A reckless driver traveling over 100 miles per hour on Butterfield Road in Wheaton crashed into a Honda, causing the vehicle to burst into flames. The occupant of the Honda was a young woman on the verge of graduating from Northern Illinois University, according to the Chicago Tribune. If that was not bad enough, the reckless driver tried to flee the scene of the accident and reportedly shoved a woman who was trying to assist after the horrific collision.
This was a horrific accident and, unfortunately, serious car accidents occur quite regularly in Illinois. If you or a family member is involved in such an accident, you may be able to pursue financial restitution through a personal injury lawsuit.
Illinois tort law allows a victim to pursue an array of monetary damages. The following are the most common types of damages that car accident victims usually seek in court:
As the name suggests, compensatory damages are designed to compensate an injury victim for his or her injuries. The tort system is designed around compensation, and thus, this category of damages are the core damages that are usually recovered through a personal injury lawsuit. There are several types of compensatory damages, but the most commonly sought are:
Unlike compensatory damages, which are designed to help make the victim whole, punitive damages are designed strictly to punish the defendant. The policy behind punitive damages is that what the defendant did (or neglected to do) was so egregious that additional compensation is required both to reprimand the defendant and deter future wrongdoing.
Illinois courts recognize that death is a special circumstance and allows close family members to sue on behalf of the deceased. Given the severe damages associated with the sudden loss of a loved one, additional damages are pursuable, including loss of companionship and loss of family financial support.
Some states have caps on the total amount of damages that can be awarded in a personal injury lawsuit. This is not the case in Illinois. Illinois used to have a cap on damages in medical malpractice cases, but that cap was struck down by the state supreme court as unconstitutional.
If you or a family member suffered an injury in a car accident, truck accident, or other accident, our team of Will County personal injury attorneys is here to assist. Call or contact Sabuco, Beck, Hansen, Massino & Pollack, P.C. online today and request a consultation to discuss your case. With over 125 years combined experience, we can advise you on the types of compensation you may be entitled to.
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I was represented by your firm in the above referenced matter. I received a letter in the mail seeking my feedback as it related to the services I received. I am happy to take a moment to respond. In all areas I would rate the firm with all 5’s (excellent). The attorney that represented me was Alex Beck. Alex was so easy to talk to, communication was always open, with the steps and processes clearly laid out and understandable to me. Alex is just a very likable great guy, while at the same time being a very knowledgeable professional in his discipline. I have already in the past ,and will continue to in the future, refer your law firm to friends and family. I’d also like to say Donna was of tremendous help and was an absolute pleasure to be assisted by. Thank you, James Nichols
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