According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teen driving accidents thrill-seeking or aggressive driving are not the only reasons for accidents. In many cases, they are the result of errors stemming from the teen driver’s inexperience.
If you are a teen driver or the parent of a teen driver who is hurt because of the negligence of another driver, you have the right to hold them liable for their behavior—and you are not alone.
A Chicago teen driving accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation to the fullest extent of your injuries. Our team works on a contingency fee basis, which means you never pay out of pocket for our services. For a free review of your claim, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 794-0444.
Types of Injuries That Occur in Teen Driving Accidents
Some common types of injuries in cases like these include:
- Traumatic brain injuries: According to the Mayo Clinic, car accidents are a common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). These injuries can impair the victim’s memory, thinking, or even change their personality.
- Whiplash: Whiplash is an injury that commonly occurs in rear-end car accidents. While most people who experience whiplash feel better within a few weeks, the Mayo Clinic confirms that some people experience complications for months or even years after an accident.
- Fractures: Because of the amount of force that is often created in car accidents, broken bones are common. The severity of a fracture is typically determined by the strength of the force in the crash. These injuries often take weeks or even months to heal.
- Internal bleeding: Traumatic injuries from car accidents are one of the leading causes of severe or sudden hemorrhaging. In severe cases, the victim can experience external bleeding, seizures, a coma or death.
- Spinal cord injury: Spinal cord injuries are typically life-altering for the victim. While some people may recover fully after this type of injury (depending on the severity of the injury), most require assistive devices like wheelchairs and walkers.
What You Need to Know About Negligence Laws in Illinois
Every state has its own negligence laws that distribute damages after an accident. The state of Illinois follows the legal doctrine of modified comparative negligence under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. This means even if a teen driver is somewhat at fault for an accident, they can still recover compensation for their injuries. Their award, however, would be reduced by the degree to which they were at fault. For example, if they are 20% responsible for the accident, they will be able to collect 80% of the total compensation awarded.
However, because Illinois is a modified comparative negligence state—rather than a pure comparative fault state—the plaintiff can only recover compensation if they do not pass the fault threshold, which for the state of Illinois is just over half, or 51%. This means if the plaintiff is 50% responsible, they can recover half of the awarded money. If they are 51% responsible, though, they are barred from recovery altogether.
It is important to understand this because modified comparative fault is commonly used as a defense tactic to reduce a defendant’s degree of liability or get them off the hook entirely. If your teen driver was involved in an accident, a defense lawyer may try to claim that your teen was more responsible for the collision than they really are. A Chicago teen driving accident lawyer can defend you against underhanded tactics like these. For a free case review, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today.
For a free legal consultation with a Teen Driving Accidents Lawyer serving Chicago, call (800) 794-0444
Recoverable Damages After a Chicago Teen Driving Accident
The damages that a victim may recover after a teen driving accident ultimately depend on the details of the case, such as the severity of their injuries and the extent of financial losses. While we cannot estimate your possible recoverable damages without examining the details of your case, types of damages that plaintiffs recover in similar cases include:
- Ambulance rides
- Hospital stays
- Surgical procedures
- Disfigurement or dismemberment
- Physical therapy
- Doctor’s examination
- Medication
- Assistive devices
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket costs
Wrongful Death
If you lost your child in a teen driving accident, you have the right to hold the negligent driver responsible for your losses. Some possible types of recoverable damages in a wrongful death claim include:
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical costs left to your family to pay
- Out-of-pocket expenses related to the care of your child before death
- Loss of consortium
Chicago Teen Driving Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
How Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Can Help
A Chicago teen driving accident lawyer can help you hold the negligent parties responsible for your losses. We can start by offering you a free consultation where we explore the details of your accident and help you understand your options for recovering compensation.
If you decide to move forward with your case, we would begin by conducting an investigation and gathering proof like police reports, eyewitness accounts, and video surveillance if available. If necessary, we might even work with accident scene reconstruction experts to determine what happened in the moments leading up to the collision.
We would also gather medical records and statements from your physicians to determine the full extent of your injuries. In addition, we would gather bills and receipts to calculate your financial losses. Together, this information allows us to determine the full value of your case, including the cost of your pain and suffering. By calculating the value of your losses, we understand what a fair settlement from the insurance company should look like.
We would then negotiate with the insurance company, pursuing a fair settlement for your injuries. If we cannot reach one, we would not hesitate to take your case to court to fight for your rights at trial.
Our Chicago teen driving accident lawyers are ready to work for you. For a free, no-risk review of your case and to find out what your options are, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 794-0444.
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