Nobody plans to be injured in a car accident, but thousands of them happen in Illinois every year. Injuries can range from mild to fatal, affecting the victims and their families. Understanding the top causes of these collisions may help you avoid them.
Most of these causes are negligent human error, which could qualify you for compensation. If you are injured in a motor vehicle collision, an experienced lawyer from Flaherty Law, LLC can help.
How Many Car Accidents Happen Due to Human Error?
According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver errors cause 94 percent of all traffic crashes. Vehicle problems and environmental issues were responsible for 4 percent, with unknown factors causing the remaining 2 percent.
Driver-related contributing factors are:
- Recognition errors, including driver distractions: 41 percent
- Decision errors, including driving too fast for conditions: 33 percent
- Performance errors, such as overcompensation or improper steering: 11 percent
- Non-performance errors, such as excessive fatigue or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol: 7 percent
- Other errors: 8 percent
Few accidents are unavoidable. Those caused by driver errors could probably be avoided if drivers did not engage in negligent behaviors, such as speeding, disregarding traffic laws, following too closely, distracted driving, failing to yield the right of way, and failing to check blind spots before merging. If a negligent driver injured you, you deserve compensation.
How Do I Know if I Qualify for Compensation After A Car Accident?
Every state has negligence laws that govern eligibility for compensation after an injury-producing accident and how much you can receive. Illinois uses modified comparative negligence. You can obtain compensation from other at-fault parties if your share of fault for causing your crash is less than 51 percent. However, your payout is reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if you are 30 percent at fault, you can only receive 70 percent of your total damages.
Damages in personal injury cases are specific accident-related losses and the compensation or reimbursement you might receive. Many injured car accident victims receive damages for:
- Property damage
- Medical expenses
- Ongoing care
- Lost wages
- Inconvenience
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
If a loved one lost her life in a fatal car crash, eligible survivors may qualify to receive compensation through a wrongful death claim.
Calling Flaherty Law, LLC is the best way to determine whether you are eligible for compensation. We will evaluate case-specific factors and work to help you get the compensation you deserve to hold at-fault parties accountable for their negligence.
Although you may qualify for compensation, you may face various challenges that can damage your claim. A trusted attorney knows how to overcome them.
Call Our Dedicated Will County, IL Car Accident Lawyer Today
You need an experienced lawyer to get the best results for your car accident claim, and Flaherty Law, LLC is ready to help you. Call us at 815-860-5702 for your free consultation with our determined Plainfield, IL personal injury attorney.