Common Causes of Car Collisions

Common Causes of Car Collisions

Car collisions are among the most common and devastating incidents affecting Chicago drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists. In a city where dense traffic, busy intersections, and unpredictable driving behaviors intersect every day, victims are often left facing injuries that disrupt their lives physically, emotionally, and financially. 

Understanding the leading causes of these crashes is crucial—not so victims can prevent them, but so they know what may have contributed to the collision and why investigations must be handled by experienced auto accident attorneys. Insurance companies frequently attempt to shift blame or minimize claims, creating an adversarial process at a time when victims are already overwhelmed. 

Key Takeaways:

• Many Chicago car collisions occur due to driver negligence such as speeding, distraction, or reckless maneuvers.
• Collisions often result in significant injuries requiring long-term medical care.
• Insurance companies often dispute fault or downplay the severity of injuries.
• Abels & Annes, P.C. handles investigations, communications, and case strategy from day one.
• Early attorney involvement protects evidence and strengthens the victim’s legal position.
  

Distracted Driving: A Leading Cause of Serious Collisions

Distracted driving remains one of the most frequent causes of crashes in Chicago. Whether drivers are texting, adjusting navigation systems, eating, or simply not watching the road, distraction creates dangerous gaps in reaction time. Even a moment of inattention can result in a high-impact collision, particularly in congested areas like the Kennedy Expressway, Lake Shore Drive, or the busy corridors of downtown.

Insurance companies often downplay the role of distraction unless clear evidence exists. They may argue that visibility was poor, traffic was unpredictable, or that the victim contributed to the crash. These theories create confusion and shift attention away from the driver who failed to remain focused.

At Abels & Annes, P.C., our attorneys conduct detailed investigations into distracted-driving cases. We review phone records when appropriate, analyze traffic-camera footage, and examine driver behavior leading up to the collision. Our approach highlights the negligence that insurers attempt to overlook, ensuring that victims are not unfairly blamed or pressured into accepting insufficient settlement offers.

Speeding and Aggressive Driving on Chicago Roadways

Speeding is another major contributor to severe car collisions, especially on highways and major routes connecting Chicago’s neighborhoods. Drivers who exceed speed limits reduce their ability to brake, react to hazards, and maintain control of their vehicle. When combined with aggressive behaviors—tailgating, weaving between lanes, or ignoring traffic signals—the likelihood of a crash increases significantly.

Insurance companies may attempt to shift responsibility by pointing to weather conditions, traffic flow, or roadway design. These arguments overlook the clear risk created when a driver chooses to operate a vehicle at dangerous speeds. Victims should never be forced to justify injuries caused by someone else’s reckless choices.

Abels & Annes, P.C. analyzes crash reconstruction data, skid marks, vehicle damage, and witness accounts to demonstrate how speeding contributed to the collision. Our attorneys build strong cases that hold negligent drivers accountable, relying on decades of experience and a proven history of Winning Millions for Our Clients.

Failure to Yield and Intersection Collisions

Intersections are some of the most dangerous areas for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Failure to yield, improper left turns, rolling stops, and red-light violations are common causes of intersection crashes. 

These incidents often occur on heavily traveled routes such as Western Avenue, Cicero Avenue, and the intersections throughout River North and Bronzeville.

Victims frequently experience substantial injuries because intersection crashes involve high-speed impact or side-impact collisions that offer little vehicle protection. Insurance companies may claim the victim entered the intersection improperly or misjudged the signal. Such arguments rarely reflect reality—they are simply designed to limit financial responsibility.

The attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. investigate these collisions by reviewing signal timing, surveillance footage, driver positioning, and right-of-way laws. Our firm ensures that the victim’s account is supported with clear evidence rather than overshadowed by insurer speculation.

Impaired Driving: Alcohol and Drug-Related Crashes

Impaired driving remains one of the most dangerous and preventable causes of car collisions. Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs have reduced reaction times, impaired judgment, and difficulty maintaining lane position. These crashes often result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities.

