Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

A teenager from Chicago may be facing charges after a recent five-car accident in Illinois, according to the Times. The young Chicago driver could face charges of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident and fleeing and eluding.

When local officers tried to pull the young driver over, he hit four vehicles near the intersection of Michigan City Road and Burnham Avenue. After the accident, the teen jumped out of his vehicle and took off on foot. Officers were able to apprehend him a short while after the incident.

Our Chicago accident attorneys understand that teenage drivers may be overwhelmed with the holiday traffic we see on our roadways during the last couple months of the year. For this reason, parents are urged to talk with the teens in your life about safe driving habits. Millions and millions of residents are expected to make their way to their holiday destination via motor vehicle this year. With the significant increase comes a significant increase in their risks for an accident. Parents should discuss the risks, dangers and consequences of poor driving habits behind the wheel, especially during the holiday season.

Traffic accidents continue to be the number one cause of death for teens in the United States. These accidents account for one out of every three deaths in this young age group. Roughly eight teens died every day in 2009 because of car accidents. Per mile driven, they're at the highest risk for a fatal accident compared to any other age group -- four times more to be exact.

In 2009, there were roughly 3,000 teens who died on our roadways. Another 350,000 were injured. Although individuals between the ages of 14- and 25-years-old only account for less that 15 percent of the U.S. population, they cost the country nearly $30 billion for motor vehicle injuries.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these safety tips for parents to share with their teen drivers as we head into the holiday driving season:

-Supervise your teen's driving as often as possible. Provide them with positive feedback to boost their skills.

-Limit the number of passenger. More passengers can mean more distractions and can mean greater risks for a serious accident.

-Set a curfew. Teen car accidents are more likely to happen at night.

-Learn the state's teen driving laws.

-Lead by example. Always exercise your own driving rules when your teen is riding in the vehicle with you.

-Discuss the importance and the reasoning for speed limits, traffic lights, other road laws and why all drivers need to abide by these rules.

-Encourage your teen driver to leave with plenty of time to get to their destination. This will avoid rushing, speeding and aggression.

-Keep an eye on current weather reports and avoid driving in poor weather conditions.

Continue reading " Teen Allegedly Causes Five-Car Accident in Chicago and Flees Scene " »

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is working diligently to get backup cameras installed on motor vehicles across the country to help reduce the risks of car-pedestrian accidents in Chicago and elsewhere. These rear-view cameras are used to help drivers to see pedestrians, especially the elderly and young children, while reversing a vehicle.

Our Chicago pedestrian accident attorneys understand that Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's is a dangerous time for back over accidents. These accidents are a common occurrence during family gatherings and in busy parking lots during the holiday season. Motorists are urged to be extremely careful when backing up in a motor vehicle. Make sure that you know that nothing is behind you before slamming it into reverse and hitting the gas.

The NHTSA is looking to make backup cameras a requirement on all minivans, pickup trucks, passenger cars, buses and vehicles with a gross weight of up to 10,000 pounds. These cameras would turn on and would display images from the back of the vehicle to drivers whenever the vehicle is in reverse.

The Administration of the NHTSA, David Strickland, is hoping that backup cameras will significantly reduce the risks of backup accidents. He says that all ages are at risk for one of these accidents, but especially young children and the elderly. Strickland also reiterates that this technology is a useful tool in preventing injury, but nothing is more effective in making safer roadways than driver attention.

Drivers are urged to always know and to physically see where children are and to make sure there is no one behind your vehicle before backing up.

According to the NHTSA, there is an average of nearly 300 fatalities and about 20,000 injuries every year because of back-over accidents that involved motor vehicles. Of these accidents, nearly 230 fatalities involved a vehicle that weighed less than 10,000 pounds. Both young children and elderly pedestrians most often fall victim to these accidents. Nearly 45 percent of the deadly accidents that involved a light vehicle happened to a child under the age of 5. This is an abnormally high percentage for any type of accidents. Pedestrians over the age of 69 accounted for nearly 35 percent of these accidents.

