Chicago Accident Lawyer Blog

As reported in Speeding Car Causes Multi-Vehicle Crash on Far South Side, a driver traveling at a high rate of speed south on Ewing Avenue caused a 4 vehicle pileup. Witnesses say the 1992 Oldsmobile Sierra possibly reached a speed of 100 mph. The Oldsmobile collided with a Dodge Durango headed east on 106th Avenue. Police News Affairs officer John Mirabelli said, “That set off a chain reaction that included a Cadillac CTS and a Chevrolet Malibu.” The accident which occurred at the intersection of 106th street and Ewing Avenue left two people in serious to critical condition. One of the injured was the driver of the Oldsmobile.
The car accident which occurred around 7:30 Sunday morning caused major traffic delays. The streets were blocked to allow police to conduct an investigation and as a result the CTA South Chicago bus route, No. 30, had to be rerouted. According to the CTA the No. 30 buses were back on schedule as of 10:25 a.m. Police investigated the crash and no citations or charges have been issued as of 10:30 a.m.
Accidents such as these can be avoided if drivers reduce speed and abide by the rules of the road. Such measures allow people to save money on personal injury lawsuits and save lives. The careless actions and negligence of the Oldsmobile driver have caused damages against himself and another person, damages that the victim should not be responsible for.

Continue reading "Speeding Driver on Chicago’s Far South Side Causes Pileup " »

The Sun-Times Media has reported that Cecil Conner (24) was sentenced today in Will County Court to 9 ½ years in prison for a fatal DUI crash that claimed the life of his girlfriend’s 5 year old son last May of 2010. Conner was facing from three to 14 years in prison after being convicted of two counts of aggravated DUI. Chicago accident and injury attorneys Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. have handled cases involving auto accidents, with excellent results for their clients. They can help give you peace of mind by dealing with the insurance companies and medical care providers first hand.

Continue reading "Chicago Man Sentenced for Fatal DUI Accident" »

This past Friday, January 13, expert toxicologist Jennifer Bash told jurors she feels Chicago Police Officer Richard Bolling was legally drunk at the time of his May 2009 crash, per The Chicago Red Eye. Richard is currently on trial for aggravated DUI, reckless homicide, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Officer Richard allegedly hit and killed a 13 year old boy on a bike, with his Dodge Charger. Richard was off duty at the time of the hit and run, and was pulled over shortly after for driving the wrong way down a one-way street. Prosecutors alleged that Richard’s car had blood on it, a cracked windshield, and an open bottle of beer in the front console. Chicago accident attorneys Zneimer and Zneimer p.c. are experts in auto accident cases. Many of which are hit and run cases and DUI cases.

Continue reading "Expert Predicts Chicago Officer was Intoxicated at Time of Crash" »

In this day and age, everyone has a cell phone, from children to senior citizens. They certainly are a convenience since you can use them to listen to music, text, surf the internet, check your email, take photos, play games, and the list goes on and on. What is alarming however, is that today more and more people are driving while texting. Texting while driving has gone up 50% last year despite many states rushing to ban it. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration measures this by staking out certain stoplights and intersections and counting the people using cell phones and other hand held devices. As it turns out, at any given moment, approximately 1% of people are manipulating their cell phone while driving. While that number may seem low, it is basically saying that 1 out of 100 cars that drive by you today may hit you because they were busy texting. Cell phones have certainly added to the number of distractions drivers already have while behind the wheel. A distracted driver is a big problem since they may be more likely to cause an accident. Chicago injury attorneys Zneimer and Zneimer handle distraction related auto accidents on a regular basis. It’s estimated that in 2010, 3,092 deaths in crashes were caused by distractions.

Continue reading "Texting While Driving Increase" »

A plan to use cameras to enforce speed limits around schools and parks in Chicago has passed the Illinois House and is on its way to Governor Quinn for signature. Chicago Mayor Emanuel stated: "I commend the Illinois House for their leadership in voting to protect our children around schools and parks" Under the plan, speeders going 6 mph to 10 mph over the speed limit would face $50 fines and those going 11 mph and over would face the full $100 ticket. The cameras would run in school zones from 6 a.m. to 8:30 am Monday through Thursday and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays. The cameras near city parks would still run one hour before opening until one hour after closing. Chicago Tribune analysis predicts that "safety zone" cameras would cover nearly half the city. Opponents argue that the cameras are more about generating revenue from tickets than they are about safety. Indeed, CDOT studies point to the possibility of the city generating over $150 million a year from tickets. In one study, two south side intersections on Western Ave. were monitored with speed cameras over a period of one month in 2008 and it was found that that 23% of drivers or 19,660 drivers were speeding 5 mph over the speed limit.

