Articles Posted in Auto Accident

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A pair of Chicago car accidents occurred in the pre-dawn darkness Monday morning when two vehicles slammed into a pitch-black train blocking a crossing without lights, gates or other warning signals, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers have reported on the high risk motorists in Illinois face at the state’s railroad crossings. As we reported earlier this year here on our Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, Chicago train accidents increased last year.Seventy-six crashes with trains were reported during the first nine months of last year, claiming 17 lives and injuring dozens of others. We reported earlier this year on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog that Illinois is under federal mandate to improve safety at railroad crossings.

That federal smackdown came after nearly 100 people were killed at 855 railroad crossing accidents in Illinois between 2006 and 2008.

In this case, the black train was stopped across a dark and quiet intersection. Motorists reportedly had no warning when, shortly after 3 a.m., first one car, then a second car approaching from the opposite direction, slammed into the train. The crash occurred in the 9000 block of South Halsted Street. Four people were injured.

The Federal Railroad Administration said the automated gates and warnings were not functioning because of a buildup of road salt. However, nearby residents said the gates have been malfunctioning for weeks.

One victim, who was being treated at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, for injuries to his head, neck, back, shoulders and knee, said he plowed into the train at 35 mph in his Nissan Maxima. He was trying to pry his passenger door open and climb out when he heard the southbound car smash into the train on the other side.
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A Chicago pedestrian accident has reportedly led to a fatal case of road rage on the city’s West Side, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The media is reporting the 20-year-old pedestrian was shot and killed after being struck by a car in the 700 block of South California Avenue, and then arguing with the driver. The victim was found on South Sacramento Avenue shortly before 9 a.m.Police say the victim was struck and knocked to the ground by a passing vehicle. He was not seriously hurt and reportedly began arguing with the driver, who then climbed out of the vehicle and shot him. He was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he was pronounced dead.

Police have not released information about the suspect.

There is a big difference between Road Rage, which typically involves a criminal act, and aggressive driving, which we are all guilty of at some point in time. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recognizes many forms of aggressive driving, including speeding, driving too fast for conditions, tailgating, not using turn signals and driving too fast for conditions.

As winter wears on, our Chicago personal injury lawyers remind motorists to take a deep breath and relax. Impatience too often leads to accidents and can lead to all sorts of poor driving decisions.

The government offers a number of safety tips for dealing with aggressive drivers, including:

-Don’t force the issue: Get out of an aggressive driver’s way.

-Don’t challenge: Put your pride aside. Don’t attempt to hold your own or otherwise challenge an aggressive driver.

-Keep your eyes on the road: Don’t make eye contact with an aggressive driver. This can sometimes increase the aggression.

-Keep your hands to yourself: Gestures should be ignored and should not be returned.

-Contact authorities: An aggressive driver is just as dangerous as a drunk driver and should be reported to authorities via 911 as soon as it is safe for a driver to pull over and do so.

Chicago aggressive driving safety tips are available here.
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Mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel has a plan to expand Chicago’s bicycle network that would reduce the number of Chicago bicycle accidents and give the city 100 miles of protected bike lanes by the end of his first term, the Sun-Times reported.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers have reported on the great strides made in turning the area into one of the nation’s best cycling cities. Still, bicycle accidents remain a real threat to the health and safety of those who cycle for fun, transportation or fitness.The Illinois Department of Transportation reports 1,460 Chicago bicycle accidents occurred in 2009, claiming 5 lives and injuring nearly 1,400.

Emanuel’s plan includes the creation of the Bloomingdale Trail — a $75 million, 2.65-mile trail built along Bloomingdale Avenue for cyclists traveling downtown and for school children traveling to one of the dozen schools nearby. He also wants to require downtown buildings to offer bike storage. A similar law has been passed in New York City and was successful in increasing the number of commuter cyclists.

NYC’s plan included adding 200 miles of bile lanes. Transportation Alternatives reports the improvements increased the average number of daily cyclists to 236,000 — up 28 percent from the 185,000 daily cyclists the previous year.

The number of miles traveled by bike also increased, from 1.4 million to 1.8 million.

