Recreational Vehicle accidents are not that different from regular automobile collisions when it relates to the reasons why they occur. In 2015, the Illinois Department of Transportation reported 914 fatal crashes. This is approximately 75 more fatal crashes than in 2014. With fatal collisions increasing, it is important to understand why they occur so that they can be avoided whenever possible.
Blind Spots
One common reason RVs are involved in accidents is that they have substantial blind spots along their sides and behind the vehicles. This prevents a driver from seeing completely around her vehicle. Further, other smaller cars may be completely hidden if they fall within an RV's blind spot.
Inexperienced RV Drivers
Many people who drive RVs are inexperienced at the task as they rent a vehicle for a quick summer trip. Driving an RV can be much more difficult than driving a passenger car so even licensed drivers with years of experience operating smaller vehicles are at a skills disadvantage when they drive an RV. In 2014, the Illinois Department of Transportation reported 163,817 total crashes in Chicago. Nobody wants to find themselves in a car accident, especially during a vacation with your family in Chicago.
Runaway Trailers
Another common cause of RV accidents are runaway trailers. RVs come in different sizes and some even are attached by a trailer and towed by your own vehicle. Your vehicle has a maximum weight that it can tow, and it is usually specified in the owner’s manual. If it exceeds the maximum weight, the trailer could fall off the hitch, which could result in a catastrophic accident.
Another common reason for RV accidents is inadequate stopping by the person driving the vehicle. RV drivers should maintain proper distance when stopping. This is because it has more weight and will require more distance to stop.
Moreover, proper distance to make a stop is important because Chicago often has adverse weather conditions. This, in addition to improper stopping could lead to an accident. In 2014, the Illinois Department of Transportation reported 82,744 crash reports due to adverse weather conditions in the state alone.