Chicago Injury Lawyer Blog

As an experienced Chicago personal injury law firm, we recognize that with warm weather and Spring Break fast approaching, families across the US will be packing up and traveling the highways to visit a favorite destination. Many are planning a week of relaxation and fun with family and friends.

The Dudan family of North Carolina was planning on doing just that. They were driving on Interstate I-64 on their way from North Carolina to Chicago, when the families SUV was hit head-on by a truck traveling in the wrong direction. The Dudans were traveling with their three children, Alena, 3, Jacob, 7 and Casey, 9. According to police, all five members of the family were wearing seatbelts. This safety device saved their lives!

The two occupants in the truck were pronounced dead at the scene. They were identified as Derrick Williams, 27, of Gallipolis, Ohio, and Andy Withrow, 29, of Albany, Ohio. All five Dudan family members' were hospitalized. Two of the family members remain in critical condition with serious injuries. According to police, the driver of the pickup truck drove the wrong way up the exit ramp onto I-64. The driver of the SUV reported that the accident occurred in a split second. The trucks headlights appeared, and she attempted to swerve. She could not escape the path of the on coming truck. Witnesses reported the same findings.

As veteran Chicago injury lawyers, we recognize that head-on collisions are one of the most serious types of car accidents. A head-on collision typically occurs because a driver has crossed over the median or a lane of traffic. Often times drivers are distracted, using a cell-phone or texting on their phone, falling asleep at the wheel, driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. Head-on collisions usually involve a higher rate of speed than other crashes. The frontal impact can cause your body to lunge forward and back quickly, leading to catastrophic injuries. Injuries could be to the head, neck, shoulder and torso. Many times serious fractures of the legs and arms occur during a head-on collision. Unfortunately, in the majority of head-on crashes the injuries sustained are often catastrophic or result in death.

As experienced Chicago personal injury lawyers know, airbags and seatbelts can prevent or lessen some types of injuries or prevent death. Many of the motor vehicle accident cases we handle include:

• Head-on collision
• Rear end crash
• SUV rollover accidents
• T-bone accidents and side impact collisions
• Chain reaction accidents and Vehicle pile-ups
• Underinsured or uninsured driver accidents
• Blind spot collisions
• Trucking accidents
• Motorcycle crashes
• Fatal car accidents
• Drunk driving accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Recreational vehicle accidents
• Highway collisions and accidents

If you are involved in a head-on collision, never accept an insurance settlement without consulting an experienced Chicago car accident lawyer. The majority of head-on collisions, the driver of the vehicle that crossed into the wrong lane or way of traffic is found to be at fault for the collision. If this is the case, the driver's insurance company may promptly offer a settlement. The settlement may be a large sum of money and accident victims will be tempted to accept the settlement. When you accept a settlement, you will be forfeiting your right to seek future compensation for your injuries. Injuries can be more serious than they present at the time of the accident. They may require additional treatment or surgery. Before accepting any settlement, meet with an experienced Chicago injury attorney for a free consultation.

As a Chicago personal injury lawyer, I am amazed by driver and passenger apathy towards seat belt use. Over the years, it has been proven that the seat belt is most important safety device in a vehicle. Despite the overwhelming evidence that seat belts save lives, many drivers choose not to use them. Doing so puts them at a greater risk of serious injuries or death should a car accident occur. How many times have we heard, if only they had been wearing a seat belt?

Seat belts save lives and prevent serious injuries upon impact, simply stated by Chicago car accident lawyer David Nemeroff. Study after study on seat belt use have concluded that wearing a properly secured seat belt reduces the risk of serious injury or death. What amazes me is the apathy that parents have regarding seat belt use in children. How many times do you drive next to a car filled with young children moving about in the backseat? It is obvious that they are not secured or wearing a seat belts. Numerous studies have concluded that seat belt use among children under the age of four years reduces the risk of death from a Chicago car accident in half. Yes, that is by over 50%.

