Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog
A recent three-car accident in Illinois seriously injured two children. The traffic accident took place at Illinois 15 and 74th Street. According to Police Capt. Don Sax, an 11-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy were transported to a St. Louis hospital and both were listed in serious condition, according to Belleville Daily News.The accident happened when the driver of a van slammed into the back of the vehicle that the child passengers were in as the light changed to green and the family’s vehicle started to pass through the intersection. Officials did not see any skid marks left from either of the vehicles, which indicates that the mini wan was traveling at full-speed, or at about 55 mph. The family’s vehicle was pushed into an SUV that was in front of them.
We can expect to see an increased number of car accidents on our roadways throughout the rest of the month as August has been repeatedly proven to be the deadliest month on all U.S. roadways. According to MSN Money, more accidents have occurred in the month of August than during any other month since 1994. Our Chicago auto accident attorneys understand that one of the top contributors to this trend is the increase in traffic during August. This is one of the busiest months on our roadways and many residents are out taking summer trips, running errands and venturing out on vacations.
More specifically, August has a death rate of 1.09 per 100 million miles traveled. The second deadliest month is September with a death rate of 1.08. The safest month to be on our roadways is March as it has a death rate of 0.94.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there was an average of 93 people killed in traffic accidents in the U.S. every day in 2009. That equals one traffic fatality every 16 minutes. Through extensive research, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has concluded that 7 of the deadliest 25 days occur in the month of August.
Residents typically have more time for travel in August. For the same reason, we experience more traffic-accident fatalities on weekends rather than on weekdays. Weekends are also a time when we witness more drunk driving.
Saturdays are the deadliest of the weekend days. In 2009, Saturdays averaged about 123 deaths a day. Sundays averaged about 107 deaths a day, followed by 103 deaths on Fridays.
Here are the week’s remaining average daily roadway fatalities for 2009:
-Mondays: 79 deaths.
-Wednesdays: 78 deaths.
-Thursdays: deaths 84.
“A large proportion of crashes happen in late afternoon and early evening in general, but especially in August,” says Russ Rader, a spokesman for the institute. That’s when the roads fill up both with commuters and vacationers.
The Institute reports that more than 33,800 people were killed in traffic accidents on U.S. roads in 2009:
-Those ages 13 to 15 accounted for 2 percent of all traffic fatalities.
-16 to 19: 9 percent.
-20 to 34: 31 percent.
-35 to 49, 23 percent.
-50 to 69, 22 percent.
-70 and up, 12 percent.
If you or a loved one has been injured in car accident, the personal injury attorneys and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes offer free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.
Additional Resources:
Two kids hurt in 3-car crash on Illinois 15, by Laura Girresch, Belleville Daily News
The deadliest month on the road, by Gina Roberts-Grey, MSN Money
More Blog Entries:
Expressways Experience Frequent Fatal Car Accidents in Chicago, Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog, August 12, 2011
Teen’s Car Can Help Keep Them Safe in Event of a Chicago Car Accident, Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog, August 8, 2011