Throughout the remainder of the year and during the holiday season, parking lots will be full of shoppers and driveways will be packed with friends and family members. Drivers are asked to be cautious of their complete surroundings before backing up, regardless of where the vehicle is located. Always walk behind the vehicle to make sure nothing's there before reversing.

Have a safe, injury-free and Happy Holidays!

Continue reading " NHTSA Pushing Backup Camera to Reduce Risks of Pedestrian Accidents in Illinois, Nation " »

Drivers are warned, be careful on our roadways over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, roadway travel is expected to increase by nearly 5 percent this year. In 2010, there were about 40 million Americans who traveled during the holiday period, according to the American Automobile Association. Roughly 43 million are expected to travel during the holiday weekend this year, despite the higher gas prices. The increase in travel will be increasing your risks for a serious car accident in Chicago and elsewhere.

In 2010, the average gas price during this time was $2.88 per gallon. This year's holiday average is $3.39 per gallon -- but that's not stopping travelers. Officials say that many Americans celebrated the Labor Day and Independence Day holidays at home because of the struggling economy. The travel on Memorial Day weekend remained the same from 2010 to 2011. According to Bill Sutherland, the vice president of AAA Travel Services, drivers have been staying home for recent holidays but are ready to throw their financial concerns to the wind for Turkey Day.

Chicago car accident attorneys at our office know that residents use the holiday season to venture out to visit friends and family. Unfortunately, since most residents have the same idea, our roads get crowded and risks for accidents increase significantly. Without taking the proper precautions, drivers can find themselves at greater risk. It's important for you to plan out every step of your trip to avoid any mishaps or accidents and to be alert and cautious on our roadways.

"Driving AAA's projected increase in the number of Thanksgiving travelers is pent-up demand from Americans who may have foregone holiday travel the last three years," said Sutherland.

There's no question that most travelers will be driving over the holiday weekend, but forecasts for air travel are questionable. AAA predicts that air travel will increase by nearly 2 percent from 2010. But the Air Transport Association of America says there's going to be a 2 percent decrease.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the Thanksgiving Day holiday period will start on Wednesday the 23rd at 6:00 p.m. and will end on Sunday the 27th at 11:59 p.m. The NSC estimates that this 4.25 day holiday period will produce more than 430 traffic fatalities -- the estimated range is from 370 to about 510 deaths. The Council also estimated about 43,500 injuries in which a medical professional was consulted during this same time.

This year's fatality count is nearly 20 percent lower than the average of the last six year's actual fatalities.

Recent year's estimates and fatality number over the Thanksgiving Day holiday period:

-2004: 556 estimate. 556 actual.

-2005: 610 estimate. 605 actual.

-2006: 555 estimate. 623 actual.

-2007: 564 estimate. 542 actual.

-2008: 479 estimate. 484 actual.

-2009: 447 estimate. 401 actual.

Seat belts are 45 percent effective in preventing death among front-seat occupants. From this information, the NSC estimates that more than 150 lives can be saved over the holiday weekend if everyone wears a seat belt.

The average death rate for this holiday period in comparison to similar non-holiday weekends is more than 10 percent higher. Drivers are asked to travel safely and cautiously.

Continue reading " Increased Risks of Car Accidents in Chicago Expected over Thanksgiving Day Weekend " »

Illinois has been recognized for its efforts to combat drunk driving car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere in the state. According to the Belleville News-Democrat, Mothers Against Drunk Driving has named our state "as a national leader in the fight against drunk driving." Jesse White, the Illinois Secretary of State says he couldn't be more thrilled about it.

The Illinois Department of Transportation reports that car accidents involving alcohol-impaired drivers have decreased by about 40 percent since White stepped into office. State records report that there were more than 700 alcohol-related accident in 1999 and fewer than 400 in 2010. Because of the decrease, Illinois has been recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for the last five years.

