Since the City Council banned the use of cellphones while driving in Illinois, the people of Evanston have experienced a drop in the number of car crashes. According to an article in The Daily Northwestern, the Evanston Police Department reported that the amount of roadway crashes decreased by 17 percent from 2009 to 2012. During the same time period, the number of car accident injuries also dropped 14.5 percent. This is good news, considering the extent of injuries innocent victims can suffer as a result of an accident with a distracted driver. If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, it is important to consult with a local injury attorney to determine your rights to compensation for your suffering and losses.
The recent enactment bans web browsing, texting, listening to voice mail messages or talking on a handheld phone while driving, but allows talking with a hands-free device. The main impetus for the ordinance has been the safety of drivers and others on the road. Enactment of the ordinance alone may be somewhat of a deterrent for drivers to refrain from texting while behind the wheel, lest they face a minimum of $50 for a violation of the ban, or $200 should the use of the cellphone contribute to a car accident. It helps that the local Evanston Police Department has issued more than 7,000 tickets to motorists who violated the ban, making citizens aware that law enforcement is taking this very seriously.
While these numbers reveal an optimistic trend in the area of distracted driving, there is still a great deal to be concerned about as far as teenagers and texting goes. A report issued recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that four out of every nine high school students had sent or received texts while driving in the past month. This new study further indicates that teens who text while driving are also more likely to participate in other risky activities, such as getting into a car with a drunk driver or not wearing a seatbelt. For example, the research shows that only three percent of teens who said they don’t text while driving had recently driven after drinking alcohol, compared to 19 percent of teens who reported texting and driving at least once in the past month, and 34 percent who said they text while driving on a daily basis.
One of the concerning aspects of this data is that 45 states in the country have laws banning texting while driving. And a vast number of teenagers, who are typically “new” drivers, are not heeding those laws. Of course, what it all boils down to is the safety of teenagers and other drivers on the roads. Hopefully, as in Evanston, other parts of Illinois will also see the same reduction in crashes due to distracted driving. People who have been injured in distracted driving accidents as the result of the negligence of another are entitled to receive compensation for their pain and suffering. It is important to contact a local attorney who is fully aware of the laws affecting your case.
David K. Kremin & Associates, P.C. have been helping citizens in Chicago and throughout the state recover damages for their severe injuries and the wrongful deaths of loved ones as a result of distracted driving car accidents. We can help you to maximize your recovery.
Contact us at (800) 275-2529 to discuss your case with one of our experienced attorneys. We offer a no obligation consultation and you will never owe us a fee unless we obtain a settlement for you.