Category: Motor Vehicle Accident

Although laws don’t allow anyone the right-of-way, drivers must yield the right-of-way in certain traffic conditions. Failure to yield the right-of-way often leads to serious auto accidents. To create a safe traffic environment for cars, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians, motor vehicle drivers are expected to obey right-of-way rules set forth by each state.

Bike messengers in Chicago face high risks of injuries due to car accidents, negligent drivers, and road rage. Riding at high speeds, bike messengers are vulnerable to a variety of sudden, unexpected on-the-job injuries.

America’s roads are getting more dangerous and in 2015, 35,092 people were killed in automobile accidents. This was a 7% increase from 2014. The high number of fatalities made 2015 the deadliest year in the past 10 years, and the fastest increase in more than 50 years.

Most accidents involving large trucks don’t occur on interstate roads. America has over 2.7 million miles of paved, and nearly 1.4 million miles of unpaved roads. Of these, only 300,000 are part of the interstate system. Thus, there are plenty of non-interstate roads where trucks can have an accident.

A proposed rule to regulate sleep apnea for truck drivers and railroad workers has brought both criticism and praise as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Federal Railroad Administration work to reduce accidents caused by drowsy driving.

Pokemon Go is creating a serious distracted driving hazard in the U.S. Law enforcement agencies around the country are warning drivers not to use Pokemon Go while driving. In big cities like Chicago with heavy traffic, a Chicago personal injury attorney sees many distracted driving accidents that injure motorists, as well as pedestrians.

Most of the more than 30,000 traffic accident fatalities that occur in the U.S. each year are due to human error. Every driver is guilty of distracted driving at some time. When traveling at low speed, the driver has a bit more opportunity to pull back into their lane when the car tires leave the road and go on the soft shoulder.

Accidents involving large trucks are some of the deadliest in America. In 2014, nearly 438,000 large trucks were involved in crashes across the United States. These accidents claimed the lives of 3,903 motorists, pedestrians, and truck drivers. Nationally, 8.3% of all fatal accidents involve semi-trucks, motor homes, and other “large trucks.”

Being involved in a truck crash takes the complex nature of accident claims to a higher level. Trucks are subject to more regulations than common cars. Injuries in truck accidents are more severe and deaths are more common. What’s more, multiple parties can be held liable for damages that occur.

In mid-2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed a commitment from 20 of the nation’s leading auto manufacturers to include automatic braking technology on all new vehicles by 2022. The announcement demonstrates a commitment to making life-saving equipment standard.