Fatal Car Accidents

If you have lost a loved one in a fatal car accident in or around Chicago, our experienced attorneys can help you understand your legal options and rights.

Serving Chicago, its suburbs and all of Illinois

Car accidents used to be the leading cause of accidental death in the US, but they have been declining in recent years. That is little comfort if you lost a loved one in a car accident. However, you may be able to receive compensation for your loss. While monetary compensation cannot bring your loved one back, or help heal the pain, it can help with the day-to-day financial burdens you may be facing.

If you have a lost a loved one in a fatal car accident in or around Chicago, we can help you understand your legal rights and options. Matt Willens is a compassionate, yet aggressive attorney who will ensure that your rights are protected and that you and your family receive the full and fair compensation that you need and deserve.

Fatal Car Accident Statistics

In 2010, there were 30,196 fatal traffic accidents, resulting in 32,885 fatalities. This represents a decline of 24% since 2002. About half of those killed were drivers, with passengers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians as the next three most common fatalities. About 40% of vehicles involved were passenger cars, with 39% being light trucks like pickups or SUVs. Motorcycles were involved in about 10% of crashes, while large trucks accounted for about 8% of all vehicles involved in car accidents.

In Illinois there were 927 fatalities, a small rise (2%) from 2009, but a 35% drop from 2002, when 1420 people were killed in car accidents. About 42% of vehicles involved in fatal accidents were cars, 36% were light trucks, 10% were motorcycles, and 9% were large trucks.

Are SUVs Safer?

One reason people often talk about when they justify the purchase of an SUV in Chicago, is that the vehicles are safer. More people in passenger cars are killed in traffic accidents, by about 4:3 compared with light trucks. However, light trucks are nearly 50% more likely to be involved in fatal accidents. This is because light trucks are more likely to kill people in other vehicles. With mismatched bumper heights and greater mass, driving an SUV can put you in the position of surviving a fatal accident with another car.

However, overall the fatality rate is actually slightly higher for occupants of SUVs (0.86 per 100 million miles traveled, compared to only 0.83 for passenger cars). Why?

About 22% of fatal SUV accidents are non-collisions, many of them rollover single-vehicle accidents. The higher profile and narrow base of SUVs make them a danger not only to other drivers on the road, but to their own passengers as well.