Chicago Speeding Accident Lawyer

Name: Car Accidents Hand Book: Why Car Accident Victims Deserve a Book to Protect Their rights
Author: Jonathan Rosenfeld

Speeding is a common cause of injury-related auto accidents in the Chicago area. Not only does driving at an increased speed take longer to stop the vehicle, coming to a complete stop requires more distance on the road and makes the vehicle harder to control.

When motorists choose to accelerate beyond the posted speed limit, the impact from the collision is typically far more forceful and serious injuries or fatalities result.

If you, a spousal loved one, or a family member was involved in an accident with a speeding vehicle, contact the Chicago car accident attorneys at the Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC law firm for a free consultation regarding your legal rights and options.

Our Cook County legal team is committed to protecting the legal rights of car accident victims and securing you the compensation you deserve.

Schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced attorney now to begin your car accident claim.

All of our personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis where we are paid a legal fee when we are successful in obtaining a financial recovery for you. If we are unable to secure a recovery in your accident case, our services are completely free.

Chicago Speeding Car Accident Lawyer

Move Fast After a High-Speed Accident

Many people, even those with auto insurance or insurance coverage, do not move fast enough against the at fault driver. This can mean that you will not achieve the compensation you deserve. Auto insurance may not cover everything after an accident as you or many people may realize.

The accident caused a lot of damage and a personal injury lawyer can instruct you on the deadline you have to file. Illinois generally gives you only two years to bring an accident case. This is called a statute of limitations and applies to accident claims of most practice areas brought against the fault driver.

Keep reading about legal issues related to high-speed accident cases.

What You Should Do After Car Accidents in Chicago, Illinois

Chicago car accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Just like that, your whole life can be turned upside down with pain, disability, crippling medical bills, or the death of a loved one. While you can get help and relief under Illinois law, you need to act fast and smart to do so.

Here are a few steps to take right after you are involved in an auto accident.

Go see a doctor. You need to stop the damage from getting worse. Also, medical records (and even medical bills) will help memorialize all of the damage that the Chicago crash caused you so you can make your case later in a car accident lawsuit.
Try to remember and record your impressions of the Chicago accident including the accident victims, road conditions, witnesses, and motor vehicles involved in the event.
Avoid talking to the other side or their lawyer or their insurance company. They are just trying to get you to admit you were at fault for the accident so that you cannot recover. Your law firm should talk to the insurance company and other opposing parties.

Of course, there will be more that needs to be done if you are involved in a car crash or other Chicago accident. Yet, these moves will help you take action against the insurance companies or at fault drivers.

Illinois Traffic Law Applicable to Driving Speeds

We all know that there are speed limitations on every road, highway, or Tollway. The speed limit is posted on all roads across the United States.

Speed limit enforcement laws are enacted to ensure safe driving conditions and reduce the number of physical injuries sustained in collisions.

The State of Illinois has codified the law below related to driving speeds.

"(625 ILCS 5/11-601)(from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-601) Sec. 11-601. General speed restrictions. (a) No vehicle may be driven upon any highway of this State at a speed which is greater than is reasonable and proper with regard to traffic conditions and the use of the highway or endangers the safety of any person or property."

The law also goes on to say that driver's have a duty to reduce speed when they approach an intersection or a pedestrian is in the area in order to avoid a collision.

Moreover, regardless of the situation, Illinois law puts the responsibility squarely on the driver to reduce speed to avoid a collision with another vehicle or pedestrian.

Impact of Speed in Illinois Car Accidents Involving Serious Injuries and Fatalities

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), 32% of fatal auto accidents are caused by excessive speed or speed-related. There also seems to be a correlation between speeding and alcohol consumption.

In Chicago, IL, IDOT does not specifically track car accidents where speed is a factor. However, we can assume that speed played a role in many of the reported accidents involving drunk driving and aggressive driving.

In 2018, 37% of the more than 10,000 drunk driving cases were also speed-related versus only 13% of sober auto accident fatalities.

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests, speeding is involved in more weekend and nighttime fatal auto accident cases than any other time of the day or week.

