Arlington Heights Reckless Driving Accident Attorneys

What Is Considered Reckless Driving?

There are numerous types of dangerous driving behaviors that can lead to car accidents. Reckless driving is considered to be a criminal offense in Illinois, and people may face these charges if they drive in a dangerous manner while disregarding the safety of others. This conduct goes beyond simple mistakes or negligence and involves behavior that demonstrates a blatant lack of care.

Some examples of reckless driving that may lead to serious car accidents include:

• Excessive Speeding: Violating posted speed limits or driving too fast for the conditions on the road can affect a driver's ability to maintain control of their vehicle and avoid an accident. The force of impact in a collision that takes place at a high speed can result in serious injuries.
• Aggressive Lane Changes: Drivers may weave in and out of traffic without signaling or leaving adequate space, and this may result in sideswipe accidents or other types of collisions.
• Tailgating: An aggressive driver may follow closely behind other vehicles that they believe are traveling too slowly. This can limit their ability to stop in time when traffic slows down suddenly.
• Running Red Lights or Stop Signs: Drivers may ignore traffic signals, fail to come to a complete stop, or speed through intersections after a traffic light turns yellow. These actions can lead to dangerous collisions with vehicles that are proceeding through intersections legally.
• Street Racing: Participating in races on public roads can be highly dangerous. In some cases, dangerous actions by drivers can cause multi-vehicle pileups.

Types of Collisions Caused by Reckless Driving

When drivers act recklessly, they may cause accidents that result in severe and life-altering injuries. Examples of accidents that may be caused by reckless drivers include:

• Rear-End Collisions: When following too closely behind other vehicles or exceeding the speed limit, a driver may be unable to slow down and stop in time, which can lead to a violent rear-end crash.
• Head-On Collisions: A driver may pass other vehicles recklessly and swerve into oncoming traffic. This can result in devastating head-on impacts.
• Rollover Accidents: Sudden maneuvers at high speeds can cause vehicles to turn over. A driver who causes this type of accident through recklessness may injure others if their vehicle crashes into another vehicle after rolling over or if they block traffic.
• Multi-Vehicle Accidents: Drivers who engage in reckless maneuvers when traveling at high speeds in dense traffic can cause chain-reaction collisions involving multiple vehicles. These accidents may lead to injuries affecting a large number of drivers or passengers.

Damages in Reckless Driving Accident Cases

People who have been injured by reckless drivers may be able to receive compensation for:

• Medical Expenses: All costs related to emergency care, hospitalization, surgical procedures, medications, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment should be fully covered.
• Lost Income: When a person cannot work due to their injuries, they should be compensated for the wages they have lost and the impact to their ability to earn future income.
• Pain and Suffering: Compensation should address the physical pain and emotional distress that a person has suffered due to an accident.

At Schwartz Injury Law, we have a strong understanding of the traffic laws that may affect reckless driving accidents, the damages that can occur in these situations, and the steps that can be taken to recover compensation for injury victims. With our experience handling personal injury claims, we can help clients recover compensation that will truly reflect the physical, emotional, and financial impact of an accident.