Injured in a DuPage County Auto Accident?
DuPage County is an area with a diverse economy and population and ripe with opportunities. Known as the second most populous county in the state, it encompasses towns like Naperville, Wheaton, Downers Grove, and Lisle. With a population nearing one million, DuPage has a number of great qualities.
But where there are a lot of people, usually there are also a lot of motor vehicles. And that can lead to accidents, injuries, and even deaths when drivers are negligent or otherwise careless behind the wheel. Car accidents continue to be the biggest cause of death among teenagers across the nation and unfortunately also claim a large number of lives in every age group.
How Common Are Car Accidents in DuPage County?
In one recent year there were 281,788 motor vehicle collisions in Illinois. Further, of those crashes, 18,331 were in DuPage County. This put DuPage second behind only Cook County in terms of the total number of collisions. Therefore, DuPage can be a very dangerous place for motorists.
Some of the collisions in DuPage were minor and fortunately did not cause any injuries. However, there were 5,569 crashes with injuries. Tragically, 27 deaths were due to those crashes in DuPage County.
Driving is part of many people’s daily routine. Whether driving to work, taking the kids to school, running errands, or simply out for a drive, cars serve a vital function in society by allowing us to travel from place to place. For everyone’s safety, laws exist that govern traffic and every person who uses the roads is required to abide by those laws.
In an ideal world, the presence of laws would mean that everyone would abide by the rules at all times and there would be no accidents or injuries cause by cars. However that is not the case in DuPage or in Illinois in general. Drivers may behave negligently or recklessly, drive distracted, or even operate a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. All of these increase a driver’s risk of causing a collision and injuring themselves and other motorists.
When a driver is irresponsible and causes an accident, other drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, or even pedestrians may be injured or killed. Driving is a big responsibility that many take all too lightly and without thinking of the consequences before getting behind the wheel.
Common Causes of Auto Accidents
Car accidents can occur in hundreds of different ways and can cause thousands of different injuries, depending on the specific facts of each occurrence. The most common type of accident is a rear-end collision. Here, a driver fails to slow or stop in time and uses the front of his vehicle to strike the rear of another car. These accidents can be mild or severe depending on several factors, including:
- The speed of each vehicle
- Automobile make and model
- Weather and road conditions at the time of the crash
- Whether any additional cars are in the accident
Another common type of collision in DuPage County is failing to yield while turning left. In this type of crash, one vehicle turns left into the path of an oncoming car. This often occurs when a driver attempts to turn left at a stop sign, stop light, or into a driveway. The motorist fails to wait until traffic clears, causing a collision with another car. As the impact of these crashes is often near the area where a passenger sits in the second car, they can be especially dangerous and often produce severe injuries or fatalities.
After an accident, the at-fault driver is liable for any damages caused to the victim. This means that if someone sustains injury as a result of a car crash, they may have a claim for their damages. This could include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in DuPage County?
Here is a list of recommended actions to take after an accident:
- Call 911 and make a police report
- Exchange insurance and contact information with the other drivers in the accident
- Take photos of the scene of the accident and the vehicles involved
- Gather contact information for any independent witnesses
- If you sustain injuries, seek medical attention ASAP
- Contact an attorney to assist you in making a claim, and do this before contacting insurance carriers
Contact a DuPage County Car Accident Lawyer
Each collision is unique and each crash has its own set of facts, so if you have been injured in an collision, call the DuPage County car accident lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. today. We have an attorney standing by 24 hours a day to take your call at (312) 924-7575. We will discuss your accident with you and determine if you have a legal claim for your losses.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we fight for the injured every day and have done so since the firm began. We have represented numerous clients in accidents in DuPage County, including a pedestrian accident case that settled for $600,000. Call us today and let us fight for a recovery you deserve.
If you have been injured in a DuPage County car accident, call Abels & Annes, P.C. now at (312) 924-7575 or Contact Us online for a free, no obligation case consultation.