Articles Posted in Auto Accident

Chicago drivers may be in for a surprise in coming weeks when they check their mail. That is because the City of Chicago has established speed cameras in some areas that will be used to issue speeding citations in the near future. Monday marks the first day that one of the speed cameras will switch from a “testing” phase to a “warning” phase where warning citations will be utilized for speeders.

The cameras moving to the warning phase are located near the intersection of Foster and Pulaski. The warning citations will be issued for thirty days before turning into legal tickets. Drivers are notified of the camera’s presence by signs in the area but some area residents are complaining that the signs are too small to adequately notify others.

Chicago officials have touted the addition of several speed cameras throughout the city as a means to decrease driver speed and increase safety. With speeding one of the leading factors of Illinois car crashes, the city may see fewer accidents if these cameras work as intended. The cameras trigger when a driver of a car, truck, or van is traveling above the posted speed limit and each camera takes photos of the vehicle, including the license plate, so that a citation can be issued and sent to the offender’s address. While estimates suggest that millions of dollars in fines may be raised, city officials continue to stress that road safety concerns lead to the implementation and use of the cameras.

Residents seem to have mixed feelings about the addition of the cameras in their neighborhoods. Some believe that the cameras will lead to lower speeds, increasing safety to all in the area, including other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Yet other residents have expressed concerns about the constitutionality of the speed cameras after several other states have deemed such cameras as violating the constitution.

Regardless of your personal feelings on the cameras, officials say that the cameras are here to stay so Chicago drivers should be aware of them. If you do not want to receive a speeding ticket, your best bet is to obey all posted speed limits and to heed all traffic laws.
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A 22-year-old man was rollerblading in Lombard last Tuesday evening when he was hit and killed by a van. The victim, a resident of Lombard, was at the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Highland Avenue around 9:00 p.m. when he began to cross. Police say that the man was crossing from the north to the south and was traveling at an angle when a van approached.

The van, driven by an unidentified female, approached the intersection and struck the rollerblader. Police say the driver clipped the victim, sending him flying over the hood of the van and landing on the ground. Emergency crews responded to the scene and transported the man to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove where he received emergency treatment. Unfortunately, the man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead the next morning by hospital staff.

Police describe the intersection at issue as having poor visibility. It is illuminated but the lighting may not be adequate. The crash happened during nighttime hours and police believe that the combination of the dark and the layout of the intersection caused the driver to be unable to see the victim. At this time, police are continuing their investigation but they do not expect any charges to be filed against the driver of the van, calling the incident a horrific accident.

Regardless of whether the driver is criminally charged in the crash, the family of the victim may still have a claim against the driver for causing the young man’s death. It is the duty and responsibility of every Illinois driver to operate a vehicle with care and caution towards others on the road. This does not only include other drivers but also pedestrians, bicyclists, and in-line skaters, as in this case. When a driver is careless or negligent and causes an accident, that driver can be held financially liable for any injuries that result, including death.

Even if it was dark outside and police describe the intersection of the crash as having limited visibility, it does not excuse a driver from her duty to watch for others crossing the road. If the driver failed to meet her duty, the surviving family members of the victim may have a valid claim for their monetary damages. This is a civil claim and the right to bring it is held by the family of the victim and therefore it is possible to bring such a claim even if criminal charges are never filed.
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A car near the 300 block of South Laramie Avenue collided with an ambulance around 5:00 a.m. on Friday morning. The driver of the car and a passenger in the vehicle took off on foot and fled the scene after the crash.

Two paramedics were in the ambulance at the time of the collision and both were injured. They were transported by a separate ambulance to West Suburban Medical Center where their conditions were unknown.

The driver of the car involved and the passenger both fled the scene and were not immediately apprehended. It is not clear whether the driver will face any charges if apprehended but it is likely that a charge of leaving the scene might result. Local police have not said whether they know the identity of the driver or whether that remains unclear at this point in time.

