Most adults struggle to get enough sleep at night. Whether it is a tight deadline at work, child-related responsibilities, insomnia, or another cause, studies show that a large percentage of Americans are sleep-deprived. Inadequate sleep can have a major impact on a person’s physical and mental functioning. When a sleep-deprived individual gets behind the wheel of a car, he or she is significantly more likely to be involved in a car accident than someone who got enough sleep. Vehicle crashes caused by fatigued drivers lead to thousands of injuries and deaths each year.

Do Not Underestimate the Effect of Sleep Deprivation on Driving

Healthy habits like eating vegetables, exercising, and getting enough sleep are often hard to maintain. Life circumstances often get in the way of our good intentions. However, getting behind the wheel of a car when you are too sleepy to operate it safely not only puts your life in danger but also the lives of those around you. Sleep deprivation negatively affects a person’s reaction time, problem-solving skills, coordination, and other cognitive processes. In fact, the National Safety Council reports that driving after being awake for 20 hours or more is equivalent to driving drunk in terms of impairment. People who are severely sleep-deprived may even experience instances of “micro-sleep.” These short bursts of sleep are involuntary and often occur without the person’s knowledge. Although fatigue is linked to approximately 1000,000 car accidents each year, many people underestimate the effect sleepiness has on their ability to safely drive.

When a traffic accident occurs, everyone involved usually has an interest in establishing which party caused the accident. This determination is generally used to establish who will be financially responsible for the damages caused by the collision. Sometimes, the fault is quite clear, such as in a case where a careless driver crashes into the rear of a vehicle that is sitting at a traffic light. In other cases, determining blame is more complicated, as any number of drivers could have played a part in causing the crash. If there is more than one party with at least some fault for a car accident, the liability for any resulting injuries or damages could be shared also.

Types of Shared Fault Models

Each state maintains its own laws regarding how liability may be shared when the plaintiff in a personal injury case is partially at fault for the incident in question and states generally use one of three basic models. The first model is called “pure contributory fault,” which is used in just four states, as well as Washington, D.C. Under this rule, the injured party can only collect compensation as long as the victim had no fault at all for the crash. Even if the defendant was 99 percent at fault and the plaintiff was 1 percent to blame, the plaintiff is barred from collecting damages.

A car accident can leave a person with painful injuries, expensive medical needs, and considerable vehicle repair costs. If you or a loved one were hurt in an Illinois automobile crash, you may wonder how you will cover these costs. Through a personal injury claim, you may be compensated for your medical expenses, property damage, and other losses caused by the accident. However, to successfully recover compensation, you and your attorney will need to show proof of the other party’s liability, your injuries, and the damages your injuries incurred.

4 Main Elements of a Successful Personal Injury Claim

To win a personal injury claim after a car accident in Illinois, you will need to show that:

When we think of car accidents, we do not usually consider crashes that happen in parking lots. Although many parking lot accidents occur at low speeds, these collisions can still cause serious injuries or even death. If you or a loved suffered an injury after a parking lot accident, you may wonder if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. In many cases, a personal injury claim can help a parking lot accident victim recover compensation for vehicle repair costs, medical bills, missed work, and other damages.

Who Is At Fault for a Car Accident in a Parking Lot?
Parking lots can be hectic places. Individuals who are in a hurry may drive while distracted by their cell phones, disregard right-of-way rules, or drive across parking spaces instead of staying in the appropriate lanes. Drivers who are exiting parking spaces should always yield to cars driving through the feeder lanes and drivers exiting feeder lanes must yield to motorists in the thoroughfare lanes. Drivers should be vigilant for pedestrians at all times. When a motorist ignores right-of-way rules, drives too fast, or fails to check his or her surroundings before moving, he or she may strike a pedestrian or another vehicle. If a motorist’s inattention, recklessness, or negligence causes a parking lot accident, he or she may be liable for the damages incurred in the accident.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving took the lives of nearly 3,000 people in 2018. Anything that takes a driver’s attention away from operating his or her vehicle safely is considered a form of distracted driving. This may include texting or other cell phone use, eating and drinking while driving, adjusting the radio or GPS system, and much more. If you were hurt in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be left with overwhelming financial losses. Fortunately, a personal injury claim may help you recover compensation.

Distracted Driving Is Against the Law
The act of texting and driving has been against the law in Illinois for over a decade. However, this has not stopped people from using their cell phones behind the wheel. Many drivers have admitted to texting, browsing the Internet, updating social media, and even watching videos while operating a vehicle. Recently, a new law went into effect in Illinois that allows the Secretary of State to revoke or suspend an individual’s driver’s license if he or she causes an accident resulting in bodily injury while using an electronic device. Although using a cell phone while driving is still a major concern, this is not the only type of distracted driving that results in serious auto accidents. Talking to passengers, reaching for an object that has fallen on the vehicle’s floor, attending to children in the backseat, and countless other acts may constitute distracted driving. If a motorist violates Illinois traffic laws or drives in a reckless or negligent manner, he or she may be liable for any damages caused in an accident.