The winter holiday season, with its increased traffic, congestion, activity, and inclement weather, is a time of exposure to increased risk of personal injuries. Whether driving to visit family and friends or shopping in busy malls and stores, auto accidents, slip-and-falls, and mishaps with defective holiday gifts and other products are all possibilities. Any type of injury can upend not just holiday plans but also your employment and educational goals and responsibilities.

As the holiday season draws to a close, hopefully you and your loved ones have stayed safe. However, if you have suffered personal injuries as a result of the negligent or intentionally wrongful conduct of an individual, business, or institution, one of our experienced personal injury lawyers will advocate for your legal right to compensation for the harms and losses you have suffered.

Negligence is a Common Cause of Personal Injuries

With so many Illinois residents on the state’s roads and highways in late December, even amid the COVID-19 health crisis, there is an increased opportunity for auto accidents. The dangers are especially great under conditions like rain, fog, snow, or ice. Importantly, no matter the amount of traffic or severity of the weather, all drivers owe a duty of safe driving to one another. This duty includes driving in accordance with the rules and regulations of the road and never getting behind the wheel when under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications.

Most of us barely think twice when we cross a busy road. We assume that the drivers of the cars and trucks around us will follow traffic laws and operate their vehicles with attention and caution. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Distracted drivers and those under the influence of drugs and alcohol are the most likely to ignore traffic laws and put pedestrians in danger. Sometimes, a motorist strikes a pedestrian simply because the driver was not paying attention or did not see the pedestrian.

In 2019 alone, more than 6,500 pedestrians lost their lives in traffic accidents in the United States, an increase of 5 percent compared to 2018 and 10 percent more than in 2017. In the same year, more than 100,000 pedestrians required emergency medical treatment for crash-related injuries. If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian accident, you may be able to recover compensation.

Reacting to a Pedestrian Accident

There are certain steps you should take after any car accident, such as calling the police and taking pictures of the accident scene as well as the damage to both vehicles. Doing these things, however, is often not possible if you have been injured as a pedestrian. There is a good chance that you will not be able to do much of anything until the situation settles down and you have been treated for your injuries. However, as soon as you have the opportunity, it is a good idea to contact an attorney who can help with your case.

While temperatures were warm just last week and Illinois residents were spending recreational time outside, the reality is that winter is fast approaching. The leaves quickly changed from green to brilliant yellows, oranges, and reds, and now, most of the leaves that you can see are on the ground, far from the branches where they grew. In past years, we might have seen some substantial snowfall by this point, but most of the region has largely avoided serious dangers related to the weather so far. Winter is coming, however, and now is a good time to get your car, truck, or SUV ready for the ice and snow. By taking precautions, you can help yourself avoid winter car accidents in which you could easily be injured.

Keeping Your Car Maintained

Two of the main concerns for your vehicle in the cold are the battery and antifreeze. Your car relies on the battery to start the engine, so you need to make sure that the battery has enough of a charge to start even on the coldest winter’s day. Have your battery tested, and if it is not up to the challenge of winter, replace it now before you are left stranded.

Antifreeze is also important to ensure that ice crystals do not form in your vehicle’s radiator. If ice does form in the radiator, you could face a host of issues, including a breakdown. Be sure that your antifreeze is flushed, if needed, and maintained properly so that you can start the winter fresh.

America is full of busy people. There are workers rushing to their jobs, and parents shuffling their children off to school and soccer practice. Then there are those who are running late to a doctor’s appointment, or in a hurry to get to the airport. Unfortunately, all that hustle and bustle means that some drivers are going faster than they should. That can increase their risk of causing an accident, and may also lead to more serious injuries for victims. If you or someone you love has been injured, you should know your rights—including your right to pursue full and fair compensation. 

Respect for Speed Limits is Deteriorating

While most people do recognize that speed limits are the law, not a suggestion, researchers suggest there is an erosion of respect for those laws. In fact, a 2002 study found that one-third of drivers admitted to regularly driving at least 10 miles per hour faster than other road users. These were all self-reported incidents, which suggests the actual numbers could be much higher. 

In a more recent study, researchers from Purdue University asked 988 drivers a single question: at what point did they feel like speeding became a personal threat to them or their family. They were given three options to choose from: 5, 10, and 15 miles per hour over the speed limit. Nearly half (43 percent) said they felt safe driving up to 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. Another 36 percent asserted that safety did not become a concern until they exceeded 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. 

Each year in the United States, approximately 210,000 vehicle fires occur on average, according to the National Fire Prevention Association. These fires claim hundreds of lives, injure thousands more, and cause nearly $2 billion in property damage.  

These disturbing numbers raise grave concerns about the severity, scope of injuries, and costs when victims suffer serious injuries or death in car fires. Not only is the permanent scarring from burns a constant reminder, but the pain endured, the medical care required, and the associated costs can be unimaginable.

Car Crashes and Burns in Illinois Accidents

A car accident alone is a terrifying experience, but the potential for sustaining serious injuries is worse. When considering the working parts of a vehicle, one can begin to understand how many different scenarios could play out and cause injury to an occupant. If your car ignites after an accident, your first priority should be to safely get out of a burning vehicle. Unfortunately, unpredictable and fast-moving fires can cause injuries such as: