Chicago and Waukegan Car Crash Attorneys
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Thousands of Americans die and millions are injured in car accidents every year. While it is true that some wrecks are unavoidable, the harsh reality is that most crashes are preventable and due to someone else’s irresponsible actions.
If you or a loved one was injured in an Illinois car accident, you have the legal right to hold the at-fault party accountable for his or her recklessness. The personal injury attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. have been helping victims of serious crashes obtain compensation to cover the costs of medical bills, lost earnings, rehabilitation and pain and suffering for decades.
Call Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard at (888) 615-8590 or contact us online for a free and confidential consultation. With offices in Chicago and Waukegan, our firm represents clients throughout Illinois.
What You Need To Know About Illinois Car Accidents
Recent crash data from the Illinois Department of Transportation presents a disturbing look at the outcomes of car wrecks in the state. In 2010, more than two motorists were killed per day in Illinois car crashes, and more than 10 people were injured each hour.
Despite a long history of prevention efforts and public awareness campaigns, car accidents remain a leading cause of death in the United States. According to IDOT, 927 people lost their lives in car accidents in 2010, up from 911 the previous year. Another 88,937 motorists suffered injuries on Illinois roadways in 2010. Tragically, more than 12,000 of those injuries were classified as incapacitating.
Causes of Illinois Car Accidents
Car accidents can be attributed to a wide variety of causes, including:
- Distracted driving: Illinois already has laws banning text messaging behind the wheel; the use of hand-held cell phones while operating a vehicle in a school zone or construction zone; and the use of electronic communication devices to e-mail, compose, read or send electronic messages while driving a motor vehicle. Officials in the village of Oak Park are currently considering a ban on eating, drinking and applying makeup while driving as well.
- Driver impairment: In 2010, 436 fatal car crashes in Illinois were alcohol-related, according to IDOT. Other forms of impairment can include the use of drugs (including illegal substances and prescription/over-the-counter medications), fatigue and illness.
- Defective car parts: Faulty vehicle parts such as seat belts, accelerator controls, wiring, wheels, tire blowouts and brake failures can lead to violent, and often fatal, car crashes.
- Poor road conditions: Uneven pavement or potholes can cause deadly crashes and life-threatening injuries to motorists. Other threats include foreign obstacles or substances on the road surface, which can cause drivers to swerve suddenly or overcorrect the vehicle as they try to regain control.
- Weather: Although it may seem surprising, the vast majority of accidents in Illinois occur on dry roadways, and almost half occur during daylight hours. However, snow, ice and rain can make the roads slick and decrease visibility, leading to serious wrecks.
- Speeding: Driving at speeds exceeding safe conditions based on the weather, road conditions, traffic or the speed of surrounding motorists are frequently the cause of many motor vehicle collisions in Illinois.
- Inadequate road design and layout: Some roads are notorious for being accident “black spots” for a variety of reasons, including alignment, visibility, surface conditions and road markings.
Injuries in Illinois Car Wrecks
Car accidents lead to all sorts of injuries. Some crashes cause only minor bumps and bruises, or you might just feel sore in the days following the accident. However, other collisions can cause devastating and life-changing damage in just a few seconds.
Common examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI): A traumatic brain injury occurs every 21 seconds in the U.S., according to the Brain Injury Association of Illinois. TBIs can result from impact with an object, such as the steering wheel or car dashboard, and can lead to lifelong disabilities.
- Spinal cord injury: As many as 316,000 people nationwide are living with a spinal cord injury, and another 12,000 sustain injuries each year. Spinal cord injuries often lead to incapacitating paralysis, paraplegia, quadriplegia (also called tetraplegia) and hemiplegia.
- Neck injuries: The highest number of injuries in Illinois car wrecks in 2010 resulted from rear-end collisions. Neck injuries are common in rear-end accidents because the head often whips forward and back in response to the impact, causing whiplash and other cervical injuries.
- Broken bones: It is not uncommon for victims of car accidents to suffer broken bones – particularly in the arms, legs, knees and wrists – as they brace themselves for impact with an oncoming vehicle. Sometimes the breakage is serious enough to require surgery and may require weeks or months to heal properly.
- Amputation: This can result from a body part being fully severed during the car accident itself. Other severe injuries, such as a crushed limb, may require amputation because the damage to the tissues and blood supply is irreparable.
How Much Money Will I Get After My Illinois Car Accident??
Studies have shown that insurance companies, on average, pay almost triple the amount of money in cases where the victim is represented by a car accident lawyer. As you are recuperating from the accident, the perpetrators of your injury may have already notified their insurance company, which, in turn, is busy trying to minimize its payout.
No attorney can guarantee how much you will be able to recover in damages from your car accident. Every crash has its own set of complexities, and how much compensation you receive can be based on a number of factors.
In general, victims of car accidents can receive compensation to cover:
- Medical bills;
- Hospital expenses;
- Rehabilitation;
- Lost wages;
- Lost earning capacity;
- Property damage;
- Disfigurement;
- Future medical expenses;
- Pain and suffering.
Injured? Consult a Chicago Car Accident Lawyer
Proving negligence in a car accident case takes an investment of time, experience, and resources – advantages that only a qualified car wreck attorney can provide. Protect yourself and your loved ones by calling for a free case evaluation. Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. has extensive experience providing our clients with the best possible legal representation for car accident cases in Illinois. Please call us today at (888) 615-8590 or by completing our online contact form.