Our Chicago drunk driving accident attorneys understand there's not one particular way to target drunk drivers. State officials have to engage in a number of efforts and campaigns to spread the word and to crackdown on these irresponsible drivers. Mothers Against Drunk Driving uses a specific rating system to determine which states are most effective. These efforts include drunk driving campaigns, sobriety checkpoints and stricter penalties for those who drive drunk with children in the vehicle. Although these efforts seem to be helping in getting drunk drivers off of our roadways, we're still experiencing far too many drunk driving accidents. Until we clear our streets of every single one of these accidents, there are too many occurring. Drivers are urged to be extremely cautious for intoxicated drivers throughout the remainder of 2011. The end of the year and the holiday season brings out alcohol-impaired drivers everywhere. By keeping a cautious eye on others on the roadway and being responsible behind the wheel, we can all contribute to a safer holiday season.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, nearly 40 percent of roadway deaths were drunk driving-related last year. Compared to 2009 statistics, the number of drunk driving-related fatalities decreased by 10 percent in 2010. Still, these accidents cost nearly $2 million.

In the last five years, there were more than 2,000 people killed in drunk driving-related accidents. All of these fatal crashes cost nearly $11 billion.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and the remainder of 2011, alcohol-related accidents are expected to increase. The holidays are unfortunately a deadly time on our roadways. Mothers Against Drunk Driving reports that there were about 900 people who died from car accidents with a drunk driver from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day in 2009.

The recent recognition comes as Mothers Against Drunk Driving celebrates the fifth year anniversary of its Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. Illinois and four other states were recognized for receiving five stars for efforts to halt drunk drivers. Utah, Nebraska, Kansas and Arizona were also recognized.

These states were recognized for adopting the following preventative measures:

-License revocations.

-Harsher punishment for refusing a sobriety test while under arrest.

-Stricter penalties for driving drunk while a child in the vehicle.

-Sobriety checkpoints.

-Ignition interlock devices for drunk drivers.

Continue reading " State Receives Recognition for Combating Drunk Driving Accidents in Illinois " »

Illinois car crash attorney David Abels has obtained a $70,000 out-of-court settlement on behalf of a Chicago area woman injured in a collision with a driver insured by Geico.

The Illinois auto accident took place on October 19, 2010, at approximately 8:00 a.m. The client was injured when the automobile she was driving was rear-ended by another motorist.

The plaintiff was driving northbound on I-294 at or near mile post 31.0, Proviso Township, Cook County, Illinois. The defendant was also driving his automobile northbound on I-294, behind our client. She came to a stop in stop-and-go traffic on I-294. The other driver failed to stop and/or reduce the speed of his vehicle and struck the plaintiff's vehicle. The front of the at fault driver's vehicle hit the rear of our client's vehicle in a rear-end type of collision.

The Illinois State Police responded to the scene of the collision. After speaking to both parties, the investigation officer placed the defendant at fault for the collision. The investigating officer determined that he was distracted and exceeding safe speed for conditions at the time of the collision.

The defendant failed to stop and/or reduce his speed to avoid a collision, was driving at an excessive rate of speed, failed to pay proper attention to the road conditions, and failed to exercise due care for the safety of those in the area, including our client.

Following the collision, the plaintiff had an immediate onset of neck, back, chest, and shoulder pain.

Shortly after, she sought medical care from a physician. She complained of pain in her mid back and upper back that was worse with movement. A history was taken, a physical examination was performed and diagnostic tests were ordered. She was diagnosed with upper back strain, instructed to rest, and to have a physical therapy evaluation. Her doctor instructed her to follow up in one week.

Due to ongoing and increasing pain, our injured client returned to her physician for treatment on October 23, 2010. She complained of increased pain in her upper back as well as pain in her mid back, arms, and chest. Because of the increased pain, she was unable to obtain the physical therapy evaluation as instructed the physician. A physical examination revealed supraspinous tenderness and weakness in her arms. The doctor diagnosed her with back pain, instructed her to not lift or pull anything heavier than five pounds, and once again ordered a physical therapy evaluation. Her doctor also ordered a CT scan of her chest.

