Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

An Illinois injury lawyer at Abels and Annes has agreed to help a motorist that was recently injured by another driver who fell asleep at the wheel.

The Chicago-area car crash occurred earlier this month in Aurora, Illinois around 4 AM. The plaintiff was driving his 1999 Honda Accord home from work on Farnsworth Street. At that time the defendant, who was driving a 2007 Mitsubishi Gallant in the opposite direction, fell asleep at the wheel and crossed the center line, striking our client's vehicle head-on.

The Aurora Police Department responded to the scene of the accident. After the investigation, they placed the defendant at fault on the police report.

Unfortunately, our client was seriously injured in the accident. He was taken by ambulance to Provena Mercy Medical Center with significant internal bleeding in his stomach. There he had to undergo emergency surgery. He was also having breathing/lung issues, right shoulder pain and low back pain. Due to the surgical procedure, he has a 8 to 10 inch wound which has been closed up with staples. He is expected to have a large permanent scar. He is also going to have to have follow-up medical care with several different specialists.

Our law firm has been brought in to pursue a claim against the at fault driver and his insurance carrier.

This accident is a good example of the dangers of drowsy driving. According to statistics gathered by the National Sleep Foundation, in the year 2005 approximately 60% of drivers (168 million drivers) stated that they had driven drowsy over the past 12 months, and 37% of those drivers had actually fall asleep at the wheel. Of those who fell asleep, 13% admitted that it happens to them around once a month. 4 percent, which is around 11 million motorists, said they were involved in a crash or a near collision due to drowsiness.

On the foundation's website, DrowsyDriving.org, they go on to state that the federal government estimates that there are around 100,000 accidents each year caused by drowsiness. These accidents result in over 1500 deaths, 71,000 injuries and a financial cost of over $12 billion. These statistics are taken from police reports..

The foundation also speculates that these 100,000 accidents could be just the "tip of the iceberg" because it is often difficult to determine that sleepiness caused a collision for the following reasons:

– Police have no test to determine drowsiness (unlike DUIs where officers have many different tests).

– States have no consistent practice as to how to report crashes caused by sleepiness.

– Data from overseas (England, Finland, Australia and other European nations) where there are more consistent accident reporting methods compared to the USA, have statistics that show driver fatigue causes anywhere from 10 to 30% of all accidents.

The website also reports that many motorists are drowsy as they commute to and from work. Around 71% of Americans drive to their places of employment. 27% of those commuters admit to driving drowsy several days per month, 12% did it a few days a week, and 4% admit driving drowsy almost every day.

Drowsy driving accidents occur most with younger people, shift workers, and adults with children. The worst sleepy offenders are adults ages 18-29 who represent 71% of drowsy motorists, as compared to people ages 65 and over who represent a much lower 19%.

When you are behind the wheel, here are some warning signs that you are sleepy and that you should get off the road:

– You are yawning a lot
– Blurred vision
– Your head starts to nod and your eyelids droop
– You have trouble remembering the last few miles driven, or you miss an exit or traffic sign
– You drive off on the shoulder, drift from your lane or tailgate
– You feel restless and irritable

Like drinking and driving, drowsy driving slows down your reaction time, impairs your judgment and increases your risk of being involved in an accident.

Continue reading " Chicago auto accident attorney takes on drowsy driving case " »

AAA has launched a teen driver website specific to all 50 states in an effort to help young drivers and their parents put the emphasis on driver safety. Keys2Drive: The AAA Guide to Teen Driver Safety, comes with state-specific information to help us to educate our teens and to help to reduce their risks of car accidents.

According to this customizable website, car accidents take the lives of more teens than suicide, homicide and cancer combined. Recent research from safe teen driving advocacy groups concluded that when teens ride with siblings, teenage neighbors and friends, they are at substantially higher risk risk of being involved in a car accident in Chicago or elsewhere. This is proven true even with the brightest of teens behind the wheel. One of the biggest saviors is experience, which will only come with time and practice.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys ask that parents get involved in their teen's learning experience -- especially through the long summer months. Encourage them to do things like wear their seat belt, abide by speed limits and to only drive during the daytime hours. These three characteristics have been proven to greatly reduce the risk of an accident. Talk to your teen about these safe driving rules and explain to them the responsibility of safe driving habits and the consequences of irresponsible driving.

It's no secret that teens are at an increased risk for accidents on our roadways. Although teen drivers, those between the ages of 15- and 20-years old, only make up 7 percent of the entire licensed population in the United States, accidents that involved a teen driver made up roughly 20 percent of all of the traffic accidents. As a matter of fact, motor-vehicle accidents are the number one killer of teenagers. Based on total miles driven, teen drivers are involved in roughly three times as many deadly traffic accidents compared to any other age group.

We agree with the AAA Foundation in saying that turning your teenage driver into a safe driver in indeed a complex task. There are two major parts of this learning experience. A teen driver must learn the rules of the road and they must learn how to safely operate a vehicle. Many safe driving advocates urge that these new, young drivers participate in a driver education and training program in order to learn both aspects. It is never too early to start this learning process. A good driver education program can help your young driver to develop safe driving habits, to improve hazard recognition and explain how to manage time, space and visibility in traffic.

What can you do, as a parent, to help your teen become a safer driver?:

-Always obey road laws when your child is in the vehicle with you.

-Always wear your seat belt and encourage your young soon-to-be driver to do so as well.

-Get involved and be interactive. Talk to your kids about road signs, pedestrians and other vehicles. Explain every aspect of driving to them so they're left with no questions or confusion.

-Ride with your teens. Illinois requires that parents and their teen drivers conduct at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice. This includes at least 10 hours of night driving. AAA recommends at least 100 hours of supervised driving time.

-Talk to them about driving during different moods or emotions. Angry or tired driving is distracted driving and increases risks for an accident.

