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New AAA Survey Reveals Alarming Statistics of Dangerous Driving Behaviors
National statistics reveal that in 2015, more than 35,000 people were killed in traffic accidents—an increase of more than 7 percent. This is the largest year-to-year increase in 50 years.
Despite all the attempts to educate people about the importance of safe driving, a new survey reveals that too many drivers on the roads continue to engage in risky and dangerous driving behaviors that often leave to motor vehicle accidents. This was particularly true for millennial drivers—those between the ages of 19 to 24.
The survey was conducted by the American Automobile Association (AAA) and asked drivers about the behaviors they may have engaged in within the past 30 days of the survey. The dangerous behaviors included texting and driving, speeding, and running red lights.
Texting and Driving in Prior Thirty Days
When it comes to using texting while we are behind the wheel of a car, an alarming number of drivers from all age groups admitted to engaging in what is a proven dangerous driving behavior. Surprisingly, teen drivers came in at number four, with fewer teens texting and driving than their older counterparts.
New Illinois Law Allows Motorcycles to Add Blue Rear Lights
Pedal bikes are not the only form of transportation that received new law implementations on January 1, 2017. Updates to the Illinois Vehicle Code were also put into place—updates that some are calling the “blue light” bill.
Motorcyclists are now permitted to be equipped with a blue light or multiple lights. These lights can be located on the rear of a motorcyclist's bike as part of his or her rear stop lamp or lamps.
This new law—HB 4105—was put into effect as a means to try and lessen the number of motorcycle accidents that occur annually in the state of Illinois. Because riders are now allowed to add blue lights on the back of their motorcycles, a contrast of colors with the red and blue lights will occur. This variation of the contrasting colors will help to make the brakes more visible for fellow drivers on the road. When a motorcyclist pushes on his or her brakes with the addition of the blue rear light, those driving behind the motorcyclist will be more likely to notice the contrasting colors clearer and faster.
FDA Warns of Link Between Breast Implants and Cancer
A new statement from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning women of a link between breast implants and a certain type of cancer. According to national statistics, approximately 300,000 women receive breast implants each year, making the surgery one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the country.
According to the warning issued by the FDA, as of February 1, 2017, they had received 359 reports of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), which is cancer of the immune system, that were linked to breast implants. In nine of the reports, the women had died. The majority of the reported cancers—203—were women who had been implanted with textured implants. The other 28 women had received smooth implants.
The FDA also reported that 312 of the reports specified what type of fill was used in the implants of the women who developed ALCL. Silicone gel was used in 186 of the reports and saline was used in 126 of the reports.
Safety Tips for Cyclists
Spring has officially arrived and that means more outdoor activity for Illinois residents. One of the most popular outdoor activities is bicycling, both for pleasure and fitness. Many cyclists also use their bikes as a primary vehicle for getting around in the warm weather months. And although bike riding offers many health and pleasure benefits, it can also be dangerous trying to maneuver around busy city streets and suburban roads which are often populated with distracted and impatient vehicle drivers.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 736 people killed while riding bicycles last year, an increase from 2015 when 726 people were killed. Another 44,000 bicyclists were injured. The average age of cyclists killed is 45-years-old, and 88 percent of victims were male. Not surprisingly, more than 70 percent of fatal crashes occurred in urban areas
Seat Belts Really Do Save Lives
One of the simplest—yet most effective—ways to protect yourself from injuries in the event of a car crash is to use your seat belt. Using a seat belt reduces the risk of fatal injury to people in the front seat of a passenger vehicle by 45 percent. People riding in light trucks who buckle up reduce their risk of a fatal injury by 60 percent. Yet thousands of people are killed each year because they did not buckle up.
The National Numbers
According to national statistics, just under 36,000 victims were killed in crashes in 2015, and almost half of them—48 percent—were not wearing a seat belt. Crash studies have determined that almost 3,000 of those victims would have survived the crash if they were wearing seat belts. These studies also determined that almost 14,000 people who were involved in car crashes in 2015 did survive because they made sure they had on their seat belt.
