Author Archives: abryant633

Second National Distracted Driving Summit Coming In September

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The U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that the second annual Distracted Driving Summit will take place on September 21, 2010. Transportation officials, safety advocates, law enforcement, industry representatives, researchers, and victims affected by distraction-related crashes will convene to address challenges and identify opportunities for national anti-distracted driving efforts.

At this year’s event, experts from around the country will explore accomplishments since our first summit, as well as the many challenges that lie ahead. Key topics will include research, technology, policy, public outreach, and best practices in enforcement.

The Transportation Department’s press release noted that research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that in 2008, nearly 6,000 people died and more than half a million were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. More than 20 percent of all crashes that same year involved some type of distraction.

I will be interested to see if the federal government enacts a national ban on all texting in driving. Following last years summit, President Obama enacted a ban for all federal workers from texting while driving while conducting government business.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Chicago car accident  or Chicago truck accident , the call Chicago car accident attorney , Aaron Bryant for a free consultation  at 312-588-3384 or go to the firm website at www.BLGCHICAGO.com

 

Dangerous Chicago Railroad Crossing To Recieve Upgrades

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A dangerous Chicago railroad crossing at Nagle between Avondale and Northwest highway is finally going to receive some much needed safety upgrades. For years, traffic congestion has caused vehicles to stop on the railroad tracks at this intersection, which has led numerous train and vehicle collisions. The Chicago Tribune reported about this dangerous back on July 12, the same day in which a semi-truck was stuck on the tracks due to backed up traffic and was struck by an oncoming train.

New signs, better pavement markings, new concrete crossing panels to create a smoother ride over the tracks for vehicles and other changes are planned between Aug. 23 and Sept. 3, officials said. The crossing will be closed during the work, and traffic will be rerouted.  The primarily goal behind the changes is to grab the attention of motorists about the potentially deadly situation at the complex, high-volume rail-roadway intersection near the Kennedy Expressway.

Interestingly, the above upgrades are not ideal as officials have reported that much more far-reaching changes are being postponed due to high costs. The more expensive changes would include building a bridge over the crossing or installing new electronic circuitry to improve the timing of crossing gates that block the tracks when trains approach, officials said.

Regardless, it is good to see that the city is taking certain steps to make this railroad crossing safer.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Chicago car accident  or Chicago train accident , then call Chicago accident attorney  Aaron Bryant for a free consultation on your case at 312-588-3384 or go to the firm website at www.BLGCHICAGO.com

Tips On Preventing Car Accidents And Keeping Your Insurance Rates Down with car insurance quotes

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Yahoo News published an interesting article recently that provided a list of ways that your car insurance rates can increase. IN case you are looking for a great car insurance, Paddy Compare has the best ones you can find online. Visit their site for more information.

These may seem obvious and I have written about these before, but, according to insurance executives, they are paying close attention to the following items when determining rates. These are actions (both in and out of your car) that could increase your insurance rates and more importantly are common cause to car accidents  and serious injuries.

1. Texting while driving
2. Not wearing a seat belt while driving
3. Adding a teen to your policy
4. Missing credit card payments
5. Paying car insurance in installments

These are simple tips that can keep your insurance rates down and hopefully keep you safe while on the road.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Chicago car accident  or Chicago truck accident , then call Chicago car accident attorney  Aaron Bryant for a free consultation  at 312-588-3384 or go to the firm website at www.BLGCHICAGO.com

AAA And Seventeen Magazine Team Up To Prevent Distracted Driving

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A survey by AAA and Seventeen magazine turned up some startling results on teen drivers. Of those surveyed, almost 90 percent admitted to partaking in distracted driving, including texting, talking on the phone and eating while driving. The teen drivers admitted this despite, 84 percent of them knowing that this is a dangerous practice.

