Auto Accidents

As many Illinois residents are planning their summer adventures, a number of people may include a road trip as part of their seasonal fun. With more and more people on the road, the chances of being involved in an Illinois traffic accident may unfortunately increase.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is encouraging anyone who might be hitting the road this summer to practice safety at all times, before and during the trip. The following are safety tips to help you and your passengers get to your destination safely:

• Regular vehicle maintenance, such as oil changes and tire rotations, can go a long way in preventing a breakdown or roadside emergency, so be sure to keep up standard maintenance.
• Before you hit the open roads, make sure to check the following equipment in order to avoid a potentially serious problem: tires, belts and hoses, wiper blades, fluid levels, lights, cooling system, and air conditioning.
• While you are on the road traveling to your seasonal destination, avoid bad driving behaviors. Distracted driving is a common factor in traffic accidents, so drive distraction-free and let passengers help with things such as changing the music or navigation. Also, do not drink and drive under any circumstances. Combining the two can be dangerous for you and other drivers on the road and may cause an IL drunk driving crash.
• Everyone in the car should buckle up in order to prevent serious injuries in the event of an accident.
• Avoid driver fatigue by scheduling frequent breaks throughout your trip to stop for food or beverages or simply stretch your legs at a rest stop. Sharing the driving duties with others can also help, as well as staying overnight at a motel to get a good night’s rest and reenergize yourself for the next day.

The summer season is a time for fun and celebrations, not accidents and injuries, so adhering to these simple safety tips can help ensure your road trip is enjoyable and safe. All traffic accidents, however, are regrettably not preventable. The traffic accident lawyers in Chicago with the Bradley Law Firm can help you obtain compensation when another party’s negligence has caused you harm. Call us to discuss your case at (312) 252-1488.

This Memorial Day weekend marks the first long holiday weekend of the summer and many Chicagoans are gearing up for a fun and exciting weekend getaway. According to WSVN.com, AAA is expecting almost 35 million people across the country to be on the roads this weekend, which is half a million more than 2011. With the large amount of Memorial Day weekend travelers on the roads, it is imperative Illinois motorists drive safe and alertly in order to arrive to their holiday destination accident-free.

While you are cruising the open roads of Illinois, remember these basic safety tips:

• Have your car thoroughly inspected by a qualified mechanic to make sure it will be functioning perfectly for the journey;
• Driving distracted can lead to a dangerous collision, so drivers should avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating or drinking, and talking with passengers;
• A fatigued driver can be a dangerous driver, so be sure to get a good night’s rest the night before you leave for your road trip, and take frequent breaks along the way to stay alert;
• Observe basic traffic safety rules and rules of the road, such as obeying speed limits; and
• Remember a safety belt can save your life in the tragic event of an accident, so buckle up for safety!

The Chicago traffic accident lawyers of the Bradley Law Firm wish everyone safe travels this Memorial Day weekend and throughout the summer! If you are, unfortunately, involved in an accident on the road of any kind, please contact our offices at (312) 252-1488 for a complimentary consultation on your accident claim. We can help you hold any negligent parties legally accountable for the crash and get you the compensation you need to recover.

Technology can indeed be a wonderful thing. With millions of Americans using their smart phones for everything including checking e-mails, watching movies, or communicating with friends and family, cell phones are a very handy device that allows a person to stay connected. However, using a cell phone while behind the wheel of a vehicle can lead to a dangerous Illinois auto accident and result in life-threatening injuries. Distraction.gov reports that approximately 448,000 individuals in the U.S. were injured as a result of a distracted driving accident and 5,474 were killed in 2009.

Though there a number of things that can distract a driver, such as eating or changing the radio, cell phones are one of the most dangerous and may cause a motorist to miss 50 percent of their driving environment if they are using it , including traffic lights and stop signs. Research indicates that drivers talking on cell phones are four times more likely to crash and texting increases the chances of being involved in an auto accident by up to 23 times. In honor of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, drivers in Illinois and across the country should take the pledge to drive cell free this April and beyond.

