Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

According to the state's recent statistics, the number of drunk driving car accident in Illinois has seen a significant reduction in previous years. From 2007 to 2010, the number of people arrested for drunk driving decreased by nearly 20 percent, and the number of fatalities caused by these types of accidents fell nearly 35 percent, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Some believe the decrease is a result of societal shifts; others say it's because of tougher DUI laws and the enforcement for these laws. Still, some think the decrease is the result of the economic downturn.

Our Chicago drunk driving car accident lawyers understand that the tougher penalties for drunk-driving charges contributed to the decrease in these types of arrests in the 1980s and the 1990s, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). In 1997, Illinois lowered its legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit from 0.10 to 0.08. Still, with the holidays here, we can expect to see a significant increase in the number of these accidents. The National Safety Council (NSC) is predicting roughly 600 deaths from car accidents over the New Year's and Christmas holiday periods.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the number of drivers who admit to driving while intoxicated has decreased by about 30 percent from 2006 to 2010.

Kane County has previously enacted a "no refusal" policy to help bust drunk drivers. This policy allows arresting officers to get court orders on the spot to draw blood from drivers who are suspected of drunk driving and refuse to submit a breath test.

Ever since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released its new traffic accident statistics, the country was awarded for lower numbers of drunk driving-related fatalities for the year. According to these nationwide statistics, the number of drunk driving-related fatalities dropped by nearly 5 percent from 2009 with nearly 11,000 fatalities to less than 10,300 in 2010.

"More than 3,200 fewer people were killed last year than in the previous four years," said Jan Withers, MADD president. "That's 3,200 families who did not receive that terrible, life-changing call or visit from law enforcement letting them know their loved one wasn't coming home again."

MADD continues to reiterate the fact that drunk-driving accidents are 100 percent preventable. As the holiday season is in full swing, drivers are asked to not get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol. There are a number of options available for a person who has been drinking. They can call a family member or a friend to come pick them up, they can designate a sober driver for the night to take the intoxicated individuals home, they can use With a conscious effort, we can all do our part to continue this decreasing trend in the number of unnecessary fatalities caused by drunk driving.

Continue reading " Fatalities in Drunk-Driving Accidents in Illinois Drop Over the Years " »

The Illinois Department of Transportation understands the dangers and risks that accompany roadway travel through the holiday season. This year, the Transportation Department is here to share some useful tips to help you and your family to help you to avoid a potentially fatal car accident in Chicago and elsewhere. By following a few simple driving tips, you can help to ensure a safe and happy holiday season for everyone.

The National Safety Council (NSC) has also recently released a report illustrating just how dangerous our roadways will be over the holidays. In their latest report, the NSC reveals its predictions for roadway fatalities and injuries over these holidays. Every year, the NSC releases this information in an attempt to reiterate the importance of safe driving habits through congested roadways.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that the NSC has predicted nearly 300 roadways fatalities to occur over the Christmas holiday. This is the holiday period that takes from Friday, December 23rd until Monday, December 26th. In addition to these estimated 300 fatalities, the NSC is predicting another 28,500 injuries over this time period that will require treatment from a medical professional.

The number of Christmas holiday roadway fatalities has decreased significantly since 2007. In 2007 there were about 455 fatalities, in 2008 there were nearly 410 and in 2009 there were less than 250. While it's promising to have seen a significant reduction in these numbers, they're still all too high.

The NSC is also offering it's predictions for the New Year's holiday period, which is actually more fatal than Christmas. This year, the NSC is predicting that another 300 people will die on our roadways during this time. In addition, the NSC is predicting another 29,500 injuries to require medical attention. In this holiday period, the number of fatalities has actually increased since 2007. In 2007 there were about 390 fatalities, in 2008 there were about 410 and in 2009 there were about 460.

The Illinois Department of Transportation offers these safe driving tips to help you to stay safe on our roadways through the holidays:

-Always wear a seat belt. It's the law and it could save your life.