Supporters of the measure argue that the speed cameras will make the streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. Ron Burke, executive director of Active Transportation Alliance stated that his organization supports the measure adding that "automated speed enforcement will slow down cars, which makes our neighborhoods more walkable and bike-friendly".

The personal injury law firm of Zneimer & Zneimer have handled many cases of inured pedestrians and injured bicyclists hit by speeders. The law could help to slow down motorists but will be very unpopular with anyone who gets a ticket.

New bicycle lanes have been constructed in downtown Chicago. The lanes are marked by flexible posts and run a half-mile on Kinzie Street from Milwaukee Avenue to Wells Street. For a short section of this route, bicyclists are separated from moving traffic by a parked car lane. These are welcome improvements but its only a tiny section of roadway. The rest of the bike route down Milwaukee headed downtown is no more than painted lines that disappear at intersections. The personal injury law firm of Zneimer & Zneimer have represented injured bicyclists in Chicago who were on this Milwaukee route when they were injured. Though Milwaukee Avenue has numerous bicyclists in the morning headed to downtown Chicago, little has been done to make the route safe for bicyclists. Cars and trucks regularly park and drive in the so called "bike lanes" with out any ramifications. When the bicyclists reach any intersection even the meager bike lanes disappear and the bikers are left to their own devices to weave amongst cars and trucks to cross the intersection. The Chicago bicycle injury attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer encourages Mayor Emanuel to keep doing more for bicyclists to make biking safer in Chicago.

Animal lovers teamed with Chicago police and Chicago Streets and Sanitation workers to save a mother duck and her five ducklings who wandered on to Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. The mother duck and her ducklings were saved but attempting to save animals on the roadway can also be very dangerous. The Chicago lawyers of Zneimer and Zneimer encourage extreme caution and be aware of the extreme dangers of personal injury or death. On May 30, 2011, Edward Gardner of Naperville, Illinois was stuck and killed by a limousine as he tried to help baby fowl cross I-294.

Chicago Tribune reporter Alissa Groeninger asked an expert what to do. Sgt. Juan Valenzuela of the Illinois State Police advises that if a motorist sees animals in the roadway they should contact state or local police and should never try to clear the animals themselves. He adds that motorists are not equipped with emergency lights or warning devices that the police have so motorists should leave it up to the police or Illinois Department of Transportation workers.

1.5 million Americans sustain traumatic brain injuries annually and 75% of those injuries are considered "mild" according to the federal Centers for Disease Control. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) is commonly overlooked and not diagnosed. The Chicago injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer have represented accident victims with MTBI which are often difficult cases since the defense attorneys usually present a "hired gun" neurologist, psychiatrist or neuropsychologist expert to claim that the plaintiff is either malingering or he or she is imagining his or her symptoms.

As a result of an impact to the head or of a sudden strong movement to the head, an accident victim that suffers a MTBI may experience a brief change in mental status such as confusion, disorientation or loss of memory. The accident victim may also experience a brief loss of consciousness. People with MTBI may have normal MRI and CAT scans and still have cognitive and concentration problems, headache, memory problems, mood swings and other problems that persist. Sometimes close friends, family members and loved ones will notice the changes even more than the person with MTBI. However, victims of MTBI will often look and act normal to people who do not have a close relationship with the person with MTBI. The Chicago injury attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer believe it is important to speak with close friends and family members of persons with MTBI to see if they noticed a change in the injured person after the accident. The accident victim may also need to see a specialist such as a neurologist, psychiatrist or neuropsychologist to properly diagnose the condition.

With the aim of reducing injuries to children who are involved in car accidents, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Safety Administration (NHSA) have changed their recommendations for car seats and children. It is now suggested that infants remain in rear-facing seats until they reach the age of two. Based on research, rear facing seats support infants head and neck better in a car accident. The Chicago car accident attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer have handled cases for children injured in automobile crashes and have seen the most serious injuries for children not put in a car seat as required by Illinois law.

The NHSA has also changed its recommendations regarding elementary school children. Before, parents were advised to keep their children in booster seats until they are 8 years old. The new recommendation is that children should be kept in a booster seat until that are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall.

Illinois law requires that children under the age of 8 years old be secured in the appropriate child safety seat. Persons in violation of this law are subject to a $50.00 fine for the first offense and $100.00 fine for subsequent offenses.

As Chicago personal injury law firm, the attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have noticed that we have been handling more and more cases involving distracted defendants who were either texting or on the cell phone when he or she caused a collision involving a personal injury. Even more egregious, our Chicago personal injury law firm is currently handling two separate case where the defendant dropped their cell phone on the floor of their cars and were looking for the cell phone on the floor when they ran into our clients, causing serious injuries in both cases.