Following her physician's recommendation, she attended physical therapy on October 27, 2010 and November 4, 2010. She complained of pain in her right hip as well as pain in her back and neck. She stated that the pain traveled from her left shoulder through the middle of her back and down to her right hip. The client described numbness in her gluteal region as well as numbness going down to her left hand. She also said she had stabbing pain that started in her back and spread to her check. She was diagnosed with neck sprain/strain, lumbar sprain, and brachial neuritis or radiculitis. During therapy, she engaged in stretching exercises as well as therapeutic exercises to decrease her pain and increase her functionality.

Our client next saw her doctor on October 28, 2010, where she continued to complain of upper and lower back pain as well as pain in her chest. An X-ray of her cervical spine was ordered, which revealed moderate decreased height of the C4-C5 disc space. The doctor instructed her not to lift, push, or pull more than five pounds and referred her to an orthopedic surgeon.

She next treated with a surgeon at the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute on November 3, 2010 for an orthopedic consultation. She complained of pain in her neck, mid back, and low back. She said the pain was sharp, severe, and constant and that it was worse with standing, walking, sitting, lying down, and climbing up stairs. The doctor took a history and preformed an examination. He also reviewed the X-rays of her cervical spine. He diagnosed her with low back pain and cervical and thoracic strain.

The client saw another physician on November 9, 2010, complaining of left arm pain and back pain. A history was taken and she was examined. Based on his assessment, the doctor diagnosed her with cervical radiculopathy and recommended an MRI.

Continue reading " $70,000 auto accident settlement reached by Chicago injury lawyer " »

The Faces if Distracted Driving campaign is going strong through the holiday season to help remind drivers about the dangers, risks and consequences of distracted driving-related car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere.

According to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, this campaign is used to remind drivers that real people around the country are seriously affected every day by distracted drivers. These accidents took the lives of nearly 5,500 people in 2009. Nearly half a million more were injured.

The Faces of Distracted Driving campaign is a compilation of the stories of victims through the country. These public service announcements (PSA) have been viewed more than 100,000 times since being launched back in November of 2010.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that traffic is expected to increase significantly over the next few weeks. During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, nearly 40 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles from their home. About 90 percent of these travelers will be using our roadways to get to their destination. The increase in traffic volume greatly increases your risks for an accident. You're asked to be cautious and drive with full awareness over the Thanksgiving weekend and throughout the rest of the holiday season.

A recent story on the Faces of Distracted Driving campaign comes straight out of Illinois. The story is from the family of 56-year-old John Sligting. John was killed in an accident back in 2007 when a teen driver sped through a stop sign and right into his motorcycle. The teen driver was using a cell phone during the time of the accident, taking much of their attention off the roadway.

“I thank all of the families of distracted driving victims who have bravely chosen to share their stories of loss with the world,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

LaHood says main message of this campaign is that talking while driving is not worth the risks.

We invite you to check out the campaign and to share it with your friends. Drivers are four times more likely to be in an accident when using a hand-held phone device. Phones, whether they're hand-held or hands-free, give a driver the same reaction abilities as a drunk driver and we all know who dangerous that is.

In 2009, it's estimated that about 20 percent of car accidents in the U.S. involved a distracted driver. Of the 5,500 fatal distracted driving-related accidents during that year, nearly 1,000 of them reported the use of a cell phone as the type of distraction. Although drivers under the age of 20 are most likely to be in a distracted driving accident, drivers of all ages are surely affected by this dangerous habit.

In the state of Illinois, drivers are prohibited from using a hand-held phone in a construction zone or in a school zone. All bus drivers and drivers under the age of 19 are banned from ever using a cell phone behind the wheel, except in emergency situations. The City of Chicago has banned all drivers from using a cell phone behind the wheel.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, all drivers in Illinois are prohibited from texting while driving.

Continue reading " "Faces of Distracted Driving" Campaign to Reduce Risks of Car Accidents in Chicago and Elsewhere during Busy Holiday Season " »

The use of speed cameras was recently approved by state lawmakers to help reduce the risks of car accidents in Chicago near parks and city schools. The 64-50 Illinois House vote approved the proposal from Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The measure has already been approved by the Senate and will now be passed on to Governor Pat Quinn, according to CBS Chicago.