Insurance companies may not dispute impairment itself but may still challenge the extent of injuries, the necessity of medical treatment, or the financial impact of the crash. Victims should not have to fight these battles while recovering from trauma inflicted by an impaired driver.

Abels & Annes, P.C. handles impaired-driving cases with the seriousness they deserve. Our attorneys review toxicology reports, police documentation, witness testimony, and crash reconstruction data to establish responsibility and push for full accountability. We ensure victims receive strong legal support in cases that are emotionally and physically overwhelming.

Rear-End Collisions Caused by Inattention or Tailgating

Rear-end collisions are among the most common crashes in Chicago, often caused by drivers following too closely or failing to recognize slowing traffic ahead. These accidents frequently result in neck and back injuries, concussions, and chronic pain that may require long-term treatment.

Insurers sometimes diminish the seriousness of rear-end collisions, arguing that the victim should have recovered quickly or that low-speed impact cannot produce significant harm. These assumptions are medically inaccurate and legally unfair.

At Abels & Annes, P.C., our attorneys challenge these narratives by presenting medical evidence, expert evaluations, and clear documentation of how the crash occurred. We ensure that victims are not dismissed simply because an insurer wants to minimize the claim.

T-Bone Collisions and the Dangers of Side-Impact Crashes

T-bone collisions, also called side-impact crashes, often occur when a driver runs a red light, ignores a stop sign, or fails to yield at an intersection. These crashes are particularly dangerous because the sides of vehicles provide far less structural protection than the front or rear. Victims may suffer severe injuries such as broken ribs, internal organ damage, spinal trauma, or traumatic brain injuries. In busy Chicago intersections—especially along major roads like North Avenue, Ashland, and Halsted—these collisions are both common and devastating.

Insurance companies often attempt to dispute fault in T-bone crashes, especially when statements from both drivers conflict. They may argue that the victim misjudged the intersection or failed to stop in time. These arguments shift attention away from the driver who ignored traffic control devices or made an unsafe maneuver.

Abels & Annes, P.C. takes these cases seriously. Our attorneys gather traffic camera footage, examine black-box data when available, and consult accident reconstruction experts to establish how the collision occurred. With a detailed investigation, we prevent insurers from undermining the truth and ensure that victims receive strong, evidence-backed representation.

Multi-Vehicle Collisions on Chicago Highways

Chicago highways—including I-90, I-94, I-290, and Lake Shore Drive—often experience multi-vehicle collisions caused by sudden stops, speeding, distraction, or hazardous weather. In these crashes, determining fault becomes significantly more complex because several drivers may be involved, and each insurance company may attempt to shift responsibility onto someone else.

Victims caught in these pileups frequently face extensive injuries and major disruptions to their lives. At the same time, insurers may attempt to delay decisions, dispute medical care, or claim that another driver should be held accountable instead. These disputes can prolong recovery and cause tremendous stress.

Abels & Annes, P.C. handles multi-vehicle collisions by conducting a thorough investigation into vehicle positioning, impact points, police reports, and roadway conditions. 

Our attorneys understand how to unravel the complex web of liability that insurers often exploit. We ensure that victims do not get lost in the confusion created by multiple parties and multiple insurance companies, and we build strong cases emphasizing the client’s right to fair compensation.

Weather-Related Crashes and Driver Responsibility

Chicago’s winter conditions—snow, ice, freezing rain, and high winds—contribute to many car collisions each year. While weather can make driving more dangerous, it does not eliminate the responsibility of drivers to operate their vehicles safely. When motorists fail to adjust their speed, braking distance, or following space during poor weather, the risk of a collision increases dramatically.

Insurance companies may attempt to argue that weather—not driver negligence—was the primary cause of the crash. These claims overlook the fact that drivers are legally required to exercise caution and adapt their behavior to the conditions around them.

Abels & Annes, P.C. demonstrates how negligence contributed to weather-related crashes by analyzing vehicle speed, roadway maintenance, driver visibility, and available stopping distance. Our attorneys ensure that insurers cannot hide behind weather conditions to avoid accountability for careless or reckless driving.

