Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

A new study indicates that more than 8 percent of bridges in Illinois have structural problems that may lead to dangerous conditions for drivers in the state. The study was conducted by Transportation for America, an organization focused on improving American infrastructure, and reports that nationally, about 11 percent of bridges are in danger.

Many of the nation’s bridges and overpasses are old, causing much of the problem. With most designed intended for a 50 year life, the average age of America’s bridges hovering around 43 years means that the current problem will only increase in the future unless steps are taken soon.

According to the report, Illinois has 26,514 bridges and overpasses, of which 8.7 percent have been deemed structurally deficient. This designation is applied to bridges that need some immediate repair to an area that threatens safety.

In the past decade, there have been multiple bridge collapses that have garnered public attention. Some of those turned fatal with unsuspecting motorists losing their lives. This study indicates that more tragedies like this could continue to happen, claim the lives of many Americans and injuring others. Illinois is no exception as the state’s numerous highways and bodies of water mean there are bridges and overpasses everywhere.

Awareness of safety concerns related to aging bridges increases but the means to fix the bridges does not follow. Without a significant source of financial support, many of these structures will remain in their dangerous condition indefinitely, threatening drivers on a daily basis.

Though it is cruel, there may be little that an average citizen can do to rectify this situation until an accident happens. After that, a victim may have a claim against a city or state for allowing a dangerous bridge to remain in its dangerous condition while in use. But this does not eliminate the problem or prevent loss of life which means that it is a focus on the tragic outcome and not on prevention.
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Americans in Illinois and across the nation are gearing up for one of the biggest holidays of the year. As the 4th of July nears, families will be busy finalizing their plans, making sure travel arrangements are in order, and turning on the barbecue. One thing that may not be getting their focus is the safety of the roads around Independence Day and the significant risk posed by driving during the festivities.

It is unfortunate but the holiday that celebrates America’s independence is now linked with drunk driving, speeding, and recklessness on the roads. This combination results to create one of the deadliest days of the year to be a driver or a passenger on a road of any size and in any state in the nation. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that 148 people will be killed on the road on the 4th, about 30 percent more than the standard average of 114 fatalities each day.

The increase in the number of traffic fatalities is one of the big reasons that many local law enforcement agencies use heavy patrols of city and county roads during times when celebrations are expected. The belief is that the increase in patrol will allow officers to apprehend dangerous driver before an accident occurs or even deter some drivers from acting negligent in the first place. If a driver notices a heavy police presence, the thought is that the driver may be less likely to text behind the wheel, blow through a stop sign, or speed. Any positive change in driving behavior can save a life.

Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs pose a threat to everyone in the vicinity, including passengers within their vehicle, other drivers, bicyclists, or even pedestrians. A driver affected by an intoxicating compound cannot adequately make the necessary decisions to ensure a safe drive which is why it is illegal to drive while under the influence. Yet when faced with the possibility of a celebration with families and friends, too many drivers forget this and choose to drive after drinking and people end up hurt or killed.
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A woman in Skokie hit the gas instead of the brake and it caused her to run into the front of a building that houses a cleaners, according to local authorities. Fortunately no one was killed but a baby that was in the store was injured and needed medical attention. Two other people were also hurt.

The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon in Skokie. The cleaners is located in the 4000 block of Golf Road, just west of the intersection with Crawford Avenue. The cleaners is part of a strip mall with one row of parking out front. Authorities have not said if the driver was parked before the crash but they have stated that no charges have been filed related to this incident.

It appears that the woman drove into a section of the front of the store that contained a glass entry door and a large glass window. The building, which is made of brick, reportedly sustained some damage. At the time of the crash, several people were inside the cleaners, including the owner, the owner’s father, the owner’s stepmother, and a baby. The baby was being held by the owner’s stepmother when the car came crashing in. The impact of the collision pushed the baby from the woman’s arms and caused the baby to fall underneath the car. The father of the baby was not in the cleaners at the time but responded to the collision. He backed up the car to free the baby and it appeared that the child was not hit by any of the car’s tires. The baby was, however, face down in the wreckage of what used to be the glass window and door. The baby was taken to an area hospital where doctors stated the baby suffered only minor injuries but would observe the baby for some time. Reports indicate that two other people suffered injuries. It is not clear whether one of those injured was the driver of the car.

