Chicago bus accident attorneys read in the
Proposal Would Require Electric Cars To Make Sound
Our Chicago car accident attorneys read proposed standards of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for electric and hybrid vehicles to make noise. These vehicles are much quieter at low speeds than traditional gas or diesel powered vehicles making them harder to detect by pedestrians and bike riders.
NHTSA Administrator David Strickland stated: “Our proposal would allow manufactures the flexibility to design different sounds for different makes and models while still providing an opportunity for pedestrians, bicyclists and the visually impaired to detect and recognize a vehicle and make a decision about whether it is safe to cross the street.”
The NHTSA proposal would require electric vehicles traveling under 18 miles per hour to make sufficient noise so that pedestrians and bicyclists could detect them even when factoring in street noise and background noise. Each make and model would be required to emit the same sound.
Truck Accident In Alsip, Illinois Injuries Two
The Chicago truck accident lawyers at Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. report that two people were critically injured in Alsip, Illinois on Saturday, January 12 when a passenger car rear-ended a semi truck. The crash happened at 6 a.m. when the Ford Taurus of one of the victims became stuck under the semi truck . The driver of the Taurus and his passenger had to be extricated from their car and were by emergency personnel and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and were listed in critical condition.
According to the truck driver who was from McAllen, Texas, the truck driver had just begun a left turn when he felt something strike his trailer.
The Illinois Department of Transportation reminds drivers to be extra careful around trucks and to be aware that trucks have blind spots. The IDOT urges drivers to remember:
Chicago Pedestrian Hit In Crosswalk; Critically Injured
Our Chicago pedestrian injury lawyers learned that a Chicago man was critically injured Saturday morning when he was struck in a pedestrian accident, while attempting 95th Street at 95th and Jeffery Boulevard on the South Side. The victim was crossing in the crosswalk when he was struck, according to the police. The man who struck the pedestrian with his vehicle stayed on the scene until the police came. The pedestrian was listed in critical condition and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
A city of Chicago study found that 80 percent of vehicle-pedestrian crashes happen at intersections and involve pedestrians walking in a crosswalk. The CDOT study also found that the number one cause of pedestrians being hit by a motor vehicle is the motor vehicle fails to yield the right of way. There are over 3,000 vehicle pedestrian crashes a year in Illinois. Illinois law states that a motorist must stop, not just yield for any pedestrian who has already entered the crosswalk. Anyone living in Chicago knows that motorist rarely stop or yield for pedestrians in a crosswalk.
The Chicago law firm of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. litigates many cases of pedestrians getting hit by motor vehicles while crossing in the crosswalk. Many of these crashes cause serious injuries such as traumatic brain injury and broken bones. The Chicago personal injury law firm of Zneimer & Zneimer will work for you to make sure that the injured plaintiff recovers the maximum compensation for their injuries.
TV And Furniture Tip-Over Deaths On The Rise
The Chicago product liability attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. reviewed a report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) stating that 349 individuals (84 percent being children younger than 9 years old) were killed by toppling TV’s or furniture between 2000 and 2001. The year 2011 had a record 41 deaths caused by toppling TVs or furniture. The CPSC is urging that TVs and furniture be anchored to stabilized to prevent tip-overs.
CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum urged: “We know that low-cost anchoring devices are effective in preventing tip-over incidents…I urge parents to anchor their TVs, furniture and appliances and protect their children. It takes just a few minutes to do and it can save lives.”
It is estimated that43,000 people are injured in tip over accidents with 59% percent of these injuries are to children under the age of 18. TVs seem to be particularly deadly, accounting for 62% of the deaths. In 57 percent of the death cases the victim was hit on the head by the falling object.
Chicago Jogger Attacked By Pit Bull Loses Leg
Chicago dog bite injury lawyers at Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. have learned that a South Shore Chicago jogger, Joseph Finley, was attacked by a pit bull one year ago and ended up losing his leg. Mr. Finley stated that he considers himself lucky to even be alive after the attack and has urged there be laws restricting the ownership of pit bulls.
