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Most Common Traffic Laws Broken by Illinois Drivers
Getting behind the wheel means business. Abiding by Illinois driving laws, rules, and regulations is important to ensure the safety of yourself and others on the road.
Unfortunately, rules get broken, accidents happen and injury occurs. The Illinois Vehicle Code lists hundreds of transportation offenses and their matching penalties, but there are the five outstanding rules of the road drivers constantly and continuously break:
- Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign or Running a Red Light: Red is the universal color of traffic signs and signals meaning “stop.” Even though you are supposed to come to a complete stop at stop signs, many drivers do what is known as a rolling stop. At a stop sign or stoplight, you are required to come to a complete stop before the white line, which marks the start of the intersection and allows other cars and pedestrians to travel safely when it is their turn to do so. Penalties for improper stopping at a stop sign, failure to stop at a stop sign, and/or running a red light range from a fine to points on your driving record.
Four Tips for Reducing Roadway Collision Risk this Winter Season
In even the most ideal conditions, venturing out onto the highways as a motorist is scary and can be downright dangerous, posing many risks to our health and safety. Car accidents happen on all kinds of roadways, for a million different reasons, and no one is immune to the hazards responsible for these collisions. Whether the source of an accident is due to road construction, a negligent driver, or inclement weather, prevention efforts on behalf of motorists nationwide can go a long way in reducing our collision risks. This is especially the case for those who live in cold-weather regions throughout the winter season, as roadways are exceptionally hazardous during these icy, snow-filled months.
Preparation is Key
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) emphasizes the need to pay special attention to safe driving habits during the winter months, reminding us that preparation is key in not only the prevention of collisions but also in the event that you are involved in one. Being prepared better equips you to handle the challenges that come with the aftermath of a crash, like avoiding movement that might worsen any injuries you have incurred. As the winter months approach and you get ready to hit the roads, prepare in the following ways to lessen your chances of collision:
Three Common Medical Errors Every Patient Should be Aware Of
While medical malpractice is nowhere near a new issue in the healthcare industry, many media reports and study findings within the last few years have surfaced among the general public, bringing attention to seemingly more medical errors in the community than ever before. In recent years, experts from John Hopkins University shared findings from data that spanned over an eight-year period, revealing that more than 250,000 deaths per year have been attributed to medical error in the U.S. Researchers emphasized that a majority of these errors point to systematic errors, such as poorly coordinated care, problems within insurance networks, and the lack of or underuse of proper protocols. Whatever the source responsible for any given medical error, however, thousands of patients have been and continue to be seriously affected by negligence in the medical community.
Research Shows Distracted Driving Is More Than Taking Our Eyes Off the Road
From the implementation of state-to-state cell phone laws and public awareness campaigns to startling news reports in the media, it seems the warnings about the dangers of distracted driving and related car accidents are everywhere we turn. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported over 3,000 deaths in 2017, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in recent years, nearly 400,000 people have been injured due to distracted driving incidents. Despite the fact that statistics such as these keep surfacing, the number of alarming accidents continues to leave trails of both fatal and non-fatal injuries across our roadways.
Distracted Driving Takes Different Forms
Cell phone use is typically the first thing most drivers think of when it comes to the subject of distracted driving, but research shows that the issue is more complex than simply using a cell phone behind the wheel. According to the CDC, distracted driving takes many different forms and can be anything that pulls our attention away from the road. The CDC tells us that our attention can be disrupted in three different ways: visually, manually, and cognitively. Here are some examples of how these distracted driving incidents can take place:
Motorcycle Accidents Considered a National Public Health Issue
When it comes to any kind of car or motorcycle accident, we often tend to view the collision as an event that affects only the victim and other parties involved in the crash. While victims undoubtedly experience the greatest impact in a crash, research illuminates the fact that auto collisions have the power to affect the victim’s loved ones, passerby witnesses, and even the national public as a whole. This is especially true when it comes to motorcycle accidents, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says are actually a national public health issue.
Everyone is Impacted by Motorcycle Accidents
Why does the CDC claim that motorcycle accident injury and death is everyone’s problem? Here are some startling facts:
- The number of motorcycle deaths continues to increase each year. Studies show an astounding 82 percent increase in deaths between 2000 and 2016. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle fatalities occurred 28 times more frequently in traffic crashes than car passenger fatalities, and a recent report revealed that nearly 90,000 motorcyclists were injured on an annual basis.
