Many drivers get frustrated when they are stuck in traffic, but road rage takes frustration to a completely different level. In a road rage incident, a driver may intentionally hit another car to injure the operator or to force the vehicle off the road. Road rage can result in serious injuries, such as a concussion, whiplash, broken bones, cuts, and lost limbs.
If you were hurt in a road rage accident, you may have received treatment in a hospital, and you may now be undergoing physical therapy or receiving chiropractic care. You may have to receive treatment for several more months, and you may not make a full recovery. You may continue to experience pain and limited mobility and may struggle to do things that used to be simple. Walking, for example, may be a challenge, and you may need the assistance of a cane or a walker. You may even be permanently confined to a wheelchair.
The injuries you suffered in the road rage incident may have caused you to be out of work for weeks or months. You may be able to return to your job eventually, or you may have to look for employment in a different field. You may be so severely disabled that you are unable to work at all.
You may be facing astronomical medical bills, and your family may be falling behind on regular expenses, such as rent or mortgage and utilities. You and your spouse may have used up your emergency fund and sold some valuables to make ends meet, and you may be trying to figure out what to do now.
An Aurora car accident caused by road rage lawyer may be able to help you seek justice. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm has represented clients all over the United States who were harmed by the actions and negligence of others. We may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver to pursue compensation for your losses. Call our office today at (800) 223-5115 to speak with a member of our staff.
Defining Road Rage
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) explains the difference between aggressive driving and road rage. Aggressive driving may include acts such as driving too fast, changing lanes suddenly and erratically, and running red lights. Road rage goes further and may include acts such as assault and murder.
Although Illinois does not have a law that specifically addresses road rage, it does have a statute that prohibits reckless driving. According to 625 ILCS 5/11-503, “A person commits reckless driving if he or she: (1) drives any vehicle with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property; or (2) knowingly drives a vehicle and uses an incline in a roadway, such as a railroad crossing, bridge approach, or hill, to cause the vehicle to become airborne.” Depending on the nature and severity of the offense, the violator may be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony.
An Aurora Car Accident Caused by Road Rage Lawyer Can Help You
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. If we learn through interviews or surveillance camera footage that the other driver engaged in an act of road rage that caused your injuries, we may take legal action against that individual.
We may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver who hit you. A lawsuit is a civil proceeding that can seek a financial award to compensate you for your losses, including costs for past and future medical care, lost income, lost or reduced earning potential, and pain and suffering.
You may also be eligible for punitive damages, which are intended to punish a defendant. Under the terms of 735 ILCS 5/2-1115.05, you may be entitled to punitive damages if “the defendant’s conduct was with evil motive or with a reckless and outrageous indifference to a highly unreasonable risk of harm and with a conscious indifference to the rights and safety of others.”
In many cases, we can negotiate a settlement with counsel representing the defendant. That can allow everyone involved in the case to avoid a long and expensive trial. Sometimes, though, we are unable to reach an agreement with the other side. In those instances, we will go to trial to seek an amount of compensation that we deem fair to our client.
A member of our team can explain your legal rights in more detail. Call our office today to learn more about how we may be able to assist you.
For a free legal consultation with a Road Rage Accidents Lawyer serving Aurora, call (800) 794-0444
Bringing Criminal Charges Against the Other Driver
The district attorney may also decide to bring criminal charges against the driver. Criminal charges may lead to a sentence involving prison time, a fine, community service, or probation.
If criminal charges are filed, that will be a separate matter that will be handled in a different manner than a personal injury lawsuit. The burden of proof is higher in a criminal case than in a civil one. That means that you may receive financial compensation even if the person who harmed you is not convicted in criminal court.
Aurora Road Rage Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Contact an Aurora Car Accident Caused by Road Rage Lawyer
The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may be able to help you pursue a financial award to compensate you for the losses you have suffered and will continue to endure because of the collision. If you are worried that you cannot afford an attorney, that should not concern you because our firm operates on contingency. You will not have to pay us any money upfront to represent you in a personal injury case. We will cover costs ourselves and will only collect a fee if we obtain a financial award for you.
You have only two years to file a personal injury lawsuit because of the statute of limitations set by 735 ILCS 5/13-202. If you do not take action within that period of time, you may lose out on your ability to seek financial compensation, even if you have a valid claim. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 223-5115 so we can begin working on your case as soon as possible.
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