Category: Motor Vehicle Accidents

The Illinois modified comparative negligence law is instrumental in determining fault in Chicago intersection accidents. This rule apportions a percentage of liability to each driver involved in an accident. A driver who committed a traffic violation by failing to yield to oncoming traffic, speeding through a red light, or failing to maintain a safe driving distance may be found liable. Anyone whose fault is above 50% is barred from recovering damages.

Settlements for car accident cases involving traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) tend to be higher due to the extensive medical care needed, income loss, emotional toll the injuries have on victims, and long-lasting effects that victims may face. The higher compensation amounts for car accidents and traumatic brain injuries reflect the considerable health and financial consequences of these injuries.

Comparative negligence determines how fault is shared among the parties in an accident. Illinois follows a comparative negligence standard known as modified comparative negligence, which determines whether you can recover compensation after a car accident and how much you can recover, based on your assigned percentage of fault. Understanding how comparative negligence works and its implications is key to protecting your rights and maximizing compensation.

Minor car accidents can still lead to major injuries in Chicago because your body isn’t designed to handle even the sudden jolt of a low-impact collision. The forces involved in minor crashes can make your body move in unnatural ways that cause severe injuries, especially if you weren’t braced for the impact. Insurance companies often downplay these injuries. Understanding why and how injuries occur in low-speed crashes can help ensure you protect your health and legal rights.

Knowing why car accident evidence disappears, and how to preserve it, is the first step in protecting your rights. Weather conditions can wash away tire marks and debris, surveillance systems automatically delete or overwrite footage after set periods, and witnesses may become unreliable or unavailable over time. When crucial evidence from your Chicago car accident case vanishes, it can undermine your claim and affect your compensation. While you focus on recovering from your injuries and managing medical treatment, a car accident lawyer can employ legal tools to preserve this essential evidence before it's lost forever. Acting swiftly to protect evidence creates a strong foundation for your case and could significantly impact your outcome.