Posted on January 16, 2019 in Blog Post

In 2016, there were nearly 12.5 million large trucks registered in the United States, accounting for billions of vehicle miles traveled. Unfortunately, accidents involving large trucks accounted for around 13 percent of all fatal traffic accidents in the United States. What is even worse, is that even when truck drivers are at fault for accidents, 8 out of 10 people killed in crashes involving large trucks are people who were riding in the other vehicle. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is dedicated to understanding the causes of accidents involving commercial motor vehicles and putting measures into place to prevent them. The FMCSA, along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has determined a few top causes of commercial truck accidents in the United States.

Critical Reasons and Critical Events of Truck Accidents

There are two different causation variables for truck accidents: critical reasons and critical events. Critical events are the actions or events that put the vehicle into a situation in which a collision is unavoidable. Critical reasons are the immediate reason which caused the critical event. There are three types of critical events that were assigned to trucks:

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 Posted on December 27, 2018 in Blog Post

In every state, there are laws in place that state you must stop and stay at the scene of any car accident that you are involved in. Unfortunately, not everyone makes sure all is well after an accident. In the event that you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident, you will probably be feeling frustrated, angry and lost. Hit-and-run accidents must be handled differently than normal car accidents, mostly because the other party is not always known. Even though it will be more difficult to pursue compensation for damages and injuries, it is not impossible. Fortunately, there are things you can do to mitigate the negative consequences of a hit-and-run accident.

Gather as Much Information as Possible

Information is key to having a successful hit-and-run claim. Having as much information as possible will increase the chance that the police will catch the driver who fled the scene and it will also help your insurance company make a decision about your claim. If it is possible, you should get information such as:

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 Posted on December 17, 2018 in Blog Post

Being safe or worrying about your safety is not something that often crosses our minds. Most of the time, we just assume we will be safe when we go to a store or stay in a hotel. There is an infamous saying about assuming -- mainly, that you should not do it. But by law, business has a responsibility to reasonably prevent accidents or crimes from occurring on their property. This is known as premises liability and is the responsibility of the owner or operator of an establishment. By law, we should be able to assume that we will be safe when we are walking through a parking lot or when we are shopping at a store. Premises liability cases can be complex, especially when dealing with negligent or inadequate security cases.

Examples of Negligent or Inadequate Security

When it comes to premises liability, the laws can be complex because there is so much that is left up to interpretation. The general consensus is that business owners have a responsibility to keep their premises safe for you. Examples of negligent or inadequate security include:

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 Posted on November 29, 2018 in Blog Post

As the snow begins to fall, everyone scrambles to get their snow tires on their vehicles, change their windshield wiper blades and dig out their snow brush -- but those steps typically only pertain to the four-wheeled variety of vehicle owners. Those who own motorcycles have a set of concerns that are specific to their vehicle and riding it in cold, snowy weather. According to the United States Department of Transportation, there are approximately 8,410,255 motorcycles registered for private ownership in the country and over 300,000 of those motorcycles are registered in Illinois alone. Riders who are inexperienced or unprepared for cold-weather driving can find themselves in serious motorcycle accidents if they are not careful. If you are planning to ride your motorcycle this winter, here are three things you should think about before heading out on the road:

Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter

Just like any other vehicle, your motorcycle should be serviced and in great condition at the beginning and throughout the winter months. It is a good idea to look into getting snow tires for your motorcycle because snow tires can give you the best traction possible in snowy or rainy weather. Also, a large windshield or heated hand grips can work wonders for making driving in the cold weather more comfortable.

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 Posted on November 15, 2018 in Blog Post

With November coming to a close in a few short weeks, winter is well on its way and in Illinois, that typically means snow and other inclement weather is on its way too. With winter comes snow and with snow comes more accidents than most other times of the year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 17 percent of all car crashes occur when there are winter conditions on the roads, like snow and ice. While winter wonderlands can be a dream landscape for some people, they can easily turn into a nightmare for others who are involved in winter car crashes. Here are four ways you can help keep yourself and others safe during this winter season:

Winter Road Safety Actually Starts off the Road

Before you get on the road after that first snow of the season, you need to thoroughly check your car to make sure it is safe to drive. When it gets cold outside, the air pressure drops, so you should check your tire pressure to make sure your tires are at peak performance. You should also check your windshield wipers to make sure they are working and are not streaking your windshield. It is also a good idea to make sure that all of your headlights, tail lights and blinkers are working - sometimes these are the only things that other drivers can see in poor visibility.