Authorities increasingly see cycling as a viable option to reduce congestion. But, while the number of other types of fatal accident has declined in recent years, the increasing popularity of cycling has held fatality numbers constant at between 700 and 800 per year. In 2008, 716 cyclists were killed and more than 52,000 were injured in bicycle accidents nationwide.

Middle-aged men are now the most likely to be killed in a bicycle accident; that age has increased from 32 in 1998 to 41 in 2008. Nearly two-thirds of all bicycle fatalities now involve an adult between the ages of 25 and 64.
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Fewer Chicago car accidents are being reported at intersections as red-light cameras are being credited for reducing fatal intersection accidents by 24 percent in 14 of the nation’s largest cities, ABC7 reported.

As our Chicago personal injury lawyers reported last year, red-light cameras at Chicago intersections number about 200, with plans to install the cameras at numerous intersections in suburbia. Detractors say the cameras increase the risk of rear-end collisions, are an invasion of privacy, and are in place to provide millions in citation revenue to local governments.However, Time Magazine reports the study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety concluded the cameras have saved 159 lives in the last five years and would have saved 815 lives had they been installed in the nation’s 99 cities with populations over 200,000.

“The cities that have the courage to use red light cameras despite the political backlash are saving lives,” says Institute president Adrian Lund.

The study found 22 fewer fatal Chicago car accidents were blamed on red-light runners with the cameras in operation from 2004 to 2008 than the 69 deaths that were reported from 1992 to 1996. A reduction of 32 percent. And, perhaps debunking the myth of the increase in rear-end collisions, the report found the total number of fatal intersection crashes also declined slightly, from 175 to 170.

However, don’t count the ACLU among the supporters. Forbes Magazine reports Chicago’s emergency management officials are busy defending the cameras after an ACLU report blasted the network over privacy concerns and a lack of regulations.

To that end, the IIHS argues traffic offenders should not be portrayed as victims.

“Somehow, the people who get tickets because they have broken the law have been cast as the victims,” Lund says. “We rarely hear about the real victims – the people who are killed or injured by these lawbreakers.”

Red-light runners killed 676 people and injured more than 113,000 in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration unveiled new technology last week that could someday eliminate the threat of drunk driving car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere.

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys frequently report on the dangers of drunk driving crashes in Illinois. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports alcohol was involved in 42 percent of fatal Illinois car crashes in 2009. A total of 381 motorists were killed as a result of drunk driving crashes.The Illinois Department of Transportation reports at least 85 people were killed and 316 seriously injured in Chicago car accidents involving alcohol or drugs in 2009.

As authorities continue to look for ways to reduce the dangers of traffic crashes involving alcohol, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is working to develop the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS).

Unlike ignition interlock devices — which are temporarily placed in the cars of some repeat DUI offenders and test for the presence of alcohol before the car will start — the DADSS is designed as standard equipment installed by the manufacturer. Prototypes work by either passively testing a drivers breath for the presence of alcohol or by touch, such as a thumbprint.

“Drunk driving continues to be a national tragedy that needlessly claims the lives of thousands of people on our highways each year,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We need to put an end to it.”

Federal data shows drivers in fatal accidents with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of .08 are eight times more likely to have been previously convicted of DUI than drivers who did not test positive for the presence of alcohol at the time of a crash.

The research has the support of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other road-safety organizations. “Auto makers have stepped up to help turn cars into the cure,” said MADD President Laura Dean-Mooney. “This project has made substantial progress and this technology could one day be an important step in our efforts to eliminate drunk driving.”

The $10 million government effort is being conducted in conjunction with the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, which is an industry group representing most of the world’s auto manufacturers.

NHTSA Administrator David Strickland called it the “new frontier” in automotive safety but cautioned it won’t replace common sense.

“Whatever the future holds for these advanced drunk driving prevention technologies, one thing remains clear; no technology can, or should, ever replace a driver’s personal responsibility not to drive drunk,” Strickland said.
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While Super Bowl Sunday will not be as chaotic with the Bears out of the picture, the fact remains that the biggest football day of the year is also among the most dangerous days for Chicago car accidents caused by drunk drivers.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers urge party hosts and football fans to celebrate responsibly, designate a driver and avoid drinking and driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is partnering with the NFL, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and a number of other organizations in promoting the safety campaign, “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.” “Football is one of America’s favorite pastimes, but fans can put themselves in serious danger if they don’t plan ahead,” said David Strickland, NHTSA Administrator.” Whether you’re at the game or watching from a sports bar or a friend’s house, designate a sober driver before the game. And remember, Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.”

