For most of those working in the greater Chicago area, commuting through heavy traffic is part of the necessary daily routine. While consistently dealing with traffic can bring complacency behind the wheel, rush hour driving can be quite dangerous. 

On December 20, commuters in Illinois were reminded of the increased risk that comes with heavy traffic, as a four-vehicle collision on the Kennedy Expressway resulted in the death of one man. If you regularly commute through heavy traffic to get to and from work, these simple tips could help you avoid a car crash. 

Every year, thousands of American teenagers are hospitalized due to the excessive consumption of alcohol. Studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found that approximately 119,000 teenagers are treated for alcohol poisoning each year. 

For parents of teenage children, it is crucial to be able to trust other parents in the community. Unfortunately, many parents throughout the United States allow underage drinking within their household. If your child has been injured due to the negligence of an irresponsible adult, it is time to seek out legal representation. 

Underage Drinking Statistics 

While most parents like to believe that their teenage child never consumes alcohol, studies have found that drinking is incredibly common among American teens. The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 30% of high school students admitted to drinking within the past 30 day period. Young people between the ages of 12 and 20 consume approximately 11% of all alcohol sold within the United States on an annual basis. 

With the Fourth of July rapidly approaching, many Illinoisans are preparing to celebrate with fireworks. But with the fun and excitement of fireworks comes inherent danger. If used irresponsibly, fireworks can seriously harm users, bystanders, or the surrounding environment. 

Earlier this month, a man in Cedar Rapids, Iowa lost multiple fingers in a fireworks accident. The 19-year-old man was seriously injured when a firework went off while he was holding it in his hand. Unfortunately, these types of injuries occur far more often than most would assume. If you or a loved one suffer a fireworks injury this summer, you should be sure to understand your options for pursuing compensation from any liable parties. 

Fireworks Injuries Nationwide 

Commuting into the city is a huge part of life for many Chicagoland citizens. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Illinois ranks among the tops in the nation when it comes to commuters. Upwards of eighty thousand commuters drive from Lake County alone, every day, to get to work.

With the sheer numbers of commuters traveling into Chicago, collisions are inevitable. Over three hundred thousand crashes occurred on Illinois roadways throughout 2015. If you or a member of your family are injured during your commute to or from work, speak with an experienced Lake County personal injury attorney.

The Dangers of High Speed Commuting

Commuting to work can be a dangerous proposition in the state of Illinois. Ranking as one of the top commuter states in the nation, while facing bumper to bumper traffic and harsh winter road conditions, commuting in Illinois is a uniquely risky endeavor. In 2015 alone, 914 fatal collisions occurred in the state of Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation—nearly three citizens were fatally injured on an average day.

In late July, a 54-year-old Tinley Park woman was struck and killed in hit-and-run accident just after midnight. The woman, a pedestrian, was not immediately killed, but later succumbed to injuries in a nearby hospital. Her story is not uncommon. While several other types of common contributing factors to motor vehicle accidents have continued to decline—such as drinking and driving—the instances of hit-and-runs have actually continued to increase in recent years.

Data from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration  shows that the number of fatal hit-and-run accidents has increased from 1,274 in 2009 to 1,393 in 2010, to 1,449 in 2011. In the same period, there was an almost 14 percent increase in the number of fatalities which occurred in these accidents, meaning that not only are hit-and-runs becoming more common, they are becoming more severe as well.

Most hit-and-run perpetrators are especially difficult for police to track down, and they often are never apprehended. This is because surveillance cameras are rarely high-quality enough to capture license plates or facial images of the driver, and a lot of the time, bystanders or would-be witnesses do not want to get involved. Primary evidence for officials to recover information about the crime disappears immediately following the crime itself.