With the warmer weather comes the increased number of people on the road and more pedestrians. Springtime also brings more traffic and serious injuries. Springtime car accidents can occur for a number of reasons alike are excited to get outside and enjoy the sun. Below are some of the most common causes of springtime car accidents. If you are involved in an accident this springtime, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer right away.  As you accident and injury attorneys should be both experienced and local.

From our analysis of decades worth of car crash data in the springtime in Illinois, as well as reliable articles from across many media outlets, The major causes of springtime car accidents are:

• Pedestrians
• People Riding Bikes
• Wild Animals Crossing the Roadway
• Drunk Driving
• Wet Pavement
• Distracted Driving

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Pedestrians

Pedestrians are a common occurrence in car accidents during the spring season, and ensuring pedestrian safety is an important part of preventing such mishaps and dangerous accidents. As the days grow longer and the temperatures rise, more people are opting for walking or biking to get around. Unfortunately, this often means more cars on the road, and that means a higher risk of accidents between motorists and pedestrians.

Since Central Illinois is home to many colleges and universities, including the University of Illinois, Parkland College (Champaign, Illinois), Richland Community College (Decatur, IL), and Illinois State University (Bloomington-Normal, Illinois).  After weathering the long and gray Midwest winters, students and residents alike are excited to get outside and enjoy the sunlight.

Common Victims of Pedestrian Accidents in Illinois

Pedestrian accidents are common among, students, young children, the elderly, and shoppers in congested business districts.

Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to car accidents during the spring months, with nearly 500 children killed and 22,000 seriously injured each year. While pedestrian accidents occur throughout the year, springtime is particularly dangerous for young pedestrians. According to a study by the Jacobi Medical Center in New York City, researchers analyzed the data from a year’s worth of pedestrian accident injury treatments involving children under eight years of age in Philadelphia.

Those who treated these children noted where the accidents occurred and whether the child was accompanied by an adult.

Bicyclists

There are many causes of bicycle-car accidents. The most common are left-hand turns and right-hooks, which happen when a car passes a cyclist in the right-hand lane. Other causes of bicycle-car accidents include being hit from behind or doors opening into a cyclist’s path. No matter what the cause of the accident, bicyclists are at risk of car accidents in springtime, and they should be vigilant to minimize their exposure to accidents.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 500,000 bicycle accidents occur in the US each year. These accidents affect not only individuals but also the broader economy. Productivity losses from these accidents can total billions of dollars.

Each year, about a thousand victims die. Of these, about seventy percent of bicycle accidents occur in major cities and towns. Many of these accidents occur during rush hour, when traffic is at its worst.

Wild Animals (And Poorly-Behaved Domestic Ones)

Drivers in certain areas must be extra vigilant during spring. The weather is usually not as conducive to driving as during the winter, and wildlife activity is at its peak during this time. Especially at dusk or dawn, wild animals often come across the road.

Drivers must use extra care while driving during this time of year, or they may be distracted by allergies or other medications. However, no safety measures can completely eliminate the possibility of an accident with a wild animal.

There are several reasons why wild animals are especially active during spring and fall. For example, deer and moose are at their highest risk during mating season, from early fall to early January. Additionally, these animals are on the move during this time of year, and drivers may not react in time if they run into them. The Insurance Institute of Canada reported that nearly one-third of motorists were killed in collisions with animals during July through September last year.

Drunk Drivers

Throughout Illinois, there is no shortage of springtime car accidents. This time of year is full of spring breakers celebrating midterms and the start of summer. Unfortunately, more spring breakers means more cars on the road, and more potential for drunk drivers. This article will explore some ways you can avoid becoming one of the next victims. By following these simple steps, you can help prevent accidents from happening to you and your family.

One common cause of springtime car accidents is Daylight Savings Time. As we all begin our clocks ahead an hour each day, drivers are more likely to be drowsy and sleepy behind the wheel. Daylight Savings Time also causes drivers to lose an hour of sleep. This disruption to sleep habits can cause serious injuries and fatalities. As a result, it is crucial that you plan for the change beforehand.

