Tag Archives: Chicago car crash

New Study Shows States With Texting & Driving Ban Showed Decrease In ER Visits

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A new study from Texas A&M revealed that sixteen (16) states that have enacted a complete ban on texting and driving saw a 4% decrease in emergency room visits. The study looked at emergency room data from these states from 2007 through 2014. The results were published in the American Journal of Public Health this week.

Alva Ferdinand, lead author of the study, a lawyer, and an assistant professor of health policy at the School of Public Health at Texas A&M University, stated this about complete texting bans: “The law can be a very useful public health intervention. There are lives that can be saved and injuries prevented as a result of these laws,”

In 2016, nearly 3,500 people lost their lives and 391,000 were injured but survived a crash related to distracted driving, including texting, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

I have been writing about this issue off and on over the last half dozen years. I have mentioned over and over that we will not see a decrease in car accidents and traffic fatalities until there are actual deterrents to texting and driving. A mere fine, by itself, will not prevent drivers from picking up their phones while in traffic. There needs to be actual teeth in the legislation. This means a total ban, along with the threat of a moving violation with hefty fines. If drivers are aware that they could see points on their driving record, along with the threat of paying serious money for violating the law, then they are more likely to put their phones away while behind the wheel. These research findings are refreshing to me and a validation of what experts around the country have been saying for years.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer, Aaron J. Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

Chicago Police Ramping Up DUI Patrols For St. Patrick’s Weekend

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St. Patrick’s Day weekend is one of the most congested weekends
of the year for both automobile and foot traffic . This year includes the downtown parade and dying of the Chicago River on Saturday, along with the south side parade on Sunday. On top of all this the Big 10 basketball tournament is taking place all weekend at the United Center. Based on all the extra traffic, and most likely copious alcohol consumption, Chicago Police are taking extra precautions.

The Chicago Police Department’s 6th District (Gresham) will be adding DUI saturation patrols. Police officers will monitoring traffic for signs of impaired driving, speeding and safety-belt violations.

The Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) Mobile Unit is also expected to be to deployed. BAT allows officers to expedite the process of charging a person with driving under the influence before driving them to the nearest lockup. The BAT mobile also allows for I-bonds to be issued at the site of the DUI saturation patrol.

If you are heading downtown or to the south side, remember that there are multiple options for public transportation, along with cabs and ride shares. There is no reason to get behind the wheel if you are drinking. Even if you don’t plan on drinking, there is no reason to drive through the middle of all the expected congestion.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer, Aaron J. Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

Illinois State Police Enforcing New “Move Over” Law

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According to the Illinois State Police’s (“ISP”) Facebook page, the department is focused on cracking down against drivers who violate the “Move Over” or “Scott’s law.” Enacted in 2017, 625 ILCS 5/11-907 (C), requires drivers drivers slow down, move over to another lane and proceed with caution if a car is stopped on the shoulder.

According to the Facebook post, in emergency situations where vehicles are stopped on the side of the road, the ISP may be placing an extra trooper near an accident to catch people who don’t follow the law. The trooper may be hiding in front of the stopped vehicle or behind another trooper vehicle, making it look like backup.

Violators of the statute will face a minimum of a $100 and up to a $10,000 fine, depending on the severity of the violation. For example, if the driver fails to slow down or switch lanes and then injures someone or causes property damage, then they will face a much higher fine. The ultimate fine is up to the discretion of the judge as there is no sliding scale written in the statute.

The law was enacted in honor of Lieutenant Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department was struck and killed by an intoxicated driver while at the scene of an accident.

Please take caution when you see a vehicle on the side of the road, not just because you will avoid a ticket, but because you could avoid causing a major traffic accident.

If you or a loved was injured in a serious Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer, Aaron J. Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

Chicago Mayoral Candidates Weigh In On Red Light Cameras

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The Chicago mayoral election takes place on February 26, 2019. There are currently fourteen (14) candidates. It is a little overwhelming when trying to decide to vote for as there a several familiar names but many no one has heard of before. There are myriad of issues important to voters such as crime, property taxes, jobs, road construction etc… It can be difficult to see where candidate stands and how they stand out from others.

The Chicago Tribune recently collected information on Red Light Cameras, an issue I have studied and written about multiple times in the past. The Tribune wanted to know where each candidate stood. The good news is that all of the candidates they collected opinions on at least want to modify the current number of cameras and at least study the value of keeping them.

The following candidates states they wanted remove the cameras altogether:

Willie Wilson, Gery Chico and La Shawn Ford

The following candidates want to study the value of keeping the cameras and would be in favor of eliminating some of the cameras:

Toni Preckwinkle, Susana Mendoza and Jerry Joyce

The following candidates want to review the current fee structure and assess the fairness, especially those in poorer neighborhoods:

Lori Lightfoot and Bill Daley.

This is encouraging news. Most all of the candidates admitted to the newspaper something we have all known for years: red light cameras were a money grab by the city. Studies published by Northwestern and the Tribune, call into question as to whether the cameras actually make intersections safer.

