What You Should Do After a Car Crash?
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Find Out If You Have A CaseInjured in a Missouri or Illinois Car Crash?
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Common Causes of Car Crash in Missouri and Illinois
Car crash in Missouri and Illinois happen every day for the same preventable reasons. Distracted driving, excessive speed, drunk driving, failure to yield, and poor road conditions all contribute to crashes that injure thousands of victims across both states every year. Understanding what caused your accident is the first step toward proving negligence and recovering the compensation you deserve.
If you were injured in a car crash in Missouri or Illinois, Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers is ready to help. We represent car crash victims across St. Louis, Columbia, Chicago, and every community in both states. No fees unless we win. Call (888) 550-4026 for a free case review today.
Award-Winning Missouri and Illinois Car Accident Lawyer
Tyson Mutrux has recovered compensation for car accident victims across St. Louis, Columbia, and throughout Missouri and Illinois. Before founding Mutrux Firm, Tyson worked for State Farm Insurance as a claims representative, giving him firsthand knowledge of exactly how insurance companies evaluate, minimize, and deny injury claims. That inside knowledge is what he uses against them every day on behalf of his clients.
Licensed in Missouri, Illinois, and U.S. Federal Courts, Tyson has earned recognition as Best Attorney in Columbia for 2025 by Inside Columbia Magazine, Top 100 Trial Lawyer by The National Trial Lawyers, The Nation’s Top One Percent of Attorneys by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel (2015), Best Car Accident Lawyer in Columbia for 2023 by Expertise.com, Top 10 Car Accident Lawyers in Columbia by Trust Analytica (2024), and holds a Superb 10/10 Rating on Avvo.
High-Speed Car Crashes in Missouri and Illinois
When a car crash occurs at a high rate of speed, the injuries are often catastrophic. The force of a high-speed collision dramatically increases the risk of traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, internal bleeding, and fatalities compared to lower-speed crashes. The higher the speed, the less time a driver has to react and the less effective safety systems like airbags and seatbelts become.
From a legal standpoint, high-speed crashes open the door to additional compensation that standard crashes may not. When a driver was speeding excessively or racing at the time of the crash, a Missouri car accident lawyer can pursue punitive damages in addition to standard compensation. Punitive damages are designed to punish especially reckless conduct and can significantly increase the total recovery for victims.
Proving the other driver was speeding typically requires gathering evidence such as police reports noting a speeding citation, dashcam or traffic camera footage showing vehicle speed, electronic data recorder or black box data from the vehicle, witness statements, and in complex cases, analysis from an accident reconstruction professional. While reconstruction adds cost to a case, it often results in significantly stronger evidence and higher settlements.
- Seek medical help
- Capture evidence
- File a police report
- Talk to witnesses
Get medical help
Capture evidence
File a police report
Talk to witnesses
Collisions Caused by Drunk Drivers
If a car accident in St. Louis County involves a drunk driver, this can change the complexity of the case completely. This is because the defendant is typically charged with a crime which prevents an attorney’s access to that driver tremendously.
The benefits of having a drunk driver involved in a crash is that police officers would probably have arrived on the scene and filed a police report regarding the details of the accident and the inebriated state of the at-fault driver. As a result, the plaintiff may be able to collect a lot of information they not have not been able to get.
How have Missouri traffic fatality rates changed over recent years?
Missouri’s traffic fatality rates have experienced notable changes over recent years. From 2013 to 2023, the number of traffic fatalities in Missouri increased by 31 percent, and the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) rose by 13 percent. Despite this decade-long increase, there has been some recent improvement: between 2021 and 2023, traffic fatalities decreased by about 2 percent, and the fatality rate per 100 million VMT dropped by 3 percent.
In terms of raw numbers, Missouri saw 1,030 traffic fatalities in 2022, which decreased to 992 fatalities in 2023 according to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). Preliminary data for 2024 indicates a further decrease, with an estimated 955 fatalities, marking a 3.63% reduction from 2023.
However, the state still faces challenges. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety reported that 2022 was the deadliest year since 2006, with 1,057 deaths, highlighting ongoing concerns about risky driving behaviors such as speeding, impaired driving, and failure to wear seat belts.
In summary:
| Year Range | Trend / Statistic |
|---|---|
| 2013 – 2023 | Fatalities up 31%, fatality rate up 13% |
| 2021 – 2023 | Fatalities down 2%, fatality rate down 3% |
| 2022 | 1,030 fatalities |
| 2023 | 992 fatalities |
| 2024 (prelim.) | Estimated 955 fatalities, 3.63% decrease from 2023 |
| 2022 (Coalition) | Deadliest year since 2006 with 1,057 deaths |
This data reflects a recent downward trend after a decade of rising fatalities, but Missouri still faces significant traffic safety challenges.
Driving at Night
When a crash occurs at night, it can be far more difficult to obtain evidence from the roadway. This is because the investigation is typically delayed by hours at a minimum due to the difficulty that would come with taking photographs and videos of the roadway. It would also be important to obtain skid marks, yaw marks and other photographs of the scene to determine the vehicle’s speed.
Illinois Car Crash Statistics
Illinois roads present their own significant safety challenges. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois recorded over 300,000 traffic crashes in recent years resulting in thousands of serious injuries and hundreds of fatalities annually. Cook County, which includes Chicago, accounts for a disproportionate share of Illinois car accident fatalities due to the high volume of traffic and urban driving conditions.
