In Illinois, car accidents are a common occurrence. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were over 1.3 million car accidents in 2015 alone, resulting in 37,461 fatalities and more than 3 million injuries. When you are involved in a car accident, you need a car accident lawyer Orland Park Illinois. Carlson Bier Associates has the experience to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us for a consultation at 312-622-2900.
With so many drivers on the road each day and with so many different types of vehicles sharing that space, it’s no surprise that accidents happen so often. If you’re involved in an accident or injured by someone else’s negligence, understanding what caused the crash can help protect yourself from further harm or financial loss.
Distracted drivers
Like many other states, Illinois has banned texting and using handheld cell phones while driving. But many people still use their devices, which takes their focus off the road. Also, there are still plenty of distractions that can cause car accidents in Illinois. These include eating and drinking (especially coffee), putting on makeup, changing the radio station or adjusting the air conditioning controls, reading maps or books to entertain children in your vehicle, and even talking with passengers in your car.
If you have been in an accident because of distracted driving the attorneys at Carlson Bier Associates can help. Our car accident lawyer Orland Park Illinois will get you the best outcome possible. You may be entitled to compensation for injuries, lost wages, and other damages.
It’s important to know if you’re distracted while driving so that you can take steps to avoid accidents caused by distractions. You should always keep both hands on the wheel even when using a GPS navigator or dashboard touchscreen device. If possible, pull off onto a safe shoulder before making adjustments to any of your vehicle’s controls while moving down the road; this includes adjusting seat belts as well as switching between audio sources like FM/AM stations or CDs/DVDs.
Failure to yield right-of-way
Another common cause of car accidents in Illinois is failure to yield right-of-way. A driver who has the right-of-way must yield to other vehicles before proceeding through an intersection. That also means that a driver without the right-of-way can cause an accident by failing to yield as well.
We’ve all been in situations where we had no choice but to stop at an intersection or make our way through a crosswalk with traffic coming toward us. Typically, this happens when you’re on your way home from work and there’s little visibility because it’s dark outside or there’s heavy rain and foggy conditions making it difficult to see ahead of you. In these situations, if another driver doesn’t stop before they hit yours then both vehicles will suffer damage because they didn’t follow proper procedures before trying their luck at getting across the road safely. Unfortunately, damages and injury may be the result. If that is the case, you may need a car accident lawyer Orland Park Illinois to pursue justice for you.
Disobeying traffic signals
It’s said that nine out of ten crashes are caused by driver error. Every traffic signal you encounter has been placed there for a reason. Traffic signals let drivers know when to slow down or stop—they help prevent accidents, so it’s important to obey them. If someone has disobeyed a traffic signal, this may be considered negligence and a lawsuit could be filed. At Carlson Bier, our car accident lawyer Orland Park Illinois is here to help you. Contact us today for a consultation.
Making sure you have time to safely stop at a red light is critical. If you don’t, it means you’re violating the law and could face monetary penalties (like having your driving privileges revoked). The yellow light time should also be long enough for motorists driving at reasonable speeds to come to a complete stop before entering an intersection during this phase. Drivers who fail to do so may cause rear-end collisions with other vehicles stopped behind them on the roadway.
Following too closely
Following too closely is a traffic violation in Illinois and it means you are driving too close to the vehicle in front of you. This is a major cause of car accidents and can also be considered as a serious danger to other drivers. When you drive too closely behind another vehicle, you may not have time to react if that vehicle stops suddenly or takes an unexpected turn.
If there’s any doubt about whether or not your distance from the car in front of you is safe enough, then move further back until the situation feels comfortable again. It’s better to err on the side of caution when it comes to following distances than risk getting into an accident.
Driving too fast for conditions
Driving too fast for conditions can cause a car accident. The speed limits on Illinois roads are set for a reason, to keep you safe, and to protect other drivers on the road. When there are dangerous conditions, it is even more important to follow the posted speed limit, or even go slower. For example, if you’re driving in foggy conditions and your visibility is limited to 100 feet or less, your ability to stop within that distance is compromised. If another driver passes you at this point, there could be a collision if both were traveling at highway speeds.
If you’ve been in an accident, our car accident lawyer Orland Park Illinois will pursue justice for you
It is possible to prevent and avoid motor vehicle accidents. First, drive safely by avoiding distractions, going the speed limit, and obeying the traffic signals. You should also be alert and be aware of other drivers.
There are many reasons why car accidents occur. It is important to be aware of these causes and remember that they can affect everyone. If you are driving with friends or family, make sure they know how important it is to drive safely as well. And if you’ve been involved in an accident our car accident lawyer Orland Park Illinois will help. At Carlson Bier Associates, we have the drive and the passion to pursue justice for you.