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Driving During the Winter
Driving during the winter seasons comes with many risks. Slippery roads, snowstorms that can inhibit visibility, and freezing temperatures can all contribute to the occurrence of traffic accidents. In fact, between 2011 and 2015, about 800 Americans died annually in car accidents that were caused by winter weather conditions. However, there are steps you can take to ensure your and your family’s safety while traveling during the winter:
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Keep your car maintained. Before the winter season even begins, take your car in for a tune-up and oil change. Have your mechanic check your tires and consider investing in snow tires. Make sure the exhaust pipes are not clogged with mud, ice, or snow. Blocked exhaust pipes can cause carbon monoxide gas to fill the vehicle.
How to Avoid a Car Accident in Foggy Weather
Fog can be a hazardous weather condition and can be difficult to drive in. In fact, there are more than 31,000 car accidents that result from foggy weather. More than 11,000 people are injured in these incidents and about 511 people are killed. Therefore, it is essential to drive carefully and stay focused when driving in foggy conditions.
Consider the following tips for staying safe on the road while driving in fog:
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It is important to drive slowly during dangerous weather conditions. Driving slowly allows you to stop your car in time if traffic slows down or if the car in front of you makes a sudden stop. Maintaining a safe distance between your car and the car in front of you can additionally help prevent an accident. You can injure yourself and other drivers if you drive too closely to a vehicle and the vehicle makes an emergency stop or stops for any reason.
Study: Pokemon Go Caused 145,000 Car Accidents in the U.S.
A recent study published earlier this month by Purdue University’s professors of finance and management, Mara Faccio and John McConnell, estimates that the popular augmented reality game, Pokemon Go, is responsible for about 145,000 car accidents in the first five months after its release in 2016. Of those car accidents, approximately 29,000 people were injured and 250 people were killed.
The study also shows that the accident frequency rate was almost 27 percent higher at intersections located within 100 meters of a “PokéStops” (referring to landmarks or public places where gamers can obtain collectibles to help them progress in Pokemon Go) as compared to other street intersections.
The study was conducted in Tippecanoe County, Indiana and the report suggests that the cost of users playing the popular virtual reality game while driving in the county is between $5.2 million to $25.5 million within the first five months following the game’s release. The cost includes vehicular damage, personal injuries, and the human lives lost in the car crashes caused by the drivers or passengers playing Pokemon Go.
Common Delayed Mental and Physical Injuries from Car Accidents
Often times, those who are in car accidents do not necessarily experience injuries of any kind right away. Instead, the injuries may appear in the days, weeks, or even months following the accident. Common car accident injuries include both mental and physical injuries and can negatively affect the victim’s life.
Delayed Physical Injuries From Car Accidents
Individuals involved in a car crash may find that they feel the physical effects of the crash later on. Some of the physical injuries that result from car accidents include the following:
- Shoulder or neck pain; stiffness. Whiplash is often the cause of pain in the shoulder and neck area. Whiplash occurs in cases of rear-end car accidents when the speed of the car is less than 14 miles per hour.
Car Accidents Are Leading Cause of Death for Children
Unintentional injury from car accidents is the most common cause of death for children under the age of 15. It is reported that 2,855 children in the United States have died in car accidents between 2010 and 2014. Many children who die due to car accidents were not wearing seat belts. Moreover, 43 percent of children were not properly restrained.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas completed an analysis on the data collected from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The study found that the rate of children’s death in each state varied and that one type of road is more dangerous than other types. In fact, 67 percent of deaths of children occurred on rural roads. Poor lighting, lack of knowledge of the roads, and considerable distance to the emergency room are factors that can help explain why rural roads are considered to be the most dangerous road. The study found that seat belts and restraints can help prevent child injury and death.
Long Term Injury Implications of Minor Rear-End Collisions
In the Chicago area, as the holiday season approaches, adverse driving conditions come with it. Shorter days can result in limited visibility, which can be especially problematic during the rush hour commute home from work. Additionally, lower temperatures can lead to snow, ice, and other hazards on the road.
While there are steps that drivers can take to increase their own safety during winter time driving, such as equipping their vehicles with snow tires and leaving extra space between themselves and other drivers, the bottom line is decreasing visibility and traction can result in an increase in rear-end collisions.
Often times, these seemingly minor collisions result in serious injury—whiplash, head trauma, and broken bones. If you or a loved one are injured in a rear-end collision this winter, it is important to contact an experienced Lake County personal injury attorney.
Look Out! Ensuring Safety in a SmartPhone World
As the holiday season approaches, consumers will flock to department stores in hopes of finding the next generation smartphone. Smartphones have drastically changed the way we think, operate, and navigate through life. Considering the benefits of instant access to information databases, smartphones are now viewed as a necessity in our society. However, with the good comes the bad, and today many Americans suffer from increased stress, decreased sleep, and even addiction attributed to overuse of smartphones and tablets. There may be no bigger downside to smartphone use than the danger from using these devices on the road.
If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an automobile collision either as a driver, cyclist, or pedestrian, attributed to smartphone related negligence, contact an experienced Lake County personal injury attorney today.
Workplace Injuries on the Decline: Illinois Below the National Average
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), workplace injuries are on the decline. The incident rate within the private sector workforce has declined from 4.4 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2006, to 2.9 cases in 2016.
In the state of Illinois, the average of 2.7 injuries per 100 full-time workers lies below the national average. Moreover, Illinois is ranked as the 9th safest state to work in throughout the United States.
A look at the long term trend in workplace safety shows that the commitment to improving worker safety has been a success. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there were 10.9 worker accidents or illnesses per 100 workers annually in 1972 compared to 3.0 per 100 workers in 2015.
The Dangers of Dog Bites
Every year, an average of 4.5 million people in the United States are victims of dog bites. Dog bites are often times some of the most physically painful and emotionally traumatizing wounds that a victim could suffer.
While many people assume that dog bites are relatively minor injuries that result in little or no long-term health consequences, that assertion is factually incorrect. From sprains and breaks, to puncture wounds that can leave victims with scars or deformities, dog bites can be incredibly dangerous. In nearly a quarter of dog bite incidents, victims are left with more than a puncture wound.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), of the four million plus dog bites that occur annually, nearly 900,000 result in infection. Therefore, if you or a member of your family are a victim of a dog bite attack, contact a Lake County personal injury attorney today.
Knockout Punch: The Dangers of Airbag Deployment
Development of the first airbag restraint systems began in the late 1950’s, monumentally altering the landscape of motor vehicle safety. Airbags were commercially introduced in 1973 with the General Motors’ Oldsmobile Toronado. Over the next 15 years, other automobile manufacturers also began developing and implementing vehicle passenger safety equipment.
In 1988, Chevrolet became the first motor vehicle company to provide customers with airbag restraint systems throughout the entirety of their passenger fleet. Over the following decades, car companies across the world have been working to enhance the safety, strength, and overall functionality of airbag restraint systems. The results have been overwhelmingly positive.
Contact a Lake County Vehicle Accident Attorney Who is Ready to Help You
If you or a member of your family has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact our office. Call 847-662-3303 to set up a free initial consultation at one of our four convenient locations. There is no risk because we only collect fees if you collect compensation. With offices in Libertyville, Waukegan, Richmond, and Chicago, we represent clients in Lake County, Cook County, DuPage County, and McHenry County.
Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.
