Details worth knowing about car accident laws in Illinois
Getting injured in an on-road mishap can be scary. If the other driver was reckless or speeding, you could file a lawsuit against them to recover a settlement for your losses. In that context, Illinois is a fault state, which means the party who caused the crash is answerable for other parties’ injuries. In this post, let’s discuss essential details and laws related to car accidents in Illinois.
Your fault is a crucial factor
What happens when more than one driver is responsible for an accident? In such circumstances, the contributory negligence law determines who gets compensated. Take an example – A drunk driver rams into your car, but you were also a little over the speed limit at that time. Obviously, you are also at fault. If this fault is 50% or higher, you won’t recover anything. However, if you are at a minor fault, you can sue for compensation, but the final reward will be adjusted in proportion to your blame.
There are deadlines
You cannot file a claim for a mishap that happened five years back. Like other states, Illinois also has a statute of limitations that sets the deadline for auto accident lawsuits. If you want to sue the other party for injuries alone, the time cap is two years. For property or vehicle damage-related lawsuits, the time limit is five years. These deadlines start from the date when the accident happened.
You should inform the police
After a car accident, you are required to remain at the scene and must inform the local law enforcement. If you assume the accident is not a serious one and drive away, you may have additional charges to deal with. Also, when someone is seriously injured, you should call 911 and seek prompt care.
Should you hire a car accident lawyer?
The short answer is yes. You cannot afford to miss out on essential aspects, and a lawyer will evaluate and explain each detail. Also, your lawyer will deal with the claims adjuster, ensure the paperwork is done right, and file a lawsuit if the situation demands. Once you have a dependable attorney to fight for your rights, you can expect them to be aggressive when seeking a settlement. While no injury lawyer can guarantee an outcome or a specific figure, they can ensure you don’t compromise or skip the steps required to maximize the compensation.
Get an attorney soon so that they can start collecting evidence and investigate the car accident.
