What You Need To Know About Chicago Run-Off-The-Road Accidents

A run-off-the-road accident occurs when a car drifts to a side of the road or leaves the highway or roadway before it crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, lane departure accidents are single vehicle crashes in which the first harmful event occurs off the roadway. These accidents remain one of the most serious types of accidents as they can result in the vehicle getting rolled over, causing serious damage and injuries to the vehicle occupants.

Rollover crashes have a high rate of fatality. In 2013, there were 895 fatal crashes in Illinois. These crashes resulted in 991 deaths, many of which were caused by drivers who negligently forced other vehicles off the road. In some cases, road design could be a factor in a vehicle running off the road into a barrier, embankment or a tree. By far, driver error in the most common cause of run-off-the-road accidents.

Another common reason for such crashes is high speed, such accidents can occur when a motor vehicle travels at too a high speed to maintain control especially when approaching a curve or slope, or when the pavement is slippery, wet or water flooded.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, some of the most common causes of run-off-the-road accidents include:

• Drunk or drowsy driving

• Excessive speed

• Loss of control or direction because of icy or wet pavement

• Driver distraction such as when texting or checking GPS

• Driver maneuvers such as swerving to avoid obstructions on the roadway

• Vehicle defects such as tire blowouts

• Brake or steering failure

A study conducted by NHTSA shows that drivers who are under the influence of alcohol are more likely to be involved in run-off-the-road crashes compared to the sober drivers. According to the study. Among the drivers who had blood alcohol concentration, BAC=.01+ grams per deciliter, 86.5 percent were involved in run-off-the-road crashes, while among the sober drivers, 58.3 percent of them were involved in run-off-the-road crashes.

A situation may arise that another driver forces the driver off the road, into an embankment, into a ditch, or road divider. Our attorneys have comes across several cases when a negligent driver forces another driver off the road, however, the identity of the offender is not known, because he/she fled the scene. These hit and run cases often make cases uncomplicated as there is no one to fix the blame on, and who can be made to pay for the losses resulting from the accident. In such cases, the victim has to often rely on his own insurance to pay for medical bills and property damage.

If you have been injured in a run-off-the-road accident, you may want to speak to a competent and qualified Chicago car accident lawyer, who can explain you the available legal options, and help follow the right legal recourse. An attorney at Willens Law Offices can evaluate your claim for free and help you determine what you are legally entitled to. Call (312) 957-4166 to set up a free case evaluation.