Of those surveyed, 73 percent have adjusted their radio/CD/MP3 player, 61 percent have eaten food, and 60 percent have talked on a cell phone while driving. The reasons teen drivers think it’s fine to engage in these distractions are varied: 41 percent think their action will only take a split second; 35 percent don’t think they’ll get hurt; 34 percent said they’re used to multitasking; and 32 percent don’t think that anything bad will happen to them.

“It’s great that so many teens are able to identify the bad driving habits that will put them and their friends in danger. But the bigger challenge we face now is to give them the tools they need to stop driving while distracted,” says Ann Shoket, editor in chief of Seventeen magazine. “It’s our responsibility to keep our 13 million readers out of harm’s way.”

This is a dangerous trend that needs to be addressed.  “Traffic crashes  are the leading cause of death for teen drivers and the proliferation of distracted driving among teens is a challenge all of us must face head-on,” said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet. “Because of their lack of driving experience and penchant to take risks, it’s imperative that teen drivers – like all drivers – remain focused behind the wheel at all times. AAA is pleased to partner with Seventeen to spread the anti-distracted driving message and help keep teen drivers safe.”

Obviously I believe the key is to continue to preach to teens (and drivers of all ages), to put down their phones, soda bottles and snacks and focus on the road. As AAA points out in their studies, it only takes 2 seconds of looking away to cause a car crash .

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Chicago car accident  or Chicago truck accident , then call Chicago accident attorney  Aaron Bryant for a free consultation at 312-588-3384 or go to the law firm website at www.BLGCHICAGO.com

IDOT Announces A Decrease In Highway Fatalities In 2010

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Good news was issued from the Illinois Department of Transportation this week. The first half of 2010 shows a decrease in Illinois highway fatalities, which includes the Chicagoland area.  The overall number of fatalities on Illinois roads is down by 16.8 percent on a provisional basis for the first six months of 2010; from 434 in 2009, to 361 in 2010.

One of the reasons for these numbers is an increased rate of seat belt compliance so far in 2010. Since July of 2003, safety belt use in Illinois has gone up 16.4 percentage points, from 76.2 percent in 2003 to 92.6 percent in the statewide survey, just completed by IDOT’s Traffic Safety Division. Prior to enactment of the primary enforcement law, police could not pull a driver over based solely on a safety belt violation.

“During the past six years we have seen the statewide compliance usage rate climb to a remarkable 92.6 percent,” said IDOT’s Traffic Safety Director Michael Stout. “This incredible milestone would not have been possible without the hundreds of dedicated IDOT staff and partners throughout the state working tirelessly to make our highways safer. We believe the decrease in Illinois fatalities is a direct result of the increase in safety belt usage. We look forward to helping this number increase in our effort to save lives.”

For more information on the recent safety belt usage rate refer to www.dot.il.gov/trafficsafety/tsevaluation.html. To view a short video exemplifying why some Illinois residents are making the choice to buckle up, please visit IDOT’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2gDyuyaeWk.

This is an exciting trend in Illinois. It will be interesting to see if these numbers stay consistent through the summer months, which we all know are the busiest travel months.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Chicago car accident  or Chicago truck accident , then call Chicago accident attorney  Aaron Bryant for a free consultation  at 312-588-3384 or go to the firm website at www.BLGCHICAGO.com

Trauma Mama Offers Tips For Motorcycle Safety

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The Sun-Times recently introduced Chicago to Teresa McClellend, the “trauma mama”, a registered nurse and avid biker.  McClellend suffered a serious motorcycle accident back in 2006 that changed her life forever and provided the motivation to begin teaching classes on motorcycle safety. That accident was an eye-opener for me. I was riding back from the Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run when someone in a car threw out a Gatorade bottle. . . . I was going at a decent speed, . . . and my steering locked. Never in a million years did I think I would go down, but I did.  I realized how ill-prepared motorcyclists are for accidents — including me at that time — and I realized how important it was that the riders with me knew what to do. If my injuries had been life-threatening”. If you are ever in this situation, then make sure you get immediate legal help from a motorcycle accident attorney to help you settle any claims. 