I will be looking forward to see whether the person elected actually lives up to their promise, to at least re-asses the value of the cameras and at least remove the ones that are not improving safety.

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

 

Will We See Self-Driving Cars Anytime Soon?

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I have written about the perils of self-driving, autonomous cars many times in the past. There was the horrible accident in Arizona, where a self driving Uber crashed into a woman who was walking across the street. There have been other fatal car accidents involving self-driving Tesla vehicles.

The question the general public continued to ask itself was whether self-driving vehicles are safe and whether they would become more mainstream. I have been dubious of self-driving cars from the beginning for various reason. I’m not the only one. Associated Press writer, Tony Krisher, published an article recently listing all the reasons we will not see autonomous, self-driving cars in the very near future. Below is an outline of his reasoning:

  1. Snow & Weather: Kirsher believes that the technology for self-driving car cameras have a hard time seeing through eavy snow, rain, fog and sandstorms. The technology is just not there yet.
  2. Pavement Lines & Curbs: Kirsher points out that every city and state has different lane line and curb placement and it is difficult of the computerized vehicles to differentiate from city to city.
  3. Human Driver Factor: Kirsher rightly points out that human drivers do not always obey the rules of the road, and that the technology is still dealing with how to respond to humans who drive erratically, park illegally etc…
  4. Left Turns: The car makers have openly admitted that they are still having problems with left hand turns when there is no green arrow. This is a problem human drivers encounter and the designers of self-driving cars are having difficulty with the same timing issues.
  5. Consumer Acceptance: Kirsher mentions a AAA study showing that 73% of consumers would currently have trouble fully trusting a self-driving vehicle. This has obviously come after stories like the fatal car accident in Arizona last year.

Mr. Kirsher makes some great points in his article. I think the important thing to remember is that the technology is coming, and more and more vehicles will be developed and designed with self-driving options. The question will remain as to whether our society be ready for it ten or fifteen years from now.

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

Winter Weather Driving Tips

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Those of us who live in the Midwest have know all too well that the severe winter weather is upon. The Midwest, including the Chicagoland region, have been hit with snow and ice over the last week. It is important to take precautions when driving in severe weather, and luckily the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has provided a list of tips before driving icy or snowy conditions:

1.  Take it slow, especially when approaching intersections, ramps, bridges and shady areas. All are prone to black ice, an invisible danger during some winter storms.
2.  Make sure your gas tank is full.
3. Keep a cell phone, warm clothes, blankets, food, water, a first-aid kit, washer fluid and an ice scraper in your vehicle.
4.Check the forecast and make sure someone is aware of your travel route and schedule.
5. Carry a cellphone in case of emergency. Reminder: Using handheld phones while driving is illegal in Illinois, unless it is an emergency situation.
6. Always wear a seat belt, whether you’re sitting in the front seat or back seat. It’s the law.

Please be careful while driving this winter, and take a close look at the tips provided by IDOT.

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

Illinois Passes Two New Traffic Safety Laws

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Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed two (2) traffic safety bills into law this month. Both will take effect in July 2019. The first law creates stiffer fines for the use of a phone while driving. The new law, makes the penalty $75 for a first offense, $100 for a second, $125 for a third and $150 for a fourth or subsequent offense. Under current law, drivers get a warning and no fine the first time.

I guess you could say this is a step in the right direction, but I do not believe these new penalties go far enough. I don’t think these fines are enough of a deterrent for drivers to put their phones down while driving. Also, I don’t see any changes or stricter penalties for distracted drivers who cause car accidents that involve property damage or personal injury. As I have written over and over in the past, unless there are higher fines and/or stricter penalties, drivers will continue to to text and drive.

The other new law adds the “Dutch Reach” method of opening car doors to Illinois’ Rules of the Road manual and adds bike safety questions to the state driver’s license exam.T he Dutch Reach encourages drivers and passengers to use the hand farthest from the door to reach across the body to open the door after parallel parking. This prods people in motor vehicles to look back for cyclists and other traffic, and can help prevent sometimes-fatal “dooring” crashes.

Those of us who live in the city know that “dooring” accidents are common and incredibly dangerous. It is important for drivers to always look and use caution before opening their driver side door when parked on busy street in order to avoid oncoming cyclists. This is a step in the right direction by educating drivers of their responsibility to protect bicyclists.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago bicycle accident, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer, Aaron J. Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

Safety Questions Loom Following Most Recent Bicyclist Death In Chicago

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The Chicago Sun Times reported last week about the death of the bicyclist in Chicago’s West Loop and what safety precautions the city is taking to protect cyclists. Acoording to a wrongful death attorney, a 39 year old woman was riding in the bike lane north bound on Halsted. As she was turning right onto Madison, a a dump truck owned by Lakeshore Recycling Systems, turned at the same time and clipped the woman causing her death. This type of turn is known by cyclists as a “right hook” turn.

