Car Accident Laws in Illinois

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident or experienced damages to your vehicle, you will probably want to find out what your options are when it comes to getting money for your losses (if so, check out this site: sure for an injury ). If you live in the state of Illinois, the laws that govern this state could play a huge role in your car accident case.

Illinois is governed by a statute of limitations that imposes a time limit for claims for compensation due to being injured in a car accident. However, these deadlines are subject to the type of injuries you suffered and the kind of case you want to file. The statute of limitations only applies to the car accident lawsuit and not your car insurance claim. So, you will have to file an insurance claim with your insurance company separately. Preferably needs to be done within a matter of days or weeks.

If you are planning on filing a car accident lawsuit, you only have two years in which to do so. However, if someone was killed in the car crash, the deadline is different. In this case, a wrongful death lawsuit must be filed within one year of the date of the accident, or from the date that the deceased passed on. It should be done on whichever date is later.

If you are only seeking to recover the damages to a vehicle, such as money you spent on repairs or replacement of parts, you have at least five years in which to bring the case into a court of law. Ultimately, if you do not file your lawsuits within the specified periods of time, you forfeit your right to claim for compensation. It is highly unlikely that any court of law will entertain your case if it is past the time limit set out by the statute of limitations.

The state of Illinois also abides by the comparative fault law, which means that the blame should be placed on both parties. So, as with all comparative fault laws in other states, if the plaintiff is found to have contributed towards the accident, their compensation will be reduced. If they hold more than 50% of the blame, they do not qualify to receive compensation from the other driver.

However, you must also understand that insurance will play an important role in a car accident case, since it is compulsory for all vehicle owners to have sufficient insurance coverage to drive legally on the roads of Illinois. If you’ve been involved in a car accident and would like to initiate a car accident claim, feel free to contact a personal injury attorney in Illinois to assist you further.