The winter holiday season, with its increased traffic, congestion, activity, and inclement weather, is a time of exposure to increased risk of personal injuries. Whether driving to visit family and friends or shopping in busy malls and stores, auto accidents, slip-and-falls, and mishaps with defective holiday gifts and other products are all possibilities. Any type of injury can upend not just holiday plans but also your employment and educational goals and responsibilities.
As the holiday season draws to a close, hopefully you and your loved ones have stayed safe. However, if you have suffered personal injuries as a result of the negligent or intentionally wrongful conduct of an individual, business, or institution, one of our experienced personal injury lawyers will advocate for your legal right to compensation for the harms and losses you have suffered.
Negligence is a Common Cause of Personal Injuries
With so many Illinois residents on the state’s roads and highways in late December, even amid the COVID-19 health crisis, there is an increased opportunity for auto accidents. The dangers are especially great under conditions like rain, fog, snow, or ice. Importantly, no matter the amount of traffic or severity of the weather, all drivers owe a duty of safe driving to one another. This duty includes driving in accordance with the rules and regulations of the road and never getting behind the wheel when under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications.
When this duty is breached and an auto accident results, personal injury victims may rightfully seek compensation for injuries and vehicle damage sustained. The legal basis for doing so is the tort doctrine of negligence. Negligence is a breach of a duty owed that causes damages. In the context of an auto accident, the breach is unsafe driving, the duty is that of safe driving, causation is the collision, and the damages vary depending upon the nature of the accident, but may include medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Proving each of these elements is crucial to the success of your case.
Contact a McHenry County Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been the victim of the negligence of another driver, retailer, or product maker, a skilled Crystal Lake personal injury lawyer from Botto Gilbert Lancaster, PC will work to obtain financial compensation for you through a settlement or civil trial. Call 815-338-3838 for a free consultation with a member of our team today.
Sources:
https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=2017&ChapterID=56
https://courts.illinois.gov/CircuitCourt/CivilJuryInstructions/10.00.pdf