-Although your teen may not be of legal age to drink alcohol, it doesn't mean that they won't. Talk to you teen about the dangers and the consequences of driving under the influence.

To get a license in Illinois, teens must complete a three-stage process that allows them to gradually gain exposure to different driving situations. This allows them to ease into driving over a period of time. Two of these steps include the instruction permit and initial driver’s license. After these steps they are eligible to receive their full driver's license. The GDL program has been proven to better educate teen drivers.

Parents are urged to create and enact a parent-teen driving agreement as well in an attempt to set down some ground rules for driving that everyone can agree on.

Continue reading " Website Dedicated to Teen Driver Education and Reducing Teen Car Accidents in Illinois " »

Traffic fatality statistics for 2010 will be released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration later this summer. Meanwhile, the agency has recently released comprehensive state-by-state data for 2009. Statistics show car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois declined 13 percent. Still, Illinois experienced more than 900 fatalities resulting from traffic accidents in 2009.

As that number is still relatively high, law enforcement and safety advocates continue their push to urge drivers to drive safer on our roadways and to abide by driving laws during the busy summer driving season and throughout the remainder of the year.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys believe that through a conscious effort from all residents we can maintain a significant decrease in these numbers. This decrease will have to result from more alert driving, less distracted driving, the monitoring of drunk driving and more awareness for on-foot travelers and cyclists.

In our state, nearly 1 death occurs for ever 100 million vehicle miles traveled. It is also estimated that there are almost 9 deaths for every 100 million registered vehicles or nearly 11 deaths for every 100 million licensed drivers.

Illinois has witnessed a numbers of years in which the number of fatalities resulting from car accidents has decreased. The steepest decrease occurred from 1975 to 2009 when we saw a decreased of 55 percent. In 1975, we saw more than 2,000 traffic accident fatalities, compared to 911 in 2009. During these 34 years, we experienced a 76 percent decrease in the number of fatalities per vehicle miles traveled.

The numbers aren't all positive, however. From 2000 to 2009, we saw a near 5 percent increase in fatalities from car accidents that involved a drunk driver. During 2009 alone, nearly 40 percent of all fatal traffic accidents involved a driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher.

Speeding was also a common factor in many of these accidents. Of the 911 traffic fatalities in 2009, 325 of them were the result of an accident that involved a speeding driver. Most of these accident occurred in an area with a set speed limit of 55 mph.

Passenger cars suffered the most fatal accidents as they accounted for nearly half of all deadly crashes. Light trucks followed behind, accounting for 32.9 percent of all fatal crashes.

In an attempt to reduce these numbers, Illinois enact a seat belt law for all front seat passengers. If you're busted not wearing your seat belt, you could face an immediate $30 fine. This law went into effect back in 2003. Consequently, more than 90 percent of motorists wear their seat belt. More recently, the state has enacted a law banning drivers from text messaging or using a cell phone in school zones and construction sites.

Just by looking at this data, there are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of being in an accident. It may not seem like rocket science, but believe it or not, many residents refuse to follow these few precautionary steps. Residents are urged not to drink and drive as it greatly increases your chances of being involved in an accident. All motorists are urged to wear their seat belt, not only because it's the law but to help save your life in the event of an accident. And lastly, you're urged to abide by the speed limits. Increasing your speed increases impact upon a collision which increases the severity of injuries.

Continue reading " NHTSA Releases Stats for Car Accidents in Chicago and Elsewhere " »

Two teenagers were killed and three other occupants injured in a tragic Western Illinois car accident when their attempt at “hill hopping,” or driving over a hill at high speeds to get airborne, ended with their car rolling multiple times and striking a tree. According to WGEM.com, the crash occurred just outside Carthage, Illinois in the 1600 block of North Hancock County Road. The 18 year-old driver lost control of her vehicle as it landed and she was killed along with a 16 year-old passenger.

Locals say the area, known as “Butterfly hills,” is a popular destination for teens looking for thrills, and hill hopping at the location is a common occurrence. Teens often set out for the specific reason to drive over the hill at speeds of 90-100 miles per hour. Police said this was not the first crash at the hill.

“I would have died too,” said a friend of the victims, “it’s not easy to know your friends died doing something that everybody has done.”

Police said there were no drugs or alcohol involved in the crash, and both victims were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident.

While these types of accidents aren’t common, there are incidents throughout the country of teens being killed or severely injured after unsuccessful hill hopping attempts. The Chicago Tribune reported a similar incident that occurred in Long Grove, Illinois in 2004 when two teens decided to go hill hopping on a rural stretch of road. The car was traveling 90 m.p.h. when it hit the crest of the hill and sent the automobile careening out of control until it was stopped by a tree. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and survived, but his best friend was killed in the wreck.

The driver, who later pled guilty to reckless homicide, now gives speeches to teens about the dangers of reckless joy-riding. He explains how the invincibility that teens often feel is an illusion, and how by the time he realized this, he had to live with the guilt of killing his best friend.

Another similar incident happened just last year in Ohio when three teens between 15 and 16 years-old were severely injured after their car lost control and overturned during a hill hopping incident described as “horrific.” None of the occupants were wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, and two of the occupants were ejected from the car.

Like the incident outside of Carthage, the crash occurred at a spot frequented by local teens looking to have fun. In fact, a 16 year-old was killed in a hill hopping attempt seven years prior at the same Ohio location. The victim died after crashing into a tree, the same tree the latest victims grazed as they lost control of their vehicle, the Dayton Daily News reported.

Unfortunately, this is not trend likely to go away anytime soon and it has been going on for a long time. I recently discussed this accident with a 40-year-old attorney who said that when he was a teenager back in the 1980s, he could recall hill hopping on several occasions with his friends.

Click here to read the story as reported by The Daily Gate City.