Wet pavement

The springtime weather in Central Illinois can be volatile. Wet pavement is still a serious risk factor for car accidents during the spring months. In fact, nearly seventy percent of weather-related crashes involve wet pavement.

Drivers with compromised tires are more susceptible to wet pavement hazards, as are drunk and distracted drivers. Moreover, a lack of visibility and an aggravated driver increase the risk of an accident.

To reduce the risk of a springtime car accident, drivers should slow down when driving on a wet surface. Reducing the speed by five to ten mph will reduce the stopping distance by approximately 55 percent. Slowing down also means leaving more space between cars. This may seem like common sense, but in practice, many drivers simply ignore the condition and risk an accident. In such a case, it is best to seek medical attention and contact an attorney to discuss your options.

Distracted Driving

It’s no secret that springtime is a time for outdoor activities. People love to go for walks in the park, drive to the beach, and even take their bikes for a spin. With more people on the road, the likelihood of accidents increases. Distracted driving can lead to serious accidents. By using a cell phone, you’re less likely to see a collision unless you pay attention to the road.

Drivers should avoid distractions whenever possible. These can be visual, auditory, or manual. The first two are dangerous and account for about 2% of traffic fatalities. Other manual tasks are also risky. Applying makeup, grooming, or dealing with fussy passengers can all cause a collision without you realizing it. In short, you should avoid distracted driving as much as possible! And remember: you’re not alone. Distracted driving causes springtime car accidents.

As always, if you or a loved on is injured in an automobile accident or truck crash while driving the Illinois roads during the spring, please call Koester Law, PLLC, the Injury Lawyers, to receive a free review of your claim.

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About this time every year Americans are inundated with news stories and articles about holiday travel and the dangers associated with a sharp increase in travelers during November and December. However, there is usually very little data to substantiate the recommendations because it is all based on common sense.

Fortunately, the United States Department of Transportation and in particular the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration compiles a great deal of data about holiday travel and safety concerns. Our editorial team at Koester Law, PLLC has shifted through the data for you and arrived at the top three Thanksgiving travel and unique tips to stay safe this holiday season well also having fun.

What Is the Most Dangerous State for Holiday Travel?

The data is clear, Mississippi is the most dangerous state to travel in during the holiday season.  Together with South Dakota, Louisiana, and New Mexico, Mississippi shares the dubious distinction of having the highest number of motor vehicle fatality rates for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season than any other state.  With respect to all of these states the key data is that each has a fatality rate higher than two for 100,000 residents.  These numbers are impacted by the volume of traffic on the State’s roads as well as the state’s normal population.

Most Dangerous States for Holiday Travel

• Mississippi
• South Dakota
• Louisiana
• New Mexico

Population and Traffic Volume Matters

This way of measuring obviously skews in the favor of states with higher populations, however it is important to understand that if you are traveling from Illinois, which has a higher population than South Dakota for instance, that one must be wary of motor vehicle accidents in sparsely populated states where serious injuries or fatalities are more prevalent.The reason why fatality rates, and rates of serious injury are higher in states with less of a population is due to the fact that emergency responding personnel along with highway maintenance crews are not as prevalent as in states with significant populations. Ask yourself this question, how many police cars do you see driving the New Jersey turnpike or the Dan Ryan expressway in Chicago versus long stretches of open highway in South Dakota?

Are You Used to Where You Travel?

One of the primary reasons for dangerous accidents and deaths during the holiday season is individuals driving in locations throughout the United States where they are not familiar. Despite the fact that you may be able to manage the intense traffic jams of Atlanta or Chicago, it does not necessarily carry over that you can handle the wide expansive highways of New Mexico or Montana. Furthermore, in more remote locations, motorists who are unfamiliar with the localities in lack of services often fall victim to unpreparedness and, and some situations, even death. It is important to understand that when traveling long distances, particularly by car or motor vehicle, over the holidays that the conditions of the roads and the environment in which you are driving play a remarkably important factor in whether or not you get to your destination alive.