As of January 1, 2012, all backseat passengers in Illinois are required to wear a seat belt. The exceptions are passengers traveling in buses, emergency vehicles and taxi cabs. This law is meant as an additional safety feature for front seat passengers. According to the Illinois State Police, backseat passengers can be projectiles. Rear seated passengers that are not wearing seat belts can be a danger to passengers in the front seat. Serious injuries and fatalities have occurred to front seat passengers who were struck by rear passengers not wearing seat belts. Seat belt use can prevent passengers from being ejected, decreasing the risk of catastrophic injuries or death. Examples of catastrophic injuries are spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries.

The new law requires all rear seat passengers 16 years of age and older to wear a seat belt. The current law requires all children ages 8-15 to wear seat belts. Children under the age of 7 must be in a car seat or appropriate booster seat. Failure to do so will result in a ticket. The fines for violating the new rear seat belt law start at $25. Will it take a $25 fine to increase seat belt use?

No matter what the dollar amount of the fine, wearing a seat belt can save your life. Car accidents are among the leading causes of death in children. Improper or lack of seat belt use can contribute to the mortality rate. It is estimated that five children are killed each day in auto accidents. An additional 500 children are injured daily in car accidents. The number one cause of death is improper use or lack of seat belt use.

A slogan sticks in my head: buckle up, it's the law. Seat belts save lives!

Every driver fears ice on the road. Many of us can relate to driving during a dangerous weather condition. Once your tires make contact with the frozen surface, the ability to control your car is diminished. Then the feeling of relief that was felt when it was over. As an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer, I understand that hazardous weather conditions such as ice on the roadways increase the probability of a car accident from occurring.

Frank Caruso survived an icy highway accident on the Eisenhower Expressway this weekend. He was killed minutes later as he sat safely in a parked Illinois State trooper's patrol car. An alleged drunk driver rear-ended the state trooper's parked car. Prior to the fatal rear-end crash, Caruso was able to move his disabled car to the shoulder of the expressway. He was then approached by an Illinois State trooper who offered him shelter in his squad car. It was reported that the trooper used his car and lights to block two lanes of traffic. Caruso and the trooper waited inside the patrol car for a tow truck to arrive.

As they sat in the trooper's patrol car, another vehicle rear-ended the patrol car. This crash killed Caruso and seriously injured the trooper. The driver of the second vehicle, Daniel Clark, of Chicago was charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence. According to reports, Clark admitted to having five glasses of wine before driving on the expressway. His blood alcohol level was .249, greater than three times the legal limit.

As an experienced Chicago personal injury attorney knows, often times a rear-end accident is referred to as a fender-bender. The term fender bender makes one think that it was not a serious car accident. It often times negates the severity of the injuries that can result from a rear-end accident. In many rear-end accidents, severe injuries can cause life-long permanent injury or death. If you are a driver or a passenger in a car that is involved in a rear-end accident even at a slow speed, your body can lunge forward quickly and cause catastrophic injuries. These severe injuries could be to the neck, head, upper torso, shoulder region and spine.

Passengers involved in a rear-end collision have the right to seek compensation for their injuries. Typically in a rear-end accident, the driver in the rear is found to be at fault for the car accident. When this occurs, the driver's insurance company may contact you immediately and offer you a settlement. The settlement may appear to be a large amount of money. In some cases, accident victims will be tempted to take the settlement offer and avoid contact with a lawyer. When a car accident victim accepts a settlement from an insurance company, they forfeit the right to seek future compensation. This may not be in the victim's best interest, as many times injuries can be more serious than they appear, requiring additional surgery or medical treatment.

Car accident victims should take the time to meet with an experienced Chicago car accident attorney. They can give you an in depth explanation of the insurance claims process in Illinois. They can also help you determine the value of the case.

That's what the car manufactures are claiming. When contacted by car owners regarding this issue, dealers and manufacturers are saying the increasing numbers of spontaneous deployment of airbags are caused by driver error? I ask myself, how this can be.

