In Iroquois County on Monday, December 13, a three-way crash just South of Crescent City, Illinois lead to the death of one man. More investigation by the Illinois State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit is underway.
Car crashes are more common than many think. According to statistics, more than 90 people die in car crashes every day, and about 6 million car crashes happen annually. On average, each person will experience a car crash every 18 years of their life, or around 4 times in their life. Although we may believe driving to be the safest form of travel, sometimes we are blinded by the control we feel while driving and create habits that put us closer to harm’s way. Some habits that are common to develop as our sense of security heightens include:
- Texting while driving – texting while driving is one of the most common causes of car crashes, as it impairs the driver manually, visually, and cognitively. Manual impairment refers to the change of physical attention the car is receiving due to the phone being in hand. Visual impairment refers to looking at the phone screen, rather than the road. Cognitive impairment refers to the lack of focus on driving altogether, and having your mind occupied by the texting instead. Texting while driving can result in fines, civil liability charges, criminal charges, or loss of license.
- Talking on the phone while driving – although talking on the phone over Bluetooth is legal in some states, that does not limit the danger it could pose on drivers. We may feel bored while driving and feel talking on the phone could ease that boredom, however, talking on the phone poses an unnecessary danger to ourselves and others, and should be kept to a minimum.
- Driving with one hand or with your knees – driving with only one hand, or sometimes none at all, normally happens with experienced drivers on long drives. Although it may be tempting to sit back and not have to maintain posture while driving for an extended period of time, the less contact you have with the steering wheel, the less control you have of the vehicle. It is important to maintain the proper posture and holdings of the vehicle to have proper control.
- Eating and driving– eating and driving is common and creates many threats. First, eating while driving causes unnecessary distractions and limits the control we have on the vehicle. Second, eating while driving can cause unforeseen emergencies, such as choking, to happen while driving. Eating while driving increases the likelihood for emergencies to happen, therefore it is important to eat while pulled over or when you make it to your destination.
- Driving over the speed limit – driving over the speed limit is someone almost everyone does every time they drive. We may feel rushed to reach our destination, or we may feel that traffic is moving too slow altogether. However, speed limits are set because they are deemed to be the fastest speed that is safe for us to travel at. Driving at or below the speed limit is the most effective way to remain safe and in control while driving.
Driving is a danger. Remaining in control is the most important thing when operating a vehicle to help avoid crashes from happening. However, sometimes we cannot prevent car collisions from happening. We can do all the right things, and still be involved in a car crash that was not our fault. It is important to know what your options are when this happens. First, seek medical attention for you and anyone in your vehicle immediately. Next, seek legal counsel. It is important to speak to a lawyer who knows how to navigate insurance agencies, police records, and medical bills when trying to create an insurance claim after an accident. Insurance agencies are notorious for giving the lowest settlement amount in any accident. If you or a loved one was recently involved in a car collision at the fault of another driver, contact Spiros Law, P.C. to set up a free consultation today. Call (217) 443-4343 or visit one of our three offices located in Champaign, Danville, or Kankakee.
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