Although texting has been illegal for motorists in Illinois since January 1, 2010, surprisingly, a recent Chicago Tribune online survey indicated that 40% of Illinois Tollway customers were unaware of the law.

Distracted driving is no trivial matter. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports the following statistics on its web site:

•20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. (NHTSA).

•Of those killed in distracted-driving-related crashed, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction (18% of fatalities in distraction-related crashes). (NHTSA)

•In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted driving. (FARS and GES)

•The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group – 16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving. (NHTSA)

•Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

•Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)

Thousands of car accidents each year are believed to be caused by unrestrained pets experts say. However, only the state of Hawaii has a law that prohibits drivers from driving with a pet on their lap. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration calculates that in 2009, 5,474 people were killed and 448,000 people were injured by distracted drivers in the United States. Cell phones are considered the top distraction but not the only distraction. Children and pets are also considered to be a major distraction for drivers. Author Stephen King suffered several broken bones as a result of being hit by a driver who claims that he was distracted by his dog. The Chicago personal injury attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer PC have handled one case where the driver who rear-ended our client was distracted by a Great Dane dog that he had unrestrained in the back seat of his car.

Two Lane Tech High School students were injured on Wednesday outside of Lane Tech High School in Chicago when 61 year old man lost control of his car and crashed into the side of a sandwich shop at the intersection of Addison and Western Ave. Lane Tech has an open campus and there were a number of students walking around the area. A huge crash was felt inside Hero's Sandwich Shop. Both girls had been crossing West Addison Street when they were struck. Police said that one girl suffered a broken ankle and was treated for minor injuries. It was not determined why the drive lost control of his car.

Lane Tech has many students crossing Western Ave. and Addison Ave. in Chicago during school hours. Its important that drivers drive slowly and watch out for students who cross in the middle of the block. The Chicago personal injury attorneys at Zneimer & Zneimer have handled cases for injured students and injured bicyclist injured right outside of Lane Tech so we know from experience that this is a dangerous area and drivers need to exercise caution when driving in this area.

Beginning January 1, 2011, a driver found guilty of driving 40 mph or faster over the speed limit in Illinois will no longer qualify for court supervision, which keeps moving violations off a driver's driving record. The maximum penalty for driving 40 mph or more over the speed limit is up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine. The toughest penalty for going at least 30 mph over the speed limit is six months in jail and a $500 fine. As a Chicago personal injury lawyer, I know from experience that speed causes injuries and sometimes kills. The law firm of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. has handled numerous cases for individuals injured by persons driving in excess of the speed limit, especially on residential streets. For too long in the Chicago area speeding has not been taken as seriously as it should be, given the injuries and deaths that speeding has been responsible for. A Chicago Tribune study of state police tickets, license data and court records demonstrated that Chicago area judges gave supervision to about two-thirds of drivers who were driving over 100 mph. Senate President John Cullerton D-Chicago who sponsored the new law specifically cited the Chicago Tribune's article as inspiration for the tougher law.

As personal injury attorneys in Chicago, concentrating in representing victims of serious car crashes, we are surprised by the results of a AAA study which found that one in eight car accidents where someone went to the hospital was caused by a sleepy driver. The study also found that sixteen percent of car accidents resulting in a wrongful death were caused by sleepy drivers. The AAA study was conducted for a ten year period ending in 2008.

Sleepy drivers, according to medical professionals, have impaired judgment and reflexes. Many experts compare driving while sleepy to the effects of driving while under the influence.

A study in the American Journal of Public Health estimated sending text messages while driving led to accidents that killed approximately 16,000 people from 2001 to 2007. The same study concluded that deaths because of "distracted driving" surged from 4,572 in 2005 to 5,870 in 2008. With more people texting all the time, distracted driving is becoming a bigger safety hazard.

Chicago is trying to be a bicycle friendly city, and yet sharing the city streets with automobiles is full of hazards, even for experienced bikers. Danger to bikers lurks everywhere: from moving traffic, from careless drivers who open the doors of their parked cars without looking out for bikers, from dangerous pavements and obstacles on the road. It is time to review some safety tips that will help in avoiding bicycle accidents:

First, wear a helmet to protect your brain and save your life. Traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes of death in bicycle accidents.

Make sure that your bicycle is a proper fit. If you need to adjust the seat height and handlebar height, make sure you do so before hitting the road.

Make sure that the bicycle is in good condition and its tires are properly inflated.

Wear bright clothes so that you can be seen. Wear neon, fluorescent, loud and obnoxious colors. You want to be seen. Keep in mind that just because you see a driver, does not mean that the driver can see you.

Watch for road hazards such as potholes, loose gravel, broken glass, puddles.