In order to drive cell free and protect your life and the lives of other motorists, the National Safety Council suggests turning your phone off or silencing it so you are not tempted to use it when driving. Existing technology can also help prevent cell phone use; for example, certain smart phone applications can hold your calls and messages and deliver them after you are finished driving. Also, encourage friends and family to pledge to drive cell free as well, and if you notice them using their phone while driving, offer your help if it is urgent or ask them to please use their phone later.

Distracted driving is very dangerous, and though you may make a personal pledge to try and prevent it, other drivers may not take their safety and the safety of others seriously. If a negligent driver was the cause of a car accident you were involved in, contact a skilled Chicago car accident lawyer who can help hold at-fault parties responsible for their actions. At the Bradley Law Firm, we are committed to protecting the rights of accident victims. For a no-cost consultation, call (312) 252-1488.

According to a MyFOXChicago.com report, two children were killed in a tragic hit and run car accident on the southwest side of Chicago. The multi vehicle Chicago auto accident began when the driver of an SUV was in a minor fender bender with another car at the intersection of 45th and Western around 6:30 p.m.; however, the SUV driver simply drove off at a high rate of speed heading south on Western. The SUV then proceeded to crash into an oncoming Dodge Neon approximately 100 yards away from the scene of the first accident. Emergency crews arrived and first began to treat the occupants of the SUV before witnesses at the accident scene pointed out the badly injured children in the Neon.

Official reports indicate that the two children in the Neon were 5-years-old and 10-months-old. Both were immediately taken to area hospitals for treatment, but heartbreakingly both siblings succumbed to their injuries. The 10-month old sister was pronounced dead at 7:36 p.m. at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, while the brother was pronounced dead 21 minutes later at Mount Sinai Hospital. The driver of the SUV was arrested and taken to an area hospital for treatment. The Major Accidents Investigation Unit of the Chicago Police Department is investigating this crash.

Being involved in a hit-and-run accident can be devastating and can make getting compensation to aid in recovery very difficult. At the Bradley Law Firm, our skilled Illinois hit and run accident attorneys are committed to helping hit and run accident victims obtain the compensation they deserve and will stay on top of the official investigation to ensure any at-fault parties are held responsible. For a complimentary consultation with a member of our law team, please call (312) 252-1488.

Since the state of Illinois implemented a graduated driver licensing program in 2008, many have been left to wonder if the new laws are effective in preventing dangerous auto accidents in Illinois. With introduction of the new licensing program, which has stricter driver’s education requirements and limitations on how often and when a teen can drive, it is now virtually impossible for a driver under the age of 17 to drive independently. In addition to the new teen licensing laws, other factors have helped deter teens from driving early, including the cost of required driver’s education (the cost can be $400 and up at some high schools in Lake County), high insurance rates, and soaring gas prices.

The Vernon Hills Review reports that traffic accidents involving teens are down by 35 percent in the state and teen highway fatalities have decreased by 50 percent since 2008 when the program began. Though teens anxious to get behind the wheel may strongly dislike the more stringent standards of the new graduated driver licensing program, these kinds of statistics are certainly undeniable. This is especially true considering a new study released by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) shows teen driver fatalities (16- and 17-year-olds) across the nation increased slightly in the first six months of 2011, which is based on preliminary data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Whether or not Illinois residents feel the stricter teen driver standards are effective, the statistics are great evidence that these programs may be an excellent tool in preventing teen traffic accident deaths. However, it is still up to each IL driver to practice safety while behind the wheel to prevent a dangerous accident. If you have been injured in an auto accident caused by another’s negligence, the Chicago car accident lawyers with the Bradley Law Firm can help. We will work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve and need to recover from your injuries. Call (312) 252-1488 for a consultation on your case.

The Chicago Tribune reports that a recent intersection accident in north suburban Morton Grove injured three people and closed the intersection for close to 30 minutes. The multi-vehicle Illinois auto accident occurred around noon on January 16 at the intersection of Dempster Street and Waukegan Road. A total of four ambulances were called to the scene, but only three of the accident victims were transported to the hospital for treatment of their injuries. The Morton Grove Fire Battalion Chief is hopeful for a swift recovery for the three as they were all “conscious and talking” at the accident scene, but was unable to provide further details regarding their conditions. The Chief was unsure what direction the vehicles were traveling, so an official investigation will have to determine what happened and who may be at-fault for the crash.