Boys, Speed, and Inexperience Don't Mix

By far, the highest demographic in fatalities involving driving too fast are younger drivers, especially males.

Statistics reveal that males ages 15-24 years old were speeding in over 34% of all driving fatalities in 2017 in America.

Older males between 35 and 44 years of age were speeding in 25% of all fatal crashes followed by 20% of males from 45 to 54 years old. Females of all ages are much less likely to cause speed-related fatalities than males of the same age.

The Cost of Speed That Leads to Injuries in a Chicago Car Accident

Not only does driving too fast contribute to 31% of all traffic crash fatalities, but it also has a significant financial impact on society. The total economic cost in 2016 for speed-related crashes was estimated to be $244.3 billion in the United States.

However, the cost of compensating victims with a catastrophic injury caused by someone driving too fast is significant.

Each personal injury lawyer in our law office appreciates the impact that a Chicago auto accident has on the victim and his or her family. We look at every aspect of the case to maximize your financial recovery.

Chicago Speeding Car Accident Lawyers

Common Chicago Car Accident Injuries

Generally, the faster the vehicle was traveling at the time of the collision, the more significant of an impact and more substantial injuries result.

Our auto accident attorneys consistently see occupants of vehicles involved in high speed accidents in Chicago with the following injuries:

Back and neck injuries such as herniated discs
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Damage to internal organs
Broken bones such as a sternum or rib fracture
Joint damage to shoulders and knees
Whiplash or soft tissue injuries
Fatal injuries

These physical injuries usually accompany an element of psychological and emotional trauma. When negotiated with a driver's insurance company, our job is to convey the full aspect of your injury and how it has impacted your life.

Consequently, we frequently request narrative reports from treating physicians before engaging in a settlement negotiations with an auto insurance company.

By demonstrating the injuries that an accident caused and resulting pain and suffering, we are successful in resolving an accident claim without litigation.

Important Facts and Figures You Should Know About Chicago Car Accidents

Did you know that speeding is a part of roughly one third of all motor vehicle accidents?
You may not know that speeding plays a part in about one quarter of all auto accident fatalities.
Speeding has a number of negative consequences on your driving ability and consequences including the following: increases the distance you need to stop the vehicle; increases crash accident severity; reduces your control on the car; and lowers the utility of protective equipment.
Here are some of the most common reasons that people speed: not on time; bad traffic or high congestion; they do not know the people they are driving around or care for their safety; intoxication and distraction.
Speeding accidents can often get really serious and even deadly if mixed with these circumstances: wet roads; snow or slush; gravel; uneven roads; or standing water.
Alcohol and intoxication plays a big part in many speeding accidents either as a contributing factor or main force.

Dealing With Speeders and Avoiding Car Accidents

Now that you know a little more about the problem of speeding on the roads as well as the extraordinary impact it can have on your life, let us examine different things we can do to protect ourselves from these reckless drivers.

There are a lot of drivers and motorists who go too fast on the highway so it is imperative for us to learn how to deal with them.
Here are a few go-to things to increase your safety and lower your risk of an accident with a speeder:

Let them pass you by moving into the right lane and letting them go by the left lane.
Since people do not have great control of their car, you should maintain a sufficient amount of space between their vehicle and yours.
Change the way that you drive in order not to agitate the person speeding or increase the danger and risk of their recklessness.
If you take these measures and things are not getting better, call the cops and report your situation.

Hopefully, taking these steps will help you if you encounter a person speeding in Chicago, IL or anywhere else.

If they do not, and you are injured in a car accident, contact us and an injury lawyer from our law firm will discuss your case including any pain and suffering, medical bills, at fault driver, insurance company, and other related issues.

Damages Our Auto Accident Attorneys Seek After a Speeding Collision

Like other types of personal injury cases, a person injured in a car accident case can recover compensation for their injuries, frequently referred to as 'damages'. Illinois law recognizes both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages refer to fixed costs that you have sustained as a result of the crash.

Examples of economic damages include: medical expenses such as: ambulance bills, hospital bills, surgical expenses, physical therapy and medications. Economic damages would also include the cost of property damage and repairs to your vehicle.