Airbags and seat belts have been the symbol of safety for many Americans. It has been reported over and over, that since frontal air bags have been installed in passenger cars as a safety feature thousands of lives have been saved. In 1998, the federal government mandated that this safety feature be required on all passenger vehicles. Automobile airbags were designed with safety in mind. Now hundreds of drivers are reporting just the opposite. Aairbags are exploding without warning and injuring car occupants. Dealers are claiming that drivers possibly hit a pot hole or debris on the road. In order for an airbag to prevent an injury, it must inflate quickly after the car crash. The airbag needs to be fully inflated by the time the passenger reaches the tip of its outer surface. If the airbag deploys too slow, this increases the risk of injury to the passenger.

The airbag was designed to deploy in frontal impact car collisions. The test rates for airbag deployment are at a greater threshold than actual accident conditions. Air bags are tested for frontal and some side impact. As we know the everyday car accident can happen from any angle. Long story short, the typical car crash does not distribute even crash force among the front of the vehicle. One can ask, how does an airbag sensors work? They measure vehicle deceleration. Experts argue that this in fact is not an accurate predictor of whether an airbag should have deployed. Airbags deploy due to a variety of causes. They can deploy when the car's undercarriage hits a low object protruding from the roadway. Hitting potholes is a common cause of airbag deployment.

Car manufacturers have developed triggering algorithms aimed at preventing false deployments of airbags. These algorithms are aimed to reduce unnecessary deployments of airbags. They are also striving to adapt the deployment speed to the crash conditions. Besides the use of algorithms, advanced technologies are being implemented that will tailor airbag deployment to different causative factors. Those factors can include the severity of the car crash, the size and posture of the vehicle passenger, proper seat belt usage, and the distance the occupant is to the airbag.

Even though they are designed as a safety feature, an airbags can seriously injure and kill vehicle passengers. Airbags were designed as an adjunct safety feature for the seatbelt. In order for an airbag to provide additional crash protection for passengers not wearing seat belts, they were designed to deploy with greater force than airbags. It was reported by the U S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the use of both frontal airbags and lap/shoulder belts reduces the risk of traumatic brain injury or head injury and spinal cord injury in an auto accident by over 80 percent.

The first car crash fatality attributed to an airbag was reported in 1990. By 2005, deaths related to airbags had declined, with no adult deaths and two child death rates over the next decade deaths related to airbags declined dramatically. Injuries can result from unconscious drivers slumping over the steering wheel, improper use of seat belts or no seat belt use, or drivers sitting too close to the steering wheel.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported over 170 deaths or fatalities caused by air bags from 1990 to 2000. Over 100 of the fatalities were children. As a Chicago injury lawyer, I know that studies show that children are safer in the back seat, with or without an airbag. When frontal airbags deploy they do so with great force. That tremendous force usually at a speed of up to 100 mph can cause serious or fatal injuries to children. Remember that sitting too close to the steering wheel or dashboard should be avoided by all car occupants.

According to the NHTSA you should follow the recommendations below:

• Always wear a seat belt, shoulder harness and lap belts This is the number one safety devise for automobiles.

• Children should always ride in the back seat. Children should be secured in a child safety seat that is approved for their age and size. NHTSA recommends the safest position for a child safety seat is in the middle of the back seat.

• Sit at least 10 inches from the driver's breastbone to the middle or center of the steering wheel.

Some of these simple safety measures may save your life!

Many Chicago residents are scratching their heads at this one. Will the installation of additional red light cameras at Chicago intersections to ticket speeding motorist reduce the number of speeding violations. Therefore making the city safer for pedestrians and other motorists? Or will it produce additional revenue for the City of Chicago.

Red light cameras have been used in the past to issue tickets for vehicles that travel through the intersections at inappropriate times. Now they will be used to issue tickets for speeding violations. A bill to do just that was passed by the Illinois Senate. The Senate approved the use of speed cameras at red light intersections. According to city officials there will be 79 red-light camera intersections. The direction is to have the cameras positioned within one-eighth of a mile from parks and schools. The cameras would be operational from the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. It is believed that over 65% of intersections within the City of Chicago could be affected by this new law.