Continue reading " Hill hopping accident in Illinois claims the lives of two teens " »

Illinois truck crash lawyer Gary Annes has reached a settlement on behalf of a pedestrian that was injured in April, 2010. The truck vs. pedestrian collision occurred at the intersection of Monroe and Wells Streets in Chicago.

A truck driver had been traveling westbound on Monroe Street around 7:45 AM and was making a left turn onto southbound Wells Street. Our client was walking eastbound on the sidewalk on the south side of Monroe. When the pedestrian reached the intersection she waited for a walk sign, and proceeded to cross in a marked crosswalk one she received a walk sign.

When the plaintiff had made it almost all the way across the street, the truck driver suddenly made a left turn and hit her in the crosswalk. The front end of the truck struck the pedestrian's left side. She was fully inside the crosswalk at the time of impact. She had an immediate onset of head pain and left side pain, especially in her left hip and shoulder.

The Chicago Police Department responded to the scene of the accident. After investigating, the truck driver was issued a ticket for failing to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

Over the next few hours the plaintiff's pain became worse. She was seen shortly after the accident at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital.

At the ER she complained of head pain, neck pain, left shoulder pain and left hip pain. She was examined by emergency room physicians, a history was taken and diagnostic tests were performed. She was nauseous and eye twitching to the left was also observed.

Our client was diagnosed with a concussion and multiple contusions. She was prescribed pain medication and instructed to seek follow-up treatment after discharge.

Over the next few days the plaintiff's symptoms continued, especially her headaches, neck pain, and left hip and left lower back pain. She first followed up with her primary care physician, who recommended that she seek treatment for her hip, low back and neck at the Illinois Bone & Joint Institute ("IBJI"), and also ordered a brain MRI.

The MRI was taken on May 15, 2010. The MRI revealed hydrocephalus, an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid. Based upon the results of the MRI, she was referred for a neurological consultation. After an initial consultation the doctor performed injections in her occipital area.

The client had her first treatment at IBJI in April, 2010. Based on our ongoing headaches, neck pain and left hip/left lower back complaints she was referred to a neurologist and for physical therapy.

After a month of physical therapy, the client returned to IBJI. Continue to experience neck pain, left hip and left low back pain. Examination at that time revealed the client was walking with a list to the left and that she had a limited range of motion in her lumbar spine. She was prescribed more physical therapy and a home exercise program.

The plaintiff again returned to IBJI after another month of therapy. She continued to suffer left him and lower left back pain and neck pain. Physical therapy was again extended.

After further therapy she had improved and was discharged from treatment.

The claim settled for $35,000 pre-litigation, saving our client the expense of a lawsuit.

Continue reading " Chicago pedestrian accident attorney settles truck accident case " »

Drivers are urged to check their tires early and often this summer, according to a recently released consumer advisory from the U.S. Department of Transportation. All motorists are asked to inspect their tires to make sure that they're properly inflated and to check for signs of tread wear and damage. It is important for drivers to do so during this time of year, as the weather has warmed up and motorists now face an increased risk of a tire-related car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere throughout the state.

This consumer advisory was released just in time to coincide with National Tire Safety Week. It is during the next few summer months that motorists are at highest risk.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys ask that all residents take a look at this consumer advisory and carefully follow the recommendations as these safety precautions can help to keep you safe on our roadways. Old, under-inflated tires and the heat of the summer can have deadly consequences.

"As the weather warms up, it's especially important for drivers to ensure their tires are properly inflated," Secretary Ray LaHood said. "For your safety and the safety of others on the road, inspect your tires regularly and maintain the proper inflation."

According to the Department's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the most recent data reports that roughly 3,400 people died from 2005 to 2009 because of tire-related accidents. Another 116,000 were injured in these preventable incidents.

"While it's true improperly maintained tires can contribute to a crash at any time of year, it is particularly critical for motorists to check tires during hot weather, when families and luggage often overload vehicles for long vacation trips," NHTSA Administrator David Strickland warned. "Underinflated tires spinning on hot asphalt for extended periods of time can be a recipe for disaster."

Motorist are urged by the DOT to check the tire pressure in all four tires regularly, but especially before venturing out on long car trips. They are also urged to keep an eye on the wear and tear of their tires. Old, aging tires are more susceptible to heat stress and can cause a deadly accident. This risk only increases if your old tires are not properly inflated.

Motorists can take a peek at their tire sidewall to judge the age of their tires. You can also check with the vehicle's owner's manual or with the tire manufacturer to see how often you should be changing your tires.

Keeping your tires up to par will not only help to keep you safe on our roadways, but it can help to keep you from wasting your money at the pump. According to the Department of Energy, tires that are not properly inflated can lower your vehicle's gas mileage by nearly 0.5 percent for every 1 PSI (pound per square inch) drop in pressure. This means that if your vehicle gets an average of 30 miles per gallon and you vehicle's tires require 35 PSI then a drop in just a quarter of tire pressure would mean you're losing almost 9 percent in fuel economy. This equals about 3 miles per gallon!

Continue reading " Properly Inflate Your Tires to Prevent a Car Accident in Chicago " »

The death rate for SUV drivers has dropped nearly 70 percent. Safety advocates credit the installation of electronic stability for the increased safety, according to USA Today. This new technology uses the SUV's brakes and the power of the engine to keep these vehicles on all fours, decreasing the risk of death during a car accident in Chicago and elsewhere throughout the United States, according to a recent report released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Our Illinois car accident attorneys understand that SUV drivers are now among those that are least likely to die in a traffic accident. These drivers are now much safer than passengers in smaller cars. The recent high rollover rate for these larger vehicles may have been the reason that this new technology was introduced more quickly in SUVs than in cars. Either way, SUV drivers have one less thing to worry about.

Previously, before the introduction of this technology, the death rate for SUV drivers was 82 per million vehicles in the 1999 to 2002 models. Now, with the new safety measures, SUVs have a driver death rate of only 28 per million vehicles in the newer 2005 to 2008 models.

