent years among elderly drivers has likely been what is reducing the number of accidents among this age group, and hopefully this trend will continue and more elderly drivers will stay safe and avoid traffic accidents. To read more about this study on the reduction in elderly car accidents, please click here.

New legislation in Illinois will make the fines for drivers with small children passengers increase if the driver does not have the appropriate car seat for all child passengers that require car seats. All children under the age of eight in Illinois are required to be in a car seat and up until now the fine for not abiding by this law was a fine of $50. The new law increases the fine to $75 for the first offense and a fine of up to $200 for later offenses. For the first offense, drivers will have the option to take a class that teaches about proper installation of child safety seats as oppose to paying the fine. According to The Chicago Tribune, the purpose of the training class option is to teach drivers about the importance of child safety seats and hopefully lead to less injuries to children in the event of a car accident. To read more about this recent legislation and child safety seats, please click on this link.

It is very important to understand what safety seat is appropriate for each child, depending on weight and age, and at what point a child is safe to just wear a seat belt. Each year thousands of children are killed or seriously injured in car accidents, and making sure that they are properly protected is one way we can help to protect kids in an accident. Chicago accident attorneys ask you to make sure that you have a car seat for all child passengers under the age of eight and that you make sure that the seat is installed properly and has not been recalled for any safety issues. If you are unsure whether or not your safety seat is installed properly, please click on this link to find the location nearest you that you can take your car to have checked to ensure that the safety seat is installed properly.

A recent study has shown that Chicago cab companies have a complex system in place that may limit the amount that passengers are able to collect in the event of a personal injury or wrongful death resulting from a cab accident. The way the system is structured, a person injured is likely to never recover more than the $350,000 minimum required by the City of Chicago, even in cases where the injured party requires lifetime medical care or when the family is suing on behalf of a victim that was killed as a result of an accident.

According to The Chicago Sun Times, this change in damage recovery resulted about twelve years ago when Chicago stopped cab companies from being able to have a monopoly on owning cabs within the city, and as it stands now, no one company can own more that twenty five percent of city-issued taxi medallions. Prior to this, two Chicago cab companies had a complete monopoly on the system and typically held multiple layers of insurance, which would be available to protect the company in the event of a lawsuit and provide higher monetary damages for victims. The new system allow companies to argue that the driver is a private agent and without being able to show that the driver is an agent of the company, the recovery can be much lower for victims. While the legislature coming in to stop monopolies is good for cab companies and clients alike, these changes made it harder for injured victims of Chicago taxi accidents to recover the amount they deserve for the harm or injury caused. To read more about the damage recovery caps for cab accidents in Chicago, please click on the link.

In Illinois, cops are planning to crack down on seat belt usage this holiday weekend. The law in Illinois is that all drivers, all passengers riding in the front seat of a car, and all passengers under nineteen riding anywhere in the car, must be wearing a seat belt at all times the car is in motion. According to The Chicago Tribune, while this law is always in effect, Illinois state police say that they will be extra hard on people this weekend and be watching for seat belt violations extra carefully. The reason behind this crackdown is that holiday weekends are always a time of higher accident rates and more careless driving, so the cops want to make sure that everyone is wearing seat belts to try to keep the roads safer and any injuries less severe. To read more about the Illinois State Police’s safety plans to help keep people safe in the event of car accidents during the coming holiday weekend, please click on this hyperlink.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belt usage has been steadily on the rise in recent years, and in 2008 was up to ninety percent. While these numbers are good and it is obviously good that the statistics continue to rise in this regard, it is important for everyone to wear a seat belt. Chicago injury attorneys remind readers that seat belts can safe lives and can be what keeps someone from receiving serious personal injuries if they are involved in a car crash. Please make sure to do your part to reduce traffic accident injuries and always wear your seat belt and make sure that your passengers always wear their seat belts.

