The Chicago Bicycle Accident Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. take note of a concerning problem amongst bicyclists—biking while under the influence. Navigating our busy streets can be highly dangerous, even for a sober biker. Add in alcohol or drugs, and you have an equation for disaster. Bicycling under the influence is more common than you may think. According to an October 2014 report released by the Governors Highways Safety Association (GHSA), which examined recent trends in fatal bicycle accidents, in 2012 “28 percent of riders age 16 and older had blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of .08 percent or higher.”
Fatal Accident Raises Awareness over Dangers of Teen Drivers
The Chicago Car Accident Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. take note of a recent auto wreck that took the life of two Aurora teens earlier this month. Though utterly tragic, the circumstances surrounding this incident can hopefully alert parents to the dangers that accompany newly licensed, teen and/or inexperienced drivers.
The facts of this devastating accident, as reported by the Tribune, are as follows: A 17-year-old driver of an SUV, along with his 5 passengers, traveling from Aurora to Rochelle during foggy conditions, ran a red-light and collided with a semi-truck that was attempting to turn left on Illinois Highway 38. Tragically, two of the passengers, both 16-years of age, died as a result of the crash.
I was Injured in an Accident—Do I really need an Attorney?
As technology has advances, so have the resources available to individuals—the result of which has reduced reliance on others, and allowed for the increased capability for self-help. While there are many situations in which one can effectively resolve matters on their own, having a ‘do-it-yourself’ mindset is rarely a practical approach to take when it comes to personal injury. Before attempting to take matters into your own hands following an accident or injury, the Chicago attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. urge you to consider the following…
Driving, Distractions, Multi-tasking and Technology
Multi-tasking is nothing new, and nowadays, the busier our lives become, the more we try to squeeze into a day. Unfortunately, many view driving as a time where they can get from point A to point B, while also performing a task and/or checking an item off their ‘to-do’ list. Few would dispute that driving while distracted, and they accidents caused by such behavior, is certainly on the rise.
Cosmetic application; personal hygiene; searching for lost items; fidgeting with control devices in your car; eating, and sometimes while attempting to use condiments or cleaning a food-related spill or mess—we’ve all seen it or may even be guilty of it ourselves. Distracted driving has been around as long as automobiles have. Add in technology, though, now we have an equation for disaster. How many times have you seen a motorist engaging in a distracting activity WHILE ALSO utilizing a mobile device? Undoubtedly, most have witnessed such behaviors in the past, if not on a regular basis.
Choosing a Car Accident Attorney in Chicago
The Chicago Car Accident Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. know that being involved in an auto wreck is stressful enough, in and of itself. For many victims, understanding legal rights, entitlement to financial compensation, and the claims process in general, can caused added anxiety during a period that is difficult. Similarly nerve-wracking can be the process of selecting a lawyer—and not just any lawyer—but one that has the legal know-how to maximize your financial recovery, while also providing you with the personal attention you need to have peace of mind. Our firm offers both.
For those reading this following an auto accident-related injury or death, you probably already know the benefits of pursuing your claim through an attorney-represented approach. Arriving at this conclusion is the easy part—however choosing a car accident attorney in one of the largest cities in the U.S.— this can be challenging. However, by knowing what to look for, particularly with regard to attorney advertising techniques that may be potentially deceptive, misleading or illusive, selecting legal representation can become less of a challenge, and more of a process of elimination. Just a few things to take into consideration are:
The ‘Ignorance of Incident’ Defense in Hit-and-Run Crashes
Over our decades in practice, the Chicago Personal Injury attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have taken note of many unwarranted, and often peculiar defenses asserted by defendants, both in the criminal and civil setting. While our firm’s primary focus resides in providing representation to clients in civil proceedings, it is not uncommon for a civil matter to be closely connected to a criminal matter. Consider an auto accidents involving an impaired driver; nursing home abuse involving a sexual offender; or an attack by a dog that was trained or known to be vicious, to name a few.
Here, we limit our discussion to the topic of hit-and-run collisions, in which a driver flees the scene, but then later claims that they didn’t know they hit someone. The possibility that a law-abiding motorist could collide with an individual, and not be aware, seems highly improbable. Although unawareness of striking a victim is conceivable, these incidents are far and few between, and limited to exceptional circumstances. Let’s explore the ‘I didn’t know,’ or ‘ignorance of incident’ defense in regards to both criminal culpability and civil liability.
Numerous Pedestrian Accidents in Chicagoland area Raises Concern
The Personal Injury Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. take note of the alarming number of accidents involving pedestrians that have taken place throughout the Chicago Metropolitan area this month. Nearly every one of the victims in these incidents suffered fatal injuries, demonstrating the high risk of death for a victim that is struck by a vehicle in a pedestrian accident. Even more disturbing, is that many of these crashes involved motorists that made the callous and heartless decision to flee the scene, and leave their victim to die, rather than stopping to render assistance.
Dog Bite Prevention and Breed-Specific Legislation: Breed or Deed?
As Dog Bite Attorneys, Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. recognizes that breed-specific legislation has been a highly debated topic in the Illinois, specifically in regards to pit bull and rottweilers. However, the state has continued to reject the necessity, effectiveness and constitutionality of statewide breed-specific legislation (BSL) for more than a decade, stating “it’s the deed, not the breed.” While local municipalities have the authority, granted through ‘home rules,’ to enact ordinances to regulate the residents within the boundaries of their jurisdiction, there are currently only a handful of cities and villages in Illinois that have BSL in place. While this may change in the future, questions remain regarding the benefit of polices that completely restrict a particular breed, which many equate to the efficacy that gun-control and drug laws have had on thwarting the actions of persons that engage in unlawful drug or gun related activities.
Close-call for Minivan following Collision with Semi
The Chicago Trucking Accident attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. take note of a recent incident between a semi-tractor trailer and a passenger vehicle. According to reports, a minivan became embedded behind a semi-truck, and was subsequently dragged for miles, apparently due to the trucker’s complete and utter obliviousness of the fact that a collision had occurred.
As depicted in a highly disturbing 911 call, a minivan struck the rear-end of a semi-truck, as both vehicles northbound in white-out conditions, along I-75 in Michigan. In the van was a family of four—the husband-driver, his wife, and their two small children. In calls to 911, the wife states “We ran into the back of a semi-truck and he’s not stoppin’, and our car is embedded underneath of it,” followed by the husband stating “If the van breaks out from underneath him, I don’t have any control of this thing.”
Winter Weather Motorist Safety Tips
The potential for an auto accident during the winter season is concerning no matter where you live. However, the Automobile Collision Attorneys, of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., feel that the large quantity of streets, roads, and highways, as well as sheer volume of traffic in the Chicagoland area, present unique concerns over the risk for collision associated with winter weather conditions. By taking the proper safety precautions, we can all aide in the reduction and prevention of injuries and fatalities caused in weather-related motor vehicle crashes this winter.