“Ice and snow … take it slow”
That is the message from the Illinois Department of Transportation as we brace for winter driving.
The Chicago car accident attorneys at Abels & Annes encourage everyone to prepare for winter driving; a properly serviced vehicle, good tires, ice scrapers, jumper cables and an emergency kit that includes blankets, gloves and reflectors or flares to mark a disabled vehicle’s location are all a good idea.
And sometimes the most obvious answers are the most often overlooked: In the event your vehicle is disabled at the side of the road, nothing beats a fully charged cell phone!
Last year, 1,043 people were killed in Illinois traffic accidents. The vast majority of fatal crashes occurred in the seven-county area around Chicago, including the 125 traffic deaths that occurred inside the city limits.
Drunk driving is by far the biggest threat, claiming 425 lives, or more than 1 in every 3 fatalities.But IDOT statistics show more than 1 in 4 serious accidents occurred on wet, icy or snowy roads. Of the 950 fatalities and 67,739 serious injuries that occurred in accidents where road conditions were noted, 140 deaths and 11,434 injuries occurred on wet roads and 82 deaths and 7,583 occurred on icy or snowy roads.
Additionally, the last three months of the year, which includes the holiday driving season, claimed the most lives: 92 in October, 92 in November and 106 in December.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in an accident, call the Chicago car accident lawyers and the personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Abels & Annes for a free appointment to discuss your rights. There is no fee unless you win.
For more information on winterizing your vehicle, preparing a survival kit, planning a winter driving trip, driving in winter weather or staying safe while stranded, visit IDOT’s winter-driving page.