Accidents Caused by Traffic Signal Violations

Car Crash Lawyers Helping Victims Throughout the Chicago Area

Selfish and reckless driving, such as disobeying traffic signals, may lead to serious car accidents. Accident victims have a right to recover compensation from at-fault drivers through filing a personal injury claim. At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, we strive to make sure that victims of accidents caused by traffic signal violations receive compensation for their harm. If you or someone close to you has been struck by a driver who ran a red light or otherwise violated a traffic signal, we are ready to help. Our Chicago car accident attorneys guide clients through all of the steps of the legal process, providing compassionate yet effective legal representation.

Hold Drivers Responsible for Accidents Caused by Traffic Signal Violations

Drivers who run a red light or violate traffic signals are not only at risk of receiving a traffic ticket but also may cause serious harm to other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. In urban areas like Chicago, motorists are at a high risk of injury from crashes involving traffic signal violations. Innocent victims have a right to hold drivers accountable when they violate Illinois traffic laws and cause a crash.

After suffering injuries in a car accident based on a driver’s failure to obey a traffic signal, police officers may be called to the scene. The driver may be issued a citation for careless driving, failing to yield the right of way, or running a red light. Officers will document details surrounding the incident, including driving speeds, errors, and statements from witnesses. Citations often help to determine who is responsible for the injuries. In addition, witnesses may be able to help clarify questions regarding liability, as may accident reconstruction experts.

Recovering damages from a driver who has disobeyed a traffic signal provides a way to alleviate the financial repercussions of an accident. Victims who pursue legal claims following a traffic signal accident often allege negligence. To demonstrate negligence, the injured plaintiff must show that the defendant driver owed them a duty of reasonable care that was breached. A breach of the duty of care may be shown when a driver violates a traffic signal, since all drivers are expected to abide by vehicle rules and regulations. If this breach caused the plaintiff’s injuries and damages, the plaintiff will have a valid negligence claim.

Damages that may be secured in personal injury lawsuits following accidents caused by traffic signal violations include costs for past and future medical care. Victims may recover lost income due to their injuries, as well as lost earning capacity. Compensation for property damage, including vehicle repairs, may also be secured. Finally, injured individuals may recover damages for pain and suffering endured as a result of the accident.

Traffic signal violation accidents may lead to fatalities, and the grieving family of the deceased victim may pursue a wrongful death claim. According to Illinois law, a wrongful death claim provides specific damages, such as medical and funeral expenses, as well as compensation for lost income that the victim had provided. In essence, a wrongful death claim is intended to put the legal beneficiaries of the victim in the position in which they would be had their loved one survived the accident.

Consult a Chicago Lawyer Following a Serious Car Accident

If you have been injured in an accident as a driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, the Chicago attorneys at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca can represent you in a claim for damages. Our decades of combined experience help us guide clients through the legal process, protecting their right to recover compensation for accident-related injuries. Our motor vehicle collision lawyers also help victims in Aurora, Springfield, Champaign, Rockford, Quincy, and other communities throughout Cook, Kane, Adams, Sangamon, and Winnebago Counties. To schedule a free consultation with a dedicated attorney at our firm, contact us online or call our office at 312-724-5846.