Illinois law requires that all drivers yield to ambulances and other emergency vehicles when the vehicle is responding to an emergency with lights and sirens activated. These vehicles have an automatic right-of-way at intersections, even if facing a red light. The laws are so clear that the majority of accidents involving emergency vehicles are due to the negligence of another driver.

When an accident occurs, the police are responsible for investigating the incident and issuing any citations. In addition to any traffic violations or criminal charges, an at-fault driver may be civilly liable for any injuries resulting from a crash. In this case, if the driver of the car caused the collision, the driver may be liable to both paramedics for their injuries.
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A motorist survey conducted throughout the United States and in parts of Europe reportedly suggests that American drivers are more likely than residents of other nations to text while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. According to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, more than two-thirds of Americans admitted to texting while driving. In addition, U.S. residents are allegedly more likely to be distracted by a telephone conversation while operating a vehicle. In fact, nearly three-fourths of the 5,000 adult American motorists surveyed admitted to speaking on their mobile phone while driving within the previous 30 days. In contrast, only 21 percent of adult drivers in Great Britain and only 40 percent of those in France admitted to using a cellular telephone behind the wheel.

Although mobile telephone laws differ across the U.S., most European nations have banned the use of handheld cellular phones while driving. Oddly, researchers reportedly found that the use of cell phones by drivers in Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain varied considerably despite similar laws. Regardless of where a driver who texts or talks on the phone behind the wheel is located, experts purportedly believe the practice poses a huge distraction to motorists. Many experts allegedly believe that cellular telephones should not be used in the car at all. In the past, some states passed laws designed to curtail the use of mobile phones in the car, and others, like Illinois, have imposed restrictions on the use of cell phones by teen drivers.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended a ban on all use of mobile phones behind the wheel. The NTSB has also allegedly encouraged development of new technologies that would disable mobile phones while a motor vehicle is moving. In 2010, researchers from the University of North Texas reportedly found that distracted driving killed about 16,000 people across the U.S. between 2001 and 2007. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the risk of a car accident is 23 times higher when a driver is sending or reading a text message.

The laws regarding talking on your cellular telephone while driving vary widely throughout the Chicago area. Although the City of Chicago has completely banned the use of handheld telephones, other municipalities have simply adopted the less restrictive state law. Regardless of where you are driving, mobile phones generally pose an unnecessary distraction to motorists. If you were hurt by a distracted driver, you should contact a quality personal injury attorney to discuss your right to recovery.
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Internet giant Google supposedly has plans for self-driving vehicles to be on the roadways in Illinois and the rest of the nation within five years. Automobile safety regulators and insurance industry officials, however, are reportedly skeptical of the idea. Currently, approximately 33,000 individuals are killed in traffic accidents across the United States every year. According to David Strickland, Head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), self-driving vehicles would likely dramatically reduce the rate of traffic deaths nationwide. In addition, collision-avoidance technology is currently being utilized in a number of motor vehicles on the market today. Still, Strickland allegedly believes self-driving cars are unlikely to be ready for widespread use within Google’s optimistic time-frame.

Anthony Levandowski, a Product Manager for Google’s self-driving technology, stated the company believes it has the ability to create passenger vehicles that operate on the nation’s roadways in a safer manner than humans do. Levandowski said the biggest challenge for the company will be ensuring vehicle reliability in a variety of conditions as any failure would leave a self-driving auto with no one at the wheel to control it. Additionally, such a vehicle must be programmed to account for individual system failures and unexpected external events such as a child running into the street.

Currently, Google’s self-driving automobile is allowed on roadways in California, Florida, and Nevada for testing purposes. Thus far, Google has not publicly discussed producing self-driving vehicles for sale to consumers. A spokesperson for Google stated the company’s current focus is on the futuristic vehicle’s underlying technology.

Many of the nation’s current car safety standards reportedly date back to the 1970s. New technology such as self-driving automobiles would likely pose a regulatory challenge for the NHTSA. In addition, auto accident fault in situations that involve self-driving vehicle failures would likely be difficult to ascertain. Robert Hartwig, President of the Insurance Information Institute, said despite Google’s current goals it could easily take 20 years for truly autonomous vehicles to be found on the nation’s roadways.