Oftentimes this preparation comes down to simply planning ahead a few days and checking the weather forecast and whether or not there will be service stations or available roadside assistance where you are traveling.

What Other States Are Dangerous?

It is pretty clear that the number of serious accidents in fatalities increase as the population density decreases in most states. This is why Mississippi, South Dakota, Louisiana, and New Mexico lead the list for a fatality rates. These are states that are all within driving distance from metropolitan areas, however the conditions in these states can change dramatically given the weather forecast of the temperature.

Take for example Illinois, which which is ranked number 32 on the department of transportation’s list. Nearly every exit on major Illinois interstate highways has a gas station or service center where one can bind assistance in the case of an automobile emergency. Contrast this with South Dakota, the number two most dangerous state to travel and over the holidays, where one can go hundreds of miles without having any reliable service center or roadside assistance.

There are only about 850 gas stations in South Dakota compared with over 3,875 in Illinois according to the most recent available data.

This disparity in population is a primary reason for states with lower populations to have higher fatalities and serious automobile accidents. Additionally, statistics comes into play since with a larger population density a state can have more fatalities despite the fact that the percentage with respect to population is lower.

Yes, We Are Still Dealing With COVID-19 and It Will Impact Travel

Nobody likes to talk about the Covid-19 pandemic. At Koester Law, PLLC we can certainly understand that. However, it is important to understand that many individuals will be traveling in 2021 for the first time in a few years.  Further, many of these people may not even be good driver to begin with. This means that there is the potential for drivers who have yet to take long trips or who have not taken long trips in multiple years getting on the road in November and December of 2021.

Driving is a habit that yields efficiency given the number of times that one practices the habit. For metropolitan individuals not used to driving cars, or simply taking Ubers, this can be a major factor.

The Same Old Safety Tips Still Apply for Holiday Travel

• First, Don’t drink and drive. This may seem obvious, but researchers have found that blood alcohol levels higher than 0.08 significantly increase the likelihood of fatalities in serious injuries over Thanksgiving in the holidays. To put it on context, car accidents ending in death increased over 22% over the Thanksgiving holidays in 26% over the Christmas holidays as compared to non-holiday seasons. We all know that holiday gatherings are fun and a good chance to let off steam, however don’t take it too far or you could end up in a ditch off the side of the road.

• Second, Try to drive during the daytime if possible. It’s not surprising that night time driving is related to nearly 30% increases in vehicle fatalities and serious injuries during the holiday season. Oftentimes individuals who live far away from their family set out to drive the entire 12-hour journey in one day. This is a recipe for disaster, in one which can leave you in a more precarious situation if you are a metropolitan driver operating your car anymore rural setting. Imagine having a flat tire or breakdown in the middle of the night in South Dakota versus off of an exit of the Dan Ryan expressway?

• Third, Get some Sleep.  Sleep factors into driving safety.  In fact, according to the United States CDC, a lack of sleep can make you less alert which can then impact judgment reaction time and coordination will operating a motor vehicle the CDC calls this cognitive impairment, but in reality, it could be having too much of a good time on Thursday and trying to drive home early Friday morning. Try to avoid drowsy driving to make the holidays is safe as possible.

If You Are Injured on the Road, Hire a Local Lawyer

As always, the personal injury and auto accident team at Koester Law, PLLC are ready to help.  We can represent anyone injured on the roads or otherwise during the holiday season.  Please call our office for a free case evaluation if appropriate.