Statistics support the contention that pit bulls are a more dangerous bred of dog than other breeds. In 2004 there were 22 dog bite related deaths in the United States. In 2005 there were 29 deaths caused by dog bites. In 2006 there were 26 dog bite related deaths. In 2007 there were 33 dog bite related deaths in the United States. Pit bull type dogs were responsible for 67% of fatalities. Rottweilers were second and accounted for 12% of fatalities.
The Center for Disease Control reports that there are 4.7 million dog bites annually in the United States. Approximately,800,000 require medical attention. Approximately 334,000 have to go to the emergency room. Sadly, about 50% of these bites involve children.
Drowsy Driving Causes Crashes
Chicago auto accident lawyers, Zneimer Zneimer note a recently released study by the Center for Disease Control which found that 4 percent of U.S. adults admit nodding off while driving within the last month. The study found that men were more likely to report that they nodded off while driving than women. The estimates of fatal car crashes caused by drowsy drivers run from 3 percent to as high as 32 percent. The CDC urged drivers to watch for the warning signs such as having trouble keeping ones eyes open, not remembering landmarks and drifting on to the rumble strip.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that there are currently no tests available to quantify levels of drowsiness there are noted characteristics according to the NHTSA such as:
a) The crashes occur during late night/early morning or midafternoon.
Illinois Passes Law To Restrict Cell Phone Use While Driving
Chicago car accident lawyers, Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. applaud the Illinois Legislature for passing a law amending the Illinois Vehicle Code to prohibit anyone from using a wireless cell phone while driving a vehicle within 500 feet of an emergency scene. An emergency scene is defined as one where an emergency vehicle has its emergency lights activated. (House Bill 5099/PA97-0828)
The Illinois Legislature also passed a law amending the Illinois Vehicle Code prohibit commercial drivers from texting and driving. It also prevents motor carrier’s from allowing its drivers to text and drive. The amendment also prohibits a driver from using a hand held mobile phone while driving. (House Bill 5101/PA 97-0829)
Chicago’s ordinances are more restrictive than state law. It is illegal to hold a cell phone to your ear and mouth while driving in Chicago. Texting is also illegal while driving in Chicago. Hands free cell phones and Bluetooth devices are allowed except for teens and school bus drivers. A police officer can pull a driver over immediately if he sees a driver using a cell phone in Chicago. Offenders can be fined up to $200 for texting or talking on a hand held cell phone while driving in Chicago.
Laundry Detergent Pods Present Hazard For Children
According to a report recently released by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 1,008 cases of detergent poisoning among kids during a 30-day period this summer. Of these cases, 486 were caused by the new brightly colored laundry pods that have been heavily marketed lately and which young children mistake for candy. Poison centers have been seeing an average of 10 cases a day, the CDC reported.
Of these poisonings, ninety-four percent are children younger than 6 years old. Additionally, the CDC reports that children who ingested laundry pods got sicker than children who ingested other forms of laundry detergent.
Children who eat laundry pods may experience severe vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness and potentially life-threatening symptoms such as difficulty breathing.
Pit Bull Attacks Woman In Evanston
The Chicago dog bite lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer read in the Chicago Sun-Times that an unleashed pit bull in Evanston, Illinois attacked and bit a 70 year old woman. The police were forced to shoot the dog dead. The owner of the dog allowed the pit bull to run off its leash in the vicinity of Dempster and Dodge.
The women who suffered the dog bite was walking her Labrador retriever dog when it was attacked by the pit bull. The women attempted to save her dog when she was bitten multiple times on the legs. The Labrador retriever also suffered bites.
In a three year study done by the national dog bite victim’s group, DogBite.org, it was found from 2006 to 2008, pit bull type dogs accounted for 52 deaths in the United States which was 59% of all deaths caused by dogs. Rottweilers came in second with 14%.