Drivers of cars weren't so fortunate with the release of new car models. These vehicles went from a driver death rate of 110 per million in the 1999 to 2002 model to a driver death rate of 72 per million in the 2005 to 2008 models. While still a decrease in deaths, it doesn't compare to the reduction of the SUV rates.

"The rollover risk in SUVs used to outweigh their size/weight advantage, but that's no longer the case," says Anne McCartt, the institute's senior vice president for research. "It's a dramatic change and a testament to the incredible effectiveness of electronic stability control."

Here are the top 15 safest SUVs, according to ABC News:

-Audi A6 4-door 4WD

-Mercedes E-Class 4-door 4WD

-Toyota Sienna

-Ford Edge

-Nissan Armada

-Land Rover Range Rover Sport

-Land Rover LR3

-Honda CR-V

-Jeep Grand Cherokee

-Acura MDX

-Mercedes E-Class 4-door

-Lexus RX 400h

-Lexus GX 470

-Mercedes M-Class

-Saab 9-3 4-door

"The rollover risk in SUVs used to outweigh their size/weight advantage, but that's no longer the case, thanks to ESC," Anne McCartt, the Institute's senior vice president for research. “It's not just weight that gives SUVs an advantage. It's also their height and other factors. When cars and SUVs of similar weight are compared, the SUVs have lower death rates.”

According to the IIHS report, drivers of smaller vehicles are nearly three times more likely to die in a motor-vehicle crash than in a rollover. Stability control has not been widely introduced in these types of passenger cars.

"For years, small cars have represented the low end of the economic spectrum and received fewer safety and enhanced design features," says Sean Kane of Safety Research & Strategies, which advises plaintiff lawyers, government and auto suppliers. "Undoubtedly, that has an effect."

Last year, there were nearly 12 million vehicles sold in the United States. Nearly 6 million of these sales were SUVs, pickups or vans while the remaining 5.6 million were cars.

"This report explains why Americans equate size with safety, even though small cars today are safer than ever before," Newton says.

Many safety advocates suggest that more focus needs to be placed on the safety of smaller car occupants in the event of an accident with a larger vehicle.

"The trend from the reported data is clear: The lighter the vehicle, the higher the likelihood that its driver will be killed in a collision with another vehicle," says Mukul Verma, a veteran auto industry safety official

Here are the top 10 vehicles with the worst driver death ratings:

-Nissan 350Z

-Nissan Titan crew cab

-Chevrolet Aveo

-Chevrolet Cobalt

-Nissan Titan extended cab

-Kia Spectra

-Chevrolet Malibu Classic

-Hyundai Tiburon

-Nissan Versa

-Chevrolet Colorado extended cab

If you were to compare vehicles using their most recent death rates, you would find that minivans are by far the safest with a driver death rate of 25. SUVs were right behind with a score of 28 followed by pickups with an average of 52 driver deaths per million registration years. In last place were cars with an unfortunate average of 56.

It is still important to point out that large cars perform better than small ones. Smaller four-door cars have a death rate of 82 while their larger four-door members have a death rate of 46.

Continue reading " You may now be safer than before in a Chicago Car Accident if You Drive an SUV " »

Last week the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Department of Transportation, and the City of Chicago’s Bicycling Ambassadors program kicked off part of what officials call their “Share the Road” campaign aimed at enforcing Chicago’s oft-disregarded biking traffic laws and educating citizens on the proper ways to avoid injuring cyclists on the road, the Chicago Tribune is reporting. According to officials, 240 warnings and one ticket were given over a two-hour period at a single intersection during rush hour.

The intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Desplaines and Kinzie Street was chosen because of the high volume of bicyclists who often pedal through red lights and encroach on crosswalks meant for pedestrians, making accidents and close calls a regular occurrence. As officials issued the warnings to cyclists and stressed the importance of following the law, some cyclists reminded officials that they were well aware of the laws and were only breaking them to avoid having to share the road with aggressive motorists who frequently cut them off and are generally unaware of their presence.

According to CDOT, an average of 1,300 crashes involving bicyclists occur every year in Chicago and about five of those end in death. As biking becomes more popular in the face of high gas prices and traffic congestion, the city is taking steps to increase biker safety through the education of motorists and cyclists, while improving the infrastructure of biking routes.

Coinciding with the sting operation was a press conference by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to kick off construction on a half-mile stretch of protected bike lanes running on Kinzie Street from Milwaukee Avenue to Wells Street, the first of a planned 100 miles of protected bike routes being built in the next four years, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

“I want Chicago to be the bike-friendliest city in the country,” Emanuel said.

While protected bicycling lanes, stricter enforcement of bicycling traffic laws, and increased safety education is welcome in a city where bicycling injuries are all too common, there is still a dire need for drivers to become more educated and aware of the laws, as often their ignorance or lack of awareness is to blame for bicycling accidents. Even the most diligent bicyclist is subject to potential serious injury as long as motorists continue to swerve into bike lanes, open their doors without checking for oncoming bikers, and turn in front of unseen riders as they lose focus on congested streets.

Illinois bike accident attorneys at our firm applaud the City of Chicago for taking steps to increase bicycle safety, but we still remain adamant that without a substantial effort to crack down on motorists who violate the rules of the road, injuries to bicyclists will remain both prevalent and avoidable.

For more information on bicycling safety and Chicago’s plans to improve cycling in the city, please visit the links below:

* Illinois Department of Transportation Bicycling Information
* City of Chicago Bicycling Information
* Bike 2015
* Chicago Bike Program

This article was co-written by Shane Nichols, a 2nd year law student at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

Itasca, Illinois based National Safety Council is promoting June 12-18 as Teen Driver Safety Week.

