Illinois Vehicle Accident Statistics

There are nearly ten million licensed drivers in Illinois operating about 11.5 million registered motor vehicles. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 312,988 automobile crashes were reported in 2019.

Were you the victim of an automobile accident in Illinois, or did you lose a loved one through a wrongful death by another's negligence? The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC can ensure your family receives the financial compensation they deserve for your damages.

Contact our Chicago car accident injury lawyers at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or through the contact form today to schedule a free consultation. All information you share with our law office remains confidential through an attorney-client relationship.

The Illinois Department of Transportation reported 312,988 crashes in 2019, including crashes occurring in Cook County (159,471), DuPage County (19,074), Kane County (10,268), Lake County (10,421), and Peoria County (4408). Nearly all vehicle accidents in Illinois occurred due to critical factors like driver error, drunk driving, distraction, or malfunctioning vehicle components.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that approximately one-third of all accidents in the United States result from speeding or other driver decision mistakes. About 11% of all crashes occur when the driver loses control or overcompensates to avoid a catastrophic event.

Illinois Department of Transportation 2019 Motor Vehicle Crash Statistics

The Illinois Secretary of State's office reveals that 11,322,497 motor vehicles were registered in Illinois in 2019. The state also licensed 9,170,304 Illinois drivers that year. Other Illinois Department of Transportation statistics for 2019 include:

• Nearly 313,000 car crashes were reported, including 279,863, occurring in urban areas with 57,498 moderate and 6,264 severe, non-fatal injuries, and 624 deaths
• Approximately 31,750 vehicle crashes were reported statewide in rural areas in 2019, including 6162 moderate and 1538 severe, non-fatal injuries, and 308 deaths
• Over 89,100 car crashes with bodily harm were reported in 2019
• Nearly 9700 vehicle accident-related A-injuries were reported
• Illinois State Police documented 1010 vehicle crashes in 2019
• On average, over 850 traffic crashes occurred every day in 2019
• Statistically, nearly three people die every day in traffic crashes statewide
• Over ten people suffer bodily harm every hour in motor vehicle accidents
• Statistics reveal there were 3337 vehicle overturned crashes statewide in 2019
• Statistically, more Illinois crashes occurred on Fridays (50,054) in 2019, followed by Tuesdays (46,453), Thursdays (45,594), Mondays (45,407), Wednesdays (44,127), Saturdays (43,862), Sundays (36,112) in rural and urban environments
• Over 35,000 crashes were documented on Illinois interstates and tollways in urban areas in 2019, including 4895 moderate and 474 severe non-fatal injuries, and 96 fatalities
• Statistically, more urban area crashes occurred statewide between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM (73,489) & noon and 4:00 PM (71,724) than any other time during the day
• Statistically, more rural accidents occurred statewide between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM (7574) & 4:00 AM and 8:00 AM (5885) than at any other time during the day
• Law enforcement documented 1579 total crashes on Illinois freeways in 2019, including 281 moderate and 36 severe non-fatal injuries, and eight fatalities

Illinois Car Crash Injury Statistics

The residents of Illinois spent $5.9 billion in 2019 to cover the cost of accidents occurring statewide. Statistics reveal that motor vehicle deaths cost the state approximately $1,704,000 for each fatality. Other statistics, costs, and facts include:

• In 2019, approximately 3.8% of all vehicle crashes in Illinois involved semi-tractor-trailers, and 2.8% involved bodily harm
• Approximately 2.1% of all crashes statewide occurred in work zones in 2019, and 1.9% involved bodily harm
• A severe incapacitating injury in an Illinois motor vehicle crash is estimated to cost $98,400
• Statewide car crashes involving bodily harm are estimated to cost $28,500 each
• The typical property damage caused in a motor vehicle crash is estimated to cost $4600 on average
• About 5.2% of all motor vehicle crashes statewide involved colliding with the deer in 2019
• Speeding was the leading contributing factor in 33.4% of all car crashes in 2019
• Of the 58,836 crashes with bodily harm occurring on Illinois roadways in 2019, 29,959 were females, and 28,877 were males
• Of the 22,834 passengers injured in car crashes statewide in 2019, 13,888 were females, and 8946 were males
• Illinois drivers accounted for over 66% of all bodily harm in 2019

