Chicago Car Accident Attorneys 

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Common causes may include:

• Distracted Driving: This often includes texting, talking on the phone, using GPS, or even eating while driving.
• Speeding: Exceeding the speed limit reduces a driver's capability to react to sudden changes, such as road hazards, sharp turns, or other drivers' actions. Speeding also increases the severity of collisions, making it a significant factor in car accident cases.
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Alcohol and drugs impair judgment, response time, and motor skills, increasing the likelihood of serious accidents.
• Reckless or Aggressive Driving: Aggressive behaviors such as tailgating, weaving between lanes, and road rage incidents often lead to dangerous situations. Reckless drivers put themselves and others at risk by failing to follow traffic laws and safety protocols.
• Weather Conditions: Chicago’s unpredictable weather can also contribute to car accidents. Rain, snow, ice, and fog reduce visibility and make roads slippery, increasing the risk of collisions.
• Fatigue: Drowsy driving is just as dangerous as driving under the influence. Fatigued drivers have slower reaction times and could even fall asleep at the wheel, causing accidents that could have been prevented.
• Mechanical Failures: Sometimes, car accidents occur due to mechanical failures like brake malfunctions, tire blowouts, or engine problems. Holding the manufacturer or mechanic responsible may be possible when a vehicle defect is involved.

Common Injuries in Car Accidents

Common injuries may include:

• Whiplash: Whiplash is the most common injuries in rear-end collisions. It occurs when the neck is jerked forward and backward suddenly, causing damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
• Head and Brain Injuries: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can occur when a person’s head hits the steering wheel, dashboard, or windows. Even mild concussions can have lasting effects, while severe TBIs can result in permanent cognitive and physical impairments.
• Broken Bones: The force of impact in a car accident can easily result in broken bones, especially in the arms, legs, ribs, and facial bones. Some fractures heal relatively quickly, but more severe breaks may require surgery or long-term rehabilitation.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Harm to the spinal cord could lead to partial or full paralysis, drastically affecting a person’s quality of life. Even less severe back injuries, such as herniated discs, could lead to chronic pain and disability.
• Internal Injuries: Internal bleeding and organ damage could occur when the body is violently thrown against the seatbelt or steering wheel during a crash.
• Cuts and Lacerations: Broken glass, sharp metal, and debris can often cause deep cuts and lacerations, which could require stitches and leave lasting scars.
• Soft Tissue Injuries: Sprains, strains, and bruises are common in car accidents. While they may seem minor, soft tissue injuries can lead to long-term pain and discomfort, sometimes requiring physical therapy for recovery.
• Psychological Trauma: Physical injuries are not the only outcome of a car accident. Many victims experience psychological effects such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and phobias related to driving or riding in vehicles.

Is Illinois an At-Fault State?

Illinois is an at-fault state, meaning injured parties have the option to pursue claims with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. The amount of compensation someone can receive depends on their fault in an accident. This is known as comparative negligence. 

Under comparative negligence laws, if an injured party is found partially at fault for an accident, courts can reduce their compensation proportionally. For example, if a person is deemed 20% at fault, their compensation will be 80% of the maximum total.

Elements of Auto Accident Cases 

Making a car accident claim generally requires demonstrating the following elements:

• The at-fault driver had a legal duty to enact care while operating their vehicle. This could include signaling while turning or stopping at a red light. 
• The at-fault driver failed to uphold their duty of care. To the examples above, this can look like turning or merging without a signal or running a red light. 
• The at-fault driver’s breach of their duty of care caused an accident that led to the victim’s injuries. 

While these three things might seem straightforward, they can be challenging to argue. This is why working with an attorney who has shown their ability to successfully settle auto accident cases is important.