Chicago Alderman Calls For End To Red Light Cameras

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I’m not sure how I missed this last week, but Chicago Alderman and 2015 mayoral candidate, Bob Fioretti, has called for the end of red light cameras in the city. According to the great website, dnainfo.com, Fioretti said at a news conference at City Hall in December that he would submit local ordinance that would put an end to red light cameras.  “The majority of red-light cameras do little to create safety,” Fioretti said, citing a Texas A&M study showed they might help reduce so-called T-bone crashes of cars crossing in the intersection, only to increase rear-end, same-direction collisions involving cars either speeding up or slowing down at a yellow light.

He also said they were riddled with corruption and cited how the city ended its relationship with the original camera firm, Redflex, in a case that found city and company officials charged with federal crimes, with one already having pled guilty.

“The entire program is fraught with failed oversight, corruption and unfair enforcement,” Fioretti added.

According to this article Chicago has the largest traffic camera program in the country with 350 red-light cameras and 130 speed cameras.

This is quite a development as I have written on this blog over and over again that red light cameras do not make our intersections safer. In fact, as Alderman Fioretti pointed out, some studies have claimed that they make intersections more dangerous because drivers are timid and often stop short when they should drive through.

I have not seen a response from Mayor Emanuel on this issue but I seriously doubt he would pull the plug on traffic cameras at this point. City Transportation Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld defended the cameras in a statement: “The act of running a red light is against the law and can have disastrous and life-altering consequences including serious injury or death,” she said. “Traffic safety is a serious and important issue, and red-light enforcement cameras play a key role in helping to improve public safety.”

I have not decided who I am going to vote for next month but this is an issue I will definitely keep in mind before going to polls.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury attorney, Aaron Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

4 Iron Workers Injured In Chicago Construction Accident

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The Chicago Tribune reported today that an iron beam collapsed on a construction site near Lake and Canal streets in downtown Chicago. Two iron workers apparently were on the beam when it collapsed about twenty (20) feet and two others were below the beam.

Two workers were taken in serious-to-critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, another in serious-to-critical was taken to Stroger Hospital and the fourth, in fair-to-serious condition, was transported to Rush University Medical Center.

It has been reported that the site has been closed down to allow OSHA time to come in and investigate the cause of the construction accident. First and foremost I think the whole city should breathe a sigh of relief that there were no fatal injuries from this accident and that all four workers will be in in our thoughts and prayers for a healthy recovery from any injuries.

Regardless, it is important to point out that each of these workers will be entitled to Illinois workers compensation benefits as a result of their injury. First, each of the workers is entitled to payment of all of their medical bills for treatment related to their work injuries. Second, the workers are entitled to what is called temporary total disability (“TTD”), which is payment directly to them for their time off of work due to these injuries. The payments are equal to 2/3 of their average weekly wages. Finally, assuming the workers go back to full duty after recovering from their injuries, they will be entitled to a permanent partial disability (“PPD”) award, which typically comes in a lump sum.

Another issue to consider for these injured workers is determining who was at fault for this accident. If the OSHA investigation, or any other independent investigation, determines that a third party was at fault for this construction accident, then the injured worker could have a potential civil lawsuit in the circuit court for their personal injuries, lost wages, medical bills and loss of enjoyment of life. It is premature to determine if this construction accident was caused by a third party (a party other than the workers’ employer), but it is common for multiple subcontractors to be present during a major construction project. If so, the injured worker will have both an Illinois workers compensation claim and civil lawsuit against any liable third party subcontractors and/or general contractors.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured at work and has an Illinois workers compensation case or has been involved in a Chicago construction accident, then call Chicago personal injury attorney, Aaron Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

Car Accidents In Illinois Are On The Rise

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The Chicago Tribune reported this week a wealth of statewide traffic accident statistics. Although the number of traffic fatalities in Illinois is down from last year, the number of overall crashes remains high and has state officials worried since there has been an increase of auto accident lawyer firms being hired for  legal representation. There have been on average, 782 car crashes per day in Illinois this year. This is the highest rate since 2008. State officials are citing that post-recession traffic along with the drop in gas prices has led to the high number of car accidents. With the increase in accidents there has also been an increase for the need of car repairs at collision center shops. These repairs got from auto glass repair to an extensive collision repair.

Despite the increase in car crashes, state officials are pleased to report that traffic fatalities are on the decline.  “If the provisional numbers for 2014 hold up, we could have the lowest number of fatalities in Illinois in several decades,” said Guy Tridgell, an IDOT spokesman in Chicago. “We are confident that we will have fewer than 1,000 motor-vehicle fatalities in Illinois for the fifth consecutive year. Just 10 years ago, we were well over 1,300.”

State safety officials said the installation of more guardrails, barrier systems and rumble strips on roads, along with recently enacted traffic laws, are all having a positive impact. This year, for example, it became illegal for drivers in Illinois to use electronic devices unless they are hands-free.

Poor decision making remains a constant cause of traffic accidents. Almost a third of the crashes involved driving at a high rate of speed, while another third are alcohol related.