Try not to ride in the dark. Darkness is far more dangerous for bikers than daylight because you are harder to see. If you have to ride at night, make sure you can be seen and that your bike has reflectors.

Obey the rules of the road. Many bicycle-related crashes resulting in injury or death are caused by bicyclist’s behavior, including not wearing a bicycle helmet, riding into a street without stopping, turning left or swerving into traffic that is coming from behind, running a stop sign, and riding the wrong way in traffic.

If you have suffered a bicycle-related injury, call the Chicago personal injury attorneys for a free consultation.

A Chicago driver, Kimisha Moore, 19, was on her cell phone and was driving 60 mph when she approached a stopped emergency vehicles on the Dan Ryan in Chicago. The distracted driver struck a state trooper who was standing on the shoulder and was engaged in a traffic stop investigation. The trooper suffered a smashed pelvis and two broken legs. The distracted driver was charged with aggravated reckless conduct, a felony and bond was set at $50,000.

The State Police issued a plea for drivers to stay off their cell phones and to slow down and change lanes when drivers see emergency vehicles stopped along the shoulder.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that almost 6,000 people are killed each year by distracted drivers and 50,000 are injured in auto accidents by distracted drivers.

Between 1994 to 2008 there have been close to 6,000 traffic fatalities in Cook County according to an analysis done by Scripps Howard News Service. Of these 6,000 fatalities, nearly one-third were linked to drinking.

The same study found that the Cook County portion of I-94, which runs mostly through Chicago, is the 11th most dangerous road in the nation for fatal auto accidents with 304 fatalities between 1994 and 2008.

The law firm of Zneimer & Zneimer agreed to represent an injured bicyclist who was rear-ended on Western Ave. near Lane Tech High School in Chicago. The driver who struck the bicyclist was a student at Lane Tech High School who told police that he was retrieving his cell phone from the floor of his car when he rear-ended the bicyclist. Fortunately, the bicyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

This bicycle accident shows that even if the bicyclist is very careful, the bicyclist is still at the mercy of drivers who are not paying attention. That is why it is so important to wear protective clothing. A bicycle helmet is a must if one plans to ride on busy roads like Western Ave. in Chicago.

A Pontiac mini van blew a tire on the Dan Ryan in Chicago on Saturday, causing the the vehicle to spin and then crash into the side of a truck. Two children and one adult were ejected from the van. None of the persons who were ejected were wearing seat belts and all three were injured and are now in critical condition at University of Chicago Hospital.

The law firm of Zneimer and Zneimer urges everyone to wear seat belts at all times and to make children in the vehicle wear theirs. Anything can happen while driving.

Luis Valdivia-Segoviano of Chicago Heights, Illinois was struck by a car and killed while he was standing outside his vehicle on IL-394 near Lynwood, Illinois. The motorist who stopped in front of him and to whom he was talking was also stuck and injured by the same vehicle and is in critical condition at Good Samaritan Hospital.

This is the second fatality in less than a week of someone standing outside their car on the highway in the the near Chicago area when they were struck and killed, emphasizing how dangerous it is to exit ones car on the highway.

Chicago Illinois is a major city, and like most large urban areas, tend to have a vast amount of auto accidents. Chicago’s Michigan Ave. seems to be a hot spot for, not just auto accidents, but accidents that involve personal injury.
A recent Chicago Sun-Times article highlights such accidents and injuries:
“Four people were critically injured in an auto accident on Michigan Avenue near Grant Park early Sunday.
At 4:10 a.m., police responded to an auto accident involving at least three vehicles at 450 S. Michigan Ave., according to police News Affairs Officer Hector Alfaro. Several people were injured, he said, but it was not immediately known how many.
At 4:20 a.m., fire personnel were notified and responded to an auto accident at South Michigan Avenue and East Congress Parkway, according to Fire Media Affairs Chief Kevin MacGregor.
An EMS Plan 1 was called for the accident, he said. Four people were critically injured and several refused treatment.
Two people were taken in critical condition to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County; one was taken in critical to Mount Sinai Hospital; and one was taken in critical to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, MacGregor s”
Driving in a city the size of Chicago, or any city, can be a hazardous activity, but when injuries tend to be common there needs to be some action taken. Whether it be, slow down, stricter traffic laws or compensation for personal injury, some action needs to be taken. When injured in an auto accident reporting such injury and seeking legal counsel is imperative to gaining the compensation deserved.
Accidents will always happen, drive safe, follow all traffic laws, and pay attention to other drivers. When all steps are followed and you have inevitably gotten into an accident, seek legal counsel, know your rights, and follow through with the steps to hold others accountable for their failure to do the same.

