Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog

The National Safety Council (NSC) is predicting more than 400 traffic fatalities this Memorial Day weekend and another 39,400 injuries caused by car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere in the country.

The official holiday weekend begins Friday at 6 p.m. and ends Monday at 11:59 p.m.

"We are reminding Americans to buckle up before they hit the road for the long Memorial Day weekend," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Seat belts are a lifesaver, but too many people are failing to buckle their seat belts at night, and it’s costing lives."

Our Illinois car accident attorneys would like to remind residents to be safe this long holiday weekend. We would also like to remind you that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be enforcing its “Click It or Ticket” campaign from the last week in May until the first week in June. Residents are urged to wear their seat belts while traveling on our roadways this holiday weekend to not only prevent injury in a motor vehicle accident, but to avoid a traffic citation as well.

The “Click It or Ticket” campaign has proved to be the most successful safety belt enforcement campaign as it has contributed to the highest national safety belt usage rate – almost 90 percent. Law enforcement agencies will be enforcing zero-tolerance for violations of safety belt use across the country throughout the campaign.

The NSC estimates that more than 300 motorists will survive this Memorial Day holiday weekend because of seat belts. Additionally, it estimates another 103 lives could be saved if everyone were to wear their seat belts.

Motorists are less likely to buckle up late at night, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Last year in Illinois, statistics show that only two in 10 people who died in crashes from midnight to 3 a.m. were properly restrained by a seat belt.

Over the last six years, the Memorial Day holiday weekend saw an average of more than a 12 percent increase in traffic fatalities than averages on other similar non-holiday periods. Researchers believe this is probably because of the increase travel in the U.S.

To help you stay safe on our roadways this Memorial Day holiday weekend, the NSC recommends that drivers consider the following:

-Make sure that all vehicle occupants are wearing their seat belts and children are placed in the appropriate child safety seat.

-Halt distracted driving habits. Do not use your cell phone or text behind the wheel.

-Allow yourself plenty of time for travel. Allowing extra time will help you avoid frustrations or any acts of road rage.

-Plan out your trip before departure. A plan will help with smoother travel.

-Practice defensive driving habits and exercise caution, especially in congested roadways and in inclement weather.

-Get plenty of rest. Avoid driving while fatigued or drowsy.

-Do not get behind the wheel if you've consumed alcohol. Even the littlest of consumption impairs driver reaction time and judgment.

Continue reading " "Click It Or Ticket" in Full Force Memorial Day Weekend To Reduce Risk of Car Accidents in Illinois and Elsewhere " »

The summer months are approaching fast and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) would like to remind parents and those who may be riding in a car with a child to keep in mind the dangers behind leaving children in a vehicle as children can experience hyperthermia in Illinois and elsewhere across the country.

The NHTSA conducted research in which results illustrated the increased risk of serious injury -- or even death -- for children who are left alone in vehicles. Hyperthermia, or heat-stroke, is the leading cause of non-accident car deaths for children who are under the age of 14. The unfortunate statistics reveal that nearly 30 documented deaths are a direct result from children left in vehicles each year.

Our Illinois personal injury lawyers understand that mistakes happen. Parents must exercise every preventable measure to avoid this serious and possibly deadly event from happening to their child. It is also important to speak with your daycare centers, caregivers and school employees about the very serious and possible event. You want to take every precaution possible to ensure that your child will not be left in a hot vehicle. Every year, babysitters and daycare centers are responsible for forgetting children left in vehicles and the results can be tragic.

The NHTSA provides the following tips to help parents protect their child from in-car hyperthermia during these summer months and year around:

-Teach your children that a vehicle is not a play area. Do not let them play in a vehicle unattended.

-Keep something noticeable in their car seat, like a bright, stuffed toy. Once you've buckled the child into the seat, put that object where you will notice it when you leave the vehicle.

-Ask that your child's daycare center notify you if your child doesn’t arrive on time.

-Always lock your car's doors and trunks. Keep keys out of children's reach. If your child is missing, be sure to check the vehicle first, and don't forget to look in the trunk.

- Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, not even if the windows are open or if the engine is running and the air conditioner is on.

-Make a habit of looking in the vehicle before locking it and walking away. Be sure that you check both your front and back seats.

-Put your purse, briefcase or something that you’re sure to need in the rear seat so that you’ll be sure to see if a child is left in the vehicle.

-Write yourself a note and put it where you’ll see it when you leave the vehicle. This will serve as a constant reminder to check for children. It may sound silly, but it happens.

These steps may not prevent every case of a child left in a vehicle. When children are in distress because of heat, it is vital to get them out of the vehicle as quickly as possible. Warning signs of hyperthermia can include hot, red, moist skin, dry skin or no sweating. They can also experience a strong rapid pulse, a slow weak pulse, nausea or strange behavior. It is important you cool the child rapidly after being pulled from a hot vehicle.

According to the Department of Geosciences at San Francisco State University, nearly 50 children died because of hyperthermia after they were left in hot vehicles in the United States in 2010. Since 1998, nearly 500 children have died from heat-related issues after being left in hot vehicles. Since 1998, Illinois has experienced 13 child deaths from hyperthermia from children being left in a vehicle.

