Illinois Injury Law Blog

Technology and design are making SUVs safer than ever according to a recent story in the Chicago Tribune. They are no longer at a high risk for rollover accidents.

Our Chicago car accident lawyers know that rollover accidents can be deadly.

The sport utility vehicle design has undergone significant changes. SUVs no longer sit on a high truck frame but rather on a lower car frame, and they come equipped with stability technology to improve safety. Currently the death rate for SUV drivers in the newest Insurance Institute for Highway Safety report is half that of cars, partly due to their design changes.

According to the IIHS report, 23 out of 26 vehicles with the lowest death rates were mid-size or larger. Crash statistics indicated over half of those vehicles with the highest death rates were small vehicles or mini cars. Driver death rates for those driving 2005-2008 model vehicles during 2006-2009 were 48 per million registered vehicle years. SUVs had 28 fatalities per million registered vehicle years, while pickups averaged 52 deaths per million registered vehicle years. Rollover crashes have been declining over the years thanks to the emergence of electronic stability control technology. Most new vehicles have this technology that helps drivers maintain control of their vehicle by lessening the danger of a skid or rollover.When the system’s sensors identify a potential loss of steering control, they automatically hits the brakes to steer the vehicle in the direction the driver wants to go, thus preventing a potentially fatal rollover.

The 15 safest SUVs are: Audi A6 4-door 4WD, Mercedes E-Class 4-door 4WD, Toyota Sienna, Ford Edge, Armada, Land Rover Range Rover Sport, Land Rover LR3, Honda CR-V, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Acura MDX, Mercedes E-Class 4-door, Lexus RX 400h, Lexus GX 470, Mercedes M-Class and the Saab 9-3 4-door.

The 15 most dangerous SUVs are: Nissan 350Z 2-door, Nissan Titan crew cab, Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet Cobalt, Nissan Titan extended cab, Kia Spectra, Chevrolet Malibu Classic, Hyundai Tiburon, Nissan Versa, Chevrolet Colorado extended cab, Nissan Titan crew cab, Kia Rio, Kia Spectra, Mazda Miata MX-5 and the Subaru Legacy.

The two main types of SUV rollover accidents are tripped and un-tripped:

-Tripped rollovers happen when a SUV goes off the road and either sinks into soft soil or hits something. The sinking in the soil or impact with an object is what causes the vehicle to tip and roll. This is the most common type of rollover accident, occurring 95 percent of time.

-Un-tripped rollovers usually occur when the SUV is going too fast and tries to make an evasive maneuver to avoid hitting another car or an object in the road. This sudden maneuver causes the vehicle to topple and roll.

Maintaining control of your vehicle by eliminating distractions and reducing speed is a sure-fire way of keeping you and other motorists safe on Chicago roadways.

Continue reading " Vehicle Technology Reduces Risks of SUV Accidents in Chicago, Elsewhere " »

NBC Chicago recently reported on a tragic hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of an 8-year-old girl riding her bike in front of her house.

Our Chicago bike accident lawyers want you to know that many times, when a driver flees the scene of a crash, it is because they don't have insurance. Getting an experienced attorney is critical in this case to help you make a claim against the at-fault driver.

The little girl was riding her bike near her home in the 3300 block of West 62nd Place when an SUV struck her and threw her from her bike. The SUV left the scene, according to law enforcement. Witnesses report seeing two women inside the vehicle and said the SUV is either silver or gray. A witness told police she chased the vehicle down the street, trying to get the driver's attention, but the vehicle sped away. The child was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she died from her injuries.

In Illinois, the law requires that all drivers must have liability insurance to protect themselves in case they are responsible for injuries caused by a car crash. Many drivers fail to have this required insurance in order to save in their monthly premium. If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist, you might be able to make an uninsured motorist claim. Illinois law treats hit-and-run drivers as uninsured motorists, so if you are involved in an accident with a hit-and-run driver, you can make a claim for uninsured motorist benefits under your own car insurance policy.

Bicycle Safety Tips:

-Wear a properly fitting helmet.

-Adjust the seat level of your bike to make sure your feet can touch the ground.

-Keep your bike in good working condition by greasing the chain, inflating the tires and checking the brakes.

-Never wear loose clothing and always wear bright, reflective colors.

-Ride in less congested areas. Children should be told what areas to stay away from.

-Pay attention to your surroundings.

-Visit the besafe.org website to learn proper hand signals so drivers know what you plan to do.

-Know the rules of the road. Cyclists have to obey traffic laws, ride with the flow of traffic and ride predictably.

-Never eat or use any electronic device while riding.

-Avoid riding at night.

-Expect the unexpected,. Keep water, a small first aid kit and a cell phone with you.

Continue reading " Hit-and-run Bicycle Crashes can be Deadly in Chicago, Elsewhere " »

A recent firework accident in Chicago left a 47-year-old man dead, according to The Republic. The actual cause of death is currently being investigated by the DuPage County coroner's office. Witnesses believe his death was a direct cause of the exploding firework.

The man was reportedly lighting fireworks in a parking lot when one exploded near the ground and killed the man. Others suffered injury from the explosion, according to the Addison Fire Department.

Our Illinois personal injury lawyers recognize that the 4th of July holiday is quickly approaching and we urge all residents to be cautious when lighting off fireworks. Oftentimes the holiday can result in serious, and even fatal, injuries. We ask everyone to make safety as a number one priority for the upcoming holiday. Leaving the fireworks to the professionals is always your best bet.

The National Council on Firework Safety offers you these firework safety tips to help you celebrate injury free:

-Only light fireworks outdoors.

-Always keep water, either a hose or a bucket, near you when lighting fireworks.

-Never relight a "dud." Wait 20 minutes and then allow it to soak inside a bucket of water.

-One use fireworks as they're intended. Do not try to combine them together or alter their function.

-Obey local laws pertaining to the use of fireworks.

-Don't drink and light fireworks. Always have a "designated shooter."

-If you are the designated shooter, wear glasses when lighting a firework.

-Do not allow those under the age of 12 to handle sparklers or any other firework.

There were an estimated 7,000 people who were treated in emergency rooms for injuries from fireworks in 2008. This number averages out to more than 19 people severely injured from fireworks every day. More than half of the 7,000 injuries were sustained by children. More than two out of every three of injuries in 2009 happened between June 20th and July 20th, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of these injuries were to the hands and fingers, eyes and legs.

Most of the injuries from fireworks were caused by firecrackers as they resulted in approximately 900 injuries. Sparklers came in a close second as they caused roughly 800 injuries and firecrackers ranked third causing an estimated 500 injuries.

Continue reading " Season Approaching for Increased Risk of Firework Injuries in Illinois and Elsewhere " »

Trampoline accidents cause nearly 100,000 visits to emergency rooms each year, a Seattle Times article reports.

Our Illinois personal injury lawyers understand the devastating and life-altering injuries that can come from a recreational activity. Trampoline parks are becoming more popular throughout the U.S. and will likely increase the chances of injury caused by a trampoline accident in Chicago once more parks are established in our state.

Trampolines are a huge hit on the west coast, and three new parks have been proposed in Buffalo Grove, Naperville and Niles. Owners of the parks say it is a safe and fun activity for all ages, but critics aren't so sure. The Carol Stream park has been open since November and has already had 16 emergency ambulance calls. Injuries reported thus far have included head injuries, a broken ankle and a dislocated shoulder. One child escaped a serious injury when she landed on her neck and had momentary breathing difficulty and tingling in her arms.

Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, sees these parks as a breeding ground for catastrophic injuries. Backyard trampolines almost tripled the amount of trampoline injuries in the 1990s, including 11 deaths.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends only using trampolines in a supervised setting such as a gymnastics facility and discourages using them in backyards or allowing children younger than 6 to participate.

All customers must sign a waiver releasing trampoline parks from liability if they are injured or killed. Owners of the parks say that no activity is without risks. The Carol Stream park boasts that it has an injury rate of two per 1,000 customers, but the closest hospital to the park has seen a noticeable rise in the number of traumatic injuries since it opened. They have seen many youths come in with fractures to the legs and arms, and one patient with a broken neck. Parents of the injured children have told the ER staff they didn't realize how dangerous the park could be.

Park participants - the average age being 16 - must watch a safety video prior to getting on the trampolines. Some rules of the park include no running, no shoes, no roughhousing and no double bouncing. There is never to be more than one jumper on a trampoline at a time. Owners of the parks point out that football, basketball and bicycling produce more injuries than trampolines.

According to the Illinois Department of Labor, because trampoline parks have no moving apparatus, they are not regulated by any federal agency or state. Proposed trampoline parks fall to municipalities for review, but municipalities rarely get involved in safety issues. A former U.S. gymnast who insures gymnastics facilities won't sell the coverage to trampoline parks because he feels they don't provide adequate training and supervision. By contrast, at a gymnastics club, gymnasts are taught individually and held or "spotted" until they have sufficiently developed each new skill.

Continue reading " Trampoline parks in Chicago pose risk of serious injuries to children and adults " »