Car Accident

Chicago Heights concerned about increase in car accidents caused by distracted driving

April 5, 2011 | By Dave Abels

An increasing number of Chicago Heights car accidents are being caused by distracted drivers, according to The Patch.

Our Chicago injury lawyers continue to report on the dangers of distracted driving, particularly text messaging and hand-held cell phone use behind the wheel.So far, authorities don’t believe any fatalities have resulted from text messaging, but the fire department has seen an increase in distracted driving accidents, beginning with a 2008 crash in which a vehicle was struck by a motorist tuning the radio. The accident claimed the life of an 8-year-old boy.

Still, texting is a big problem in the village, despite the Illinois texting ban, which went into effect in January 2010. The law makes it illegal to text while driving and also prohibits the use of hand-held cell phones in school zones and construction sites. Using a cell phone while driving is prohibited inside the city limits of Chicago by separate city ordinance.

Chicago Heights Police Chief William Joyce wants motorists to eliminate all forms of distracted driving. “Five seconds to text, five seconds to do a radio scan, five seconds to discipline your kids,” Joyce said. “It only takes a second to travel the length of a football field when you are driving 40-45 mph. And you are driving a 2,000 to 3,000 pound weapon (while doing so).”

The Chief will be making several presentations through spring, with an emphasis on warning teenagers about the dangers of distracted driving. He uses a video from AT&T titled “The Last Text” and photos of accident scenes involving drunk drivers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 5,474 people were killed and 448,000 were injured in accidents caused by distracted drivers.
Continue reading

Feds delay rule aimed at preventing backover accidents in Chicago, elsewhere

April 1, 2011 | By Dave Abels

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced this week it is delaying a mandate that all new vehicles be equipped with backup cameras, which had been aimed at reducing Chicago parking lot accidents and accidents involving vehicles backing over victims in driveways.

Chicago personal injury attorneys understand the tragic consequences of such accidents, which frequently occur around the holidays and often involve a relative who strikes a small child or a child or older adult who is run down in a busy parking lot.As we reported in December on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, the government had been set to require some new vehicles be equipped with the cameras next year, with the goal of having the cameras installed in all new vehicles by 2014.

In a carefully worded statement the NHTSA said it will now seek to have a permanent rule by the end of this year, following a public hearing on the issue, at which it apparently got an ear full from the auto industry. Automotive World reports the new rule will be postponed after the NHTSA indicated it needs more time for analysis and comments.

“Every year, nearly 300 people are killed and 18,000 more are injured when someone, often a parent or grandparent, backs over them,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “To put an end to these tragedies, we have proposed a new safety rule and are seeking further public feedback.”

The goal of last week’s hearing was to permit industry groups and other interested parties a chance to comment.

“Safety is our top priority and the steps we are proposing, with the public’s help and input, will reduce back-over fatalities and injuries not only to children, but to the elderly, and other pedestrians,” NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said.

U.S. News & World Report referenced a study that indicates the new rule could cost the industry about $2.7 billion a year.
Continue reading

Illinois Safety Organization says number of Chicago car accidents could rise with economic recovery

March 27, 2011 | By Dave Abels

The National Safety Council has announced a three-percent decline in fatal motor vehicle accidents last year with a report that estimates 34,700 people died in traffic accidents in 2010. The Illinois-based safety organization is the first to report fatality figures from last year — the federal government will release its statistics through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this summer.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers have reported before that much of the reduction has been attributed to the downturn in the economy and the high levels of unemployment — fewer visitors and fewer people going to work during the morning and afternoon rush hours equates to fewer fatal Chicago car accidents. The data bears that out as the NSC reports a slight increase in fatalities during the fourth quarter of last year.

“As encouraging as it is to see fatalities decreasing on our nation’s roads, the 2010 rate of decrease is less than a third of the previous year’s decrease,” said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “We must remain vigilant in addressing roadway safety issues where the greatest impact can be made, such as distracted and teen driving. As miles traveled start to rise again from recession lows, we want to ensure the continuance of this downward trend.”

