Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

As we recently reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Blog, car accidents are more common during the winter season than any other time of the year. During this time, drivers fail to adjust their driving habits to accommodate for the weather conditions. Drivers are prone to spin-out accidents and other ice and snow-related car accidents this time of year. The winter season also produces an increase in fatal traffic accidents. But regardless of the season, drivers face alarming risks for car accidents all year long.Transportation officials oftentimes report on the alarmingly high risks that teenage drivers face on our roadways. Yes, car accidents have been reported as the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S. But did you know that traffic crashes are the number one cause of death for individuals aged 3- to 34-years-old, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)?

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that all motorists are at a significant risk for a car accident every time they get into a motor vehicle. Unfortunately, these risks are much higher during the winter and through the holiday season. These types of accidents among young drivers drastically contribute to one of the top causes of “Years of Life Lost.” This is a category that calculates deaths and fatality causes based on the number of years that individuals have left to live. Since motor-vehicle accidents take the lives of so many people between the ages of 3- and 34-year-old, its ranking in the “Years of Life Lost” category is alarmingly high, ranking in at third place behind only heart disease and cancer across all age groups.

While problems regarding congenital anomalies are the top cause of death for toddlers, and malignant cancer and heart disease are the top causes of death for people aged 35-years-old and older, motor-vehicle accidents rank as the number one cause of death for individuals from 3- to 34-years-old. This is a large group of individuals who are killed in completely preventable accidents.

There is no good reason for the leading cause of death to be careless accidents, such as traffic crashes. As we are in the winter holiday season, please exercise extreme caution on our roadways. The roadways will be full of vacationing motorists. Along with this increase in traffic flow, we’ll be dealing with icy and snowy weather. Since both of these characteristics contribute to an increase in traffic accidents, we urge all motorists to avoid driving if possible. If you’ve got places to go and people to see, then we urge you to place all of your attention on the roadway and to practice safe and defensive driving habits.

We are reminding people that we are in the winter driving season and conditions can change very quickly. And they need to slow down and increase the distance and give themselves extra time on their trip to make sure they arrive safely,” said Guy Tridgell with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) made a groundbreaking proposal this week for all states to prohibit the use of cell phones by drivers, according to My Fox Chicago.

The recommendation was presented at a recent meeting to discuss a severe distraction-related accident that happened in Gray Summit, Missouri in 2010 where two people were killed and another dozen were injured. Officials have determined that the driver that allegedly caused the accident was sending and receiving text messages just seconds before the accident. Nearly 3,100 people were killed in distraction-related car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere throughout 2010. Officials believe that this new measure could help to significantly reduce these numbers.”A combination of enforceable state laws, high visibility enforcement and supporting communication campaigns can reduce the number of accidents caused by drivers distracted by the use of portable electronic devices,” wrote the NTSB.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that that in state of Illinois, drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from talking on a cell phone while driving. All drivers are banned from text messaging at the wheel in the state, according to the Governor Highway Safety Association. Drivers in Chicago are banned from using cell phones while driving. These laws were implemented to help to reduce the number of distraction-related car accidents throughout the state. Still, too few follow the rules and many visitors are oblivious.

A nationwide rule would also help law enforcement; officers report current laws often make it difficult to tell whether a driver is texting (illegal) or dialing a phone (often legal).

“This recommendation by NTSB is a national call to action to end distracted driving due to cell phone use. This is a growing public safety threat that needs to be addressed by legislators, employers and every person who operates a motor vehicle on our nation’s roadways,” said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council (NSC).

The NTSB also urges cell phone manufacturers to take steps to help reduce the usage of cell phones by drivers “by developing features that discourage their use” or features that can at least limit the ability of users to operate their devices while the vehicle is in motion. The proposal would not affect the use of these devices by passengers.

After the meeting regarding the Gray Summit accident, the NTSB suggested that all states and the District of Columbia prohibit the use of all types of cell phones for drivers. The Board also suggests that states use the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) model of high-visibility enforcement efforts to push these new laws. Lastly, the NTSB suggests that states launch communication campaigns to help spread the word about the new law and about the enforcement of it. These campaigns should also be accompanied by information regarding the risks and dangers that are associated with the use of portable electronic devices, especially cell phones, by drivers.

