Chicago Reckless Driving Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been injured in a crash caused by a reckless driver in Chicago, you deserve fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Reckless driving accidents often result in serious injuries and complex insurance claims. Our experienced Chicago reckless driving accident lawyers are here to protect your rights, handle the insurance companies, and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.

Call us today for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis—no fee unless we win your case.

What Is Reckless Driving Under Illinois Law?

Illinois law defines reckless driving as operating a vehicle with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of people or property. This goes beyond simple carelessness or a minor traffic mistake. Reckless driving means the driver knowingly chose to act in a dangerous way.

Under 625 ILCS 5/11-503, reckless driving is a criminal offense in Illinois. Examples include:

• Excessive speeding (driving 25+ mph over the limit or racing)
• Weaving in and out of traffic at high speeds
• Road rage behaviors like tailgating, brake-checking, or aggressive lane changes
• Street racing
• Texting or using a phone while also speeding or driving aggressively
• Running red lights or stop signs at high speed
• Driving under the influence combined with aggressive maneuvers

Reckless driving is different from ordinary negligence. Negligence means a driver failed to use reasonable care (like checking a blind spot). Reckless driving means they showed a deliberate disregard for safety—a much higher standard that can lead to both criminal penalties and significant civil liability.

Common Causes of Reckless Driving Accidents in Chicago

Chicago’s busy streets, expressways, and heavy traffic create many opportunities for reckless driving crashes. Common scenarios our team sees include:

• Excessive speeding on Lake Shore Drive or the Kennedy Expressway, where drivers ignore speed limits and traffic conditions
• Aggressive lane changes and weaving through stop-and-go traffic on I-90 or I-94
• Road rage incidents in congested areas like the Loop or near O’Hare
• Street racing on city streets late at night
• Running red lights at high-traffic intersections
• Distracted driving at high speeds, such as texting while speeding or changing lanes dangerously
• Driving under the influence combined with speeding or aggressive maneuvers

Each of these behaviors can cause devastating crashes, including head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-car pile-ups, and pedestrian or bicycle accidents.

Injuries and Damages From Reckless Driving Crashes

Because reckless drivers often travel at high speeds or make sudden, dangerous moves, the injuries from these crashes are frequently severe. Victims may suffer:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and concussions
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Broken bones and fractures
• Internal injuries and organ damage
• Severe lacerations and burns
• Whiplash and soft tissue injuries
• Emotional trauma, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression

These injuries can lead to:

• High medical bills for emergency care, surgery, hospital stays, physical therapy, and ongoing treatment
• Lost wages if you miss work during recovery
• Loss of earning capacity if you can’t return to your old job
• Pain and suffering, both physical and emotional
• Property damage to your vehicle
• Wrongful death in the most tragic cases

The total cost of a reckless driving accident can be life-changing. That’s why it’s critical to pursue full compensation, not just what the insurance company offers at first.

Liability in a Chicago Reckless Driving Accident Case

To recover compensation, you must prove the other driver was at fault. In a reckless driving case, this means showing:

1. The driver acted recklessly—they drove with willful or wanton disregard for safety.
2. That reckless conduct caused the crash.
3. You suffered injuries and damages as a result.

Evidence We Use to Prove Fault

Our Chicago reckless driving accident lawyers gather strong evidence to build your case, including:

• Police reports and the Illinois Traffic Crash Report filed by responding officers
• Witness statements from people who saw the reckless behavior
• Traffic camera footage and dashcam video
• Black box / event data recorder (EDR) data from the vehicles involved, showing speed, braking, and steering
• Medical records documenting your injuries
• Accident reconstruction by experts who analyze the crash scene
• Criminal reckless driving charges filed against the at-fault driver, which can support your civil claim

Illinois Comparative Negligence Rules

Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means you can still recover compensation even if you were partly at fault—as long as you were not more than 50% responsible for the crash. If you are found 30% at fault, for example, your compensation will be reduced by 30%. If you are 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover anything.

Insurance companies often try to shift blame to reduce what they pay. An experienced lawyer will protect you from unfair fault claims.

How a Chicago Reckless Driving Accident Lawyer Can Help You

Handling a reckless driving injury claim on your own is difficult, especially when you’re recovering from injuries. Here’s how our team helps:

Investigation and Evidence Gathering

We start working on your case right away, collecting police reports, witness information, video footage, and vehicle data before it’s lost or destroyed.

