Vehicle accidents happen in a variety of ways in and around the Chicago area. Unfortunately, these accidents are regularly caused by the careless or negligent actions of others on the roadway. This includes reckless driving. Here, our Chicago car accident lawyers want to discuss the Chicago reckless driving laws that you need to be aware of. A violation of these laws could result in a person being held liable in the event they cause an accident.
Understanding Laws Related To Reckless Driving In Illinois
It is important to understand that any actions taken by a driver on the roadway that are not compliant with the law could be considered reckless driving and lead to serious accidents. The law in Illinois says that reckless driving is any action a person commits while driving their vehicle that blatantly puts others in danger of injury or death.
The law is very broad in Illinois when it comes to defining reckless driving. For example, speeding may be one of the most common violations of law, but it can also be considered reckless driving because, if a person is operating too fast for conditions, they can easily collide with another vehicle or bystander.
Some of the most common examples of reckless driving in Chicago include the following:
- Swerving between lanes of traffic
- Talking on the phone while driving
- Texting or browsing the internet while driving
- Speeding through construction zones
- Operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs
- Racing another vehicle on the roadway
- Failing to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks
- Passing a school bus that is picking up children
In Illinois, reckless driving is charged as a Class A misdemeanor that can lead to a punishment of up to one year in jail, a fine of $2,500, or both.
Accidents Are Not Uncommon In Illinois
When we turn to data available from the Illinois Department of Transportation, we can see that there were more than 319,000 total vehicle collisions reported during the latest year across the state. Out of these incidents, there were 1,035 total fatalities and more than 94,000 total injuries.
Those who survive vehicle accidents regularly sustain severe injuries. It is not uncommon for victims of Chicago reckless driving accidents to sustain the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Open head wounds
- Concussions
- Spinal cord injuries with paralysis
- Other severe neck or back injury
- Internal organ damage or internal bleeding
- Severe lacerations or puncture wounds
- Crush injuries or amputations
Do You Need An Attorney To Help With Your Case?
If you or somebody you care about has been injured in an accident caused by a reckless driver, you should speak to an attorney about your case. A skilled personal injury lawyer in Chicago can use their resources to investigate every aspect of your accident. They will obtain evidence needed to prove the reckless driving, including any available photo or video surveillance, statements from eyewitnesses, accident reports, phone data, vehicle “black box” data, and more.
Illinois handles accidents on a fault-based system, which means it is vital to show proof that a driver was operating recklessly when they caused a crash in order for a victim to recover compensation.