The Government Has Accurate Data on the Type and Frequency of Illinois Car Crashes

According to information from the National Freeway Website Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), automobile accidents are most likely to happen:

According to statistics, the majority of deadly car accident occur between the hours of 6 p.m. and 12 a.m. This should really be no surprise since this is when most people are the most tired. 28% of all fatal traffic crashes occur during this time frame. As nighttime sets in, there are typically more intoxicated or impaired drivers on the roads. The second most unsafe time of day is between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. 16% of all fatal traffic crashes occur during this time frame. These times of day tend to me more harmful due to the number of drivers hitting the road, e.g. “heavy traffic” for commuters coming home from work.

Weekends also yield higher amounts of motor vehicle accidents. Reported auto accidents are higher on Saturdays and Sundays than on any other day of the week. Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to have fewer reported accidents.

While there are plenty of auto accidents that occur in Winter months as a result of road conditions, more accidents actually occur in the Summer months. The NHTSA reported that August is the leading month for traffic accidents to occur. Experts believe that when the temperatures rise, more drivers tend to hit the roads and thus, more accidents occur.

Anytime a driver chooses to operate his/her motor vehicle impaired whether under the influence of alcohol or medications, the danger of a car or truck accident increases. The NHTSA has reported that an alcohol impairment at a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.08 can significantly boost the risk of motor vehicle and truck crushes by about 8 times. The threats of these crashes are increased by 25% when a driver is impaired by marijuana.

Accidents caused by impairment from marijuana are an issue that Illinois and Champaign County will have to deal with in particular with both medicinal and recreational pot use legalized in Illinois. In fact, Illinois police are already trying to prepare for the problem.

While impaired driving is the reason for a significant amount of auto mishaps, the NHTSA reports that 95% of all automobile accidents are created at last partly by human error.

What Do Drivers in Champaign-Urbana and Central Illinois Who Want to Avoid Car Accidents and the Accompanying Injuries Need to Do?

All drivers must understand:

• Evening and nighttime hours are the most dangerous–so stay alert!
• Impaired driving is not just due to alcohol–it can also be from marijuana and even fatigue.
• The slower you travel (within speed limits) the safer you will be. Speeding is a major cause of Illinois Accidents as well.

Have you or a loved one been harmed in an automobile accident? If so, contact the Illinois motor vehicle accident lawyers at Koester Law, PLLC. Our skilled and compassionate attorneys have been offering assistance to our clients since 1895.

To find out more about our services, please call 217-337-1400 to schedule a free initial consult with one of our partners at Koester Law, PLLC.

Unfortunately, serving as an Illinois state trooper can be a very dangerous job. There has been much attention given to recent deaths of Illinois state troopers on the highway while in the line of duty. These tragic accidents happen when drivers in the right-hand Lane fail to move over to the left when is Trooper is performing a traffic stop. In March of 2019, when Illinois State Trooper Gerald Ellis was struck and killed, he was the second death of the year, with 16 other of Illinois’ finest struck by passing vehicles. In light of these accidents, the state of Illinois has passed legislation to attempt to deal with this dangerous problem. The illegal practice of failing to move over is incredibly dangerous not only two state troopers but also to civilian motorists tending to their vehicles on the side of the road. The next time you are passing the Champaign County and Central Illinois and you see a State Trooper or other motorists on the side of the road, pull over to the left hand lane and do your part to increase road safety and cut down on dangerous accidents.

Apart from patrolling on the highways Illinois state troopers provide a wide array a safety education programs ranging from the processor use of seatbelts, the simulations involving texting and drinking and driving. The Illinois State Police Focus much of their attention on ending distracted driving and operating Motor Vehicles while impaired since these two types A behaviorist lead to a high number of accidents across Illinois. Other Illinois State Police safety programs include Prom Night Safety, Motor Vehicle Safety, and rollover simulations which are intended to help inexperienced in teen drivers understand the deadly impact that improper vehicle control can have on themselves and other people sharing the road.

