CHICAGO, IL – Unfortunately, fatal car accidents happen daily in Illinois and across the nation. More than 36,000 people died in car accidents from motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. in 2019, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Given how much people drive, it’s not a surprise that accidents happen all the time. However, it’s not how much Americans drive, it’s about how they drive that takes the lives of others. Continue to read this blog to learn the five leading causes of traffic fatalities in Illinois and throughout the U.S.
Distracted Driving
In 2019, more than 3,100 Americans lost their lives and 400,000 other people suffered injuries in distracted driving accidents. Texting and cell phone use are the leading distractions that lead to fatal car accidents. Other top causes of car accidents include eating and drinking, applying makeup, brushing hair, reading, watching videos, talking with other passengers, using a GPS or adjusting the music.
Impaired Driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not only extremely dangerous, but against the law. Drunk drivers kill nearly 30 Americans daily which means every 48 minutes someone in the U.S. dies from a motorist drunk driving.
In 2017, there were 10,874 fatalities in motor vehicle crashes involving drivers with blood alcohol levels of .08 or higher (the legal limit in Illinois) which constitutes 29% of all traffic fatalities for that year. In Illinois alone, drunk drivers took the lives of 291 people in 2018.
Fatigued or Drowsy Driving
An extremely tired driver is just as dangerous as a drunk driver. A driver who has been awake for 18 hours straight experiences the same level of visual, motor and cognitive impairments as a driver with a blood-alcohol level of 0.05, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Drowsy driving is especially problematic for commercial truck drivers who may feel economic pressure to stay behind the wheel longer than is safe and longer than federal regulations allow. When a fatigued driver of an enormous tractor-trailer hits a much smaller passenger vehicle, the results are often catastrophic. Nodding off for just a second or two is enough time for a driver to lose control of their vehicle or fail to react to conditions around them.
Speeding
All of us drive faster than the posted speed limit from time to time. An estimated two-thirds of all drivers exceed the speed limit at any given time. Speeding dramatically increases the chance that a crash will result in the death of a driver or passenger. Someone who is speeding has less time to react to sudden stops or slowdowns ahead of them. Speeding also makes cars more susceptible to a loss of control due to weather-related road conditions.
Dangerous Road Conditions
Dangerous road and weather conditions can lead to plenty of fatal crashes which is why drivers must adjust their behavior and use even caution when driving in bad weather, through construction zones or in other hazardous conditions. Failing to account for unfavorable conditions or engaging in other behaviors like speeding or impaired driving is careless, reckless, and negligent and can be the basis for a wrongful death claim if the crash results in a fatality.
The Car Accidents Attorneys at the Dinizulu Law Group are Here to Help You!
The death of a loved one in a car accident is a loss that no amount of money can ever make up for. But grieving families deserve justice, accountability and compensation that can help them heal. The Chicago, Illinois attorneys at the Dinizulu Law Group have earned a reputation for service and success in representing and recovering substantial damages for car accident victims throughout the Chicagoland area. Fill out this form or call us now at (312) 384-1920
