According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), approximately 17,500 Americans suffer spinal cord injuries each year. Today, around 285,000 Americans live with complications caused by severe spinal injuries. Regardless of how an injury occurs, the long-term physical and financial impact of a spinal cord injury can be life-changing. 

Causes of Spinal Cord Injury Accidents

In the event of a spinal cord injury or suspected injury, it is important to act quickly. In some cases, immediate medical assistance can limit the potential damage. Some injury victims do not realize the severity at the time of an accident.

With winter on its way out, bicyclists are starting to ride again throughout the greater Chicago area. Bicycling can be a good form of exercise and way to commute to and from work. Unfortunately, bicyclists are much more susceptible to serious injury than car occupants. Around 467,000 Americans are injured in bicycle accidents each year. The most severe bicycle injuries occur in collisions involving cars. If you or a loved one are injured in a bicycle accident due to driver negligence, contact a trusted personal injury legal team as soon as possible. 

How to Prevent Bike Accidents 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1,000 Americans were fatally injured in bicycle crashes during a recent 12-month study. While many bicycle accidents are unpreventable because of car driver error or damaged pavement, there are a few steps you can take to increase your safety, as you hop back onto your bike this spring. 

Throughout the United States, thousands of Americans are injured in accidents involving commercial trucks each year. Due to the sheer size of most commercial vehicles, collisions involving standard cars are often devastating. In many cases, commercial trucking accidents are caused by the negligent actions of the trucking company or the truck driver. If you or a loved one are injured in a commercial trucking collision, seek experienced legal guidance immediately. 

Commercial Truck Accident Statistics 

With millions of commercial trucks on the road each day, trucking accidents are common and often horrific. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there were nearly 3,900 fatal commercial trucking accidents in 2016. In all, more than 100,000 Americans suffered injuries that required hospitalization after being involved in a truck crash. While some trucking accidents are unavoidable, many are directly related to the reckless actions of an employee. 

On March 3, a 2-year old girl was fatally injured in a motor vehicle collision on the South Side of Chicago. The young passenger was killed when she was ejected from the vehicle, as the car crashed head-on with another vehicle and ultimately collided with a tree on South Calumet Avenue. According to police, the girl was not in a car seat. 

Protecting children of any age from serious auto accident injuries can be difficult. Listed below are some of the steps you can take to help ensure your children do not suffer severe or even fatal car accident injuries. 

On February 25, three men stole a motor vehicle in the Old Town neighborhood of Chicago. After the theft, the driver collided with two vehicles in the South Side’s Jackson Park. Local police have yet to release information related to injuries. The man was apprehended on-site and is now in custody. 

For drivers throughout the greater Chicago area, the accident served as a reminder of some of the extreme hazards that occur on our roadways. Not all reckless drivers are fleeing from the scene of a crime, but all are incredibly dangerous. In order to ensure the safety of you and your family, it is important to know how to recognize signs of reckless driving and how to react. Also, if you or a loved one are injured in a car accident caused by a reckless driver, talk to a personal injury attorney who can help ensure you get the compensation you deserve for a full recovery.