As we recently reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Blog, car accidents are more common during the winter season than any other time of the year. During this time, drivers fail to adjust their driving habits to accommodate for the weather conditions. Drivers are prone to spin-out accidents and other ice and snow-related car accidents this time of year. The winter season also produces an increase in fatal traffic accidents. But regardless of the season, drivers face alarming risks for car accidents all year long.Transportation officials oftentimes report on the alarmingly high risks that teenage drivers face on our roadways. Yes, car accidents have been reported as the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S. But did you know that traffic crashes are the number one cause of death for individuals aged 3- to 34-years-old, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)?
Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that all motorists are at a significant risk for a car accident every time they get into a motor vehicle. Unfortunately, these risks are much higher during the winter and through the holiday season. These types of accidents among young drivers drastically contribute to one of the top causes of “Years of Life Lost.” This is a category that calculates deaths and fatality causes based on the number of years that individuals have left to live. Since motor-vehicle accidents take the lives of so many people between the ages of 3- and 34-year-old, its ranking in the “Years of Life Lost” category is alarmingly high, ranking in at third place behind only heart disease and cancer across all age groups.
While problems regarding congenital anomalies are the top cause of death for toddlers, and malignant cancer and heart disease are the top causes of death for people aged 35-years-old and older, motor-vehicle accidents rank as the number one cause of death for individuals from 3- to 34-years-old. This is a large group of individuals who are killed in completely preventable accidents.
There is no good reason for the leading cause of death to be careless accidents, such as traffic crashes. As we are in the winter holiday season, please exercise extreme caution on our roadways. The roadways will be full of vacationing motorists. Along with this increase in traffic flow, we’ll be dealing with icy and snowy weather. Since both of these characteristics contribute to an increase in traffic accidents, we urge all motorists to avoid driving if possible. If you’ve got places to go and people to see, then we urge you to place all of your attention on the roadway and to practice safe and defensive driving habits.
We are reminding people that we are in the winter driving season and conditions can change very quickly. And they need to slow down and increase the distance and give themselves extra time on their trip to make sure they arrive safely,” said Guy Tridgell with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).
If you or a member of your family has been involved in a car accident, the personal injury attorneys and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes offer free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.
Additional Resources:
Slick roads blamed in 3 fatal crashes, by Ravi Baichwal. ABC7
More Blog Entries:
First Measurable Snow Fall Highlights Risks for Car Accidents in Chicago, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, December 16, 2011
NHTSA Releases New 2010 Data for Car Accidents in Illinois and Elsewhere, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, December 9, 2011