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Peoria, IL Car Accident Lawyer
Accidents have become a frequent occurrence in Peoria now that more distracted drivers share the road than ever before.
Many accident victims who suffer bodily harm in a motor vehicle accident never receive fair compensation for the value of their hospital bills, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses to be able to recover and move on with their life.
Were you injured, or did you lose a loved one through a wrongful death caused by another's negligence?
The Illinois car accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC represents the interests of clients suffering severe injuries in motor vehicle accidents that resulted from the irresponsible or negligent actions of other motorists.
There were five fatal auto accidents in Peoria in 2017 and many more involving severe injuries requiring emergency medical care and rehabilitative therapy. That year, all five victims died in accidents that involved drunk driving. The number of overall fatalities was slightly down from the previous year where eight residents lost their lives in fatal crashes.
Call our Peoria County personal injury attorneys at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or through the contact form without any cost or obligation on your part. A Peoria car accident lawyer working on your behalf can settle your personal injury claim to ensure the insurance company compensates you for your medical bills, lost wages, and property damages.
Our legal team can handle every aspect of your car accident claim, including speaking directly to the auto insurance company, insurance adjuster, and at-fault party so that you can focus on healing. Our car accident lawyers represent injured people exclusively and only charge a legal service fee when there is a recovery for you.
Dangerous Intersections Play a Role in Peoria Car Accidents
Special care must be taken at every intersection, especially at crossroads that are more dangerous than others. On July 14, 2012, a car crash at the intersection of Farmington Road and Kickapoo Creek Road sent three people to the hospital when a woman made a left turn into the intersection and was broadsided by another and pushed into a third vehicle in the multi-car accident.
EMT responders transported all three motorists to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center to treat minor injuries. Authorities noted that motor vehicle accidents commonly occur at the intersection of Farmington Road and Kickapoo Creek Road.
Staying aware of potentially deadly intersections may reduce your chances of being involved in a collision with serious personal injuries or property damage. Taking extra care when approaching an intersection known to be hazardous before proceeding could save a life. Some problematic intersections include:
- The intersection is a two-way stop rather than a four-way stop. People often expect traffic to stop in all directions and may move into the path of oncoming traffic at these intersections believing that they have the right of way.
- Buildings, objects, or parked vehicles obstruct the view of motorists. Always take extra caution if you cannot see the entire intersection and proceed slowly to ensure that you will not cross the path of oncoming vehicles.
- The intersection is uncontrolled. Four-way intersections that lack traffic controls and signs confuse motorists even though we know that the vehicle that reaches the intersection first has the right of way. Even if you have the right of way, others may not yield to you, so be wary of other vehicles approaching an uncontrolled intersection.
- You are located at the top or bottom of a hill or near a curve. Intersections near a curve or hill are dangerous because motorists are less likely to notice you until they are much closer to the intersection. These situations can decrease the distance to react where motorists can see each other.
Car Accident Causes
In recent decades, carmakers have installed advanced technology features, including FCS (forward collision systems), adaptive cruise control, and backup cameras. Even with the safety features, an estimated 36,500 people died in automobile accidents in 2018, and another 2.7 million victims suffered severe injuries that required immediate medical attention.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly all motor vehicle accidents (94%) result from driver error. The National Safety Council recommends that motorists remain alert when at the steering wheel and take preventative measures to avoid crashing.
Some of the common causes of car accidents include:
- Distracted driving – The carelessness of some motorists results in severe accidents when driving distracted. These motorists will talk on the phone, groom, read, eat, drink, and text while driving when trying to stay consistently focused on the road.
- Drunk driving - According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 29 people die every day on American roadways from drunk drivers.
- Drug Impairment - Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs can create catastrophic results when the car collides with other vehicles and objects.
- Speeding - Many speeding accidents occur during rush hour when motorists try to keep up with traffic or are running too late to go to work or home.
- Recklessness - Any reckless behavior can cause catastrophic crashes, including blatantly disregarding safety, performing illegal lane changes, or traveling too fast for roadway conditions.
- Running stop signs and red lights - According to the National Safety Council, approximately 40% of all vehicle accidents happen at intersections when motorists drive through stop signs or fail to stop at a red light. Many crashes could have been avoided had the motorist taken a minute or two and waited for the right-of-way.
- Aggressive driving - Any aggressive behavior behind the steering wheel endangers all others sharing the roadway. Road rage is considered aggressive behavior.
- Fatigue - Many motorists fail to pull over when tired. Any level of exhaustion, drowsiness or sleepiness impairs the motorist's ability to respond competently to avoid a catastrophic collision.