-If you don't feel comfortable driving in the current weather conditions, don't!

-Your headlights should be on and dim when driving in the rain.

-Your headlights should be on and dim when driving in the fog. Use your fog lights if you have them.

-Stay within the limits of your vision through the weather.

-Make sure your windows are clear of ice and snow. Don't start moving until your windshield is completely defrosted.

-When weather is poor, drive slower and increase your following distance. This will give you more time to react.

-Keep an eye out for slick spots in shaded areas.

-If the roads are slick, brake slowly and gently.

-If you hydroplane, let off of the brakes and steer into the direction your vehicle is going until you regained traction with the road.

-Be cautious around snowplows. Don't pass until you're sure another vehicle isn't coming.

Continue reading " Winter Weather and Holiday Travel Season Increase Risks for Illinois Car Accident " »

A 10-year-old boy was killed and his twin brother was severely injured in a recent intersection car accident in Lake County. Officials believe the driver who hit them ran a red light, causing the accident, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. It was a multi-car accident at that dangerous intersection in Wauconda at Route 12, damaging two other vehicles.

“We have no evidence of anyone being under the influence,” Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys learned that one fifth-grader died and his twin brother and the boys' father were injured. When drivers fail to obey traffic signals, accidents result. There have been numerous studies and preventative measures taken to make intersections safer for everyone. Still, far too many drivers display complete disregard for traffic signals and road signs, and continue to cause serious accidents in our Illinois roadways. All drivers are asked to be courteous and cautious on our roadways during the holiday season. Traffic is expected to increase substantially and so do the risks we face while driving along Illinois' roadways through the congested holiday travel season.

The truck that may have zipped through the red light was a Ford Super Duty loaded with roofing supplies. The large truck slammed into a smaller Lincoln sedan as it attempted to make a left-hand turn in front of the truck. The Ford didn't stop for the red light and slammed right into the Lincoln with the father and two boys inside. The Lincoln was thrown off the roadway and the large truck flipped upon collision. Two additional vehicles were caught up in the collision and suffered minor damages.

All of the occupants in the Lincoln were reportedly wearing their seat belts when the accident happened. One was killed and the two survivors were still banged up pretty badly.

Witness reported to authorities that the large truck failed to stop at the red light at the intersection of Old McHenry Road and Route 12. The speed limit on that road is 55 mph. It's a four-lane divided highway.

The truck driver was treated for injuries, questioned by officers and later released. Currently, there are no charges pending, but officials continue to investigate the accident.

Back in 2009, a motorcyclist was killed at that same intersection after a motor vehicle failed to stop for that red light. The red-light running driver in that accident was later charged and convicted of reckless homicide. Prosecutors determined that the female driver was painting her fingernails at the wheel when the accident happened.

As the holidays approach, our roadways will get more and more congested with residents and visitors off to celebrate the season. Drivers are asked to be extremely cautious at the wheel and to obey all traffic signals to help to avoid a potentially fatal accident.

Continue reading " Driver on Route 12 May Have Run Red Light Causing Fatal Car Accident in Lake County " »

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the 2011 Christmas Day Holiday period is defined as starting on December 23rd at 6:00 p.m. and going until December 26th at 11:59 p.m. Every year, the NSC estimates how many people they believe will be killed in car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere during the busy holiday weekend.

This year, the Council is predicting that there will be nearly 370 fatalities. The NSC further predicts that there will be nearly 29,000 people who will be medically treated for injuries from car crashes over the holiday period.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that the holidays are a time for residents and visitors to spend away from work and school and to gather with friends and family members. Unfortunately, this is also a time when we see an increase in the number of fatal accidents on our roadways. An increase in motorists equates to an increase in your risks for a traffic crash, which ultimately leads to an increase in roadway deaths and injuries. Drivers are urged to be cautious, alert and to drive defensively on our roadways to avoid a potentially fatal accident during this year's holidays.