The fines would range from $100 to higher. It will be a graduated fee, depending on speed of the vehicle. The violations will be sent in the mail to the legal license plate holder. Vehicles will be fined for traveling in the excess of five miles or greater the posted speed limit. According to Chicago Mayor Emanuel, the red light speed camera plan is intended to be preventing speeding and serve as a safety measure. Its intent is not to be a money maker for the city. Many Chicago area residents are skeptical. It is believed that the revenue generated by fines would be used for future safety projects.
The bottom line is that intersections are dangerous.

Thousands of pedestrians and motorists are injured in intersections. As a Chicago injury and car accident lawyer, I have handled thousands of cases involving accidents that have occurred as a result of speeding. The speed of a vehicle at impact can greatly determine the extent of the damages. Car accidents come in many shapes and forms. I have heard from many motorists, that these red light camera intersections cause a dilemma to even the safest driver. A plethora of thoughts race through a motorists mind as they are approaching these intersections.

Do I stop suddenly? Is the car behind me going to stop? Will I get rear ended? Many motorists go through the intersection for fear of being in a rear end collision. Let's look at what happens when you are involved in a rear end accident. Rear-end car accidents happen all day on Chicago roads. The driver of the rear-ending car is under most circumstances at fault for the rear-end collisions. The driver of the rear-ending car will be held liable for the damage caused in the collision. There are some exceptions and they are in States that have the No-Fault State Exception. Currently there are 12 no-fault states in the US.

Next time you are entering or traveling on a Chicago road, beware of the red light camera. Will they prevent Chicago car accidents and pedestrian accidents? That is
question?

As we head into the month of November and Thanksgiving fast approaching this story caught my eye. A truck driver driving on 1-75 flew into the path of a turkey. The turkey did not survive, the truck driver suffered minor injuries. This brings to mind, the unexpected dangers that drivers can encounter on rural roads. Just last week, a deer caused a fatal crash involving a van and a semi trucker. Those passengers were not so lucky. At least six members of a Chicago family died from the catastrophic injuries they suffered as a result of the fatal encounter with a deer.

This may be a good time to remind drivers of some simple safety precautions to take while driving on rural roads. Many families will be heading to the roads to travel for Thanksgiving. According to State Farm Insurance the incidence of car and deer crashes is highest in the month of November. More fatal car accidents occur during the fall. This made me think. Deer tend to be most active during dawn and dusk hours. You are most likely to see a deer at these times of day. During the deer breeding season which is October until late December, deer are on the move and active. Deer-car collisions are the highest during these months. Deer rarely travel alone. If you see one, another may not be far away.

How can we as drivers prevent an accident with a deer or turkey that has suddenly come across our path? Think fast, what you do in this split second many save your life. Beware of areas that have a large deer population. Look for the deer crossing sign's, these can alert you to these areas of dense deer population. When entering this area, be alert and reduce your speed. This will give you a greater reaction time, should you encounter an animal. As with any car travel, buckle up. Seat belts have been proven to be the most effective safety precaution a driver can take. If possible, use your high beams to increase your area of visibility. If you encounter a deer stopped on the road. Slow down and flash your lights. Or you can honk your horn. Both of these techniques have been shown to cause the deer to move, if frozen in the road.

If you do have a collision with a deer, remain calm. Call for emergency services, if anyone is injured. As a Chicago injury and accident lawyer, I know that this can be a frightening experience. Remaining calm and thinking fast will improve your odds of avoiding a collision. Always, remember the number one safety device that saves lives, is the seatbelt. As with any collision whether it's with another automobile or an animal on the road, your injuries could be severe. If you are involved in this type of collision and have suffered an injury it is best to consult with an experienced injury attorney.

Buckle up, it has been proven to save lives.