Illinois Motorcycle Crash Statistics

Illinois crash statistics revealed that 2093 motorcyclists suffered bodily harm in crashes in 2019. More than 765 motorcyclists and passengers suffered A-injuries (incapacitating severe bodily harm), and 138 died. Other motorcycle crash statistics include:

• Less than one percent of all car crashes in 2019 involve motorcyclists, and 3% of all crashes involved an injured motorcyclist
• Law enforcement documented 2750 motorcycle crashes in Illinois in 2019
• Police documented 138 motorcycle crash fatalities in 2019 statewide
• Of the 1825 motorcycle crashes with bodily harm occurring in urban areas, most (443) occurred on principal arterial roadways, followed by minor arterial roadways (371), and local streets (256)
• Of the 407 motorcycle crashes with bodily harm occurring in rural environments, most (102) happened on major collector roadways, followed by minor arterial roads (91), and local streets (78)
• Police documented that 34 motorcycle fatalities on Illinois urban roads in 2019 occurred on principal arterial roadways, followed by minor arterial roads (30), and local streets (13)
• Law enforcement documented that 39 motorcycle deaths statewide in rural environments in 2019 occurred on major collector roadways (13), followed by principal arterial roads (9), and local streets (7)
• The Illinois State Police reports that between 2018 in 2019, motorcycle crashes involving bodily harm decreased by 7.4%
• The number of motorcycle fatalities has increased over 60.0% since 2018
• Most motorcycle fatalities in 2019 occurred when the biker was going straight ahead (1540 deaths), followed by losing control (268), stopping in traffic (171), and turning left (116)

Illinois Pedestrian and Bicyclist Crash Statistics

Many pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities result from distracted driving when driver mistakes lead to traffic crashes. Many children and adults are fatally injured every year riding a bicycle or walking on sidewalks in urban and rural communities in Illinois. Other statistics include:

• In 2019, approximately 1.5% of all automobile crashes involved pedestrians statewide
• In 2019, less than 1.0% of all car crashes involved bicyclists
• Illinois law enforcement documented 4579 pedestrian crashes in 2019 involving 4325 moderate and 947 severe, non-fatal injuries, and 166 fatalities
• Of the 171 pedestrian fatalities in 2019, 117 were males, and 54 were females
• Of the 12 Illinois bicycle fatalities reported in 2019, 10 were males, and two were females
• Illinois police documented 2496 bicycle crashes in 2019, involving 2301 moderate and 327 severe, non-fatal injuries, and 12 fatalities
• In 2019, more pedestrians (66) were killed on Illinois urban area principal arterial roads than any other roadway, including minor arterial roads (47), local streets (17), major collector roads (16), and interstates (10)
• Of the 4643 pedestrians injured in crashes statewide in 2019, 2459 were males, and 2184 were females
• Of the 2337 bicyclists harmed in crashes statewide in 2019, 1892 were males, and 445 were females
• Of the 88 DUI-related pedestrian fatalities in 2019, nineteen were 55 to 64 years of age, fourteen were 65 to 74 years of age, and fifteen were 75 years and older
• Of the six DUI-related bicycle death, two were in the 35 to 44 your age group, two were in the 55 to 64-year-old age group, one was in the 45 to 54 your age group, and one was 65 and older

Illinois Train Crash Statistics

The Illinois DOT collects train crash data involving trucks and cars (not including bicycle and pedestrian data). Much of the 2019 crash report data involved A-injuries (severe non-fatal bodily harm) and fatalities. The statistics include:

