How Common Are Car Accidents?
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How Common Are Car Accidents in Chicago and Illinois?
Car crashes are the second leading cause of accidental injury in the United States. Nationwide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2019 there were approximately 6,756,000 police-reported motor vehicle crashes, which resulted in 1,916,000 injuries and 33,244 deaths. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, in 2019 there were 312,988 auto accidents in the state, resulting in 89,133 injuries and 1,010 deaths. In 2021, almost half of fatal crashes occurred in urban areas such as Chicago and Cook County. Over a quarter of Chicago and Illinois accidents involved alcohol and over a third of the drivers killed had drunk alcohol before the crash. Illinois is the 10th most dangerous state for winter driving, and the 10th most dangerous state overall.
What Are The Leading Causes of Car Accidents?
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What Are The Leading Causes of Car Accidents in Chicago, Illinois?
Car manufacturers and other drivers owe you a duty of care to ensure your safety and the safety of everyone on the Chicago and Illinois roads. When they selfishly neglect that duty and hurt other people, the consequences can be devastating for people who have done nothing wrong. Crashes are usually caused by driver error, but can also be caused by inclement weather or defective parts:
Drunk Driving and Drug Impaired Driving | Chicago Car Accidents Law Firm
Drunk driving is deadly. In 2019, 10,1421 lost their lives because of drunk drivers, or about 28 people per day. Driving drunk reduces your concentration, coordination and reaction ability. While the legal limit for blood alcohol content is ≥.08, even a level of ≥.04 significantly increases the risk of a car crash.
Drunk driving is one of the few cases in tort law
where you will be able to seek punitive damages. At Burger Law's Chicago-based car accidents law firm, we sue drunk drivers on your behalf so they feel the full consequences of their reckless actions and think twice before getting behind the wheel drunk.
Texting and Driving | Chicago Car Accidents Law Firm
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that texting drivers took their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, which at 55 miles per hour equates to driving an entire football field without looking at the road once. Your odds of getting in a car crash are 23.2 times greater if you text and drive. Motorists have a responsibility to everyone on the Chicago and Illinois roads to give their full attention to the road ahead of them. When they fail in that responsibility, the car accidents law firm of Burger Law will hold them accountable.
Distracted Driving | Chicago Car Accidents Law Firm
While texting and driving is the most dangerous form of distracted driving, even just talking on the phone can increase your risk of a crash. Eighty percent of car accidents involve some sort of driver inattention in the three seconds leading up to the crash.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has found that your odds of getting in an accident are:
- 9 times greater while writing
- 5.9 times greater while dialing a hand-held phone
- 6.7 times greater if you are reaching for something
- 7 times greater if you are looking at a map
Other examples of distracted driving can be:
- Engaged in a conversation with a passenger or on a hands-free device
- Changing the radio or temperature controls
- Grooming, such as shaving or applying makeup
- Removing or putting on clothes
- Daydreaming
When you are driving, it is important to keep your eyes on the road and both hands on the wheel. The risks of driver inattention are simply too great. Humans like to think of ourselves as multi-taskers, but according to the National Safety Council, we are just not capable of driving safely while doing something else. Call our Chicago and Illinois car accidents law firm today at 312-500-HURT if a distracted driver caused you injuries.
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Speeding | Chicago Car Accidents Law Firm
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding contributed to 17.2% of car crashes in 2019. The U.S. Department of Transportation has very specific guidelines to help the Illinois state legislature and Chicago agencies calculate and determine speed limits. While we should expect drivers to follow the rules of the road to keep everyone safe, most vehicle traffic exceeds the speed limit. Speeding increases a driver's odds of losing control and increase stopping time and distance. Additionally, high speeds may cause safety features such as seat belts or airbags not to function properly and can lead to more severe injuries. If you were injured because another driver was careless and drove too fast, the car accidents law firm of Burger law will help you receive compensation for your injuries.
Fatigued or Drowsy Driving | Chicago Car Accidents Law Firm
A third of American adults do not get enough sleep. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that a drowsy driver was involved in 7 percent of all auto accidents, including 13 percent of those that resulted in severe injuries and 16.5 percent of fatal crashes. Being drowsy makes us less attentive, slows our reaction time and affects our ability to make decisions. Being awake for 18 consecutive hours is equivalent to having a blood alcohol content of .05 percent. Whenever you feel sleepy behind the wheel, it is best to find a safe place in Chicago or Illinois to pull over and rest for 15 or 20 minutes before continuing.
Inclement Weather | Chicago Car Accidents Law Firm
When driving in inclement weather we need to be extra careful. While our car accidents law firm cannot sue the weather, Chicago and Illinois drivers are supposed to take additional safety measures when they drive in poor conditions, for example completely clearing snow and ice from your vehicle and driving at slower speeds. If you were injured by a driver who is trying to avoid responsibility by blaming your auto accident on the weather, the knowledgeable and experienced car accidents law firm at Burger Law can help hold them accountable and ensure that you are fairly compensated by the negligent parties.
Defective Parts | Chicago Car Accidents Law Firm
Auto manufacturers have the same duty of care to drivers, passengers and pedestrians that all Chicago and Illinois drivers do. They are legally obligated to design safe vehicles and recall any defective parts that may cause safety issues. For example, if you sustain injuries because your airbags do not deploy properly, you may be able to make a product liability claim against the manufacturer. When the car accidents law firm of Burger Law investigates your car accident, we will use our experience and our network of car crash experts to determine if an auto manufacturer, car dealership or mechanic is responsible for your injuries.