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 Posted on October 28, 2018 in Blog Post

Halloween is a wickedly magical time of year for children to enjoy - but it is also a dangerous time of year. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, children are more than twice as likely to be hit and killed by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year. Trick-or-treating is a Halloween tradition that is enjoyed by children of all ages, but with an increase of pedestrians on the road and a decrease in daylight, it can make for deadly circumstances resulting in slip-and-fall accidents or car accidents. Fortunately, there are ways you can keep your children safe during this spooky season. Here are four tips to have a safe Halloween.

Choose a Safe Costume

Halloween is all about the costumes, whether your child is a sweet and sparkly fairy or a dark and mysterious witch. Help your children stay safe by choosing light-colored costumes when possible. Also, make sure the costume fits your child to help prevent any trips or falls from baggy fabric and make sure masks fit correctly so their vision is not obstructed.

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 Posted on October 13, 2018 in Blog Post

Fall is many people’s favorite time of year - you get a break from the sweltering heat of summer, leaves are changing into brilliant autumnal colors and you get to look forward to holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, in the midwest, fall also brings inclement weather, like rain and fog, which can make for dangerous driving situations. According to a study published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in car crashes related to roadway and atmospheric conditions, around 75 percent were related to dangerous roadway conditions. Here are four tips to keep you safe during your autumn road trips.

1. Watch Your Speed

Fall’s infamous rainy weather can make for slick and slippery roads. You should be sure to increase the following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you in case you need to stop suddenly. If you can see water on the roadways, you are also at a higher risk of hydroplaning, which happens when your tires lose traction on a wet road. Make sure you are not speeding and you are going a safe speed for the conditions you are driving in, even if it is lower than the speed limit.

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 Posted on September 25, 2018 in Blog Post

Getting into a car accident is a scary experience and can be traumatic for all those involved. When you are recovering from injuries you have sustained from a car accident, the last thing you want to be doing is fighting with an insurance company that does not want to pay for your damages. Many times, insurance companies will do everything in their power to make sure that you are paid the absolute minimum amount that they can get away with. In order to receive a decent insurance payout, you should follow these five tips to help:

1. Be Prepared

Before you call your insurance company, be sure to have all of the necessary information and paperwork on hand to answer the questions your insurance company is sure to have. You will need information and documents pertaining to the accident, including:

• Photos from the accident, including any damage to your vehicle;

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 Posted on September 15, 2018 in Blog Post

When you get into a car accident, the first thing on your mind is probably not collecting evidence and documenting what just happened - but it should be. The moments directly after a car crash are crucial because the crash is still fresh in your mind and the scene of the accident is untouched. Dealing with insurance companies after a car crash can be annoying at best and infuriating at worst, but if you have overwhelming evidence supporting your claim, you will probably have an easier time being compensated. Evidence toward your claim can also help you in court if you are seeking damages owed by another driver.

Police Report

One of the most important pieces of information you can have is a copy of the police report that was created about your accident. The report will contain information about the accident and will be filed by the officer that responds to your call. Give the police as much information about the accident as possible. Police reports are what the insurance company will look at when determining what to pay. Important elements to include in a police report are:

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 Posted on August 29, 2018 in Blog Post

Unfortunately, motorcyclists are one of the groups that experience the largest number of traffic fatalities in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, motorcycles accounted for only about three percent of all registered vehicles in the United States, but 15 percent of traffic fatalities in 2016. Many people enjoy riding a motorcycle in the warmer months, but without proper safety precautions, this fun activity can turn deadly. Here are four tips to minimize the danger of experiencing a motorcycle accident:

Regularly Maintain Your Bike

The first step in making sure you are safe on the road is making sure that your bike is properly maintained. Check to make sure that oil levels are good, your oil is changed regularly, breaks are working properly and your tires are inflated. Having a broken-down bike can mean you will not be able to maneuver properly in the event of an emergency.

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