Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

A program designed to provide information to emergency responders is underway in east Central Illinois. Across the landscape attached to several main power poles, are black tubes which contain detailed computer generated maps of farms located in the region. The maps detail locations of flammable chemicals, fuels, power switches, grain bins and water supplies and livestock on each farm.

This provides invaluable information to first responders in the event of an emergency on a farm. The responders ability to locate the information contained in the tube could ultimately save lives and limit property damage.

Amy Rademaker, began the program in Illinois, is a farm safety specialist. Growing up on a farm, Rademaker knows the dangers of the farming industry. But she belives that tragedies can be avoided by being able to locate where things are "going to go up in flames."

Continue reading " Illinois farmers to get individualized maps to avert emergencies " »

For the first time, the State of Illinois will start keeping track of dooring collisions-accidents that happen when a bicyclist rides into an open car door.

Governor Quinn ordered Illinois police departments to start recording dooring accidents on crash forms typically used for motor vehicle accidents.

The Illinois Deparmtment of Transportation will incorporate the dooring data into their annual traffic accident reports.

By ordering the tracking, officials believe this is the first step in reducing the amount of dooring crashes and thereby reducing injuries and deaths caused by the collisions.

Continue reading " Illinois to start tracking bicycle dooring collisions " »

The month of April is Distracted Driving Month. Campaigns around the country are in full force to make drivers aware of the dangers distracted driving. The "Decide to Drive campaign is a public service program which will be seen on televesion, heard on the radio and seen in local newspapers.

Nationally, on average, 500,000 people are in hurt in car accidents caused by distracted drivers. Whether is calling, texting, drinking a cup of coffee or applying makeup in your care, it is dangerous.

Aaron Brookens, 20 of Rockford Illinois was injured on April 5, 2010, when he hit the read of a semi-trailer truck on near Beloit Wisconsin, while he was texting. Brookens' suffered life threatening injuries.

Brookens, along with his dr., orthopedica trauma surgeon Marc A. Zussman of Rockford who spoke before the National Press Club in Washishington provided personal testimony on seriousness of distractions while driving.

State Farm Insurance is introducing a new auto policy calld "Drive Safe & Save." Premiums are based on the amount of driving you do annually.

The average in the US is 12,000 miles a year.

If your annual driving is around 12,000 a year you could save up to 10% on your premiums. Those who drive less can save up to 44% a year.

Only driver's who subscribe to On-Star are eligible for the program. State Farm will monitor your miles through On-Star.

State Farm is working on making the discounts avialable to all their customers.

With the nice weather just right around the corner, you will notice more motorcycles on the road.

However, with the increase of motorcycles on the roads comes the increase of motorcycle accidents. Unfortunately, more than 50% of the motorcycle accidents reported result in serious injury or death.

More downstate paramedics are learning how to deal with these accidents. EMT's from Dixon, Illinois to Bellevue Iowas, attended a special training session on Saturday called Two Wheel Trauma training.

Paramedics were taught specifics on how to respond to a motorcycle accidents.The care received at an accident site is essential for the survival of the accident victim. Paramedics learned things like how to remove a helmet from a rider without causing more injury and what spots on a motorcycle should not be touched.

With rising gas prices, it is expected that there will be an increase in the number of motorcycles on the road this season.