A significant number of drivers living in the Elgin area travel on the highway every day. They may commute into the big city or take an interstate to go shopping or run errands. As convenient as highway travel can be, it does pose a risk to drivers and their passengers. Highway collisions can often occur at speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour. This can result in substantial injuries that impact your physical wellbeing, emotional health, and ability to support your family.
An experienced motor vehicle crash attorney at the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. could provide essential legal support to you after a highway car accident in Elgin. They could take the lead in gathering evidence about the crash, proving the other driver’s liability, determining how the event has changed your life, and pursuing appropriate compensation through insurance settlements or trials.
Elements of Risk Involved in Highway Driving near Elgin
Driving on the highway is among the riskiest traveling that a person can do. The simplest factor that contributes to this risk is the speed of travel. With all vehicles traveling at least 55 miles per hour, any collision will impart thousands of pounds of force on the people inside the vehicles. This can cause a variety of catastrophic injuries.
Unfortunately, pure speed is not the only reason that driving on the highway is dangerous. One major contributing factor is the fact that large trucks and construction vehicles often use these roads. The blind spots and massive loads that trucks often carry can contribute to collisions.
Debris on the road is another major source of highway accidents. A traveler who fails to properly secure a load is liable for any damage that may result from those items entering the roadway. They are also liable if another driver needs to make an emergency maneuver to avoid hitting debris and makes contact with another vehicle or rolls over. A knowledgeable lawyer at the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. could provide more information about the unique risk of motor vehicle collisions inherent to highway travel.
Drivers Causing Highway Accidents are Liable for Damages
The law says that parties who cause personal injuries are liable for all resulting damage, this includes highway auto crashes near Elgin. A driver who causes an injury by speeding, tailgating, failing to signal, or improperly securing cargo must provide compensation for all resulting losses.
A dedicated attorney in Elgin could help to measure those losses and seek fair payments. Typical damages after a car crash can include medical bills, payments for emotional trauma, compensation for pain, and reimbursement for lost wages.
Statute of Limitations
Be aware that there is a limited time to seek out compensation. 735 Illinois Complied Statutes 5/13-202 creates the statute of limitations for personal injury cases. It says that people suffering injuries after highway accidents have no more than two years after the incident to demand compensation.
Demand Fair Compensation after a Highway Auto Collision in Elgin
Collisions that occur on Elgin’s highways can result in devastating injuries. Not only could these events require swift medical intervention, but they could also jeopardize your ability to earn a living and negatively impact your quality of life. If another driver was responsible for the events that led to the crash, they are liable to provide fair compensation.
Hiring an attorney at the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. could help you to receive this compensation. They could work to investigate the crash, establish your legal rights, and protect your case from aggressive insurance companies. Schedule an appointment today to learn more about highway car accidents in Elgin.