Category: blog

The impact was stunning. Whether you were stopped at a red light, trying to merge into traffic, or already traveling at the speed limit, the moment when the car behind you struck the back of your car changed everything. While it can be difficult to think clearly, it is important to take specific steps to protect your medical and legal recoveries.

Take it One Step at a Time

Immediately after a rear-end collision, it is important to:

• Call 911. This will dispatch police and an ambulance to the scene of the crash. It is important to report your accident so that the police can take steps to prevent additional accidents, while thoroughly investigating your crash. An ambulance may also be important for you, or anyone else, who has suffered injuries.
• Take pictures, if you are able to do so safely. This may be important evidence for your case. However, you should take pictures only if your medical situation allows it.
• Accept medical help. Allow the emergency medical technicians to examine you and take you to the hospital for a complete examination. The sooner that you get care, the sooner you may be able to control your pain and prevent your injuries from worsening.

 

Once these things have occurred, you can move on to the other things that you need to do to protect your physical and financial recoveries.

Afraid You Won’t Remember What to Do After a Crash?

The things we describe above may seem simple enough now, but an accident scene can be a confusing and overwhelming place. Please take a few minutes to download our FREE auto accident app to your cellphone so that you will be prepared in the event of a crash. And if you have already been injured in a crash caused by a negligent driver, contact us using our online contact form to schedule a complimentary consultation.

In 2007, the United States Congress designated the third week of October as National Teen Driver Safety Week. As we approach the event this year, what will you do to keep your own child and others safe?

Here Are Some Ideas

The actions that you take for National Teen Driver Safety Week should be designed to keep your child and others safe—long after the week has ended. To that end, you may consider:

• Creating your own driving contract with your child. Take the time to sit down and develop expectations, rules, and consequences so that your teen knows exactly what is expected of him and why.
• Raising awareness. Use Facebook, Twitter, or other social media accounts to share statistics about teen driving accidents and information about what can be done to prevent serious teen crashes.
• Advocating for change. Talk to your elected representatives about teen driving safety laws and how they can be strengthened to protect teens and other drivers.

 

If you reach just one teen driver, you have made an important difference.

Even the Safest Teen Drivers Are at Risk

Teen accidents are not always caused by teen drivers, and it is important that your child knows what to do after a collision. Accordingly, we encourage you to have him download our FREE accident app to his smartphone and to walk through the steps provided in that app should he ever be involved in an accident.

Will you be taking action for National Teen Driver Safety Week? What will you do? Please leave a comment in the space below to share your thoughts with others who may be looking for ways to become involved.

The insurance adjuster calls and he seems nice enough. He seems interested in how your injuries are affecting your life and eager for you to make a full and fast recovery. Unfortunately, you can’t trust him. The insurance adjuster assigned to your case is not looking out for your best interests. Instead, he is looking out for the best interests of his employer, the insurance company, and it is in the insurance company’s best interests to get you to settle for as little as possible.

Refrain From Saying These Things

Regardless of how friendly the insurance adjuster is, it is important that you don’t say:

• “Oh, I’m fine.” This makes it sound like your injuries are not serious. There is no benefit to being tough or minimizing your injuries.
• “I think I can return to work on Monday.” Don’t guess. You can return to work when you have medical clearance to do so.
• “Sure, that number sounds fine. I agree to that settlement.” Once you agree, you may be unable to recover additional damages for your injuries.

 

There are many other similar things that you can say that can potentially hurt your case.

But There Is One Thing That Won’t

There is one simple thing that you can say that will not jeopardize your recovery: “Please call my attorney.”

Have you been hurt on a local road such as State Street, or a major interstate such as I-94 in Chicago? How did you handle the insurance company? Is there anything that you wish you hadn’t said? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts with someone who might just be starting the recovery process after a serious car accident.

 

We could spend a lot of time talking about the different ways that you could avoid an accident while you commute to work. That discussion is important, and you can find information on how to avoid accidents in the related-links section on this page. However, it is not the focus of this blog post for one simple reason. That reason is this: You can do everything right, but all it takes is one distracted, drunk, or otherwise negligent driver to cause a serious accident during your commute.

And You Need to Know What to Do Next

If you are hurt on your way to work, you should take the following five steps:

1. Call 911. Report the accident if you are able, and have first responders come to the scene.
2. Call your employer. If your injuries permit, let your employer know what happened and why you will be out of work.
3. Accept medical help. This can help you control your pain and prevent your injuries from worsening.
4. Gather information at the accident scene. If your injuries allow it, take pictures of the accident scene, write down the names and contact information of accident witnesses, and record your thoughts about what happened.
5. Don’t go back to work too soon. This could jeopardize your recovery.

 

These steps will help with your physical recovery and may get you back to work sooner.

You Don’t Have to Remember All of This

It can be difficult to remember what you need to do when you are at the scene of a car accident. You are hurt, confused, and likely scared. Accordingly, we encourage you to download our FREE car accident app today so that you have it on your phone should you ever be in a crash. It will walk you through the steps that you need to take and eliminate the stress of having to make difficult decisions while you are hurt.

Drowsy driving is a serious problem that rivals driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. In fact, the National Sleep Foundation reports that 60 percent of American motorists admit to having driven while fatigued in the past, and 37 percent of drivers admit to having fallen asleep while driving in the past twelve months. The first step in preventing dangerous drowsy driving accidents is to recognize the symptoms of drowsy driving.

Seven Signs a Driver Shouldn’t Be Behind the Wheel

How tired is too tired to drive? Motorists should stop and rest if they are:

• Having difficulty focusing or keeping their eyes open
• Daydreaming
• Missing exits or traffic signs
• Not remembering the last few miles of travel
• Exhibiting physical signs of fatigue such as yawning, rubbing their eyes, or having trouble keeping their heads up
• Feeling restless or cranky
• Having trouble staying in their lanes

 

Coffee, open windows, and loud music are no substitution for sleep and rest. Instead, tired drivers should stop driving until they are rested. Otherwise, they could cause a serious crash, a devastating injury, or a death on I-94, I-55 or another Chicago-area road.

Educate Others About the Dangers

We want you and your loved ones to stay safe. Please share this blog post on Facebook to help educate others about the signs of drowsy driving. Additionally, we invite you to download our FREE auto accident app for your cellphone so that you know what to do if you are ever involved in an accident.