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A center line car accident is one of the most dangerous types of collisions. If you were a victim of one, a Chicago car accident lawyer can help you recover damages.
Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., has been fighting for Chicagoans since 2002. If you were hit by a driver who crossed the center line, a center line car accident lawyer in Chicago can help you obtain the compensation you are entitled to.
What Can a Chicago Center Line Car Accident Lawyer Do for Me?
Car accident cases can get complicated quickly, especially when liability is disputed. A Chicago center line car accident lawyer can step in and:
- Investigate the incident: A lawyer can gather police reports, crash scene photos, surveillance footage, and witness statements to determine exactly how the crash happened.
- Calculate the value of your claim: It’s easy to underestimate what your case is worth. An attorney can help make sure it’s properly valued.
- Handle insurance companies: Insurance adjusters’ goal is to minimize payouts. A lawyer can manage all communication with them and work to secure a fair settlement.
- Take your case to court: If negotiations stall, an attorney can file a lawsuit and represent you at trial.
How Much is My Car Accident Claim Worth?
Every car accident case is different. Settlements can range from tens of thousands to millions of dollars, depending on factors like injury severity, medical expenses, lost wages, and insurance policy limits.
A Chicago personal injury lawyer can assess your case and provide a more precise estimate.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover?
Car crash victims in Illinois can pursue several types of compensation, including:
- Medical expenses: You can recover the cost of emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and any future treatment you may need.
- Lost income: You can recover wages you lost while you were unable to work due to the crash.
- Loss of future earning capacity: You can recover compensation if your injuries limit your ability to earn income in the future.
- Pain and suffering: You can recover damages for the physical pain and discomfort caused by the crash.
- Emotional distress: You can recover compensation for anxiety, depression, or trauma stemming from the accident.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: You can recover damages if your injuries prevent you from participating in activities you once enjoyed.
- Property damage: You can recover the cost to repair or replace your vehicle and any other damaged property.
- Punitive damages: You can recover additional compensation if the at-fault driver’s conduct was especially reckless or intentional.
How Long After a Car Accident Can You File a Claim in Illinois?
Per 735 ILCS 5/13-202, you typically have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, your case will likely be dismissed, no matter how strong your claim is. That’s why it’s important to get in touch with a center line car accident attorney in Chicago as soon as possible.
How Do I Prove Negligence?
Drivers are expected to stay in their own lanes when using the road. In legal terms, they are required to uphold a certain “duty of care” by operating their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner. The duty of care is defined as how a prudent person would have acted in the same or similar circumstances.
If a driver departs from their lane, they will typically be considered liable for any accident they cause. In order to win your case, you must prove that you were owed a duty of care by the defendant, that duty of care was violated when the defendant crossed over the center line, and the defendant’s lane violation was a direct cause of the crash and your injuries.
What If I’m Partially at Fault?
Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means you can still recover compensation for a car crash as long as you are no more than 50% at fault.
If you are found to be partially at fault, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover damages.
What If the Accident is Fatal?
In tragic situations in which a person is killed in a center line accident, their family has the right to sue for wrongful death. Family members in these cases sue on behalf of their deceased loved one, essentially taking their place in the case and seeking the damages that would have been available to the deceased.
If you lost a loved one in a fatal crash, you may be able to recover a variety of damages, including burial and funeral costs and loss of consortium, companionship, and guidance.
What is a Center Line Car Accident?
A center line accident occurs when a vehicle crosses over the painted or physical divider separating lanes of traffic and enters oncoming traffic. These crashes are most commonly head-on collisions, though they can also involve sideswipes or multi-vehicle crashes.
Center lines exist to keep opposing traffic flows separated. When a driver ignores or loses control over that boundary, the risk of a serious crash increases dramatically.
These crashes can happen on highways, rural roads, and city streets alike, but they are especially dangerous on roads with higher speed limits.
Common Causes of Center Line Accidents
Some of the most common reasons drivers veer into other lanes and cause collisions include:
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Fatigue
- Speeding
- Inclement weather
- Poor road conditions
Common Injuries in Center Line Accidents
Because these crashes often involve high speeds and direct impact, the injuries tend to be severe. Common ones include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Chest injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Burns and lacerations
What to Do After a Car Accident in Chicago
What you do immediately after a crash can have a direct impact on both your health and your legal case. You should:
- Call 911: Report the accident and request medical assistance if anyone is injured.
- Document the scene: Take photos of the vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
- Exchange information: Get contact and insurance details from all drivers involved in the crash.
- Speak to witnesses: If anyone saw what happened, ask for their contact information.
- Seek medical attention: Regardless of the severity of your injuries, you should get medical help for the sake of your claim.
- Avoid admitting fault: Stick to the facts when speaking with police or insurance companies.
- Contact a lawyer: A lawyer can help you avoid costly mistakes and start building a strong claim right away.
Schedule a Free Consultation
Time is of the essence in car accident cases. If you or someone you love was injured in a center line crash, a Chicago center line car accident attorney from Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., can help you file a claim and secure a fair settlement.
Book a free consultation to find out how you can get justice.