The NSC's Christmas Day Holiday Period Fatality Estimates/Actual Numbers:

-2005: 443/383

-2006: 415/379

-2007: 497/454

-2008: 432/409

-2009: 317/248

According to recent traffic safety studies, seat belts have been proven to be nearly 50 percent effective in preventing fatalities during an accident. According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System's (FARS), more than 100 people may be saved from being killed in a car accident over the Christmas Day holiday period because they were wearing a seat belt. Another 75 people could be saved if everyone were to wear a seat belt.

According to the NSC, the 2011 New Year's Day Holiday is defined as starting on December 30th at 6:00 p.m. and going on until January 2nd at 11:59 p.m. Every year, the NSC estimates how many people will be killed in car crashes during the busy holiday weekend. This year, the Council is predicting that there will be nearly 300 roadway fatalities. The NSC further predicts that there will be nearly 30,000 people will be medically treated for injuries from car crashes during this time as well.

The NSC's New Year's Day Holiday Period Fatality Estimates/Actual Numbers:

-2005: 392/449

-2006: 399/432

-2007: 405/387

-2008: 498/407

-2009: 445/458

The average number of traffic deaths during the six previous New Year’s Day holiday periods was nearly 20 percent greater than similar non-holiday periods. Drivers are urged to be cautious behind the wheel as the traffic heats up during the holiday season. Remember to drive cautiously, to avoid drinking and driving and to obey all road laws to reduce your risks of an accident. Happy Holidays and have a Happy New Year. Please drive safely!

Continue reading " NSC Releases Fatality Predictions for Car Accidents in Chicago and Elsewhere through Holidays " »

We recently experienced one of the latest first snowfalls of the season on record. Unfortunately, this late snowfall contributed to a number of spin-out accidents and contributed to at least four fatalities that day. Three of these fatalities happened because of car accidents in the Chicago metro area, according to The Courier-News.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), law enforcement officers responded to dozens of accidents in the Chicago area. In some of these accidents, vehicles spun out and slammed into walls because of the slick roadways and black ice.

We recently reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog that IDOT is urging motorists to be extremely cautious when traveling through winter weather. As we approach the New Year, these conditions are expected to get much worse. IDOT's not leaving you alone on your roadways. Transportation officials throughout the state will be hitting our roadways with snow and ice removal vehicles to help make your travels as safe as possible. Still, drivers are urged to be extra careful on our roadways during this time of year to avoid a potentially fatal accident.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the first latest snowfall record was on 1965.

Although the snowfall was late, it still produced slick roads and caused a number of accidents. Two of these accident fatalities occurred on Interstate Highway 80 in Will County.

The first accident took the life of a 29-year-old Chicago woman who was heading west on Interstate 80 near Highway 30. She was killed when her vehicle was hit by a passing semi.

Another accident took the life of a 29-year-old as she was heading westbound on Interstate 80. Her vehicle swerved off the road and slammed into a fixed object.

Black ice is something that drivers need to be careful of as we enter the heart of the winter season. Black ice, clear ice or glare ice is used to reference the thin coating of ice on the road's surface. Black ice isn't even black at all. It just reflects the black asphalt of the roadway, giving it a black appearance. Drivers need to exercise extreme cautious around snowy and icy roadways.

Safe driving tips if you're involved in an accident because of black ice, from the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago:

-Drivers should never get out of the vehicle when traveling near black ice. If you're stuck, don't try to get out as you risk developing frostbite and/or hypothermia. Not to mention falling and suffering serious injury.

-If you get stuck, hang a brightly colored cloth out of your window or on the vehicle's antenna to draw attention and for rescuers to see.

-Start up your vehicle and turn on the heat for about 10 minutes each hour. Make sure you vehicle's exhaust pipe is clear so that fumes won't back up in the vehicle.