As our Chicago auto accident lawyers recently reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog Mothers Against Drunk Driving has deemed summer the "100 Deadliest Days for Teen Car Accidents."

We began the month by reporting the National Safety Council would spend June focusing on preventable injuries. Other topics include summer safety and swimming pool drownings in Illinois, issues involving slip and fall prevention, and driver cell phone use.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that teen car accidents are the leading cause of death in the United States for those ages 15 to 20. Your teen is most likely to be killed in a summer car accident. For new drivers, the first year and first 1,000 miles of driving puts them at a lifetime high for being involved in a crash.

A family Guide to Teen Driving Safety will be available for free download from June 12-18.

Alive at 25 Parent online training will be available for free open enrollment from June 12-18.

How can I keep my Teen Driver Safe is a free webinar being offered on June 13.

Top Causes of Teen Driving Accidents include:

-Drunk Driving

-Distracted Driving

-Failure to Wear Seat Belts

-Night Driving

-Riding with too Many Passengers

-Overestimating abilities

-Inexperience

In an effort to spread the word about teen driving safety to young drivers and others, the Illinois Department of Transportation will also be promoting traffic safety at Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway. Race fans will be encouraged to sign safe driving pledges at races on June 4, July 7-10 and the Sept. 16-18 race weekend.

“We are pleased to join forces once again with racing fans at Chicagoland Speedway to promote traffic safety and positively impact millions more race fans in Illinois and across the nation,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. “By promoting programs that increase safety belt usage and prevent impaired driving, NASCAR and Chicagoland Speedway events promise to remain a safe and enjoyable time for everyone. We hope to see many more fans commit to traffic safety this year.”

Continue reading " Chicago Teen Car Accidents in Focus During Safety Week June 12-18 " »

Manny's Delicatessen, Petterino's, Gold Coast Dogs, multiple Starbucks locations, and most recently the Wilmette Public Library and the Glenview Post Office. Those are just a few of the local businesses that have been hit by cars in the Chicago area. Further, there has been several homes that have been the victims of Chicago auto accidents.

A Wilmette, Illinois library employee was recently hurt after a 56-year-old female driver lost control of her car and drove through a glass and brick wall on the North side of the building, according to Tribune Local. She apparently hit the gas instead of the brakes by mistake and accelerated into the library. The motorist was uninjured, and there was no evidence to suggest that drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident.

The vehicle crashed into a staff room where books are organized to be placed back on shelves. A library employee was working in a desk when the accident occurred, and her desk was moved by the collision impact.

The worker was taken by ambulance to Evanston Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. She was treated and released the same day. No one else was injured in the accident.

In a situation like this the library worker could potentially have two separate personal injury claims. First, due to the fact that she was injured on the job, she would have the right to pursue an Illinois workers' compensation claim. Further, due to the fact that she was injured by a third-party, she will also have the right to pursue a negligence claim against the at fault driver and her auto insurance carrier.

The Wilmette Police Department handled the crash investigation.

The most recent automobile vs. building crash took place on Tuesday in North suburban Glenview around 8:40 AM. There an elderly woman hit the front entrance to the post office with her car, causing $35,000 in damage, that according to the Glenview Patch.

The motorist was driving a 2011 Toyota Avalon in the parking lot at 1400 Patriot Blvd. At that time the vehicle accelerated for unknown reasons and drove over a curb and sidewalk before colliding with the building.

The Glenview police and fire department responded to the accident. The driver was transported to Glenbrook Hospital for medical attention, but the exact nature of her injuries were not reported.

Luckily, no pedestrians or post office customers were injured.

According to Tribune Local, the driver was 84 years old. Due to the woman's condition after the accident, police were not able to interview her at the scene or at the hospital.

So, if you're ever sitting in a restaurant or library, or any other type of establishment and a car drives in and hits you, call the injury lawyers at our office for free case evaluation. I know it sounds silly, but you wouldn't be the first person to have called us.

In the past we have represented a restaurant patron that was injured while sitting in a downtown eatery. An elderly driver lost control of his vehicle, crashed into the restaurant and struck several customers. The case recently settled after litigation involving our client, several other injured restaurant patrons, and the driver's insurance carrier.

Más de 20 por ciento de los conductores en los Estados Unidos, aproximadamente 36.9 millones de ellos, fallarían un examen de conducir si tuvieran que tomar uno hoy, informa las noticias de Yahoo. Esto es de acuerdo a una nueva encuesta de los automovilistas en todo el país hechos por GMAC Insurance.

Nuestros abogados de herida en Chicago notan que esta estadística realmente es una mejora comparada al año pasado, cuando 38 millones de conductores fueron incapaces de estar en el camino. A nivel nacional este año la cuenta media fue 77.9%, comparado a 76.2% en 2010. Los resultados indican que muchos conductores en la carretera podrían tener hábitos de manejar peligroso, que a su vez podrían llegar a un número alto de choques de tráfico en Illinois.

Aquí hay algunos de los puntos más destacados de la encuesta:

-85% de los conductores en la encuesta no sabían las acciones apropiadas de tomar cuando se acercan a una luz amarilla;

-75% de los automovilistas no sabían como seguir en una distancia segura;

-Conductores en el Medio oeste rayaron más alto en el examen, mientras que los conductores en el Noreste rayaron el más bajo;

-El grupo de conductores de mayor edad, entre 60 a 65, rayaron los más altos en el examen 80.3%;

-Wyoming rayó el más alto de todos los estados, donde más de 95% de conductores pasaron el examen; y

- De ciudades mayores, Washington D.C. fue el peor en el examen.

El examen anual de conductores de GMAC fue dado a 5,130 conductores de los 50 estados. Es un examen de 20 preguntas tomadas del departamento de estado de exámenes de automóviles.