A new law amends Section 625 ILCS 5/3-707 of the Illinois Vehicle Code making it a misdemeanor to injure someone while driving without insurance. Violators could spend up to a year in jail or face a $2,500 fine.

The amendment reads as follows:

625 ILCS 5/3-707
(a-5) A person commits the offense of operation of uninsured motor vehicle causing bodily harm when the person:
(1) operates a motor vehicle in violation of Section 7-601 of this Code; and
(2) causes, as a proximate result of the person's operation of the motor vehicle, bodily harm to another person.
(a-6) Uninsured operation of a motor vehicle under subsection (a-5) is a Class A misdemeanor.

This law will have especially serious consequences for undocumented aliens who drive without license or liability insurance. The law will also have serious consequences even for aliens who are lawfully in the United States in a valid nonimmigrant status since the commission of any crime is considered a violation of nonimmigrant status under the immigration law, which will make an alien removable from the United States for violation of status.

Records compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that driver distraction is a significant factor in traffic crashes resulting in injury or death. The use of a cell phone while driving can increase the chances of becoming involved in a crash by 400 percent.

On January 1, 2010, two new traffic laws take effect in Illinois.

The first traffic law restricts drivers under the age of 19 (with an instruction permit or graduated license) from using a wireless or cellular phone while driving. This law law also prohibits the use of wireless telephones for all drivers, regardless of age, while operating a vehicle in a school zone or construction zone.

The law provides an exception to exclude a GPS or navigation system, and creates an exception to the electronic message prohibition for a driver using an electronic communication device while parked on the shoulder of a roadway, and creates an exception for a driver using an electronic communication device when the vehicle is stopped due to normal traffic being obstructed and the driver has the motor vehicle transmission in neutral or park.

The second traffic law prohibits text messaging, composing, reading or sending electronic messages, or accessing internet sites while driving a motor vehicle in a school speed zone or a construction or maintenance speed zone, except for a person engaged in a highway construction or maintenance project for which a construction or maintenance speed zone has been established when the person is using a wireless telephone in furtherance of that project.

The law adds exceptions for specified emergency purposes and law enforcement officers or emergency vehicle operators when performing their official duties. It also adds an exception to wireless telephone in school and construction zones prohibition for a person using a wireless telephone in voice-activated mode.

In the United States during 2008, 968 children ages 14 years and younger died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes, and approximately 168,000 were injured. A CDC study published in the May 3, 2000 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that 64% of the children who died in car crashes were riding in the vehicle with a drinking driver. The drinking driver was typically old enough to be the age of the child's parent or caregiver. The study also found that as the blood alcohol concentration of the child's driver increased, child restraint use decreased. The statistics is grim:

• Fifteen percent of occupant deaths among children ages 0 to 14 years involved a drinking driver.
• More than two-thirds of fatally injured children were killed while riding with a drinking driver.
• Restraint use among young children often depends upon the driver’s seat belt use. Almost 40% of children riding with unbelted drivers were themselves unrestrained.
• Child restraint systems are often used incorrectly. One study found that 72% of nearly 3,500 observed car and booster seats were misused in a way that could be expected to increase a child’s risk of injury during a crash.

These are preventable deaths. People who decide to sit behind the wheel impaired must remember that they are responsible not only for their own safety, but for the safety of others.

Drivers who do not take the time to completely defrost their windows drive with a dramatically reduced field of vision. As Sargent Scott Kristiansen of the Buffalo Grove Police Department in suburban Chicago pointed out in a USA Today article: "Reasonable people who would never think of leaving their driveway with worn tires or bad brakes will routinely drive their children to school after scraping just a small peephole with which to see out of the vehicle." In Illinois a driver can be cited for anything an officer deems to "materially obstruct" a driver's vision.

As of January 1, 2010, Illinois makes texting while driving illegal. Specifically, the new law prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle while using an electronic communications device to compose, send, or read an electronic message

A study published by the journal of Human Factors concluded that texting drivers are six times more likely to crash than drivers who are not texting. Using simulator vehicles, researchers concluded that texting is even significantly more dangerous than using a cell phone. People on cell phones are four times more likely to crash than drivers who are not on a cell phone studies have shown. In Chicago and in the whole state of Illinois, as of January 1, 2010 it will be illegal to text and drive.

On Thursday, October 8,2009, a truck accident occurred by a Northwest Side shopping center leaving a total of three adults and two children injured. The truck apparently struck a parked car and then a tree. It happened just north of the Riverview Plaza Shopping Center. All four of the truck's passengers were taken to nearby hospitals including the driver himself.

Apparently the driver will be charged with a DUI in the case. This could open him up to civil suits for negligence. He did not apply due care in his driving by drinking alcohol prior to driving and the DUI shows he was clearly over the limit to be able to operate a vehicle.