-As you sit and wait for help, keep your legs and arms moving to help blood to circulate and to keep yourself warm.

-Keep one of your vehicle's windows cracked; the one that's not facing oncoming wind, to allow fresh air to get it.

-Keep a dome light on so that you can be more easily seen by motorists.

Continue reading " Black Ice Threatens Roadways and Increases Risks for Car Accidents in Chicago " »

A recently study concluded that the lives of approximately 2,000 people could be saved every year if every state were to push a comprehensive Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program. According to USA TODAY, supporters across the nation are urging lawmakers to enact GDL programs like the one in the state of Illinois.

Effective GDL programs help to thoroughly educate these drivers and can significantly reduce the risks of fatal car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere.

"We knew that when states pass good laws, lives are saved and a lot of money is saved. We'd just never done the analysis," says John Ulczycki from the National Safety Council (NSC).

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that it takes a lot of time and practice for our young driver to master the tools to become a good, safe driver. Our state has been an example for many GDL programs in the country. In the state of Illinois, teens must practice at least 50 hours of supervised driving with a licensed adult over the age of 21 before receiving a full driver's license. In addition to these requirements, our GDL program places a number of restrictions on these young drivers to make sure they master all driving skills thoroughly before they can obtain an unrestricted license.

In Illinois, nearly 40 lives are believed saved every year because of our effective GDP program.

This new report comes as Congress looks to consider a new transit and highway-spending bill. Those who support the GDL program are looking to get their hands on roughly $25 million a year to use as incentives to get states to buff up their GDL programs.

Car accidents continue to be the number one killer of teens in the county. Drivers ages 16- to 19-years-old are four times more likely to get into a serious accident than any other age group of drivers.

Each state has its own version of a GDL program, which bestows drivers with more driving privileges as they gain experience behind the wheel.

Ulczycki and says there are seven key points to an effective GDL program:

-A minimum age of 16-years-old to get a learner's permit.

-At least 30 hours of supervised driving during the learner's license stage.

-Six months of supervised driving before being able to drive with no supervision.

-A minimum age of 16 1/2 for intermediate driving.

-Placing a curfew of 10:00 p.m. for intermediate drivers.

-Allowing no more than one passenger (non-family) during the intermediate license stage.

-A minimum age of 17 for a restricted license.

Regardless of what the current GDL program requirements are, parents are urged to stay involved in their teens driving career long after they've been granted unsupervised driving privileges. Parents may be some of the most influential individuals in their young driver's lives.

Continue reading " Illinois GDL Program Saves an Estimated 40 Lives from Car Accidents in Chicago and Elsewhere " »

As Chicago recently witnessed its first measurable amount snow fall, drivers are already suffering those dangerous side effects of the slick and icy roadways. The snowfall caused a number of Chicago car accidents, including quite a few spinouts on expressways, two fatal accidents in Will County and another fatal accident on the Eisenhower, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that the recent snowfall ties the 1949 record for the fifth-latest date for us to see the season's first measurable snow. The first place date for the latest first snowfall of the season record remains on December 16th of 1965. As we start to see the snow, drivers are urged to be cautious on our roadways. It's best to avoid driving when snow and icy covers the roads, but if you have to, you're urged to alter your driving habits to accommodate the winter weather conditions.

By 6:00 a.m., there was more than a half inch measured at the O'Hare International Airport, which serves as the official reporting station for Chicago.

Before sunrise, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) warned of slick roadways on all of the expressways in the Chicago area. By that time, there had already been several spinout accidents. The Transportation Department already deployed snowplows to handle the mess. Drivers were urged to drive carefully.

According to the Illinois State Police (ISP), there was a fatal accident at Cicero Avenue and Eisenhower at roughly 7:00 a.m. In this accident, a pickup truck and a box truck collided. A passenger of the pickup truck was killed in the accident.

Two more accidents happened on Interstate 80 in Will County because of the winter weather. ISP reported that the roadways were covered with snow and ice.

