Car Accident Attorneys in Lake County
At the law firm of Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, we help accident victims hold the negligent drivers responsible for their injuries accountable. Over the course of more than 35 years of representing accident victims, we’ve successfully recovered millions on behalf of our clients.
We have been earning our clients' trust for decades.
If You Have Been in a Car Accident in Lake County, You Are Not Alone
We have recovered millions of dollars for injured clients, and we are here for you, too.
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Car Accidents in Lake County
Every time you get into a car, there is a chance that you’ll be involved in an accident. While every driver recognizes this fact on some level, it’s still a shock to most when it happens. However, Lake County car accidents are much more common than most people realize.
For example, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were over 25,000 people involved in 12,069 Lake County car accidents in 2022. Those accidents resulted in 60 fatalities and 4,161 injuries.
Lake County Car Accident Data
The Illinois Department of Transportation releases county-specific car accident data each year. Below are some interesting Lake County car accident statistics.
Weather-Related Accidents
While Lake County sees its share of inclement weather, most car accidents happen during dry conditions. However, nearly 30 percent of all accidents occurred during times of icy, wet, or snowy conditions. These accidents make up more than 40 percent of all traffic fatalities, meaning weather-related accidents are generally more serious than those occurring when conditions are dry.
Day and Time
The three most dangerous driving days in Lake County are Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For example, there were only 1,273 accidents on Sunday and 1,610 on Monday, while 2,028 accidents occurred on Friday and 1,894 on Thursday. This may reflect a continuation of some work-from-home policies.
Most Lake County car accidents occur during daylight hours. More specifically, the most dangerous times to drive in Lake County are between the hours of 3 pm and 6 pm. However, given that there are far fewer drivers on the road in the middle of the night, there is still a significant chance of getting into an accident when it is dark out.
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Causes of Lake County Accidents
Each day in Illinois, there are more than 810 car accidents. As a result, one person dies in a car accident, and more than 45 people are seriously hurt every single day. A car accident can happen for many reasons; however, it rarely occurs without some level of driver negligence.
Some of the most common causes of Lake County car accidents include:
Impaired Driving
Impaired driving continues to plague Illinois and Lake County specifically. Accidents involving drunk or drugged drivers are about three times more likely to result in one or more fatalities. Lake County saw 21 impaired driving accidents in 2022. In Illinois, 22 percent of fatal accidents are the result of alcohol or drug impairment.
Distracted Driving
Whether motorists are talking with passengers, texting, chatting on their cell phones or scrolling social media, distractions while behind the wheel are a real threat to everyone on the road. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each day, more than eight people are killed in distracted driving accidents across the United States. However, in reality, the number of distracted driving accidents is likely much higher because a driver’s distraction may not always be listed as the official cause of the accident.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving
Speeding and other forms of aggressive driving, such as cutting in and out of lanes and tailgating, are leading causes of car accidents. In 2021, the Illinois Department of Transportation reported that speeding was cited as the cause in one-third of all accidents. Speeding was also responsible for 44 percent of all fatal accidents and 37 percent injury accidents.
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Equipment Malfunctions
Drivers assume that their vehicles will operate as they are supposed to. However, sometimes a driver experiences an equipment malfunction that can cause them to lose control. Equipment malfunctions are typically the result of defective parts or negligent maintenance. While vehicle manufacturers are responsible for the safety of their products, motorists also have a legal obligation to perform the necessary maintenance on their vehicle to ensure it is safe to drive. Common equipment malfunctions that can lead to an accident include:
- Brake systems
- Steering systems
- Tires
- Lights
- Ignition systems
Drowsy Driving
As people pick up increasing responsibilities, the number of drowsy driving accidents continues to climb. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that driving while tired has a similar effect on a motorist’s abilities as driving under the influence of alcohol. This means that drowsy drivers suffer increased reaction time and compromised decision-making abilities. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey of drivers found that 1 in 25 drivers reported they had fallen asleep while driving in the past 30 days.
Drowsy driving is especially dangerous when the driver is operating a heavy vehicle. 10 to 20 percent of large truck or bus crashes involved a tired driver. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) estimates that 10 to 20 percent of large truck and bus accidents are caused by drowsy driving.
Regardless of the reason for another driver’s negligence, there is never an excuse for engaging in dangerous driving behavior. At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, our Lake County personal injury lawyers are dedicated to ensuring every one of our clients recovers fair compensation for what they’ve been through.
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Proving Liability in a Lake County Car Accident Lawsuit
To successfully bring a Lake County car accident claim, an injured person must prove the four elements of a negligence claim:
1. Duty – Did the other driver owe the victim a duty of care?
2. Breach – Did the other driver violate the duty of care owed to the accident victim?
3. Causation – Was the other driver’s negligence the cause of the accident?
4. Damages – Did the accident victim suffer legally recognizable damages as a result of the accident?
If each of these elements is met, an accident victim can recover for their economic and non-economic damages related to the accident.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the out-of-pocket expenses you incur as a result of the accident. They also include the money that you would have expected to earn, but for the accident. Economic damages include:
- Emergency room expenses and hospital bills;
- The cost of follow-up medical treatment;
- Lost wages while you cannot work;
- Any decrease in your ability to earn income in the future; and
- Property damage
To establish your economic damages, a Lake County car accident lawyer will gather all documentation of your injuries, such as medical records, bills, receipts, and paychecks. They may also present the testimony of an expert witness to help identify the cost of future medical care.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages provide accident victims with compensation for the emotional and psychological effect the accident had on their lives. While these damages are harder to quantify because they are subjective in nature, they can be substantial. For example, common types of non-economic damages are:
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of society
Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages cannot be proven by presenting objective evidence. Instead, proving non-economic damages requires you to present a compelling case to the judge or jury explaining how the accident affected your life. For example, what was your life like before the accident compared to what it is like now? Are you limited in the activities you can enjoy? Are you living with lingering pain? Were you forced to miss out on important family events or milestones?
Call Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers to Speak with a Lake County Lawyer About Your Injuries
If you were recently injured in a Lake County car accident, the lawyers at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg are here to help. Since 1987, we’ve provided accident victims and their families with compassionate yet aggressive representation. Over this time, we’ve recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our injured clients, helping them move on with their lives and overcome the challenges they face. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with one of our Lake County personal injury lawyers, give us a call at 877-595-4878. You can also reach us through our online contact form. As part of the Briskman Guarantee, we make to all clients, we will never bill you for any of our services unless we can recover compensation on your behalf.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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