Speeding Accidents
Knowledgeable Chicago Attorneys Helping Car Crash Victims
Victims of car accidents caused by speeding drivers have legal rights, and they may pursue damages for their resulting injuries and costs. Some drivers increase their speed carelessly, while others engage in reckless or aggressive conduct, creating a risk of serious harm. At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, we understand the financial and emotional challenges that may arise following a speeding accident. Our Chicago car accident lawyers have decades of experience negotiating and litigating on behalf of victims. We are committed to seeking maximum compensation for our clients, and we take pride in holding careless drivers accountable when their conduct results in harm.
Pursue Compensation after a Speeding Accident
After suffering injuries in a car accident, a victim may file a legal claim to seek the compensation that they need. Negligence, or carelessness, is usually an appropriate allegation when people fail to behave with the degree of care that a reasonable person would use in a similar situation.
Speeding drivers may be held legally responsible for their dangerous conduct and violations of traffic rules, including posted speed limits. Violating a posted speed limit is a breach of the duty of care that all drivers owe one another. When pursuing a negligence claim, victims of speeding accidents must show that the defendant driver’s breach of duty directly caused the crash and their resulting injuries.
If liability has been demonstrated, speeding accident victims would seek to prove their damages. These costs associated with the crash are calculated by assessing both economic and non-economic forms of loss. Wages from missed work and medical expenses should be carefully documented, since they are potential costs that may be recovered in a personal injury claim. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering due to the accident, as well as emotional distress.
In some situations, victims may recover punitive damages from a speeding driver. Punitive damages are intended to punish extreme behavior, which is intentional or reckless rather than simply careless. These damages may be appropriate if the driver’s conduct was so outrageous that the jury feels it is necessary to send a strong message that this behavior is socially undesirable. Punitive damages are awarded in addition to rather than instead of compensatory damages, and they are often substantial.
Explore Your Options with a Car Accident Lawyer in the Chicago Area
Victims of speeding accidents may pursue a wide range of compensation related to the harm that they have suffered. Illinois law also provides for the potential recovery of future damages, such as lost earning capacity and the costs of future surgical procedures or therapy. At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, our dedicated Chicago car accident attorneys can assert the rights of victims and their families during some of the most challenging times in their lives. Let us help you hold accountable the driver who struck you in a speeding accident. We provide assistance to injured people who need a motor vehicle collision attorney in Champaign, Aurora, Rockford, Quincy, Springfield, and other communities throughout Kane, Cook, Winnebago, Sangamon, and Adams Counties. Call 312-724-5846 or fill out our online form to set up a free, confidential consultation with a skilled attorney.