The first accident happened as a motorist crashed his passenger vehicle into a semi as they were both heading west on Interstate 80 by U.S. Route 30. The driver of the passenger-vehicle was taken to Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, where he was later pronounced dead.

The second accident happened when a female driver swerved from the roadway, flipper her vehicle and ran into a fixed object.

As we recently reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, officials from the Illinois Tollway, the ISP and the IDOT urge drivers throughout the state to be cautious and to prepare for the upcoming snow fall.

As we get into the heart of the winter season, driving conditions become much more dangerous. Drivers are asked to stay off of the roadways when they're icy and snowy, whenever possible. But when you must venture out, please do so cautiously and be on the lookout for snowplows and other snow removal vehicles. Always driver slowly, cautiously and alertly when driving through the snowy weather. Alter your driving habits to accommodate the weather and to avoid a potentially fatal accident.

Continue reading " First Measurable Snow Fall Highlights Risks for Car Accidents in Chicago " »

In the state of Illinois, drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using a cell phone at the wheel. In Chicago, all drivers are prohibited from using a hand held cell phone behind the wheel. In the state, all drivers are prohibited from texting, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Although teenagers may not be allowed to text at the wheel in the state, it doesn't mean they're all listening. Teenage drivers are more likely that any other age group to send and receive texts while driving. For this reason, among many others, car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere are the number one cause of death for teens in the U.S. To help raise awareness about the danger and risks associated with texting while driving, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has launched its "OMG" public service announcement campaign.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that teenagers already face increased risks for a traffic accident. But adding in the distraction of a text messaging devices makes these risks even higher. The USDOT launched its new campaign to reach these drivers and to urge them to put down the phones while they're behind the wheel. In 2010, there were nearly 3,100 fatalities resulting from distraction-related car accidents.

"Teen drivers are particularly vulnerable to distracted driving, which is why we are making an extra effort to ensure they understand the dangers," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

There are two PSAs for this campaign. They will be airing on 12,000 gas station pump-top screens, at more than 525 Regal Cinema theaters on more than 6,500 movie screens and on Distraction.gov through December.

The campaign uses some of the shorthand texting lingo that these young drivers use everyday, like "L8R" and "LOL."

Nathan Gill at Outcast's PumpTop TV says that airing these PSAs at gas stations is a good way to spread the word to this on-the-go age group. Those five minutes that these teens spend at the gas pumps watching these PSAs can help to save lives.

Currently, there are 35 states, Guam and the District of Columbia that have prohibited text messaging by drivers. Another nine states have made it illegal drivers to talk on a hand-held cell phone behind the wheel.

It's no secret than teens want to stay connected with their buddies. When schools let out for winter break, teenagers will be hitting the roads in route to holiday gatherings with friends and family members. Before setting out, parents are asked to talk with their teens about the dangers, risks and consequences of distracted driving. Let's keep our teens driving safely through the holidays and well beyond.

Continue reading " USDOT's "OMG" PSAs to Curb Distraction-Related Teen Car Accidents in Chicago, Nation " »

Red light cameras. Speed Cameras. Now a system that prevents other traffic from going when a vehicle is running a red light at an intersection could be the next technology deployed in an effort to save lives.

A new measure that's leading the way for Mayor Rahm Emanuel's red-light speeding cameras was recently approved by a state House committee and later approved by the full House. This measure was already approved by the state Senate. Now, all the measure needs is the signature of Gov. Quinn, according to the Huff Post.

Intersection cameras to catch speeders and red-light runners have been a hot topic of debate in the area for quite some time now. Some say these cameras are effective in helping to reduce the risks of intersection car accidents in Chicago, while others find them to be nothing more than a revenue generator.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys note Arizona is deploying yet another system -- this one prevents lights from changing when a red-light runner is passing through an intersection. Previously, drivers complained about an increase in rear-ending accidents and debatable citations issued by such intersection technologies. This latest technology was recently introduced by Redflex Traffic Systems in Chandler, Arizona. It claims to be able to read traffic flow and can detect when a driver is about to run a red light. To help stop accidents, it adjusts the other lights to hold off traffic for the light-running driver, according to AZ Central.