If you are unable to work following an accident, you can make a wage loss claim for past and future wage loss.

Non-economic damages refer to intangible losses sustained as a result of the auto accident. The largest component of non-economic damages include pain and suffering (past and future) as well as disability and loss of normal life for the tasks you were able to perform prior to the crash, but are no longer capable of.

In the case of an auto accident, where your loved one died in the crash, you can pursue a wrongful taking of life claim under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act. The Act allows for the family of the deceased to recover compensation for the loss of emotional and economic support your family member provided.

Each Chicago car accident attorney in our law offices is committed to obtaining the maximum compensation available under the law for our clients. Contact us today for your free consultation.

How a Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Assembles Evidence in a Speeding Vehicle Crash

Injury attorneys can recover car accident expenses related to a speed-related crash by filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party. The Chicago personal injury lawyers at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have experience handling speed-related auto injury cases across Illinois.

As soon as we are retained by our client, our personal injury attorneys begin assembling relevant evidence to help ensure our clients obtain full and fair compensation.

In most speed-related Chicago car accidents, we obtain the following materials:

Motor vehicle accident police reports and other documents generated by law enforcement
The at-fault motorists driving record that could include reckless driving or property damage citations/charges
Photographs of vehicles involved and the auto accident scene
Medical bills for past care and anticipated future medical expenses concerning all car accident injuries
Liability insurance coverage from the responsible party
Your uninsured motorist coverage to identify car insurance policy limits, if applicable
Medical records documenting medical treatment for broken bones, back injuries, traumatic brain injury, and other common types of physical, mental, and emotional harm.
Cell phone records from the negligent driver

Our personal injury lawyers successfully resolve most of our client's car accident cases out-of-court via negotiations with the negligent driver's insurance company.

However, if we cannot obtain a settlement for fair compensation on your behalf, our Chicago auto accident lawyers will file a car accident lawsuit to recover damages for personal injuries or wrongful death.

Speeding Car Accident FAQs

Below are some frequently asked questions related to car accidents where speed is a factor in the crash. We appreciate that these questions may give rise to additional questions, so we welcome you to contact our law firm anytime for a free consultation with a knowledgeable Chicago car accident attorney.

Why Are Speed-Related Vehicle Accidents Deadly?

The faster vehicles travel the greater forces put on occupants in a collision. Studies have shown that drivers traveling 50 miles an hour or more have a 69% chance of suffering moderate injuries and a 52% chance of suffering severe injuries.

Excessive speeding can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle, leading to a potentially fatal car accident.

Is a Driver's Speeding Ticket Admissible in a Personal Injury Case?

Generally, a traffic citation is inadmissible evidence in a Chicago car accident lawsuit involving personal injuries. These are different standards of evidence used in traffic court matters compared to civil court cases involving personal injuries.

However, if a driver pleads guilty to a citation in a Chicago, IL auto accident case, their guilty plea is considered admissible in a civil case as it is considered to be an admission.

Our car accident attorneys can help get the traffic court records in many cases to help determine how an underlying traffic court case was disposed.

Does Speeding Really Cause Traffic Accidents?

Yes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2017, over 25% of all traffic fatalities were caused by at least one driver speeding.

Statistics show that drivers traveling 70 mph have a 25% chance of surviving a car crash.

Traveling faster than the posted speed limit can result in serious accidents, especially if the street is under repair or the motorist is driving in bad weather. Driving fast during nighttime hours also poses an additional risk of crashing into other motorists and objects.

Do Fast or Slow Drivers Cause More Accidents?

Nearly all severe accidents occurring on American roads are the result of traveling too fast. However, slow drivers are also at fault for many accidents when inattentive or distracted drivers must take decisive action to avoid a crash.

Many states, including Illinois, have taken steps to reduce the number of accidents caused by slow driving. In addition to posting maximum speed limit signs, some states have posted minimum speed limits signage to ensure that the traffic moves along an acceptable case.

What Speed do Most Motor Vehicle Accidents Occur?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that seven out of ten fatalities occur on urban roads with a posted speed limit of 40 mph or less. Almost half of all accidents with fatalities in rural areas occur on streets with a speed limit of 45 mph or 50 mph.

