Illinois drivers owe the passengers in their car a duty to drive safe and carefully, using caution while behind the wheel and avoiding unnecessary accidents. Yet despite this duty, many Chicago-area car crashes continue to occur, injuring drivers and passengers alike as well as others on the road, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
When a negligent driver injures a passenger, a personal injury lawyer can help that passenger obtain a financial recovery for his or her damages including any medical bills that passenger was forced to incur. In some cases, multiple claims may be possible to enable a victim to receive the maximum recovery available but these claims must be made within a certain period of time following a crash.
Some car accidents are due to a driver’s negligence while others may be caused by road conditions. In a Lake Forest crash on Thursday morning, alcohol is suspected to be a factor.
The one-car collision took place on Route 41 shortly before 3:00 a.m. Police believe that a single vehicle left the road near a bend and struck several trees before rolling over, trapping three men inside the car. Emergency responders arrived at the scene and removed the men and transported two to area hospitals for treatment while the third man, a 20-year-old, was killed at the scene. At this time, it is not clear whether the man that was killed was a driver or a passenger in the car.
It is illegal for any driver in Illinois to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of an intoxicating substance, including alcohol, and those drivers that do drive under the influence may be subject to serious criminal charges. In the event that a drunk driver causes a collision that results in death or serious bodily injury, that driver may be charged with a felony and face several years incarcerated in prison as a result.
The liability for a negligent driver can continue if the victims of the accident bring a civil claim for compensation against the driver that caused an accident. These claims can be brought against a driver’s insurance company, against a driver personally, or both, depending on the accident and what injuries resulted. A claim can be made for past expenses incurred and often can also include future medical expenses that are anticipated, like future surgical or nursing costs that will be required in the future.
If you have been injured in a car accident, you should learn about your legal options and whether you are entitled to a financial recovery for your losses. Often, a monetary settlement is available for passengers involved in crashes and will provide payments for medical expenses, lost wages, and other expenditures you endured as a result of a crash.
Call a Chicago car accident lawyer at Abels & Annes, P.C. today if you have been hurt in an accident. We offer all crash victims a free, no obligation telephone consultation and we have a lawyer standing by 24 hours a day to take your call at (312) 924-7575 or toll free at (855) 629-2442.
Call us today and let us help you towards a path of financial recovery.
Prior Blog Entries:
Impaired Driver Injures 8 in Rollover Crash, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published October 7, 2013.
Driver Charged in Fatal Glenview Crash, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published October 3, 2013.
Resources:
Gurnee man dies, 2 injured in Lake Forest crash, by Dan Waters, Chicago Tribune, published October 10, 2013.