Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

Chicago car accident alert – one in seven weekend-night drivers test positive for drugs

August 2, 2009 | By Dave Abels

A new federal study released last month found one in every seven nighttime weekend drivers tested positive for drugs.

The Chicago car accident lawyers at Abels & Annes urge weekend drivers to remain on the lookout for erratic drivers. Studies have long shown drivers are most likely to be drunk and driving between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.

While the study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found the percentage of motorists driving drunk continued to decline, the study for the first time tested for drug use and the results were sobering:
– 16.3 percent of nighttime weekend drivers were drug positive.
– Marijuana (8.6 percent)
– Cocaine (3.9 percent)
– Medications (3.9 percent)

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said he is concerned about the prevalence of drivers who use drugs.

“I’m pleased to see that our battle against drunk driving is succeeding,” said Secretary LaHood. “However, alcohol still kills 13,000 people a year on our roads and we must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to prevent drunk driving.”

The percentage of drunk drivers identified in the survey has fallen from 7.5 percent in 1973 to 2.2 percent in the most recent survey. This study was the first to measure for the presence of drugs.

“This troubling data shows us, for the first time, the scope of drugged driving in America, and reinforces the need to reduce drug abuse,” said Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. “Drugged driving, like drunk driving, is a matter of public safety and health. It puts us all at risk and must be prevented.”

The NHTSA is conducting further research to assess how drug traces correspond to driver impairment since some drugs can remain in the body for days or even weeks.

Among the findings of the latest roadside survey:

– The percentage of male drivers with illegal BAC levels was 42 percent higher than the percentage of alcohol-impaired female drivers.

– Drivers were more likely to be illegally drunk during late nighttime hours (1 a.m. to 3 a.m.) than during daytime or early evening hours.

– Motorcycle riders were more than twice as likely as passenger vehicle drivers to be drunk (5.6 percent compared with 2.3 percent).

– Pickup truck drivers were the next most likely to have illegal BACs (3.3 percent).

Fatal motorcycle accidents on the rise in Chicago and across the country

July 31, 2009 | By Dave Abels

The Chicago-Sun Times is reporting about the ongoing increase in motorcycle fatalities, thanks in part to more riders, rising gas prices and increased interest in riding.

Nationwide, motorcycle fatalities increased for the 11th straight year and accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A total of 5,290 riders were killed nationwide in 2008, compared to 5,174 in 2007. That’s in sharp contrast to the drop in fatality rates in virtually every other category, including a 13 percent decline in motor vehicle fatalities.

The Sun-Times reported that the combination of inexperienced riders and drivers who aren’t used to seeing so many cycles on the road have helped push the number of motorcycle crashes in the seven-county region to 2,663 last year.

That’s up 22 percent from 2,180 just two years earlier, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

In Cook County alone, the number was 1,654 in 2008 — up 26 percent from 2006.

Overall, the number of motorcycles registered in Cook County and the adjacent counties was up 6 percent last year over 2006, according to figures from the Illinois secretary of state’s office.

The Chicago motorcycle accident lawyers and injury attorneys at Abels & Annes urge motorists to watch out for motorcyclists and bikers, and to drive & ride safely.

Now through Labor Day is the height of bike season in Illinois and bikers are often injured or killed by cars that pull into their path because they either don’t look or they misjudge the speed of the smaller motorcycle.

The Chicago motorcycle attorneys at Abels & Annes are active in promoting motorcycle safety and awareness.
Please take a moment and review our blog on 10 things driver should know about motorcycles.

Our look at the impact of distracted driving and motorcycle accidents.

And our blog on Summer Motorcycle Safety.
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Chicago auto accident on Dan Ryan injures 6 teens and infant

July 29, 2009 | By Dave Abels

In Chicago, Illinois 6 teens and an infant were hurt in a car accident on the Dan Ryan Expressway this past Friday night, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. It was a single vehicle car crash that took place in the northbound lanes at 87th Street just after 9 pm. Three people were ejected during the auto accident, according to the Illinois State Police.

The Chicago Fire Department transported 3 of the injured to the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital in critical condition, one critical to Stroger Hospital, one person with serious injuries to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and 2 people with serious injuries to Little Company of Mary Hospital. All of the significant injuries were to teens and the infant was not badly hurt.

The Illinois State Police are investigating the crash. The cause of the single car accident has not yet been reported.

Chicago Car Accident – 1 killed, 4 injured

July 27, 2009 | By Dave Abels

In Chicago, Illinois one person died and four were hurt in a car crash on the South Side, according to chicagobreakingnews.com. The auto accident involved two cars and occurred around 6:40 pm in the Woodlawn neighborhood on Sunday. One of the victims was a 9 year old pedestrian who was on a sidewalk and was hit by one of the vehicles.

The injured child was rushed to University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital. The others were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. The Cook County medical examiner’s office has stated that one man involved in the collision has died, but no further details have been made available.

The Chicago Police Department is handling the crash investigation, and the cause of the accident has not yet been reported.

Chicago truck accident injures six after rear-end collision on the Bishop Ford Expressway

July 25, 2009 | By Dave Abels

Six people were injured– three of them young children — in a Chicago trucking accident on Thursday.

The accident occurred when a car trying to enter the Bishop Ford Expressway collided with a semi-tractor trailer truck, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center.

A gold Buick LeSabre was rear-ended as it tried to merge onto the expressway at 130th Street. The Buick lost control and was hit by the trailer of the truck, pinning the victims.

Chicago motorcycle accident kills man in crash with friend

July 23, 2009 | By Dave Abels

A Chicago motorcycle rider was killed Friday night when his motorcycle collided with a friend, sending him into a wall on the Dan Ryan Expressway, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Chicago Breaking News Center identified the victim as a 49-year-old Chicago resident. He was declared dead just before midnight at Stroger Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The crash happened near 29th Street on the Dan Ryan and may have involved speed and/or alcohol, according to state police.

Chicago car accident reported after woman drivers straight into Curves

July 21, 2009 | By Dave Abels

Two customers at Curves fitness club suffered injures Saturday morning after a woman drove through the front of the business in Lake Zurich, the Daily Herald reported.

The 65-year-old driver was treated and released at the scene. The two customers were taken to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Lake Zurich for treatment.

The accident occurred at about 10 a.m. as the woman tried to pull into a parking place in front of the fitness center and instead crashed through two large panes of glass.

Chicago study finds increased highway speeds claims an additional 1,250 lives a year in car accidents

July 19, 2009 | By Dave Abels

Lifting the national 55 mph speed limit ban a decade ago has cost an additional 12,500 lives, according to an article the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Chicago car accident lawyers at Abels & Annes examined the dangers of speeding last month as part of its Summer Safe Driving Series.

Fatality rates for speeders are undisputed and increase exponentially with speed. That means an accident is not twice as likely to be fatal at 50 mph than at 25 mph — federal research shows it is 15 times more likely to be fatal.

The new study from University of Illinois at Chicago School of Health analyzed speed-related traffic fatalities and injuries between 1995 and 2005, the 10-year period after the repeal of the National Maximum Speed Law.

The change in law allowed states to post their own limits on interstate roads.

Automobile deaths related to the increase, which numbered 12,500 over the decade, would shrink significantly with lower speed limits, according to the research.

The study, which was published in U.S. News & World Report, also attributed 36,582 injuries in fatal crashes to higher speed limits implemented during the 1995-2005 study period.

“Our study clearly shows that policy can directly result in more deaths as well as reducing deaths on our country’s roads,” said lead researcher Lee S. Friedman of the division of environmental and occupational health sciences in the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois, Chicago.”I’m not saying that speed will cause a crash. But when you’re in a crash, speed will definitely increase your risk of being injured and increase your risk of severity of injury, as well as your risk of dying.”

Researchers found a 3.2 percent increase in deaths because of higher speed limits on all types of roads in the United States. The largest increase — 9.1 percent — was on rural interstates, followed by urban interstates at 4 percent.

“These roads were the main focus of raised speed limits,” they noted.

Some states had imposed a 65 mph limit. Others went to 70, and still others, 75. The solution, said Friedman, is to bring back the 55 mph speed limit.

“Reduced speed limits would save lives,” Friedman said. “They would also reduce gas consumption, cut emissions of air pollutants, save valuable years of productivity and reduce the societal cost of motor vehicle crashes.”

Chicago bicycle attorneys represent cyclist injured in rear-end colllision

July 17, 2009 | By Dave Abels

The Chicago bicycle lawyers at Abels & Annes are representing a cyclist injured last week (July 8) after being rear-ended by a driver.

The client was northbound on LaSalle in the bike lane. As he approached Schiller he was rear-ended.

The at-fault driver was ticketed and the client was taken by Chicago Fire Department ambulance to the emergency room at Northwestern where he was treated for injuries to his left leg and foot and multiple abrasions.

The Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes continue to see vehicles colliding with bicyclists on a regular basis. Please remember, cyclists have the same rights on the road as a motor vehicle.

The Illinois Department of Transportation is running a public service announcement this summer. “There is plenty of room for us all, Please Don’t Squeeze,” emphasizes the legal requirements to give cyclists at least three feet of clearance when making a pass.

IDOT estames more than 4,000 Illinois residents are seriously injured each year in bicycle accidents. Nationwide, cyclists join motorcycle riders as the only group to see an increase in accidents and fatalities during 2008, which saw a historic drop in accident rates for passenger cars and trucks, according to annual statistics released this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In 2008, 716 cyclists were killed, compared to 701 in 2007. The 52,000 riders who were injured was a 21 percent increase from the 43,000 hurt in 2007 — by far the largest increase in any category.

In Illinois, cycling fatalities jumped from 18 to 27; the state estimates another 4,000 are seriously injured each year.

High gas prices and a down economy has more people riding bicycles out of necessity than ever before. Thousands more bicycle for recreation and fitness– taking advantage of Chicago’s extensive system of bike trails, which is slated to grow to more than 500 miles by 2015.

An excellent map of Chicago-area bike paths and trails is available by clicking here.

As a motorist, please remember: Each bicycle on the road is one less car adding to the congestion. Please give our bicycling friends and neighbors a break. Every bicycle accident has the potential to be very serious or life threatening.
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Chicago car accident lawyers examine dangers of drunk driving as part of Sumer Safe Driving Series

July 15, 2009 | By Dave Abels

One out of every three fatal traffic crashes in 2008 was alcohol related, according to statistics released this month by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In fact, Mothers Against Drunk Driving calls DUI the most frequently committed violent crime in the United States.

Nationwide, fatal alcohol-related crashes dropped from 13,041 in 2007 to 11,773 in 2008.

And, while alcohol-involved traffic fatalities in Illinois also declined, from 1,248 in 2007 to 1,043 in 2008, the overall rate of alcohol fatalities was slightly higher than the national average.

Alcohol-related fatal crashes are four-times more likely to occur at night than during the day and 1.5 times more likely to occur on the weekend.

The Chicago personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes urge you to take this issue seriously, use a designated driver, call a cab or stay where you are if you have had too much to drink.

Those driving late at night — particularly on the weekend — should also be vigilant in watching for and avoiding erratic drivers.

As part of its Summer Safe Driving series, Abels & Annes looks at some of the issues surrounding drunk driving in Illinois.

Illinois has taken some tough steps to combat drunk driving: On Jan. 1 it became one of only six states to require a first-time DUI offender to have a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices installed on his or her vehicle as a condition of gaining driving privileges.

Illinois offers a DUI Factbook where motorists can get a host of information on the state’s DUI laws, penalties and programs to combat drunk driving. According to the book, the state’s legal limit of .08 would be surpassed by a 170 pound man consuming four drinks in one hour or a 137 pound woman consuming three drinks in an hour.

A drink is defined as a can of beer, glass of wine or shot of liquor.

A shocking 86 percent of drivers who failed a breath test in 2007 tested between .10 and .24, which is three-times the legal limit.

Additionally, the state reports a person’s risk of having a crash begins to increase significantly at .04 — half the legal limit — and increases substantially thereafter.

Common remedies like fresh air, coffee, food or a shower will not help a person get sober.

The state’s 2007 statistics reports 2 of every 5 traffic fatalities are alcohol related.

• 503 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes, which was 40 percent of the 1,249 total crash fatalities.

• More than 49,600 DUI arrests were recorded by the Secretary of State’s office.

• 92 percent of all drivers arrested for DUI, who were eligible, lost their driving privileges.

• 2,516 drivers under age 21 lost their driving privileges due to “Use It & Lose It” law violations.

• 20 percent of those arrested for DUI are women, who represent 50 percent of all licensed drivers.

• Males ages 21-24 had the highest DUI arrest rate (about 26 per 1,000 licensed drivers). This rate was four times greater than that of all other drivers arrested for DUI (6 per 1,000 licensed drivers).

• 83 percent of all drivers arrested for DUI are first offenders.

The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office reports the average DUI offender is:

• male (80 percent arrested are men);

• age 34 (61 percent are under age 35);

• arrested between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. on a weekend; and
• caught driving with a BAC of .16 – twice the illegal limit.

Penalties for a DUI can range from a 6-month license suspension to 30 years in prison for habitual offenders or DUI traffic crashes resulting in serious injury or death.