Tag Archives: Illinois injury attorneys

Winter Driving TIPS From IDOT

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Commuters to work and school had the unfortunate task of driving in a slippery and snowy mess this morning as Chicago received its’ first snow fall of the year. Most of the Chicagoland area received between 4-8 inches of snow. Luckily the snow is supposed to melt in the next few days, but we know that this could be the first of many snowy weathers to come in Chicago. It is important to plan ahead in case you need to drive in winter weather.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) provided the following winter weather driving tips to help us deal with days like today:

  • always wear a seat belt. It’s the law in Illinois.
  • Slow down. Slower speeds, slower acceleration, slower steering and slower braking all are required in winter driving conditions.
  • Drop it and drive. Put down the handheld devices – it, too, is the law in Illinois.
  • Don’t crowd the plow. A snowplow operator’s field of vision is restricted. You may see them, but they may not see you.
  • Avoid using cruise control in snow and ice.
  • Watch out for black ice on roads that appear clear but can be treacherous.
  • Be especially careful approaching intersections, ramps, bridges and shady areas. All are prone to icing.
  • Do not travel during bad weather unless absolutely necessary. If you do have to make a trip, check the forecast and make sure someone is aware of your travel route. Consider taking public transportation if it is an option.
  • Prepare an emergency kit that contains jumper cables, flares or reflectors, windshield washer fluid, a small ice scraper, traction material, blankets, non-perishable food and a first-aid kit.
  • Carry a cell phone and a car charger in case of emergency.
  • Follow Scott’s Law. Slow down and move over for stopped emergency, construction and maintenance vehicles.

Plan ahead and prepare yourself and your vehicle for what could be a very snowy 2025-26 Chicago winter.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck crash, then call the Illinois injury attorneys at the Bryant Law Group, LLC for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076. Or you can go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Lake County Adding Traffic Safety Measures For St. Patrick’s Day Weekend

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St. Patrick’s Day is a little over a week away but the festivities begin next weekend throughout the Chicagoland area. The Lake County Sherrif’s Department is planning ahead as they announced extra traffic safety and enforcement for the entire weekend.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Illinois State Police and Illinois Department of Transportation for the “St. Patrick’s Day Traffic Safety Campaign,” which includes the strict enforcement of seat belt use, speeding, distracted driving and all traffic laws.

The St. Patrick’s Day traffic safety campaign is funded by federal traffic safety funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered by IDOT, which provides law enforcement to add extra patrols to work high traffic weekends like St. Patrick’s Day. As I have written multiple times, this is part of form president Joe Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure bill passed back in 2022.

If you are going out to celebrate for St. Patrick’s Day, please have a sober driver or call a rideshare company to get you to and from your parties. If you are driving please take extra care and be aware of your surroundings.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then call the Illinois injury attorneys at the Bryant Law Group, LLC. for a free legal consultation or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Chicago To Add 50 New Speed Cameras Around City

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Multiple new outlets, including WGN News, report last week that the Chicago Department of Transportation (“CDOT”) plans to install 50 new speeder cameras around the city. CDOT spokespeoples have not announced specific locations but they will take into consideration crash data from different busy intersections and stretches of road along with requests from alderpeople. By state law, cameras can only be within 660 feet of a school or a park. These 50 new cameras will bring the total to 200 in the city.

These cameras have been scrutenized from the very beginning when they were installed under former mayor Rahm Emanual. Critics have called these cameras a crash grab by the city. I have yet to see any detailed studies that they have decreased the number of car crashes in the areas where the cameras were installed.

I think it is fair to point out that current mayor, Brandon Johnson, has at least been up front that the cameras are being installed to help revenue for the city: Mayor Brandon Johnson said revenue from the cameras would help, in part, to generate $11 million needed to restore more than 160 police positions tied to the consent decree and would make up less than one-tenth of one percent of the 2025 budget.

Though, he is denying that the new cameras are being installed to balance th city budget. “The City of Chicago does not rely on speed cameras to balance its budget…. Mayor Johnson believes that speed cameras should be utilized to promote traffic safety in an equitable way, not as a revenue source for the City.”

The CDOT spokesperson said 136 people were killed in traffic crashes on Chicago roadways in 2023. Speed was a factor in nearly 70 percent of those crashes. CDOT will publicize the cameras’ locations before they’re activated. Drivers will be given a 30-day grace period once the new cameras are installed and receive a warning in the mail.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then call the Illinois injury attorneys at the Bryant Law Group for a free consultation at 312-614-1076 or go to the firm’s website a www.blgchicago.com.

