Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety older drivers are experiencing fewer serious accidents and are able to keep their driver's licenses longer.

Fatal crashes involved drivers older than 70 fell by over 35% between 1997 and 2008.

In that same period accidents, accidents which involved drivers older than 80 decreased fell by almost 50%, but it only fell 20% for young drivers. In 2008 nearly 78% of all senior citizens had a driver's license. That accounts fro approximately 28 million senior citizens.

In 2008, drivers 80 and older had 20% fewer accidents without reported injuries. There was no change in that number remained for drivers 35-54.

There are several factors that could account for the decrease in accidents among seniors. Cars are built safer, senior citizens are healthier and several states have begun to monitor older drivers more closely. Illinois is requiring road tests for drivers older than 75.

Despite this, seniors remain far more likely to die in a crash. Drivers who are 70 or older are three times more likely to die in a car accident than drivers 35-54.

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Decatur, IL- Drivers in Decature are being advised not to talk on their cell phones in contsruction zone as it is against the law, as the city prepares for one of the busiest constructions seaons in recent history.

It is illegal for anyone under 19 to talk on cell phones while driving, – regardless of where they are and Illinois has completely banned texting while driving.

At the beginning of the year, new laws took effect. They are intended to protect the safety of both workers and drivers. Drivers using any type of hand held device are 4 times more likely to become involved in an accident.

Drivers who get ticketd for violating the laws must appear in court with any potential fines determined by the court after the proceedings are completed. The exceptions to the law are for drivers using wireless telephones for emergency purposes, to, law enforcement agencies, health care providers, fire or other emergency services entities or persons using hands free telephones in voice-activated mode.

On July 14, Decatur police made stopped 14 drivers for using their cell phones while in construction zones. Motorists are also reminded that the law applies 24 hours a day, even when construction workers are not present.

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According to a McLean County coroner’s jury. the death of a construction worker at ISU in Bloomington, Illinois, could have been avoided.

The jury, which deliberated about an hour before reaching it's decision, made the announcement on July 8, that the death of Stephen D. White, 57, who was working for Bloomington’s Stark Excavating at Hovey Hall was accidental but avoidable.

White's employer declined to comment on the decision.

White was killed when a large piece of a concrete pillar façade fell on the excavator he was operating. At the time of his death, White and his crew were working to clear broken pillar pieces, which weighed thousands of pounds.

According to the jury foreman, jurors ruled the crushing death was accidental. They have asked Stark Excavating to create a safety inspection team and to develop more in-depth safety training.

Testimony on Thursday was given by from ISU Police Officer Eric Lutz, Stark Excavating Safety and Risk Management Director Wayne Clayton, and McLean County Deputy Coroner David Killian.

Dr. Beth Kimmerling, coroner said the Normal Fire Department, arrived 6 minutes after the 911 call and found White unresponsive “with no signs of life.”

The jury was shown picturess of the accident site, equipment which was being used that day, and excerpts from the OSHA report on White's death.

Much of the deliberation was centered on a nylon sling which broke when workers attempted to lift an 8,780-pound piece resting against Hovey’s top floors.

According to Clayton, Stark not have a formal inspection team, however, equipment is inspected by employees before each job. He also told jurors that the workers on the site where White was killed are skilled workers with decades of experience.

Kimmerling said the inquest was held after her office received results from an OSHA investigation.

OSHA fined Stark Excavating $28,000 in connection with White's death. No announcements have been made by Start as to whether they will appeal the fine.

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The Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration and Transporation Secretary Ray LaHood sent to congress and president Obama the administration's Public Safety Act over six months ago. Occassional reminders were sent about the Act's importance.

Accidents that result in employee's deaths, major crashes and a less that favorable review of our nation's capital's transit system was the reason the bill was authored. Peter Rogogg, a Transit Administrator says that other systems in the United States suffered from the same types of problems and that federal oversight was essential.

Last month, the Senate Banking, House and Urban Affairs Committee unanimously voted to send it to the full Senate. LaHood said that this is the first time a transit specific safety bill was sent to Congress by any administration.

Continue reading "Transit safety finally in motion" »

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When Shannon's 17 year old daughter Ashley asked about driving the family golf cart around the neighborhood with her little sister, Gabriella, 6, Shannon wasn't concerned. He trusted Ashley with the family car, so why not the golf cart. They are used a lot in his Lakeland Community.

But Gabriella, fell from the cart and died from head injuries sustained as a result of the fall.

When Wiegert finds himself unable to sleep or overwhelmed by grief, he gets on the Internet and looks for ways to keep other children from getting hurt riding on golf carts.

His internet searches revealed that there are not consistent laws, or ordinances which protect children.

"Everybody says it's somebody else's responsibility," Wiegert says.

Continue reading "Golf cart dangers off the course" »

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When a cat catches a mouse his attention is absolute to the exclusion of everything else. A cat will spend an inordinate amount of time killing a mouse. And when the mouse is dead the cat's interest evaporates and he moves on to something else.

