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Making an Insurance Claim After an Accident with an Uninsured Driver
Getting into a car accident is stressful enough, but what happens when there is an uninsured driver involved? Every car owner is required by law to have a certain coverage of liability insurance, however, one out of every eight drivers attempts to avoid responsibility. They may go unnoticed on the road until they are pulled over, or get into a car accident. An uninsured driver may have even had the proper insurance at one time, but canceled due to financial reasons. But, no matter the reasons, it is still possible to get into an accident with an uninsured driver.
What Are the Insurance Requirements in Illinois?
Every state has his or her requirements for the amount of coverage an insurance policy has. Illinois has the following minimum requirements:
- Property damage: $20,000
- Death or injury of one person: $25,000
- Death or injury of more than one person: $50,000
Types of Car Accident Injuries
It is impossible to get through life without getting injured at some point. An injury may be mild and solved with a band-aid, but on the other hand, a serious injury can put a person out of work for a significant amount of time. Due to the size and force of automobiles, a car accident could put a victim in this situation. The good news is, when a person is significantly injured by someone else, they have been eligible for compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
Personal injury has a wide umbrella of circumstances behind it. A patient who is injured by their doctor may be eligible, or a consumer who got hurt because of a faulty product. The key, in any case, is proving negligence. This is when an individual or company is liable because of their actions. Regarding car accidents, a person who was drinking under the influence, speeding, or otherwise driving recklessly, may be considered negligent in the event of a crash.
Top Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
While walking to work or going for a run, a person traveling by foot in close proximity to the road is considered a pedestrian. Most destinations require some walking, even if a person drives, so It is almost impossible to avoid being a pedestrian at one time or another. Unfortunately, this health and environmentally conscious form of transportation still has the potential for an accident, and like car and truck accidents, there are common causes.
The United States Department of Transportation reported in 2017 that there were 5,977 pedestrians killed in traffic accidents. Every 88 minutes it is estimated that a pedestrian dies as the result of getting hit by a motor vehicle. According to the same data, a pedestrian accident is most likely to happen in an urban area outside of an intersection at night. The highest percentages of accidents happen after the sun goes down, time depending on the season.
Filing a Claim Against Uninsured or Underinsured Motorists
We get insurance for a variety of reasons. It is a financial investment toward risk management. People will insure valuables, their health, or even other people for worst-case scenario situations. Not every insurance situation will cover 100% of damages, but they will lessen the financial burden after an illness, death, or stolen item. In Illinois, automobile insurance is required by law. When a car accident happens, it is the party that caused the accident’s responsibility to provide compensation for damaged property, medical bills, or pain and suffering. An insured driver will have assistance with this, but what happens when crashes involve uninsured or underinsured motorists?
What Are the Minimum Insurance Requirements?
There are minimum requirements for all auto drivers in the state of Illinois. All drivers are required to be insured at a minimum of the following:
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help After a Car Accident
After getting into a car accident, there are many things a person must do to get their life back to normal. An insurance claim must be filed, their car may be out of service, and time may be required to heal from injuries. Even a car accident with minimal damage and no injuries requires significant efforts, so what happens after a serious car accident where negligent activity makes you a victim?
Has Negligence Increased?
According to the United States Department of Transportation, car accident fatalities overall rose in Illinois last year. In fact, they have been gradually rising over time. Relaxed seat belt regulations and increased speed limits may be partially to blame, but variant degrees of negligence is the most probable cause for a rise in car accidents. Distracted driving has always existed, but technological advancements have created new distractions. Touching a cell-phone while driving in Illinois is illegal, and these distracted drivers can cost someone their life.
How Does Winter Weather Contribute to Pedestrian Accidents?
It is no secret that poor weather conditions contribute to car and truck accidents, but snowy conditions also affect pedestrian accidents. Illinois is famous for hard winters, so after the snow falls, everyone on the road and sidewalks should be more mindful. Pedestrian accidents continue to rise, and during the winter, conditions become more dangerous.
How Many Pedestrian Accidents Happen Year-Round?
Everyone is a pedestrian at some point, even if a car is their main form of transportation. A pedestrian is anyone outside of a vehicle that moves near traffic. In 2018, 6,283 people died in pedestrian accidents, which is the highest amount since 1990. The year prior it was estimated that a person died every 88 seconds as a result of traffic accidents.
