2019 Fatal Traffic Crash Statistics for Illinois

 Posted on May 30,2019 in Car Accidents

Illinois drivers can take some comfort in the state’s fatal car accident statistics for January through May 2019. Compared to the same period last year, there were 98 fewer fatalities this year, down from 394 in 2018 to 296 this year.

City streets had the most fatalities, with 115 deaths. US and state routes accounted for 76 deaths, followed by interstate highways at 53 and county/township roads accounting for 52.

Roughly one-third of the fatalities (96) occurred in Cook County, with 18 in Will County and 9 in Lake County.

More Crashes Involve Pedestrians

Out of the 296 fatalities, pedestrians suffered 51 deaths and 38 deaths occurred in crashes involving semi-trucks. The percentage of fatalities stemming from truck accidents has remained steady in recent years at 13%. However, the percentage of fatalities suffered by pedestrians has risen from around 14% in 2014 to 17% in 2019. This mirrors a national rise in motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians. The Governors Highway Safety Association reported that pedestrians accounted for 16 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2018, up from 12 percent in 2008.

In Illinois, Car Accident Injuries Are More Common than Fatalities

Fatalities, of course, account for less than 1 percent of all car crashes. For the most recent fully reported year, 2016, Illinois reported 324,473 vehicle crashes, of which 1,000 involved a fatality. However, over 20% of all accidents resulted in an injury.

In Lake County, Rear-End Collisions are Most Common

Rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident in Lake County, accounting for 38 percent of all collisions in 2016, killing 3 people and severely injuring 82 people. The definition of “severe injuries” includes broken bones, paralysis, significant burns, internal injuries, and unconsciousness when taken from the crash scene

Collisions while turning are the second most common type of accident. While there were twice as many rear-end collisions as turning collisions, the turning collisions killed and injured more people. Turning collisions accounted for 20 percent of all collisions in 2016, killing 13 people and causing severe injuries to 90 people.

Consult an Experienced Lake County Car Accident Attorney

If someone in your family was seriously injured or killed in a car crash in Lake County, speak to an experienced Waukegan car accident lawyer before accepting any settlement. For a free initial consultation on your case, call Salvi & Maher, L.L.C. at 847-662-3303.

Sources:

http://apps.dot.illinois.gov/fatalcrash/snapshot.html

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2019/03/04/519051.htm

http://www.idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Resources/Safety/Crash-Reports/trends/Trends%202012-2016.pdf

http://apps.dot.illinois.gov/eplan/desenv/crash/County%20Summaries/Year%202016/Lake.pdf