North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates

Automakers Send Help to Tired Drivers

Published on: January 25, 2012 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Car accidents | January 25, 2012

The dangers of drunk and distracted driving have been pushed to the forefront of the national consciousness over the years. An older and more common problem continues to be the cause of countless car accidents every year: drowsy driving. Several automakers have invested in new technology designed to protect drivers who doze off behind the wheel. It is unclear if any of the options available will prove effective in saving lives.

Ford Motor Company is releasing two models with “lane-keeping technology” as an available option in the next year. Toyota, Lexus and Mercedes have also released systems designed to notify drivers when their vehicle has begun the telltale drift associated with a dozing driver. Most of the systems use cameras to detect when the vehicle is veering out of a lane with the turn signal off. Ford’s new system will also give drivers a warning when they are veering within the lane.

White House Declares National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

Published on: December 16, 2011 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Firm News | December 16, 2011

The President made a proclamation naming this December National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. The goal is to reduce the unacceptable number of car and truck accidents involving distracted driving, alcohol, and drug use. The proclamation is just one of the tools being used by the current administration to reduce drugged driving by ten percent over the next five years.

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign has also targeted impaired driving this holiday season. Both campaigns are timed to curb impaired driving during the time of year when it is most likely to occur. The holidays are a time of celebration, but they are also a time when too many drivers make poor decisions about driving under the influence. Every year, fatal car accidents change the way some families view the holidays.

If Only the Road Could Talk

Published on: December 8, 2011 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Car accidents | December 8, 2011

Most experienced drivers have learned to identify when road conditions are challenging. Bad weather and dangerous driving conditions are not rare in Illinois. But even the best drivers have difficulty identifying when rain is severe enough to cause a car to hydroplane or when falling temperatures, moisture and exhaust fumes have combined to form deadly black ice. Scientists are not researching a new method to help reduce the number of car accidents caused by bad weather. They are testing a method that would allow the road itself to inform you.

A new sensor system that can be embedded directly into the pavement will give drivers an easy way to determine if the road conditions are safe. A stoplight-style system of red, yellow or green can inform drivers of when ice has accumulated or when the friction of the road is very low. In combination with weather stations located along the road, the sensors could provide vital, life-saving information to drivers who may not have recognized their peril

Campaign Aimed at Teens’ Distracted Driving

Published on: November 29, 2011 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Car accidents | November 29, 2011

A new public service announcement (PSA) will begin airing this week at Regal Cinemas and various gas station pumps across the nation. The PSA is part of a campaign by the U.S. Department of Transportation to educate teen drivers about the danger of distracted driving. The timing of the announcements is meant to coincide with the large number of teen drivers who will be on the roads during winter vacation, many in challenging weather conditions.

While teens are more likely to engage in several forms of distracted driving, including talking to friends, listening to music and eating, the campaign targets texting while driving. The campaign is referred to as “OMG” and uses common chatspeak slang to deliver a message of safety. Driving and texting do not mix. Anything that takes your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the road endangers your life, your passengers’ lives and the lives of everyone else on the road. The prevalence of texting among teens makes them the perfect targets for such a campaign.

Holiday Season a Risk for Child Injuries

Published on: November 17, 2011 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Child Injuries | November 17, 2011

The holiday season marks a festive time for families to get together and celebrate. It is a time cherished by many children and their parents. It is also a time when injuries to children are commonplace, as they may be introduced to dangerous items, choking hazards and other threats. To ensure that you have a safe and joyful holiday season, take a moment to consider the things you can do to protect your children from harm.

Childproofing can seem like an impossible task for the parents of an active toddler. Sometimes it can feel like your children are on a mission to run into every sharp-edged corner, break every piece of glass and place every small object available into their mouths. The problems are only made worse when taking your children to friends’ or relatives’ homes. People without small children generally do not consider the hazards posed by holiday items.

“Dooring” Bicycle Accidents Now Being Recorded in Illinois

Published on: April 29, 2011 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Firm News | April 29, 2011

Effective this past Monday, Illinois is now tracking deadly “dooring” accidents occurring across the state. “Dooring” accidents, or getting “doored,” are terms that cyclists coined for bicycle accidents occurring when a parked motorist carelessly opens their car door into the bike lane, making contact with the cyclist or the bicycle itself. Such accidents are common in crowded, bike-heavy metros such as Chicago.

It’s encouraging to see Illinois officials take a serious interest in these bicycle-v-car-door accidents. In these collisions, the best-case scenario is when the cyclist flies to the ground and suffers scrapes and bruises. However, the “dooring” action often causes a much bigger problem: the cyclist being launched out of the bike lane and into traffic. This will often cause serious trauma and crush injuries, leading to traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and internal organ injuries.

Chicago’s Red Light Cameras: Do They Curb Intersection Accidents?

Published on: April 6, 2011 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Legal Articles | April 6, 2011

Chicago’s streets are home to almost 400 red light cameras that monitor 190 of the city’s most dangerous intersections. The program began in 2003, when the city installed cameras at two intersections: 55th and Western, and Peterson and Western. Since then, the city has issued millions of violations-763,419 in 2010 alone-and made millions of dollars in revenue from the red light cameras.

The cameras are connected to the intersection’s traffic lights. When the light turns red, any vehicle that passes under the sensor get its picture taken and is recorded on a video device. The rear of the vehicle and the license plate are recorded, and are used as proof of the violation when the owner of the vehicle receives his or her citation.

Reduce Chicago Bicycle Accidents Through Lane Barriers

Published on: March 29, 2011 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Legal Articles | March 29, 2011

A recent study by the Harvard School of Public Health found that shielded bicycle lanes decrease bike accidents and fatalities. Presumably, constructing dedicated bike lanes in Chicago would help reduce bicycle accidents. If you have been injured in an accident, contact our Chicago bicycle accident lawyers now for a free consultation.

The Harvard study compared two different kinds of bicycle lanes: Those that run parallel to roadways, separated by a painted line, and those separated by a permanent, physical barrier. The latter type of lane is called a “cycle track”, and Harvard’s study found that they save lives.

After Mechanic Shop Visit, Check your Car’s Hood Latch!

Published on: January 31, 2011 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Firm News | January 31, 2011

A recently published letter in the Chicago Sun-Times described the terrifying experience of a local commuter. The Chicago-Area driver recently had her car’s muffler inspected after the exhaust system started getting noisy. Since the repair estimates were substantial, the motorist decided to leave the shop with an estimate and think about it.

The next day, the woman was driving to work on I-90 when her car’s hood suddenly flew up, smashing her windshield and blinding her vision! The driver coolly – but not calmly – got her car across three lanes of traffic and avoided a highway accident by pulling safely onto the shoulder. An Illinois State Police Trooper showed up and asked her if she had recently had the car in the shop. Unsurprised by her response, he wrote up a police report for her.

New Distracted Trucking Study: When Semi Trucks Present Danger

Published on: December 30, 2010 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Legal Articles | December 30, 2010

Distracted driving accidents caused over 5,400 deaths and over 448,000 injuries in 2009. While the number of distracted driving deaths is down from 2008, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood notes that the problem may be greater than the statistics let on.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the percentage of distracted driving auto accidents increased from 10 percent in 2005 to 16 percent in last year. Additionally, many distracted driving accidents are not classified correctly, which, according to Secretary LaHood, means that the effects of distracted driving go well beyond the numbers.

Seidman, Margulis, & Fairman Blog