Alton’s urban construction has greatly improved transportation in the town, but it also means that there are more high-speed high-traffic roads. If you’re driving through, be careful on Highway 111, McAdams Parkway, East Broadway Street, Highway 67, College Ave, and Landmarks Boulevard. These roads have high-speed limits and require constant merging or stops. For accidents that take place on another person’s private property, your lawyer may involve premises liability in your case.

Here are some Alton car accident statistics based on 2018 data:

• An estimated 2 deaths occur from car accidents each year in Alton. These fatal accidents are most likely to happen on highways.
• Illinois experiences an average of about 1000 fatal car accidents annually.
• Mississippi suffers the highest rate of fatal accidents for any state, with 22 deaths per 100,000 population.
• It’s estimated that 30% of fatal accidents in Illinois involve a driver with an excessive blood alcohol level.
• Crashes that cause serious injuries or death are most often single-vehicle (53%) as opposed to multi-vehicle (47%).
• 99% of car crash victims seeking compensation call an Alton car accident lawyer.

Each day, millions of drivers break laws that they aren’t aware of. Each state has laws that govern safe driving practices. Here are some Illinois driving laws to help keep you and others safe on the roads:

• Passengers between the age of 8 and 16 must always be wearing a seatbelt.
• Purchasing a vehicle in Illinois has certain requirements depending on where you’re purchasing. It’s best to bring identification, an application for vehicle transactions, a certificate of title, and adequate payment.
• Emissions testing is legally required in Cook County, Dupage County, and Lake County. Some vehicles must be registered before getting the required emissions test.
• Drivers younger than 19 years cannot use a phone while driving. Offenders can receive a fine of up to $150.
• Speeding can result in a fine of up to $2,500 and a loss of a driver’s license. Prior convictions will make fines heftier.
• Mufflers and other vehicle parts cannot make excessive noise when operated.

For driving laws specific to your city, contact your local department of motor vehicles or an Alton car accident lawyer.

Traffic accidents remain a pervasive issue throughout the United States and the world. These are some of the biggest reasons that accidents happen:

• Tired drivers. Being behind the wheel requires full attention. Many drivers ignore this and choose to drive anyway.
• Intoxication. Statistics suggest that drug and alcohol consumption is one of the biggest contributors to fatal accidents. For accidents like this, see about filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
• Recklessness or excessive speed. Read some crash reports from your local government and you will see how big a problem reckless driving is.
• Weather. Precipitation (rain, snow, hale) tends to be the worst. You can prepare to drive in unfavorable weather by continually checking the forecast and bringing emergency materials with you. It’s also a good idea to drive more cautiously in poor weather conditions.
• Distractions. You’ve probably seen campaigns to end distracted driving. Cell phone usage is the biggest offender, but some other distractions are flashy signs, active car crashes, and loud noises.

For more on how to improve your driving, see this article from CTV News.

The aftermath of a car accident is not pleasant. Injuries, medical bills, and lost time at work can make a person’s life much harder. Unfortunately, car insurance companies can usually only pay a limited amount for your damages. That’s when an Alton car accident lawyer comes into play. What an injury lawyer can do is coordinate with other parties who were involved in the crash to obtain a settlement, either through discussions out of court or through a lawsuit.

If a lawyer accepts you as a client, they’ll begin the civil lawsuit process. They’ll assess damages, gather evidence, and make a case about liability for the car accident. Damages, which can be compensatory or punitive, are the ways that you’ve had to pay for the accident, the things you should have never had to pay for. Your attorney will also take into account mitigation.

A winning case will award you compensation. Some lawyers use a contingency fee system which means you don’t pay anything unless you win the case. Additionally, things like a bellwether trial or multidistrict litigation can influence how much money you receive.

Ask your Alton car accident lawyer about these things early on.

Car accidents fall under the personal injury law. Personal injury cases tend to take around 18 months to conclude. Out-of-court settlements may take less time, being as quick as 6 months in some cases. More elaborate cases that have multiple victims or a difficult court schedule can take 2 years or more. Regardless of the timeframe, it’s always beneficial to reach out to an Alton car accident lawyer after a crash.

The difficulties you face after your car accident don’t have to continue. By calling an attorney, you can review your options and may be able to start the compensation. You can also use our Instant Case Evaluation for an initial review of your case.

No matter what, talk to a lawyer at 1-888-508-6752 to schedule a completely free consultation.