Not all car accidents are black-and-white. Sometimes, one driver’s negligence may cause another motorist to make a rash decision, leading to a collision. Both parties may share the blame for the accident, but oftentimes, one party bears a majority of the blame.
If you were partially to blame for a crash, do not assume that you cannot get compensation. A Cook County, IL car accident lawyer can help you take legal action and hold the negligent driver accountable.
At the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., our solo attorney is always ready to advocate for your rights. We can carry out a full investigation into the accident, getting an accurate picture of liability while seeking to minimize your fault for the crash.
What Does Comparative Negligence Mean?
Every state has its own interpretation of how negligence applies to car accidents. Illinois uses a model known as modified comparative negligence to decide who should be made to pay for an accident. Under state law, you can collect payment for your damages as long as you were no more than 50 percent to blame for the crash. However, any percentage of fault you share will reduce your final payout accordingly.