Types of Reckless Driving Offenses in Illinois

 Posted on March 29, 2019 in Car Accidents

On the morning of February 28, two men were killed and a pedestrian suffered serious injuries after a collision in the West Side Lawndale neighborhood. The accident occurred when a northbound driver ran a stoplight on the intersection of Kedzie and Roosevelt. After running the red light, the driver ultimately collided with an eastbound truck. Both drivers were dead by the time emergency medical personnel arrived on the scene. A 60-year-old pedestrian was also injured when a piece of debris was launched from the collision site. 

Every year, around 3 million Americans suffer serious injuries in motor vehicle collisions. While some crashes are unavoidable, many, like the collision above, only occur due to the irresponsible actions of reckless drivers. If you or a member of your family are injured in a car accident caused by another driver, seek skilled legal representation as soon as possible.

Reckless Driving Examples

Here in the United States, reckless driving is defined as the willful disregard for motor vehicle safety. In other words, reckless driving is not an instance of negligence or driver error, but an overt refusal to drive according to the rules and regulations. Listed below are some of the most common and dangerous forms of reckless driving. 

Drunk Driving

Drinking and driving is an ongoing safety concern nationwide. Every day, approximately 29 Americans are fatally injured in collisions involving inebriated drivers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 10,500 Americans died in drunk driving accidents throughout 2016. When a driver chooses to drink alcohol and operate their vehicle, their reaction time, judgment, and vision can be dramatically impaired. Law enforcement aggressively enforces DUI laws. In 2017, more than 27,000 drivers across Illinois were arrested on DUI charges. 

Speeding and Erratic Driving

When a driver makes the decision to drive over the legal speed limit, they are making a conscious decision to endanger all other travelers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding was a factor in approximately 26 percent of all fatal motor vehicle collisions in 2017. In all, 9,717 Americans lost their lives due to the recklessness of speeding drivers that year. Other forms of dangerous driving include erratic lane changes and aggressively following other vehicles.  

Failure to Stop 

Failure to stop at a red light or stop sign disrupts standard traffic flow and significantly increases the likelihood of a collision. Just like the collision mentioned earlier, when a driver makes the decision to run a red light, they risk their lives and the lives of others. More than 700 people die each year in these collisions in the U.S. Here in the greater-Chicago area, the implementation of red light safety cameras has contributed to a 10 percent decrease in annual traffic fatalities. 

Contact a Waukegan Car Accident Lawyer 

When a family member is seriously injured in a car accident, the entire family is impacted emotionally and financially. At Salvi and Maher, L.L.C., we will investigate the circumstances of your collision and aggressively fight to secure the injury compensation your family deserves. To schedule a free consultation with an experienced Lake County personal injury attorney, call us today at 847-662-3303. 

Sources:

https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2-dead-after-car-accident-in-lawndale/

https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding