Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

Our Chicago car accident lawyers encourage those who have been in a serious accident to gather as much evidence at the scene as possible. This often includes photos taken by you or a relative, which can be invaluable in fighting for your rights long after a crash.

Now you can record video in real time … just in case. As we continue to report technologies impact on driving safety — both the good and the bad — the story of a Knoxville man who used a cell-phone app to help track down a hit-and-run driver is certainly out there on the cutting edge.

Nic Bender’s vigilance might be a bit extreme, but it certainly proves the technological point. He had just dropped his kid off at daycare when he was sideswiped by a passing sedan that didn’t stop. Other drivers might have been flummoxed. But not our Nic. He had decided to use a smartphone application called Daily Road Voyager … just in case.

His cell phone attaches to the car windshield and the application records his commute. Knoxville police say the resulting video is legitimate evidence that will be used as part of the investigation.

“Technology is changing, so we do expect to see more of this in the future,” Knoxville Police spokesman Darrell DeBusk told NBC10 News. “It is getting to the point where you cannot go out into public without the possibility of being recorded by someone.”

We’re not sure Chicagoans are going to record their vehicle’s every move just in case they are involved in a fender bender — but we are not so sure the technology won’t be standard equipment installed by car makers in the not-too-distant future.

As a general rule, motorists in an accident should take pictures of the scene whenever possible. Such evidence can prove useful if a lawsuit results. Road conditions change. Weather changes. Vegetation may grow or be trimmed back. Buildings may be constructed or torn down. Street signs or signals may be removed or added.

Gathering as much information from the scene — including the names and contact information of any witnesses — is always a good idea.

Nic’s just a step ahead of the rest of us.

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In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported over 4,500 fatal crashes were at intersections or intersection-related. This is disturbing considering design changes of intersections have been on-going for the last 25 years.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers have followed the debate over the affects of red light cameras, and whether they can reduce the number of Illinois car accidents that occur each year at intersections.The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration summed it up best when the feds said that intersections are the most complex traffic situation drivers encounter on a daily basis.

Even with resources dedicated to intersection safety from AAA, FHWA, the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the NHTSA, nearly 21% of all traffic fatalities are still occurring at intersections.

NHTSA reports that Illinois is at its lowest total of intersection related fatalities in 5 years. With roughly 200 intersections having red light cameras installed throughout the city, fatal intersection crashes are decreasing but the less severe rear-end collisions have increased. These can still lead to serious or even fatal injuries.

It is clear that conventional intersection designs can’t handle the volume of traffic we have today. The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration in April 2010 released the Alternative Intersections/Interchanges: Informational Report that explains 4 alternative designs for intersections.

Though these alternative designs are very different from each other all have one goal in mind: The elimination of left turn lanes, which many safety advocates believe is the key to making intersections safer. These designs eliminate at least one left turn lane. In the days when vehicle speeds were slower and the volume of traffic was not as heavy, the idea of turning left in front of oncoming traffic wasn’t as dangerous. These days it is downright treacherous to make a left turn at many intersections in the city and the statistics prove it. Not only are motorists at high risk but left turns substantially increase the risk of a Chicago pedestrian accident or bicycle accident.

Decreasing the number of left turn lanes will also mean shorter waits at traffic signals and an increased volume of traffic getting through the intersection.Until then, only in NASCAR is turning left a no-brainer.

Intersections are a challenge to any motorist. Regardless of their design, nothing replaces safe driving skills. Please make it a point to use extra caution at intersections this spring and use special care in watching for bicyclists, pedestrians and motorcycles.
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Eleven people have been injured in two separate Illinois auto accidents on the southbound Dan Ryan that occurred on Sunday morning, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The crashes occurred only around 30 minutes apart, leaving police asking what caused the accidents, as the road conditions were good.

The first crash occurred just after 8:30 AM around 33rd St. in the express lanes. Five people were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

The second collision occurred just after 9 AM in an area between the local and express lanes near 26 Street. Six people were taken by ambulance to the hospital and the collision involved nine vehicles.