Oprah Winfrey has started a new campaign urging everyone to make their cars “no phone zones”. The goal behind this campaign is to get people to not use their cell phone to call or text while they are driving, with the goal of reducing car accidents. Cell phone use in cars has been proven to be very dangerous, and the distraction that it causes to drivers has even been compared to the impairment that alcohol can have on a driver. Oprah is asking her viewers to “sign” a no phone zone pledge on her website having them agree to not use their phone while driving, and already has over 200,000 people that have agreed to partake in this pledge.

According to PC Mag’s website, Oprah has many organizations behind her and in full support on this pledge, including the Department of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and many others. Many states (close to half) have enacted anti-texting laws that make it illegal to text while the car is in drive. Illinois is one of the states that has an anti-texting law which went into effect earlier this year. Additionally, a law has gone into effect nationwide that bans the use of cell phone for text messaging among all government workers. Congress is looking into more options including a possible incentive program for drivers that avoid texting while driving. While these laws are very important in preventing car crashes, more steps need to be taken by individual drivers to help fix this dangerous problem. To read more about Oprah Winfrey’s new anti-texting campaign, please click on the hyperlink.

Motorcycle accidents account for about ten percent of all fatalities every year and it is extremely important for all motorcycle riders to remember that safety is very important. Unfortunately, in Illinois there is no law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets but it is crucial for anyone that wants to drive or ride on a motorcycle to understand the importance and safety in wearing a helmet. Illinois is one of only three states that have absolutely no helmet requirements, even among people younger than 18. Until this legislation is changed and the law requires this extremely important safety measure to be taken, riders must make it a point on their own to make sure they and their passengers always wear a helmet. Motorcycle crashes can be very dangerous because the riders are not protected or surrounded the way they are in a vehicle and this is how so many traumatic brain injuries occur as a result of motorcycle accidents. Brain injury is what causes the most motorcycle related deaths, and if all riders would always wear a helmet the number of brain injuries would be greatly reduced. Traumatic brain injuries are injuries that cause the disrupt the normal functioning of the brain after a blow or some kind of startling jolt. According to The Brain Injury Association of America, wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of brain injury, following a motorcycle accident, saving as many as 1,500 lives a year. To learm more about the extreme dangers of motorcycle accidents, please click on this hyperlink.

Given the recent surge of warmer weather, more people are riding motorcycles and this safety issue becomes more prominent. Please remember that whenever you or a loved one gets on a motorcycle to always wear a helmet, so you can have fun safely!

A recent study was done to help determine when people suffering from various types of dementia should no longer be legally allowed to drive. The issue with people with advanced types of dementia driving is that dementia affects the brain and memory and in its advanced stages can affect a person’s memory, attention, language, and ability to problem solve. This can be dangerous for a driver because paying constant attention to the road and being oriented to what is going on is crucial to be safe on the road and help avoid car accidents.

According to The American Academy of Neurology, new guidelines have been issued to determine at what level of advancement people with various forms of dementia are no longer safe when driving. A type of rating scale has been implemented that allows doctors to use a combination of information received from both a person with dementia’s caregiver and from an observation of the person themselves to determine what level of dementia they are suffering from. The reason that this testing scale is appropriate is that doctors have found that not all patients suffering from dementia are incapable of safely driving and that as many as 76 percent of patients with mild dementia are safe to drive.

It is important for caregivers to be alert and aware of dementia patients driving and if anything seems out of the ordinary such as car crashes, moving violations, avoiding certain driving conditions, or generally becoming more aggressive or impulsive, as these may be warning signs of dementia advancing or getting to a point that may make driving unsafe. If you notice these type of changes, please contact a doctor to the get the dementia patient tested for driving. To read more about the new guidelines for safe driving and dementia patients, please click on this hyperlink.

