The long-term effects of a car accident may be severe and far-reaching, with some being life-threatening. With more cars piling onto our roads every day, it is no surprise that car crashes continue to occur at a high rate.
If you have been in a car accident, reaching out to a personal injury attorney could be in your best interests. A competent and experienced Fulton Market car accident lawyer could fight for you to pursue the maximum compensation due to you under the law.
Lawsuits arising out of car accidents fall under the broader umbrella of personal injury claims. As with other personal injury claims, to be successful in a car accident case, the plaintiff must show that the defendant was negligent. For the claimant to show this, they must demonstrate that the defendant owed a duty of care and breached that duty. Further, the breach of duty must have caused the accident and resulting losses.
It is also necessary for the claimant to determine how much time has passed since the car accident. If too much time has elapsed, the claimant may be barred from commencing a lawsuit. The Illinois statute of limitations for a car wreck claim is two years. This is a relatively short span of time to bring a car crash lawsuit, so victims should consider consulting a Fulton Market attorney shortly after the accident has occurred.
Every state treats the claimant’s fault in a negligence claim differently. In some states, if the claimant is at fault in any way, they cannot recover any damages. In Fulton Market, however, the claimant’s fault will not bar them from pursuing a car accident claim so long as they do not bear more than 50 percent of the blame. If the claimant is less than 50 percent at fault, the court will reduce their total damages award in proportion to their percentage of fault.
Car accidents can result from the negligent actions or failures of a driver but may also be a result of external conditions. Some common causes of car accidents in Fulton Market that an experienced attorney could assist with include:
An individual involved in a car accident could pursue both economic and non-economic damages. While economic damages attempt to place the claimant in the financial position they were in before the car accident, non-economic damages relate to the pain and suffering of the individual. Some of the more common damages that can be pursued in motor vehicle accident claims are the following:
A car accident can be challenging and expensive, but a skilled lawyer could help in the recovery process. A Fulton Market car accident lawyer could advise you on how to pursue the maximum damages due to you under the law. Call today to discuss your case.