Each year, there are millions of car crashes that happen throughout the United States. According to the latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were an estimated 6,452,000 traffic crashes that were reported to police in 2017. Of these crashes, about 1,889,000 of them resulted in injuries and more than 34,000 of the crashes resulted in at least one fatality.

Car accidents happen when you least expect them and they can cause serious injuries and even death. It has been noted that many, if not most car accidents occur because of some sort of driver error. Here are a few tips to keep you safe while on the road and decrease your chances of being in a car accident:

Pay Attention to the Task at Hand

Distracted driving has become a large problem with the rise of smartphones and other electronic devices. When you are behind the wheel, your full and undivided attention should be on driving and the road in front of you. Getting distracted by your cell phone or other things in the car can cause you to be unaware of things happening outside.

Tens of thousands of years ago, dogs began becoming domesticated creatures and their DNA changed from that of their wolf ancestors. Today, dogs are the most popular species of pet for Americans -- around 68 percent of American households own at least one dog. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year and at least half of those people are young children. Dog bites can result in serious injuries and in some cases, even serious, life-threatening infections. Dog bites can also cause emotional distress, especially in children. Pursuing a dog bite injury claim can be tedious, which is why there are a few things you should know before you begin the process.

Illinois Has a Definition for “Dangerous Dogs” and “Vicious Dogs”

The Illinois Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5/) contains the governing statutes for injuries sustained by animals, including dogs. According to 510 ILCS 5/2.05a, a “dangerous dog” is a dog that is unmuzzled, unleashed or unattended by its owner and behaves in a manner that would be reasonably construed as a serious and unjustified threat of physical injury or death. A dog that unjustly bites a person and does not cause serious physical injury can also be considered a “dangerous dog.” A “vicious dog” is one that unjustly attacks a person and causes serious physical injury or death, or a dog that has been found to be a “dangerous dog” three separate times.

There Are Certain Responsibilities that Dog Owners Have

In Illinois, there are certain things that dog owners must do to ensure their dogs are not classified as “dangerous” or “vicious dogs.” Illinois dog owners must always make sure their dogs are in their sight, leashed when not on their own property and muzzled if they are known to show aggressive behavior. Even if the dog is on the owner’s property, the owner has a responsibility to keep the dog in an enclosure that is designed to prevent the dog from escaping and/or prevent young children from entering.

Getting into a car accident can be a very scary experience for most people. Often times, getting into a car accident can result in serious injuries that can lead to permanent damage if not treated correctly. When you are recovering from injuries from a car accident, the last thing you want to do is relentlessly fight with your insurance company to get a fair settlement. Dealing with any type of insurance company can be annoying — they often will try everything they can to give you the smallest settlement possible. Here are five tips that can help you deal with your car insurance company after an accident:

Make Sure You Are Prepared

Before you submit your claim or call the claims adjuster that your insurance company has assigned to you, you should make sure that you have everything that you will need to submit the claim. Check and make sure you have copies of things such as:

• Evidence that you collected at the scene of the accident, such as photos;
• A list of damages to your vehicle;
• Cost estimates to repair your vehicle;
• All medical expenses that are related to the accident;
• Medical records, notes from your physician, and personal notes on your pain and limitations you may have from injuries resulting from the accident; and
• The police report.

Stick to the Facts

When you submit you claim, your claims adjuster will call you to get your account of what happened. When this happens, it is important that you stick to the hard facts of the accident. Do not try to retell the accident second by second. Only answer questions that the adjuster has for you and try not to offer up unsolicited information.

Gone are the days of stepping off of the street curb in a desperate attempt to get one of the dozens of taxi cabs to notice your flailing arms. Now, you can simply pull out your smartphone and with a few taps, you can have a car outside waiting to take you to where ever you want to go within minutes. Ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft have taken off and are becoming more popular than ever. Those these companies offer convenience and simplicity, they pose rather complex and often ambiguous situations, particularly when one of these ridesharing vehicles gets into a car accident with a passenger inside.

What Is a Ridesharing Company?

The Illinois Transportation Network Providers Act is the section of law that outlines rules and regulations for transportation network companies (TNCs). The Act defines a TNC as any entity that operates by use of a digital network to connect passengers to TNC drivers who provide ride services. A TNC driver owns his or her own vehicle and is not associated with any taxicab service. Popular TNCs include Uber, Lyft, Sidecar and Via.

How Ridesharing Works

Ridesharing apps work by having a passenger log into the app and enter in the information pertaining to the ride, such as where the passenger is currently located and where they would like to go. This alerts nearby drivers that the passenger needs a ride. The app then utilizes GPS technology to direct the driver to the passenger’s location and then gives them directions to the destination. Passengers are typically provided with information such as estimated fares for certain routes and the number of drivers nearby, in addition to driver ratings and feedback from other passengers.

It is that time of year again -- spring has arrived. March and April can be odd months because it can be winter one day, snowing 6 inches overnight, and then the next day it will be 50 degrees and sunny. While this kind of weather is a nice preview of what is to come during the summer months, it can make for dangerous driving conditions. Months of winter snow cause potholes to form and the constant melting of ice during the day and freezing temperatures overnight make for slippery roads. Here are a few tips to help you keep yourself and your family safe while on the roads:

Watch Out for Potholes

Roads take a beating throughout the winter. With snow, ice, salt and then water, it is no wonder that roads are riddled with potholes come spring. During this time of year, construction crews probably have not gotten a chance to fix these potholes yet, which means you need to be very aware of them. Not only can driving over one cause damage to your vehicle, swerving to miss a pothole can cause accidents with other drivers.

Be Weary of Changing Weather

Late winter and early spring are notorious for their crazy and unpredictable weather. It will be sunny for a week and then it is back to snowstorms. This can make for dangerous driving conditions, such as slick roads, black ice, freezing rain, and high winds. Take it easy during inclement weather -- increase your following speed and make sure you allow yourself enough time to react if you need to.