In 2018, Illinois ranked number 41 out of 50 among the deadliest roads and car crashes. While this statistic is great compared to the majority of the United States, Illinois still sees a lot of deadly car crashes. Head-on collisions (when the front end of two cars collide) are the most deadly type of car crash, but fortunately, these are the rarest in the state. Rear-end and T-bone (sideswipe) accidents are much more common and usually only result in serious injuries in the worst-case scenarios.
Here’s a look at what causes motor vehicle accidents in the state of Illinois.
#1: Reckless Driving
In the state of Illinois, reckless driving is defined as driving a motor vehicle with a willful disregard for the safety of others— both drivers and pedestrians— and using an incline to make a car become airborne is a specific example of reckless driving. Speeding (driving 35 mph or more over the posted speed limit) is also considered reckless driving in Illinois. Other examples may include:
- Not coming to a complete stop at stop signs
- Running red lights
- Swerving lanes
Reckless driving is a Class A misdemeanor and can result in $2,500 in fines and up to one year in jail. This type of driving can cause head-on collisions, rear-end accidents, and even T-bone accidents.
#2: Impaired Driving
Impaired driving is defined as anything that cognitively affects a person’s ability to drive. Drunk driving is the most common form of impaired driving, and in Illinois, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or more. However, you can still be convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) even if it’s less than .08 percent. Other substances can also impair your driving, and examples of these include:
- Allergy medications (they can make you drowsy)
- Illegal drugs
- Nighttime cold medicine/sleeping aids
- Prescription medications
In Illinois, driving under the influence can result in a one-year suspension of your driver’s license. Like reckless driving, this can result in all types of collisions. In fact, DUI can be considered a form of reckless driving.
#3: Fatigue
Driver fatigue is another common cause of car accidents, whether due to taking sleep-inducing medications or simply driving when tired. Some people still choose to get behind the wheel of a car when tired, and then they end up falling asleep behind the wheel and causing serious collisions with another vehicle or a single-vehicle crash. Fatigued driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving, and people shouldn’t drive when they’re extremely tired.
However, drivers of semi-trucks are usually the ones who are fatigued while driving. Truck drivers drive for several hours at a time, making them more susceptible to this type of accident. Semi-trucks are much bigger than even the biggest SUVs on the market and are more likely to cause serious injuries and death. A truck accident lawyer should be contacted if you were involved in a semi-truck wreck.
#4: Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is the number one cause of car accidents in Illinois and all over the country. Texting while driving is the most common form of distracted driving, but this can also include:
- Applying makeup
- Changing the radio/music on your phone
- Eating food
- Talking on the phone/other car passengers
Distracted driving is also the number one cause of rear-end collisions.
#5: Bad Weather
While it’s not a major cause of car wrecks, bad weather conditions can also cause car accidents. The two main weather conditions that cause wrecks are rain (flooding) and snow (slippery roads). Illinois sees both of these weather conditions, so drivers must practice extra caution when driving in the rain and extremely cold weather. Bad weather usually results in single-vehicle crashes, but it can also be the cause of other types of crashes.
If you’re involved in a car accident in Illinois due to any of these causes, the first thing you should do is call 911. The operators will send emergency medical services if necessary, and also the police— which is required for serious car accidents in Illinois. Contacting the police ensures you’ll get a police report, and most insurance companies will ask for this before paying any compensation.
Contacting a personal injury lawyer that specializes in motor vehicle accidents will also make sure that the insurance company/companies will pay you what you’re entitled to. So before accepting any payments, contact a personal injury lawyer first.
Check out: What Can a Car Accident Lawyer Do to Help Me?