Can I Still Bring a Case if I Was Speeding at the Time of the Collision?

You may be able to pursue an accident claim even if you were speeding at the time of the crash. Your ability to pursue a claim will be dependent on the circumstances involved in the car crash and the conduct of the other driver's involved.

Illinois applies comparative fault law to drivers involved in Chicago car accidents. Under the doctrine of comparative fault, your damages will be reduced by the allocation of fault put on you. However, you will be barred from pursuing a personal injury claim if you are more than 50% responsible for causing the accident.

Consequently, our auto accident attorneys suggest you avoid speaking with insurance companies until you have had an opportunity to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer so your legal rights are not compromised.

Sample Speeding Car Accident Claims and Cases

Below are some sample auto accident cases involving serious injuries or fatalities. Please use these cases as a guide as opposed to drawing too many inferences.

Should you have questions about your situation, contact our law firm for a free consultation with an experienced Chicago car accident attorney.

$500,000 Settlement; Chicago Illinois Speeding Car Accident Case

This tragic collision occurred on the south side of Chicago. A young man was in the passenger seat as his friend drove through the streets at over 100 miles per hour. Eventually, he crashed into a truck and the young passenger died. His parents and siblings survived him.

They brought this action against the driver and the driver’s insurance carrier. The action was for wrongful death and negligence. You might not know this but passengers can bring cases against drivers even if they voluntarily entered the motor vehicle.

In this claim, the insurance company and family worked out a settlement for $500,000.

$675,000 Settlement; Chicago Speeding Car Crash Claim

In this auto crash case, a motorist sped into a left turn lane and rear-ended a middle-aged man who was waiting for the light to turn to green. The collision gave the victim a concussion, whiplash and other personal injuries.

He needed spine surgery, physical therapy, and other medical treatment totaling nearly a quarter million dollars in hospital bills. He sued the speeding driver.

The defendant replied with various objections but his insurance company settled in the end for $675,000.

$2,250,000 Settlement; Chicago Speeding Car Accident Case

This claim might not have ended as you would have expected. A woman was speeding down a highway going nearly thirty miles over the speed limit. She crashed into a parked bus and suffered multiple personal injuries including fractured ribs, a broken femur, burns, and post traumatic stress disorder.

She actually brought this claim against the bus driver and the school district that employed her. Though she was clearly at fault, the bus driver was too for illegally parking where she did.

Since they were both at fault, Illinois law could have allowed the speeding driver to recover.

Faced with the prospect of a sympathetic jury, the defendant's insurance carrier opted to end the claim by settling for $2.25 million.

$950,000 Settlement; Chicago High Speed Car Crash Case

A woman was driving her children around the Chicago suburbs when a large truck smashed into the side of her passenger vehicle. She was making a left turn into the trucker's lane but he was speeding and could not stop in time.

The woman passed away after the crash. Her two children survived her. This claim was brought against the driver on behalf of the family for wrongful death. The insurance company eventually settled with the family.

They obtained $950,000 for the tremendous loss and grief that the fatal car accident caused them.

Contact a Chicago Car Accident Lawyer to Get You Full Compensation

If you are the victim of a car accident involving a motorist who was driving too fast or speeding, you deserve to be financially compensated for your losses.

Each Chicago car accident lawyer at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC understands the law and how speeding can impact the lives of our clients' injured in a collision caused by a speeding car.

It is the goal of our experienced Chicago car accident lawyers to make the legal process as simple as possible for you and your family members.

Our law firm will fight aggressively on your behalf to obtain the financial damages you are entitled to for your common car accident injuries and other losses for this practice area car crash.

Our law office invites you to contact our Chicago car accident lawyers at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) for a free consultation to discuss your traffic accident case. We offer every client a contingency fee agreement and only charge a fee after we have secured a financial award on their behalf.

All documents must be filed in the proper county courthouse before the statute of limitations expires. Our auto accident lawyers currently follow social distancing guidelines as outlined by Illinois law to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

Learn more about how speed impacts many of the most serious auto accidents:

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