When you’re injured in a car accident, you may be offered significantly less than what your claim is worth. Car accident attorneys perform in-depth investigations of crashes, interview witnesses, gather evidence to support your claim, ensure that all injuries and medical treatment are documented, and negotiate settlements that are often much more than what insurance companies initially offer. If an accident case goes to court, our injury lawyers will be there to make sure your rights are protected. We will help you obtain financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages to which you may be entitled.
The Risk for Motor Vehicle Accidents in Chicago is Higher than Ever
Police officers and other Chicagoans spend hours on highways and city streets throughout Illinois each day. Whether you are commuting to work, on a family outing or running errands, your safety and the well-being of your family can be jeopardized in the blink of an eye. With distracted drivers, inexperienced motor vehicle operators, and reckless or impaired motorists around every turn, your risk of becoming injured or killed in a car crash is significant.
In 2015 alone, Illinois saw more than 300,000 motor vehicle accidents that caused over 91,670 serious injuries. That same year 998 victims lost their lives to car crashes. And those numbers aren’t getting any better. According to a recent report, a record number of fatality accidents occurred in the state of Illinois in 2016. With 1,055 motor vehicle fatalities in Illinois that year, the risk for car accident injuries to motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians is higher than ever.
Car Accidents Result in Serious Consequences
When people become victims of serious motor vehicle crashes they are often faced with a number of physical and emotional challenges, financial burdens and other hurdles that make putting their lives back together difficult. They often face mounting medical bills, the inability to work and provide for their families, pain and suffering and mental distress, the loss of physical abilities and property damage. Our car accident attorneys can help victims and their families find relief from many of the financial stressors that occur after a crash.
Factors that Contribute to the High Number of Car Accidents in Illinois
Our attorneys have achieved successful outcomes for victims who have suffered car accident injuries due to a variety of causes. Some of the most common contributing factors in the rise of vehicle crashes and fatalities in the state include:
- Drunk or Drugged Driving: The consumption of alcohol or medications can significantly affect a motorist’s ability to drive safely. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, about 25 percent of car accident fatalities involve a drunk or drug impaired driver.
- Increased Driving: An improved economy and better gas prices have led to more Illinois drivers on the road. With more than 1.7 percent miles traveled by drivers in the state in 2016 than in 2015, IDOT asserts that accidents are more likely.
- Distracted Driving: Despite increased regulations, drivers still continue to talk, text on cell phones, eat and drink, and perform other distracting behaviors while operating motor vehicles. From 2009 and 2013, about 6,000 car crashes occurred in Illinois where driver cellphone use was a factor.
Legal Representation Makes a Difference
Contact Herbert Law Firm today at 312-655-7660 for a free consultation.
