If you suffered injuries in an accident caused by a distracted driver, you may have serious injuries that will affect you for months or years, or even for the rest of your life. Head trauma may have caused you to experience frequent headaches, changes in vision, and difficulty concentrating. Whiplash may have left you struggling to deal with chronic pain and limited mobility. You may have even lost a limb or been paralyzed in the accident.
You may need to undergo surgery or receive treatment from a chiropractor or a physical or occupational therapist for months before you will be able to return to work. A physician may have told you that your injuries are so severe that you will never be able to return to your former employment. You may not be able to work again at any job.
Your family may be struggling to cope with the sudden and devastating changes. You and your spouse may be overwhelmed by all the medical bills. Without your income, you may be unable to keep up with regular household expenses. The emotional effects of the situation may be affecting your entire family and straining your relationships with each other.
A Chicago distracted driving accident lawyer may be able to help you seek compensation for the expenses you incurred so far for medical treatment, plus anticipated costs for future care, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC at 800-959-1444 to discuss your case with a member of our staff.
How Distracted Drivers Can Cause Collisions
People often become complacent, drive while distracted, and cause accidents. Cell phones are one of the most common distractions. A driver who is using a cell phone to talk may have only one hand on the wheel and may not be able to react quickly if necessary.
A driver who is texting while driving is even more of a hazard to other people on the road. The driver may not be holding onto the wheel at all and may be looking down at the cell phone and driving blind. In that type of situation, a car can travel hundreds of feet in seconds and collide with another vehicle or strike a pedestrian. The driver may be completely oblivious to the danger and may therefore do nothing to try to avoid a collision.
Drivers often become distracted by the radio, a navigation system, or a conversation with another person in the vehicle. Drivers may cause crashes while eating, combing their hair, putting on makeup, reaching for something on the floor or in the glovebox, and performing other activities instead of paying attention to the road.
A driver who is distracted may realize that he or she is about to miss a turn or an exit and may suddenly slam on the brakes or cross lanes quickly, without checking for oncoming traffic. A distracted motorist may not see a vehicle stopped up ahead or an obstacle in the road and may not take evasive action.
For a free legal consultation with a distracted driving accidents lawyer serving Chicago, call 800-598-7557
Illinois Distracted Driving Law
According to Illinois distracted driving law 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2, a driver may not operate a vehicle while using an electronic communication device, which is defined as “an electronic device, including, but not limited to, a hand-held wireless telephone, hand-held personal digital assistant, or a portable or mobile computer.” The law does not prohibit the use of a GPS or navigation system that is physically or electronically integrated into the vehicle.
A driver may only use a cell phone if it is in hands-free or voice-operated mode or is used with a headset. A person who uses an electronic communication device and “is involved in a motor vehicle accident that results in great bodily harm, permanent disability, disfigurement, or death to another” commits aggravated use of an electronic communication device, according to the same statute.
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC today for a free case evaluation with a member of our team and learn about how we can help with your case.
Chicago Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-598-7557
How a Chicago Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer May Be Able to Help
The team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC can investigate to find out what happened in the moments leading up to the collision that injured you. If you believe the other driver was using a cell phone at the time of the crash, but he or she denies it, we can obtain cell phone records to find out if your suspicion is correct.
We can review the accident report and statements from you and any eyewitnesses who were in the area at the time of the accident. If a surveillance camera in the vicinity recorded the collision, we can review that footage and look for evidence that the driver was distracted by a cellphone or by something else.
Ben Crump Law, PLLC helps clients across the United States who suffered injuries due to the negligence of others. If we find that the other driver was distracted and was liable for the accident, we can file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your injuries and other losses.
Personal injury cases are often settled out of court, but in some cases, we are unable to reach a settlement that we believe is fair to our client through negotiations. In those instances, we can take a case to court to pursue a judgment that we believe would appropriately compensate our client.
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Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC Today for Legal Support
If you are feeling overwhelmed by the growing cost of medical treatments and struggling to cover your regular bills while you are unable to work, you may think that you could not afford to hire an attorney.
At Ben Crump Law, PLLC we understand that people who are seriously injured are often in no position to pay for legal fees out of pocket. That is why we follow a contingency model. We cover costs related to litigation ourselves, and we only get paid if we obtain a settlement or a court verdict in our client’s favor.
Because of the statute of limitations set forth in 735 ILCS 5/13-202, you typically have two years to file a lawsuit. Call our office today at 800-959-1444 to talk to a member of our team.
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