On Wednesday, December 5th, 2018, a school bus was struck by a commercial truck that was heading the wrong direction on I-74, south of Bloomington. The bus was carrying the Normal Community West High School girls’ basketball team. A 72-year-old volunteer was fatally injured in the accident, but fortunately, none of the student athletes suffered severe injuries in the collision. The accident reminded parents throughout the state of Illinois of the real possibility of their child’s school bus colliding with another vehicle. Every parent worries about the safety of their children, and if tragedy strikes, and your child is involved in a school bus accident, you should contact a legal team that will support you and your family in your time of need. 

School Bus Fatality Statistics

When our children ride a school vehicle, we put our trust in the school and the bus driver to take care of our children. Sadly, school bus accidents are more common than most of us would like to believe. A study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) analyzed school vehicle fatalities from 2004 to 2013. In that time period, more than 1,200 Americans were fatally injured in these types of accidents. Every year, approximately 134 people die in these tragic accidents throughout the United States. 

School Bus Injuries and Causes

Due to the fact that students riding in school buses are not mandated to wear seatbelts, they can suffer incredibly serious injuries in a collision. Common school bus injuries include severe spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and broken bones. If your child is involved in a school bus accident, it is possible that the accident was caused by the negligence of the driver or the school district. School bus collisions can occur if a driver chooses to drive recklessly, such as by traveling at excessive speeds or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Accidents can also be caused by improper vehicle maintenance. 

While many recreational motorcyclists choose to lock up their bikes for the winter, those that rely on their motorcycle as their primary means of transportation continue to ride throughout the winter months. Riding your motorcycle during the winter requires extreme precision and care. Listed below are some simple tips that could help you avoid being injured in a motorcycle accident this winter:

• Wear Proper Equipment: While riding your motorcycle, it is important to wear the correct protective equipment. Warm clothing can protect against cold winter weather, and body armor can protect motorcyclists from further injury in the event of a collision. However, the most important piece of equipment you can wear is your helmet. Helmet use saves thousands of lives throughout the United States each year. If you choose to ride your motorcycle this winter, it is best to wear a helmet that offers full face protection, as well as clothing, boots, and gloves that cover any exposed skin. 
• Travel at Appropriate Speeds: As the weather gets colder, so do the tires on your motorcycle. Colder tires have limited ability to gain traction, leading to difficulty stopping and changing directions. The combination of icy roads and reduced tire traction can cause dangerous collisions. Due to these factors, traveling at excessive speeds can be increasingly dangerous during winter months.
• Avoid Reckless Riding: Riding your motorcycle can be a liberating activity, but during the winter months, you should exercise additional focus and care. Avoiding aggressive passing, tailgating, and other forms of reckless driving can help to ensure that you arrive safely to your destination this winter. 
• Know Your Limits: Motorcycle riding takes a great deal of skill in the best of conditions, and it becomes even more difficult during winter weather. Operating a motorcycle on snowy or icy roads requires extreme care, and the presence of other vehicles can increase the dangers motorcyclists face. If you are a novice motorcyclist or are unsure about your ability to control your bike in the winter, it may be wise to avoid riding in urban areas or lock your bike away until nicer weather returns. 

Contact a Lake County Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Tragically, motorcycle accidents are incredibly common throughout the United States. In 2016 alone, over 5,000 Americans lost their lives in motorcycle accidents. If you or a loved one are injured in a motorcycle collision, it is likely that the accident was caused by the negligence of another driver. At Salvi and Maher, L.L.C., our number one priority is ensuring that you and your family receive the compensation you deserve after being injured in a motor vehicle collision. To schedule a free consultation with a Waukegan personal injury attorney, call us today at 847-662-3303. 

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Illinois residents have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. In the summer, thousands of Illinoisans enjoy boating on Lake Michigan and hiking throughout the state’s incredible parks and forests. In the winter time, Illinois is known for its expansive snowmobiling recreation areas. 

While snowmobiling is a fun outdoor activity for those that live in colder climates, snowmobile accidents are fairly common, and these accidents can lead to serious and fatal injuries. If you or a loved one are injured in a snowmobile accident, it is possible your injuries were caused by the reckless or negligent actions of another party. 

Snowmobiling Accidents Common in the United States 

Throughout the United States, more than two million people use snowmobiles each winter. Snowmobiles can be incredibly dangerous due to their size (some snowmobiles weigh over 600 pounds) and speed (snowmobiles can travel as fast as 90 mph). A staggering 14,000 people are injured in snowmobile crashes across the United States each year, and an average of 200 Americans are killed on snowmobiles on an annual basis. The leading causes of snowmobiling injuries include traveling at excessive speeds, consuming alcohol while operating a vehicle, and traveling on unmarked or unsafe terrain. Snowmobile injuries can range from broken bones to severe organ damage. The most common fatal snowmobiling injuries are traumatic brain injuries. 

On the afternoon of Monday, November 26th, 2018, five people were severely injured in a multiple car crash on the Ohio Street Feeder Ramp down to the Kennedy Expressway. According to the Illinois State Patrol, the accident was caused by dangerous winter driving conditions. 

Staying safe while driving in winter weather can be a difficult proposition. If you or a loved one are injured in a car accident this winter, you should seek out legal representation as soon as possible. 

Dangerous Areas and Conditions for Winter Driving

While driving in snow and ice can be dangerous no matter what the situation is, there are a number of road environments that are increasingly dangerous throughout the winter months: 

Every year, thousands of commercial trucking accidents occur throughout the United States. Many of these accidents are caused by reckless driving, such as speeding, inebriated driving, and drowsy driving. While driver error is the leading cause of commercial trucking accidents, a large number of these accidents have nothing to do with driver negligence and are actually caused by inadequate or improper maintenance. 

Commercial trucking companies have a responsibility to adequately maintain their vehicles to ensure the safety of the public. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident involving a tractor-trailer truck, it is entirely possible that the accident was caused by negligence at the company level. 

Common Forms of Improper Truck Maintenance 

Despite stringent regulatory programs designed to ensure that commercial trucks never become part of a traveling fleet without receiving proper maintenance, commercial trucking companies throughout the United States continue to overlook basic maintenance procedures. These oversights can endanger the drivers and passengers of other vehicles, pedestrians, and anyone else who uses the roads.