An examination of the statistics above found the following:

-More than 50 percent of these children were "forgotten" in a car by a caregiver.

-30 percent of the hyperthermia deaths occurred when a child was playing in an unattended vehicle.

-Nearly 20 percent of the children were left in the vehicle intentionally by an adult.

-Approximately 1 percent of deaths reported unknown circumstances.

Continue reading " Summer Months Increase Risks for Child Deaths Caused by Hyperthermia in Illinois and Elsewhere " »

Jointly the Illinois Department of Transportation, State Police, Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) and A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education (ABATE) launched the Start Seeing Motorcycles campaign, which urges Illinois motorists to share the road with motorcycles and expect to see them soon on Illinois roadways.

Governor Quinn has declared May as Motorcycle Awareness Month and supports the group's efforts for motorcycle safety.

Our Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys understand the risk riders face especially in the spring time when motorist aren't use to seeing them and the chance for a Chicago motorcycle accidents peaks.

"Under the leadership and vision of Governor Pat Quinn, Illinois experienced an historic and record breaking two-year low in traffic fatalities in 2009 and 2010," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. "IDOT continues to stress the importance of motorcycle safety and understands the need for proper attention, dedication and commitment by all motorists and motorcyclists in Illinois. Motorists share equal responsibility for motorcycle safety and are strongly encouraged to share the road and start seeing motorcycles."

In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 5,290 riders were killed and 96,000 sustained injuries in motorcycle crashes. Riders accounted for 14 percent of total traffic deaths. Nearly 50 percent of all fatal motorcycle accidents involved a collision with a motor vehicle and most of the time the motorcycle is hit in the front. Illinois had 121 riders killed in 2008.

"The Illinois State Police is committed to the safety of all motorists, and we are proud to partner with IDOT in an effort to raise awareness and reduce motorcycle related crashes," said Illinois State Police Director Hiram Grau. "Inclement weather, road conditions, traffic congestion, and limitations of protective gear, make motorcycle riders susceptible to serious or life threatening injuries, regardless of their experience or skill level. We can all help make this summer safe and enjoyable by practicing safe driving habits and staying focused on the road."

IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety target="_blank">"Start Seeing Motorcycles" campaign and Motorcycle Safety Program are focused on motorist awareness to reduce motorcycle fatalities. The key messages to the motoring public are: as the weather improves the number of motorcycles increases, be considerate of others on the roadways and most importantly "Share the Road". Yellow banners and yard signs have been strategically displayed throughout the community, spreading the message to "Start Seeing Motorcycles".

"When you ride, be aware of your surroundings, others may not see you. Whenever there is a motor vehicle versus a motorcycle accident, most of the time the operator’s comment is, ‘I did not see the bike" said Larry Kolling, GWRRA’s Illinois District Motorist Awareness Coordinator.

IDOT's "Gear Up" campaign is in full swing which focuses on the riders' responsibilities to: keep their bikes mechanically sound, increase their visibility, wear protective clothing, never ride impaired and make sure their license and insurance are current.

Continue reading " 'Start Seeing Motorcycles' Campaign Launched in Illinois aimed at reducing Chicago motorcycle accidents " »

Recently U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that although Americans are traveling more miles, the number of traffic fatalities in 2010 dropped to their lowest since 1949.

Our Chicago car accident lawyers know that Illinois had over 900 fatalities last year and is among the top 10 deadliest states for fatal motor vehicle crash victims.

"Last year's drop in traffic fatalities is welcome news and it proves that we can make a difference," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Still, too many of our friends and neighbors are killed in preventable roadway tragedies every day. We will continue doing everything possible to make cars safer, increase seat belt use, put a stop to drunk driving and distracted driving and encourage drivers to put safety first."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) early projections indicate traffic fatalities declined three percent between 2009 and 2010. Since 2005, there has been a steady drop in traffic deaths; in fact fatalities have decreased 25 percent. The fatality rate has also dropped to a record low of 1.09 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, a decrease of .04 from 2009.

Regional breakdowns include:
-Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska saw a 12 percent drop in fatalities.
-Arizona, California and Hawaii saw an 11 percent decline.
-Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut had the largest increase in fatalities at 18 percent.
-Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan had the next highest increase at almost 4 percent.

"The decrease in traffic fatalities is a good sign, but we are always working to save lives," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "NHTSA will continue pressing forward on all of our safety initiatives to make sure our roads are as safe as they can possibly be."

Numerous safety and public awareness programs like "Over the Limit. Under Arrest." for reducing drunk driving and "Click It Or Ticket" to increase seat belt use have contributed to reducing traffic fatalities. Two national summits, hosted by the U.S. DOT, on distracted driving and Distraction.gov has brought the disturbing issue of distracted driving to the masses.

Last year the NHTSA revealed its revamped 5-star rating system which includes more intense crash test standards. And it gives the public much more information on how vehicles fared in the crash tests. Automakers need to voluntarily and quickly report safety defects in order to keep the driving public safe. Technology like forward collision, lane departure warnings and electronic stability control are needed to continue to reduce crashes.

Continue reading " Traffic fatalities down nationally, Chicago car accidents a summer danger " »