McClellend described what her safety class is offering, “”I am trying to train bikers how to handle that golden hour between the accident and when the emergency response team arrives: How to secure the scene. Control traffic. When and how to move the injured. When and how to move the motorcycle. The important information for a 911 dispatcher: Was the rider helmeted, . . . possible injuries . . . should an ambulance, Jaws of Life or medivac [helicopter ambulance] be sent… I’m adamant that bikers take a safety course, and I encourage everyone to have CPR training and take an accident management class. We can decrease the statistics of motorcycle accidents, serious injuries and deaths with education and training. Students who increase their awareness tend to ride a little bit safer instead of dogging it down the street or highway,”

This is a must attend event for motorcyle riders, or at the very least, new riders. It’s all about protecting themselves and others on the road. 

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Chicago motorcycle accident  or Chicago car accident , then call Chicago accident attorney , Aaron Bryant for a free consultation  at 312-588-3384 or go to the firm website at www.BLGCHICAGO.com
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Illinois Governor Signs New Bicycle Safety Law

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Those who live in Chicago know that this is one of the great towns in the country for bicyclists. There are endless miles of bicycle lanes on the roads throughout the city. Add the lake front and thousands of acres of parks, I think this is one of the best cities to get out and ride your bike. Unfortunately there is a downside to all bike lanes: the threat of dangerous collisions with automobiles.

In a move to help protect bicyclists, Governor Quinn signed a new safety bill. The bill will establish new penalties for motorists that drive recklessly or unnecessarily close to bicyclists. A second piece of legislation will create “Share the Road” Illinois licenses plates. The money from the license plates will fund education campaigns.  Quinn says the new laws will keep bicyclists safe and remind drivers to be alert for bicyclists.

I think this is a positive step towards protecting bicyclists, which will hopefully make drivers more aware when driving throughout the city.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Chicago bike accident  or Chicago car accident , then call Chicago accident attorney  Aaron Bryant for a free consultation  at 312-588-3384 or go to the firm website www.BLGCHICAGO.com

Toyota Announces Huge Lexus Recall

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Toyota is in the news once again. Already faced with the public relations nightmare from the unintended accelaration recall from earlier this year, Toyota now faces problems with engine defects in some of their Lexus automobiles build between 2005 and 2008.

 Toyota plans to recall 270,000 luxury Lexus and Toyota Crown vehicles across the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, Europe and other countries due to the potential defects that could lead to engine failures.

Rueters repots that Toyota said in its notice to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it had received a report from the Japan market in March 2007 about abnormal noise and engine shaking and examined a broken engine valve spring.

The notice to regulators said there was a possibility the valve springs could degrade over time, leading to failure.

The automaker said it made improvements to its casting process after the initial report, but received more reports of broken valve springs. Toyota increased the thickness of the valve springs in August 2008 and again in September 2009.

From October 2009 onward, Toyota received an increasing number of reports that valve springs produced before August 2008 were breaking, as well as of total engine failures, though not of crashes or injuries, the automaker said.

Toyota said it would replace the engine valve springs with the new thicker version at no cost. It did not provide safety regulators with a recall schedule.

The U.S. recall covers 138,874 luxury Lexus IS 350, GS 350, GS 450h, GS 460, LS 460, LS 460 L and LS 600h L vehicles from the 2006 through 2008 model years. The cars were built between August 2005 and July 2008.

Has Toyota dug a hole they cannot dig out of? Only time will tell, but I am not impressed with the amount of time it took them to make a formal recall with both the accelaration and now with the engine problem.  I have not seen any reports of personal injury resulting from the Lexus engine defect.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Chicago car accident  or Chicago truck accident , then call Chicago accident attorney  Aaron Bryant for a free consultation  at 312-588-3384 or go to the firm website at www.BLGCHICAGO.com 

Another Study Shows Red Light Cameras Are Not Working In Chicago

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My Fox Chicago released a report about a new study that showed that red light cameras in Chicago may still not be deterring car accidents.