Source:
http://www.kypost.com/dpps/news/local_news/turkey-flies-into-path-of-semi-on-i-75_6889387#ixzz1csasSY3v

Imagine driving and suddenly your car is covered in blowing sand. Your visibility of the road is reduced to zero. This just happened in Arizona, killing one person and injuring dozens. It was reported as a fast moving dust storm that blanketed the area. The blowing dust storm caused a series of chain reaction highway pileups. The fatal accidents occurred on a ten mile stretch of an Arizona Interstate. The dust storm moved at into the area at rapid pace. The swirling and blowing dust particles caused reduced drivers visibility" on a long stretch of Interstate. Two large chain reaction crashes happened and closed the westbound lanes. It was reported that many cars and trucks lost sight of the road and pile up on top of each other. The accidents involved both commercial trucks and passenger vehicles.

According to Chicago auto accident and injury lawyer, one of the most frequent types of personal injury claims involve transportation either by car, truck, bus or train. Every day as automobile drivers and passengers we are at risk for an accident. Thousands of automobile accidents happen every day in the US. Many times as indicated above they can be fatal or produce catastrophic injuries. Let's look at a catastrophic injury that can happen as a result of a car and semi collision crash. A spinal cord injury is usually severe and life altering. Spinal cord injuries usually lead to paralysis such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. A traumatic injury to the upper half of the spinal cord causes paralysis of the lower extremities of the body is called paraplegia. Multiple trauma suffered to other areas of the spinal cord can result in paralysis of all four limbs, e.g. both arms and legs, is known as quadriplegia.

An injury to the spinal cord could result in temporary and or permanent paralysis. The number one causes of spinal cord injuries are automobile accidents. Other causes can be workplace injuries, slip and fall injuries, and construction accidents. The causes of the spinal cord injury by age of the victim. Among persons under age 65, automobile and other motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of spinal cord injuries.
Another catastrophic injury suffered as a result of an automobile accident can be a traumatic brain jury. It can be a mild injury such as a concussion. Or a severe insult or injury such as coma or loss of brain cognitive function. A severe TBI can result in a massive amount of medical bills and require long term care. Injuries suffered as a result of a TBI can be devastating both financially and emotionally on a family.

If you are involved you or a loved one suffered an injury as a result of an automobile accident and think you have a claim, it is best to first speak to an experienced Chicago car accident lawyer before talking to the other parties, most importantly, insurance companies. Finding an experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorney can be the key to a successful recovery for the victim.

Source:
1 dead, 4 critically hurt after Arizona dust storm triggers pileups, CNN Newswire, Oct 4, 2011

Car accidents happen every day on the Chicago roads. They occur more often than the average person thinks. It is reported that over 6 million car accidents occur every year in US. The scene of a car accident can make even the most experienced motorist uneasy. Police lights, noise, blaring sirens and lots of commotion. Knowing what to do after a car accident can make a tense situation easier.

Let's look at what to do after you are involved in a car accident. As a Chicago car accident lawyer, I recommend that you follow the steps below if you are involved in a car crash. Immediately, after the impact, turn off your car. Before you do anything, make sure everyone is ok. If anyone is injured, call emergency services such as 911. The next step may help with your recovery after an accident. It is necessary that you gather any relevant contact information of parties involved in the accident. The information should include name, address and phone number. You should also gather the same information from any witnesses to the accident. If possible, you should also take photographs of the accident scene. Given todays advanced technology, one can easily access a camera on their mobile device. The photographs can validate the damage to your vehicle. They can also serve as a reference point if there is any dispute regarding the accident.

You will insurance company will require you to obtain a police report. If the police will not come to the scene of the accident, you will have to go to your local police station. In many states the police will only come to an accident scene if there is an injury involved. If the police will not come, you will need to go to your local police station to make a report. Try to get all the drivers involved in reporting the accident to the police. If the other drivers will not go, you can make the report by yourself. Make sure that you are accurate and give all relevant information. Always, keep your copy of the police report.
The next step is to contact your insurance carrier to report the accident. If the other driver's insurance carrier or company contacts you, give them the name and phone number of your provider.

If you have sustained injuries from the accident seek prompt medical attention. If you have a despite with your insurance company or have injuries resulting from the accident you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney. Finding an automobile accident attorney doesn't have to be difficult for you. Here are some simple tips to follow when selecting a car accident and injury attorney. Your first step should be to choose a lawyer that has extensive experience dealing with car accident cases. A good place to start is with a personal injury attorney.