“This (distracted driving) is becoming the new DUI. It’s becoming epidemic,” said NTSB member Robert Sumwalt.
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Talking on a cell phone while driving is illegal in our city, but drivers still blab on their phones and increase the risks of a Chicago car accident for everyone.To get a better idea on just how popular this activity is, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a new report, “National Distracted Driving Telephone Survey Finds Most Drivers Answer the Call, Hold the Phone, and Continue to Drive.” This is the first study of its kind and seeks the common attitude of the public regarding distracted driving. Roughly 10,000 drivers were surveyed in this study.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that a majority of surveyed drivers admitted to answering incoming phone calls while driving. Only about 5 percent admitted to making phone calls on all car rides, about 10 percent on most trips and more than 25 percent on some trips. Of these talking drivers, less than 10 percent said they’d answer and then pull over, about 10 percent said they’d answer and call back, only 3 percent said they’d pull over and then answer. Less that 10 percent said they’d hand the phone to a passenger to deal with it. The study found that not only do most people answer while driving, but nearly half of drivers admitted to holding the phone in their hand while driving. Less than 20 percent said they use a hands-free device.

One of the biggest factors in a driver’s decision to answer or not had to do with the callers importance. Rarely did a surveyed driver consider personal safety, traffic conditions or laws when deciding on when they should answer the phone or not.

Although most drivers talk on the phone, nearly all of them said that when they were passengers they felt uncomfortable while riding with a driver who was making phone calls, text messaging or sending e-mails at the wheel. About a third of drivers said they felt uncomfortable even when a driver was messing with a GPS system while driving. These feelings increased with age. Younger drivers were less likely to feel threatened by this behavior.

Safety issues and hand-held devices:

-More than 30 percent of drivers said they feel unsafe riding with a driver who is talking on a hand-held cell phone.

-A majority of passengers are willing to say something about their worry about a texting driver.

-About 90 percent of those who were surveyed say that they support laws that prohibit drivers from texting.

-About 60 percent say they support laws banning cell phone use by drivers.

-Support for anti-texting and anti-cell phone laws is higher among older drivers.

Regardless of what other drivers are doing on our roadways and what passengers may think about their actions behind the wheel, all drivers are urged to keep distractions at bay while navigating our roadways. Distraction-related car accidents took the lives of nearly 3,100 people in 2010. These accidents are 100 percent preventable with a little driver discipline.
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As technology increases and cell phones and other hand-held devices become more capable and convenient, drivers will continue to face increased risks of distraction-related car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere if we’re not careful. Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a new report to calculate the exact number of accidents that reported hand-held device use as a main cause. This is a new measure that was introduced for the 2010 statistics — which the government released this week. The new Driver Electronic Use Report illustrates the increase in these accidents from 2009 to 2010.Our Chicago personal injury attorneys understand that the number of drivers who talk on cell phones while driving remained just about the same. But the number of texting and hand-held device-using drivers increased. The report also states that nearly 10 percent of all drivers are using some type of phone, either hand-held or hands-free, at any given time.

Parents are urged to talk with their teen drivers about the dangers that these activities present to young drivers, as well as other motorists on the road. Drivers age 16- to 24-years-old made up the age group that was most likely to be engaging in one of these activities behind the wheel. Don’t worry about grandma and grandpa though, they’ve got lower rates of use than any other age group of driver.

Some drivers think that headsets are better for talking on the phone while driving. This activity also increased among most categories of drivers in 2010. Once again, the largest increase was experienced by drivers who were 16- to 24-years-old.

Text-messaging is on the rise and more and more drivers are being observed engaging in the dangerous behavior behind the wheel. This was also another category that experienced an increase among drivers across the board, including, drivers traveling on weekday, drivers in the Midwest, drivers in the Northeast, drivers in the West, female drivers, drivers of passenger cars and white drivers. Surprise, this was also a driving habit that increased the most among drivers who were 16- to 24-years-old.

The study researched nearly 50,000 vehicles to draw these conclusions, so you can be assured that these 50,000 random drivers were displaying the driving habits of most Americans. The NHTSA reports that there were nearly 3,100 people killed in 2010 because of distraction-related traffic accidents throughout the country. These accidents are completely preventable with a little bit of driver self-discipline.