In Illinois, all drivers must have car insurance for every motor vehicle they own including cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses. All drivers must carry their insurance card, issued by the insurance company upon issuance or renewal of the insurance policy, with them at all times and be willing to show it to any police officer that asks. While it is very important to always keep your insurance card with you at all times, if you forgot it but the insurance policy is up to date some officers will allow you to prove that you have current insurance in either court or by mail to avoid a penalty. In Illinois, if a person is found to be driving without car insurance, the first offense will result in the suspension of the drivers license until the driver pays a $100 fee and shows prove of current evidence. According to Cyber Drive Illinois, the driver will also be fined $500 for driving without insurance and will be fined $1000 for driving the same car in the time period in which the license plate is suspended. Aside from just checking at traffic stops or after accidents, Illinois has started randomly selecting cars and sending the owners a questionnaire asking for current insurance policy information, and that information will be double checked with the insurance provided. To read more about the Illinois requirements for car insurance and where you can obtain car insurance, please click on this link.

The Chicago injury attorneys at Levin & Perconti strongly believe in the importance of car insurance, not only to keep drivers from getting fines, but to protect drivers in the event of a car crash. Under Illinois law, the minimum amount of insurance required is as follows: $20,000 for the injury or death of one person in a car accident, $40,000 for the injury or death of more than one person in a car accident, and $15,000 for damage to another person’s property. While this is the state required minimum, there are certain more extensive types of policies that can protect and cover drivers even if the other person involved in the accident and who is at fault has little or no insurance themselves. One type of policy that is available in Illinois is underinsured motorist policy which means that you are protected by your insurance company and can recover damages when the other driver that caused the accident’s minimum coverage will not cover the damages. Additionally, in Illinois there is the option of obtaining and uninsured motorist policy. This is similar to the previous policy but means that your insurance company will protect you against uninsured drivers that are at fault for an accident as opposed to drivers with minimum insurance. Levin & Perconti recommends these policies because of how much protection they can offer to drivers in the event of an accident with a driver who is at fault but their insurance will not be able to cover the damages of the driver who is not at fault. Damages from a car accident can be extensive, so it is always good to protect yourself and your loved ones by having a thorough and extensive car insurance policy.

A car accident lawsuit has been filed against a police officer who is believed to have been texting while driving, which then caused a fatal accident. The car accident occurred several weeks ago and happened when the police sergeant allegedly unsafely and illegally changed lanes to enter the highway and crashed into a passenger car killing one of the people in the vehicle. According to WOAI's website, the family of the victim, as well as a surviving passenger from the crash, have filed the wrongful death lawsuit against he police officer, even though the police reports show that both drivers were to blame. The attorneys representing the victim are trying to ensure that phone records are not destroyed or tampered with so they can see if the officer was in fact texting at the time of the accident. If the officer is found to have been texting when the accident occurred this could be very serious because of how recent studies have shown the danger of texting while behind the wheel. Texting while driving is becoming outlawed in many states, including Illinois. To read more about this tragic accident, please click on the link.

According to the Health Finder website, over half a million people were injured and close to 6,000 killed last year in accidents that were caused by distracted drivers using their cell phone (either talking on or texting). Given the incredibly high number of accidents caused by driver distraction with cell phone usage, many states are cracking down on this problem by banning certain phone actions while driving. It is virtually impossible to pay complete attention to the road while checking your cell phone for a text or responding to one and this is a problem that is entirely avoidable. This distracted while driving danger also applies to police officers, and not just other drivers, and if the police officer in this case was found to be texting at the time of the accident he could face serious consequences. Even if the practice is not outlawed where he was driving, the court is very likely to find that he was at fault and that the other driver was not at fault if the officer was distracted by his cell phone at the time of the accident. Please remember how dangerous cell phones can be in terms of distracting a driver and that even one second of not paying attention to the road can lead to tragic accidents.

The new texting ban that went into effect in Illinois earlier this year is not the only new cell phone law aimed at reducing Illinois car accidents that Illinois drivers need to be aware of. In addition to the texting ban, the Illinois legislature also passed a law that makes talking on a cell phone while in a school zone or construction zone against the law because of the possible danger in causing car crashes in these areas. This goes for all times of day and is in effect even during hours where children and construction workers are not present. The construction zone law also apples to temporary work areas as long as a speed reduction sign is posted. The law does not ban blue tooth use, speaker mode, or emergency 911 call in these restricted areas.

