Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Chicago car accident attorneys realize the importance of getting high-profile venues, popular sports figures and organizations to help sponsor safe driving campaigns and we know the impact that it can have on reducing speed-related, drunk driving, distracted driving or other types of car accidents in Illinois.

For the fifth straight year, the Illinois Department of Transportation is teaming up with NASCAR and Chicagoland Speedway to promote positive driving behaviors by Illinois motorists at the NASCAR race weekend in September. Two national campaigns will be promoted at during the weekend's events -- Buckle Up America and Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk.

Illinois was the first state to initiate a safe driving behavior program with NASCAR as an attempt to reach out to speed racing fans throughout the state. IDOT hopes to deliver a positive message to NASCAR race fans that drunk driving and failure to use seatbelt restraints are risky behaviors that can take the lives of many motorists and passengers sharing Illinois roadways. Fans will have an opportunity to win prizes in random drawings if they sign up to take the pledge at one of four locations during the event. Pledge locations will be available at the Main Concourse, Champions Park, in the Midway, and at the KidsZone. Fans can pledge to buckle up every passenger, every time and every trip they get in the car to go somewhere or always be sober or have a designated driver when they plan to drink.

Earlier this summer, IDOT announced several other race events that would be sponsoring the traffic safety program. Other NASCAR events supporting the two campaigns were STP 300, Messina Wildlife Animal Stopper 150, O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Dollar General 300. NASCAR racing teams and drivers along with their sponsors have shown their support of the Buckle Up America Challenge by offering special prizes to fans who take the pledge. A few of the NASCAR drivers to show support are Kurt Busch, David Ragan, Carl Edwards and Reed Sorenson.

Though NASCAR drivers make their living driving at high rates of speed, motorists are never encouraged to travel over the speed limit, especially after drinking at a NASCAR or other event that serves alcohol. To take the Responsibility Has Its Rewards Pledge online, you have to commit to never driving intoxicated, always have a driver available when you have been drinking, never supply alcohol to someone who is underage, and buckle up every trip or every time you get in the vehicle.

The Buckle Up America campaign suggests you take one season at a time. From January through March, child passenger safety should be a focus point in which child safety laws, enforcement and awareness should be communicated and executed within your community.

In April, May and June, the focus is on getting everyone in America to adhere to seatbelt laws and fasten their restraint no matter what seat is occupied in a vehicle. During the months of July, August and September, school age children are targeted to help them start the school year off on the right foot. The last season is during holiday travel and the months of October, November and December. Since so many motorists are traveling during the holidays, the Buckle up America campaign encourages everyone to arrive safely for the holidays by restraining with a belt each time you get in the car.

Reduce the risks of injury in a car crash by buckling up and driving safely each time you get behind the wheel.

Continue reading " Pledge "Not To" Campaigns Targeted at NASCAR events in Illinois " »

The final days of summer are just around the corner, but for motorcycle enthusiasts this is the best time of the year to ride. The array of fall colors and the warm temperatures during Indian summer draw many bikers to rural roadways and interstates, so motorists need to use caution in order to avoid a < a href="http://www.vanpoperinglaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1100501.html">car collision with a motorcycle in Illinois.

Several motorcycle accidents in Chicago and elsewhere have been in the news recently, which has our Illinois accident lawyers concerned about the dangers of riding as we close out the summer and enter into fall riding season.

The Chicago Tribune reports about one accident that killed a father and injured his 9-year-old daughter following a collision with a vehicle. The Lake Villa man and his daughter were riding his motorcycle on Illinois Route 59 when they crashed with a vehicle making a left hand turn onto Wilson Road. The father was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center and was pronounced dead shortly after arriving. The young girl remained in critical condition at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital after the accident.

A second fatal crash in the news recently involved a motorcycle rider from West Frankfort. According to the Benton Evening News, State Police officials reported that the 37-year-old male was pronounced dead at the scene after losing control of his bike in the bend of the road which caused a collision into a utility pole during a mid-afternoon ride on Route 149.

A third fatal motorcycle accident recently caused speculation of whether a police officer in pursuit caused the crash occurring on I-88 near the exit at Winfield Road, the Beacon-News reports. A group of riders from RPM Riders United Motorcycle Club were cruising along I-88 when one motorcycle swerved and caused a second motorcycle to try to avoid an accident.

Witnesses say the police car pulled out in front of the two bikers, causing them to crash and resulting in the death of a 29-year-old man from Aurora. Illinois State Police issued a statement saying that the police officer followed departmental policy in pursuit of three speeding motorcyclists. The in-car video from the police cruiser provided evidence of the motorcycles in front of the car. One clip shows a brake light from the motorcycle and one photo shows a rate of speed at registered at 92 mph. The accident is still under active investigation but preliminary reports indicate the officer didn't cause of the accident.

Motorcycles are less protected because they are not enclosed and there really is no help for the rider in a collision with another vehicle. In 2009, there were almost 4,500 fatalities nationwide from motorcycle-related crashes. Illinois reported 124 fatal crashes in 2009 resulting in 130 deaths. The ever-growing popularity of motorcycles will likely cause these numbers to grow in the future.