One statistic that was not mentioned in the article or by state officials is the number of car crashes related to cell phone and hand held device usage. I would like to see what the number of car crashes are related to distracted drivers. Although I have been impressed with the Illinois Legislature’s effort to curb distracted driving – – and I have written so in the past – – I would still like to see stiffer penalties for those charged with texting and driving which results in a death or serious injury. Although the increase in traffic due to the improved economy is definitely a factor, I strongly believe texting and driving has to be another reason we are seeing an increase in traffic accidents in Illinois.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury attorney, Aaron Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

Illinois Governor Signs Amendment To Jury Law

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On December 19, 2014, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed an amendment (Public Act 098-1132), that changes the scope of jury law in this state. First, the new law, which takes effect on June 1, 2015, increases juror pay to $25 for the first day and $50 per day for any after that a juror serves. Second, the amendment decreases the size of a jury from 12 to 6.

These new laws have been getting mixed reviews from the media, including an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune, completely denouncing the new law. The editorial basically states that the new law is a ploy by Plaintiff”s attorneys to curry favor with its jury. I take exception to the Tribune’s take on the new law. Serving as a juror is a tough burden the court system puts on its citizens. Jurors sacrifice their time away from their families, their jobs and money to serve. A minimal bump in payment for their time served is not asking too much to reimburse people for their sacrifice to the community.

I think it is unclear right now what all of the effects will be with a 6 person jury will have over a 12 person jury.  One thing is certain, a juries will be picked much more quickly, which will shorten the length of trials. And most likely juries will deliberate for less time because there are fewer voices in the room. All of these appear to be positives.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer, Aaron Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

Redflex Consultant Pleads Guilty In Red Light Camera Case

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I wrote earlier this year about a federal investigation involving, Redflex, the technology company that previously handled Chicago’s red light camera technology. That federal investigation led to indictments against the Redflex CEO, and consultant and a city of Chicago official for all allegedly being involved in a bribery scandal. The Chicago Tribune reported today that the “bagman,” Martin O’Malley, plead guilty to a single count of conspiracy to bribe a public official. He faces up to five years in prison.

The interesting issue here for me is whether this will affect the pending class action lawsuit against Redflex. The lawsuit, filed earlier this year, alleges that Redflex was unjustly enriched millions of dollars from this contract with the city Chicago because they allegedly received these funds through illegal bribes. It will be interesting to see if the transcripts from Mr. O’Malley’s sentencing hearing will be used as evidence in the class action lawsuit. I will be following this case closely.

No word yet as to whether the city has any plans on ending the use of red light cameras throughout Chicago. I don’t see a change any time soon.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer, Aaron Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

Is Siri Just As Dangerous As Texting And Driving?

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A new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety calls into question the safety of hands-free technology used by drivers. According to a news release posted by AAA last month, dangerous mental distractions exist even when drivers keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.

The study revealed the following findings regarding the distractions drivers create for themselves while behind the wheel:

  • Tasks such as listening to the radio ranked as a category “1” level of distraction or a minimal risk.
  • Talking on a cell-phone, both handheld and hands-free, resulted in a “2” or a moderate risk.
  • Listening and responding to in-vehicle, voice-activated email features increased mental workload and distraction levels of the drivers to a “3” rating or one of extensive risk.

“These findings reinforce previous research that hands-free is not risk-free,” said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. “Increased mental workload and cognitive distractions can lead to a type of tunnel vision or inattention blindness where motorists don’t see potential hazards right in front of them.”

AAA is the front runner on this type of research and stated in their press release that legislative action should be considered, much like the ban on texting and driving. They suggest that voice automated technology should be limited to core related driving functions such as climate control and windshield wipers. They also suggest that there should be a ban on voice to text technology related to social media, text messages and emails.

If this research is accurate (which I believe it is), then AAA is at the forefront here and their suggestions should be listened to. To me it makes sense that voice to text functions such as emails, texts and tweets are a distraction and dangerous because drivers often times look down at their phone to check and make sure their texts or emails are accurate.

It will be interesting to see if any states or the federal government takes any action to limit voice to text technology. It could save lives.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer, Aaron Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

NHTSA Calling For Nationwide Takata Airbag Recall

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Wired magazine, among other news outlets, reported last month that Takata, a manufacturer of airbags, are recalling their product on 7.8 million vehicles. The recall is based on a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NTSA”), which states that airbags that could explode with too much force when they inflate. Extra force can be enough to rupture the airbag’s container, sending plastic and metal fragments into passengers.

The car manufacturers affected by the recall include more than 50 models from Toyota, Honda, Mazda, BMW, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors, made between 2000 and 2011. NHTSA is telling drivers of affected vehicles to “take immediate action,” meaning get themselves to a car dealership and get their airbags checked out. It’s especially concerned about drivers in Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Virgin Islands and Hawaii (all hot, humid spots).

The New York Times reported today that the NHTSA is now calling for a nationwide recall rather than specific states or territories that are more prone to humid weather. The agency said a recent airbag failure outside the regional recall area had prompted it to take the action.

What does this all mean for Takata and the automakers? For one, it is going to cost a lot of money for the millions of airbags that need to be replaced. Second, both Takata and the automakers have or will face wrongful death lawsuits that are attributed to flaws in the airbags. At least five (5) deaths have been attributed to faulty airbags. This could increase the longer these faulty bags are being used.

