Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Chicago Bus Accidents: Why They Happen and What You Can Do

March 14, 2016 | By Dave Abels

How do you get around the city? Do you prefer to walk and are you lucky enough to live close to where you work? Is it your normal routine to hop on an L train, moving about some of the more popular areas of Chicago? If you are like a major portion of the population, you opt to take a bus at some point during the year, letting you get to where you are going without worrying about traffic or even where to park.

Buses help the city move in an efficient manner, reducing the number of private vehicles that are on the roadway while making transit affordable to millions. Yet despite all the good that buses do in Illinois, they also can lead to serious safety issues as bus accidents happen so often that an average of 12 collisions took place every day in 2014 alone.

St. Patrick’s Day Comes to Chicago

March 11, 2016 | By Dave Abels

There are few places like Chicago to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and this year will be no exception. The city-wide party will begin tomorrow morning and run all day, and even Mother Nature looks like she will be participating. The weather forecast currently calls for temperatures in the low 60s but rain is expected as well, so if you will be downtown, consider an umbrella or be prepared to get a little wet.

St. Patrick’s Day is a time to get outside and mingle with others from Chicago, have a good time and perhaps enjoy a green drink or green food. Most of those celebrating will be safe and will not have any issues, but be advised that a small number of people may be injured in accidents tomorrow. Here are some things to keep in mind if you will be in the city so that you can remain as safe as possible:

Fatalities from Pedestrian Accidents Skyrocketed in 2015

March 10, 2016 | By Dave Abels

It is important to realize that nearly everyone is a pedestrian at some point. Though you might drive to work, take an L train, hop on the Metra, or hail a cab, odds are that you must exit that vehicle and walk at least some distance before you arrive at your location, making you a pedestrian even if it is only for a block or two. In that regard, everyone has a personal stake in pedestrian safety in Chicago as the outcome of any safety initiatives could have a direct effect upon them, their family members, or their friends.

Recently, troubling data has emerged from the Governors Highway Safety Administration which reveals a massive increase in the number of fatal pedestrian accidents in 2015 when compared to those that occurred in 2014. Based upon numbers from the first six months of 2015, the report is able to estimate the total number of deaths among walkers involved in traffic accidents for the year and concludes that 2015 saw a 10 percent increase in pedestrian fatalities.

Injuries Often Result from Rear-End Car Accidents

March 9, 2016 | By Dave Abels

On average, around one out of every two car accidents in the nation is a rear-end collision. This makes a rear-end crash the most common type of reoccurring crash in the nation, and in Chicago for that matter. These crashes can range from the most minor of impacts to the most extreme, and as a result, the fallout from an accident can vary widely.

It is a common misconception that injuries do not occur if a crash involves one car rear-ending another. While that may be true some of the time, it is not always the case and many people will have their lives altered permanently do to a rear-end car accident.

Seat Belt Use Is On the Rise – But Still Too Low

March 7, 2016 | By Dave Abels

Experts agree that the most important thing you can do to increase your safety in the event of a car accident in Chicago is to wear your seat belt – not some of the time, not on occasion, but every single time you drive or ride in a car. Seat belts have been designed and engineered with the sole purpose of protecting a vehicle’s occupants from harm when a crash takes place and they do a good job at reducing the risks of deaths or fatalities in collisions.

Good news has emerged on the subject of seat belt usage, according to recently released information by the federal government. Data from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey reveals that 88.5 percent of motorists in the country used seat belts in 2015, an increase from 86.7 percent in 2014.

E-Cigarette Allegedly Explodes, Injuring User

March 3, 2016 | By Dave Abels

Everyone knows that smoking cigarettes can be dangerous to your health. This fact has spurned the creation of the e-cigarette industry as an alternative to traditional smoking and now is more prominent among young Americans than smoking itself.