January – March saw reductions of 13 to 14 percent, while September saw just a 1 percent year-over-year drop and October to December saw a 2 percent increase in the overall number of traffic fatalities nationwide. As we reported in February on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, Illinois recorded fewer than 1,000 traffic deaths for the second year in a row — nearly matching 2009’s total, which was the lowest since the 1920s.

The estimated cost of traffic accidents last year, including lost wages and productivity, medical bills and property damages, was $236.6 billion — also a decrease of 3 percent compared to 2009.
Continue reading

Chicago area car crash kills high school passenger

March 25, 2011 | By Dave Abels

An auto accident in the north suburbs of Chicago has resulted in the death of a high school student, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center. The teen victim was riding as a passenger when the vehicle he was riding in lost control on a curve and ran into a tree.

The deadly Illinois accident took place early Thursday morning in Arlington Heights around 12:40 AM when a Hyundai moving south 400 block of S. Windsor Dr. lost control and left the road. The vehicle was only moving slightly above the 25 mph speed limit, but police say the street was wet from a recent snow.

The Arlington Heights Police Department responded to the scene of the accident, and they reportedly had to cut off the roof of the vehicle in their attempt to rescue the passenger. The16-year-old was transported to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The news story does not report when the teenager passed away.

1 killed, 4 injured in Illinois auto accident

March 24, 2011 | By Dave Abels

A multiple vehicle car crash in Southern Illinois has caused the death of one person and injured four others, according to CBS news. The collision occurred Wednesday afternoon just before 3 PM on Interstate 57 in Union County, Illinois.

Local officials are saying that a 56-year-old man from Anna was pronounced dead at the scene. He was riding as a passenger in a pickup truck.

Illinois state police are stating that the accident occurred when a Camaro struck a cattle trailer from the rear around mile marker 39. The truck lost control, separated from the trailer and ended up in the median.

New Car Seat Regulations to Increase Child Safety in Chicago Car Accidents

March 22, 2011 | By Dave Abels

Children should remain in car seats for twice as long — until the ages of 2 instead of 1 — according to new recommendations issued this week by the federal government. MSNBC reports children younger than 13 should ride in the back and those as old as 12 should ride in booster seats.

“Parents often look forward to transitioning from one stage to the next, but these transitions should generally be delayed until they’re necessary, when the child fully outgrows the limits for his or her current stage,” said Dennis Durbin, MD, FAAP.Our Chicago car accident lawyers urge parents to take the new, updated recommendations seriously. The Beacon-News reports that children should now remain in rear-facing car seats until they’re 2-years-old, or until they’ve reached the maximum height and weight requirements of the seat’s manufacturer. Previously, the recommendations were for children under a year old.

Once a child has reached the age of 2, or has outgrown their current seat, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends a booster seat until a child is 8-years-old or reach a height of 4 feet 9 inches, whichever comes later. The government recommends children stay in the backseat until they’re 12, according to the report in the Los Angeles Times.

The new car seat regulations come after new research found that children are actually safer in rear-facing car seats. The research, conducted by Injury Prevention, found that children under the age of 2, who are seated in rear-facing car seats during a car accident, are 75 perfect less likely to die or suffer a severe injury.

We frequently report that Chicago car accidents are a leading cause of serious and fatal injuries to children over the age of 3. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 34 children under the age of 14 died in Illinois car accidents in 2009 — 19 of those were under the age of 7.

According to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 184,000 children were severely injured in car accidents last year — more than 1,300 died.

“Parents are always looking for the next stage of development because in every other scenario, that’s a good thing. With car safety seats, however, that’s often not the case,” said Ben Hoffman, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

An instructional pamphlet about car seat recommendations for children is available for you from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Continue reading

Group wants ‘Dooring” tracked as cause of Chicago bicycle accidents

March 21, 2011 | By Dave Abels

Chicago bike accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have worked on several “Dooring” cases over the past few years.