Mayor Emanuel has campaigning for speed cameras for some time now. He believes that they should be used to catch drivers who speed within an eighth of a mile of any Chicago park or school. The cameras would cite and ticket any driver who exceeds the speed limit by at least 5 mph in these areas.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that the city would have to do a month-long education campaign before using the cameras. Intersections that will be using these cameras will be required to have signs alerting drivers that there are speed cameras present.

"The goal is to change people's behavior. You have education, engineering and enforcement and if you don't have the enforcement, the other two aren't as effective," said the Chicago Department of Transportation's Commissioner Gabe Klein.

The mayor insisted that these cameras were not going to be used to generate cash for the city, but for a part of its plan to keep child pedestrians safe. He says if you follow the law, then you've got nothing to worry about. If you're one of the law breakers, then there's going to be a problem. He's just asking motorists to slow their speed in these areas with young pedestrians.

The mayor cited recent statistics in the city that proved that the number of pedestrian deaths decreased by about 70 percent in areas that has these cameras installed.

The Chicago Department of Transportation conducted a before and after study of more than 100 speed light cameras. Conclusions indicated that there nearly 30 pedestrian fatalities in these areas before the cameras were installed and just six fatalities after they went in.

Not everyone's on board with the camera idea though. A recent study from "The Expired Meter" website illustrated that these speed light cameras could produce even more money for the city than the red-light cameras.

A trial run of seven red-light cameras concluded that more than $100 million could be made if speeding cameras were used in place. The study concluded that speeders are nearly 60 times more common than red-light runners. The $100 million was estimated off of only seven cameras. If Quinn approved the measure, the number of cameras in the area could increase drastically.

Right now, the city has red-light cameras in nearly 80 locations. Emanuel wants to upgrade these cameras to catch speeders, too.

Currently, only 3 percent of the city is covered by intersection cameras. If the bill passes, then nearly 50 percent would be covered.

A speeding motorist caught by one of these cameras would get a ticket in the mail. Photos would only be snapped of the vehicle and not of the driver therefor the vehicle's owner would receive a ticket in the mail. A speeding ticket would cost about $100. Five unpaid tickets could wind up with the revocation of your driver's license.

Continue reading " Illinois House Approves Speeding Cameras Bill to Reduce Risks of Car Accidents in Chicago " »

The costs of fatal car accidents in Chicago have increased tremendously in recent years. According to USA TODAY, the average cost of a fatal car accident now runs about $6 million. A newly release report concludes that the cost of these accidents have surpassed the cost of traffic congestion. Traffic congestion costs include motorists' time and the waste of gas while idling. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently conducted the study in about 100 urban areas, including Chicago. In these areas, the cost of accidents are now at least three times higher than the cost of congestion, nearly $300 billion compared to about $100 billion.

AAA got its accident information from data collected by the Federal Highway Administration. These figures include costs pertaining to medical bills, lost earnings, property damage, legal costs, administrative costs, lost time at work, vocational rehabilitation, travel delays, emergency services, loss of household activities, pain, suffering and lost quality of life.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that the costs for these accidents sat at around $3.25 million in 2005. During this time, injury accidents cost only about $68,000. The cost has nearly doubled since then. For many families, even those who don’t realize it, an accident can be among the biggest threats to their financial well-being. Medical complications can last years or take years to present themselves. If you've been in an accident, do you and your family a favor and consult an attorney to review your case.

This new study was conducted to help push the issue of transportation policies within Congress, which is currently considering a long-term highway funding bill, according to Chris Plaushin, AAA's director of federal relations.

"We wanted to raise the profile and raise the awareness," says Plaushin. "Right now, it's jobs, it's construction, it's economic growth that are being talked about. This is part of our effort to bang the drum about safety."

He says that it would be nearly impossible to attack congestion without affecting accidents and vice versa. Usually, highly congested areas have more reports of traffic accidents. Recent studies have concluded that roughly 40 percent of congestion is the result of accidents and weather and not from road conditions.

These traffic accidents continue to be the number one cause of death for people age 5- to 34-years-old in the United States.

