When a car crash causes severe injuries that put the brakes on your ability to work and provide for your family, moving forward with your life can be challenging. Concerns about how you’ll pay for your medical treatments and medications, when or if you’ll be able to get back to work, and how you’re going to put food on the table can quickly become overwhelming. These worries, especially when combined with your struggle to heal, can make it difficult to think clearly and make informed decisions when trying to settle a car accident claim. You need an accident attorney who will shoot you straight, deliver sound legal advice, and fight to get you a fair settlement. That’s where we come in.
At Martay Law Office, our family-run law firm understands the importance of having an accident attorney you can trust to restore your financial future after a crash. Over the years, we’ve developed a reputation for our honesty, integrity, and always putting the needs and goals of our clients first. In fact, a large portion of our car accident cases are referred to us by our past and current clients who are pleased with the service they received as well as the results we delivered.
Every year, almost 70,000 car crashes in Illinois cause personal injuries to more than 93,000 victims. Over 1,000 people are killed. With about ten car accident injuries occurring every hour in the state, and approximately 2-3 people losing their lives each day, the risk for having your life turned upside down in a crash is very real.
Although Midwest weather and poorly maintained roads contribute to many crashes in Illinois, these are not the most common causes of car accidents in the state. Factors that most frequently contribute to injury and fatality accidents include the following.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is the leading cause of car accidents in Illinois and throughout the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that distracted driving kills more than 3,000 people every year. Although Illinois law bans all handheld cellphone usage, and the state has taken countless measures to increase awareness about the dangers of driving distracted, the number of victims who are seriously injured or lose their lives to distracted drivers is staggering.
Drug and Alcohol Impaired Driving
In 2016, about 28% of all traffic deaths involved drivers who were impaired by alcohol or drugs. That same year, in 17% of accidents that killed children under 14, impaired drivers were a contributing factor. The CDC reports that approximately 29 people in the U.S. lose their lives to drunk or drugged drivers each day.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
Chaotic driving behaviors like speeding, tailgating, weaving in and out of lanes, aggressive driving, and ignoring traffic laws are some of the most common behaviors that cause traffic accidents in Illinois. In fact, speeding is second only to distracted driving when it comes to causing wrecks. Despite the dangers, nearly 40% of drivers admit to driving aggressively and an alarming 70% admit to speeding.
Driving While Fatigued
Working long hours and keeping up with the busy lifestyles of today’s society puts many fatigued drivers behind the wheel. Falling asleep while driving is not the only concern for tired drivers and the motorists they share the roads with, however. When fatigued, drivers often display some of the same behaviors as intoxicated or drugged drivers including slow reaction times, blurred vision, and making bad driving decisions.
Equipment Failures
In addition to handling cases involving bad driving behaviors, our attorneys represent clients whose accidents are caused by defective vehicle parts and equipment. When tire blowouts, brake failures, steering problems, and other mechanical defects cause a crash, manufacturers and retailers may be to blame. Equipment failures contribute to nearly 5% of all automobile crashes in the United States.
A lot goes into proving fault in a car crash in Illinois. When you hire our attorneys to pursue compensation on your behalf, we’ll begin with a thorough investigation to reveal what may have caused your wreck.
Once the cause of your crash is established, our team will negotiate with insurers and other liable parties to help you make you most of your injury claim. We’ll attempt to recover fair compensation to pay for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other economic and noneconomic damages. If an acceptable settlement cannot be reached, we’ll bring your case before the courts to ensure you get paid and no money is left on the table.