Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog

The Chicago car accident attorneys and staff at VanPopering Law Offices would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday. With that said, we would also like to remind Illinois travelers that with the Thanksgiving weekend comes a significant increase in air and road traffic. And with more road congestion comes an increased risk of Illinois car accidents.

To address the stack up of traffic, the Illinois Department of Transportation has upped the statewide presence of law enforcement on Illinois roads. If IDOT officials get their way, motorists traveling through Illinois this Thanksgiving weekend will pass through 2,000 safety belt enforcement zones, 68 roadside safety checks and see close to 1,000 additional law enforcement officers patrolling Illinois roadways. Cops will be particularly diligent during evening hours when vehicle occupants are less likely to buckle up and more likely to get behind the wheel after having a couple drinks.

The IDOT hopes that beefed up enforcement – part of a two-week tandem statewide “Click It or Ticket/You Drink & Drive. You Lose.” awareness campaign – will encourage drivers and passengers to wear their seat belts while discouraging impaired driving.

It is estimated that in 2008 alone, nearly 13,000 unrestrained passengers and drivers were killed nationwide in car crashes. It is believed as many as 4,290 lives could have been saved had vehicle occupants simply buckled their seat belt. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, on average 38 unbuckled Americans die each day in car crashes. Nationwide, 45 million Americans neglect to buckle up and in Illinois slightly more than seven percent of the driving population fails to use a seat belt.

To date IDOT reports there have been 123 fatal car accidents in Cook County and 124 fatal crashes in the City of Chicago. Across the state in 2010 there have been 781 fatal crashes that claimed 843 lives. Alcohol has been linked to 246 deaths and 235 vehicle occupants were killed while unrestrained. Specific to the four days surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday, in 2009 there were 2,893 Illinois car accidents that claimed 12 and left 806 injured.

Thanksgiving is the leading holiday in the state for crash-related injuries and second to Memorial Day for fatalities. Of the 12 killed during the Thanksgiving weekend, five died in crashes that were alcohol related.

To avoid getting cited for speeding or impaired driving, motorists can follow a few simple tips:

~ Leave early and set your cruise control. Not only will it make travel time less stressful, but it can also diminish fuel consumption. Share your travel plans, travel route, departure and arrival time with a trusted friend.

~ Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition – top off the fuel tank, check tire pressure and oil and radiator fluid levels. Pack an emergency bag that includes a warm blanket, water and non-perishable snacks.

~ Wear your seat belt and don’t drink and drive or drive while fatigued or otherwise impaired.

Continue reading " Illinois car accidents a Thanksgiving threat " »

As a driver, what is your first thought when a traffic light turns yellow in Chicago? The law says your first thought should be to ‘stop’, unless you think it isn’t safe and could cause a Chicago accident. While traveling on Chicago roads most drivers are aware of the shortly timed (3 second) yellow lights. According to state and federal law guidelines, three seconds is the minimum allowed by any state.

Back in 2003, Chicago began installing red light cameras to assist in tracking vehicles that didn’t make it through an intersection before the light turning red. As of May 2010, there were 189 intersections with these cameras actively working.

The Huffington Post reported back in March that it’s no surprise that short yellow lights and red light cameras are not a popular combination for Chicago drivers. This combination causes accidents when drivers slam on the brakes after they see the yellow light. However, the city loves this combination as they had over 64 million dollars in revenue generated by red light violations last year.

Chicago drivers would be happier if the city took the advice of a Texas A & M study, posted in the Huffington Post, concluding that adding 1 second to the duration of a yellow light decreased red light violators by 60% as well as decreased the number of accidents by 35 to 40%.

When approaching a major intersection keep in mind the following safety tips:

-On coming traffic always has the right of way if you are making a left turn.

-Make sure there is enough room between the car in front of you and your car.

-Be mindful of motorcycles, pedestrians and cyclists.

-Factor in delays when estimating your travel time.

-Look for vehicles by turning head twice when entering an intersection.

