Victims Injured in Reckless Driving Accidents May Be Entitled to Financial Compensation

 Posted on March 05,2020 in Aggressive Driving

Although most people rarely consider it, driving a motor vehicle is a tremendous responsibility. A several-thousand-pound vehicle traveling at a high speed is capable of causing catastrophic damage to both property and human life. When a motorist drives in a way that puts other people’s lives in danger, he or she may be charged with the criminal offense of reckless driving. Reckless driving can cause other motorists, passengers, and pedestrians to be severely injured or even killed. If you or a loved one were hurt in a car accident involving reckless driving, you may bring a civil claim against the reckless driver in addition to any criminal charges he or she faces.

Illinois Reckless Driving Laws

In Illinois, there are two main ways that a person can be charged with reckless driving. Per the Illinois Vehicle Code, a person commits the offense of reckless driving if he or she:

• Drives with an intentional or wanton disregard for the safety of other people or property; or
• Intentionally uses an incline, such as a railroad crossing or hill, to cause the vehicle to become airborne.

In practice, a person may be charged with reckless driving if he or she drives at extremely high speeds, follows too closely, erratically changes lanes or weaves in and out of traffic, drives over the center line, fails to stop at stop signs and red lights, or otherwise drives in a way that endangers other people’s lives.

A motorist who is convicted of reckless driving may be considered “negligent per se.” This means that a person injured in an accident caused by reckless driving does not need to prove that the reckless driver was negligent in order to collect compensation. The driver’s violation of Illinois law creates the presumption that he or she was negligent. It is important to understand that the defendant and his or her attorney can rebut the presumption of negligence, but doing so can be difficult.

Damages in a Reckless Driving Accident

If you were hurt in an accident caused by reckless driving, you may be left with costly medical bills, lost income, damage to your vehicle, and pain and suffering. Through a personal injury lawsuit, you may be entitled to collect compensation for these and other expenses. If you have lost a loved one in an accident caused by a reckless driver, a wrongful death lawsuit may help you hold the at-fault party responsible for the devastation he or she has caused. You may be eligible for compensation for your loved one’s medical bills, funeral and burial costs, and more.

Contact a Lake County Car Accident Lawyer

If you or someone close to you has been injured in an accident caused by reckless or aggressive driving, contact a knowledgeable Waukegan personal injury attorney to learn more obtaining compensation. Schedule a free consultation at Salvi & Maher, L.L.C. by calling our office at 847-662-3303 today.

Sources:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K11-503

https://courts.illinois.gov/CircuitCourt/CivilJuryInstructions/60.00.pdf