E-cigarettes, or electronic cigarettes, are battery-powered devices that allow a user to feel like they are smoking without the traditional presence of tobacco. They work by putting off an aerosol that is inhaled by a user just like traditional cigarette smoke is inhaled by a smoker and can present with a wide range of flavors. Prominently known as vaping, the health benefits and risks of e-cigarettes when compared to traditional smoking are not well understood at this time but it has not stopped millions from taking up the habit.

A recent incident in the news is highlighting the fact that potential dangers associated with e-cigarettes might extend beyond the vapor inhaled and exhaled by users and might include the devices themselves. Last week, a woman in Florida claims she was sitting in her car, intending to use an e-cigarette outside of a friend’s house when something went wrong. The user claims that she pushed a button on the e-cigarette and that the device exploded in her face, knocking her teeth loose and causing her to sustain burns to her torso and hand. Her car caught fire as a result of the explosion.

Cancer Risks from Lumber Liquidators Floors are Higher than Previously Thought

March 2, 2016 | By Dave Abels

Concern has been expressed by many homeowners following new information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which casts doubt about the safety of some flooring material.

The federal government began looking into Lumber Liquidators recently with regard to the amount of formaldehyde used in some of its laminate flooring and with the help of the CDC, has expressed concern.

The public first got widespread accounts of potential issues with Lumber Liquidators flooring back in March of 2015, when the news program 60 Minutes aired a special on the company. Through its investigation, 60 Minutes determined that much of the laminate flooring material sold by Lumber Liquidators was produced in China and that it allegedly failed to meet health and safety standards in California, the state with the strictest standards in the nation. Based on testing done in an independent lab on some of the flooring, the product that was produced in China failed to meet formaldehyde emission standards – in some cases by a large margin. Similar products that were produced in the United States did not have the same emission standards, nor did some products that were sold by major retailers.

Freezing Rain Will Complicate Chicago Driving

March 1, 2016 | By Dave Abels

During a typical winter season, the first significant storm may pose the greatest danger to safety. Drivers are not used to operating in inclement conditions, they may need to adjust their speeds and steering to counteract the cold and snow, and some vehicles will not be ready for winter temperatures. But after that first storm, often a late season cold front after a day or more of spring-like weather can be the most dangerous. Following a thaw, some people will forget that another storm can be in the forecast and therefore may encounter the poor weather unexpectedly, increasing the likelihood that they will be involved in a car accident.

That is the unfortunate situation some drivers will find themselves in today as freezing rain, snow, and sleet are expected to strike Chicago, complicating the commutes of hundreds of thousands who will try to make it into the city. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory which will remain in effect until 9:00 a.m. CST today but the storm’s fallout will have an impact on the city for much longer.

More Than Texting: The Many Forms of Distracted Driving

February 26, 2016 | By Dave Abels

Distracted driving is being discussed so often in the media that the phrase is becoming commonplace, so regular that some drivers tune it out when it is aired. Others hear the works distracted driving and immediately think of texting while driving or using a cell phone behind the wheel but may not think of anything else.

But distraction takes many more forms than just a cell phone and new data is suggesting that any form of distraction can be an extreme issue for roadway safety.

Based upon information from Virginia Tech, the Huffington Post reports that distraction can double the odds of a car accident taking place. If a crash does happen, vehicles will most likely be damaged, leading to financial costs to repair or replace them. Occupants of the cars may be hurt and may be in need of medical treatment. And some victims may be forced to miss time from work, preventing them from earning the wages they otherwise should have and limiting their ability to support themselves and their families.

Winter Is Coming – Again – To Chicago

February 23, 2016 | By Dave Abels

If you enjoy sunny skies and warm temperatures, you may want to go into hiding tomorrow and remain indoors through Thursday. Meteorologists have reported a winter storm coming to Chicago which is expected to bring snow showers and moderate winds, possibly leading to traffic issues and other hassles among commuters in Illinois and those who have to leave their homes.

The good news is that this storm is expected to leave approximately one to three inches in the downtown area, enough to inconvenience the city but not enough to bring it screeching to a halt. The bad news is that even this small amount will significantly increase the possibility of car accidents, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents taking place and will raise the odds that people will be hurt as a result.