In the future, new technology may reduce the often life-altering injuries sustained by drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists who are involved in a traffic accident. Although the Illinois Vehicle Code requires all motorists to drive with care, collisions still occur. Distracted, reckless, inattentive, or simply negligent drivers cause thousands of automobile accidents each year. Last year alone, nearly 1,000 people in Illinois were killed in an avoidable motor vehicle crash. If you were the victim of a traffic wreck that was caused by another driver, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. Contact a quality personal injury lawyer to help you protect your rights.
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Over the past four years, there were no fatal accidents that involved a United States commercial airline. Unfortunately, during the same four years, at least 100,000 people were killed in preventable traffic collisions across the country. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states more than 32,000 people die in traffic wrecks throughout the nation every year. Authorities in at least half of states would reportedly like to see traffic crash deaths become a thing of the past.

In 2009, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) reportedly adopted an aggressive goal of zero traffic deaths as part of an overall strategic highway safety plan. Approximately 30 states have allegedly adopted the same goal. Although experts purportedly claim eliminating all traffic fatalities is not currently possible, the immediate focus of the zero deaths campaign is allegedly on stopping the types of preventable wrecks that normally lead to fatalities.

A study recently conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota reportedly found jurisdictions that focus on education, enforcement, engineering, and providing emergency medical services are the most successful at reducing traffic death rates. As part of the study, researchers compared traffic accident fatalities in a number of states prior to and after zero death campaigns began. According to lead study author and Director of Minnesota’s Center for Excellence in Rural Safety, Lee W. Munnich Jr., targeting resources to priority programs appeared to lower accident fatalities the most significantly. In addition, Munnich stated behavioral challenges such as convincing motorists not to engage in impaired driving were the most difficult risk factors to stop.

IDOT officials claim raising public awareness regarding the societal costs associated with traffic deaths may help reduce crash rates. Many reportedly believe reducing roadway fatalities by at least half is an attainable goal. Since 2009, Illinois has successfully reduced annual crash deaths to a rate that is below 1,000. IDOT officials reportedly believe this is due in large part to an increasing number of motorists and passengers using their seat belts. In 2003, a safety belt violation became a primary traffic offense in Illinois. This means a police officer may stop a vehicle based solely on a seat belt violation. Since then, the compliance rate has risen to an estimated 94 percent. Still, data reportedly shows that about half of all people killed in an Illinois traffic crash were not wearing a seat belt.

If you lost a loved one in a preventable traffic accident, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation for your loved one’s wrongful death. Certain relatives of someone killed in an automobile crash that was caused by another driver’s negligence may be eligible to recover the costs associated with their relative’s medical bills, funeral expenses, grief, and other damages. A qualified Chicago car accident lawyer can explain your rights in more detail.
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Red light cameras are increasingly popping up in communities across the nation. Although relatively rare just 15 years ago, the devices are now installed at traffic intersections in about 700 cities located in 24 states and the District of Columbia. In addition to monitoring drivers who fail to stop at traffic signals, red light camera technology is purportedly being utilized to keep tabs on vehicle speeds, compliance with high occupancy lane requirements, and stop sign violations. Proponents of the cameras claim the devices decrease potentially deadly traffic violations. Critics allege the increase in red light cameras has more to do with increasing city revenues than safety. Red light cameras are currently banned in at least nine states and anti-red light camera technology bills have recently been introduced in at least two more.

According to data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 700 people were killed and 90,000 were hurt as a result of an alleged red light violation in 2009. Since then, the rate for such injuries and fatalities has reportedly decreased. A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2011 claims the use of red light cameras decreased traffic fatalities by approximately one-fourth in cities that used the technology.

A 2005 study conducted by the Federal Highway Administration reportedly found that although red light cameras decreased certain types of crashes, they actually increased rear-end traffic wrecks. Agency officials cautioned municipalities against installing red light camera technology before pursuing other engineering modifications at intersections. For example, the agency allegedly found that increasing the length of yellow lights by just one second can decrease red light crashes by as much as 40 percent.