Nationwide, about one-third of all traffic fatalities involves a drunk driver. Nationwide, about 11,000 people a year are killed in drunk driving accidents, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Alcohol involvement was cited in more than 4 in 10 fatal crashes in Illinois in 2009, accounting for 381 of 911 fatalities.

The following safety tips have been adapted from information provided by the NHTSA:

-Leave your keys at home if you plan to drink and have a plan before setting out for the evening.

-Put the phone numbers for local cab companies in your phone.

-If you are hosting a party, offer plenty of food and non-alcoholic drinks.

-Never serves drinks to a guest under the age of 21.

-Set a time to stop serving alcohol, say at the end of the third quarter or an hour before the end of the coffee. Serve coffee and dessert.

-Do what’s necessary to prevent a party guest from drinking and driving.

-Have a place for guests to spend the night if necessary.
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After four straight years of decline, fatal pedestrian accidents were on the rise again in the first six months of 2010, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Our Chicago injury attorneys know pedestrian accidents are a serious problem in Chicago and the surrounding area. The Illinois Department of Transportation reports 30 people were killed in Chicago pedestrian accidents in 2009 and another 3,069 were injured. Statewide, pedestrian accidents killed 141 people and injured more than 15,000.Illinois recorded the 12th-highest number of fatal pedestrian accidents. However, it was among the states to report a reduction in the number of pedestrian accidents in the first half of 2010. A total of 46 fatal Illinois pedestrian accidents were reported, compared to 50 during the first six month of 2009.

The most were recorded in California and Florida — in fact California, Florida, Texas and New York accounted for nearly half of all fatal pedestrian accidents nationwide. Wyoming and South Dakota recorded the fewest pedestrian accidents.

Nationwide, 1,891 died in pedestrian accidents during the first six month of 2010, compared to 1,884 during the same period of 2009, according to the GHSA report. Twenty-eight state reported a decrease, while 18 reported an increase.

Those ages 45 to 64 were most likely to be killed in a pedestrian accident, followed by those ages 30 to 45, and those over the age of 65.

“Nationally, pedestrian fatalities account for about 12 percent of overall traffic deaths, a small but significant portion,” said GHSA Chairman Vernon Betkey Jr. “Given that we have made so much progress in this area, GHSA is concerned to see this reversal.”

The organization said an increase in distracted driving may be partly to blame.

“Anyone who travels in a busy city has seen countless pedestrians engrossed in conversation or listening to music while crossing a busy street,” Betkey said. “Just as drivers need to focus on driving safely, pedestrians need to focus on walking safely – without distractions.”

A renewed focus on pedestrian safety is warranted and should include prioritization, data analysis, engineering, laws and enforcement and education, according to the GHSA report.
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A deadly Chicago-area auto accident has resulted in two deaths in the Northwest suburbs, according to WLS 890 AM. The collision occurred Thursday night in Hoffman Estates and the Illinois state police are reporting that a motorist involved fled the scene.

Hoffman Estates Police responded to an accident involving at least two vehicles on Golf Road just after 7:30 PM. At the scene they found one of the automobiles engulfed in flames. One victim, a 62-year-old Hoffman Estates resident, died at the scene. A second victim, age 32 of an unknown address, was pronounced dead less than an hour later at St. Alexis Medical Center in Hoffman Estates.

Autopsies on Friday found both victims died of multiple injuries sustained in a car accident, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

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The federal government is launching the “5500 campaign,” a new public service announcement to coincide with the one-year anniversary of FocusDriven, the first nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for victims of distracted driving accidents.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers frequently report on the dangers of distracted driving. Nationwide, about 5,500 people are killed and 500,000 are injured each year in car accidents caused by distracted driving.”In our new PSA, we want to remind people that each and every distracted driving fatality is someone’s loved one, and that person’s family is in tremendous pain,” said FocusDriven President Jennifer Smith. “Our new campaign will urge the public to put down the phone and focus on the drive. We cannot wait until others are killed or injured to take action. The statistics show that it’s no longer ‘if’ someone you know will be affected by distracted driving, it’s ‘when.'”