Como un abogado que ha manejando reclamos de accidente de auto por muchos años, yo le puedo decir que los resultados de esta prueba no me sorprenden. Cada semana yo trabajo con casos de herida personales donde 1. El conductor no supo las normas de tráfico o 2. falló de obedecer las reglas de las carreteras.

Aquí están algunas de las reglas que son violadas más a menudo:

A menudo mi oficina recibe llamadas telefónicas de conductores que han sido heridos cuando fallan a no ceder el derecho de paso al tráfico que se acerca al girar a la izquierda. Por lo general tienen excusas similares, como el otro conductor salio de ningún lugar, o el otro conductor debe haber estado conduciendo de alta velocidad porque de otro modo ellos los hubíeran visto. Nosotros siempre rechazamos estos casos. Al mismo tiempo, nosotros a menudo representamos a conductores que fueron heridos por automovilistas que fallarón de ceder al girar a la izquierda.

Algunas de las otras violaciónes más comunes que e visto son conduciendo demasiado rápido para las condiciones y siguiendo muy de cerca. Por lo general esta violación de las reglas de carretera resultan en el conductor chocando el trasero de el vehículo adelante.

Otra violación que yo ocupo a menudo, que puede ser el más mortal, es no ceder a los peatones en los cruces peatonales. Muy a menudo los conductores en las áreas urbanas están occupados mirando por el peligro de otros vehículos, ellos se olvidan de mantener una vigilancia adecuada para los peatones que son indefensos y pueden ser heridos severamente por un impacto ligero.

Lo mismo puede decirse de los accidentes de bicicleta. En mi experiencia, los conductores que giran a la izquierda a menudo cederán al tráfico que se acerca y se les olvida de atender a ciclistas. O los conductores se olvidan de mirar por los ciclistas al abrir las puertas del vehículo. Aunque los accidentes de moto de velocidad lenta pueden resultar en trauma grave.

Si ha sido herido en un accidente de auto de Illinois donde otro conductor falló de obedecer las reglas de tráfico, contacte al los abogados de heridas personales en Abels & Annes para una evaluación gratís. Llame 312-475-9595.

Chicago bicycle accident attorneys at Abels & Annes are very familiar with the issue of motorists failing to stay out of designated bike lanes in the city. Too often we see drivers cutting into the lanes and failing to pay attention to bicyclists, which often results in serious injury.

Now comes word that in at least some locations bike riders won't have to worry about cars encroaching into bicycle lanes. Construction is starting on a protected bike lane that will run on Kinzie Street from Milwaukee Avenue to Wells Street, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. While the area is only a half-mile long, it is reportedly the first of 100 miles of protected bike routes that Mayor Rahm Emanuel has planned.

Unlike current bike lanes in Chicago, the protected lane will be located closest to the curb. Next to the bicycle area will be an approximately 4 foot wide buffer area, then a parking lane, and finally vehicular traffic lanes. This results in around a 12 foot buffer between bicycle riders and moving traffic.

Kinzie is a good street to start the program, as 22% of it's traffic is from bicycles. It is also a very congested area, therefore hazardous to bicycle riders. Stoney Island from 69th St. to 77th St. will also be receiving a protected lane soon.

On Tuesday the mayor held a press conference on Kinzie Street to kickoff the project, where he stated the goal of making Chicago the bike friendliest city in the United States. He said he was happy that Chicago is going to become a national leader when it comes to bike lanes, and that he envisions bicycling becoming an essential element to transportation within the city.

Mayor Emanuel himself is now training for a triathlon. He bikes up to 25 miles on weekends, in addition to a swimming program.

Former Mayor Richard M. Daley was also a fan of bicycling. He designated 117 miles of bike lanes, however none of them were protected.

While protected bike lanes is certainly a step in the right direction, there is still need for drivers to exercise due care. Even with the added protection, bicyclists will still have to deal with motor vehicle at intersections. In my experience as a bicycle attorney, intersections are where most accidents occur.

Our law firm is in the process of settling a bike accident case at the intersection of Southport and Barry on the North Side. Our client was riding southbound in a marked bike lane. He stopped at the southbound stop sign at the same time as a Cadillac Deville. After both made a complete stop, they both continued on. However, the Cadillac suddenly made a right turn without signaling, striking the bicyclist.

Our client sustained injuries to his left arm, left shoulder and left side. He had emergency room treatment at Northwestern Hospital, and then followed up with an orthopedic physician in Evanston. He also underwent a course of physical therapy at Athletico.

While it is unfortunate our client was injured, I would consider him lucky. Often bicycle vs. motor vehicle collisions result in much more serious injuries, or even a fatality.

An accident like this one is a good example of how bike collisions occur. Too many drivers don't pay attention to bicyclists, whether in the area of a bike lane or not. Chicago drivers need remember that even a low speed impact can cause catastrophic injuries to a bicyclist.

Last month a nurse was struck by a passing vehicle as she was helping a motorist who had driven into a ditch. This Illinois car accident happened along U.S. 51 in Jackson County, between Carbondale and DeSoto and killed the nurse.

Authorities are still investigating the scene, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys remind you of Scott's Law, or the Move Over Law as the summer travel season gets underway. Scott's Law is meant to protect stationary vehicles, especially emergency responders and other law enforcement with activated lights.

According to the Illinois State Police, Scott's Law requires drivers to approach these types of vehicles with extreme cautions, yield the right-of-way, move to the lane farthest from them and reduce your speed.

These requirements should be enforced to help those stranded motorists on the side of the road as well, whether they're stopped because their vehicle is broken down, they've been involved in a fender bender or they have a flat tire.

Violating Scott's Law can land you with a fine of up to $10,000 or license suspension.

This law is created to protect those that may be immobile on the side of the road. It is all too common that a motor vehicle accident leads to a secondary accident or injury. Those who stop to help troubled motorists oftentimes put themselves at an even greater risk for injury.

