Car accidents are often a chaotic blur of metal scrapping metal and vehicle occupants being jostled around the inside of the car. Many accident victims do not even realize what happened until the accident concludes. In the moments after a crash, adrenaline courses through the body and can mask any injuries. Some injuries, like traumatic brain injury, may not be immediately apparent.

If you or a loved one were in a car accident, it is important to be aware of the symptoms of TBI so that you can get prompt medical attention if needed. Symptoms of TBI can appear immediately after the crash or possibly hours or days later.

Signs You Suffered a Brain Injury in a Car Accident

Headache is the most common symptom of TBI. If you have a headache after a car accident that does not go away or gets worse, it could be a sign of brain injury. Dizziness and loss of balance are also common symptoms. This can make it difficult to walk or stand. You may also feel nauseous and vomit as a result of the dizziness. Blurred vision, ringing in the ears, bad taste in the mouth, and changes in the ability to smell are all possible signs of TBI.

According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report, early estimates of motor vehicle traffic fatalities for 2021 show an increase in the number of people killed in traffic crashes. In Illinois, fatalities were also higher than in 2020. Nationwide, the rate of fatalities among drivers remained high after spiking during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.

Summary of Fatal Traffic Crash Data

The statistical projection produced by NHTSA shows that almost 43,000 people are estimated to have died in 2021 in traffic crashes nationwide. This number is up 10.5 percent from 2020 and would be the highest total number of fatalities since 2005. Each region of the country showed higher total numbers of fatalities, and only five states recorded fewer fatalities. The total number of fatalities in Illinois in 2021 is estimated to be 1,357, a 13.7% rise over the total of 1,194 in 2020.

In a small silver lining, the national fatality rate from 2020 to 2021 actually dropped slightly. This is based on the total estimated number of fatalities divided by the total number of vehicle miles traveled. While the year-end fatality rate was only slightly lower, in the final three quarters of the year, the rate was lower than the same quarter in 2020. This may be from the higher rate of fatalities during COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 and early 2021. Less traffic on the roads, while stay-at-home orders were in effect, meant higher speeds for those who were traveling. These higher speeds translated into a higher rate of fatalities among those driving, even though the total numbers were down. However, even the lowest quarterly rate in 2021 was higher than those seen from 2011 to 2019.

Life is busy, complicated, and ever-changing. If they were honest, many people would admit to being distracted for a significant portion of their day. Whether it is a pinging cell phone, screaming toddler, or work responsibilities, most of us have too many things on our minds at any given moment.

Distractions like these may be little more than annoyances during daily activities. However, distractions can be much more dangerous when the distracted individual is driving. Operating a motor vehicle takes concentration, attention, and skill. Distracted drivers can make mistakes that cause severe car crashes. To bring awareness to the risks of distracted driving, the NHTSA has declared April Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Driver Distractions Come in Many Forms

Everyone knows that using a cell phone while driving is dangerous, and most states have established legislation prohibiting hand-held cell phone use behind the wheel. However, distracted driving does not only involve cell phones. Other forms of distracted driving that can lead to serious accidents include:

It is still early in the fall, but the Midwest’s famous weather events will begin happening more frequently, and Illinois drivers should be prepared. Rain, snow, and sleet reduce visibility and make road conditions much more hazardous, increasing weather-related car accidents. All this may leave Illinois drivers wondering: If a car accident happens that is directly or indirectly caused by bad weather conditions, who is responsible? 

Negligence and Bad Weather Conditions

Whether or not a driver is responsible (or “liable,” in legal terms) for causing an accident is largely dependent on whether the driver acted negligently. Negligence occurs when someone fails to do something that a reasonably careful person would do - or when someone does something that a reasonably careful person would not do - under similar circumstances. If a driver does not act reasonably in bad weather, they could be held liable for causing a car accident. 

But what exactly does “reasonable” mean in this context? Most people would agree that a driver is not obligated to creep along the main thoroughfare at three miles per hour just because the temperature is below freezing, and there may be a small chance of black ice. Despite the inherent difficulty in setting a strict definition as to what might be considered reasonable, courts and juries can make fair decisions based on the relevant facts. 

Chicago is a great city for bicyclists, and it provides many people with the opportunity to use bikes to travel to and from work or for personal purposes. However, the city also sees quite a bit of heavy traffic, especially during busy times of the day. Even though many of the city’s streets have bike lanes and other features meant to protect bicyclists, collisions between bicycles and motor vehicles still occur. In many cases, bicycle accidents take place because drivers act negligently and fail to operate their vehicles safely, and injured bicycles will want to understand how they can pursue financial compensation from a negligent driver.

Bike Accidents Caused by Driver Negligence

Drivers are required to treat bicycles the same as other vehicles. When drivers fail to respect bicyclists’ rights to share the road, they are more likely to strike a bicycle or cause collisions that can seriously injure others. Some forms of driver negligence that are likely to lead to bicycle accidents include:

• Illegal turns - Drivers should always check for bicycles before turning at intersections or into alleys or driveways. When making a left turn, drivers should yield the right of way to bicycles approaching from the opposite direction. Drivers should also avoid making a right turn in front of a bicycle. Failure to follow these rules could cause a driver to strike a bicyclist or cause a collision by blocking a bicycle’s path.
• Illegal passing - Drivers should always make sure there is at least three feet of space between their vehicle and a bicycle when passing a bicyclist on the left. Passing too closely or attempting to pass a bicycle within the same lane may cause a collision or force a bicycle off the road.
• Following too closely - Tailgating can be dangerous in any situation, and following closely behind a bicycle may make it impossible for a driver to stop in time if a bicyclist needs to brake suddenly. Striking a bicycle from behind can lead to serious bodily harm, especially if the bicyclist is thrown forward into an intersection and struck by other vehicles.
• Distracted driving - Drivers who take their attention away from the road are more likely to fail to notice the movements of bicycles near their vehicle. Actions such as texting while driving or looking away from the road to adjust the radio may cause a driver to strike a bicycle when making a turn, changing lanes, or proceeding through an intersection.
• Dooring - After parking near a bike lane or a road where bicycles are traveling, a driver or another person in a vehicle may open their door into the path of a bicycle. When a bicyclist collides with a car door, they can be thrown to the ground, or they may even be pushed into traffic, leading to dangerous collisions with other vehicles.

Contact Our Cook County Bike Accident Lawyers

The lawyers of Winters Salzetta O’Brien & Richardson, LLC provide legal help and representation for bicyclists who have been injured in collisions with motor vehicles. We work to ensure that negligent drivers are held liable for the injuries they have inflicted and that victims are fully compensated for their damages. Contact our Chicago bicycle accident attorneys by calling 312-236-6324 to arrange a complimentary consultation.