Drinking and driving is just a bad idea. Not only would you face charges in court that might find you having to pay a fine, give up your license for a period or worse, but if you harm other people in the process you will be subject to civil procedure in having to pay things such as medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, etc.

Next time you've had too much to drink remember to hand the keys over to a sober driver before you get in that car.

Kelly Holleran from the Madison Record reports that a mother is suing, on behalf of her minor daughter, the driver of the car her daughter was in for driving above the speed limit and for failing to exercise due care. She is also suing for herself as well.

The mother claims that the driver of the car was speeding upwards of 60-70 miles per hour. This, she claims, caused the driver to lose control of the car and they went off the roadway and the car flipped at least three times before ejecting her daughter and coming to a stop. Both mother and daughter received injuries from the auto accident that included severe and permanently disfiguring injuries that precluded them from normal work plus mental and physical anguish. The mother is claiming over $100,000 plus costs in damages.

Be aware that driving over the speed limit does not help one's case in matters like these. The speed limit may be up for negotiation but due care is definitely a case for the mother and daughter. The driver's duty is to the other cars on the road and to his/her passengers to drive in a manner that is careful to all of them. Did the driver do all that she could to prevent the accident? Did she slow down?

Drivers should be aware that although they may be going the speed limit they may still be liable for an accident. Would slowing down have prevented an accident? Would changing lanes have helped? All these types of things are taken into account. Driver beware.

Data released by the Illinois Department of Transportation's Division of Traffic Safety shows that more people are killed in motor vehicle accidents that occur between midnight and 3 a.m. than any other time of the day. Illinois law enforcement officials blame drinking drivers and drivers who don't buckle up their safety belts. Data for the years 2005-2008 shows that 73 percent of drivers who died in late-night motor vehicle accidents were not using their seat belts.

Illinois law enforcement is mounting a campaign to crackdown on alcohol impaired drivers, and drivers who are not using their seat belts. These efforts will be ongoing through Labor Day. Illinois State Police will be joined by over 300 local law enforcement agencies in conducting 200 roadside safety checks. Law enforcement agencies will be conducting alcohol impaired driving saturation patrols and night safety belt patrols. Illinois motorists should be aware that impaired driving or not wearing their seat belts could lead to an arrest or a traffic ticket.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ) estimates that 13,250 lives were saved in 2008 because people in passenger vehicles were using their seat belts. Across the nation, over 75,000 lives were saved during the 5-year period from 2004 to 2008. According to NHTSA estimates, 391 lives were saved in Illinois in 2008 by proper seat belt usage.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill into law that bans motorists from sending text messages while driving. Attending the bill singing ceremony at Northeastern Illinois University were Chuck and Gloria Wilhelm, parents of Matt Wilhelm, who died after he was struck by a woman downloading ring tones to her cell phone. Governor Quinn stated that the new law will "save lives and make the roads safer for our loved ones. We want everyone to know that distracted driving will not be tolerated in Illinois."

The new measures will make it illegal to compose, send or read text messages, instant messages and e-mail on a cell phone or surf the internet while driving. The ban also includes personal digital assistants (PDAS) and portable or mobile computers. The ban does not cover the use of global positioning systems (GPS) or navigation systems.The governor also signed House Bill 72, which will make it illegal to use a cell phone while driving through a school speed zone or in a highway construction zone unless it is a hands-free device. The new legislation will go into effect on January 1, 2010.

Illinois joins a growing number of states and municipalities that have adopted bans on texting while driving. Driving while distracted is a serious problem: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 25 percent to 30 percent of reported crashes involve drivers not paying attention. This means that distracted driving is a factor in over 1.2 million vehicle crashes a year in the United States. Studies show that the risk of a crash or near-accident is 23 times higher for motorists who are text-messaging while driving. People using cell phones are much more likely to be in a crash involving personal injury.

The problem of distracted driving has prompted U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to convene a summit in September to study this issue. Senior transportation officials, elected officials, safety advocates, and law enforcement representatives have been invited to attend.

According to statistics released by the Illinois Department of Transportation, there are over 7000 work zone motor vehicle crashes a year in Illinois resulting in 2600 injuries and 33 fatalities, including an average of 2 worker fatalities. Motorists account for eighty five percent of work zone fatalities. Motorists are urged to Please Slow Down! in work zones so that they can arrive at their destinations safely.