• Law enforcement documented 80 train crashes in 2019 involving 23 moderate and six severe, non-fatal injuries, and four fatalities
• Historical data reveals that in 2019, four people died at railroad gates, and two died at railroad crossings statewide
• In 2019, one person was severely harmed at an Illinois railroad crossing sign, and another was severely harmed where there were no railroad control safety measures
• Two Illinois train crash fatalities occurred in rural communities along major collector roads

Illinois Crashes Involving Commercial Vehicles and Buses

Even with stricter rules and regulations, more crash-related deaths and severe bodily harm have occurred in semi-tractor-trailer crashes and bus crashes than ever before. The lives of many more people could be saved if bus drivers followed safety rules, school districts installed seat belts on buses, and truck drivers stopped speeding. Other statistics and data include:

• In 2017, law enforcement documented 1337 18-Wheeler crashes that involve 167 moderate and 26 severe, non-fatal injuries, and 22 deaths
• Nearly 1150 of the 1337 vehicle crashes statewide involving semi-tractor-trailers in 2017 caused property damage
• Between 2018 and 2019, semi-tractor-trailer fatalities decreased by 4.0%
• Many schoolchildren are severely harmed every year riding buses without installed seat belts
• In 2019, one school-age school bus rider was killed, and 85 suffered bodily harm while not wearing seat belts
• In 2019, there were no school bus driver fatalities, and 39 Illinois drivers suffered bodily harm
• The Illinois DOT documented 1227 school bus crashes in 2019, including one fatality, 207 moderate and 22 severe, non-fatal injuries
• Historic data revealed that in 2019, 1019 school bus crashes involved property damage
• Of the 1227 school bus crashes in Illinois in 2019, 1175 occurred in city areas, and 48 occurred in rural communities
• Most school bus crashes (6) in city areas occurred on minor arterial roads, four on major collector streets and three on local streets, principal arterial roads (3) an unknown (2)
• Two of the four school bus crashes statewide in rural areas occurred on minor arterial roads, one on a major collector road, and one on the interstate.

Illinois Traffic Fatal Crashes

For decades, the number of Illinois car crashes has dropped significantly, as automakers make safer vehicles and police enforce the law. According to the National Safety Council, numerous factors have decreased the number of Illinois traffic fatalities involving motorists, pedestrians, motorcycles, and bicyclists, including pedestrian walkways, bike lanes, and roadway medians.

Other state and Chicago area car crash statistics involving fatalities include:

• In 2019, speeding was a contributing factor in about 39.2% of all fatal crashes in Illinois
• In 2019, 14.6 of all deadly crashes involve motorcycles
• About 10.7% of all deadly crashes in Illinois involved semi-tractor-trailers in 2019
• About 3.0 % of all fatal crashes in Illinois occurred in work zones in 2019
• In 2019, Illinois had a 1.1 death rate of all fatal crashes among all drivers
• Nearly 80% of all Illinois fatal crashes happen on dry roadways in 2019
• Nearly 50% of all fatal crashes in Illinois occurred during daylight hours in 2019
• Statistically, in 2019, more city area fatal crashes occurred in Illinois on Saturdays (115), followed by Sundays (107), Mondays (95), Thursdays (90), Fridays (80), Wednesdays (70), and Tuesdays (67)
• Statistically, in 2019, more rural area fatal crashes occurred in Illinois on Saturdays (62), followed by Sundays (54), Fridays (46), Tuesdays (42), Mondays (41), Wednesdays (34), and Thursdays (29)
• Crash report data (2019) reveals that more Illinois fatal crashes in city areas occurred between 8:00 PM and midnight (130), followed by 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM (118), and 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM (117)
• Statistics (2019) reveal that more Illinois fatal crashes in rural areas occurred between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM (82), followed by 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM (63), and 4:00 AM to 8:00 AM (46)
• Crash report data (2019) reveals there were 6701 fatal crashes in Illinois work zones involving 28 fatalities, 1231 moderate and 128 severe, non-fatal cases of bodily harm
• In total, 23 people were killed in Illinois work zones in 2019, and 1762 people were injured
• Of the 1458 fatal crashes documented on Illinois roadways in 2019, the 25 to 29-year-old age group had the highest fatality rate at 166, followed by 30 to 34-year-olds (142) and 20 to 24-year-olds (134)
• More Illinois drivers 25 to 34 years of age (83 deaths) were involved in fatal crashes than all other age groups, including 45 to 54 years old (82), and 55 to 64 years of age (74)
• Of the 657 Illinois motorists who were killed in 2019, 490 were males, and 167 were females
• Of the 163 passengers who were killed in Illinois vehicle crashes in 2019, 77 were males, and 86 were females
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics reveal that 261 of the 513 fatal deaths in vehicle crashes in 2019 involved occupants using a shoulder and lap belt, and 190 not using a safety restraint
• The Illinois Department of Transportation documented zero child fatalities in 2019 involving children wearing a child restraint, using a booster seat, or sitting in a wheelchair