Motorists are urged to follow these roadside safety tips if you have to stop your car along the side of the road:

-Pull over and off the road as far as you can.

-Be sure to turn on your hazard lights to help ensure other motorists will see you pulled over.

-Call police to let them know you are pulled over on the side of the road and let them know the reason.

-Be sure to keep 2 reflectors in the trunk of your car. Place one in the front and one in the back on your vehicle. Be sure they're placed at least 50 feet away from your car.

-If it is the daytime, make sure that you and your occupants exit the vehicle. If you're pulled over in the evening hours it's safer for you to remain in your vehicle.

-Call a mechanic if your car has broken down. In these scenarios, it is better to call for the help of a professional than to attempt to fix it yourself.

-If you've stopped to help a stranded motorist, be sure to stay away from the vehicle, all safety precautions are being exercised and you've called for help.

Continue reading " Nurse Struck and Killed After Helping Stranded Motorists in Illinois Car Accident " »

Back in 1961, death records from motor vehicle accidents reached a record 11-year low of roughly 49 deaths per billion miles traveled on our public roads and peaked in 1966 with 55 deaths per billion miles of travel in 1966.

We've been fortunate enough to see a continuous decrease in these rates and have come to see a death rate as low as roughly 11 deaths per billion miles traveled. We saw this recent low record of deaths resulting from car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere in 2009, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Many credit this decrease to the creation by Congress of the National Highway Safety Bureau, the forerunner of the current National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) back in 1966. In '67 and '68, the first edition of federal motor vehicle safety standards was created.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that these low records are something to celebrate, but we also recognize the need for more motorist participation in safe driving habits if we're going to continue making progress moving forward. Low fatality rates can also result in less attention being paid to safety concerns, or to complacency. As we've reported frequently, much of the reduction in the past few years can be attributed to the economic downturn -- the risk of serious and fatal accidents is expected to rise again with economic recovery.

“This is exciting news, but there are still far too many people dying in traffic accidents,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Drivers need to keep their hands on the steering wheel and their focus on the road in order to stay safe.”

There are a number of other contributors to this decreasing rate besides the federal motor vehicle safety standards. Some would like to show recognition to seat belt laws that some states have enacted, safety advocate groups against drunk driving, the economic downturn, laws banning cell phone use, graduated licensing laws and road improvements.

A large number of people would like to credit the new wave of vehicle crash worthiness tests for the decrease in these fatality rates. These tests began back in 1978 as the NHTSA started the first comparative safety test and released the information to the public. This test and the release of this information caused automakers to begin improvements to their vehicles safety standards.

Other organizations have jumped on the bandwagon and started to rate cars based on their safety features. From this, the IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK was created. This system allow consumers to choose their vehicles based on a safety and performance rating and to determine which vehicles are most likely to keep them safe in the event of an accident.

But where do we go from here?

Many are awaiting new crash avoidance technology, currently available in some new model cars, to take a majority of the risks of an accident out of the driver's hands and into the brain of the car. New technologies like these can help one to avoid collisions, to avoid veering out of a lane and to help stop the car if a driver fails to do so.

Many new vehicles come equipped with side-view assist, turn-by-turn navigation, adaptive headlamps and other features to ease the stress of driving. While these new technologies are meant to help avoid collisions, the IISH reports that these technologies are relevant in nearly 2 million accidents each year and are present in more than 10,000 fatal accidents.

Many safe driving advocates would like to see more road improvements to decrease these rates even more. Many would like to see more roundabouts. Roundabouts are intersection designs that both move more traffic and improve safety. These safe traffic intersections are just beginning to show up in the United States. If is estimated that if just 10 percent of intersections in our county with traffic lights were converted to roundabouts, we would be able to prevent approximately 70,000 accidents each year, with nearly 500 of them fatal.

“This continuing decline in highway deaths is encouraging, but our work is far from over,” said National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland. “We want to see those numbers drop further. We will not stop as long as there are still lives lost on our nation’s highways. We must continue our efforts to ensure seat belts are always used and stay focused on reducing distracted and impaired driving.”

According to the NHTSA, fatal traffic accidents in the Unites States in 2009 took the lives of more than 25,000 vehicle occupants and injured another 2.35 million. Illinois saw more than 700 vehicles involved in fatal traffic accidents in 2009 alone. Of all SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, and other forms of vehicle transportation, passenger vehicles, which a majority of us drive, were involved in the greatest number of fatal accidents on out state's roadways.

With all of these advancements in road laws and regulations, car feature upgrades and roadway improvements, the most beneficial and effective way to decrease the number of car accident fatalities and increase the safety of motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists is to focus the attention inward and concentrate on our own driving habits.

Continue reading " Traffic Fatalities Hit Another Low in Chicago and Elsewhere - Now What? " »

A couple weeks ago model Irma Sabanovic drove into her watery death during a car accident in Chicago that left her car submerged in the Chicago River on the 1100 block of West Blackhawk Street, according to My FOX Chicago.

Now, victims and safety advocates are searching for somewhere to rest the blame and the City finds itself the focus of that wrath. The city has placed a number of reflectors and barricades in these areas in an attempt to warn motorists of the water dangers.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that the water around our city, and the river running through it, pose a threat to motorists in the event of an accident. Knowing what to do in the event of a submersion accident can mean the difference between life and death.

Sabanovic reportedly neglected to notice the end of the road meeting the beginning of the river as she drove her car directly into the water. She was reportedly submerged in the water nearly an hour before she drowned.

The family of the model filed a lawsuit against the city. They claim that the city of Chicago neglected to place barricades or any significant warning signals near the scene of that accident to warn motorists of the dangers. Reports indicate that there was no signage at the site aside from one "No Outlet" sign. Abels & Annes is not affiliated with any of the parties to the lawsuit.

