Auto Accident Lawyers Chicago Heights

Auto Accident Lawyers Chicago Heights

Auto Accident Lawyers Assisting Injury Victims in Chicago Heights

Did you know that more than 296,000 motor vehicle accidents occurred in Illinois in 2014? According to a report from the Illinois Department of Transportation, the state is taking steps to reduce the number of traffic collisions, yet many residents of Chicagoland continue to suffer serious and fatal injuries in preventable accidents. For residents of Chicago Heights, it is important to know that many car accidents are preventable. Most often, serious traffic collisions occur because of another driver’s negligence. An injury victim should not be responsible for the financial losses associated with another motorist’s careless or reckless behavior.

If you or someone you love got hurt in a car accident in or around Chicago Heights, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. A Chicago Heights auto accident lawyer can discuss your options with you today.

Personal Injury and Chicago Heights Auto Accident Claims

Many car accident claims in Chicago Heights are brought as personal injury claims. Personal injury law is a broad area of the law that allows injured plaintiffs to bring civil actions and to recover damages in certain situations. In particular, when one party’s failure to use reasonable care leads to another party’s injuries, that injured party can file a claim under a theory of negligence. Numerous auto accident lawsuits in Chicago Heights rely on a theory of negligence.

How is negligence defined under Illinois law? According to Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, negligence is defined as “the failure to do something which a reasonably careful person would do, or the doing of something which a reasonably careful person would not, under circumstances similar to those shown by the evidence.” Generally speaking, it is up to the jury to decide how a reasonably careful person would act under any given set of circumstances. For example, if a situation poses a heightened risk—such as driving in a construction zone—a reasonably careful person might exercise a greater amount of care than she or he would on a road where no construction is underway.

Elements of an Illinois Car Accident Lawsuit

What does a Chicago Heights plaintiff need to prove in order to win a car accident case? If the plaintiff is arguing that the defendant was negligent, then the plaintiff must be able to show:

• The defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff;
• The defendant breached the duty of care by failing to act as a reasonably careful person would under the given circumstances; and
• The defendant’s breach of the duty of care resulted in the accident that caused the plaintiff’s injuries.

The burden of proof in car accident lawsuits usually is on the plaintiff. An experienced Chicago Heights auto accident lawyer can gather evidence for your case, can speak with witnesses, and can use an accident reconstruction expert in order to show that the crash happened because of the defendant’s negligence.

Seek Advice from an Auto Accident Lawyers in Chicago Heights

Were you injured in a car accident in Illinois? Dedicated auto accident lawyers in Chicago Heights can assist with your claim. Contact The Horwitz Law Group to learn more.