Despite improvements in things like road design, safety laws and regulations, and traffic engineering, intersection safety is still a serious problem. According to information from the U.S. Institute of Traffic Safety Engineers, the number of fatal crashes at traffic signals is rising faster than any other type of fatal crash in the nation. In addition, in 2002 an estimated 3.2 million intersection-related crashes occurred, which represented 50 percent of all reported crashes. Fatal intersection accidents the same year represented 22 percent of total fatal crashes, and injuries resulting from intersection accidents represented 55.3 percent of all injury crashes.

Being a cautious and aware driver can certainly help prevent dangerous intersection accidents, but a negligent motorist may still cause an accident to occur. The intersection accident attorneys in Illinois with the Bradley Law Firm can help you obtain compensation for your injuries when the crash is caused by the negligence of another party. Call (312) 252-1488 for a complimentary consultation and to discuss your personal injury claim.

WIFR.com reports that a mother and son were killed in a fatal auto accident that occurred on Christmas Eve. Authorities state the head-on collision happened on Route 20 in Winnebago County around 3p.m. when the driver of a black Ford heading west lost control of his vehicle with his family in the car. Subsequently, the Ford flipped over and went into the eastbound lanes, hitting a van head on. Two passengers that were in the van are in serious condition, but tragically the mother and 15-year-old son in the Ford died from the injuries they sustained from the crash. The father (the driver of the Ford) and the daughter, who was also a passenger, survived and are in critical condition receiving care at an area hospital. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department has determined that alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

Head-on collisions are one of the more serious types of auto accidents that can occur and can cause serious, life-threatening injuries or possibly even death. A head-on collision can often be attributed to the negligence of one or more drivers, and most often occurs in two ways:

• Lane-departure accident, where the driver fails to stay in his or her lane and drifts into oncoming traffic.
• Wrong way driving accident, where a driver enters the highway via an off ramp instead of an off ramp, or makes an illegal u-turn on a one way street.

Head-on collisions can be caused by a number of factors, such as distracted driving, unsafe passing of vehicles, falling asleep at the wheel, or sudden swerving to avoid debris. In addition, drinking and driving can cause a driver to lose control of a vehicle and strike another vehicle head on. The faster a vehicle is going increases the risk of injury or death from this type of accident. The impact of two vehicles striking each other while traveling 50 mph is the same as a car traveling 100 mph striking a parked car.

If you are an Illinois resident and have been involved in a head-on collision caused by the negligence of another driver, the Chicago head-on collision lawyers of the Bradley Law Firm can help you receive compensation for your injuries. We will work to hold any negligent parties liable. Call (312) 252-1488 for a free consultation and review of your case.

According to a report by Lawyers.com, a widower’s wrongful death lawsuit is highlighting the dangers of texting while driving and the complicated laws regarding cell phone use behind the wheel. The Illinois resident’s lawsuit stems from a September car accident in which a truck driver rolled through a stop sign in Coral Township because he was sending a text message, and subsequently smashed into the couple’s 2004 Chevy at a higher than normal speed. The wife was killed in the crash.

Though an Illinois ban on text messaging and surfing the web while driving has been in effect since January 2010, the driver of the truck was not cited for a texting violation. He was only charged with failing to yield at an intersection and was sentenced November 2 to $551 in fines, 120 days supervision, and four hours of traffic safety school. The surviving husband is now taking legal action and filed a lawsuit against the truck driver for wrongful death and negligence.

The National Safety Council estimates that making calls with a cell phone and texting while behind the wheel are responsible for 1.3 million crashes, or 23 percent of all crashes, per year. An increasing number of studies show the dangers of distracted driving, and specifically cell phone-related accidents are increasingly a factor in car crashes. Within the last five years, 35 states (including Illinois) have banned text messaging while driving. The laws, however, can be somewhat confusing; in Illinois, for example, Illinois law bars “electronic messaging” while driving, but not calls. The best bet for residents of the Prairie State is to avoid driving distracted while behind the wheel; place your phone out of reach, like in the backseat, so you are not tempted to use it. If you have to use your cell phone, pull over to a safe place and make your call.