This is pretty much how TV handles local news: It takes a story (important or not), spends an inordinate amount of time on it. And when it feels the story is dead, it moves on.

Take, for example, the recent sad story of one New Trier High School student hitting another student with her car and then fleeing the scene in panic.

It was an accident affecting, really, only the two students and their families. A tragedy for both.

Continue reading "TV's Fickle News Fixation " »

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In 2009, just over 2800 letter carriers were bitten by dogs. The USPS is launching its annual campaign to prevent dog bites

As part of a larger campaign, the Postal Services, The american Veterinary Meidcal Association, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and other groups have joined in the National Dog Bite Prevention Week campaign.

Continue reading "Postal service "stamping" out dog bites" »

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Federal regulators have recalled another 170,000 cribs for a potentially deadly hazard, the latest in a long string of dangerous cribs pulled from the market.

The Sorelle or Golden Baby cribs have sides that drop down to allow easier access to babies. But the drop-side hardware can disengage, allowing the side to separate from the tracks.

Babies can slip into that resulting gap and suffocate, strangle or fall out of the crib.

The 24 models of Sorelle and Golden Baby cribs were sold at children's product stores nationwide for the last 10 years for between $300 and $600.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the crib's New Jersey distributor, C&T/Sorelle, received reports of 104 incidents where either the drop-side or crib slats detached, creating a dangerous gap. Six infants received cuts or bruises, and another five babies fell through the gap and were found on the floor uninjured, according to the CPSC.

While there were no reports of children killed in these cribs, babies have died in cribs made by other manufacturers when drop-sides separated.

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Suspected drunken drivers in Illinois who refuse to submit to a blood, breath or urine test after an accident would lose their license for one year under legislation sent to Gov. Pat Quinn Monday.

The legislation, SB3732, passed the Illinois House though several Republican members questioned whether it was preemptive punishment for alleged offenders.

Drivers who are involved in a car accident that causes significant harm but refuse to take chemical tests measuring the level of alcohol in their blood are suspected of a crime – not yet convicted, said Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet.

“What happens if, for example, someone refuses to take the test, license is revoked and then aren’t guilty?” Rose said during floor debate. “Now your license is revoked but you’re not guilty of a crime.”

Sponsoring Rep. Deborah Mell, D-Chicago, said the goal of the legislation is to target repeat alleged offenders who refuse to take chemical tests and only receive a suspension of their licenses.

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EDHS senior Chance Oster took a few minutes to chat before being killed in a car accident. "I mean it's a big thing," Oster said. "Acting this out, me being the dead one, it shows that me being dead might change some people's minds and make different choices."

A mock accident was preformed at the EDHS parking lot last Friday afternoon, one day before the school's prom.

It was the school's eighth performance of the mock accident since 1996, and it tends to turn some heads just one day before dolling up for prom. "We just look to impress upon young people what could happen if they make a poor choice and choose to drink and drive," said EDHS Principal Greg Herbst.

"We'd be naive if we didn't think it happened, and we'd be irresponsible if we didn't try and show them some of the negative things that can happen with those poor choices.

"It's a biannual event, we do it on even years, and this is my third one. It's quite a cooperative effort. East Dubuque Fire Department; Menominee-Dunleith Fire Department; East Dubuque Police Department; Paramount EMS; Galena EMS; we've had people from Rockford Hospital here; Bill Miller lets us use one of his caskets to make it as realistic as possible. If we can change the actions or decisions of just one student, than it's worth it."

Continue reading "Mock accident makes big impression on Illinois High School Seniors" »

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A bill approved by the Illinois House makes unlawful for a tow truck operator to stop at the the scene of an accident to solict business. It also specifices that a tow truck operator cannot stop at the scene of an accident unless they have to been called to the location.

State Rep. Michael Zalewski believes motorist who have been involved in an accident are vulnerable and fall prey to unscrupulous towing companies.

"Wreck chasing" as it is known by authorities, is the practice of coercing drivers who have just been in an accident, to have their cars towed without knowing the cost of the tow and storage fees. Only to receive exorbitant bills from the tow truck operators.

There are no laws currently that protect drivers from these tow truck operators.

Michael J. Zalewski represents the Southwest side of Chicago, portions of Berwyn, Brookfield, LaGrange, Lyons, Riverside, Stickney and Summit. Mr. Zalewski can be reached in his office in LaGrange.

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Add Chicago Heights, IL to the list of cities throughout the country charging accident victims a "crash tax" intended to recoup expenses involved from emergency responders. Doesn't matter if you caused that accident or not, if you're on the scene, you could get a bill.

Such was the case with Cary Felmdan. He was on his motor scooter in Chicago Heights, when he was hit from behind. A concerned citizen who witnessed the accident called 911 and a fire truck showed up at the scene of the accident.

Although Feldman was fine and did not require any treatment, he received a bill for $200 from the Chicago Heights Fire Department.

Continue reading "Illinois municpalities charge "Crash Tax"" »

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