Tesla Most Recalled Automaker In 2024

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According to Car Connection and the National Highway & Traffic Safety Admistration (“NHTSA”) Tesla had the most recalled vehicles in 2024. The electric vehicle maker had a total of 5,137,968 vehicles across five (5) different vehicle modes recalled in 2024. The issues ranged from the incorrect font size on warning lights to detaching parts. Many of the recalls were merely software updates to Tesla’s systems.

Ford Motor Company incurred the largest fine from NHTSA in 2024 when they were told to pay $165 million  in November for failing to properly address an ongoing rearview camera recall that most other automakers have had to contend with. That’s the highest penalty imposed by the NHTSA since the fines imposed on airbag supplier Takata, which subsequently went bankrupt. 

Oftentimes these recalls are a positive development as the promote safety and correct problems before there is a serious accident or bodily injury due to a vehicle defect. The NHTSA, which automakers often clash with, is here to protect the American consumer, drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call the Illinois injury attorneys at the Bryant Law Group, LLC at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Chicago’s Kennedy Expressway Express Lanes Reopened

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The Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) announced that the express lanes on the 1-90/94 expressway have officially repopened for the first time since their closing for consutruction in March 2024.

Their closure was part of a three (3) rennovation project run by IDOT. Since the express lanes closure, commute times in and out of the loop and out to O’Hare airport have increased dramatically. So much so, that a recent traffic study put Chicago tied for first in the U.S. for worst traffic congestion.

The express lanes (which referese directions depending on time of day and congestion) were originally supposed to open in December. IDOT pushed their openning until today blaming continued testing on the Reversible Lane Access Control System, which controls access to the lanes depending on the flow of rush hour traffic. That system includes more than 120 gates, camera equipment, fiber optic cables and a variety of signage, IDOT said.

We are all hoping that the re-opening of the express lanes will help ease traffic congestion in and out of the city. Though, more closures on the Kennedy are coming as IDOT will be moving to the third phase of the contruction project. There will be periodic lane closures on parts of the outbound Kennedy Expressway from Ohio Street to the Edens junction. Road contruction workers are expected to rehabilitate lanes and refurbish a number of bridges along the route.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call the Illinois injury attorneys at The Bryant Law Group, LLC., for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Law To Lower Speed Limit In Chicago Passes Through Committee

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I wrote earlier this week that there was a new law presented in the Chicago city council’s Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety that would lower the speed limit on city streets to 25 mph. According to multiple new outlets, including WGN News, the proposed law passed through the committee process and heads to the full city council for a vote.

The law would lower the speed limit on city streets only. It would not apply to streets owned by the Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”). It’s not clear from the research I’ve done how many Chicago streets are under the jursidiction of IDOT.

The chairman of the committee, Alderman Dan LaSpata, is adament that this is not a money grab by the city. He stated the following at the committee hearing: “The goal is not more revenue. The goal is to change behaviors and save lives.”

The city says that 70 percent of the traffic fatalities last year involved motorists traveling at high speeds. Data shows that a person struck by a vehicle traveling 30 MPH has a 60 percent chance of survival. That chance of survival increases to about 95 percent if the person is struck by a vehicle traveling 20 MPH.

A separate measure passed Monday would create a pilot program that would allow citizens to submit photos of vehicles illegally parked in bike and bus lines to the city through 311. The city’s Department of Finance would then issue citations to the vehicle’s registered owners after two warnings.

Again, I will be watching this closely to see if this passes the full city council vote and is signed by the mayor and will update as soon as news is released.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or in a Chicago pedestrian accident, then call the Illinois injury attorneys at The Bryant Law Group, LLC at 312-614-1076 or go directly to our website at www.blgchicago.com.

Street Closures For 2024 Chicago Marathon

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It’s that time of year where we see multiple street closures throughout the city of Chicago for the annual marathon, which takes place on Sunday October 13. Plan ahead so you do not get caught in traffic.

The main downtown closures include Jackson Drive, between Columbus and DuSable Lake Shore drives, starting 10 a.m. Wednesday. Jackson is expected to reopen Monday morning.

Sections of Columbus Drive will close beginning Thursday at Roosevelt Road, north to Ida B. Wells Drive. The closure will extend to Monroe Street on Friday morning and to Randolph Street on Saturday morning.

There are several dozen more street closures throught the north, west and south sides. You can see all of the closures by clicking here and so you can plan ahead if you live or plan on being in Chicago this weekend.

Good luck to all the runners this week and plan ahead if you need to navigate the city starting today through sunday.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident, then call the Illinois injury attorneys at The Bryant Law Group for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com to learn more.