Southern Illinois Car Accident Lawyer

Southern Illinois Car Accident Facts

Car accidents are a bigger problem than you may think. As we haven’t yet made self-driving cars standard in society, traditional vehicles remain a danger that you probably face every day. The issue spans across the globe.

So what are the facts? Here’s what the Association For Safe International Road Travel has to say:

• Nearly 1.25 million people die in road crashes each year, on average 3,287 deaths a day. An additional 20-50 million are injured or disabled.
• More than half of all road traffic deaths occur among young adults ages 15-44.
• Road traffic crashes rank as the 9th leading cause of death and account for 2.2% of all deaths globally.
• Road crashes are the leading cause of death among young people ages 15-29, and the second leading cause of death worldwide among young people ages 5-14.
• Each year nearly 400,000 people under 25 die on the world’s roads, on average over 1,000 a day.
• Over 90% of all road fatalities occur in low and middle-income countries, which have less than half of the world’s vehicles.
• Road crashes cost low and middle-income countries USD $65 billion annually, exceeding the total amount received in developmental assistance.
• Road crashes are the single greatest annual cause of death of healthy U.S. citizens traveling abroad
• In the US, over 37,000 people die in road crashes each year.
• There are more than 300,000 traffic accidents in Illinois per year. 21% of crashes cause injuries and less than 1% cause death.
• Unless action is taken, road traffic injuries are predicted to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2030. If you end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, a Southern Illinois car accident lawyer can help.

Preventing A Car Accident in Southern Illinois

Many of the car accident cases we’ve dealt with could have been better handled by taking some simple measures.

Car crashes are often attributed to the careless behavior of drivers, but there are still some steps you can take to maximize your safety behind the wheel:

• If you’re driving in Southern Illinois, know which roads to look out for. Interstates (specifically I-80, I-90, I-55, I-64, I-70, I-39, and I-24) tend to be the most dangerous.
• Keep emergency materials in your car. This includes a first aid kit, a charged cell phone, extra oil and gas, jumper cables, and a flashlight. As long as they aren’t bouncing around in your car, there are a lot of other tools that could also come in handy.
• Make sure your car is in good shape. If you have a light go out or an error message pop up on your dashboard, don’t wait to get it checked out. Some error messages really indicate that multiple parts of your car are malfunctioning. It doesn’t hurt to get a safety and emissions inspection a couple of times per year.
• Know your limits. Don’t drive while intoxicated, and don’t let others try, either. Being sleep-deprived or driving for too long can inhibit your driving abilities just like alcohol. If you’re too tired, pull your car somewhere safe and take a snooze. It could save lives.
• Pay attention to signs, blockades, lights, or anything else that suggests there’s something in the road to watch out for. The roads are always changing—construction, active accidents, or maybe even animals trying to cross. In other words, don’t get too comfortable when you’re driving.

This Is The First Accident I’ve Been In. What Can A Southern Illinois Car Accident Lawyer Do To Help?

If you’re new to the game, don’t fret. Part of a personal injury lawyer’s job is to fill you in with most everything you need to know. The bigger part of their job is to build a case for you in hopes of winning a settlement or a lawsuit, all with the goal of landing you a check. The civil lawsuit process looks a bit like this:

You’ve been in a car accident that’s made your life harder. The injuries you sustained cost hundreds of dollars to treat, not to mention you had to miss work for weeks. All of this together made you depressed and frustrated. Clearly, you’ve been much worse off because of the car accident. You learn that you could receive money to make up for your losses by contacting a Southern Illinois car accident lawyer.

You call the attorney and tell them what happened. They’ll ask some questions and make a decision about how to move forward. Ideally, they’ll take you on as their client.

If the lawyer is down to help, they’ll start building a case. They’ll gather evidence, assess damages, and try to prove liability for the accident. It’s actually common for your lawyer to make a settlement out of court. If this doesn’t happen, a lawsuit may follow. The scope of the lawsuit can vary from wrongful death to property damage to loss of opportunities.

If your case ends up in trial, the court will make a ruling about the punitive or compensatory damages that you will receive. A successful trial will award you compensation.

TorHoerman Law - Experts in Southern Illinois Car Accident Lawsuits

It’s time for you to take the crucial step. Calling a law firm marks the true beginning of your recovery, and we’re ready to help you through it.

Call TorHoerman Law at 1-888-508-6752. We’ll be happy to speak with you about your case, at no cost.