Why Drowsy Driving Is Considered Just as Dangerous as Drunk Driving
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), drowsy driving was the cause of nearly 91,000 police-reported car accidents in the year 2017, and since then, the NHTSA maintains that recent numbers grossly underestimate all of the incidents actually caused by driver fatigue. Researchers say the exact numbers can be difficult to nail down, as they are only able to identify specific evidence that confirms drowsy driving as the cause for a crash, but the estimates they are able to provide give us an alarming perspective on just how serious the issue is on our roadways today.
Drunk Driving Is Not the Only Kind of Impaired Driving
Drowsy driving as a public safety issue garners so much attention largely for the fact that it is considered just as dangerous as drunk driving. The National Safety Council has deemed it a valid form of impaired driving, backing this claim up with research that shows the signs and effects of drunk driving and drowsy driving are the same. Here is why drowsy driving is considered just as dangerous as drunk driving:
Three Common Mistakes Drivers Make After an Accident
The moment you are involved in a car accident, panic automatically ensues, making it difficult to think clearly. In the moments immediately following the collision, you are concerned first and foremost with your safety and the safety of any passengers in your vehicle. As your adrenaline pumps overtime and you work to assess the situation, all other details surrounding the crash are likely a blur at this time. This is especially the case when you are looking for signs of injury, which can be difficult to identify while in a state of shock. However, what you do – or do not do – directly after a car accident can completely alter the outcome of the collision and may even save your life.
What Not to Do After a Car Accident
Protecting both your health and your rights after a car crash is the most important part of managing the aftermath of a collision. It is normal to experience a range of emotions, such as anger at the other driver, confusion over how the accident took place, and fear for your wellbeing. Although it can be difficult in the midst of these heightened emotions, it is helpful to keep things in perspective and keep your best interests in mind. Refrain from these common mistakes after the accident:
Distracted Driving Is One of Illinois’ Leading Causes of Auto Accidents
A recent study by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration showed that over 600,000 drivers across the country use their cell phones while driving. This type of reckless behavior leads to injury or even death of those involved in a car accident with the distracted driver.
In an effort to lower the collision rate in Illinois, the state amended the vehicle code on July 1, 2019, to consider a first offense of distracted driving as a moving violation. Previously, the law stated that only subsequent offenses would be moving violations that would appear on a driver’s record.
Collisions that happen as a result of cell phone usage will also see the distracted driver responsible for any compensation for victim injury or wrongful death.
Are Motorists Always Liable for Bicyclist Injuries After an Accident?
In Illinois, bicyclists are permitted to share the roads with cars as long as they abide by the rules of the road. Bicycles are considered "vehicles" when they ride on the road and must obey traffic laws in order to avoid a collision.
However, accidents can happen even if everyone involved is trying to be as safe as possible. It can happen as a result of driver distraction or ignorance of the bicyclists. Either way, Illinois is an "at-fault" state which means whoever is responsible for the accident will pay for the damages and any injuries sustained after the incident. Since bicyclists have less protection than a motorist, injuries can be catastrophic.
What is Catastrophic Injury?
An injury that is so severe that it alters a victim's way of life forever is considered "catastrophic." This can include:
Can Using Forceps During Childbirth Injure a Baby?
While it is uncommon for babies to suffer serious birth injuries during an assisted birth, it can still happen if the doctor miscalculates or misuses a device.
If a mother is having difficulty during labor, a doctor will sometimes use forceps or a vacuum to help guide the baby through the birth canal. However, this should not be the first step to coaxing a baby through a difficult birth. It is risky to pull too hard on a baby during birth because it can lead to:
- Nerve damage;
- Muscle weakness;
- Exterior eye injury;
- Skull fracture;
- Seizures; and
- Bleeding within the skull.
Most of the time the injuries are minor cuts to the baby’s scalp or wherever the forceps grab the baby, but parents whose child sustained more serious injuries should file a medical malpractice lawsuit as soon as possible.
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From our offices in Orland Park, Arlington Heights, Glen Ellyn, Joliet, Elmhurst, Peoria, and Rockford, the legal team at Schwartz Injury Law represents injury victims and their families throughout Illinois, including Chicago, Alsip, Crestwood, Oak Forest, Palos Heights, Mokena, Frankfort, Homer Glen, New Lenox, Naperville, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Palatine, Champaign, Urbana, Savoy, Mahomet, Rantoul, Bloomington, Normal, Morton, Pekin, and Washington.
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