Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

Car crash on North Shore of Chicago kills 1, critically injures another

April 17, 2011 | By Dave Abels

An Illinois auto accident in suburban Northfield has claimed the life of a 22-year-old Chicago woman, Winnetka Talk is reporting. Another person was seriously injured in the collision that occurred on Friday.

The accident occurred at 2220 Willow Road. Northfield police are stating that the woman was eastbound on Willow when she crossed the center line for unknown reasons and struck a westbound driver head-on.

The woman was taken by ambulance to Evanston Hospital and pronounced dead hours later. The driver of the other vehicle, a 63 year old Glenview man, was also taken to Evanston Hospital. He was in critical condition.

Illinois DUI car accident causes death of woman at Balmoral Park Racetrack

April 15, 2011 | By Dave Abels

A Chicago area accident has resulted in the death of a woman, and criminal charges against an alleged drunk driver, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting. The accident occurred on Monday just after 5 AM at Balmoral Park Racetrack in Crete, Illinois.

Will County prosecutors allege a 41-year-old man was intoxicated when he drove his truck into a horse on the track, killing a woman that was riding it. They allege the motorist drank approximately five or six shots while at a barn at the track prior to the collision.

The victim, age 25, died from head injuries, while another woman riding on the horse, age 21, sustained a fractured leg which required surgery to repair.

Illinois Distracted Driving Summit aims to Reduce Risks of Distracted Driving Accidents

April 14, 2011 | By Dave Abels

Illinois officials and federal leaders are joining forces to determined the best way to reduce accidents involving distracted driving, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Illinois officials will be joined by various leaders from the medical, education, researched and traffic safety communities at a distracted driving summit planned for later this month. The focus will be on tackling the increase in distracted driving accidents in Chicago and the surrounding areas.

“I first met several of the founding members of FocusDriven at our Distracted Driving Summit, and I’m deeply impressed by their commitment to turn these tragic events into positive actions that will help save lives,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Their stories are not just heartbreaking; they’re also a clear and compelling call to action.”Our Chicago car accident lawyers understand the severity of the issue. Few accidents are accidents in the strictest sense of the word; many are caused by a driver who simply fails to pay attention. We urge all motorists to help keep the roads safer for everyone by avoiding distractions behind the wheel.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that, at any given moment, 9 percent of drivers are talking on their cell phone. This type of driving makes drivers four times more likely to be involved in a car crash, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.

“FocusDriven is an important organization that puts faces and names to the tragedies caused by cell phone use while driving,” said National Safety Council President Janet Froetscher. “The members of FocusDriven have powerful stories to tell about their loved ones. We hope their stories will help people realize the dangers of using cell phones while driving.”

The Government reports the following distracted driving trends

-Those between the ages of 15 and 20 have the highest proportion of distracted drivers involved in fatal accident.

-7 percent of drivers were reported to be distracted during the time of the accident in 2005, that number has now increased to 11 percent.

-Nearly 5,500 people were killed in accidents involving a distracted driver in 2009 — 16 percent of fatalities. Another 448,000 were reportedly injured under these conditions.

-Of the 1,517,000 accidents resulting in injury, an estimated 20 percent reportedly involved distracted driving.

The Illinois Distracted Driving summit offers online registration for this free event on the NSC website.
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The Operation Teen Safe Driving Program aims to help reduce risk of Illinois car accidents

April 12, 2011 | By Dave Abels

More than 100 schools statewide were selected to participate in the Operation Teen Safe Driving Program. Schools were asked to use their imagination and creativity to develop programs to help educate their peers about the importance of safe driving.

The Illinois Department of Transportation funds the program along with Ford Motor Company, the Allstate Foundation and Illinois State Police (ISP). This is the fourth year the program has been offered to our Illinois students. The program is offered in our region to help reduce the risks of teen driving accidents in Chicago and the surrounding areas.Our Chicago car accident lawyers understand the importance of these driving programs as they may have affected the recent decrease in Illinois teen motor-vehicle fatalities. Records show that teen driving fatalities have significantly decreased since the program began back in 2007.

“When I established the Teen Driver Safety Task Force the goal was to improve Illinois’ graduated driver licensing (GDL) law and, even more importantly, to save lives,” said Secretary of State Jesse White. “I am encouraged that teen driving deaths have dropped by 50 percent since the law took effect January 1, 2008. This law, in conjunction with the Operation Teen Safe Driving initiative, is having the intended impact on teen driving safety. My congratulations to the winners as well as to all schools that participated in this important program. Working together, we can save more lives and make Illinois roads safer for all of us.”

