Common Causes of Car Accidents in Illinois

Car accidents happen for many reasons, but one thing most of them have in common is that they are preventable. When you are in a car accident, you may know what happened, and you may have proof that the other party is responsible. Learning all of the details of the cause of the accident could reveal additional parties to blame. Consider the most common causes of car accidents in Illinois and how a Springfield car accident attorney can help you.

Distracted Driving

By far, the most common cause of accidents in Illinois is distracted driving. Driver inattention results in 1 million crashes in North America each year, according to the State of Illinois. More so, the state shares that using a cell phone while driving increases the risk of being in an accident by 400%. Distracted driving includes actions such as:

• Using a phone behind the wheel
• Adjusting navigational devices
• Eating while driving
• Distracted conversations with others in the vehicle
• Managing children or pets
• Applying makeup while driving
• Reaching for something

Distracted driving is highly dangerous in all forms. It takes your vision away from the road for just a few seconds, which is long enough to cause a life-threatening injury.

Drunk Driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is highly dangerous. A person who is intoxicated is unable to control the vehicle properly, gauge distance well, or navigate fast-changing road conditions safely. Intoxicated driving is problematic, but even those who just had a drink before hitting the road, who may not be legally drunk behind the wheel, are still more likely to cause an accident.

Tailgating

Driving too closely to the person in front of you, the practice of tailgating, creates an increased risk of car accidents. It does not allow for enough room to stop a vehicle if road conditions change suddenly, such as a child darts out into traffic, and the driver in front of you has to stop hard.

Fatigue

Tired drivers are nearly as dangerous as those who are intoxicated. Being tired means your brain is unable to process information fast enough, leading to the onset of an accident. You may overcorrect when steering away from an animal in the road or suddenly swerve as your brain startsle you back awake. You do not have to fall asleep behind the wheel to cause an accident.

Speeding

A form of reckless driving, speeding is a highly dangerous cause of accidents in Illinois. Even if a person can control a vehicle at a high rate of speed, these vehicles take much longer to stop, and at such a speed, if they cannot stop in time, the risk of serious injury from the amount of force is significant.

Aggressive Driving

Another type of reckless driving, aggressive driving, is any type of illegal action that impacts the safety of others, often with intentional intent. Running a red light, brake checking, driving illegally on the shoulder, or failing to stop for stop signs are all examples.

Why the Cause of Accidents Matters

These common causes of car accidents in Illinois are all preventable, but when they happen to you and you are suffering serious injuries as a result, you deserve fair compensation. Your attorney will determine the cause of the accident and then seek fair compensation for all of the losses you have suffered as a result of another person’s actions.