Kane County is no stranger to cold and snowy winters. During the second week of February of this year, St. Charles received over 14 inches of snow over a span of four days. Shoveling the driveway and sidewalk is hard enough, but what happens when you need to operate a vehicle during the harsh Midwest winter?

Statistics

Every year, approximately 900 people are killed in an auto accident during winter precipitation, and 1,300 are killed because of pre-existing road conditions such as snow, ice, or slush. Thousands more are injured, despite almost 75 percent of the United States regularly experiencing winter weather.

In an act of preparing for the harsh winter ahead, here are some tips for keeping safe on the roads, despite unfavorable conditions:

We have truck drivers to thank for providing goods and services across the county. However, these massive vehicles are one of the most dangerous on the road, weighing up to 80,000 pounds. Any accident on the road can be deadly, but when an 18-wheeler is involved, catastrophic personal injury can occur. Driver fatigue is often blamed for accidents involving trucks, but overworking is not always the cause of a truck accident.

What Are Truck Driver Labor Laws?

In the United States, truck drivers must keep a 24-hour logbook while on duty. Commercial motor drivers can only work 11 cumulative hours within a 14 hour period. Drivers are then required to rest for a minimum of ten hours. A recent mandate has made electronic onboard recorders mandatory, which record the actual driving time of a truck.

Anyone would be tired after an 11 hour work day, but there are a list of other factors that could contribute to a truck accident.

On the road, cyclists must abide by many of the same rules as drivers in Illinois. That being said, an accident with a bicycle should be handled similarly to that as an accident with another motor vehicle. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the majority of car accidents involving a bicycle happen in non-intersectional areas of the road in urban areas.

Bicycle Specific Road Laws

• Designated bike lanes are for bicyclists only. Cars are prohibited from parking, driving, or idling in these spaces, even when there are no bikes in the lane. Bicyclists are allowed to leave the bike lane and bike on the road, but for safety reasons, it is discouraged for cyclists to do so;
• Bicyclists are prohibited on most expressways and highways, and any other marked road;
• The right of way is granted to bicyclists the same as a motor vehicles;
• Criminal charged may be filed if a motorists passes too close to a cyclist and the result is a crash.

An accident with a bicyclist may be more intimidating than with another vehicle. People on bicycles have little protection on the road, even with a helmet. In Illinois, adult riders can choose whether to wear a helmet or not.

What to do?

An accident with a vehicle can be deadly to a bicyclist, and any accident, no matter how small, can be jarring. It is important to stay calm and act promptly. Take a moment to react, but no matter what, do not drive away.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 6,296,000 traffic crashes were reported to police. Out of those, 737,100 were estimated to have been hit-and-run accidents, or nearly 12 percent of all accidents. Hit-and-run accidents can leave you devastated and confused. Unforeseen medical bills and unplanned vehicle repairs can become costly very quickly. If you have been a victim of a hit-and-run car accident, your actions after the accident can be determinant of whether or not you receive the compensation you deserve.

What Constitutes a Hit-and-Run Accident?

If a person is involved in a car accident, they are required by law to stop and give information to others involved in that car accident. If they fail to do so, they can be guilty of a hit-and-run accident. If they cannot return to the scene of the crime, or nobody is around to collect their information, they must report the accident to the nearest police department and provide their information at that time. If a report is not made within 30 minutes of the accident, they may be guilty of a hit-and-run.

Steps to Take After the Accident

Being in any car accident can leave you shaken up, but the actions you take directly after the accident can mean the difference between compensation and no compensation.

Unfortunately for drivers in the United States, injuries from car accidents are not uncommon. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly three million people were injured and over 40,000 people were killed due to motor vehicle accidents in 2016. Injuries from car accidents can range from mild to severe and can greatly impact your life. One of the most important things you can do to make sure you are in the best position to receive a favorable settlement is preserving and recording damages and evidence resulting from the car accident. Here are four ways to document the damage:

1. Take Your Own Notes of the Accident

By taking notes immediately after the accident while you are still at the scene, you are minimizing the possibility of memory loss. Chances are, your case will not be settled for months after the accident occurred, which is why it is important to document what occurred while your memory is still fresh. You should note:

• Where and when the accident occurred.
• What happened during the accident.
• The road and weather conditions at the time.
• The names, contact information, and insurance information of others involved in the crash.
• The names and contact information of any witnesses to the crash.
• Witnesses’ accounts of what they saw.

2. Take Photos

Taking photos of damages to your car and injuries that you or a passenger sustained will be key in proving your case. Before anything is moved or any injuries are treated, try to take as many photos as possible from as many different angles as you can. Take pictures of exterior and interior damage for all vehicles involved, their license plates, the area surrounding the accident, and injuries of any parties involved.