The study also makes recommendations on how to reduce the costs associated with these accidents. These suggestions include investing more in roadway safety measures, including rumble strips, roundabouts in place of rumble strips, cable barriers, etc. Officials also recommend putting more laws into effect to help curb distracted driving, drunk driving and aggressive driving. All of these behaviors can be regulated with stricter enforcement.

"We know what's effective," said AAA spokesman Troy Green. "Tough laws. Stricter enforcement. Strict penalties. And targeted messaging and public education campaigns are effective, and we need more of those."

Continue reading " Fatal Car Accidents in Chicago and Elsewhere Cost Residents nearly $300 Billion " »

A recent banquet, hosted by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), took the time to honor members or the Illinois State Police who took their DUI enforcement efforts to the next level. The ceremony was held at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. There were six Troopers from the ISP who were nominated for their efforts in fighting to prevent drunk driving car accidents in Illinois.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand how important DUI enforcement is, especially as we approach the end of the year and the holiday season. Each year, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s increase everyone's risk of being involved in a drunk driving accident. These drivers take the lives of innocent motorists year after year.

Troopers recognized at the MADD banquet:

-Daniel Erickson of District 7.

-Marvin Wagle of District 7.

-Marc Baker of District 14.

-Jason Czub of District 15.

-Jeffrey Nichols of District 17.

-Mark Nelson of District 22.

All of these troopers were recognized for their contributions and dedication to keeping our roadways safe for everyone. DUI enforcement and trooper involvement in the community are the effective ways to help to reduce the number of fatalities our roadways sees.

Some of the recognizable efforts of these troopers include helping to prevent underage drinking and various drunk driving prevention programs within their own communities. A number of state troopers were recognized for their efforts in racking up a significant number of DUI arrests in their districts.

Between Wagle and Erikson, there were nearly 240 DUI arrests made in 2010. The arrests by these two officers accounted for nearly 50 percent of the DUI arrests made throughout the entire year in District 7. Nichols was also recognized for the number of DUI he made in 2010, placing more than 80 drunk drivers behind bars and accounting for nearly 40 percent of District 7’s DUI arrests for the year.

“There is no greater satisfaction as a police officer than to realize your accomplishments are making a difference in the community you serve,” said Illinois State Police Director Hiram Grau.

Grau went on to recognize the Trooper’s commitment to improving roadway safety for everyone in Illinois. He says he is not only proud, but is sure that these enforcement efforts helped to save lives on our roadways.

Drunk driving remains a significant safety issue. Every year, there are thousands of innocent people who die because of drunk driving accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were nearly 11,000 people killed because of these traffic accidents that involved an alcohol-impaired driver in 2009. Illinois witnessed nearly 400 fatalities from these incidents and that number could have been much higher if it wasn’t for the hard work of law enforcement and public education campaigns like those sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Continue reading " MADD and Our Chicago Car Accident Attorneys Recognize ISP's Fight Against Drunk Drivers " »

Shopping for the right booster seat is much easier now with the rating system that the Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) just released.

More than 30 seats have made it on the "Best Bets" list. Seats on this list mean that they fit most children aged 4- to 8-years old and help to ensure that a seat belt fits correctly and comfortably on your child. Properly used booster seats can help to prevent the injury or death of your child during a car accident in Chicago. The seats are affordable for all parents as they range anywhere from $15 to a couple hundred bucks.

Our Chicago child injury attorneys understand how important it is to choose a car seat that fits your child correctly. About 70 percent of car seats used in the U.S. are used incorrectly. We ask that you take a moment and review the seats on the new "Best Bets" list to ensure that you're getting the best car seat for your child.

In addition to the "Best Bets" list, there are now 5 new seats on the "Good Bets" list. Child car seats on this list prove to provide acceptable seat belt fittings in most vehicles. Nearly 10 seats have been deemed as unusable because they don't properly fit into most vehicles.