"If it is what it appears to be, it is going to save lives," said Chandler Police Lt. Richard Speer, commander of the traffic bureau. "We are hoping Chandler will be one of its test areas."

Intersection car accidents are among the nation's deadliest. Data concludes that roughly 40 percent of the near 6,000,000 accidents that happened in the U.S. in 2008 were accidents that happened in intersections.

A lot of these intersection accidents happened when a car that's making a left turn collides with one that's coming from another direction. These lights could potentially hold other cars from proceeding through the light and thus save lives.

Red-light cameras were first used in Chicago in 2003. As of April of 2011, there are nearly 200 intersections with red-light cameras. Although these cameras only photograph and ticket drivers who run through a red light, the new technology could make its way to Chicago and could potentially alter traffic flow.

The Chicago Department of Transportation handles the installation and maintenance of these cameras, while the Chicago Department of Revenue handles all of the citations.

Chicago Intersections with Red-Light Cameras

Regardless of what technology is deployed at intersections, residents and officials may never be able to agree on what is best for the city. What we all can agree on is that nothing beats driver awareness when it comes to preventing accidents. Please be safe on our roadways and be courteous to other drivers.

Continue reading " New Intersection Technology Could Reduce Risks of Car Accidents in Chicago " »

The number of car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere throughout the state has increased from 2009 to 2010. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released new statistics that conclude that 2010 was another positive trend in the overall reduction in fatal traffic accidents -- fewer deadly accidents were reported in the United States than at any time since 1949.

"While we have more work to do to continue to protect American motorists, these numbers show we're making historic progress when it comes to improving safety on our nation's roadways," said Secretary LaHood.

Chicago car accident attorneys know that a lot of traffic accident scenarios did in fact decrease from 2009 to 2010. But the truth of the matter is that a number of accident scenarios did in fact increase, including those in Illinois. Fatalities among motorcycle riders, large truck occupants and pedestrians also increased during 2010.

Included in the newly released report from the NHTSA is a new feature that measures the number of distraction-related accidents. In 2010, there were nearly 3,100 fatalities resulting from these types of accidents. There were more than 1,500,000 injury accidents. Distraction-related accidents include drivers that weren't paying attention because they were eating, smoking, playing with the radio, talking on the phone, sending a text message, reading, applying makeup, reading a map, surfing the web, etc.

In 2010, the total number of traffic accident fatalities in the United States reached 33,000. During the year, more than 30 percent of the fatalities were the result of alcohol-related accidents. These types of accidents continue to be alarmingly high despite all of the drunk driving prevention programs throughout the nation.

Although more accidents happened in rural areas in the U.S., the number of these accidents actually decreased from 2009 to 2010. The number of urban accidents experienced an increase.

Throughout the year, a majority of the fatal accidents took place at nighttime, or from 6:00 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.

As we stated before, the number of motorcyclist fatalities increased. Fatalities among riders over the age of 50 increase be nearly 120 while the number of fatalities for those under the age of 50 decreased by more than 80.

Illinois wasn't lucky enough to be one of the states that experienced a decrease in the number of traffic fatalities from 2009 to 2010. In 2009, we experienced approximately 910 fatalities, while in 2010 we experienced nearly 930 accident fatalities. This is an increase of more than 5 percent.

As technology advances, transportation officials are learning how to better track distraction-related accidents. Still, the most common accident-causing distraction was drivers engaging in conversation with other passengers, followed by playing with the radio. With cell phones, GPS devices, palm pilots and smart phones, government officials have a whole new genre of distractions to worry about; the search for effective ways to reduce these accidents continues.