Advocates are now pushing for officials to include “dooring” statistics when tracking the number of serious and fatal bicycle accidents in Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois, according to a report in The Tribune.

Our Chicago bicycle accident lawyers remind motorists that a new Illinois law permits criminal penalties for motorists who cause an accident by not allowing three-foot of clearance between a vehicle and a rider. The Journal Standard reports that the law also created the “Share the Road” license plate.The 3-foot rule has been on the books since 2008. Now motorists convicted of intimidating a cyclist could face up to a year in prison and a fine of $2,500; the law took effect on Jan. 1.

However, vehicles that are not moving are involved in one of the leading causes of bicycle accidents in Chicago: Motorists opening car doors into the path of a cyclist. Because they do not involve a moving vehicle, crash statistics are not tracked by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The mother of a 22-year-old Chicago man, who was killed in an accident on La Salle Street when an SUV door opened into his path, is among those pushing for the change in how bicycle accidents are counted. The Active Transportation Alliance is launching a campaign to increase public awareness about the danger of bicycle accidents caused by open car doors. The group said the issue is the most prevalent threat facing cyclists on the street.

A survey by the group indicates half of cyclists have been doored at least once. However, the lack of official state statistics makes it difficult or impossible to apply for grant money or take other steps to improve safety. IDOT reports as many as 27 cyclists have been killed in Illinois bicycle accidents in each of the last five years and an average of 3,300 are injured.

Chicago police reports 76 dooring accidents last year and 62 in 2009. A 2008 city law carries a fine of up to $500 for opening a door into a cyclist’s path. However, the Tribune reports no tickets have been issued under the law. Police did issue 161 tickets last year and 106 in 2009 to drivers who were driving, standing or parking in bike lanes.

Bicyclists and drivers can contact IDOT with questions or comments via the agency’s website or by phone at 217-782-7820. IDOT’s address is 2300 S. Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62764.
Continue reading

2 vehicle Illinois car crash results in fatality

March 19, 2011 | By Dave Abels

An Illinois auto accident that occurred Friday afternoon around 5 PM on Route 66 just south of Pontiac, Illinois has resulted in the death of one person and injuries to several others, according to visitpontiac.com. The accident was a head-on collision between an SUV and a car.

When emergency personnel arrived on the scene, three of the four injured were unconscious. There were 3 occupants in the SUV and one in the car. The driver of the car was helicoptered to OSF in Peoria. The others were taken by ambulance to OSF St. James Hospital in Pontiac.

An accident reconstruction unit from the Illinois State Police has been sent to the scene for an investigation. Pontiac Police, Pontiac Fire, Duffy Ambulance, Livingston County Sheriff’s Police, Illinois State Police, Saunemin Fire and SELCAS Ambulance all responded to the scene of the accident.

Pedestrian killed in Chicago hit-and-run accident

March 18, 2011 | By Dave Abels

An Illinois pedestrian accident has claimed the life of a man in his 30s on Thursday night, according to the Chicago breaking news center. The pedestrian victim was killed while standing on the side of Interstate 55 Near Damon Ave.

Police have located the hit-and-run vehicle but have not stated whether they are questioning anyone in connection with the accident. The Illinois State Police are handling the crash investigation.

The pedestrian accident occurred just after 10 PM as the victim was standing on the right shoulder near his vehicle in the northbound lanes. He was transported by ambulance to Mount Sinai Hospital and pronounced dead a short time later.

Chicago area Tollway crash injures five

March 16, 2011 | By Dave Abels

An Illinois auto accident has injured five people, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The crash happened during rush hour on Tuesday when a vehicle lost control, flipped over several times and then struck a fence and tree. The incident happened on the Tri-State Tollway.

It was a single vehicle accident that occurred around 5:25 PM in the southbound lanes of Interstate 294. Illinois state troopers responded to the accident which occurred about a mile north of the Willow Road exit in the area of Northbrook, Illinois.

It is being reported that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and lost control while attempting to change lanes, rolling over three times. The car took out approximately 40 feet of a fence when it left the roadway.