Articles Posted in Car Accident

Excessive speed is one of the most common causes of fatal Illinois car accidents, as vehicles traveling substantially over the posted speed limit are more difficult to control, placing law-abiding drivers in serious jeopardy of injury or death. If excessive speed is the cause or a contributing factor in an Illinois car accident, the at-fault driver can be held accountable for the damages through an Illinois personal injury lawsuit. A local news report discusses a recent speed-related Chicago car accident involving four vehicles that left at least three people injured and one dead.

High-Speed Results in Dangerous Consequences

According to the news report, the early morning accident was triggered by the driver of a Chrysler 300 who was traveling at an excessive rate of speed in the northbound lanes and struck another vehicle. After the initial collision, the Chrysler spun into the southbound lanes and was hit by two additional vehicles. Paramedics were called to the scene, where the driver of the Chrysler was pronounced dead, and three other individuals were transported to local hospitals with minor to serious injuries.

Although most drivers know to exercise additional caution when navigating busy city traffic, Chicago car accidents still take place on a daily basis. Sometimes, even the utmost of caution from a careful driver can result in a deadly car accident if others are driving recklessly or carelessly. When these accidents take place, those who fail to operate according to the rules of the road should be held accountable for their actions.

According to a recent local news report, a deadly crash took place on a local expressway that left a 32-year-old Chicago man dead and two other individuals hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Local authorities noted that a witness saw a reckless driver speeding on the expressway prior to the crash.

Speeding on the expressway, according to recent data from the Illinois Department of Transportation, has increased by nearly 10 percent this year as compared to the previous year. For example, in the last year, the agency reported a 10 percent increase in fatalities from crashes, an 11 percent increase in speeding citations, and a six percent increase in DUI citations.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) periodically compiles reports regarding the rate and circumstances surrounding accidents in the state. Most recent statistics indicate that Chicago car accidents can result in serious injuries to drivers, pedestrians, and bystanders. The IDOT reports that most fatal accidents occur on dry roadways; however, this may be related to the lower number of drivers on the road during inclement weather.

Despite the statistics, it is clear that winter weather conditions pose significant hazards to motorists. For example, a recent news report described a harrowing accident that involved a driver skidding on ice. According to police, a 42-year-old driver was driving her SUV when she skidded while turning east. The SUV slammed into a curb and flipped over, colliding into a fence before finally stopping. Two of the passengers were taken to a hospital, and two other passengers refused medical treatment.

It may be unrealistic to expect Illinois residents to avoid commuting in winter weather conditions. However, drivers should understand the different types of weather and how to adjust their driving to accommodate the conditions. Long and harsh winters involve cold temperatures, strong winds, ice, snow, and foggy conditions. Cold fronts, especially when temperatures dip below freezing, can affect how a car operates. During these times, tire pressure can fluctuate, and fuel efficiency can vary. Drivers should ensure that their tire pressure is at the appropriate level and their fuel tanks are filled. Strong winds can cause a vehicle to sway and become harder to maneuver. Similarly, icy conditions can make a vehicle harder to control, especially, when black ice is involved. Finally, snow can cover lanes and traffic signs, causing drivers to enter wrong lanes or ramps, inadvertently.

Few accidents are as jarring as a hit and run car accident. For most people, the thought of speeding off when after a serious accident would never enter their mind. Yet, there are hundreds of hit and run accidents each year in and around Chicago. Sadly, many of these accidents result in serious injury or death. And unfortunately, recovering after a Chicago hit and run accident can be difficult for accident victims.

While recovering financial compensation after any Chicago car accident can raise certain challenges, hit and run accidents often present unique difficulties for accident victims. For one, in a Chicago hit and run accident, there may not be another party to look to for financial responsibility. By their very nature, a hit and run accident involves a situation in which one of the motorists leaves the scene of the accident without calling the police or providing their information to other drivers. Thus, when it comes to pursuing a claim for compensation, the only option is often with the accident victim’s own insurance policy, under the Uninsured Motorist (UM) provision.

Illinois Auto Insurance Requirements

Anyone who lives in Chicago or the surrounding area is more than a little familiar with cold winter weather. Last month, when temperatures dropped and winter weather hit, snow and below-freezing degrees created icy roads, leading to an increase in traffic accidents. On the morning of April 15th, there were more than a dozen crashes reported in Chicago and the surrounding areas.

One crash, in particular, made major headlines, as over 50 cars and 3 semi-trucks were involved in a pileup on the Kennedy Expressway. According to a local news report covering the incident, the pileup occurred at around 5 in the morning. Fourteen individuals involved were transported to hospitals—which are already burdened by COVID-19 patients—and 45 others were evaluated for injuries at the scene. While fire officials and police made sure to do their job and respond appropriately to the tragic, and massive, incident, they did so whilst trying to maintain proper social distance, to lessen the risk of spreading COVID-19.

The crash was so massive that the expressway at North Avenue was shut down as it was cleaned up, with over a dozen Illinois Department of Transportation vehicles towing away cars that could not be driven. It was about five hours until the expressway was re-opened. While the crash is still under investigation, a Chicago Fire Department Deputy Chief stated that he thought speeding may have been a contributing factor. Vehicles driving quickly on icy roads are more likely to get into a crash, and then the vehicles behind them are unable to stop in time, and instead slide on the ice. This may explain why the pileup became so incredibly large.