Articles Posted in Auto Accident

With the holidays rapidly approaching, the Insurance Information Institute has released a number of tips for parents to consider when choosing vehicles appropriate for teenage drivers.

As our Chicago injury lawyers frequently report, teenagers are at the highest risk for being involved in a serious or fatal car accident in Chicago. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 5,864 drivers ages 15 to 20 were involved in fatal crashes in 2008. Illinois car accidents involving young drivers killed 164 motorists.In recent days, two high-profile accidents involving young drivers in Chicago have been reported:

The Chicago Breaking News Center reports that a 17-year-old boy is on life support after being involved in a car accident in DuPage County. Police report the boy was driving a Volkswagen Jetta when he struck a Ford truck backing out of a residential driveway.

In a separate case, WGNTV reports a 17-year-old boy has been charged with reckless homicide after allegedly killing a woman asleep in her bed after driving drunk into the side of her house.

Choosing the right vehicle for your son or daughter is just one more way to help keep them safe on the road.

-Avoid vehicles that encourage reckless driving: Sports cars and other high-performance vehicles are often not appropriate. Teen drivers often lack experience and maturity. Such vehicles may encourage speeding. Selecting a vehicle with a modest image and reputation can help keep teens from being involved in a speed-related crash.

-Unstable vehicles can be hazards for teen drivers: Some SUVs offer less stability and a greater chance for rollover accidents. Abrupt steering maneuvers, which young drivers may be more prone to, can increase the risk of a skid, spin out or rollover accident.

-Good crash protection: As we have reported here previously, www.safecar.gov, Consumer Reports and other ratings agencies offer a look at how vehicles withstand crashes. Not all vehicles are created equal but safer vehicles can be found at any price point.

-Beware of small vehicles: While some vehicles of modest size may come with a good safety rating, smaller vehicles are generally not as safe as larger ones.

-Avoid older Vehicles: Modern vehicles offer far better crash protection than even those vehicles that are 6 to 10 years old.

Lastly, your choice of vehicle can have a substantial impact on the cost of insurance, which, if you have not yet priced, will certainly be an eye-opener. Most teen insurance polices start at several hundred dollars a month and can be much more expensive, depending on the type of vehicle you choose.
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Trib Local in Gurnee is reporting that an Illinois car crash involving multiple vehicles may have been caused by an icy bridge on Monday morning in Lake County. Some involved in the crash were seriously injured.

The accident took place around 6:30 AM the area of Knight Street and Belvedere Road in Park City. How the crash occurred, the specific injuries, and/or the number of people involved has not been reported.

The Park City Police Department and the Gurnee Fire Department (who covers Park City) responded to the accident. Gurnee fire sent three ambulances. The Gurnee Police Department also assisted and the North Chicago and Waukegan fire departments sent additional ambulances.

As the winter driving season rapidly approaches, it’s a good time to reassess the driving ability of parents and older adults as we work to reduce the chances an aging loved one is involved in a Chicago car accident.

The USA Today reports on the growing challenge for an increasing number of Baby Boomers, who want to both keep a parent safe and respect his or her freedom and independence.Our Chicago injury lawyers have reported here before on the risk faced by older drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports the number of aging drivers has increased more than 20 percent in the last decade to more than 30 million.

Typically an older adult who is not in denial about his or her abilities will take steps to mitigate the dangers, often limiting themselves to daytime driving or choosing to walk more frequently. This is no guarantee that they will not be involved in a serious or fatal accident. In 2008, some 183,000 seniors were injured in traffic accidents and 1 in 5 fatal pedestrian accidents involved someone over the age of 65. Most accidents (80 percent) occurred during the day and on weekdays (72 percent).

Meanwhile, safety experts and those who have already dealt with the issue say not waiting until the last minute offers a family the chance to do a better job of planning. Perhaps an aging parent can downsize to a condominium on the bus line, for example, or explore some of the assisted living options that still permit independent living.

