How Our Car Accident Attorneys Can Help
The process for filing a personal injury claim can be challenging to navigate, especially if you don’t have legal experience. Dealing with injuries and emotional trauma is already hard enough without trying to fight insurance agents and file paperwork. Insurance companies can be very aggressive and may try to intimidate you when you’re at your weakest. Insurance companies often try to shift the blame of your claim so they owe you nothing. That’s why you need a skilled representative on your side. Our team of dedicated car accident attorneys can investigate the collision and gather evidence to support your claim.
The negligent driver’s insurance company may also try to settle quickly before all of your complications from the accident come to light. Our car accident lawyers ensure victims and their families are protected. We can handle settlement negotiations on your behalf and demand the right compensation for your injuries. If a fair settlement cannot be reached in negotiation, we are more than prepared to represent you in court and fight for what you deserve!
Common Causes of Motor Vehicle Crashes
Virtually all car accidents are due to negligence in some form. Every personal injury claim requires proving that the at-fault party neglected their “duty of care” which led to the accident.
Some of the most common reasons for auto accidents include:
- Speeding
- Failure to obey traffic signals
- Illegal lane departures
- Drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs
- Sleep-deprived driving
- Distracted driving (including text messaging)
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2019, there were a total of 1009 fatal car crashes in Illinois, 375 of which were speeding-related; while in Missouri, 328 out of a total of 880 were speeding-related. In Illinois, 31% of total traffic fatalities were due to alcohol-impaired driving (blood alcohol concentration of.08 or higher), and 27% in Missouri were caused by alcohol-impaired driving. Nationally, the number of fatalities due to distracted driving rose 9.9% compared to 2018. (Sources: Traffic Safety Facts Annual Report Tables and Traffic Safety Facts Overview)
In most cases, the at-fault party may be one or both of the drivers, but in some instances, motor vehicle crashes happen due to negligence on the part of the car manufacturer or even the government. In these instances, the accident victims can file their personal injury claim against the car manufacturer or the state or city government responsible for maintaining signage, roads, and clear views.
Non-driver causes of traffic accidents include:
- Inadequate signage
- Poorly maintained roads
- Obstructed views
- Mechanical failure of car parts, such as the brakes
