1. Make sure everyone is okay after the accident. If anyone is seriously injured call 911 for an ambulance immediately.
2. Stay at the scene of the crash.
3. When law enforcement officers arrive, provide a statement but do not place blame. After speaking with each person involved in the accident, the officers write a crash report that can later be obtained for your civil lawsuit process as evidence.
4. Document everything that occurred. Write down exactly what happened and make sure to take pictures. Pictures, videos, and witness statements will be essential in proving your case.
5. Never admit fault to anyone especially the other driver. If you admit fault, you could be prevented from filing a lawsuit.
6. If the police were not called to the scene of the accident, complete a crash report within 10 days of the crash. Typically, this needs to be done if the accident occurred on private property and the police did not have jurisdiction. If it happened on another person’s property, it may be subject to premises liability. Finally, call a Collinsville car accident lawyer.

Car accidents are all too common in the United States. There are roughly six million car crashes each year. These crashes can be caused by a multitude of factors that can hinder a person’s ability to drive a vehicle smartly and safely. According to research, there are six primary causes of car accidents:

1. Distracted Driving – Cellphone Use, eating food, talking with passengers in the car, and fiddling with the radio are all examples of distracted driving. In Illinois, it is illegal to use a cellphone while driving, regardless of age.
2. Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol – In Illinois, it is illegal to drive a motor vehicle if over the blood alcohol limit of 0.08.
3. Sleepiness/Fatigue – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that drowsy driving was responsible for 72,000 crashes in 2013.
4. Driving at Night – Night driving increases the risk of an accident for all drivers, but especially for those who are less experienced. While nighttime driving accounts for only 14% of miles driven by teenagers, 32% of fatal accidents occur between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
5. Reckless Driving – While difficult to estimate, the American Automobile Association estimates that aggressive driving played a role in 56% of crashes from 2003 through 2007.
6. Environment/Weather – Driving in dangerous weather conditions, such as torrential rain or snow and ice, can be incredibly dangerous.

If you happen to be in a serious accident in Collinsville, Illinois, call 911 immediately. If you are involved in a car accident, but there are no serious injuries and the vehicles are not blocking traffic, call the Collinsville Police Department’s non-emergency number: (618) 334-2131. If you think your legal predicament is shared by many others, read about multidistrict litigation and bellwether trials.

Car accidents happen regularly, and unfortunately, those accidents often result in injuries. The most common injuries are bruises and lacerations, broken bones, head trauma, or spinal injuries. Unfortunately, deaths can be a result of an accident, too.

Not only are physical injuries a consequence of a car accident, but financial and emotional “injuries” are common. In the legal world, those “injuries” are referred to as “damages.” According to Encyclopedia Britannica, damages are “in law, is monetary compensation for loss or injury caused by the wrongful act of another.” The goal of a Collinsville car accident lawsuit is to recover damages from a car accident, compensatory or punitive. Lawyers do this by making an argument about liability.

Whether physical, financial, or emotional, the damages you incur as a result of a car accident can be detrimental. So what does compensation usually include?

• Vehicle repair
• Vehicle replacement
• Medical bills
• Rehabilitative therapy
• Income lost during recovery
• Suffering
• Emotional pain

If you are in an accident, contact an experienced car accident lawyer. Hiring legal representation will allow you the opportunity to receive compensation for your injuries, but also will reduce the stressors resulting from the accident. Contact an expert before the statute of limitations expires.

Illinois is taking a stand against distracted driving by implementing strict laws.

Regardless of age, no one is to be on their phone while driving. Another law is with cell phones: you can only use hands-free devices, such as ones that operate on Bluetooth. You can only have one headphone in one ear. If there is a headphone in both ears, it is considered distracted driving. Drivers under 19 cannot use a cell phone at all even if they have the option to utilize Bluetooth.

If you are caught breaking this law then you will be fined, typically anywhere from $100-$150, but ticket prices recently increased. Penalties can be more severe if someone is injured or killed in a distracted driving accident. If you severely injure someone you will be charged with a Class A misdemeanor. This can result in a $2,500 fine and/or up-to a year in jail. If another person is killed because of your distracted driving, it will result in a $25,000 fine and/or one to three years in prison. If you’re worried about money, read how a contingency fee can benefit you in a lawsuit. It’s also advised that if you do suffer injuries, make sure to mitigate them properly.

The consequences are not worth that one text you send while driving. Help TorHoerman Law End Distracted Driving by visiting our campaign page, and take a stand against distracted driving.

TorHoerman Law has a team of experienced lawyers that can help if you are the victim of a car accident. For more information, our firm offers no-obligation, free consultations.

Call 618-223-5657 to speak with a Collinsville car accident lawyer and learn how you can receive compensation for the damages you’ve suffered.