Thirty-five schools have been invited to join Ford Motor Company in Springfield for their Driving Skills for Life, “Ride and Drive” events. These events offer hands-on experiences with speed/space management, hazard recognition/accident avoidance and handling/skid control.

Students will be able to jump behind the wheel to complete rigorous driving exercises. In addition to event participation, the top five schools in each of our seven regions will receive cash prizes between $500 and $2,500 to host a post-prom event.

“The proper education of our teen drivers is a crucial component in the short and long term reduction of traffic crash fatalities,” said ISP Interim Director Patrick Keen. “The partnerships formed between public and private entities, and the accomplishments achieved by the students in the program, are a testament to the dedication of everyone involved in the Operation Teen Safe Driving program. The ISP is encouraged by the ongoing dialogue and commitment of these young adults who share their time, talents, and energy to promote awareness and safe driving practices.”

Car accidents are the leading cause of death in those 15 to 20 years of age. In the U.S., nearly 2,400 young drivers died in car accidents and roughly 196,000 were injured in 2009, showing a 15 percent decrease from 2008. Illinois suffered more than 130 fatalities from car accidents involving young drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 in 2009.

Ford’s Driving Skills for Life offers parents with this safe teen driving interactive toolkit to help educate their young drivers on how to travel safer on our roadways.
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Work Zone Safety Week Kicks Off by Raising Awareness of Chicago Work Accidents

April 8, 2011 | By Dave Abels

Chicago is teaming up with more than a dozen state agencies, road builders and unions to kick off Work Zone Safety Week. These safe work zone advocates gathered in Chicago to put Scott’s Law in the spotlight to help prevent Chicago work accidents, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers urge you to abide by the rules set forth by Scott’s Law, or the Move Over Law, to protect our road workers in construction areas and our emergency responders. Penalties for violating Scott’s Law can range from $100 to $10,000 and automatic license suspension.Scott’s Law was enacted in 2002 after Lieutenant Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department was killed by an intoxicated driver on the Dan Ryan Expressway. Since then, the Illinois State Police have issued nearly 19,000 citations to those who has failed to comply with the regulations, according to the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority.

“Every day, law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency response personnel, and highway workers place their lives in jeopardy to protect the citizens of the state of Illinois. The most important thing we do is to ensure citizens return home safely to their families,” said Illinois State Police (ISP) Director Larry G. Trent. “Scott’s Law helps these workers safely perform their duties so that they, too, can return home to their families each day.”

State Transportation Gary Hanning is urging drivers to proceed through these construction areas with a heightened sense of caution this spring. He urges motorists to obey the posted speed limits and to drive distraction-free without cell phone and other hand held devices.

The Chicago Tribune reports that more than 30 people were killed in work zone crashes last year. The transportation department reports the state is launching an $11.5 billion construction plan this year, that will include work on nearly 500 miles of road and 105 bridges this summer.

“Illinois State Police Troopers will strictly enforce work zone speed limits and the ‟move over„ law which requires motorists to slow down and, if possible, change lanes when approaching police, emergency or construction vehicles displaying flashing warning lights,” Interim Director Patrick Keen said. “We will also strictly enforce Distracted Driving laws which restrict the use of a cell phone in a construction zone and texting while driving.”

In the United States, motor-vehicle accidents are the leading cause or work-related fatalities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that approximately 5,700 fatalities are reported annually, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Illinois State Police Department offers you these tips to help you get through work zones and out of the way of emergency-responder vehicles without potential injuries or fines:

-Reduce speed. Maintain a safe speed for road conditions and obey all posted speed limits. These speed limits have a tendency to change with the amount of construction and workers present so be aware of all official signs.

-Proceed with caution. Yield to the right-of-way when changing lanes.

-Remember that under Scott’s Law you are required to proceed with caution, change lanes if possible and reduce your speed in any driving scenario involving these construction workers or emergency responders.
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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.
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Chicago hit-and-run accident kills pedestrian

April 4, 2011 | By Dave Abels

A deadly Chicago pedestrian accident on the North Side has claimed the life of a 75-year-old man, according to the Chicago Tribune. The collision occurred in Logan square just after 8 PM last Friday evening at the intersection of Kimball Avenue and North Avenue.

The victim was transported by ambulance to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County in critical condition and pronounced dead less than an hour later.

After the accident the driver involved fled the scene. Chicago police located the car in the 4700 block of W. Washington Blvd. The Chicago Police Department’s major accident investigation unit is now involved and a man has been taken into police custody.

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.
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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.
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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.