As the holiday season draws near and traffic increases in Chicago and throughout the rest of the state, drivers are asked to be cautious behind the wheel, to curb distractions and to place their full attention on the roadways. Let’s stop the increasing trend of driver distractions and help to make our roadways a safer place for everyone.
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Local authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a man from suburban Chicago after he reportedly slammed his vehicle into a tree. That’s not why he’s wanted though, officers believe that the Illinois car accident took the life of his dog, according to the Chicago Tribune. The man is not only facing charges of failing to provide care for his injured pup, but for leaving the scene of an accident and for driving on a suspended license. Local authorities report that a $50,000 arrest warrant is in effect.Our Chicago car accident attorneys have previously talked about the risks of distraction involving pets inside your vehicle. We urge all residents to be careful when transporting animals over the holiday season. We understand that our pets are members of our families too, and are often a part of our holiday gatherings. But please make sure that your pets are properly restrained when driving. Pets can cause deadly accidents on our roadways.

A recently study, conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, has determined that driving with an unrestrained pup in the car is more dangerous that a lot of people may think, according to Motor Trend. More than 20 percent of the 1,000 drivers who were surveyed by AAA admitted to driving with their pet unrestrained in the vehicle. More than 50 percent of drivers admitted to petting their dog while driving.

Even more alarming statistics regarding pet passengers:

-Nearly 25 percent of drivers admit to using their arm or hand to restrict their dog’s movement when hitting the brakes.

-Nearly 20 percent admitted to using their arms and hands to stop a dog from jumping from the backseat to the front-passenger seat.

-Nearly 20 percent of drivers say that they in fact reach into the backseat of their car to interact with their dog while they’re driving.

-About 17 percent of drivers say that they even allow their dog to sit in their lap or they hold them while driving.

-Almost 15 percent of all drivers admitted to handing over food or doggie treats to their pup while in the vehicle.

-Just about 5 percent confessed to playing with their dog while trying to drive.

-Another 5 percent admitting to taking photos of their dog in the car while driving.

“An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at 50 mph will exert roughly 500 pounds of pressure, while an unrestrained 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert 2400 pounds of pressure,” said Beth Mosher, AAA Director of Public Affairs.

Drivers are urged to think of their pets as more of a passenger than as a pet when driving in a motor vehicle. Your pup should not only be restrained for their safety, but also to help curb distraction as you navigate through the busy holiday traffic.
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Recently, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) launched a new Yellow Dot program to save lives on state roadways. This program is a life-saving, safe-traveling program that is used to provide emergency responders with important emergency information for those who have been in a serious car accident in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Illinois Department of Aging (IDOA) and IDOT are all teaming up with health departments statewide to raise awareness about this program and to push participation. The program is both federally funded and voluntary, but everyone is encouraged to join.Our Chicago accident attorneys understand that the Yellow Dot Program can help to save lives in the event of traffic accidents as it easily allows certified individuals to access emergency information for individuals who may be incapacitated by injury. The first hour after an accident can be the most crucial time in making life-saving decisions. With important emergency information available, decisions can be made easier and faster. This hour immediately following an accident is oftentimes referred to as the “Golden Hour.”

When an accident happens, paramedics, police officers and firefighters are called to the scene. When these officials arrive, they would normally only know where the accident happened, how many victims were involved and not much more. With the Yellow Dot Program, these responders can have much more useful information upon arrival.

In the Yellow Dot Program, participants get a yellow dot decal for their vehicle. This dot corresponds with a folder labeled with a yellow dot that’s located in the vehicle’s glove box. In this folder is important information, including the driver’s name, a recent photo, medical conditions, medications, allergies, recent surgeries, physician information, emergency contact, etc. With this information, responders can make decisions on how to best treat the victim at the scene and at the hospital.

Time is critical in a serious accident. If responders are aware of the condition of the victim or of any other information in that folder, then they’re unable to make decisions regarding necessary treatments to save lives. This information can mean the difference between life and death in a serious accident.

You can sign up for the Yellow Dot Program by visiting any of the participating locations. It only takes a few moments and it could save your life. Once you’ve signed up for the program and have received your decal, you’re to place the yellow dot sticker on the rear windshield on the lower, driver’s side. All participating vehicles will place the decal here to make it easy to locate for emergency responders but inconspicuous to passing motorists.

The program was first launched back in 2002 in Connecticut and it is now funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
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