Some police officials have issues with these laws now that construction season is about to start in Illinois. The public has not been made aware of these laws in very much depth and certain officials believe that it is unfair to ticket without proper warning. The hope with these officials is that officers will only issue warnings to people until the public is better informed of the new law at which time there will be a zero tolerance policy. To read more about these new laws in Illinois, click here.

The Chicago car accident lawyers at Levin & Perconti encourage everyone to wear their seat belts and reinforce how important seat belts are. Seat belts are a very necessary and simple safety measure to take whenever traveling in a car. Whenever you are a passenger in a car make sure to always buckle your seat belt and if your seat does not seem to be equipped with a seat belt, either look under the seat to see if it is stuck and can be recovered or move to another seat with a seat belt. Additionally, do not ride in a car without proper seat belts or in a car with more people that there are seat belts. As a driver always make sure that all of your passengers buckle their seat belts. Always make sure to wear your seat belt properly with the lap belt across your hip and the shoulder strap across your body diagonally. Following these simple steps and always remembering to buckle your seat belt as soon as you get into the car can make all the difference in the case of a car accident. The Click it or Ticket campaign has been a very successful campaign in increasing awareness and importance of seat belts. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the concept behind the campaign is to remind people that no matter when or wear they are driving if they are caught not wearing a seat belt they will be ticketed. This simple message has worked on many and the national seat belt rate is currently at its highest rate of 82%.

The seat belt law is Illinois is that all front seat occupants of all ages are required to wear a seat belt. While passengers in the back seat are not required to be belted, the laws are different when it comes to minor passengers or minor drivers. Under the Child Passenger Protection Act, all passengers under 16 years must be belted regardless of where they are sitting in the car. Additionally, any drivers under 18 must only have the amount of passengers in the car that there are seatbelts and during first six months of a minor’s license they can only have one passenger under the age of 20 in the car at any time (there are exceptions for immediate family members). All passengers under 18 have to wear a seat belt no matter where they are seated if the car’s driver is under 18. For a better understanding or more complete set of Illinois seat belt laws, please click on this hyperlink to Cyber Drive Illinois. In Illinois all children under the age of 8 must be in a safety seat, whether it be a car seat (rear-facing for babies) or a booster seat (front-facing for older children). If a child is over 40 pounds they may ride in the back seat in only a lap belt if the car is not equipped with a shoulder belt. Child seat belt safety laws are very serious and parents of the child are responsible for ensuring that any person transporting their child has the proper equipment and are subject to fine if not obeyed.

Remember that seat belts are easy to wear and can safe lives!

There are certain issues that affect elderly drivers and that are important to keep in mind as you get older. Safe Roads Alliance offers some of the obstacles that elderly people may face on the road as well as links to other useful information regarding the elderly and driving. With age, certain physical changes can make it harder to driver, such as possible hearing and vision impairment, slower reflexes and medication interactions. To see more about what affects elderly drivers, please click on the link. According to the National Institute on Aging, the elderly body may be affected in many ways that can affect driving such as joints may get stick, muscles may weaken, visions may change, hearing may get worse and reaction time may be slower.

While many elderly drivers are aware of conditions that affect their driving abilities and are able to monitor themselves and know when they should not be on the road in order to hopefully avoid car accidents. Unfortunately, some times people do not realize that their conditions are affecting their driving and making it dangerous for them to remain on the road. According to the AARP website, there are certain steps someone should take if they believe an elderly friend or relative should not be on the road, and they include: assessing the situation by riding with the person firsthand, talking to the person about driving and your caring about their well-being, and then suggest alternate options to their driving such as taking a driving refresher course, limiting driving to certain times of day or in familiar areas only, or finding alternate modes of transportation, whether it be public transportation or rides with other drivers, in order to avoid car crashes.