Dealing With Insurance Companies

Insurance adjusters often make lowball settlement offers or try to blame you for the crash. We handle all communications with insurers, protecting your rights and negotiating for full compensation.

Calculating Your Full Damages

We work with medical experts, economists, and life care planners to calculate the true cost of your injuries—not just today’s bills, but future medical care, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

Filing Your Claim or Lawsuit

We prepare and file all legal paperwork on time, including your insurance claim and, if necessary, a personal injury lawsuit in Cook County courts.

Litigation and Trial

If the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement, we’re ready to take your case to court. Our team has experience litigating reckless driving and car accident cases before Chicago juries.

Contingency Fee—No Cost Unless We Win

You don’t pay any upfront legal fees. We only get paid if we recover money for you, so there’s no financial risk to hiring us.

Available Compensation for Reckless Driving Accident Victims

Depending on the facts of your case, you may be entitled to:

Economic Damages

• Medical expenses: emergency room visits, surgery, hospital stays, medication, physical therapy, future care
• Lost wages: income you missed while recovering
• Loss of earning capacity: if your injuries prevent you from returning to your old job or reduce your ability to earn
• Property damage: repair or replacement of your vehicle

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and suffering: physical pain and emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life: inability to participate in hobbies, activities, or daily routines
• Loss of consortium: impact on your relationship with your spouse or family

Punitive Damages

In cases of extreme recklessness—such as street racing, severe road rage, or DUI crashes—Illinois courts may award punitive damages to punish the at-fault driver and deter others from similar conduct. These are rare but can significantly increase your total recovery.

What to Do After a Reckless Driving Accident in Chicago

The steps you take immediately after a crash can affect your health and your legal claim. Here’s what to do:

1. Get medical attention right away. Even if you feel okay, some injuries (like internal bleeding or concussions) may not show symptoms immediately. Call 911 or go to the ER.
2. Call the police. Make sure a police report is filed. The Chicago Police Department crash report is critical evidence for your claim.
3. Collect evidence if safe to do so. Take photos of the vehicles, damage, skid marks, traffic signs, and the surrounding area. Get contact information from witnesses.
4. Don’t admit fault or apologize. Stick to the facts when speaking with police and the other driver. Don’t say “I’m sorry” or speculate about what happened.
5. Report the crash to your insurance company. Illinois law requires you to report certain accidents. Give basic facts, but don’t give a recorded statement or accept a settlement without talking to a lawyer first.
6. Contact a Chicago reckless driving accident lawyer as soon as possible. The sooner we start working on your case, the better. Evidence can disappear, and insurance adjusters may pressure you to settle quickly for less than you deserve.
7. Keep records. Save all medical bills, receipts, pay stubs, and documents related to the crash and your injuries.

Illinois Reckless Driving Laws, Penalties, and Deadlines

Criminal Penalties for Reckless Driving

Under Illinois law (625 ILCS 5/11-503), reckless driving is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by:

• Up to one year in jail
• Fines up to $2,500
• Possible license suspension

If the reckless driving causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or disfigurement to another person, it can be charged as a Class 4 felony, with penalties of 1-3 years in prison.

How Criminal Charges Affect Your Civil Claim

If the at-fault driver is charged with reckless driving, those criminal charges can help your civil injury case by establishing that the driver acted recklessly. However, your compensation is decided separately in the civil process, and you don’t have to wait for a criminal conviction to file your injury claim.

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims in Illinois

Illinois has a statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Generally, you must file your lawsuit within a certain number of years from the date of the accident or you lose your right to compensation. There are some exceptions, so it’s important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights.

Missing the deadline means you cannot recover anything, no matter how strong your case is.

Why Choose a Local Chicago Reckless Driving Accident Lawyer?

Choosing a lawyer who knows Chicago and Cook County courts can make a big difference in your case. Here’s why local experience matters:

• Familiarity with Chicago roads and traffic patterns, including high-risk areas like Lake Shore Drive, the Dan Ryan, and the Kennedy Expressway
• Experience with local courts and judges in Cook County
• Relationships with local experts, including accident reconstruction specialists and medical providers
• Understanding of Chicago insurance companies and their tactics
• Knowledge of Illinois-specific laws, such as comparative negligence and mandatory reporting rules

Our team lives and works in Chicago. We understand the unique challenges of reckless driving accidents in this city, and we’re ready to put that knowledge to work for you.