"(The street) was well-lit, there was a 'No Outlet' sign prominently displayed at the entrance to the street and there was an 8-inch curb at the end of the street, which is four times higher than the average city curb," spokeswoman for the city's Law Department Jennifer Hoyle said.

This accident mirrors the 1992 death of Rick Roman, Director of Improv Olympic Theatre, in which he plunged into the same river, according to the Chicago Tribune.

According to SafetyIssues.com, more than 300 motorists die from submersion accidents each year. More specifically, they drown in their vehicles. This means, more than one person dies every 29 hours from these accidents.

Safety advocates still rely on the POGO Method as the best tool to help you escape a submerging vehicle:

-Pop off your seat belt, and everyone else's seat belt in the vehicle.

-Open the window. Break it open if necessary.

-Get everyone out of the vehicle.

-Out. Once you're out of the vehicle, assess the water currents. Be sure to swim with the current to safety. Swimming against currents can only tire you and put you at a greater risk of drowning.

Continue reading " Model's Death in Chicago Car Accident Highlights Risk of Submersion " »

A female motorist that was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol on Monday lost control of her car and crashed, resulting in the death of a baby and injuring three other kids, according to the Chicago Tribune. She reportedly was picking up a chip when she lost control of her vehicle on the Dan Ryan Expressway.

The DUI driver, 47-year-old woman who resides in the 5200 block of S. Paulina Street, is now facing reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence charges, both felonies. A judge set her bail at $350,000, according to a spokeswoman from the state's attorney's office. Prosecutors allege the defendants blood-alcohol level was .164, over twice the legal limit in Illinois.

The at fault driver had seven passengers in the 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass that she was driving. The accident took place around 6:30 PM on Memorial Day. The incident closed the expressway for around two hours, causing a significant holiday traffic on Monday night. The vehicle is only built to accommodate five occupants, so none of the children were in seatbelts or car seats at the time of the crash.

She stuck a guard rail in the area of 75th St., causing the vehicle to spin multiple times and roll over. The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that children were ejected from the vehicle.

Investigating Illinois state troopers stated the driver smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot, glassy eyes. She also admitted that she drank a lot of beer at a barbecue, and there were several open cans of beer inside the vehicle. Witnesses also saw the car swerving.

An 11-month-old boy lost his life in the accident. He was just a week away from his first birthday.

Another passenger, an eight-year-old boy, is in critical condition with a lacerated liver. He was rushed by ambulance to University of Chicago’s Comer Children’s Hospital. Two other passengers, a three-year-old girl and a four-year-old girl, sustained skull fractures. A six-year-old boy was also seriously hurt, but the nature of his injuries were not stated. All of the injured children were taken to Comer.

Two adults were also critically injured in the crash. One was taken by ambulance to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County and the other was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

The Tribune further reports that according to the Illinois Secretary of State's office, the DUI motorist at a good driving record and a valid license.

Is was not reported if an Illinois personal injury lawyer is involved in the case or if a negligence lawsuit is been filed.

While our hearts go out to the victims and their families in this accident, this is a good example of the dangers of distracted driving. It's not just texting and cell phones that can cause a driver to take their eyes off the road. It can also be something as simple as leaning over to pick up food or coffee, or even adjusting the car stereo.

Illinois motorists should be aware that losing that fraction of a second of reaction time can be the difference between life and death. It's better to wait until you are at a safer location.

Further, when you combine distracted driving with a motorist under the influence of alcohol, that is an especially dangerous combination.

Over 20 percent of drivers in the United States, approximately 36.9 million of them, would fail a driving test if they had to take one today, Yahoo news is reporting. This is according to a new survey of motorists nationwide done by GMAC Insurance.

Our Chicago injury lawyers note that this statistic is actually an improvement compared to last year, when 38 million drivers were unfit to be on the road. Nationally this year the average score was 77.9%, compared to 76.2% in 2010. The results indicate that many drivers on the road could have dangerous driving habits, which could in turn lead to a higher number of Illinois traffic collisions.

Here are some of the highlights of the survey:

-85% of the drivers in the survey did not know the proper actions to take while approaching a yellow light;

-75% of motorists did not know safe following distances;

-Drivers in the Midwest scored the highest on the test, while drivers in the Northeast scored the lowest;

-The oldest group of drivers tested, ages 60 to 65, scored the highest on the test at 80.3%;

-Wyoming scored the highest of all states, where more than 95% of drivers passed the test; and

- Of major cities, Washington D.C. fared the worst on the test.

The annual GMAC drivers test was given to 5130 drivers from the 50 states. It's a 20 question exam with questions taken from state department of motor vehicles exams.

As a lawyer that has been handling auto accident claims for many years, I can tell you that the results of this test does not surprise me. Every week I deal with personal injury cases where a driver involved either 1. did not know the rules of the road or 2. failed to obey the rules of the road.

Here are some of the rules that are most often violated:

My office often receives phone calls from drivers who have been injured when they failed to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic while making a left turn. They usually have similar excuses, such as the other driver came out of nowhere, or the other driver must have been speeding because otherwise they would have seen them. We always decline these cases. At the same time, we often represent drivers who were injured by motorists who failed to yield while turning left.

Some of the other most common violations I come across would be driving too fast for conditions and following too closely. Usually this rule of the road violation results in the driver rear ending the vehicle in front of them.

Another violation I often deal with, which can be the most deadly, is failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. So often motorists in urban areas are busy looking out for the danger of other vehicles, they forget to keep a proper lookout for pedestrians who are defenseless and can be severely injured by even a light impact.

The same can be said for bicycle accidents. In my experience, drivers turning left will often yield to oncoming motor vehicle traffic and forget to pay attention to bicyclists. Or drivers forget to look for bike riders when opening car doors. Even slow speed bike accidents can result in serious trauma.

Continue reading " Study shows Chicago drivers could benefit from reviewing the rules of the road " »