While yes, some types of accidents did in fact decrease, we think it's important to point out that many others experienced an increase and the number of fatalities in our state increased. Drivers are urged to keep fighting for safe roadways. Keep attention on the road and follow driving laws. Driver attention is the one of the ways we can help to decrease these numbers.

Continue reading " NHTSA Releases New 2010 Data for Car Accidents in Illinois and Elsewhere " »

Alcohol-related car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere kill 6,000 teens every year. That's more than all illegal drugs combined. To help combat this problem, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is teaming up with the National Football League (NFL) to raise awareness in teen drivers about the dangers, risks and fatal consequences of driving drunk or riding with an intoxicated driver. The partnership is encouraging all teenagers to not drink before they've hit the age of 21 and to never get into the car with someone who has been drinking.

Teenagers are urged to stand against the dangerous behavior and to sign the MADD Power of You(th) pledge. You can visit the campaign's facebook page where teens can enter to win some official NFL memorabilia. Participants are asked to draft their friends in the fight.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that although teenage drivers aren't old enough to legally drink, many are going to anyways. According to Students Against Destructive Decisions, nearly 30 percent of teens have consumed alcohol in the last 30 days. Nearly 20 percent of these young individuals participated in binge drinking in the last month. That's just the last 30 days. Nearly 75 percent of high school-aged individuals admit to having consumed alcohol at least once by the end of their senior year. Nearly 40 percent of these individuals admitted to doing so by the time they hit 8th grade.

MADD is asking you to join and to take the pledge. Taking the pledge to not drink and drive and to not get into a vehicle with an intoxicated driver enters you to win some pretty cool NFL gear. These prizes are only offered to those who are 13- to 20-years-old. All you have to do is visit the campaign's facebook page and "share" the link to your page or you can "share" the link to your wall by taking the pledge. As long as you're displaying the MADD Props badge on your wall, you're eligible to win the cool gear.

Traffic accidents continue to be the number one killer of teens in America. Drivers age 16 have the highest accident rate among any age group. These young drivers are three times more likely to die in an accident that any other driver. In 2008, there were more than 2,700 drivers between the ages of 15- and 20-years-old who died in a traffic accident.

Alcohol-related accidents accounted for more than 30 percent of the traffic fatalities experienced in this young age group.

With Christmas and New Year's right around the corner, parents are urged to talk with the teen drivers in their lives. The holidays are a time for family gatherings. Even for adults, many of these gatherings involve alcohol. Remind your young driver about the dangers of driving under the influence. It's important to encourage them to be honest with you. If they're at a holiday party where drinking is taking place, have them call you for a safe ride instead of getting in the vehicle with someone who has been drinking. The holiday season already brings about increased risks for an accident. We don't need to throw a tipsy driver into the equation. Be safe -- communicate with your young drivers and Happy Holidays!

Continue reading " MADD Teams Up With NFL to Reduce Risks of Teen Car Accidents in Chicago and Elsewhere " »

Our Chicago car accident attorneys recently discussed the dangers that teen drivers are expected to face on our roadways through the busy holiday traffic. But our older drivers are also at high risk.

The holidays are a time to spend with friends and family and this means our elderly loved ones, too. In many cases, old age comes with deteriorating senses, which can hinder a driver's ability to navigate our roadways safely. Sadly, we often notice this decline in parents or older loved ones while visiting for the holidays. We ask all families to talk with their elderly relatives about staying safe and avoiding car accidents in Chicago.

Ten signs from the AARP that you may need to have a safe driving talk with your elderly loved ones:

-Have many "close calls" or almost-accidents.

-Finding scrapes, scratches or dents on their vehicles.

-Getting lost frequently on roadways that should be familiar.

-Having a tough time seeing or reacting to pavement markings, road signs or traffic signals.

-A slowed response time.

-Have a delayed response time to driving hazards.

-Having a tough time moving feet or hands on the vehicle's pedals or wheel.