Key Illinois car accident statistics:
- Failure to yield is consistently among the top causes of Illinois crashes
- Distracted driving contributes to tens of thousands of Illinois crashes annually
- Drunk driving fatalities in Illinois typically account for 30 to 35 percent of all traffic deaths
- I-90, I-94, and the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago are among the most dangerous roads in the state.
Injured in a Car Accident in Missouri or Illinois? Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers are Ready to Fight.
Whether your car accident happened on I-70 in St. Louis, I-90 in Chicago, Highway 63 in Columbia, or any road across Missouri or Illinois, the cause matters. Understanding why the crash happened is essential to proving the other driver’s negligence and recovering the full compensation you deserve.
Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers investigates every car accident case thoroughly, gathers the evidence needed to prove fault, and fights for maximum compensation across both states.
No fees unless we win. Call (888) 550-4026 for a free case review today.
Speak with a highly-qualified Car Crash attorney in Missouri
Have you been injured because of a car crash, truck crash, motorcycle crash or by other negligent acts of another? Our Missouri and Illinois Injury Lawyers can help you!
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Common Causes of Car Crash FAQs
FAQ
There are a few Common causes of car accidents questions. Let’s review them below so you can stay informed.
How does distracted driving contribute to car accidents in Missouri and Illinois?
Distracted driving is a leading cause of crashes in both Missouri and Illinois. In Missouri, distracted driving was a probable cause in over 17,000 crashes in a recent year, resulting in thousands of injuries and nearly 90 fatalities. Missouri's hands-free law effective 2025 prohibits holding a phone while driving. In Illinois, existing hands-free requirements similarly prohibit phone use while driving. Violating either law while causing a crash is strong evidence of negligence in your car accident claim. If a distracted driver injured you in Missouri or Illinois, contact Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers at (888) 550-4026 for a free case review.
How does speeding affect the likelihood and severity of car accidents in Missouri and Illinois?
Speeding is one of the most significant contributors to fatal crashes in both Missouri and Illinois. Excessive speed reduces a driver's ability to react to hazards and increases stopping distances, making collisions far more severe. In Missouri, speeding and aggressive driving were linked to over 500 fatalities in a recent year. Illinois sees similar patterns with excessive speed contributing to hundreds of annual fatalities on interstates including I-90, I-57, and I-55. In both states, a driver who was speeding at the time of the crash may face punitive damages in addition to standard compensation for your injuries.
How does impaired driving impact car accident rates in Missouri and Illinois?
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs remains a major cause of crashes in both Missouri and Illinois. In Missouri, substance impairment was involved in over 5,400 crashes in a recent year, including 163 fatal crashes resulting in 176 deaths. In Illinois, alcohol-related crashes result in hundreds of fatalities annually, typically accounting for 30 to 35 percent of all traffic deaths. Impaired drivers have slower reaction times and impaired judgment, significantly increasing the risk of serious accidents. In both states, a driver who causes a crash while impaired faces full civil liability for every injury and loss their actions caused.
How does failure to yield contribute to car accidents in Missouri and Illinois?
Failure to yield is consistently one of the most common causes of car accidents in both Missouri and Illinois, responsible for tens of thousands of crashes annually. In Missouri, failure to yield incidents occur most frequently at intersections and during lane changes. In Illinois, the problem is equally prevalent at busy Chicago intersections and suburban crossings. Both Missouri and Illinois law hold drivers fully liable when their failure to yield causes injury to another person. Mutrux Firm is ready to fight for your compensation when a driver fails to yield and injures you anywhere in Missouri or Illinois.
What are the most dangerous roads for car accidents in Missouri?
According to MoDOT data, some of the most dangerous roads for car accidents in Missouri include Interstate 70 between St. Louis and Kansas City, Interstate 44 in southwest Missouri, Interstate 270 in the St. Louis metro area, and US Highway 63 near Columbia. Rural two-lane highways also account for a disproportionate share of fatal crashes in Missouri because of higher speeds and limited emergency response times. If you were injured on any Missouri road due to another driver's negligence, Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers represents victims statewide. Call (888) 550-4026 for a free case review.
What are the most dangerous roads for car accidents in Illinois?
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, some of the most dangerous roads in Illinois include Interstate 90 and Interstate 94 through Chicago, the Dan Ryan Expressway, Interstate 57 in southern Illinois, and Interstate 55 between Chicago and Springfield. Cook County, which includes Chicago, accounts for a disproportionate share of Illinois car accident fatalities due to high traffic volume and urban driving conditions. If you were injured on any Illinois road due to another driver's negligence, Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers is licensed in Illinois and represents victims statewide.
How does Missouri's pure comparative fault rule affect my car accident claim?
Missouri follows a pure comparative fault rule, meaning you can recover compensation from a car accident even if you were partially at fault for the crash. Your total award is simply reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For example, if you are found 20 percent at fault and awarded $100,000, you still recover $80,000. Illinois follows a modified comparative fault rule, meaning you can recover as long as you are not more than 50 percent at fault. In both states, insurance companies will try to inflate your share of fault to reduce their payout. Mutrux Firm fights to minimize your assigned fault and maximize your recovery.
What should I do immediately after a car accident in Missouri or Illinois?
After a car accident in Missouri or Illinois, call 911 and seek medical attention immediately even if injuries seem minor. Document the scene with photos of all vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Exchange insurance and contact information with all drivers involved. Collect witness names and contact details. Do not admit fault at the scene and do not give statements to any insurance company before speaking with a lawyer. Contact Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers at (888) 550-4026 before responding to any insurance adjuster to protect your right to full compensation.