The organization’s one-year anniversary was also marked by support from Safeway and the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, which seeks to reduce work accidents in Chicago and elsewhere that are caused by distracted driving. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that about 40 percent of workplace fatalities result from transportation accidents, accounting for 1,682 deaths last year.

“Distracted driving is a deadly epidemic and when it comes to road safety, we will not take a backseat to anyone,” said Secretary Ray LaHood. “That’s why distracted driving will continue to be a major part of DOT’s robust safety agenda. Together with advocates like FocusDriven and NETS, and employers like Safeway, we can put an end to this deadly behavior and save lives.”

As we reported recently on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, LaHood has come under fire for what some safety advocates see as a hyper-focus on distracted driving, which may come at the expense of focusing on other causes of serious and fatal accidents.

As part of the anniversary, the Department of Transportation also released the latest in the “Faces of Distracted Driving series.” We reported previously on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog that the series features messages from family members of those killed in distracted driving accidents. One of the most recent features 17-year-old Emily Reynolds. Her older sister Cady was killed in 2007 when a teen texting on her cell phone crashed into Cady’s car in Nebraska.

The “Faces of Distracted Driving” series is available here.

Meanwhile, Safeway grocery stores is the latest employer to implement a distracted driving policy; the company now prohibits its 1,525 truckers from using cell phones — hand-held or hands-free, while driving. Bill Windsor, chairman of the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety said 5,000 public and private organizations, representing more than 20 million U.S. employees, have now enacted distracted driving policies.

“Employers can make a real difference in keeping their associates safe both on and off the job by educating them about the dangers of distracted driving and adopting policies to prevent it,” he said.
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Our Chicago personal injury lawyers frequently report on the dangers of distracted driving and the various countermeasures being implemented by state and local governments to combat those dangers.

Last year, Illinois joined a growing number of states that have outlawed text messaging by drivers. Illinois’ law also makes it illegal to use hand-held cell phones in school zones and construction sites. Hand-held cell phones have been illegal in Chicago for years. Authorities have pushed the measures as a means of reducing the number of serious and fatal car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois.Common sense might be on their side. But so far the statistics are not. As we reported previously on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog, more motorists died last year statewide (with the texting law in place) than died in 2009 when no statewide law existed. The Illinois Department of Transportation reported 923 motorists were killed on the state’s roads in 2010, compared to 911 in 2009.

Of course there is a lot more going on than the state’s new texting law — the struggling economy has been cited as a primary factor in pushing fatal traffic deaths to levels not seen since the 1920s — the numbers have almost nowhere to go but up.

But, as USA Today recently reported, there is a growing chorus that claims prohibitions against hand-held cell phone use and text messaging are not reducing distracted driving deaths — that, in fact, those deaths may be increasing. Some believe the primary reason is that hands-free cell phones are no safer than hand-held devices. While others think motorists hiding illegal texting activities below the dash actually increase their risk of an accident as their eyes are taken from the road for a longer period of time.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is the largest organization to have vocalized concerns that the government is getting sidetracked on its quest to push states to adopt strict rules against cell phones and text messaging. IIHS President Adrian Lund said distracted driving “is a growing problem in the sense of our recognition of it, but the fact is, it’s always been there.”

Many safety experts contend the data on distracted driving is too new and too unreliable. While there is ample and reliable data on how to prevent serious and fatal injuries from other types of accidents. The USA Today reports that many are unwilling to speak out against Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who has repeatedly bashed the IIHS for tackling the issue last year.

LaHood said last year that the U.S. Department of Transportation is “laser focused on auto safety” and points to a number of initiatives, including a new Five-Star safety rating system and new rules to improve rear visibility in automobiles. Most of the initiatives he mentions were released in a rapid-fire series of public relations moves following IIHS criticism last year.

At the government’s prodding, some 38 states have passed laws banning cell-phone use and or text messaging by drivers, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Eleven of those state enacted laws last year.

Neither the IIHS nor anyone else is contending cell phone use and text messaging make drivers safer behind the wheel. They are just looking for the government’s largest transportation watchdog to emphasize something other than distracted driving and defective Toyotas in 2011.
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