Being injured in a car crash is stressful enough on its own, but it can be even more difficult when the driver responsible for the collision flees the scene, calling into question your ability to hold him or her accountable for your damages through a personal injury lawsuit. However, you do have options after a hit-and-run accident, and in many cases it is even possible to identify and locate the at-fault driver.

What Should I Do If I Am Injured in a Hit-and-Run?

Although the other driver may leave the scene after the accident, it is best for you to stay put and call 911. This can not only ensure that you get the immediate medical attention you need for your injuries, but also notify law enforcement so that they can come to the scene of the crash and create a report.

An officer may ask you and other witnesses for details regarding the circumstances of the accident, as well as any possible identifying features of the at-fault driver. Leaving the scene of a crash involving injury or death is a felony offense in Illinois, and law enforcement will often be motivated to investigate and apprehend the suspected offender. Any information you can provide regarding the appearance of the vehicle or the driver, the driver’s license plate number, or the direction in which the driver fled can help officers find the driver and notify you of their identity so that you can file a claim against them.

In the United States, car crashes and other motor vehicle accidents are responsible for more spinal cord injuries than any other cause. If your spinal cord has been damaged in an accident, the recovery process can be extremely difficult, and your life will likely never be the same. Spinal cord injury victims are often entitled to significant compensation from the driver responsible for the crash, which can provide some relief as you work to adapt to your new normal.

Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury

Your spinal cord is responsible for sending nerve signals from your brain to the rest of your body, and therefore, an injury can severely impair your body’s functions. At minimum, a spinal cord injury will likely impair sensation anywhere below the location of the injury, and it can also affect motor skills, sometimes resulting in paralysis from the neck or waist down. Damage to the spinal cord can also affect respiratory and circulatory functions, as well as the abilities of various bodily organs.

Pursuing Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries in Illinois

If another driver’s negligence was responsible for your spinal cord injury, you have the right to file a personal injury claim for compensation from the driver or his or her insurance provider. You may have a case for both economic and non-economic damages, including but not limited to:

If you are injured in a car accident, you may be left with high medical expenses related to emergency treatment, surgeries, medication, and rehabilitation, among other things. You may also be forced to miss significant work time, affecting your ability to earn an income. A personal injury claim can help you pursue compensation for these economic damages, but it is also important to note that you may be entitled to non-economic damages if you are experiencing ongoing pain and suffering. It may be more challenging to make the case for these damages, but with your attorney’s help, you can fight for compensation that can help to ease your burden.

Pain and Suffering and Other Non-Economic Damages

Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be unable to return to your previous quality of life after your accident, even after receiving the best medical treatment available. In a civil lawsuit, non-economic damages are meant to provide compensation for lasting physical and mental hardship.

You may have a case for non-economic damages if you are suffering from:

The Federal Highway Administration reports that in the 10-year period from 2007 to 2016, weather was a factor in 21 percent of all vehicle accidents, 19 percent of all crash injuries, and 16 percent of all crash fatalities in the United States. It is clear that weather plays a significant role in car accidents, and as the late fall and winter months approach in Illinois, wind, rain, snow, sleet, and hail can make driving conditions increasingly dangerous. If you are injured in an accident during inclement weather, it is important to know how it may affect your claim for compensation.

Weather Is Not an Excuse for Negligence

Although weather conditions can make driving more dangerous and increase the chances of an accident occurring, in most accidents involving two or more vehicles, a driver may still be considered negligent despite the weather’s impact. Negligence is defined as a situation in which one party owes a duty of care to another and fails to uphold it, thereby causing injury or other damages. When weather conditions are poor, drivers have a duty to take the necessary precautions to ensure they are driving safely, which may include:

• Reducing speed
• Leaving more space between vehicles
• Allowing more time to stop
• Paying special attention to the surroundings
• Making sure tires, brakes, lights, and windshield wipers are in working order and equipped for the weather conditions

If a driver fails to take these precautions and that failure is determined to be the cause of an accident, anyone who is injured may have a claim for compensation.

Driving over the speed limit is such a common occurrence that you may not even think twice about it, and chances are that you have done it yourself from time to time. However, this casual attitude toward speeding is concerning given the fact that speeding was a factor in 42 percent of all fatal car accidents in Illinois in 2018, which is a greater portion than all but five other states. Speeding poses a clear danger to everyone on the road, and those who have been injured in a speeding accident may face a difficult path to recovery.

The Dangers of Speeding in Illinois

Speeding is dangerous both because it increases the risk of a crash and the severity of injuries that may result. A speeding driver takes longer to stop when an emergency situation arises, which may lead to a rear-end collision, and speeding drivers may also have more difficulty controlling their vehicle, especially when road conditions are poor. Driving at faster speeds also increases the force of impact in a collision, which may result in catastrophic injuries to the brain, spinal cord, and extremities, many of which can be fatal.

Speeding is also associated with several other risk factors. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2018, 37 percent of speeding drivers in fatal crashes had been drinking, 25 percent did not have a valid driver’s license, and 48 percent were not wearing a seatbelt.