Abels & Annes

Articles Posted in Car Accidents

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Anyone who has ever driven in Chicago at rush hour—or at any time, for that matter—knows that traffic can be intense. Traffic can be frustrating and stressful, and it can cause you to experience significant delays. The delays can be even greater, however, if you are involved in a collision with another vehicle in heavy Chicago traffic.

Statistics indicate that nearly half of all of the crashes in the state of Illinois each year happen in Cook County. This means that if you drive in the Chicago area, you are more likely to be involved in a crash. It is important to learn how you can recover financially for your losses after a Chicago car accident.

Driver Behaviors that Cause Accidents

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 129,000 people in the United States visited the emergency department in a single year because of injuries sustained in pedestrian accidents. Pedestrian accidents happen on a regular basis, especially in cities like Chicago that have high numbers of people who walk as part of their daily transportation.

If you have either walked or driven in Chicago at any point, you know that intersections can be confusing and even chaotic. Many drivers and pedestrians are trying to get where they need to go as fast as possible. Yet many drivers in Chicago fail to properly abide by Illinois traffic laws that require them to yield to pedestrians in certain situations.

When a pedestrian has a “walk” signal, she has the right to enter the crosswalk and cross the street. Any drivers who wish to cross over the crosswalk must yield to pedestrians. Unfortunately, many drivers see an opening to make a turn and fail to notice the “walk” signal or pedestrians in the crosswalk. This can lead to a serious collision. Furthermore, some drivers purposely disregard yield laws in attempts to beat pedestrians or even bully pedestrians into stopping while they proceed first.

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If your family is one of many in Chicago that will be packing up the car and heading out on a road trip, you should always realize the importance of safety before and during your trip. Here are some safety tips for your summer trip:

  • Plan – Road trips can take you into new territory, so it’s always helpful to familiarize yourself with the route ahead of time. You can also plan when you may stop and where you can stay along the way. Program a GPS or other navigational tools ahead of time so that you don’t have to do so while driving.
  • Inspect your car – Always have your vehicle inspected and tuned up before a road trip to prevent any unexpected problems. You want to ensure your brakes and tires are in good condition and will last for a long trip.
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Your initial meeting with your personal injury lawyer after a car accident is extremely important and can be very productive if you are prepared. If you can provide your lawyer with enough information, he or she will be able to accurately determine your legal options and get started on your case. Here are some of the things you can do to prepare for your first meeting with a Chicago car accident lawyer.

Consider the Narrative of Your Accident

The most important thing you can do as a prospective client in your first meeting with an attorney is to give him or her an accurate picture of what occurred. You should spend some time thinking about the facts of your case, especially the “who, what, where, when, and why” of the incident.

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Head on Collision Attorneys in Chicago

Not only can head-on collisions be terrifying but they can also be deadly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),1 head-on crashes account for seven percent of traffic-related fatalities in cities and for 13 percent of fatalities in rural areas. While many victims may survive a head-on collision, they often sustain severe injuries that can completely disrupt their lives.

If you have been injured in a head-on crash and believe the other driver was at fault, you have important legal rights and should discuss your options with our car accident lawyers as soon as possible. There are many possible causes of head-on collisions and determining exactly what caused yours is imperative to recovering from the negligent party or parties. Some of the parties that may be held liable for your head-on collision can include:

Other drivers – Driver negligence is a leading cause of head-on crashes. For example, drivers who are illegally under the influence of alcohol2 commonly make the mistake of driving the wrong way in a traffic lane, which can easily cause a head-on collision. In addition, drivers who are distracted or who fall asleep at the wheel due to fatigue can depart from their intended lane and cross over into oncoming traffic. Drivers can further make dangerous lane changes that cause another vehicle to swerve across a yellow line into the path of traffic.

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Car Accident Lawyer in Illinois

Social media posts like Facebook and Twitter allow users to share pictures, videos, and other content with hundreds or even thousands of people at a moment’s notice. Considering the fact that many users post multiple times a day regarding basic everyday occurrences, involvement in a car accident may definitely seem like a “post worthy” event.

While this thinking is certainly understandable, it is important to keep in mind that the things you post on social media sites could affect your legal rights. Consequently, it is a good idea to stay away from social media after an accident, at least until you speak to an attorney about your case and understand exactly how your posts could affect your case.

Social Media Posts Can Be Used as Evidence

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TBI Lawyers in Chicago

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury commonly sustained in traffic accidents. TBIs can range from mild- such as a concussion1 – to severe,2 which can cause a victim to remain in a coma for an extended period of time or indefinitely. All types of brain injuries can result in impairments with physical, cognitive, and/or emotional functioning. For this reason, many TBI victims must take a hiatus from work or school and others may have irreversible disabilities that completely change the quality and course of their lives.

The following are brief explanations regarding how TBIs can so commonly result from car accidents.

  • Direct head trauma – The most common cause of brain injury is direct trauma to part of the head. While your skull exists to protect your delicate brain tissue, an impact can make your brain shift and hit against the inside of the skull, causing damage to tissue. In many situations, a car crash will throw a person’s body forward, backward, or to the side, causing them to hit their head on a steering wheel, dashboard, window, or seat headrest. These can lead to concussions or more severe TBIs.
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