If you have a vehicle that you believe contains a faulty airbag you should click here to determine if the year, make and model contain a Takata airbag.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a Chicago auto defect accident or Chicago car crash, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer Aaron Bryant for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

 

New York City Cuts Speed Limit. Should Chicago?

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The New York Daily News reported this month that the New York City Council passed legislation that cut the speed limit to 25 mph. The change in speed limit was done in an effort to cut back on traffic fatalities in the city. City officials believe that the slower speed limit was decrease the chance of fatality by 50% compared to vehicles driving 30 mph. No scientific evidence or studies were provided in the article to back this claim.

“By lowering the speed limit, we send a message to drivers that they must not only drive slower, but safer on our streets,” said Transportation Committee chairman Ydanis Rodriguez. “For too long our roads have been a battleground between pedestrians and drivers, costing countless lives in preventable situations. This type of environment is unacceptable and will be tolerated no longer.”

Highways and parkways will still have higher limits, while school zones and other spots will still have lower speeds.

Should the Chicago mayor’s office and the City Council here consider a similar measure? Mayor Emanuel has stated over and over that he is committed to protecting pedestrians and bicyclists. He has taken steps by inserting speeder cameras and has opened protected bicycle lanes throughout the city. Emanuel has stated that the cameras were inserted for safety purposes only and are not a money grab for the city. Ok, then why not follow in New York’s footsteps and lower the speed limit. If safety is priority one for drivers and pedestrians, the I believe the mayor and City Council should strongly consider lowering the speed limits, at least in certain areas of the city.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury attorney, Aaron Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

Short Yellow Lights The Cause Of Red Light Tickets Being Dismissed

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The Chicago Tribune published an interesting report recently about the rash of red light tickets being thrown out by administrative law judges. The reasoning behind the judge’s decision is simple: shorter yellow lights. The city requires that yellow lights last at least three (3) seconds and video evidence has revealed that tickets are being issued to drivers because of quick yellow lights. According to the article,   Xerox State & Local Solutions took over the program in March. Since April, hearing officers have cited short yellow lights as the reason for throwing out more than 200 of roughly 1,500 rejected red light tickets, according to their written notations. In the four years before that, under the old vendor, judges blamed short yellows only 37 times out of more than 12,000 successful appeals, according to their written notes. It’s a rate 50 times higher than when the old vendor, Redflex Traffic Systems Inc., ran the program.

Asked why Xerox had so many tickets with yellow times below 3 seconds when Redflex tickets — which showed measurements to the hundredths of a second — almost never showed a time below 3 seconds, city officials declined to answer, citing an ongoing investigation by the city’s inspector general.

The red light cameras have been under scrutiny from the beginning. Media outlets previously reported, and I have discussed here, about federal bribery charges against former city officials and the prior company that managed the tickets, Redflex. Further, a class action lawsuit was filed against Redflex alleging that they were unjustly enriched millions of dollars due to their corrupt bribery tactics.

Where does this leave the city now regarding red light and speed camera tickets? I have said since the beginning that these types of tickets appeared to be a money grab, despite the mayor’s office insistence that these were implemented as purely a safety precaution. Studies have shown, which I have documented on this blog, that red light cameras actually make intersections more dangerous because drivers tend to stop quickly at intersections for fear of being ticketed. As a result, driver’s are more prone to being involved in rear-end auto accidents. Unfortunately, I don’t think red light or speed cameras are going anywhere anytime soon. And the city will continue to be blasted by the local newspapers and TV stations as long as they continue to hand out tickets that are unwarranted.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury attorney, Aaron Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

NASCAR’S Tony Stewart Cleared Of Criminal Charges But Could Still Face Civil Suit

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NBC News reported last week that NASCAR driver Tony Stewart was cleared by a grand jury regarding possible criminal charges resulting from the crash at Canandaigua race track, which killed fellow sprint car racer, Kevin Ward, Jr. Ward climbed out of his car and ran out onto the track to confront Stewart, whose car clipped Ward, eventually killing him in the collision.

According to the criminal lawyer, Stewart would not face any criminal charges, including involuntary manslaughter (i.e. negligent homicide). Interestingly, the district attorney also stated that toxicology reports showed that Ward had marijuana in his system, which allegedly could have caused impairment.

Although Stewart is cleared from criminal charges, he could still face a wrongful death lawsuit from Ward’s estate. That lawsuit would most likely come from Ward’s parents (assuming he was not married and without children). The lawsuit would allege that Stewart acted negligently and/or recklessly at the time of the accident by failing to avoid contact with Ward. This lawsuit will be an uphill battle though. First, the decedent, Ward, left his vehicle and ran out onto the track where he should have known he would be dangerously close to speeding sprint cars. Second, based on the toxicology report (assuming was accurate), could be used to show that Ward was in an impaired state.  One thing I will point at is that all of the other sprint cars that passed Ward had no problem avoiding and driving around Ward. Ward’s attorneys could argue that Stewart did not take the proper precautions that all of the other drivers did and he could have easily avoided this accident.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer, Aaron Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.