Some states have taken a new approach to handle the dangers behind teenage driving. New York recently put certain laws into effect that will restrict young drivers in the hope that they will lead to fewer teenage car accidents. According to an article on WIVB.com, the law requires more driving time between when teenagers receive their driver’s permits and their driver’s license. Teenagers must clock 50 hours, certain ones at night time, with only people over 21 in the car with them at the time. This law relies on parents of teenagers to be honest and to respect the reasoning behind the law of trying to make sure teenagers are ready and have practice when they are allowed to be behind the wheel without any supervision. Illinois has been looking into their teenage driving laws, and while Illinois did recently add extended driving time with parents before licensing, many feel that Illinois could use stronger teenage driving rules. Please click here to see the discussion on Illinois driving laws.

The reason that stricter teenage driving rules are so important is because teen drivers are involved in so many tragic car accidents every year. According to the CDC's fact sheet on teen driving, in 2008, nine teenagers between 16 to 19 died daily from injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents. Teen drivers are commonly involved in car crashes because of lack of experience, underestimation of dangerous situations, speeding, and drinking. If states impose stricter laws on teenage drivers, there will be a reduction in these tragic yet preventable automobile accidents among teenagers.

The number of drunk driving accidents and drunk driving fatalities each year are very high and are avoidable and something that needs to be addressed. According to Alcohol Alert, Illinois is among the top ten states in terms of number of alcohol-related fatalities and in 2008 there were 434 alcohol deaths. Each state has two types of offenses that may be issued in connection with driving under the influence, one of which is the offense of driving under the influence and the other which is driving with a blood alcohol concentration of over 0.08. To read more about the drunk driving statistics and what legal measures are being taken to keep drunk drivers of the road, please click on this hyperlink.

While the state-imposed punishments are definitely a deterrent and hopefully do keep the number of alcohol related car accidents much lower than they could be, it is not possible for cops to see and in turn stop everyone that is driving under the influence. Because of this, it is important for drivers to make a personal choice to not drive while under the influence, to try to discourage others from driving under the influence, and to report any erratic drivers that they see while on the road. Making these choices to help fight the drunk driving problem in our state could make a huge difference and help fight this terrible and avoidable problem that leads to many deaths and car crashes every year.

Toyota announced earlier today that they are issuing a recall on cars that have a certain type of floor mats that come standard in many of their models. The floor mats are being recalled because there is a serious danger that the gas pedal may get caught in the floor mat and jam, causing drivers to be unable to stop their car in time to avoid car accident. The Toyota models that are directly affected by this newest recall are Highlanders, Corollas, Venzas, Matrixes, and Pontiac Vibes.

The danger behind this type of problem is that if drivers are experiencing stuck gas pedals and are therefore unable to control their vehicle, there will be many more car accidents caused when these drivers are unable to control their car. This extremely dangerous problem must be addressed immediately. Toyota is handling the problem by taking all cars affected and either replacing the gas pedals or modifying the surface on which the pedal sits in order to keep the gas pedal from sticking. If you have any reason to believe your car may be affected by this recall, or even if you have a newer model Toyota, please check this list of recalls issued by Toyota to see if your car is affected so you can take it to your local Toyota dealership to get the problem fixed immediately.

Unfortunately this is not the first of this type of recall that Toyota has been forced to make recently. Earlier this year, Toyota issued a recall for a different problem that also involved unintentional acceleration. An additional recall from 2009 is still in affect as well. According to Consumer Affairs, some customers that experienced problems early on have found that Toyota was not quick to deal with these horrible deficiencies in their vehicles, and while no figures have been released how many car accidents have occurred that may have been avoided in Toyota had immediately dealt with this problem, the likelihood that many of these avoidable car crash occurred is high.

If you find yourself driving and the gas pedal gets stuck, it is important to try to stay calm and Toyota has recommended that if you apply firm and steady pressure to the brake, the car will be able to be controlled again. If you have had an accident as a result of a stuck gas pedal, please contact a local car accident attorney to see what actions can be taken, hopefully in order to keep this scary incident from happening to other drivers.

While the number of car accidents resulting from pavement-edge drop-offs remain high, little efforts are being made to improve the roads safety. These drop-offs cause about 160 deaths a year and injure thousands more, and according to The New York Times, the drops are easily fixable. The drop-offs are common in construction work zones and cause a great deal of car accidents along with other safety hazards at work sites. Unfortunately, the laws and regulations governing safety measures in work zones are virtually non-existent and what precautions are in place are rarely followed. To read more about the issues with dangerous work zones, please click on this link.

