Speeding is a common cause of auto accidents and poses a variety of risks to all drivers on the road: higher speeds mean longer stopping-times, the vehicle is harder to control, and there is less time to make an immediate decision that could be the difference between making it home safely or not. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident due to another driver’s negligence, we at 844 See Mike are here for you every step of the way to ensure that your rights are protected and you are fully compensated for your injuries and losses.
Here is Illinois state law as it applies to speeding in a vehicle:
(625 ILCS 5/11-601) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-601)
Sec. 11-601. General speed restrictions.
“(a) No vehicle may be driven upon any highway of this State at a speed which is greater than is reasonable and proper with regard to traffic conditions and the use of the highway, or endangers the safety of any person or property. The fact that the speed of a vehicle does not exceed the applicable maximum speed limit does not relieve the driver from the duty to decrease speed when approaching and crossing an intersection, approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, or when special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions. Speed must be decreased as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person or vehicle on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.”
As much as 32% of all fatal auto accidents result from speeding or are speed-related, according to the website of the Illinois state police, and speeding is most often a factor in accidents occurring at night and on weekends. Younger drivers, particularly males, are the most at-risk demographic for speed-related fatalities in auto accidents.
Given that an estimated 75% of American drivers are out on the road during the day, it’s rather intriguing that auto accidents actually occur just as much, if not more so, at nighttime. While daytime traffic can be heavy and even frantic at certain times of day, nighttime significantly decreases visibility, offers open roads for potential speeding, and is also the prime time for intoxicated driving – one of the top causes of auto accidents, injuries, and deaths in the United States.
As such, nighttime is also a particularly dangerous time for both drivers and pedestrians, especially on dark roads and in rural areas. If you are a pedestrian near traffic at night, be sure to wear bright or even reflective clothing to increase your visibility to drivers and always be mindful of any and all vehicles in your presence. There are plenty of precautions to take, but reckless driving remains a serious problem in the U.S. and victims deserve maximum compensation for their injuries, expenses, and pain and suffering.
Drivers should also be mindful of reckless truck drivers on the road, not only because the heavy weights of these trucks require longer stopping-distances between them and the vehicles ahead, especially at night and in poor weather conditions. In addition, professional truck drivers are forced to adhere to strict schedules and deadlines which are difficult to meet, and some may speed or engage in other reckless behaviors to stay on-schedule. Excessive speeding and driver-error are responsible for the majority of all trucking accidents on the road, according to studies by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and common causes which are associated with speeding include driver-fatigue, distraction, intoxication, improperly-loaded trucks, and wide-angle turns.
The help of an experienced personal injury attorney is essential for a number of reasons, not the least of which is ensuring that the other party is held fully accountable if negligence, including excessive speeding, directly resulted in the accident and your injuries. We will work with investigators, accident-reconstruction experts, and other specialists to gather a range of evidence and documentation, interview witnesses, and recreate the scene of the accident, and we will ensure that your settlement fully compensates you for all the damages you’ve sustained.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident due to another’s negligence, you need an experienced personal injury attorney. Contact 844 See Mike today for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based personal injury law firm, and helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people and not the powerful, we will file your claim and take care of the insurance company, medical bills, property damage, and lost income. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. Lastly, our personal injury lawyers are not paid attorney fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.
