By: John Hipskind Smiling At The Camera John Hipskind

Car Crash Statistics for Belleville, Illinois

When an accident happens in Belleville, Illinois, it is important to do the following immediately: 

  • Check on passengers in your car and on the other driver.
  • Dial 911 and let the dispatcher know the condition of everyone involved in the accident. Even if no one is injured, call 911 anyway so the police can be dispatched.
  • If you are able to speak with the other driver, then be sure to exchange important information such as your name, address, email address, phone number and car insurance information. 
  • Take lots of pictures of the scene of the accident. You want to get a combination of close-up shots and wide shots that include the license plate of both cars, as well as details of the damage or injuries sustained.

Then, call us at Hipskind & McAninch, LLC to schedule your free consultation.

Car Crash

City Summary Crash Report

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Traffic Safety, there were 1,076 crashes and 13 fatalities in the city of Belleville in the year 2018. The crashes can be broken down into many different types, and how to prevent them. Weather conditions played a major factor in the safety of drivers. Certain times of day are found to be more dangerous than others.

Class of Trafficway

The majority of crashes and property damage occurred on city streets or in urban areas. There were 494 reports of property damage during the year, and 652 total crashes. These resulted in 158 injuries and involved 227 total vehicles. 109 people were injured in rural areas and on unmarked highways, and there were a total of 292 crashes on these roads. There were 132 total crashes on suburban streets involving 256 vehicles and injuring 54 people.

Time Of Day

While one would think that the majority of car accidents would occur at night when it’s harder to see, the majority of accidents in Belleville occurred during daylight hours, totaling in 736 crashes that year. 221 crashes occurred after dark but on lighted roads, and another 63 occurred in total darkness. There were a total of 11 and 29 total crashes at dawn and dusk respectively.

The time of day when a driver was most at risk to be involved in an accident was around 3 PM. At this time a total of 118 crashes were reported injuring a total of 48 people. The next most dangerous time is 5 PM, with 93 total crashes, followed by 4 PM, which reported 90 crashes during that year. Around the time schools get out and rush hours are the most dangerous times for people to be on the road.

Types of Crash Causes

These are some of the common causes of accidents.

Drugs And Alcohol

Everyone knows that drinking and driving do not mix and can lead to crashes, property damage, and fatalities. In that year, one person was killed and 14 more were injured in a total of 27 crashes that involved alcohol. What’s also important to note is that 16 crashes were caused by people who were said to be emotional, which led to seven injuries and involving 16 vehicles. 15 crashes were caused by fatigue. Although nobody was killed in either of these types of crashes, another six were injured in the crashes involving fatigue. Some of the injuries for both emotional and fatigue driving were quite severe.

Road Defects

Construction or obstructions in the road can contribute to accidents while driving on highways or neighborhood streets. In 2018, worn surfaces caused 20 crashes which led to seven injuries. Two more crashes occurred due to debris on the roadway. In total 473 people were injured as a result of road defects.

Weather

While a majority of crashes occurred on a clear day (104), the next most common occurrence of car crashes is during heavy rain. There were 122 crashes reported that were due to rain, resulting in injuring 58 people and some severely. Over 200 vehicles were involved in these accidents caused by rain.

Here are some tips to help you when driving in bad weather:

  • Drive more slowly than usual to reduce your chances of skids or accidents.
  • Leave plenty of room between you and the driver in front of you when you were driving or stopping.
  • Use your low beams in fog, not your high beams, even during the day. This helps you to see, as well as others to see you.
  • Leave earlier to accommodate for traffic and slower driving