Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Later, the driver would tell police that he only took his eyes from the road for a split-second to reach for a cigar that had rolled off his seat and on to the floorboard, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

That was all it took for a distraction-related Illinois car accident to claim the life of a five-year-old boy. As his father stood helpless alongside the road, the 26-year-old’s car plowed into the back of vehicle parked with a flat – flashers blinking – in the right-hand lane of a shoulder-less road.

After some time passed, the young boy’s mother inquired about placing a roadside memorial at the site where the accident occurred on Plainfield-Naperville Road. That is when she learned that the law permitted only DUI-related signs. Her grief transformed into a kind of activism. The mourning mother found herself pushing for legislation to include signage to memorialize her son and raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.

As of January 1, families will now be able to purchase memorials that read “Reckless Driving Costs Lives”. Memorials will remain in place at crash-site locations for two years before being handed over to the victim’s family.

The State of Illinois Distracted Driving Task Force defines distracted driving as “anything that diverts a driver’s attention ... from the primary task of navigating a vehicle”. Distractions can be visual, cognitive or manual. Distractions lasting three seconds or less are believed to be responsible for 80 percent of car accidents and 65 percent of near-accidents.

Aside from texting and talking on a cell phone, other, more common distractions include applying makeup, fooling with the radio, and reading a book, newspaper or roadmap. It is estimated that of the 8.5 million registered Illinois drivers, 10 percent of them using their cell phone while driving.

Continue reading " Death of toddler in Illinois car accident leads to passage of Roadside Memorial Act " »

Witnesses to the I-80 crash that ended in fire and left one dead on Sunday say the fatal Chicago car accident happened when a black F350 swerved and struck a green Chevy Malibu forcing it from the highway. The truck then became airborne, jumping a three-foot divider before striking another pickup head-on, the Chicago Tribune reports.

As it came to rest in a ditch alongside I-80, the Malibu burst into flames. Witnesses attempted to reach the 20-year-old driver, but were unsuccessful. The accident closed I-80 in both directions for several hours.

The Herald-News reported that the 59-year-old driver of the black F350 was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and arrested for aggravated DUI, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, improper lane usage and failing to wear a seatbelt.

In a separate accident, the Chicago Examiner reported that a 23-year-old Carpentersville man was charged late Sunday with leaving the scene of a fatal West Chicago car accident. The driver was traveling with five other men when he ran a stop sign and struck a car driven by a 27-year-old Schaumburg man who later died. Law enforcement awaits results of a toxicology report to determine whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident.

According to a survey done by the National Highway Traffic Administration, three out of ten Americans are involved, at least once, in an alcohol-related car accident during their lifetime.

Continue reading " Two killed in separate fatal Chicago car accidents spotlight dangers for Illinois drivers " »

A speeding ticket in Illinois is about to get a lot more expensive. Starting Sept. 15, drivers tagged traveling more than 20 m.p.h. over the limit will see citation fees increase by $45, a jump that will cost between $120-140 depending on how fast the driver was going. For those speeding more than 30 m.p.h. – a fine that also requires a court appearance – the cost may bump up even more, the Chicago Tribune reports.

This is the first increase in fines since 1993. While most drivers are miffed by the hikes, particularly when unemployment is high and the economy is floundering, state officials see the fee increases as a way to generate money for the state. Law enforcement sees the hikes as another tool to dissuade speeders and potentially decrease the number of serious and fatal Chicago car accidents involving Illinois drivers and passengers.

The Chicago car accident attorneys at the VanPopering Law Offices have seen how a speeding driver can drastically alter the life of victims involved in a serious or fatal car accident. In fact, in 2008 alone, more than 30 percent of fatal crashes in Illinois were linked to speeding, claiming 385 lives. Nationwide, almost 12,000 lost their lives to speeding-related crashes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports the economic impact of speeding-related crashes at $40.4 billion per year, that's $76,865 per minute or $1,281 per second. Interestingly enough, almost 90 percent of speed-related crashes occur on non-Interstate roads.

Speeding is a form of aggressive driving. It not only allows less time for a driver to react to a road hazard, it exponentially increases the force of a collision. Studies show the risk of a fatal accident doubles for every 5 mph hour over 55 mph a vehicle is traveling at the point of impact.

Continue reading " Hikes in speeding fines aim to benefit Illinois state coffers and decrease number of Chicago car accidents " »

Before hitting the road to enjoy the long holiday weekend, the Illinois State Police is urging families to re-check that child safety seats are properly installed and to remind all passengers to buckle-up.

“Better road trips begin with safety,” said Illinois State Toll Authority Executive Director Kristi Lafleur said. “Seat belts and safety seats for children save countless lives each year. … we are committed to enforcing seat belt laws and working to educate the public on how to properly secure their children to make every trip a safe trip.”

Chicago car accident attorneys with VanPopering Law Offices know that a properly installed car seat and using safety restraints saves lives. Our attorneys have a solid reputation successfully handling claims arising from auto accident cases and are available for a consultation if you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a Chicago car accident.

In 2008, 454 children under age 7 were killed in car accidents nationwide. Of those killed, 152 were unrestrained. Children aged 13-15, who were most likely to not wear a seat belt, saw the highest number of car accident fatalities. Out of 342 fatalities reported, 238 – or 70 percent – were unrestrained. "Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 3-14 years old", the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports.

Telling a child to buckle their seat belt takes only a second and buckling up yourself every time you get behind the wheel sets the best example. For more information about child safety seat guidelines, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.

Continue reading " State Police remind Illinois drivers to check child safety seats and buckle-up before Labor Day weekend travel " »