-Watch for vehicles running the red light if you are first in line waiting as your light turns green.

Continue reading " Quick yellow lights causing Chicago car accidents " »

Our Chicago car accident lawyers were not surprised to learn that a recent AAA Foundation study of the sleeping habits of American drivers found that more than 25 percent of those polled admitted to driving despite being so sleepy they could hardly keep their eyes open.

Or that driver fatigue has been linked to almost 17 percent of fatal car accidents and just more than 13 percent of car accidents involving injury.

Nor were we surprised to hear that teen drivers, younger drivers and men aged 26 and younger are the most likely to drive while drowsy than any other group. Also particularly at risk are shift workers, commercial drivers, or those who have irregular work, academic or social schedules, the Occupational Health & Safety reports.

Curiously enough, AAA reports, one in four drivers who said they’d fallen asleep while driving did so between the hours of noon and 5 p.m., and nearly 60 percent of them said they had been driving for less than an hour when they dozed off. The bottom line – fatigue can rear its ugly head at anytime and is far more likely to strike younger more inexperienced drivers who are additionally less likely to recognize the symptoms of fatigue or the toll it is taking on their judgment and perception.

This week is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week and, with more than 5,500 deaths linked to drowsy driving each year, we urge you to talk to friends and family about the dangers.

The National Sleep Foundation hopes to help younger drivers avoid a fall-asleep car accident with a few simple do-and-don’t tips:

~ DON’T drive if you have taken medication that can cause drowsiness or consumed any amount of alcohol.

~DON’T rely on the radio, or a shot of cold air from a rolled-down window to keep you alert and awake.

~ DON’T discount the importance of at least six hours of uninterrupted sleep. (With that said, 7 to 9 hours is preferred).

~ DO recognize that chronic inadequate sleep accumulates a “sleep debt” that can overwhelm you unexpectedly and without warning.

~ DO recognize that sleep deprivation can wreak havoc on how we perform during our awakened life. It is estimated that fatigue impacts work performance to the tune of $18 billion in lost productivity each year.

~ DO embrace the benefits of a dose of caffeine and a 20-minute nap.

Continue reading " Younger drivers most at risk of Chicago car accidents caused by drowsy driving " »

A hit-and-run Chicago car accident that injured the brother of state Sen. Anthony Munoz (D-Chicago), has led to felony charges against the 24-year-old driver, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers represent clients injured in hit-and-run accidents. We encourage those dealing with these crashes to contact an experienced law firm as soon as possible. Do not wait until a defendant is found an arrested -- drivers frequently flee the scene because they are not properly licensed or lack insurance. By bringing a veteran attorney into the case from the start, you stand the best chance of protecting your rights. In some cases, we will file suit against the assets of an at-fault driver. In other cases, we may be able to collect on other insurance policies in the household. In still other cases, particularly when a driver is not located or other means of collection are not available, we may be able to assist you in making a claim against your own insurance company.

The Sun-Times reports the crash happened outside a polling place in the 4000 block of South Archer. Shortly after the crash, a 24-year-old South Archer Street man was arrested and charged with a felony for leaving the scene of an accident with injuries. Chicago police report he admitted his involvement.

He is also accused of driving without insurance, and failure to exercise due care for a pedestrian in the roadway.

Martin Munoz, 40, was crossing Archer Avenue when he was struck by a westbound car. The force of the accident caused him to land on the car, damaging the windshield. An off duty Cook County Sheriff's deputy, who was working at the polling place, was able to pursue the vehicle and get its license plate number. The pursuit was stopped after the car ran a red light and went the wrong way down a one-way street. But the plate number matched the defendant's 1994 Nissan.

Munoz suffered a broken leg and head injuries. He has undergone surgery to have screws and a rod inserted into his leg.

The Illinois Department of Transportation reports that unlicensed drivers have been involved in 145 of the state's 718 fatal crashes thus far in 2010.

Continue reading " Chicago car accident injures State Senator's brother at polling place " »