Blog

Jan. 24, 2019

According to a report by a liability insurer, diagnostic errors were the most common reason for medical malpractice claims from 2013 to 2017. The report discovered that rates of malpractice claims related to such errors have not declined in recent years. This is despite the fact that this has been the case for other causes of medical malpractice claims in Illinois and throughout the country. The study took a look at 10,618 cases over the four-year time period to come to its conclusions.

Jan. 10, 2019

Car infotainment systems are a major source of distraction for many drivers in Illinois and across the U.S., according to a recent AAA-contracted study that analyzed 30 such systems on new 2017 vehicles. Researchers found all the systems demanded either a moderate level of attention (seven in all), a high level (11 in all) or very high (12). Cars in the last category include the Audi Q7 QPP, Dodge Durango GT, Mazda3 Touring and Tesla Model 7.

Jan. 2, 2019

Illinois motorists may find recent statistics about dump truck accidents beneficial. Although there have been initiatives enacted by federal regulators as well as industry safety experts, the number of serious accidents involving large trucks have been on the increase.

Dec. 26, 2018

Illinois sees plenty of cold weather in the winter, with its fair share of snow and ice. Many people consider themselves lucky to get through the winter without a spill or two on the icy ground.

Dec. 14, 2018

Residents of Illinois who are interested in new vehicle safety technology may know about external airbags. While these are far from being implemented on vehicles, many car parts manufacturers are considering strategies for their development. The ZF Group is one such manufacturer, and it has some safety data to back up the benefits of external airbags.

Dec. 4, 2018

Many industries in Illinois rely on diesel-powered equipment and vehicles. Exhaust from diesel engines contains particulate matter that can pose both short- and long-term consequences to the respiratory health of workers. Short-term exposure to diesel exhaust irritates the eyes, nose and throat. Over the long term, exposed workers experience higher rates of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases such as lung cancer. Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has not set a standard regarding exposure to diesel particulate matter, the agency does provide employers with guidelines for reducing exposure.

Nov. 20, 2018

Data gathered by the U.S. Department of Transportation and other organizations indicates that one out of every three adult drivers sleeps less than seven hours a night. Researchers examining data from earlier studies by USDOT determined that the odds of causing a crash increased as the number of hours slept decreased. In the 5,470 crashes studied, drivers who reported sleeping six hours per night were 1.3 times likelier to cause a crash

Nov. 7, 2018

Some truck drivers in Illinois struggle with fatigue and distraction when behind the wheel. The National Safety Council reports that fatigue is a factor in more than one-quarter of single commercial vehicle accidents and 13 percent of fatal truck accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that driver fatigue might cause up to 100,000 accidents each year involving all vehicles. According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, over 15 percent of injury crashes and 10 percent of fatal crashes happen because of distraction.

Oct. 28, 2018

Cars hit hundreds of people on bikes each day. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that cars kill over 800 cyclists each year in the United States, and an additional 45,000 cyclists sustain injuries.

Oct. 22, 2018

The problem in the eyes of some observers is that this mode of mobility has grown too fast. In many cities, the scooters showed up unannounced and without safety rules. The appearances have proven unsafe, as evidenced by two adult fatalities reported last month. In both cities where the deaths occurred, individuals over 18 can ride scooters without helmets, and that makes for dire consequences.