Chicago, which is known as one of the premier cities in world for bicyclists, may not be providing all the safeguards needed to protect cyclists. Last year the city passed an ordinance requiring that trucks install side guard rails on trucks similar to the dump truck in question, which helps prevent cyclists from being sucked under the truck in case of a collision. Unfortunately, the truck in question did not qualify for this type of guard rail as ordinance only  only applies to large vehicles working on city contracts worth $2 million or more. The same ordinance also also requires trucks to have convex and crossover mirrors, only went into effect last month, and it’s being phased in over the next four years.

I think the city is falling short in their quest to be the most friendly bicyclist city in the world. They are certainly falling short towards their “vision zero” goal of no more traffic fatalities in the city by 2026. First, I think the city needs to require guard rails on all dump trucks, regardless of the size of their contracts with the city. Second, the time frame for the installment of the convex mirrors should be sped up. A lot of these waste removal companies are private, and they should take these small steps of upgrading their trucks immediately. The short term costs far outweigh the potential future loss of lives and serious injury. Finally, I think safety training for the drivers of these trucks needs to be overhauled. What safety training is required? May be further training and testing should be implemented with a focus on dealing with cyclists and pedestrian safety.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago bicycle accident or Chicago car crash, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer, Aaron J. Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

Driver Safety Tips For Your Next Road Trip

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I recently received an email from someone at the Million Mile Secrets website with a link to a recent article about safety tips for road trips. This is a website that offers advice about maximizing travel reward point, but also like to give overall travel tips and advise. This recent article provided a great checklist before heading out on your next road trip.

First is their to do list regarding vehicle safety:

  • Your vehicle has been inspected by a qualified mechanic.  Check your tires, battery, belts, fluids, air conditioner, engine, brakes and windshield wipers.
  • The spare tire is in good condition.
  • You have a gallon of antifreeze
  • To bring an empty 1-gallon gas container.  Although let’s face it… the type of person who completely runs out of gas is usually not the type of person who reads these kinds of articles on preparation.  So share this with that one friend you have!   Also, NEVER carry gasoline in your car.
  • To bring a back-up battery for your mobile phone and/or a car charger
  • To have plenty of drinking water, sunscreen, and other items to keep your body healthy
  • To have a paper map in case you don’t have power.  Or at least download maps to your phone in case you don’t have reliable cell service throughout the entire trip
  • You bring your driver’s license and registration, copy of car insurance policy and contact numbers, car’s manual

Second is a safety checklist of items to carry with you, no matter how short you getaway may be:

  • First-aid kit with your prescription drugs, pain relievers, antiseptic, bandages, scissors, medical tape, motion sickness medicine
  • Road flares
  • Extra bottles of drinking water — gallons would be great
  • Rain ponchos / Umbrellas
  • Fully-charged car jump-starter (I have one of these gizmos.  It’s clutch when you can’t find someone to jump your car.)
  • Jumper cables
  • Flashlights with extra batteries
  • Blankets, pillows, or sleeping bags
  • Warm clothes if it’s cold
  • Snacks / food / energy bars
  • Diapers / baby supplies
  • Sanitary pads
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Toilet paper
  • Toothbrushes and toothpaste
  • Bug spray
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Cash
  • And your credit card that gives your professional roadside assistance

Obviously this list in not exhaustive, but it definitely provides a good summary of things you may need in case of an emergency.  If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury attorney, Aaron J. Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

Do’s And Dont’s When Involved In A Car Accident

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It is summertime and there are more vehicle out on the road right now than any other time of year. Unfortunately, this can lead to a lot of car and truck accidents. If you are in a situation where you become involved in a car or truck accident, it is incredibly important to follow specific steps in order to protect your rights.

Below is a comprehensive list fof things to do and not do if involved in a car crash:

• Do get names, addresses, license plate and phone numbers of those drivers involved. This includes any witnesses.
• Do call the police immediately or have someone at the scene call for you;
• Do take photographs of scene and injuries;
• Do take care of your injuries-concentrate on getting better (i.e. go to the emergency room or set an appointment with your primary care physician);
• Do keep records of your medical treatment and time missed from work;

• Do make sure to purchase adequate full coverage auto insurance, including uninsured motorist coverage in case you are struck by an uninsured driver or the victim of a hit and run;
• Do not talk or give statement to the other driver’s insurance company;
• Don’t attempt to negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company before your medical treatment is completed;
• Don’t wait months from the date of injury before hiring an attorney, as your right to file claim or lawsuit may be barred; and
• Don’t wait days or weeks from the time you are injured to seek medical attention. Your health comes first and also insurance companies are wary of paying for medical bills if treatment is postponed.

This is not an exhaustive list, but they are simple steps you can take in order to protect your rights as accident victim. Should you or a loved become seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer, Aaron J. Bryant, at 312-614-1076 for a free legal consultation.