Hundreds of car accidents occur every single day, throughout the state of Illinois. Unfortunately, many of these collisions result in serious injury. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, upwards of 20% of all motor vehicle collisions result in some injuries to one or more parties involved. Throughout 2017 alone, approximately 66,889 motor vehicle collisions resulted in injury. If you or a loved one have been injured in an automobile accident, it is time to seek out the assistance of a seasoned legal professional.

Negligence Leading to an Accident

In many instances, automobile accidents are caused by driver negligence. The most common forms of driver negligence include driving over the speed limit, disregarding traffic signs, texting while driving, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In some cases, one negligent act can lead to a collision, this can occur when a driver recklessly passes a vehicle, follows another vehicle too closely, or fails to use their turn signal. If another party’s negligence leads to injuries to yourself or a family member, you may be entitled to injury compensation.

After revisiting the events of the accident with your attorney, and establishing that the other party operated their vehicle in a negligent manner, you and your attorney can begin seeking compensation. This process can begin with your attorney discussing a settlement with the other party’s insurance company. Insurance companies consistently attempt to provide victims of car accidents with low settlements and minimal compensation. With the help of an attorney, you can seek the compensation you deserve, through the threat of a trial. If the case goes to trial, it is important to hire an attorney that will work diligently to prove the other driver was acting negligently, while also providing thorough documentation of the damages you and your family have suffered (injury expenses and motor vehicle damage).

Having a lawyer is not a requirement for even the deadliest accidents, but it can be difficult to know when legal representation is needed. Car accidents happen every day, and most people can handle minor accidents with cosmetic damage only to the car themselves. When injuries occur, there is serious damage to the vehicle, and the accident was not your fault, you may want to consider calling an attorney.

From a recent release by the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 311,679 motor vehicle crashes in Illinois during 2017. Accidents with injuries accounted for 21.5% of all accidents, but fatal crashes only accounted for less than 1%. Approximately three people were injured a day in Illinois due to car accidents. One of the highest contributions to car crashes that year was speeding. It is considered negligent to go over posted speed limits on a roadway, and if that causes a car accident, then that driver may be able to be held liable if another driver is injured.

Injuries can vary from car accidents, but they can be life-altering such as paralyzation or brain damage. It can be difficult for people to realize they have been injured after a car accident, so even if injuries appear minor or non-existent, medical attention is still advised. For a personal injury claim, it is important to prove that damages occurred because of the action of another. When it comes to the human body, the best way to document this is through medical care. If you have an injury that prevents returning to work within a couple of days, compensation can be won to make up for medical expenses, time away from work, and for your suffering.

As December comes to a close, we reflect on the previous year and look forward to the fresh start that a new year brings. In this century, we celebrate our second decade, so there is bound to be extra excitement as we enter 2020. The new year brings resolutions and champagne toasts, but unfortunately, new years eve and day are a couple of the most dangerous times to be on the road and car accidents spike.

One of the biggest contributions to this spike is drunk driving. Crashes having to do with alcohol or drugs increase 71% compared to an average weekend from 6:00 p.m. on New Year's Eve to 6:00 a.m. on New Years Day. Like it's winter holiday counterparts, New Years encourages drinking alcohol. Many people top off at midnight with a glass of champagne. While that one glass of champagne would likely keep someone within the legal limit to drive, it is the drinks before and after that can create a problem.

What Is Considered Drunk Driving?

Across the United States, the legal limit to drive after consuming alcohol is 0.08%. If a person is caught with a higher concentration of alcohol in their system, they will be arrested and potentially charged with a DUI. This is because anything higher than 0.08% is considered too dangerous for a person to be driving a car. Alcohol affects decision making and reaction times, which can contribute to the cause of an auto accident.

Getting in a truck accident is a great fear for many people. Trucks themselves are large and often carry hefty loads of cargo. When driving, people are often cautious of trucks, but deadly accidents still happen. Drivers can take certain precautions when sharing the road with truck drivers, but a negligent truck driver or company is no match for small errors passenger car drivers can make.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety states that in 2018, 4,136 people died as a result of getting into an accident with a truck. The majority of these deaths were people in passenger cars. Truck drivers have the advantage of being protected in a vehicle that weighs upwards of 30 times more than an average car. A truck can roll over, but in an accident with another smaller vehicle, a semi-truck is likely to come up on top.

When a truck accident is caused by a negligent truck driver or company, reasons for this happening can include but are not limited to, an overtired driver, a driver working past the legal limit of driving hours, a company not doing a thorough inspection of their feet. Other drivers cannot control these things, but they can make decisions for a safer roadway with trucks.

No one expects to get into an accident with a truck. If anything, most drivers are extra cautious around such vehicles that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds in the United States. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, nearly 5,000 trucks were involved in fatal accidents in 2017. No matter the safety precautions other drivers take, they can still fall victim to poorly maintained fleets or exhausted drivers.

When it comes to truck accidents, it is drivers in passenger cars that are most at risk. Trucks are large and heavy, so while they could crush a small car, they keep the truck driver relatively safer. An accident with a truck can result in life-altering injuries for anyone involved. This can prevent a victim from returning to work and racking up medical bills, creating many uncertainties. Luckily, contacting a personal injury attorney can assist you after an accident to receive compensation for the accident.

After a truck accident, a lawyer would most likely recommend filing a personal injury lawsuit. This is when a person has suffered, whether physically or emotionally, because of the negligence of the other party. It is the responsibility of the plaintiff and their lawyer to prove that the defending party was at fault. A lawyer will pull information such as the police report and federal regulations to compare to the accident and investigate if a third party could have been at fault.