-Misjudging gaps in traffic.

-Receiving many honks from other drivers.

-Become distracted easily.

-Having a hard time moving to see around the whole car.

-Getting a lot of warnings or tickets from police.

So, now you know how to spot warning signs in your loved ones, but do you know how to approach the subject with them? Every family is different, but regardless of your relationship with the elderly driver it's important to approach them as if this conversation is about their safety and not looking to rid them of their independence. Reiterate the importance of their safety on our roadways. Consider discussing your concerns with their spouse first. According to a recent study from the MIT AgeLab and the Hartford Financial Services Group, roughly half of married drivers above the age of 50 would rather talk about their driving concerns with their significant others, followed by doctors and then adult children.

If you'd like to start off the conversation, consider discussing factors that everyone can relate to, like the increase is vehicular traffic or the difficulty seeing road signs on such busy roadways. Maybe you could talk about the difficulty you have driving in specific weather conditions. Whichever way you choose, ease into it.

To avoid making them feel helpless and forced to give up driving, consider limiting their driving first. See if your elderly loved ones have a harder time behind the wheel and ask if they'd be comfortable not driving at night. Be accommodating and help them to transition into the change smoothly.

This isn't done to be mean or as a punishment. Aging senses are a part of life and in the spirit of the holidays it's our responsibility to look out for one another. Do your part to keep your loved ones safe on and off our roadways this year and have that conversation.

Continue reading " Elderly Drivers Face Increased Risks for Car Accident in Chicago over Holidays " »

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is celebrating its 5th anniversary of the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. In celebration, MADD has released a new report of state rankings. This report ranks each state on its effort towards reducing drunk driving accidents, The nation, as a whole, received a three-star rating on a five-star scale. Also on this report are updated numbers illustrating the costs of these accidents -- more than $130 billion a year.

“The ratings earned by each state show that there is still much work to be done,” said Jan Withers, MADD National President.

Our Chicago injury attorneys and MADD understand that drunk driving accidents increase significantly during the holiday season. This is an excellent time to push this type of campaign and to raise awareness about the dangers on our roadways through the remainder of the year. We would also like to congratulate Illinois for being one of the states that received a five-staring rating. Only five states received five-star ratings, including Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, and Arizona, too. These rankings were determined by each state's use of ignition interlock devices, sobriety checkpoints, drunk driving penalties, "no-refusal" activities and license revocation sentences.

Among the states that received one-star ratings were South Dakota, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Montana. These ratings were based on drunk-driving prevention programs and not on accident numbers.

Every year, MADD asks states to consider enacting tougher drunk driving laws and countermeasures that have been proven to reduce the number of drunk driving accidents.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says that drunk driving is still the deadliest epidemic on our country's roadways. Although we've all made significant strides in the last 30 years to help prevent these accident, we're still experiencing far too many each year.

Drunk driving accidents cost more than $130 billion every year:

-More than $60 billion in monetary costs.

-More than $70 billion in quality-of-life losses.

-The federal covered nearly $5 billion.

-State government covered more than $3 billion.

-Employers covered nearly $11 billion, which includes the near $4 million that were work-related car accidents and roughly $7 billion in off-the-job accidents involving employees and benefit-eligible dependents.

Although Illinois was recognized in this report with five stars, the large decrease in drunk driving accident-related deaths isn't enough considering the state has such a high fatality rate to begin with. The report did however point out that Illinois' high-visibility enforcement efforts and the ignition-interlock law helped the state to achieve such a large decrease. We're not there yet, though.

MADD President Withers adds that there is no debate on the effectiveness of ignition interlocks for those who have been convicted of drunk driving. The proof is in the numbers. He believes that all states should mandate the devices as part of a sentence for a DUI conviction. This measure coupled with high-visibility law enforcement efforts and the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) program can help the entire nation to significantly reduce the number of these preventable accidents.

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