To combat distracted driving in Illinois, state troopers are now riding along in the cabs of semi trucks bringing their quote trooper and a Truck quote Ride Along program to the state of Illinois. The program was started in the Chicago area and and could spread to Champaign County and throughout Illinois. The intent of the program is to catch distracted drivers in the act without the trooper having to be in an easily identifiable Illinois State Police vehicle. After all, how many times have we all passed semi trucks without paying attention to who is behind the wheel? The program is part of the Illinois State initiative to crack down on distracted driving which is a major source of accidents and deaths in Illinois and in Champaign County. Koester Law, PLLC actively pursues and recovers for our clients and distracted driving cases.

At Koester Law, PLLC, we support our Illinois State Troopers in all of their work and remind all drivers in Illinois to stay alert and move over when a vehicle is pulled off the road. Should you be injured in an car wreck in Central Illinois, just let us know how we can help.

With 10 gears, 500 horsepower, hauling 80,000 pounds and an average cruising speed of 65-70 miles per hour, today’s commercial vehicles were built with the long-haul in mind. But if you’ve ever gotten stuck behind an 18-wheeler in the city, you are all too aware of how slow and clumsy these big rigs can be off the highway.  In Central Illinois in particular the prevalence of semi trucks is even higher with so many major interstate highways including:

• Illinois Interstate 57, which runs north and south through the entire state;
• Illinois Interstate 74, which rus east and west through Champaign Urbana;
• Illinois Interstate 72, which serves as the direct link to Springfield Illinois.
• Rural and Country Roads which semi truck uses, particular during farming operations, and which cause many vehicle accidents in Illinois.

The Champaign trucking accident team at Koester Law, PLLC has studied the causes of trucking accidents for decades and has come up with the following tips Illinois drivers can use to protect themselves from the destructive power of semi trucks and big rigs.

Getting Up To Speed

Never pass or maneuver around a commercial vehicle – truck or bus – illegally, even if it means taking a few more minutes on your commute. Although you may think you can zip around and in front of that trucker, keep in mind that most passenger car/tractor trailer accidents are much more than fender benders.

Safe in the Zone: Learn Where Trucks Can See You

Most professional truck and bus drivers try to leave a safe distance between themselves and the vehicle in front of them. This cushion of space is known as the “safety zone”.  Yet, the safety zone is often invaded by risky drivers trying to better their position on the road.

Never zoom around a truck or bus only to pull directly in front of them. Stay out of the safety zone! As a rule when you pass a commercial truck or bus,allow 50 feet (five car lengths) between you and the big guy before merging back in front of him.  If you enter the zone in front of a big rig and need to apply your brakes, the 18-wheeler on your tail may not be able to stop in time.

Is He Making a Pass? Remember, Trucks Are Bigger Than You Are.

When you make the decision to pass, always be sure you can complete your pass quickly.  As you’re approaching a big rig from the rear, anticipate what your passing speed needs to be and be sure you can get by without getting stuck behind another passing vehicle – you might be in one of the truck’s blind spots.  Better to wait to start your pass after the one ahead of you has completed its maneuver and is clear of the safety zone.

Peek-A-Boo: Never Play Games with Trucks to Avoid Accidents

If you can’t see a truck’s mirrors, you’re in the truck’s blind spot and the trucker can’t see you.  Keep this in mind as you select your road position behind or alongside a truck or bus.  Always make sure you can be seen.  When passing, keep in mind that the truck driver has a big blind spot to his left just behind his cab. If you get caught in that blind spot the truck might start a passing maneuver of its own and squeeze you off the road or into oncoming traffic, or worse yet, collide with you.

Semi-Truck Accidents Will Still Happen

Koester Law, PLLC dedicates a significant amount of our practice to helping drivers injured in trucking accidents.  Remember, trucks have one goal in mind, deliver the load as quickly as possible and pick up another load.  That is how trucking companies make money–and they make lots of it.  Trucking companies almost always have large insurance policies as well.  This means that if you or a loved one are injured in a trucking accident, you should absolutely call a local Champaign and Illinois trucking accident lawyer so that you are paid the compensation that you deserve.