It is not yet clear what caused the woman to press the gas pedal instead of the brake. Authorities have chosen not to release the age of the driver, allowing some in the area to speculate that she may be elderly. But accidents of this type are caused by drivers of all ages, not just the elderly. Being distracted while behind the wheel can increase the risk of accidentally traveling in an unintended direction as can simple negligence. Some of the biggest forms of distraction faced by Illinois drivers include cell phones, texting, eating or drinking, conversations with passengers, children and pets in the car, and even daydreaming. Whatever the cause, if a driver is not completely focused on the road, the driver is distracted and the chances of causing a collision increase significantly.
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Police who were investigating a Monday night crash in Gurnee now believe that the incident began when two cars were drag racing on Illinois Route 120. One of the drivers lost control, drove through the median and the car rolled over. Once the car came to a rest, it was clear that all the occupants were injured. A 16-year-old girl died from her injuries.

A Honda and a Ford Focus are believed to have been racing on the highway with both vehicles being driven by teenage males. Authorities believe that the 2004 Honda attempted to pass the 2000 Ford and was unsuccessful. The driver of the Honda made a second attempt and lost control, causing that vehicle to crash.

In addition to the 17-year-old male driver, there were three passengers in the Honda. A 16-year-old female and a 20-year-old male were backseat passengers and both are believed to have been ejected from the car upon impact. A front seat 18-year-old male, the 17-year-old driver, and the 20-year-old male were taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where their conditions were not know.

The Ford was reportedly driven by a 19-year-old male and it was loaded with a 13-year-old female, a 15-year-old female, and a 16-year-old male. The Ford did not crash and there were no injuries in that vehicle.

Friends say that the teenagers were friends and that the drivers met up at a gas station in Grayslake earlier that day. The occupants of the Honda are believed to have been swimming at a friend’s pool earlier in the day and it is not clear where they were heading at the time of the crash.

Now both drivers face charges related to the incident. The driver of the Honda has been charged with reckless homicide, aggravated street racing, and driving without a valid license and without insurance. The driver of the Ford has been charged with aggravated street racing and having an expired vehicle registration.

Drag racing is incredibly dangerous for those involved and for other drivers on the road. It takes only a slight error or over-correction to send a speeding car out of control and into another vehicle or barrier. When this happens, people are likely to get hurt. In addition to the criminal and traffic charges pending against the two drivers in this case, they may face civil claims by those who were injured or by the family of the young girl who lost her life. The law allows victims to bring a claim for recovery against a negligent driver so that the driver can be held responsible for his actions.
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Downtown Chicago will celebrate the recent Blackhawks victory with a celebratory parade on Friday morning. The parade will begin near the United Center on Washington Street and Des Plaines Avenue and will travel east along Washington until it reaches Michigan Avenue, where the route will briefly jog north to Randolph and then south along Congress. The parade is set to being at 10:30 a.m. and will conclude near Grant Park with a rally scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at Hutchinson Field.

The parade will remind many in the city of the same celebration that took place after the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in 2010. But there will be some differences as police and city officials learned from that celebration and will make changes to make the 2013 parade even better. There will be barricades along the parade route and neither alcohol nor backpacks will be allowed in Grant Park. Access to Grant Park will be controlled and police will be searching bags of those who intend to participate in the rally. All of this is designed to keep the city safe, but there is only so much that the police can do to prevent incidents from occurring.

One thing to keep in mind is the possibility of vehicle-related accidents. With an expected 1.2 to 1.3 million participating in Friday’s events, the city will be bustling with activity. Blockades on the streets will force drivers to take alternative routes that may be confusing or less familiar to them. These drivers may also be looking for elusive parking spaces so they can enjoy the parade and once these cars are parked, their occupants will become pedestrians traveling the streets and sidewalks of the city. With a large number of vehicles and a large number of pedestrians present, chances are good that an incident between the two groups will occur. When a pedestrian is struck by a car, injuries almost always result and often the pedestrian is killed.

City officials are encouraging the use of public transportation on Friday to reduce vehicular traffic as much as possible. In addition to the CTA buses and trains within the city, Metra trains are offering a special $5 pass for travel on Friday to encourage suburban commuters to use the train. Pedestrians and parade-watchers are being strongly encouraged to heed the directions of police officers and to mind all barriers along the streets. The City of Chicago has warned that those who cross over parade barriers will risk arrest by doing so.

In addition to the pedestrian and vehicular congestion that is expected in Chicago, history suggests that there may be a lot of alcohol consumed, adding to some of the dangers that are already present. While the risk of drinking and driving is often publicized, it is important to realize that drinking in public while walking downtown has risks of its own. Alcohol makes pedestrians less aware of their surroundings and less cautious when crossing a street which can lead to collisions.
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