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​Experienced ILLINOIS Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
& CHICAGO Injury Lawyers

Reckless Driving in Residential Areas

Car Accident Attorneys Representing Chicago Residents in Claims for Compensation

Reckless driving is dangerous because it puts others on the road at risk of harm, regardless of where the aggressive or careless driving takes place. Judges or juries often find it particularly egregious when reckless driving takes place in residential areas, quieter areas that are dense with children and pedestrians. A family may unfortunately face the tragic consequences of a careless driver’s conduct when they operate their vehicle with disregard for other motorists or pedestrians in these suburban areas or neighborhoods. If you are in need of experienced legal advocacy following an incident of reckless driving in a residential area, the Chicago car accident lawyers at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca can set forth your legal right to compensation for your injuries or for the wrongful death of a loved one. We have decades of experience helping injured individuals and their families pursue full compensation from all at-fault parties.

Seek Damages Based on Injuries Caused by Reckless Driving in a Residential Area

Illinois law makes it unlawful for a person to drive a vehicle with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of people or property. According to the Illinois Vehicle Code, reckless driving, which includes behavior such as traveling at a high rate of speed, swerving between lanes erratically, or failing to signal, is considered a misdemeanor crime. As a result, this conduct carries a penalty and long-term consequences. When a reckless driver has caused an accident, particularly in a residential neighborhood, the victim may assert their right to damages related to the accident by filing a civil claim.

By pursuing a personal injury claim against a reckless driver, injured individuals may recover compensation for medical costs, lost wages from work, and other harms, including emotional pain and suffering. A driver who chooses to operate their vehicle with disregard for the safety of others, particularly in a residential area, may be held legally accountable. The victim, as the plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit, will be required to prove the legal fault of the defendant driver.

Often, car accident cases proceed under a negligence theory of law, which means that the injured plaintiff proves duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages. Defendants who have been convicted of violating the Vehicle Code or have pleaded guilty in a criminal case may find that this conduct is used as evidence in civil court to show that they breached their duty of care. The defendant driver’s reckless driving in a residential area must be a direct cause of the accident, which must have directly led to injuries for the plaintiff.

Expert testimony may help illustrate the physical and financial aspects of the plaintiff’s injuries. Economists, vocational rehabilitation experts, and physicians may set forth quantifiable evidence of expected future costs, for example. In addition, non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, may be recovered. The purpose of these damages is to put the plaintiff in the position in which they would be had the accident not occurred. Additionally, in certain cases, punitive damages may be available. Punitive damages serve to punish a defendant in a civil case, and they are appropriate when the defendant’s conduct has been particularly harmful or egregious.

Seek Guidance from a Skilled Chicago Lawyer

Reckless drivers should be held accountable for their conduct, particularly when it leads to injuries for others sharing the road. At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, our Chicago attorneys can help you begin the process of holding a reckless driver legally responsible for your harm. To set up a free consultation with a dedicated motor vehicle collision lawyer, call us at 312-724-5846 or contact us online. Our office also represents victims and their families in Aurora, Champaign, Springfield, Rockford, and Quincy, as well as other areas of Sangamon, Adams, Winnebago, Kane, and Cook Counties. We are here to help you aggressively assert your legal rights.