Despite press releases by the Chicago Department of Transportation touting the safety of these cameras, a new study prepared by the University of Illinois Chicago, says that the exact opposite has been happening.  Assistant Professor Rajiv Shah compared the total number of accidents the year before the cameras were installed and the year after. What surprised him most is that car accidents have declined city-wide, except at red-light intersections.  “The clearest thing is the red light cameras have not changed driving behavior in any significant pattern,” he said.

Brian Steele with the Chicago Department of Transportation argues Shah’s numbers are misleading. He claims IDOT’s numbers are disproportionately high because the state considers any crash within 250 feet of the traffic light to be an intersection accident.”There is no question that in the city of Chicago, drivers are safe because of red-light enforcement,” Steele said.

I am not convinced by the comments by the city. I think it is time for the city to wipe the egg off their face and admit that the red light cameras not only do not prevent accidents,  but they are actually making intersections more dangerous.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident , then call Chicago accident attorney  Aaron Bryant for a free consultation  at 312-588-3384 or go to firm website at www.BLGCHICAGO.com

How To Avoid Road Rage

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I think most of us have at least been a witness (if not a victim) of road rage. It is hard to understand why driver become so frustrated and angry while in their cars. I was driving back to Chicago from Skokie this week and saw two (2) cutting each other off and screaming back and forth. I thought something ugly was going to happend, but at the last second one of the drivers kept his cool and drove off.

Illinois’ Driving University website published a nice article about road rage and how to avoid practicing it and how to avoid becoming a victim.  Below are some important tips.

Avoid the following actions so you do not become a victim:

  • Tailgating.
  • Going too slow in the passing lane. Yes, you may technically be in the right because you are going the speed limit, but the far left lane is for people to pass. If you are going more slowly than the person behind you and you are in the left lane, you need to move over. Remember, it’s their speeding ticket, not yours.
  • Talking on your cell phone while driving.
  • Cutting other drivers off.
  • Blocking the street to talk to someone. If you need to chat, pull over somewhere out of the way.
  • Excessive horn use.

Also, below are some tips to help you keep your cool while on the road.

  • Listen to some soothing music while you drive. If “soothing” isn’t your style, at least listen to something that make you feel happy, not angry. Music affects different people in different ways. If death metal makes you happy, great. If it makes you want to smash things, save it for when you get home.
  • Once you sit down in the driver’s seat, take a deep breath and let it out slowly, before you even start the car. Do some light stretching, and try to relax.
  • Don’t take other drivers actions personally. Sometimes, other drivers are going to make mistakes. That doesn’t mean that they are out to get you.
  • Give yourself extra time to get where you are going. Don’t try to bend the space/time continuum and make a 30 minute drive in 20 minutes. You will only set yourself up for failure-and more stress! 
  • Tape a picture of your loved ones to the dashboard. Whenever you feel your blood pressure start to rise, look at the picture and think about how your family would be affected if you did something stupid.
  • Try positive self-talk: When something happens on the road that makes you angry, talk yourself down.  When you find yourself thinking “That *@$#*&! I can’t believe he just did that! Well, he just messed with the wrong person…,”take a deep breath and turn off your angry interior monologue. Instead, say something like this to yourself: “It’s okay. That other driver is probably a perfectly nice person and did not mean to do that. Even if they did do it on purpose, it would be silly to let a stranger ruin my day.”
  • If you still can’t get a handle on your emotions when you’re behind the wheel, you may want to consider some professional help. A study conducted in 2000 at Colorado State University indicated that both relaxation and cognitive relaxation therapy can help reduce aggressive driving patterns.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Chicago car accident  or Chicago truck accident , then call Chicago accident attorney  Aaron Bryant for a free consultation  at 312-588-3384 or go to the firm website at www.BLGCHICAGO.com