Car Crash Facts & Figures in Illinois
Each year, the Illinois Department of Transportation compiles statistics on car accident fatalities and other information pertaining to motor vehicle accidents in the state. According to data for the most recent year reported:
Cook County had over 159,000 motor vehicle crashes. It also had the highest number of deaths by car accidents of any county in Illinois, with 285 fatalities. This represents more than 30% of the 938 fatal traffic accidents that occurred for the year.
The total estimated cost of crashes in Illinois for the year was $5.9 billion.
Top Deadliest Counties
The top 10 deadliest counties in Illinois and their portion of the total number of traffic accidents in the state were:
- Cook County – 285 fatal crashes, 30.38%
- Will County – 55 fatal crashes, 5.86%
- Madison County – 35 fatal crashes, 3.73%
- Lake County – 35 fatal crashes, 3.73%
- DuPage County – 34 fatal crashes, 3.62%
- Kane County – 32 fatal crashes, 3.41%
- Winnebago County – 27 fatal crashes, 2.88%
- St. Clair County – 25 fatal crashes, 2.67%
- McHenry County – 20 fatal crashes, 2.13%
- Kankakee County – 18 fatal crashes, 1.92%
Deadliest Modes of Transport
For the year, there were:
- 11,322,497 registered motor vehicles
- 9,170,304 licensed drivers
- 107.607 vehicle miles traveled (millions)
- 312,988 total crashes
- 89,133 total injuries
- 9,685 A-injuries (Any injury, other than a fatal injury, that prevents the injured person from walking, driving, or normally continuing the activities he/she was capable of performing before the injury occurred. Includes severe lacerations, broken limbs, skull or chest injuries, and abdominal injuries.)
- 1,010 fatalities
- 1.1 mileage death rate (fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel.)
- 2,758 motorcycle crashes
- 11,741 crashes that involved tractor trailers
- 1,227 crashes that involved school buses. One school-age passenger died on a school bus, and 85 were injured. 39 school bus drivers were injured.
Motorcycles were the deadliest mode of transportation. At 170 deaths, pedestrian deaths outnumbered motorcyclist deaths.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the following vehicles were involved in fatal crashes:
- Passenger Car – 591
- Pickup Truck – 180
- SUV – 340
- Motorcycle – 142
- Semi Truck – 114
- Van – 76
- Farm Tractor/Farm Equipment – 5
- School Bus – 1
- Other Bus – 2
Impaired Driving Fatal Crashes in Illinois
Many of the deadliest car accidents in Illinois involve the use of drugs or alcohol. 27.1% of fatal crashes involved alcohol. Of the 657 drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes, 547 were tested and 37.1% of them tested positive with a BAC of 0.01% or greater. 34.8% of the pedestrians killed in traffic accidents who were tested for alcohol tested positive with a BAC of 0.01% or greater. 50% of deceased motorcycle operators who were tested had a BAC of 0.01% or greater.
Rates of Accidents Per Driving Age
The highest rates for fatal accidents based on drivers of certain ages per 1,000 licensed drivers were those between the age of 25-29 and 75 or older. Drivers involved in fatal crashes were the following ages:
- 19 or younger – 93 fatal crashes
- 20-24 – 134 fatal crashes
- 25-29 – 166 fatal crashes
- 30-34 – 142 fatal crashes
- 35-39 – 114 fatal crashes
- 40-44 – 125 fatal crashes
- 45-49 – 115 fatal crashes
- 50-54 – 102 fatal crashes
- 55-59 – 103 fatal crashes
- 60-64 – 61 fatal crashes
- 65-69 – 75 fatal crashes
- 70-74 – 47 fatal crashes
- 75 or older – 108 fatal crashes
Improper Seatbelt Use
263 of the fatal car crashes involved no seat belt or improper seat belt use.
Injured in a Car Crash? Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Today
Proving negligence after a car accident can be complex. It takes time and the dedication of attorneys who have the proper experience and resources. Our Chicago car accident lawyer at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. have the skills to demand full compensation for you. Contact us online for a free, no-obligation case review.
