Chicago Injury Lawyer Blog

A study recently indicated nighttime driving is becoming more hazardous for teen drivers, and the likely culprit is cell phone usage. As a personal injury lawyer in Chicago I am not at surprised by the study results, but hopeful that teens and parents alike will take the risks of cell phone usage while driving seriously.

In a report released Thursday, the Texas Transportation Institute says “the proportion of nighttime fatal crashes nationwide involving drivers aged 16 to 19 years increased 10 percent from 1999 to 2008.” (J. Vertuna, AP, 5/6). Data used by the duty came from the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration.

Senior research specialist Bernie Fette asserts that combining night time driving, which is already dangerous, with inexperienced teen drivers and cell phone usage, "and you've created a perfect storm."

A drunk driver killed four Oswego teens in a car accident early Sunday morning. Jack McCarthy and Jim Kimberly of the Chicago Tribune report that the driver was charged with multiple counts of reckless homicide and drunken driving related to the accident.

The driver of this car, a twenty-three year old woman, was at the wheel of her 2001 Infinity transporting eight teens from a party when the vehicle crashed into a utility pole on Illinois Highway 31 at approximately 2:20 a.m. Sunday. The accident killed four teens and injured four others.

We have previously discussed the extreme danger associated with alcohol and motor vehicles, and the increased fatalities associated with teenage decision making with motor vehicles. This tragedy could have been avoided. There is no excuse for getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. There also were at least four occupants of the vehicle who were not wearing seat belts because the vehicle only had seat belts for five occupants.

It is time for increased penalties for drunk drivers and restrictions on teenage access to motor vehicles.

The Chicago Area Transportation Study analyzed the most-recent data concerning traffic accidents and found that 70% of all Illinois accidents occur in Chicagoland.

The study also revealed that Chicagoland residents are more likely to be injured in automobile accidents than other Illinois residents.

The highest pedestrian fatality rates in the region were experienced in Cook County. However, when compared to other large cities, the City of Chicago was found to be a relatively safe city for pedestrians.