Simple tips can help you avoid distracted driving and prevent a potentially dangerous Illinois motor vehicle accident. However, it cannot prevent another driver from acting in a negligent manner and causing a crash that may lead to serious injuries or tragically even death. If you have lost a loved one in an accident that you believe was caused by another person’s negligence, the Chicago wrongful death lawyers of the Bradley Law Firm can help you receive compensation for burdens such as medical bills or funeral expenses. Our law team can help you through this difficult time. For a no-cost consultation, please call (312) 252-1488.

According to a report by Liveinsurancenews.com, the state of Illinois will soon introduce stricter penalties for motorists without insurance. The heavier penalties follow a battle started by an Illinois woman who was almost killed in a car accident with an uninsured driver. The accident occurred in June 2010 when the woman’s car collided with a car that had no lights on and was parked in the center of the road; the driver of the parked car had no insurance at the time, and had also received prior convictions for uninsured driving. The uninsured motorist was charged $300 for driving uninsured, $275 for parking illegally, and an additional fine of $575.

The accident victim asked her state representative to introduce new legislation that would make the fines heavier for uninsured drivers with repeat offenses. The woman’s battle was successful and, with the help of a newly signed bill, heavier penalties for uninsured drivers with multiple offenses will begin in January 2012. Insurance cards will need to be carried at all times to prove a driver has valid insurance.

Illinois law requires that no person should operate a motor vehicle which is not covered by the minimum liability insurance as mandated by the state. If involved in an auto accident with an uninsured driver, you will likely have to take the driver to court to receive damages. When the ruling is in the victim’s favor, the court will order the uninsured motorist to satisfy the judgment. If the judgment is unsatisfied, or unpaid, for 30 days, the court can order the Secretary of State to suspend the individual’s driving and registering privileges.

Being involved in an auto accident can be very traumatic, but when there is the added stress of trying to receive compensation for your injuries and damaged vehicle from someone without insurance, it can worsen an already difficult situation. The Chicago uninsured motorist accident lawyers of the Bradley Law Firm can help you get the money you deserve from an uninsured driver who caused your auto accident. For a no-cost consultation and review of your case, please call (312) 252-1488.

Thanksgiving is always a wonderful way to start the holiday season and is the perfect time to be with family and friends. However, as many people may be venturing out of town to be with their loved ones, the long Thanksgiving weekend can often be one of the more dangerous times to be out on the road. The National Safety Commission reports that thousands of injuries and nearly 400 automobile fatalities annually result from this November holiday due to icy roads, inclement weather, heavy traffic, and other hazards.

According to WREX-TV, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced that all non-emergency road work will be suspended beginning at 3 p.m. November 23 to help reduce congestion and improve traffic flow. Also, IDOT is providing advance notice of lane closures to help motorists plan their turkey day road trip. Thousands of Illinois motorists are expected to be on the road this long weekend, so IDOT urges travelers to slow down and obey posted speed limits to help keep you, your family, and other drivers safe on the highway.

Here are some other travel tips to keep you safe this weekend:

• Plan your travel route in advance, and designate a fellow passenger to be the navigator so you don’t have to fumble with a map or the GPS while behind the wheel.
• Make sure your vehicle is in excellent working order before you hit the road. Checking your vehicle’s tire pressure and fluids can help avoid unexpected surprises.
• To avoid dangerous driver fatigue, get a good night’s rest the night before you travel. Also, be sure to pull off the road to take a short nap or let another licensed driver take over if you’re feeling sleepy while driving.
• Most importantly, be safe! Avoid distracted driving by giving your cell phone to a passenger, and make sure everyone is wearing their safety belt and children are properly secured in car seats.

During this long weekend, it is important to take necessary safety precautions to help keep you and your family safe, but unfortunately this cannot completely prevent an accident. Other drivers on the road may act in a negligent or careless way, putting you in danger. If you have been involved in an auto accident that was caused by another’s negligence, the Chicago car accident lawyers of the Bradley Law Firm can help. For a free consultation, please call (312) 252-1488.