Weekends are considered the most dangerous for motorcycle riders with 59 percent of crashes occurring from Friday at 6 p.m. to Sunday at 11:59 p.m. in 2009. Motorists are advised to be alert and expect the unexpected during the final months of the motorcycle riding season.

Continue reading " Fall Riding Season Puts Motorists in Danger of a Collision with a Motorcycle in Chicago, Elsewhere " »

Alcohol consumption and holiday weekends seem to go hand in hand so as everyone prepares for the last big summer bash of the year, our Illinois accident attorneys want to remind drivers to drive safely and be responsible before you get behind the wheel to drive.

Drunk driving accidents in Chicago and elsewhere in the state are a danger on holiday weekends because there are a high number of gatherings and barbeques taking place. Though last year's Labor Day weekend crash statistics for Illinois were somewhat improved from previous years, 40 percent of Labor Day weekend crashes in 2009 and 58 percent in 2008 were alcohol-related.

The Illinois Department of Transportation knows what a risk it is to be on roadways during holiday weekends so they recently conducted a wet lab controlled training demonstration to illustrate to participants the dangers of driving while under the influence.

"The demonstration today illustrates how devastating alcohol impairment is on a person's judgment, control and ability to operate a vehicle," said Acting Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider.

During the wet lab exercise, a person consumes enough alcohol to give them a blood alcohol concentration of .08 but remains in a controlled environment with law enforcement officials surrounding them. Under a controlled setting, subjects can learn and begin to understand the effects of alcohol, how it impairs judgment and affects motor skills provided by an alcohol concentration level over the legal limit.

Impaired participants underwent standard Field Sobriety Tests issued by police officers and demonstrated what happens in a DUI arrest. A demonstration of how Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices work in vehicles was exhibited showing that a vehicle will not start if alcohol is detected in the driver's system.

Over 350 state and local law enforcement agencies in Illinois have been issuing a crackdown on drunk driving since August 19th as part of the 2011 Labor Day "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign. Heightened patrolling, especially during the most dangerous hours of midnight to 3 a.m., and sobriety checkpoints will continue to be in full force not only in Illinois but throughout most of the country through September 5th.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that almost 11,000 people die each year in drunk driving-related accidents. Each day there are roughly 1,440 medically attended injuries and 29 fatalities following an alcohol-related accident. Additionally, someone dies every 23 minutes between 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. in an accident caused by a drunk driver.

The NHTSA hopes that Americans will take this opportunity to get more involved and advocate for reducing alcohol impaired crashes. There are several ways to spread the Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over message which include: downloading a desktop or wallpaper message to your personal or work computer, posting a message or icon on your Facebook page, printing and posting posters that point out the dangers of alcohol consumption and driving, or remind family and friends not to drive drunk to avoid getting a ticket or worse getting into a serious car crash.

Continue reading " Labor Day Campaign Aimed at Reducing Drunk Driving Accidents in Illinois, Nationwide " »

Chicago car accident attorneys want to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend by urging motorists to be alert and use caution while you venture out on one of the most dangerous holiday weekends of the year.

Most people will be out enjoying the last of the summer hurrahs so in order to avoid a Illinois car accident , you should make sure to use an extra bit of caution.

CBS Chicago reports that more people are expected to be on roadways, but traveling shorter distances over the holiday weekend. Just because people are staying in short proximity to their home doesn't mean the risk of a car accident decreases.

Gas prices have plummeted almost 10 percent since May which will likely lead to more Chicagoans getting out to attend family gatherings or barbeques with friends close to home. AAA Chicago is expecting 1.6 million motorists on roadways this weekend which is up slightly from last year's total. With many people off from work and out enjoying the weather, more accidents can occur.

The National Safety Council is anticipating almost 39,000 injuries in car crashes Labor Day weekend and almost 400 traffic fatalities nationwide. Labor Day weekend over the past six years has had more than 14 percent more traffic fatalities than non-holiday weekends during a similar time frame.

Labor Day Driving Tips for motorists:

-Prepare for a long trip by having your mechanic run a quick check on vehicle systems, fan belts, fluids, brakes, radiator and cooling system. Making sure everything is in good working order can reduce the risk of a breakdown on the road.
-Be flexible with your departure time and planned route to avoid high traffic congestion. Drive during non-peak hours if that is an option. Allow extra time if driving in peak hours can't be avoided.
-Be aware of your physical and mental frame of mind while you are behind the wheel. Driving drowsy, aggressively, or speeding because you are stressed about being late only increases the risk of being involved in a car accident.
-Disable electronic devices such as cell phones, navigational systems, or video players in your vehicle all weekend to help avoid distractions. If a GPS is needed, set the address before you drive so that you can keep your hands on the wheel and stay focused on driving.
-Keep young drivers off the streets by offering your children and their friends a ride to where they want to go.
-Defensive driving can help prepare you for unexpected situations. Use extra caution in poor driving conditions.
-Fasten your seat belt and make sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled before the car starts in motion.
-A speedy driver is an unsafe driver so slow down and follow the posted speed limit to avoid losing control or a speed-related accident.

Continue reading " Drive Safely to Avoid a Car Accident in Illinois This Labor Day Weekend " »