It is an issue that is cropping up in living rooms across the country as the Baby Boomers hit retirement age. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that about 1 in 10 Americans were over the age of 70 in 2000. By 2040, that number is expected to increase to 1 in 5.

While older drivers have fewer crashes, they also drive less. Per mile traveled, crash rates increase at age 70 and rise significantly after age 80.

Safety advocates agree that parents and children should begin to have the conversation years or even decades before it counts. When a parent begins to talk about retirement, a child may bring up the conversation. In such a non-threatening time and place, both parent and child can talk about the issues, the warning signs and what to do when that time arises.

The federal government offers a variety of safety resources for older Illinois drivers, including:

-How to understand and influence older drivers.

-Adapting motor vehicles to older drivers.

-Driving safely while aging gracefully.

-Talking with older drivers.

-Screening and evaluation.

-Medications and older drivers.
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Tres accidentes automovilisticos en el área de Chicago resultaron en tres muertos la noche del jueves y la madrugada del viernes, según la televisión WGN. Los accidentes ocurrieron sólo horas de diferencia.

El primer accidente ocurrió en Interstate 65 al sur de Interstate 80 alrededor de 11:45 P.M. Un conductor de grúa etsba cambiando una llanta en un medio camión cuando un Land Rover choco por detrás al camión. El conductor de la grúa fue aplastado entre su camión y el medio camión.

El conductor de la grúa fue un trabajador de servicio de carretera empleado por una compañía de servicio que fue localizado por el conductor del medio camión. Fue pronunciado muerto en la escena y su identidad no ha sido soltado.

Our Chicago accident lawyers were not surprised to see that the number of fatal SUV accidents is on the rise.

Passenger vehicles, including SUVs, account for 19 out of every 20 traffic accidents in the United States, according to a new report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The report highlights that motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians are most likely to be injured in a Chicago accident involving a car. However, all types of passenger vehicle accidents have declined, except those involving SUVs, which continue to increase.We know that more traffic brings with it the greater risk of an accident. While the economic downturn has played a role in temporarily reducing congestion, the overall number of vehicle registrations has increased 20 percent in the last decade. In addition to passenger cars, the government includes pickup trucks, vans and SUVs in its list of passenger vehicles.

In 2008, more than 10.1 million vehicles were involved in police-reported accidents and 94 percent of those, or about 9.5 million, were identified as passenger vehicles. In the past 10 years, light truck registration increased by 38 percent. Passenger car registrations increased by a more modest 10 percent.

The number of SUV registrations skyrocketed by 120 percent. This is significant because the occupants of smaller passenger cars are at greater risk of serious or fatal injury in an accident with an SUV. Likewise, the number of fatalities involving SUV occupants has also increased, from 3,026 in 1999 to 4,186 in 2008.

Rollover crashes are mostly to blame. Such crashes are among the deadliest and account for more than one-third of all traffic fatalities. Incidents were highest in SUVs, at 58 percent of all fatalities. Rollovers in pickups accounted for 48 percent of fatalities, followed by 35 percent for vans and 25 percent for passenger cars.

The number of fatalities involving other types of passenger vehicles has declined:

-Passenger vehicles: Fatalities have declined from 20,862 in 1999 to 14,587 in 2008.

-Light trucks: Fatalities have declined from 11,265 in 1999 to 10,764 in 2008.

-Pickup Trucks: Fatalities have declined from 6,127 in 1999 to 5,073 in 2008.

-Vans: Fatalities have declined from 2,088 in 1999 to 1,491 in 2008.

Injuries by type of passenger vehicle from 1999 to 2008:

-Passenger Vehicles (total): Declined from 3 million to 2 million.

-Passenger Cars: Declined from 2.1 million to 1.3 million.

-Light Trucks: Declined from 847,000 to 768,000.

-SUVs: Increased from 241,000 to 361,000.

-Pickup Trucks: Decreased from 372,000 to 250,000.

-Vans: Declined from 220,000 to 145,000.
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