North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates

Chances of Dying from Drunk Driver up 150 Percent on New Year’s

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

Auto Accident | December 30, 2010

Roughly 80 people die each year from drunk driver car accidents on New Year’s Day, as reported by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. That figure illustrates a 150 percent increase in the chances of one dying in an alcohol-related crash when comparing it to an average day this time of year.

What is even more startling is that experts predict these numbers to be even higher during the upcoming New Year’s 2011 celebration, because the holiday falls on a Saturday. While Chicago already experiences a serious drunk driving epidemic, the problem will dramatically spike during this weekend’s festivities.

Winter Weather, Holidays Pose Driving Hazards For Chicago Area Travelers

Published on: December 16, 2010 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Legal Articles | December 16, 2010

Winter weather has made its annual return to Chicago, leaving many Chicago-area drivers in need of a refresher course in safe driving under dangerous weather conditions. Although ice and snow can make the roads more treacherous, drivers can take extra safety precautions to prevent most auto accidents.

Remember that bridges may freeze more quickly than normal roads; even if the rest of the roads are just wet, the bridges may have ice. Drive accordingly. Overpasses and tunnels also warrant special consideration and attention; when cars are funneled into narrow spaces, accidents can quickly grow.

Thanksgiving is Biggest Holiday for Drunk Driving

Published on: November 23, 2010 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Firm News | November 23, 2010

As you spend time with friends and family this Thanksgiving, you should take special care during your travels. While many believe that New Years’ Eve, St. Patrick’s Day or the Super Bowl present the greatest threat from drunk drivers, it is typically “Turkey Day” that takes the infamous spot each year.

Thanksgiving is the largest travel day in the U.S., resulting in an unusually high amount of drivers on the road. This heavy traffic is coupled with the busiest days of the year for bars and nightclubs, providing a deadly mix ripe for drunk-driving accidents.

Deadly While Drowsy

Published on: November 10, 2010 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Legal Articles | November 10, 2010

In September, a Lake County man died after falling asleep and crashing his vehicle into a dump truck, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The violent, fatal crash was preventable, as were the estimated 1,500 deaths and 71,000 injuries nationwide caused by drowsy, fatigued, or sleeping drivers.

Driving While Petting: Deadly Dog Distractions

Published on: November 3, 2010 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Legal Articles | November 3, 2010

The dangers of driving while texting and talking on a cell phone have become hot button issues across the U.S., but a recent study by the Automobile Association of America (AAA) has highlighted another dangerous example of distracted driving – having a pet inside your vehicle.

According to the AAA’s online survey of 1,000 dog owners, 21 percent say they let their dog sit on their lap while they drive, while more than 50 percent admit to petting their dog while driving. Seven percent said they fed their dog while driving, and another 5 percent actually played with their favorite pooch!

National Distracted Driving Summit Shares Creative Ideas

Published on: October 27, 2010 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Legal Articles | October 27, 2010

The Second National Distracted Driving Summit revealed some important and creative ideas to combat the deadly problem of distracted driving in the U.S.

A variety of lawmakers, lobbyists, state and federal officials, law enforcement officers and safe-driving advocates attended the Washington, D.C. summit to share potential solutions to the dangers that distracted drivers create on our nation’s roadways. Many Illinois residents trekked east for the event, including attentive-driving advocate Jennifer Smith.

Drunk Driving Reduction In Illinois

Published on: October 11, 2010 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Legal Articles | October 11, 2010

In 2008, more than 13,000 people lost their lives as a result of crashes related to drunk driving. In that same year, more than 400 people died in alcohol-related crashes in Illinois, accounting for almost 40 percent of the state’s crash fatalities. While all 50 states have statutory offenses directed at those who drive under the influence of alcohol, Illinois has instituted statutory and program interventions that have effectively lowered alcohol-related deaths in the state.

Illinois DUI-related laws have been in existence since 1958. The state’s DUI programs are as diverse as they are effective. From the state’s Faces of DUI video to the DUI Victim Wall to three-tiered licensing and holiday alcohol-testing programs to the “You Drink & Drive. You Lose” campaign, Illinois’ programs offer diverse dissemination of information. And as recently as January 2009, the state legislation enacted laws that doubled criminal sanctions for drunk drivers.

School-Bus Crash Injures Children: Leads to DUI Charges

Published on: October 7, 2010 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Auto Accident | October 7, 2010

A school-bus accident on Monday morning sent 13 children to the hospital and the driver to the Peoria County Jail.

The bus was shuttling 20 children to a Peoria district school when it jumped a curb and stopped in a residential driveway, striking two vehicles in the process. Bus driver Gary Stewart, 46, was arrested and booked for DUI after testing showed a blood-alcohol content of .04 percent. While that would typically be under Illinois’ legal limit of .08, for a commercial school-bus driver the limit is .04, which Stewart allegedly exceeded.

Cost Of Illinois Speeding Tickets Soars

Published on: October 1, 2010 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Legal Articles | October 1, 2010

The cost of a speeding ticket in Illinois recently rose by 60 percent. While state officials acknowledge that higher fines raise revenues for state government, they hope the stiffer penalties encourage drivers to slow down and be safer.

CBS News reports that in September, penalties went up for convictions on a number of traffic offenses in Illinois, including the following:

Recent Commercial-Vehicle Crashes Victimize Chicago

Published on: September 28, 2010 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Firm News | September 28, 2010

A string of recent truck crashes have plagued the Chicago area. A dump-truck crash in Bartlett caused injuries to eight people. An Elk Grove Village man driving the dump truck rear-ended two vehicles in front of him. He then crossed into oncoming traffic, striking a pickup truck and causing it to careen into another vehicle. Fortunately, the five-vehicle crash didn’t claim any lives. The police charged the dump-truck driver for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

A three-vehicle collision caused by a big rig on I-90 somehow avoided fatal consequences. The accident occurred near Gary when the truck driver believed he saw a deer on the interstate and over-corrected his semi. The 18-wheeler crashed through the median before blocking off the entire expressway – bringing morning commuters to a halt. The drivers of the two other vehicles struck by the semi went to the hospital but had no life-threatening injuries. The police stated that the deer was actually a paper bag.

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