Illinois Car Crashes and Alcohol Impairment

According to the US Department of Transportation, over 10,500 people died in alcohol-impaired crashes nationwide in 2018. While this number is staggering, the rate of DUI-related fatalities dropped 3.6% from 2017.

In Illinois, 930 people died in alcohol-related car crashes in 2019. Other Illinois car crash statistics and facts involving drunk driving and drug impairment include:

• Approximately 37% of the 547 Illinois motorists killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2019 tested positive with a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of 0.01% or higher
• Law enforcement tested 135 of the 171 pedestrians killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2019 and found that 34.8% of those had positive results of a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of 0.01% or higher
• Police tested 9 of the 12 bicyclists killed in motor vehicle crashes, where 33.3% had positive test results with a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of 0.01% or higher
• Statistically, teenage drivers in Illinois accounted for 2.9% of all motor vehicle deaths in 2019
• Law enforcement tested teenage drivers in 27 cases, and 11.1% showed positive test results of a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.01% or higher
• More fatal motor vehicle crashes involving drunk drivers occur on Saturdays (27%) than any of the other days of the week, including:
  • Sundays (22%),
  • Fridays (13%),
  • Mondays (11%),
  • Tuesdays (10%),
  • Wednesdays (8%),
  • Thursdays (9%)

• More fatal alcohol-related car crash collisions occurred between midnight and 4:00 AM in Illinois in 2019 than any other time of the day, including:
  • 8:00 PM to midnight (27%),
  • 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM (18%),
  • 4:00 AM to 8:00 AM (13%),
  • 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM (11%),
  • 8:00 AM to noon (4%)

• Alcohol-related holiday statistics from 2019 reveal that statewide, six people died over the Memorial holiday weekend, five people died over July the 4^thcelebration, three people died during the Labor Day weekend, three people died over Thanksgiving, and four people died through the Christmas and New Year's Holiday season.

Don't Be a Statistic. Hire a Chicago Vehicle Accident Attorney to Handle Your Compensation Case

Did you suffer severe bodily harm in a car crash, or did you lose a loved one through a wrongful death caused by another's negligence? The Chicago personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can serve as your legal advocate to ensure you receive adequate financial compensation to cover your car crash damages.

Contact our Illinois car crash lawyers today at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or through the contact form to schedule a free consultation. We represent drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists who have been injured in a car crash.

Let us review the police report, evidence, documents, and medical records to build a strong car crash case for financial compensation.

Our Chicago legal team provides legal representation in various practice areas, including vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability, defective medications, product liability, nursing home abuse, sexual abuse, and wrongful death.

We currently represent clients throughout the state in Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, Peoria County, Will County, and Winnebago County.

Resources:

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Illinois Crash Statistics
• Illinois DOT – 2019 Crash Facts & Statistics