Traveling by automobile is an essential form of travel woven into our society's very fabric. However, with gas prices soaring to unprecedented levels, many are looking for other, more economical forms of travel. There is no better way to burn calories and save money at the gas pump than taking your bike out for a ride instead of your car. Unfortunately, vehicle operators often forget that the road does not belong solely to them.

Whether riding a bike or even crossing the road on foot, being struck by a car can result in dreadful consequences and, in some cases, even wrongful death. If you or someone you love has been hit by a vehicle, consider contacting a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to pursue compensation for your injuries. Depending on the circumstances of your case and the severity of your injury, you may be entitled to compensation to account for lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and more. 

Driver Negligence Resulting in Bicyclist and Pedestrian Injuries 

In many instances, when someone is riding their bike or walking down the road and getting hit by a car, it can result from driver negligence. Unfortunately, there are many different forms of driver negligence, including:

Devastating car accidents that cause serious injuries are events most people believe will never happen to them. Yet the most serious car accidents often happen when people least expect it; driving with friends in the car, for example, is a prime cause of distracted driving accidents because people are talking, handing each other things, and calling the driver’s attention away from the road. 

Young men are particularly susceptible to car accidents involving friends in the car. Goofing around and trying to show off are classic young adult behaviors, and while they are typically harmless, they can have serious consequences when they happen in a car. If you were injured when you were traveling in a vehicle that a friend was driving, and your friend’s behavior caused the crash, you may be wondering if you can take action. 

Insurance Companies and Car Accidents

After a crash involving close friends, you may be tempted to discuss the crash with your friend who was driving. However, their car insurance policy is likely to be a significant source of compensation for your injuries, and comments you make to your friend can make their way back to the insurance company. 

Rideshare companies in Illinois fill an important economic gap by combining affordable rides with the technology to access those rides quickly and easily. However, because rideshare drivers are operating their own vehicles, they are at risk of causing a car accident through careless mistakes just like any other driver - perhaps more so, since rideshare drivers are everyday drivers, not trained professionals. 

When rideshare drivers cause serious accidents, injured victims may wonder whether they have the ability to seek compensation from the driver or the rideshare company. Rideshare liability law is a complex and evolving area of law, and every case is different. If you have been injured in a rideshare accident in Illinois, seek help from an experienced personal injury attorney who is up-to-date on the latest legal developments. 

Who is Responsible For Insuring Rideshare Drivers? 

Like many employees in the so-called gig economy, rideshare drivers are independent contractors responsible for insuring their own vehicles. If someone is injured in a rideshare accident, the lawsuit will typically be filed against the driver, not the rideshare company. However, rideshare companies do have insurance policies to protect riders against underinsured drivers and these insurance policies typically cover up to one million dollars worth of damages.

Car accidents can be devastating and lead to serious, life-altering injuries. Distracted driving, including texting and driving, causes thousands of severe injuries and fatalities each year in the United States. To combat the use of cellphones or other electronic devices when driving, Illinois passed a law prohibiting distracted driving. However, distracted driving continues to be an issue rampant on the roads. Victims that have been injured during a car collision from a distracted driver may be awarded financial compensation to help cover the costs of their injuries. Distracted driving also may lead to severe legal consequences.

Understanding Illinois Distracted Driving Laws 

According to 2022 driving statistics, approximately 400 fatal crashes caused by texting and driving occur each year in the United States. This figure indicates the need for safety laws to prevent distracted driving. Illinois law states that drivers may not use hand-held electronic devices while driving on the road. The legal consequences for texting or using a device while driving can include fines anywhere from $75 to $1,000. If a driver causes bodily harm to another individual due to distracted driving, they may be charged with aggravated use of a device while driving, leading to a Class A misdemeanor for bodily injuries to the victim or a Class 4 felony if the victim is killed. 

Establishing a Faulty Party 

If you were a car accident victim of a distracted driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation to aid in your recovery. To hold the other driver responsible for their distracted driving, you must establish that they were the faulty party. Declaring fault may seem like an easy pursuit; however, it can be challenging to prove fault in a car accident, especially if the faulty driver obtains legal representation. Suppose you are looking to establish fault and receive compensation for your injuries or a loved one’s death. In that case, it is in your best interest to speak with or hire a skilled personal injury attorney with experience establishing fault in distracted driving cases. 

When a manufacturer designs and produces a product that eventually makes its way to the public, the public trusts that the product has gone through rigorous safety testing and that stringent quality controls are in place during the manufacturing process. That is not always the case and many products end up being recalled. Vehicles are one of the most common products recalled each year. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, millions of recalled vehicles are never repaired but are still on the roads, creating a dangerous situation for both the vehicle’s driver and everyone they share the roads with.

Vehicle Recalls

A vehicle can be recalled in a number of different ways. Sometimes, the vehicle manufacturer discovers the defect – either on their own or through warranty claims filed or complaints from customers and/or vehicle dealers – and voluntarily issues the recall in order to repair the issue. In other cases, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) receives complaints from consumers and will conduct an investigation that eventually results in the recall.

Once a recall is issued, all vehicle owners are supposed to be notified in writing, explaining details of the recall and what steps they need to take to get their vehicle repaired. The NHTSA has reported in the past that approximately one-third of owners fail to get their vehicles repaired. The older a recalled vehicle is, the less likely it will be brought in for repairs. This is often due to the vehicle manufacturer’s inability to contact the owner because they have an old address or the vehicle has been sold to someone else. There are also many owners who choose to ignore the recall notices they receive.