Car accidents are enormously disruptive, so avoiding a wreck in the first place can save motorists millions of dollars in property damage and lost income. Unfortunately, the road is full of hazards, including dangerous motorists who fail to use the care we expect of our friends and neighbors behind the wheel. This lack of care is called negligence, and it’s a big reason why so many people in Will County are hurt in motor vehicle collisions.
Michael J. Lichner is a seasoned Joliet car accident lawyer who has successfully negotiated countless settlements for injured victims. Below, you can find the most common causes of car accidents and an explanation of what evidence is crucial in these cases.
Accidents Are a Common Occurrence
According to the National Safety Council, the United States experienced a staggering number of car wrecks in 2022:
- 46,027 motor vehicle deaths
- 1.44 deaths per 100 million miles driven
- 5.2 million injuries requiring medical care
- Total costs of $481.2 billion
Illinois is not immune. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) reported that the state saw 299,133 motor vehicle accidents in 2023. About 20% of these accidents resulted in injuries.
What Causes Car Accidents in Illinois?
Distracted Driving
Safe driving requires both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road. Unfortunately, the number of distractions is only increasing. Divided attention is a serious problem, leading to too many wrecks.
Some of the most common sources of distraction:
- Cell phones. This is easily the #1 distraction. Drivers of all ages cannot put their phones down, even when at the helm of a moving vehicle. Even so-called “hands-free” phones divide a person’s attention, which means they might not process what is happening in front of them, even if they “see” a car stop or a red light up ahead.
- Food and drink. We aren’t talking about alcohol (that’s later). Even sipping a coffee distracts drivers by removing one hand from the wheel. Spill some soup on your lap? A person’s instinct is to immediately look down, taking both eyes off the road.
- Pets. Unrestrained animals are prone to leaping into the front seat without warning. Drivers can become distracted trying to restrain their pets.
- Children. Young children are a significant distraction to parents or any other adult behind the wheel. Babies might start crying, or toddlers can throw things at the back of the driver’s head. Some parents look in the rearview mirror and talk to their child, ignoring the road in front.
There is no excuse for distracted driving. Your best bet is to stow your phone and commit full attention to the task at hand.
Speeding
Speeding reduces a motorist’s reaction times to avoid a collision. We see speeding as a cause of many types of auto accidents, but rear-end collisions are common. When a speeding driver runs a red light, T-bones also occur frequently.
Moreover, speeding is a contributor to many fatal car accidents in Illinois. The faster a car travels, the more force it generates and the more damage it causes to the vehicle it strikes. Pedestrians are at a heightened risk of a fatal injury when a car is going over 40 miles per hour.
Driver Fatigue
Tired drivers are dangerous drivers. Getting behind the wheel while fatigued leads to all sorts of dangerous behaviors and impairments:
- Poor decision-making, including speeding to get home
- Delayed reflexes
- Blurred vision
- Nodding off for even a split second
A tired motorist is in some ways as impaired as a drunk driver.
Intoxication/Chemical Impairment
No one should ever drive after drinking too much alcohol or taking illegal drugs. Unfortunately, the IDOT data shows an alarming number of drunk-driving accidents. In 2023, around 22.3% of the state’s fatal crashes involved alcohol, killing 1,240 people.
Even something as innocent as cough syrup or allergy medicine can lead to drowsiness. Prescription medications can also impair drivers and result in avoidable collisions.
How Do You Prove Fault for a Car Accident in Illinois?
Here is some helpful evidence based on accident type:
- Distracted driving. Your lawyer might ask to see cell phone records to prove a motorist was on the phone at the moment of impact. You can also testify that a dog lunged out of the front seat when the driver exited the vehicle or that the driver had coffee all over their clothes.
- Fatigue: Was the driver yawning when exiting the vehicle? Your lawyer can also probe where the driver was before the crash—perhaps getting off work after pulling a double shift.
- Intoxication: There are many reasons to report an accident to the police. Catching an impaired driver is one of them. The responding officer can ask the driver to participate in field sobriety tests and ultimately request a breath or chemical test. Any test result is persuasive evidence of chemical impairment.
Your Will County car accident attorney will know how to find the right evidence and present it in a forceful way while negotiating a settlement. Dangerous drivers should not be let off the hook when they crash into innocent people and cause injury.
Drive Safe—Your Case Depends on It
Defensive driving not only saves lives, but it can also positively impact your case. Illinois is a comparative negligence state. If you were careless while driving or crossing the street, then your fault can reduce the compensation you receive. Under 735 ILS 5/2-1116, you might even lose the ability to seek compensation if your fault was more than 50%.
These are strong reasons to be as careful as possible whenever behind the wheel. In addition to putting away cell phones, always follow the speed limit and never drive when too tired or after one too many drinks.
Our Firm Handles All Types of Car Accidents
After a collision, an injured motorist should head to the hospital. But as soon as you can, remember to pick up the phone and contact an attorney for assistance with the legal side of your case. Michael J. Lichner can meet for a free consultation at a convenient time and location.