A trend has emerged in Illinois in which car accidents involving deer have decreased. In 2008 there were 814 fewer deer crashed that the year people and the number of people injured in these deer and car accidents has also decreased. According to The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), people need to remember that that deer accidents are hard to avoid, and more likely to occur in the fall at dawn and dusk, that it is crucial for drivers to be alert, wear their seatbelt and for motorcyclists to make sure to wear helmets. For more information on the decrease in deer and car accidents and more tips to avoid these types of accidents, please click here.

The Illinois police department is increasing their patrols for the duration on the holiday season. The operation is called “Operation Save 100” with the goal of cutting down at least 100 fatalities caused by car accidents between Thanksgiving and the end of the holiday season. According to the Northwest Herald, the increase will focus on certain areas and will involve seat belt patrols which will hopefully save lives especially when the weather conditions are bad and also will focus on trying to stop drunk drivers. The holiday season is a very dangerous time for drivers in terms of encountering drunk drivers on their way home from holiday parties. To read more about this initiative to reduce fatal car accidents in Illinois, please click on this link.

A new ordinance is scheduled to go into effect on January 1st, in which drivers found to be driving without a license or with a suspended license (often as a result of a car accident or other impaired driving incident) will have their car impounded, requiring drivers to pay a $500 fine and a $165 towing fee to get their car back. The supporters of the ordinance say that these fees are intended to deter drivers from driving without a license and that hopefully people will think again before getting into a car without a license. People that are opposing this ordinance feel that just charging offenders and then letting them get right back on the road after paying money does not solve the problem. Regardless of what this ordinance will end up accomplishing, driving without a license is a serious issue and many of these unsafe drivers are responsible for Illinois car accidents and something should be done to try to keep the numbers of unlicensed drivers off the road. If you are interested in finding out more about this ordinance, click on the hyperlink.

Illinois law requires that all drivers have car insurance when operating a motor vehicle. In order to be in compliance with this mandatory insurance law, the minimum coverage amounts are as follows: as least $20,000 for the injury or death of one person in a car accident, at least $40,000 for the injury or death of more than one person in a car accident and at least $15,000 for damage to the property of another person in a car accident. Every driver must carry their insurance card in their vehicle and present it to any requesting law enforcement officer. Insurance companies will automatically send an insurance card to their insured and will send a new one when the previous one expires. The Vehicle Renewal Registration Application that all drivers must fill out when renewing their registration each year now has a signature requirement promising that they have current insurance to cover the registration period. Drivers that fail to keep their insurance current, or lack insurance completely, are subject to a $100 reinstatement fee as well as current proof of insurance on the first offense. If it is a repeat offense, the driver is subjected to a four-month suspension period of their license in addition to the punishments of a first time offender. For more information on the mandatory insurance requirements, click here. If you have been injured in a car accident involving an uninsured motorist, the Chicago car accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti may be able to help you seek justice. Call 312-332-2872 for a free consultation with an accident lawyer.

Due to the large number of car accidents resulting from drivers texting while driving, Illinois House Bill 71 was passed by both houses. If the bill is signed into law by the governor, police can pull over and fine anyone found texting while driving. The bill has certain exceptions for situations such as emergencies, or when the texting can be done hands-free. For more information on this Illinois text ban legislation, click here.

A statewide survey shows that seat-belt use is up over 15 percent since 2003, and over 75 percent of people said they wore seat-belts when traveling in cars. The increase in seat-belt usage would hopefully lead to less serious injuries resulting from car accidents. The Department of Transportation also says that the number of fatal accidents has fallen over 10 percent in recent years and that the number of car accident deaths in Illinois are as low as it has been in 80 years. For more information on this survey, click here.

According to a report from the Insurance Research Council, the number of uninsured drivers is expected to increase from 13% (in 2007) to a predicted 16% by 2010. The IRC attributes this steep rise to the economic downturn. With more and more people losing their jobs, they are forced to cut back on expenses such as car insurance.