In normal clear weather, pedestrians fall victim to distracted, drunk, or reckless drivers. With lowered vision and slippery streets, driver mistakes become that much more dangerous for pedestrians. A distracted driver will have less time to react to seeing a pedestrian in the street if the visibility is low. If they do see the pedestrian, they will also have a lower chance of stopping in time. A car can easily slip forward on slush or ice, even if the driver slams on the breaks. Drivers sometimes tend to operate their car as they normally would in safe conditions. Speeding and other reckless actions are even more dangerous in the snow. When conditions are poor, drivers should slow down and have their complete focus on the road.
Are Older Drivers at Risk for Causing a Car Accident?
Obtaining a driver’s license is a milestone in most people’s lives. In Illinois, a motorist must pass a written exam and a behind-the-wheel test before he or she can legally operate a vehicle. As drivers advance in years, they are required to renew their licenses. Depending on their age, this may require a vision screening to test their vision, as well as their capabilities behind the wheel. Although many elderly people still have a valid driver’s license, they may have a greater chance of being involved in or causing a car accident. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), nearly 5,000 drivers aged 70 or older perished in car accidents in 2018. Even if a crash does not result in a fatality, it can still involve serious injuries.
Illinois Driving Laws
Just as traffic laws are put in place to keep the public safe, so are driving laws. The purpose of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) testing is to identify older drivers who may have become unsafe behind the wheel. In some cases, an aging motorist may simply need a stronger eyeglass prescription. In other instances, driving privileges could be rescinded if they are found to be a danger to themselves or others when operating a motor vehicle.
Can I Receive Compensation for PTSD After an Illinois Car Accident?
June is National PTSD Awareness Month. PTSD stands for post-traumatic stress disorder. According to Mayo Clinic, PTSD is defined as a mental health condition in which an individual has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Examples of incidents that can cause PTSD include pedestrian or vehicle accidents, assault and battery, death of a loved one, and more. Statistics show that roughly one in five survivors of traffic collisions suffered from PTSD in 2018. In some situations, the negligent actions of another motorist may cause a car accident with injuries. Occupants can sustain minor bumps and bruises, or they can suffer serious to fatal injuries depending on the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Typical Symptoms of PTSD
The signs and symptoms of PTSD may not surface until weeks or months after the accident. In many cases, certain things can trigger or enhance the anxiety a car crash victim is already feeling after the accident. The sound of screeching tires, emergency sirens, or horns blaring may cause a victim to have a panic attack. He or she may be afraid to travel in a car either as a passenger or a driver. The condition can be debilitating, to the point where it interferes with work or family duties.
Why Are Illinois Vehicle Fatality Rates Up During the Pandemic?
Coronavirus has changed our daily lives over the past several months. The global pandemic led to stay-at-home orders across the country, including Illinois. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), speeding and reckless driving during the crisis have led to a higher number of car accidents and fatalities on U.S. roadways recently. Reports show that even though many Americans are driving less because of stay-at-home orders, the fatality rate per mile driven increased by 14 percent compared with March 2019. Motorists may be speeding since there are not as many cars on the road now. During the first few months of 2020, Illinois alone saw an increase of 11 percent in vehicle-related deaths.
Reasons for Reckless Driving Behaviors Amidst COVID-19
Chicago is typically known for bumper-to-bumper traffic, but with so many employees working from home now, the highways are much less congested, giving drivers a false sense of security and freedom. Some motorists figure police are busy dealing with COVID-related calls or enforcing public gathering limits that they are not as focused on speeders. In other cases, people may think that law enforcement is limiting direct contact with drivers so they are not pulling over motorists or issuing as many tickets for speeding or other traffic violations. However, speed limits are put in place for a reason, namely to prevent crashes. Traveling 20, or 30 mph over the posted speed limit can cause a driver to lose control and collide with other cars, trucks, pedestrians, or even crash into cement medians or buildings. The force of the impact when going that fast can lead to severe to life-threatening injuries, such as broken bones, internal bleeding, or burns to the skin if a vehicle explodes.
How Does Special Duty of Care Apply to an Illinois Car Accident?
When people hit the road for a vacation or to commute to their jobs, they typically do not expect to be involved in a car accident. Unfortunately, vehicle collisions can and do occur on a fairly regular basis throughout the United States. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), there have been just over 500 vehicle fatalities on Illinois roadways as of this writing. In some cases, crashes can be caused by inclement weather. However, sometimes they are the result of the reckless behavior of a motorist.
Every driver has a duty of care to drive safely in an effort to protect himself or herself, as well as other motorists and passengers who are traveling on the road. Due to its size, the city of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs have many public modes of transportation. The drivers of these vehicles have a special duty of care to protect their customers from harm, including injuries sustained in a car accident.
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9631 W. 153rd St., Suite 32, Orland Park, IL 60462
708-966-2408
