Almost all motor vehicle accidents are a result of someone’s negligence. In most cases, it is the negligence of one of the drivers involved. However, that is not always the case. The state of Illinois is notorious for its poorly maintained and dangerous roadways. The hazards found on these roads put those occupying the road at risk of being involved in a collision, including drivers, passengers, and workers. If you or someone you love has sustained injuries due to an accident caused by road hazards, you may be interested in filing a personal injury claim and holding the appropriate parties responsible.

What Kind of Hazards Can Lead to Dangerous Road Conditions?

Vehicle accidents due to road conditions often result from common issues, some of which include:

• Construction equipment or materials
• Potholes
• Uneven roadways
• Fallen trees or branches
• Cargo or debris that fell off a vehicle
• Broken traffic lights
• Poor road design

Streets in disrepair may feature hazards such as uneven lanes and narrow shoulders. Hazards of this nature can lead to drivers losing control of their vehicle and causing an accident, putting themselves and others sharing the road at risk of injury or even death.

Although the number of car accidents far exceeds the number of truck accidents, the latter undoubtedly cause more serious damage. This is due to the fact that trucks weigh 20 to 30 times more than the average car. Here are 5 major differences between car and truck accidents that may affect your personal injury claim.

1. Commercial Vehicles Are Subject to Additional Federal Laws

Since they often travel between states, large commercial vehicles must adhere to not only state and local regulations, but also federal laws. These federal laws are generally in place to regulate the amount of driving allowed within a specific period of time, as well as how much cargo they can hold. Additionally, truck companies and their drivers are required to register with both the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT).

2. Since Trucks Cause More Damage, They Also Carry More Insurance

Auto insurance is determined by state requirements, as well as specifics about the driver and the vehicle. Insurance policies for commercial semi-trucks tend to have higher minimum liability coverage limits than passenger vehicle policies, meaning that injury victims may be able to recover greater compensation. The required insurance coverage for a truck can also vary based on a number of factors, including:

Car accidents are often caused by a “perfect storm” of events. One driver may be busy changing the radio station or checking text messages while the other is traveling above the speed limit. It might be raining. The road may be filled with potholes. Countless issues can lead up to a serious collision. When someone is hurt in a car accident involving shared fault, can they still recover compensation? Who is responsible for medical bills, car repair costs, and other damages?

You Can Still Get Compensation If You Were Partially at Fault

Personal injury laws vary from state to state. In some states, an injured person may not recover monetary damages if their actions contributed to the injury-causing even in any way. Fortunately, Illinois personal injury lawsuits are subject to a legal doctrine called modified comparative negligence or modified comparative fault. This doctrine allows an injured person to recover financial compensation as long as their share of fault is less than 51 percent. In other words, an injured person is able to pursue damages as long as their actions did not contribute to the injury more than the other parties’ actions. Consequentially, you may be able to recover financial compensation for car accident injuries even if your own behavior contributed to the crash.

How Is an Injury Settlement or Award Affected by Comparative Negligence?

If you are found to be partly at fault for a collision, the amount of damages that you may recover is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found to be 20 percent at fault for a crash but the other driver is 80 percent at fault, you can still recover 80 percent of your damages.

Traffic accidents notoriously rise during the summer months, perhaps due to more people on the road. Even though motorcycle fatalities technically decreased in 2019, the number of motorcyclists who were injured increased by about 2.4 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Many people who have motorcycles begin to get back out onto the road when the weather gets warmer, but motorcyclists face a unique set of challenges on the road. The best way to prevent motorcycle accidents from happening is by protecting yourself and practicing safe motorcycle riding habits. Here are a few things to keep in mind the next time you go for a ride:

• The most important piece of safety equipment you can own is a helmet. Studies have shown that motorcyclists who do not wear helmets are much more likely to suffer severe head injuries or even death. Any helmet you wear should have a Department of Transportation sticker on the back, so you know that it meets federal safety standards and is providing the most protection.
• You should also wear other safety gear, as well. Other than a helmet, you should always dress appropriately when you ride. You should always wear long pants and long sleeves when you are riding. This provides a bit more protection for your bare skin against the asphalt. You should also wear boots that have a small heel and cover your ankles to protect your feet and increase your stability.
• Check your bike when you take it out of storage. If you are taking your bike out of winter storage, there are various maintenance measures that you should take before you head out. You should make sure all of your lights and signals work properly, your hydraulics and coolant fluid levels are correct, and that your tires are in good condition and inflated properly.
• Always follow all traffic laws and rules. Although it may be obvious, you should be sure to follow all traffic laws. Other drivers on the road expect you to follow the rules of the road and may not anticipate other actions that break the rules. Never weave in and out of traffic or lanes, as this can be dangerous.
• Never ride when you are not 100 percent alert and focused. Even though it is illegal to drive a vehicle when you are under the influence, people still do it. However, this can be deadly if you are riding a motorcycle while intoxicated. According to the NHTSA, around 37 percent of people who died in motorcycle accidents in 2019 had alcohol in their system at the time of the accident.

Injured in a Motorcycle Accident? Our Kane County Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys Can Help

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, you should speak with a skilled Aurora, IL motorcycle accident injury lawyer as soon as you can. Our team at Kinnally Flaherty Krentz Loran Hodge & Masur P.C. has more than 100 years of combined experience helping clients who have suffered effects of traffic accidents, including those involving motorcycles. Our skilled attorneys will do everything in their power to settle your case without having to go to trial but will be tenacious in pursuing compensation if it comes to that. Call our office today at 630-907-0909 to schedule a free consultation to get started on your case.

In comparison to the world around us, humans are rather frail and breakable creatures. There are countless ways you can become injured, but one of the most common ways is by being in a car accident. Millions of car accidents occur every year and produce an array of injuries, from mild injuries to more severe injuries that need immediate attention. Even if a car accident does not look severe, it has the potential to produce serious injuries. In some cases, injuries may not manifest right away. It can take a few days or weeks for some symptoms and injuries to show up, but you still have a right to hold the other person responsible for those injuries. If you have recently been in a car accident, here are a couple of common symptoms and injuries that can appear a short time after the accident:

• Headaches: One of the most common symptoms that can appear after a car accident is headaches. Headaches can be minor inconveniences or it can be a sign that something more serious is wrong. In some cases, persistent or severe headaches could mean a brain injury or neck injury.
• Neck pain or stiffness: It is also common for those who have been in a car accident to complain about a stiff neck or pain in the neck and/or shoulders. This is often the result of whiplash, which is an injury that occurs to the neck when a person’s head is forcefully thrown back and forth. In rare cases, neck pain could also be a sign of a spinal cord injury.
• Abdominal pain: If you experience unexplained pain in your abdomen after a car accident, there could be a serious injury inside of you. Abdominal pain is often a sign of internal bleeding or other soft tissue damage. If left untreated, internal bleeding could cause other issues and eventually, death.

Our Aurora, IL Car Accident Injury Lawyers Are Here to Help

It is not uncommon for symptoms to take a bit of time to manifest or appear completely after a car accident. If you are experiencing any type of unusual symptoms after your car accident, you should seek medical attention immediately and then contact the skilled team at Kinnally Flaherty Krentz Loran Hodge & Masur P.C. Our Kane County car accident injury attorneys will examine your case and help you fight for the compensation you need. To begin discussing your case, call our office today at 630-907-0909 to schedule a free consultation.