Illinois Reckless Driving & Speeding Accident Lawyers

Defining Speeding and Reckless Driving in Illinois

Speeding and reckless driving, though both involve driving faster than the posted legal limit(s), are legally different crimes according to section 625 ILCS 5, the Illinois vehicle code.

Illinois Speeding Laws & Penalties 

If a police officer catches you driving faster than the legal limit of the street you are on, you are guilty of speeding. The fines vary depending on how fast you were going:

• Going 30-39 mph over the limit is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of $1,500.
• Going more than 40 mph over the limit is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of $2,500.

Reckless Driving Laws in Illinois

A person commits reckless driving if they:

• Drive any vehicle with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property; or
• Knowingly drive a vehicle and uses an incline in a roadway, such as a railroad crossing, bridge approach, or hill, to cause the vehicle to become airborne.

If you are caught in the act of either and cause an accident or death, felonious injury and/or homicide will be added to your charges. If it is proven that you are intoxicated, it will be even worse.

Who’s Liable for Speeding and Reckless Driving Accidents in Illinois?

The responding officers and insurance claims adjusters will determine who is at fault. If the police are not called, the responsibility falls on the adjusters.

Is the Speeding Driver Automatically at Fault?

In most cases, yes. But, if the police and/or insurance adjusters can prove that the other driver’s actions contributed more to the accident than the speeding of another, they could be found at fault.

Possible Compensation after an Accident with a Speeding or Reckless Driver in Illinois

You can go after the at-fault driver for vehicle repairs, medical bills, and emotional damages/traumas. Compensation can be collected through the other driver’s insurance or by taking them to court.

Sometimes, it may be a combination of both actions if the other driver has a policy with a max payout limit and your damages go beyond that amount.

You Can Recover Damages Even if You’re Partially at Fault

Sometimes, even though one driver was speeding, both drivers can be at fault. When this happens, you can still go after the speeding driver to get your damages/medical bills covered. But remember, the other driver might also go after your insurance for their compensation. Also, depending on your policy, you might only be able to claim a portion of what you want since both of you were cited.

Contact an Illinois Reckless Driving Lawyer Today

Being involved in a speeding or reckless driving accident can result in serious physical and emotional consequences. And if you are going after the other driver for compensation, you will need to be ready to fight insurance companies and lawyers who are more focused on defending than helping you.

The accident attorneys at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., know how to seek appropriate settlements for their clients. Contact us at (312) 236-2900 for a free consultation, or send us a message.