Red light cameras can potentially generate millions of dollars in fines for both large cities and the companies that provide the technology. In the past, some technology companies were accused of shortening the length of yellow lights in an effort to increase violation revenues. In Chicago, about $300 million in fines were reportedly paid to the city since 2003. After a number of resident complaints, a spokesperson for the company that operates the cameras said an internal investigation into the matter was ongoing. The same company was recently barred from re-bidding on the city’s red light camera contract after an investigation revealed the company made inappropriate purchases for the city official who oversees the traffic light program.

Unfortunately, car crashes are one of the leading causes of personal injury and death throughout the Chicago Metro. A driver or passenger in a rear-end or other motor vehicle accident may suffer back and neck injuries, a spinal cord injury, severe head trauma, broken bones, and other harm. The victim in a Chicago traffic collision may be eligible to recover compensation for lost wages and benefits, pain and suffering, medical expenses, any disability that resulted from the wreck, and other damages. Additionally, certain family members of an individual who was killed in an automobile crash may also be able to file a wrongful death case. A skilled personal injury attorney can explain your right to recovery in more detail.
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The public comment period recently ended for a proposed federal law that would require black boxes to be installed in all new passenger vehicles sold in the United States by September 1, 2014. Although privacy advocates have reportedly expressed concern over the proposed law, many automakers have already installed such devices in their vehicles. In fact, some models have been recording accident data since the 1990s. The black boxes allegedly record driver actions and responses in an automatic and continuous information loop.

Information stored in a motor vehicle black box may be used to determine the speed an automobile was traveling immediately prior to a collision. In addition, sensors may be used to determine whether the brakes were engaged, a seat belt was worn, or a motorist was steering erratically before a crash. The devices are allegedly designed to assist accident investigators and improve roadway safety. The data collected by black boxes is also increasingly being used in lawsuits. For example, such data was reportedly utilized when drivers claimed Toyota vehicles unexpectedly accelerated without warning.

In late 2012, a federal law required that car manufacturers begin disclosing the existence of black boxes in each vehicle owner’s manual. There are purportedly no federal privacy policies in place to prevent misuse of the information that is collected by automobile black boxes. In addition, car owners cannot currently opt out of installation and it is apparently tough to disable the devices. When a device is installed, automakers collect at least 15 different data points.

In addition to a federal black box requirement, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reportedly considering whether to require the devices to collect an additional 30 data points. Although some auto manufacturers are currently collecting information regarding a motorist’s seat position, passenger safety belt use, and whether a vehicle’s electronic stability technology was engaged prior to a wreck, many do not. Safety engineers have purportedly identified in excess of 80 data points that may be collected in the future.

Despite purported privacy concerns, the NHTSA claims it does not have the authority to place restrictions on the use of data collected by an automobile black box. Still, as many as a dozen states have implemented a privacy law regarding the use of device information. According to Gloria Bergquist, Vice President of the Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers, a federal data recorder requirement is unnecessary. She said more than 90 percent of new vehicles are already equipped with such devices. Bergquist also stated black boxes help safety engineers understand how automobiles perform in real world conditions.

Traffic accidents may be caused by many factors including driver inattention, carelessness, or impairment. Inclement weather, motor vehicle defects, hazardous road conditions, and other factors can also cause an unexpected wreck. If you were hurt in an automobile collision, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation for any injuries or medical expenses that you incurred as a result of the accident. Unfortunately, obtaining the damages you deserve following a collision can be complicated. You should contact a skilled Chicago personal injury lawyer to discuss your rights in more detail.
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The athletic director at a local high school was tragically killed in a recent one-car accident in Carroll County. The 54-year-old Carl Sandburg High School employee was reportedly northbound on Loran Road when his vehicle went off of an embankment near Indian Trail Road and rolled. According to the Carroll County Coroner’s Office, the Orland Park man was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The wreckage was allegedly found more than 12 hours after the 54-year-old was reported missing in Orland Park. The exact cause of the fatal traffic accident is currently under investigation by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.