- Adverse weather conditions - Vehicle tires can quickly lose traction on slippery roads when water or ice is present on the road. High winds and fog can cause the motorist to hit other vehicles or objects.
- Road construction - Poorly maintained roads can significantly increase the potential risk of popping a tire in a pothole or striking construction zone materials. Dangerous road conditions can make it more challenging to brake adequately in time to stop before causing the crash.
- Vehicle defects – Automakers can be held legally liable for manufacturing and selling any car or truck with malfunctioning parts or defective materials.
Unfortunately, educated motorists who are fully aware of the potential risks of errant drivers are still victims of traffic crashes.
Common Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries
Peoria car accident victims, and surviving family members who lost a loved one, are entitled to receive financial compensation from all parties responsible for causing the crash.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), horrific car collisions can lead to extensive property damage, fatalities, and severe injuries. Some of these injuries include:
- Tissue injuries, including contusions, bruising, whiplash, and back & neck muscle injuries
- Head injuries, including concussions and traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Bone and nerve damage, including spinal cord injuries and herniated discs
- Extremity amputations and dismemberment
- Internal injuries, including fractured bones, internal bleeding, internal organ damage, and punctured lungs
- Facial scars and disfigurement
- Psychological issues, including emotional trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder
A victim may choose to hire a car accident attorney to represent their legal interests and ensure they receive adequate monetary recovery paid by insurance companies representing those at fault for the collision.
Filing an Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Any family member who lost a loved one through a wrongful death caused by another's negligence has the legal right to file a car accident wrongful death lawsuit. These personal injury cases usually provide sufficient compensation when another's negligence kills a driver or passenger.
Usually, the decedent's spouse, parent, grandparent, or child can file a compensation claim with the insurance company that will likely make a settlement offer to resolve the case. However, the amount offered is usually significantly lower than the value of the case.
A competent Peoria, IL car accident lawyer specializing in wrongful death cases can ensure that the family receives maximum compensation for their damages, which could include:
- Medical expenses and hospitalization costs
- Funeral & burial costs
- Loss of companionship and loss of consortium
- Lost wages
- Future lost earnings
- The loss of services the decedent previously provided the household
- Intangible damages, including pain, suffering, mental anguish, grief, and emotional trauma
A Peoria, IL, lawyer with knowledge and experience in wrongful death cases can provide all the pertinent information that families need to resolve the claim successfully. Our Peoria car accident law firm provides a free consultation to every family looking for help with a wrongful death case.
Distraction is a Contributing Factor in Many Central Illinois Driving Accidents
Distractions have become a growing concern as more people take to the roads while glued to their phones and electronic devices. Texting, talking on a smartphone, eating, or responding to disruptive passengers are only a few examples of distractions that take a driver's attention off of the road.
When approaching dangerous intersections, these drivers are more likely to cause an accident if they are not paying proper attention to oncoming traffic. Statistics reveal the rising numbers of serious crashes occurring over the last several years, despite reducing DUI-related car crashes and teen fatalities.
To protect yourself and reduce your chances of being involved in an accident, make sure you are free of distractions when operating a motor vehicle and always assume that others on the road may be multitasking. Tell whoever you are talking to on the phone that you will contact them when you reach your destination.
Your responsible decisions may save your life. To be confident that other drivers on the road are attentive, you should always attempt to make eye contact with oncoming motorists so that you are sure they see you.
Peoria Car Accident FAQs
Our Peoria personal injury law firm understands that many families have unanswered questions about handling car accidents in obtaining financial compensation for their injury. A car accident lawyer has answered some of those questions below.
Contact a Peoria car accident attorney at (888) 424-5757 for additional information during a free consultation. Let our lawyers help resolve your Illinois car accident case.
Hiring a Peoria Personal Injury Lawyer
Did you suffer injuries or damages in a Peoria car accident?
Contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC at (888) 424-5757 to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your rights and legal options. Our Peoria car accident attorneys have recovered the total amount of financial compensation allowed under Illinois law for thousands of clients.
Our Peoria car accident attorneys will provide immediate legal advice during a free consultation and can help you recover the cost of your medical bills, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses. We conduct car accident case reviews without charge and will never collect a fee until we have recovered damages from the insurers of every party responsible for the accident.
Our personal injury attorneys represent clients in various practice areas, including car accident injuries, semi-truck crashes, motorcycle accident injuries, nursing home abuse, medical malpractice, premises liability, defective medications, product liability, and wrongful death.
Our central Illinois attorneys provide legal services in various locations, including Fulton County, Logan County, Mason County, McLean County, Peoria County, Tazewell County, and Woodford County. Our Chicago, IL law firm currently follows CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Covid-19 (coronavirus epidemic) social distancing guidelines to protect our clients.