Safe driving tips that motorists should follow in work zones include watching for signs posted a minimum of one-half mile in advance of construction zones. Reduce your speed to the posted speed limit,generally 45 m.p.h. Work zone speed limits are to be obeyed at all times of the day. Workers do not have to be present to receive a speeding ticket in a work zone. Fines for speeding in a work zone are a minimum of $375 for the first offense and a minimum of $1000 for the second offense. Mandatory court appearance is required for all work zone speeding violations. Don't tailgate! Rear-end collisions caused by tailgaters are one of the most common crashes in work zones. Stay alert and minimize distractions. Don't talk on cell phones. Watch for workers. Keep an eye out for the orange and lime-green that workers wear when on the job. Finally, expect the unexpected: traffic patterns may change in construction zones; sudden stops also may be required.

The Illinois Department of Tranportation stresses that slowing down in work zones will only add seconds to the overall length of a trip, so when you see the orange work zone signs, Please Slow Down!

Police all over Illinois are cracking down on Scott's Law violators while those in Lake County in particular are becoming more aggressive.

"Scott's Law" requires drivers to slow down and move over when they are passing emergency vehicles including fire and police cars and trucks, tow trucks, and highway maintenance vehicles. This law took effect in 2002 and the number of tickets being written each year is climbing. The law was written after Lt. Scott Gillen, a Chicago firefighter, was struck and killed while working at a traffic accident in 2000. There have been other incidents of death and injuries at these types of accidents since. According to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund 18 people were killed last year and 14 the year before.

Drivers who get caught violating Scott's Law can receive a ticket of up to $200 plus traffic school and supervision. Violating the law twice can lead to a discretionary suspension of the driver's license. In either case if there is property damage or personal injuries penalties can increase up to a $10,000 fine and a three year loss of license.

Part of the reason why this violation is not more often ticketed is because it is hard for a policeman who is stopped with another vehicle to simply jump in his car and take off after a violator. Now in Lake County, though, they are taking a new approach. They are sending out two or three squads to a particular area. If one has pulled a driver over, a second squad pulls up behind and looks out for Scott's Law violators.

Continue reading "Illinois Cracks Down on Scott's Law" »

An SUV rolled over on Wednesday on the Edens Expressway killing its driver, Michael Kalinski. The SUV Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicle crashed when the driver lost control for unknown reasons. The vehicle then flipped and rolled into a ditch off the Edens Expressway near Skokie.

The driver was apparently not wearing a seat belt and was ejected form the vehicle.

Every year approximately 5,000 people die and over 100,000 people are injured in large truck crashes according to the Public Citizen website. Despite the fact that large trucks make up just 3 percent of all registered vehicles, large trucks account for 9 percent of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes and are responsible for 12 percent of all crashes involving fatalities.

Congress is currently working on a bill to limit the size of large trucks on our roads. Any such legislation should be supported by anyone concerned about highway safety.

According to the National Safety Council:

Drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to be in an auto crash while using a cell phone.

There is no difference in the cognitive distraction between hand-held and hands- free devices.

80 percent of crashes are due to inattention.

Talking to a passenger while driving is significantly safer than talking on a cell phone.

Nearly 100 Children were killed and 2,000 injured in 2007 when they were backed over, mostly on residential driveways the National Highway Traffic Safety Council reported.

The report found that 221 people were killed and 14,000 were injured by backing vehicles. Ninety-nine of the deaths and 2,000 injuries were children under 14 years old.

Legislation sponsored by former New York Senator Hilary Clinton will require vehicles to offer additional mirrors, sensor devises and cameras to help reduce blind spots with the intention of reducing the number of these tragic accidents.

A taxi struck and killed Minh Pham, 89, on Saturday, on the Northside of Chicago about one block from his house. The accident happened at about 9 a.m.

The taxi driver was cited for no insurance and for failure to exercise due care for a pedestrian in the roadway.

The National Safety Council is calling for a complete ban on cell phone use while driving, even cell phones that are "hands free". The group cited research in which it was found that the use of a cell phone while driving increases the risk of a crash by four fold.

The National Safety Council is calling for a complete ban on cell phone use while driving, even cell phones that are "hands free". The group cites research in which it was found that the use of a cell phone while driving increases the risk of a crash by four fold.

Six people were critically injured in a car crash Saturday night at the intersection of Ashland and Lake in Chicago. A Chevy Impala and a Dodge Durango collided at the intersection, sending the Durango into an "L" support base.

Four people from the crash were taken to John H. Stroger Hospital and two people were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital. All were in critical condition.

Two children were critically injured in a car crash Sunday morning outside of the Art Institute in Downtown Chicago. The crash involved two vehicles, one being an SUV.

The children were taken to Children's Memorial Hospital.

A south side of Chicago car crash killed two people at the intersection of 87th and Michigan Avenue. The car crash took place at 4:15 AM early Sunday morning.

This was one of a number of fatal car crashes that took place in Chicago in the early hours of Sunday morning. People should be extra careful driving in the early hours and be watchful of other drivers coming from bars and parties where alcohol may have been consumed.

