Chicago Car Accidents Often the Result of Unnecessary Risks

Many car accidents are a result of certain dangerous driving behaviors. Despite the obvious risks posed by dangerous driver behavior, many drivers admit to regularly doing things that they know can increase the chances of car accidents. In this post, our Willens Law accident attorneys will highlight some statistics relating to dangerous driving behavior that cause car accidents:

These Risks are Dangerous and Can Cause Accidents

Recently, AAA foundation for Traffic safety conducted a study of drivers and asked them about how often they engage in high risk behaviors while driving. It was found that around 87 percent of the respondents had engaged in a dangerous behavior while driving in the month before taking the survey. Many respondents admitted to having routinely and regularly engaged in dangerous behaviors. Here are some statistics:

• 70 percent of the respondents admitted that they had engaged in distracted driving by talking on a cell phone while driving. Also, one in three respondents said they use cell phone regularly while behind the wheel.
• 48 percent of the respondents said they had exceeded speed limit by 15 mph or more when driving on a highway at least once. 15 percent said that they exceeded the speed limit by 15 mph multiple times over the previous year.
• 39 percent of the respondents said that had jumped a traffic signal that had recently gone red even though they could have stopped.

• 32 percent of the survey respondents said they had continued to drive even when they had difficulty keeping their eyes open because of fatigue. Also, 1 out of 5 respondents said that they had driven their vehicles while fatigued on multiple occasions during the past 30 days.
• 26 percent of respondents said they had jumped a red light signal multiple times during the previous month.

• 18 percent of respondents admitted to being in a vehicle as a passenger or driver with no seat belt on multiple occasions during the previous months.
• !3 percent of the survey respondents said that they had driven with a blood alcohol level that was much higher than the legally permissible limits over the past one year. Another 9 percent of respondents said that the engaged in drunk driving multiple times over the past year.

It is important to understand that these dangerous behaviors not only endanger the life of those who make the unsafe choice, but also put the lives of all others on the road at risk.

The driver who engaged in dangerous driving behavior must be held responsible for the conduct, and made to pay damages to the victims of the crash that resulted from their behavior.

If you have been injured in a crash caused by a negligent or dangerous driver, in is in your best interests to speak with an experienced Chicago personal injury attorney. Call Willens Law Offices today at (312) 957-4166 to schedule a free consultation.