Booster seats should be used by children who exceed the weight and height limits for front-facing child seats. In a booster seat, a child should be elevated so that the adult's seat belt will fit properly across their body. Some seats are able to seat your child more safely than others. One of the most common mistakes made by consumers is that they correlate price with quality, which isn't always the case. The booster seat rating system was started back in 2008 to help parents to equip their vehicle with the devices that will best protect their child in the event of an accident.

"A Best Bet means any of these top-rated boosters should work well in the family SUV or the babysitter's sedan," says Anne McCartt, the Institute's senior vice president for research.

In the last wave of ratings, the IIHS rated more than 60 different booster seats. More than 20 of them appeared twice in the lists. These kinds of seats are ones that can be used as backless of highback booster seats. There were 11 more seats evaluated this year than last year.

These lists are not created from crash test results. They're based on how well they'd fit a young child. The test is conducted by placing an average-sized child dummy in the seat and then examining the fit of the belt. There were 10 seats on the Best Bets list in 2008, only 9 in 2009 and more than 20 in 2010.

According to McCartt, there are more seats that fail to properly secure your child into a vehicle's seat than those that can. In a booster seat, a seat belt should fit across a child's upper thigh and across the middle of your child's shoulder.

Car seats have been proven time and time again to be effective in saving a child's life in the event of an accident. The determining factor in these events is the parents and their decision to choose the proper seat and to buckle them up in it every time.

For a complete list of which seats made the cut, visit the IIHS' Booster Seat Evaluation page.

Continue reading " The IIHS Releases its New Ratings for Booster Seats and their Protection during Car Accidents in Chicago and Elsewhere " »

With snowfall snarling traffic in New York and New England, it is unfortunately not too soon for us to start talking about winter driving. When winter comes along and brings its wicked weather, motorists face an increased risk for a serious Chicago car accident. There are a few simple safety tips that every motorist can follow to help prevent a snowy accident on our roadways.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that the end of the year brings out a ton of dangers for motorists on our roadways. Kids are getting out of school for winter break, residents are venturing out on holiday vacations, and traffic is reaching a crescendo all while snow and ice return to our roadways. With snowy conditions, drivers struggle to clear foggy windshields and to clear snow and sludge. Some of the snow-clearing clearing techniques can get pretty creative.

Sgt. Jim Jenker with the Illinois State Police says that he's even seen drivers reach out of their vehicle with an ice scraper to clear their windshield -- while they're driving!

"The worst case was the kids who used a rope tied across the windshield to manually operate the broken wipers," said Jenkner.

Winter driving tips:

-Make sure your tires are winter weather worthy.

-Make sure your car is equipped with enough windshield wiper fluid.

-Be sure to have a winter fluid in your wiper fluid reservoir with freeze protection of at least -25 F.

-Give your engine time to warm up. This will allow time for the oil pan to heat up to help protect your engine. About 10 minutes is good warm-up time.

-Keep a De-icer on hand. A De-icer can reduce freeze and can be used to melt snow. Ice Scraper, etc.

-Make sure that your vehicle's heating-defrosting system is working properly and has no blockages.

-Put together an emergency breakdown kit, including food, water, hand-warmers, blankets, road flares, flashlights and colorful sweatshirts to wear when near the road.

-Keep a full tank of gas. You don't want to run out in the middle of a snowstorm.

"Drive defensively, keep a safe distance from the car in front of you, reduce your speed, make sure you have good visibility," said John Mitchell of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

Driver's skills are just as important as keeping your vehicle in good working condition during the wicked winter weather.

Safe winter driving habits:

-Slow down. There's no need for speed when winter conditions leave deteriorating roadways. Stopping is much more difficult on slippery, slick roads that are covered in snow and ice.

-Keep your windshield clear at all times to increase your visibility.

-Stay in your lane. Only change lanes if you absolutely have to.

-Be super careful on ramps and bridges. These roadways ice up quickly.

-Allow snow plows the right-of-way. IDOT will use more than 300 snow removal vehicles on the expressway after snowstorms.

You're urged to check out the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office's forecast for Chicago before heading out during any serious winter weather.

Continue reading " Wicked Weather on East Coast: Warning Upcoming Winter Season and Risks for Chicago Car Accidents " »