The projected increase would be harmful to all motorists because it would increase the risk of car accidents with uninsured drivers. This means that when someone is involved in an accident where an uninsured motorist is at fault, they will not receive compensation for their damages. We recommend purchasing underinsured and uninsured motorist insurance to protect yourself and loved ones in the event of an accident.

In Chicago, many accidents involving uninsured motorists occur each day. The Chicago car accident lawyers of Levin & Perconti have represented hundreds of car accident victims in cases involving uninsured motorists and may be able to help you. Call 312-332-2872 for a free consultation with one of our attorneys.

State police in Illinois have announced a program that aims to decrease the number of injuries and fatalities as a result of motorcycle accidents. The campaign will be aimed heavily at motorcyclists but will also educate motorists. The most important thing that a motorcyclist can do can is wear a helmet, along with other protective clothing such as long sleeves and boots. Wearing a helmet will help to reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury if a motorcycle accident occurs. Read more about the Illinois safety program to reduce motorcycle accidents by clicking the link.

If you or a loved one have been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, we encourage you to contact Levin & Perconti at 312-332-2872 to review your case.

According to an article on Mystateline.com, over 25% of reported car accidents are caused by distracted drivers. One of the ways that many drivers are distracted is by text messaging while driving. This dangerous practice takes drivers' eyes and minds off the road and can have devastating consequences.

Recently, the Illinois state House passed new legislation that bans people from texting while driving in Illinois. Those who are caught texting while driving will receive tickets and repeat offenders can end up in jail. The new rule will help to decrease the number of car accidents in Illinois. To read more about the new legislation banning text messaging while driving, follow the link.

According to a Crash Report by the Chicago-based Active Transportation Alliance, Hopkins Park in Kankakee had the most pedestrian accidents in the Chicago area. The study used Illinois Department of Transportation data from 2004-2007. Other Chicago-area towns that had high accident rates include: Oakbrook Terrace, Harvey, Markham, Countryside, Oak Park, Rosemont, Summit, Calumet Park, and Midlothian.

The report also states that there are over 800 traffic accidents in Chicagoland each day. If you are involved in a car or truck accident anywhere in the State of Illinois due to someone else’s negligence, we encourage you to call Levin & Perconti to discuss your case. Our attorneys have successfully handled thousands of car and truck accident lawsuits and can help you seek justice and fair compensation for your damages.

Read the Crash Report here.

Read the Chicago Tribune accident report coverage.

Scientists are currently developing a car accident reporting system designed to automatically call for help when a car crash occurs. Scientists working on the project from Georgia Southern University say that in car accidents involving rollovers, drivers and passengers are often unable to call for help. Accidents like these occurring in remote areas are at risk for a delayed response by rescuers. The new technology would use a global positioning system device in addition to an inclinometer to detect rollover and wireless technology to evaluate the conditions of a vehicle involved in an accident. Read more about this car accident prevention system.

Deaths related to car accidents have declined in at least 40 states, including Illinois, said a recent survey by the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA). While this winter in Chicago we have seen many car accidents, deaths, and wrongful death lawsuits filed due to icy road conditions, overall, Illinois car crash deaths have declined by 16 percent. The main reasons cited for the decline are high gas prices during the first half of the year and general economic difficulties in the second half of the year leading people to drive less. Other reasons include an increase in seat belt use and enforcement of traffic laws, and a trend in drivers reducing speed to improve fuel efficiency. Read the full article about the decline in car accident deaths.

A personal injury lawsuit is being filed in the aftermath of a car accident that left a 10-year-old boy in critical condition and killed four others, including his mother. The boy’s family is seeking over $13 million in damages. The man who caused the accident has been indicted with numerous counts, including driving under the influence of alcohol. The suit also names two bars where the defendant consumed alcohol although he was visible intoxicated, and a woman who allegedly lent the man the car he was driving when he caused the fatal car accident. The boy suffers from brain damage, multiple bone fractures, and a damaged spleen, kidney and liver after the car crash. Read more about this car accident lawsuit.