Head-On Collisions Caused by Reckless or Impaired Driving

Head-on collisions are among the most severe accidents on Chicago roadways. These crashes often involve drivers who cross the center line due to distraction, fatigue, impairment, or reckless behavior. The force of impact in a head-on collision can cause catastrophic injuries, leaving victims with long-term disabilities, emotional trauma, and overwhelming medical needs.

Because these crashes are so serious, insurers often attempt to shift partial blame onto the victim or argue that the circumstances are unclear. These strategies add unnecessary difficulty to an already life-altering situation.

At Abels & Annes, P.C., our attorneys conduct comprehensive investigations that leave no room for speculation. We examine roadway markings, witness statements, police records, skid marks, and collision dynamics to establish the truth. Our team has decades of experience handling severe collisions, and our reputation for Winning Millions for Our Clients ensures that insurers approach these cases with appropriate seriousness.

Why Victims Should Contact an Attorney Immediately After a Collision

Acting quickly after a collision is one of the most important steps an injured victim can take. Evidence fades fast—vehicles are repaired or destroyed, surveillance footage is overwritten, and witnesses become harder to locate. Insurance companies also move quickly, often contacting victims before they fully understand the extent of their injuries. 

Early interactions with adjusters may seem harmless, but insurers use these conversations to shape the claim, minimize damages, or dispute liability.

Delays also make it harder to demonstrate the full impact of the injuries. Medical records, crash-site documentation, and other key evidence are strongest when preserved early. Without legal guidance, victims may inadvertently weaken their cases simply by waiting too long.

Abels & Annes, P.C. steps in immediately to protect victims. Our attorneys preserve evidence, communicate with insurers, and build a strong legal foundation from the start. 

We ensure that victims are not taken advantage of during a vulnerable time and that their rights are fully protected from day one. With free consultations available 24/7 and no fee unless the case is won, there is no reason to face the aftermath of a collision alone.

How Insurance Companies Misrepresent the Causes of Car Collisions

One of the most challenging aspects of a post-collision claim is the way insurance companies attempt to reinterpret how the crash happened. Their goal is simple: reduce the value of the case by shifting responsibility, questioning the sequence of events, or minimizing the severity of the circumstances. 

Even when a driver clearly caused the collision, insurers may argue that visibility was poor, traffic was unpredictable, or that both drivers “shared responsibility.” These statements are rarely grounded in facts—they are strategic attempts to weaken the victim’s position.

Insurers also rely on the confusion that follows a collision. Victims may not remember every detail or may feel pressured during early conversations. Insurance companies take advantage of this uncertainty by submitting selective interpretations of police reports, focusing on small inconsistencies, or ignoring evidence that suggests clear negligence. Their objective is not to discover the truth; it is to protect their financial interests.

Abels & Annes, P.C. prevents these tactics from gaining traction. Our attorneys handle all communication with the insurer, ensuring victims do not make statements that can later be manipulated. 

We also conduct our own in-depth analysis of the crash—reviewing skid marks, vehicle damage, roadway layout, video footage, traffic-signal data, and witness accounts. We compare this evidence with the insurer’s version of events and highlight discrepancies that reveal attempts to distort the cause of the collision.

This careful and methodical approach allows us to challenge misleading narratives and present a clear, evidence-driven account of what truly happened. Our goal is to ensure that responsibility is placed exactly where it belongs—and that our clients are not burdened by unfair accusations or insurer-created doubt.

Call Us Today

Car collisions leave victims facing pain, uncertainty, and financial instability. You deserve experienced attorneys who know how to confront powerful insurance companies and fight for your recovery. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we bring decades of experience, respected legal credentials, and a proven history of Winning Millions for Our Clients. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Chicago car collision, do not wait. Free consultations 24/7. No Fee Unless You Win. Call (312) 924-7575 today. Let Us Fight for You.

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Abels & Annes
100 N LaSalle St #1710
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 924-7575