Typically, car accident cases are the majority of the cases that many personal injury attorneys handle. They know the law, and will fight for you. Try to find out about the lawyers history of winning automobile cases. Are they aggressive, do they have a history of winning? When selecting a car accident and injury lawyer. Take the steps above to assist you in finding the right lawyer. This can be the difference between winning and losing your case.

After reading this news article regarding a fatal crash on the Bishop Ford, it made me think about road safety precautions. It is reported that when the fatal crash occurred, the Chevy Cavalier was stopped or stalled in the middle lane. It was struck from behind by an SUV, killing the three passengers inside the car. This made me think, what can one do if your car suddenly stalls on a busy roadway?

A fatal car accident on the Bishop Ford Expressway has killed three people. The victims were a teenager, his mother, and a male passenger. It is reported that the car carrying the three victims, slowed down or stopped in the center lane while traveling on the highway. It is uncertain whether it was mechanical failure or perhaps the car ran out of gas. The car was rear ended by an oncoming SUV. All three passengers in the Chevy Cavalier were killed. None of the passengers in the SUV sustained any injuries.

According to Chicago personal injury attorney David Nemeroff, The National Safety Council suggests the following measures when your car breaks down or has a flat tire on the highway.
• Put on your emergency flashers and try to maneuver your car to the emergency lane or the side of the road. If you are traveling on a highway, attempt to access an exit ramp.
• Visibility is key. When on the side of the road, make your car visible. Use flares, reflector triangles, or use your emergency flashers. You can also put on the lights inside your car.
• If you are changing a flat tire, make sure that you change it safely. Make sure that you are a safe distance from the road.

If your car is beyond repair, seek road side assistance:
• Do not flag down oncoming vehicles.
• Elevate your hood or tie something white to the radio antenna. Hang a white cloth in a window. This is a universal symbol for help and is recognized by police officers or tow truck operators.
• Stand away from the vehicle.

When your car is safely out of traffic:
• Lock your doors and wait inside your vehicle. Use your cellular phone to call for help. If someone offers to help, ask them to call the police or emergency roadside assistance.
• Respond to only a uniformed police officer or other emergency personnel with credentials.

As an experienced Chicago car accident and injury attorney, I have had many clients that have injured on the roadside while waiting for assistance. It is important to keep yourself safe while waiting for help. By following some of the simple recommendations above, you could avoid injury. Keep your vehicle on regular maintenance schedule. to avoid breakdowns on the road.

Source:
3 Killed in Bishop Ford Crash, Chicago Sun Times, Sunday, Aug 28, 2011

http://www.nbcchicago.com/traffic/transit/bishop-ford-crash-128559963.html#ixzz1WTEoFrqa

http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Pages/safety_on_the_road.aspx

The summer is coming to an end and children all over the Chicago are getting ready for the first day of school. As you drive through neighborhoods with High Schools, sports teams can be seen practicing for the start of the season. Saturday was like any other day in New Jersey. The local high school football team had its morning practice. After the practice, a group of players jumped in an SUV and drove off. Unfortunately, the car ride ended in tragedy. They never reached their final destination. A fatal SUV rollover crash killed four of the foot players. Several others were seriously injured.

The fatal injuries occurred when the SUV they were traveling in overturned on a highway. It is reported that the SUV rolled over several times on the Garden State Parkway. As a Chicago Injury lawyer, I know how an accident like this can impact a family. Unfortunately, the statistics on teen driving show that it is driver error that is responsible for over 75% of fatal crashes involving sixteen-year-old drivers. Not a surprise to me, a majority of driver error is caused by texting or distracted driving.

The number one cause is mobile devise or cell phone use. Not talking on the phone while driving,texting while driving. According to studies conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine, a leader in publishing pertinent and outcomes driven studies. A driver who is texting increases the risk of collision 23 times over that of an undistracted driver. The dangers in texting while driving are obvious. Drivers are removing a hand from the wheel, they are taking their eyes off the road. Add these distractions to the inexperience of the teenager. Texting while driving becomes very frightening.