Sadly, single-vehicle accidents like this one occur all too often. Motorist impairment, speeding, unexpected vehicle malfunctions, road hazards, swerving to avoid an object in the roadway, and hazardous weather conditions are just a few common causes of one-car wrecks. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claims 532 individuals were killed in a single-automobile crash in Illinois in 2011. This means one-car accidents accounted for more than half of the 918 fatal traffic crashes that occurred in our state. In general, most single-car wrecks took place in urban areas like the Chicago Metro.

Although it is unclear whether the victim in this accident did so, individuals traveling in a motor vehicle in Illinois are required to wear a safety belt. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 12,000 lives were saved by seat belt use across the nation in 2009. In addition, using a seat belt reportedly decreases the risk of serious injury and death for people riding in the front seat of an automobile by almost half.

In 2011, an estimated 84 percent of Americans fastened their seat belt when riding in a car or truck. Safety belt use is allegedly higher in primary enforcement states like Illinois. Primary enforcement means a police officer may stop a motor vehicle based solely on a violation of the seat belt law. Drivers and passengers are reportedly more likely to travel in a vehicle without utilizing a safety restraint at night. Additionally, one-car crashes are more likely to take place at night. Approximately half of all traffic deaths happen at night despite that only about one-fourth of all vehicle miles are driven in the dark.

If you were injured while riding as a passenger in a single-vehicle crash, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your medical expenses and other damages. Because Illinois is a comparative negligence accident state, you may be eligible to receive financial compensation for any injuries you sustained in a car accident even if you failed to wear your safety belt or were otherwise partially to blame for your harm. Certain surviving family members of someone who was killed in a one-vehicle collision may also be entitled to recover for the wrongful death of their loved one. A quality personal injury lawyer can explain your options for recovery in more detail.
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Many people do not realize that insurance companies often utilize claims software when evaluating a potential accident settlement. Claims agents at a number of insurance companies reportedly use a software program called Colossus to assess bodily-injury payments. Motor vehicle insurers like Allstate claim the software program allows injured customers to receive fair payments in a timely manner. According to a former claims project manager for Allstate, Mark Romano, the computer program may be easily manipulated in order to provide lower bodily-injury payments to consumers.

Colossus was reportedly designed to aggregate bodily-injury claims based on severity to determine an appropriate settlement range. Those ranges are allegedly created following a benchmarking session during which past claims payments are evaluated and entered into the program. In a June 2012 report entitled “Low Ball: An Insider’s Look at How Some Insurers Can Manipulate Computerized Systems to Broadly Underpay Injury Claims,” Romano claims the most expensive injury claims are often omitted from Allstate’s calculations in order to manipulate the software into producing lower settlement offers. According to Romano, such manipulation results in a settlement range that begins about 20 percent lower than the actual value of an injury claim. Romano also stated that many Allstate claims adjusters are encouraged to find that anyone who makes a bodily-injury claim is somehow negligent in an effort to reduce their settlement payment.

In 2005, a number of class-action lawsuits were filed against automobile insurers and Computer Sciences Corporation, the creator of the Colossus program. In the lawsuits, consumers accused insurers of using the software to grossly underpay their injury claims. Four years later, a multi-state investigation into Allstate’s use of Colossus allegedly found that the company’s management team should provide increased oversight for any claims evaluated using the software product. Additionally, the insurer agreed to pay a $10 million settlement in connection with Allstate’s use of the Colossus program on policyholder claims. The settlement was later divided between 40 states, including Illinois. The insurance giant also agreed to warn consumers that it may use the program on any injury claims they may file in the future.

Unfortunately, insurance companies in Illinois and elsewhere normally seek to pay as little as possible on personal injury claims. Too often, insurers offer those who were hurt in a traffic accident much less than their claim is actually worth. In addition, insurers have sophisticated computer software and a team of attorneys on their side. You shouldn’t have to go up against automobile insurance companies alone. In order to protect your rights, you should contact a skilled personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after any car or other accident.
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