Bicycle Safety Tips
The warm weather has finally arrived in Illinois. Along with that warm weather comes warm weather activities. One of the most popular is bike riding. Many people take advantage of the summer months to commute to work or as an alternative to hitting the inside of the gym. Unfortunately, the warm weather also brings an increase in bicycle accidents and injuries.
According to national statistics, there are more than 700 people killed in bicycle traffic accidents each year. Another 50,000 are injured. And although you may think that the most vulnerable age group to bicycle accidents are children, the average age of bicyclists who are killed is 45. Additionally, most fatalities occur between the hours of 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. So how can bicyclists protect themselves from being in a bicycle accident?
Wear Brightly-Colored Clothing
How Dangerous is a Whiplash Injury?
One of the most common injuries suffered in car accidents is whiplash. This is particularly true in rear-end collisions. Approximately 120,000 people sustain whiplash each year. Yet while the injuries are usually minor, a victim can end up with permanent damage if not treated properly.
What is Whiplash?
Whiplash occurs when a person’s head is moved forward and backward with great force. This force can cause the ligaments and muscles of the neck to pull beyond their normal range of motion. Although one of the most common causes of whiplash is motor vehicle accidents, this injury can occur in any type of accident which causes this type of force on the head, such as falls, sports accidents, or physical assault.
For minor whiplash injuries, doctors usually recommend rest and avoiding any kind of heavy physical activity. More serious cases can result in the need for extensive physical rehabilitation and/or surgery. When this happens, accident victims often face high medical expenses, as well as loss of income from being unable to work.
Personal Injury and the Cost of Winning
Getting a favorable judgment in a civil trial is a daunting task. Depending on the type of litigation you were involved in, it can also be a very expensive endeavor. Many people are aware that you can recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. However, there are other avenues of compensation that are less readily known and include the following:
- Fees for the subpoena of witnesses;
- Statutory fees for witnesses; and
- Fee’s associated with deposition administrative tasks.
What Other Costs May I Be Entitled To?
A skilled and experienced Orland Park personal injury attorney would be able inform you of any other costs to which you may be entitled. Different courts in Illinois have different rulings about what a prevailing party may recoup by way of court costs and fees.
Drunk Driving Crashes and Wrongful Death Lawsuits
Summer is here and that means lots of cookouts, family get-togethers, beach days, and vacations. At many of these social gatherings alcohol is served, and all too often, drivers make the decision to get behind the wheel of their vehicles after they have been drinking, with tragic results.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (NHTSA), there were 10,265 people killed in drunk driving accidents in 2015, the most current year for which statistics are available. This means that every day that year, 28 people were killed by a drunk driver. This was a sharp increase from the year before, when 9,943 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes.
In Illinois, approximately 1,000 people are killed each year in drunk driving crashes. About 35 percent of those drunk drivers are between the ages of 21 to 24. Each year, law enforcement in Illinois arrest almost 40,000 people on DUI charges, yet these horrible crashes still happen.
AAA Study: Hangover Effect of Distracted Driving
The dangers of distracted driving have been well publicized. Laws have been enacted, as well as hundreds—if not thousands—of safety campaigns produced alerting drivers of just how deadly this driving behavior can be. Yet, despite all these warnings, people continue to die in fatal crashes caused by a driver who just did not listen.
According to data from the National Safety Council, almost half of all drivers admit to using their smartphones while driving, both manually or with a voice-activated feature. Smartphone manufacturers continue to develop new technology to improve these voice-activated features as a way to get drivers to stop manually using their phones, but a new study reveals that drivers who use the voice-activated features may be just as dangerous to everyone else on the road.
The study was conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic & Safety. The study team found that there is what they referred to as a “hangover effect” that happens whenever a driver focuses his or her attention away from their driving. In fact, that can last for up to almost half a minute before the driver sees what is in front of them again.
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9631 W. 153rd St., Suite 32, Orland Park, IL 60462
708-966-2408