On January 1, 2010, in the state of Illinois made it illegal in Illinois to read, write or send a text message while driving a moving vehicle. This law has been in effect for over one year, statistics show that 28% of 16 to 19-year olds admitted that they still text and drive. Even though they were aware of the law. A group of aldermen in Chicago led by Ed Burke are supporting legislation to make it mandatory for cell phones sold in Chicago to be supplied with a feature that allows for parents to disable their child's mobile devise texting feature.

The purpose of the proposal is to decrease or prevent accidents caused by teens that text while they drive. The blocking devise is commonly known as Textecution. This application is currently available from the carrier Verizon Wireless. The application can be uploaded to a devise for a one-time fee. The mobile devises texting feature will become disabled when it is in a vehicle traveling faster than 10 mph. The only limiting factor is the software is only available for use on Smart phone devices. This includes devises such as the Verizon Droid or Google G1.

According to Chicago personal Injury lawyer David Nemeroff, if passed this law will save many lives. It would be put into effect for all "mobile communication devices" purchased after Jan. 1, 2012. Those who sell phone without the blocking feature would face fines up to $1,000.

Remember texting while driving, is as dangerous as drinking and driving!

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Aldermen-Propose-Texting-Block-for-Teen-Drivers-121263904.html#ixzz1VfjjOzCX

Statistics show that driving a car can be one of the most dangerous of the day for many Americans. Most drivers believe that driving on a snowy afternoon in January is the most dangerous time to drive. That's not even close to the correct month. The most dangerous month for driving is August. Saturday is the most dangerous day of the week, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Auto accidents kill approximately 40,000 people in the U.S. each year. Car accidents are the No. 1 cause of death for individuals between the ages of 1 and 35.

It is estimated that accidents occur every second in the United States. Approximately 120 people per day die as the result of a car crash. That's any alarming high rate. Let's compare that with the airlines. Perhaps, you have a plane that seats 100 passengers. What if you had one plane crash daily with a 100 passengers killed in each occurrence? What would the FAA do? Certainly, not allow this to continue to happen. Why doesn't the same happen with automobile accidents?

Studies showed that in 2008, the month of August had 3,612 deaths from automobile accidents. In January of the same year there were 2,818 deaths from car crashes. What was the variable for the 800 person difference? Let's look at the possible reasons. The differences can be due to the time day, distracted drivers or negligent and unsafe road behavior.

Speeding is a major contributing factor in over 30% of all fatal car crashes. Only 18% of fatal automobile crashes during the day are alcohol-related. Alarming, is that over 54% of crashes at night are alcohol-related crashes. More than two-thirds of the people killed at night are not wearing a seat belt. Statistics show that across the nation almost half of fatal crashes happen at night. This fatality rate is almost triple at nighttime verses the daylight hours.

Let's look at what happens on the weekends. More people are out and about on the road, resulting in --the highest numbers of automobile crashes. As a Chicago injury lawyer, I have found understand that the majority of crashes are caused by human error. In many instances, drivers have a false sense of their own driving abilities and skill level. Many drivers believe that they can multitask while driving. That's not the best idea. The number of car accidents resulting from distracted drivers is growing/ at a staggering rate. The seat belt remains the most efficient safety devise in an automobile. Wearing it greatly reduces the chances of suffering serious injuries or death from a car accident.

Another excellent safety measure is to drive at the appropriate speed for the weather conditions and paying attention to the road. Believe it or not, most drivers neglect to obey these safety standards. According to AAA, over 80 of drivers say distracted driving is a serious problem. Over 50% of drivers reported that they talk on a cellphone while driving. Another 14% reported that they read or send text messages while driving. Over 20% of drivers have reported that they have driven 15 miles per hour over the speed limit on the highway. Another 14% said that they sometimes have driven over the speed limit on a quiet neighborhood street.

Source:
August the highest month for car crashes, Forbes.com, August 11, 20111ighest Month for Car Crashes