Posts Tagged ‘personal’

Illinois Accident Lawyer Supports Chicago Police Clampdown on Unsafe Bicyclists

August 22, 2011 | Author Erin Kilgour

Illinois Accident Lawyer Supports Chicago Police Clampdown on Unsafe Bicyclists

A recent sting operation scolding bicyclists for breaking road rules reinforces the need for bicycle and motor vehicle safety, says Illinois personal injury lawyer Michael P. Schostok.

Chicago police warned bicyclists to obey traffic laws in a recent sting operation at one of the city’s busiest downtown intersections, according to an article in the Chicago Tribune.

Michael P. Schostok, a Chicago personal injury attorney who represents clients hurt in motor vehicle and bicycle accidents, calls the campaign a step in the right direction.

“Whether you’re a motorist, cyclist or pedestrian, you must obey the rules of the road,” says Schostok, an equity partner in the Chicago personal injury law firm of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard. “Chicago is home to nearly 3 million people, and countless numbers of them commute every day. Hopefully, a ticket or warning will lead them to behave more responsibly.”

In just two hours, officers issued 240 warnings and one ticket to cyclists committing violations, such as running red lights and riding through pedestrian crosswalks, the Tribune reported. It’s part of a joint campaign between city police, the Department of Transportation and the City of Chicago’s Bicycling Ambassadors that encourages bicyclists to “Share the Road.”

Around 3,200 Illinois bicycle accidents occurred in 2009 — 20 of them fatal — according to the most recent statistics from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

“Sometimes, the accidents will result in a bump or a bruise and commuters will go on their way, but other times, there are catastrophic injuries that change the course of the victims’ lives forever,” says Schostok, who also handles wrongful death lawsuits.

For example, a crash could cause traumatic brain injuries or other wounds that permanently disable or disfigure accident victims.

“What may seems like a simple act of negligence, such as riding in a crosswalk, could have devastating consequences,” explains Schostok. “In an instant, a bicycle, car or pedestrian crash has the potential to rob victims of their livelihoods and cause irreversible physical and emotional pain.”

The Chicago accident lawyer said one helpful solution is for bicyclists to know the rules of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

“The code holds that every vehicle operator – and a bicycle counts as a vehicle – must follow the same traffic laws as drivers of any car or truck,” Schostok says. “Of course, that also means that drivers must respect cyclists as equals on the road.”

Violators or their insurance companies may be held liable for any injuries caused by negligence on the roads, he added.

When disaster strikes, it is important for victims and their families to learn about their legal options and file claims as soon as possible, Schostok advises.

“Contacting a lawyer who is experienced in bicycle and motor vehicle accidents can help determine whether you have a good case to make in court,” he explained. “And the stakes are high – a successful verdict or settlement can result in compensation that can help alleviate the burdens caused by medical expenses or time off work.”

About Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard

Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard is a leading Illinois personal injury law firm with offices in Chicago and Waukegan. In addition to representing clients in catastrophic personal injury, medical malpractice, aviation and product liability cases, the firm focuses on car and truck accidents, airplane and train accidents, construction injuries, birth injuries, brain injuries, unsafe properties and animal attacks. The firm has obtained more than 5 million on behalf of its clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases, including 160 multi-million dollar verdicts or settlements. For more information, call (312) 372-1227 or use the firm’s online contact form.

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Posted in News | Tags: accident, bicycle, bicyclists, breaking, chicago, clampdown, illinois, injury, lawyer, motor, need, operation, personal, police, recent, reinforces, road, rules, safety, says, scolding, sting, supports, unsafe, vehicle | 3 Comments »

Washington Personal Injury Lawyer Hails Gains in Traffic Safety, Urges More Action to Prevent Car Accidents

August 21, 2011 | Author alex.soltani

Focus on speeding, drunk driving and distracted driving could accelerate an improving trend in Washington’s statewide traffic fatalities, Seattle personal injury attorney Dean Brett says.

Even though Washington’s traffic-related deaths dropped to an historic low in 2010, raising public awareness of the dangers of speeding, drunk driving and distracted driving could prevent even more fatalities, Seattle car accident attorney Dean Brett said today.

On March 30, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission announced that the state’s traffic fatalities dropped from 492 in 2009 to 448 last year, marking the lowest number of crash-related deaths in Washington’s history.

“These numbers show that our roads are safer today than ever before, but there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done,” said Brett, a founding partner of the personal injury law firm, Brett & Coats, Attorneys at Law, PLLC, which represents car accident victims and their families throughout Seattle, Tacoma, Bellingham and Spokane.

In 2009, the law firm secured a .5 million verdict in a case involving a drunk driving accident, which was the largest jury verdict ever recorded in Skagit County (French v. Parker, et al.; Skagit County Cause No. 08-2-00530-8).

“That number – 448 – is not so low when you consider that 448 families lost a loved one to a car crash during the past year,” Brett said. “Even the loss of one life to an auto accident that could have been prevented is one too many. That’s why our state needs to continue to focus on putting an end to the types of reckless driving that cause accidents, injuries and deaths.”

Brett said the emphasis should be on speeding, distracted driving and drunk driving because they are three of the leading causes of car accident deaths.

Speeding accounted for nearly 40 percent of all Washington traffic fatalities between 2004 and 2008, according to a Washington Traffic Safety Commission study. Drunk driving accounts for nearly one quarter of the state’s driving fatalities, 2009 state data shows, while distracted driving has become a growing concern due to the growing number of people who talk on cell phones or text while behind the wheel.

“We need to be aggressive in raising awareness of the dangers of reckless driving, especially in our message to younger drivers,” Brett said. “And reckless drivers need to know that they will be held fully accountable for their conduct.”

If a person or their loved one is harmed by a reckless driver, Brett said it is important to contact an experienced Washington car accident attorney in order to discuss their legal options.

“Our law firm’s main concern will always be on promoting safe driving and protecting the rights of innocent victims and their families,” he said.

About Brett & Coats

Brett & Coats, Personal Injury Attorneys, PLLC is a Washington personal injury law firm with offices in Seattle, Tacoma, Bellingham and Spokane. The firm represents car accident victims, including those injured in DUI/DWI accidents, and other personal injury victims throughout the state of Washington. The firm’s practice areas also include motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, boating accidents, construction accidents, railroad collisions and aviation crashes. For more information, call the firm at (800) 925-1875 or use its online contact form.

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Posted On: Seattle, WA (Vocus/PRWEB) April 04, 2011washington state driving record

Posted in Driving Record | Tags: accelerate, action, attorney, dean, distracted, driving, drunk, fatalities, focus, gains, hails, improving, injury, lawyer, personal, prevent, safety, seattle, Speeding, statewide, traffic, trend, urges, washington, washington’s | No Comments »