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Car Accident Statistics In DuPage County

A car accident can turn your life upside down, leaving you with devastating injuries and a stack of medical bills. Driving in DuPage County, Illinois, can be risky, and dozens of accidents happen every day. In fact, statistically speaking, one accident happens in DuPage County about every 35 minutes.

So how many accidents take place in DuPage County every year, and how serious are they? Read on to discover the latest car accident statistics in DuPage County. Contact our Dupage County car accident lawyers at Mathys & Schneid Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your accident claim. Call today at 630-848-9294 for more information.

Table of Contents

How Many Accidents Happen In DuPage County?

Every year, more than 15,000 car accidents happen in DuPage County, Illinois.

In 2021,

  • 43 of these crashes turned out to be fatal. There were 48 total deaths.
  • More than 3,500 accidents caused injuries. Almost 5,000 people were hurt.
  • 11,000 accidents caused property damage.

Unlike other areas of the country, Illinois didn’t experience a significant decrease in traffic fatalities during the pandemic. In fact, the state experienced a slight increase in accidents in both 2020 and 2021.

Historical Analysis Of DuPage Car Accident Statistics

Traffic accidents in Illinois hit their peak in the 1930s and 1940s and then again in the 1960s and 1970s. Annual traffic fatalities declined steadily until 2011 when they hit a near-record low of 918. Since then, they’ve been on the rise again, and in 2021, the state experienced over 1,300 deaths in car accidents.

In 2021, DuPage County suffered 46 fatalities in traffic accidents. The following year, deaths declined to 39. So far, in 2023, one person has died on the roads in DuPage County.

Dangers For DuPage County Pedestrians

Pedestrians in DuPage County face more dangers than other road users.

  • In 2021, 112 accidents in DuPage County involved pedestrians.
  • Seven pedestrians were killed in DuPage County accidents.
  • Another 109 pedestrians were hurt in those 112 accidents in DuPage County.
  • Twenty-three of those injuries were classified as incapacitating injuries, and 58 injuries were qualified as non-incapacitating. Twenty-eight were reported but not directly observed.

Since pedestrians don’t have the frame of a car to protect them in an accident, they tend to suffer more severe injuries. If you’ve been injured in a DuPage County pedestrian accident, our personal injury lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve. Schedule a free consultation with us today to discuss your case.

Common Causes Of Accident Injuries In DuPage County

There are several common accident causes that can lead to injuries in DuPage County, Illinois. Speeding is one of the most common causes – across the United States, about one-third of fatal accidents involve speeding. Not only does speeding make it harder to get stopped in time, but higher speed impacts can also be more serious.

Driving under the influence can also lead to serious injuries and fatalities. Another one-third of fatal accidents across the United States involve a driver who had been drinking.

Other common causes of accident injuries in DuPage County may include:

  • Bad weather
  • Driver fatigue
  • Distracted driving (texting, putting on makeup, etc.)
  • Poor driving habits (aggressive driving, making illegal turns, etc.)
  • Road hazards
  • Vehicle defects

Practicing safe driving can help to make the road safer for everyone. Avoid speeding, never drive when you’ve been drinking, and always follow the DuPage County traffic laws.

Who’s Responsible For DuPage County Accidents?

If you’ve been involved in a car accident in DuPage County, one of the first things you may need to know is who’s at fault in the accident.

Illinois is a tort state, which means that the driver who caused the accident can be held liable. They may have to pay compensation for property damage and injuries that the other driver suffered.

In some cases, neither of the drivers involved in an accident is responsible for the accident. For instance, if a car manufacturer defect causes an accident, the manufacturer could be responsible. Or if a road hazard causes the accident, the government could actually be liable.

Often, after an accident, insurance companies will try to shift blame for the crash to the victim. If they can convince a court that the victim was at fault, they may not have to pay a settlement to them. Even if the other driver caused your accident, you could find yourself blamed.

Our lawyers will stand up to the insurance companies and defend you from blame for the accident. We’ll collect evidence in your case and fight to get you the compensation you deserve.

Schedule a free consultation with our personal injury lawyers today.

How Many Serious Injuries Happen In DuPage County Accidents?

We know some about how many total car accidents happen in DuPage County, but how many serious injuries result?

Illinois uses a three-tiered system to rank the severity of injuries in traffic accidents:

  • A – Incapacitating injury. These injuries prevent the victim from performing the same activities they could before the accident. These activities may include walking, driving and more. Class A injuries may include broken bones, skull injuries, abdominal injuries, serious cuts and so on.
  • B – Non-incapacitating injury. This covers any injury that is evident to witnesses at the scene of the accident. This may include scrapes, cuts, bruises, bumps and other such injuries.
  • C – Reported/not evident. This class covers any injury not included in the classes above. It may also cover reported symptoms that bystanders can’t observe. Examples may include loss of consciousness, limping, pain and nausea.

This scale also covers Class K injuries, which are fatal, and Class O injuries, which are not evident or reported.

In 2021, almost 5,000 people were injured in DuPage County traffic accidents. There were 338 Class A injuries that year and more than 2,000 Class B injuries. There were another 2,200 Class C injuries in DuPage County in 2021.

What Damages Can Accident Victims Recover?

If you’ve been injured in a DuPage County car accident, you could be entitled to compensation. There are three basic kinds of compensation you can get in a personal injury case: economic, noneconomic, and punitive.

Economic damages cover any losses that have an attached price tag. This can include property damage, medical bills, lost wages, loss of future earning potential and cost of future medical treatment.

Noneconomic damages may not have an inherent dollar value, but they’re no less valid. You can get compensation for pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional trauma, loss of companionship, scarring and disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Punitive damages are meant to punish a defendant who acted in an especially heinous manner during an accident. These are extremely rare to recover in a personal injury case and come with a heavy burden of proof.

Contact Mathys & Schneid Personal Injury Lawyers Today To Discuss Your Case

If you’ve been hurt in an accident in DuPage County, Illinois, you need a strong personal injury lawyer on your side. When you hire Mathys & Schneid Personal Injury Lawyers, you get some of the top-rated lawyers in Illinois. Our lawyers have more than 74 years of experience and have recovered more than $150 million for our clients to date.

When you hire us, we can:

  • Investigate your claim to make sure it will hold up in court
  • Gather evidence, including police reports, medical records and witness statements
  • Find expert witnesses to support your case in court
  • Carefully calculate every damage you’re owed
  • Negotiate with the insurance companies to get you a fair settlement
  • File a lawsuit if that’s what it takes to get you the money you deserve

We know all the dirty tricks the insurance companies like to use to cheat you out of a settlement, and we know how to counter them. We’ll fight for your rights and make sure you get the money you deserve. If you’ve been hurt in a DuPage County accident, our lawyers want to help you get the money you deserve.

We have more than seven decades of experience fighting for Illinois citizens, and we’re ready to stand up for you, too. Schedule a free consultation with us today to discuss your legal options.