One person was killed and two persons were critically injured in a South Side of Chicago car crash. The car crash took place at the intersection of 111th and Western Avenue at 3:20 AM early Sunday morning.

This crash was just one of a number of fatal crashes that took place in Chicago early Sunday morning.

Sergio Correa, 35, was driving northbound on Milwaukee Avenue near Devon Avenue in Chicago when his vehicle was struck from behind by a vehicle being driven by a woman who appeared to be drunk. The auto crash took place at 2:57 AM Sunday morning.

Both drivers were taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where Mr. Correa was pronounced dead. The apparently drunk woman's injuries were not life-threatening.

A speeding Chicago driver crashed into parked cars near Midway Airport on Saturday critically injuring all three occupants in his car. Edger Figueroa, the driver of the car, was cited for failure to reduce speed and for operating an uninsured vehicle. Figueroa and his passengers were hospitalized.

A driver of an automobile that blew a stop sign and smashed into another vehicle, killing a mother and her two children had two previous DUI's on her record dating from 2001 and 2002.

Ann Marie Getz is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol when she crashed into a car being driven by Amanda Jahn. The crash caused the Jahn vehicle to roll several times in a field. Amanda Jahn and her two children, Kaitlyn, age 11 months and Ryan, age 3, died in the crash.

Ann Marie Getz, of Streator, Illinois, is charged with four counts of aggravated DUI and is now in Grundy County Jail with a $1 million bond.

Two cars crashed at the intersection of North Avenue and Wells Street in Chicago Wednesday morning sending one vehicle into the Starbucks coffee shop on the corner of the intersection.

No one inside the Starbucks was injured but a plate glass window was shattered.

The drivers of both vehicles were taken to Northwestern Hospital in stable condition.

A recent State Farm study found that teen auto accidents spike in October. State Farm found that claims for teen drivers go up 20% in October. Larry Williams, a State Farm agent in Chicago, speculates that the auto accidents are a result of the days getting shorter and darkness coming faster. Also he notes that the roads are slicker with weather changing.

A new study shows that the wide spread use of child safety seats and safety belts and the practice of putting children in the back seat has resulted in an 18 percent reduction in overall fatalities among children ages 0-12 since 1996. The findings were reported in the National Safety Council's Journal of Safety Research.

Chicago City Council unanimously passed a proposed ban on sending text messages while driving in Chicago. Violators could face a $75 fine. The fine would increase to $200 if the violations occur at the time of a traffic accident.

Researchers from the Transport Research Laboratory report that texting while driving is more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol or cannabis.

Drivers reaction time slowed 35% when they were writing or reading text messages while driving. In comparison, reaction time slowed by 21% for those smoking cannabis and 12% for those at the legal limit of alcohol the study found. The study also found that steering control worsened 91% for texters compared with 35% for cannabis smokers.

Chicago Alderman Edward Burke is proposing a $75.00 fine for texting while driving in the city. Despite the obvious dangers inherent in texting while driving, currently only five states ban it: Alaska, Washington, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey and the District of Columbia.

Chicago Alderman are considering passing a law prohibiting drivers from text messaging or surfing the internet while driving on Chicago streets. The proposal is backed by Mayor Richard Daley.

A woman was killed in Dolton, Illinois near the Bishop Ford Freeway in a trucking accident when her car was struck by a Mack Truck.

The woman, Zina Kidd, was attempting to make a left turn when her vehicle was struck. The driver of the truck was given a ticket for failure to reduce speed to avoid another vehicle.

In his new book "Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do" Tom Vanderbilt uncovered a lot of surprising information by digging into driving studies. For example:

- Drivers honk less on weekends.

- Pedestrians on cell phones take longer to cross the street, and look at traffic less often

- More people are killed legally in crosswalks than jaywalking.

- Half of all traffic fatalities happen at impact speeds of less than 35 mph.

- 350 people die every year entering the freeway the wrong way; at least 50 are killed by cars in driveways

- "Children at Play" signs do not reduce speed or accidents

- Car drivers drive closer to helmeted cyclists (and further from cyclists who appear to be
women).

Northwestern Memorial Hospital emergency room in Chicago sees about one pedestrian accident victim a day because they or someone else was walking and texting at the same time according to Dr. James Adams, the hospital's chair of emergency medicine.

Distracted texters fall down stairs, run into objects, and it is not unheard of for bicycle riders and rollerbladers to end up in the emergency room after crashing while texting.

Facial injuries are common since a texter is typically using both hands to text and is less likely to break his or her fall with their hands according to Dr. Adams.

Source: Monifa Thomas, Chicago Sun-Times, July 28, 2008