A train accident has caused the death of a 62-year-old woman who was hit by a train at a railroad crossing. No one was injured aboard the CSX freight train, bound for Chicago. The car accident occurred just west of Pittsburgh. Read more about this train accident.

Chicago’s train system has been riddled with difficulties lately including car accidents, truck crashes, pedestrian accidents, security issues, and derailments. Another derailment that occurred this morning will affect 5000 passengers. The 72-car freight train from Canada derailed in Buffalo Grove, Illinois on its way to Chicago. Two of the cars were holding a hazardous and toxic material, sulfur, but is not dangerous, according to a spokesperson. No injuries were caused by the derailment. For the full story, click here.

The American Association for Justice has released a new litigation packet for car accident attorneys. The new claims packet for personal injury attorneys involved in car crash lawsuits addresses claims handling, procedures and processes, common defenses, bodily injury claims, medical claims, and bad faith claims.

For more information.

A mayoral candidate recently threatened insurance companies with a class-action lawsuit if they refuse to lower automotive insurance premiums for local residents. The candidate stated that most people leave his city because car insurance is too costly. He also stated that he would create an initiative to reduce vehicle theft, speeding, and accident rates.

For the full article.

Mayor Daley has warned Chicago drivers to drive slower when the weather turns ugly and snowy. Snowy weather creates dangerous conditions prone to car accidents. And now, Chicago politicians are warning that street plowing will be slower.

For the full article.

Eight people, including two paramedics, were injured in a Chicago car accident Saturday morning. The car crash involved a four-vehicle collision that included the paramedics’ ambulance. All victims were transported to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

For the full article.

If you are personally involved in a car accident or witness one, please do the following:
1. Stop your car in a safe, well-lighted public place.
2. Help a person who has suffered injuries from car accident if necessary or requested. Protect the person from traffic, cover the injured person for comfort and to avoid shock. Do not move an injured person unless absolutely necessary. Call 911.
3. Warn other drivers, using flares if available.
4. Ask everyone involved for names, addresses, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, and license plate numbers.
5. Notify the nearest police station as soon as possible.

For more information.

Wearing your seatbelt properly is an important part of operator and passenger safety and has been proven effective in reducing personal injury in car accidents.

1. The lap belt should be worn across the hip bones - never be positioned across the stomach or soft part of the abdomen.
2. The shoulder strap should be as snug as possible and yet allow the driver to reach important controls. Adjust the shoulder strap so it is comfortable. Wearing the shoulder strap tucked under the arm or behind the back is dangerous and can cause serious personal injury.

For more information, check out the Cyber Drive Illinois.

Under Illinois law, adults who willfully provide alcohol to persons under 18 years of age are civilly liable for death or injuries caused by a minor’s intoxication. If a child was killed in a car crash because he was intoxicated, the adults who served the child would still be liable if a wrongful death lawsuit was filed.

Of course criminal repercussions accompany this conduct too, illustrated by the recent jury verdict in Lake County finding a Deerfield couple guilty of allowing underage drinking in their basement last October where two of the guests were killed in a car accident after leaving the couple’s home.

Yesterday, two Cook county parents were cited for permitting a minor to become intoxicated. The parents would have also been responsible for any death or injury that came as a result of their serving these minor’s alcohol.

Illinois law looks for the immediate cause of fatal occurrences when determining if the insurer is liable. Insurance companies have argued that accidental death contributed to by preexisting disease or infirmity is not entitled to coverage. In a recent case, a woman was killed in an automobile accident partially caused by a previously diagnosed seizure disorder. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennedy ruled that the insurer was liable because the immediate cause of the woman's death was the car accident, not the seizure. Another example involves an alcoholic who died from alcohol poisoning who was deemed covered because the immediate cause of his death was the amount of alcohol in his blood; his alcoholism was only an underlying condition that may have contributed to his death. Insurance companies have denied their liability in numerous circumstances but the consensus is that searching beyond the immediate cause of death to find secondary contributing causes is unnecessary.