Every licensed driver in Illinois must adhere to traffic laws and safety regulations. Passengers, pedestrians and other motorists can reasonably expect that a person getting behind the wheel is alert, unimpaired and legally permitted to drive. When a motor vehicle accident occurs, investigators often discover clues that lead them to believe a particular driver’s negligence was a causal factor in the collision. Such drivers are often held financially accountable for the damage their actions have caused others.
Investigators are still working on a case that involved a car full of people who were traveling on I-290 on the evening of Memorial Day. The vehicle was driven by a 22-year-old man. A preliminary investigation suggests he may have fallen asleep at the wheel, moments before the crash occurred.
The vehicle careened off the road and slammed into a utility pole. Sadly, two backseat passengers, ages 19 and 22, did not survive the injuries they suffered upon impact. Along with the driver, a front seat passenger survived the collision.
When an Illinois motor vehicle accident results in severe injuries or fatality, it often leads to litigation in a civil court. This is because a recovering victim or an immediate family member of a fatally injured victim is entitled to seek financial recovery for monetary losses. When there is evidence that driver negligence was a direct cause of a collision, the court can issue a monetary judgment against the at-fault party, thus awarding compensation for damages that can help victims and families offset expenses associated with a particular incident.
