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Bolingbrook Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer
Every time a driver glances at a phone, adjusts a radio, or reaches for a coffee cup, lives are at risk. If you were hurt in a distracted driving crash near Bolingbrook, the Chicago suburbs, or anywhere along the I-55 corridor, you deserve answers and real legal help. At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, we fight for injury victims across the greater Chicago area, and we want to help you understand your rights.
Table of Contents
- The Distracted Driving Problem in Illinois and the Bolingbrook Area
- Illinois Laws That Apply to Distracted Driving Cases
- What Compensation Can You Recover After a Distracted Driving Crash?
- How We Build a Strong Distracted Driving Case
- The Deadline to File Your Claim and Why You Should Act Now
- FAQs About Bolingbrook Distracted Driving Accidents
The Distracted Driving Problem in Illinois and the Bolingbrook Area
Bolingbrook sits at the crossroads of I-55 and Route 53, making it one of the busiest commuter corridors in Will County. Drivers heading into Chicago or toward Joliet pass through this stretch every day, and distracted driving is a constant danger along these roads. Whether the crash happened near the Weber Road interchange, on Boughton Road, or heading toward the Promenade Bolingbrook shopping center, the results can be devastating.
Illinois saw 122 fatalities in 2024 due to distracted driving. That number tells only part of the story. Eight percent of fatal crashes, an estimated 13% of injury crashes, and an estimated 13% of all police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2023 were reported as distraction-affected. These are not just numbers. They represent real families in communities like Bolingbrook, Naperville, and Romeoville who are dealing with the aftermath of someone else’s carelessness.
The use of a cell phone while driving increases your chance of getting into a crash by 400%. Think about that the next time you see a driver with their head down at a red light on Rodeo Drive or Lily Cache Road. The act of glancing at a phone for just 5 seconds while traveling at 55 mph means that the driver drove the entire length of a football field blind, with no awareness of what was happening around them. That is a terrifying reality for anyone sharing the road.
Distracted driving goes beyond phone use. Eating, adjusting a GPS, talking to passengers, or even daydreaming all qualify. Distracted driving includes any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from the road. This can involve visual distractions, manual distractions, or cognitive distractions. Texting, emailing, scrolling social media, holding a phone, adjusting GPS settings, eating, or interacting with passengers can all qualify. Any one of these behaviors can turn a routine commute into a life-changing event.
Illinois Laws That Apply to Distracted Driving Cases
Illinois has clear laws targeting distracted driving, and those laws matter a great deal in a personal injury case. Illinois specifically addresses electronic device use under 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2, which generally prohibits drivers from using handheld electronic communication devices while operating a motor vehicle. This applies to texting, browsing, emailing, and using apps while behind the wheel.
Effective January 1, 2024, it is illegal to drive while participating in any video-conferencing application such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Webex. You also cannot access any social media sites such as Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, or Twitter. Illinois keeps strengthening these rules, and violations create a paper trail that can support your injury claim.
Mobile phone use while driving is allowed only for drivers over age 19, and only in hands-free mode. Drivers under 19 may not use a phone in any way while driving. If a young driver caused your crash, that restriction is especially important to document.
When a distracted driver causes a crash and injures someone, the civil consequences go far beyond a traffic ticket. Traffic violations under 625 ILCS 5 can serve as evidence of negligence in a personal injury case. If a driver violated the handheld phone law at the time of the crash, that violation may support a finding of fault. Illinois also follows a modified comparative negligence rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. Under this law, you can still recover damages as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50%. However, your compensation is reduced by whatever percentage of fault is assigned to you. That means insurance companies will try to pin blame on you, and having a skilled legal team in your corner matters.
Illinois law also requires the at-fault driver to remain at the scene under 625 ILCS 5/11-401. Under this statute, any driver involved in a crash resulting in personal injury must immediately stop and remain at the scene. Leaving the scene of an injury crash is a Class 4 felony in Illinois. If the driver who hit you fled, that fact can play a significant role in your case.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Distracted Driving Crash?
Victims of distracted driving accidents in the Bolingbrook area can pursue compensation for a wide range of losses. Illinois personal injury law allows injured people to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering when another driver’s negligence caused the crash. If your injuries are serious, these damages can add up quickly.
Distracted driving crashes often result in serious injuries because they involve delayed reactions or no reaction at all. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, internal organ damage, and severe soft tissue injuries. Victims may face extended medical treatment, physical therapy, and permanent limitations. A crash near the Bolingbrook Golf Club or along the Route 53 corridor can leave you unable to work, care for your family, or enjoy everyday life.
Illinois law also addresses how fault is shared among multiple defendants. Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1117, all defendants found liable are jointly and severally liable for a plaintiff’s past and future medical expenses. If one defendant is 25% or more at fault, that defendant can be held jointly and severally liable for all other damages as well. This matters when multiple parties, such as a distracted driver and their employer, share responsibility for your crash.
Do not let the insurance company lowball you. Insurance companies frequently dispute distracted driving claims. Adjusters may argue there is no direct proof of phone use or attempt to blame weather, traffic, or the injured driver. Even when a citation was issued, insurers often resist paying full compensation. Having an experienced Chicago abogado de lesiones personales on your side sends a clear message that you will not accept less than you deserve.
How We Build a Strong Distracted Driving Case
Proving that a driver was distracted at the moment of the crash takes real investigative work. Proving distracted driving requires careful investigation. Police reports, witness statements, and crash scene evidence often provide early clues. In many cases, cell phone records become critical. Our team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg works quickly to gather and preserve this evidence before it disappears.
We look at everything: the police report from the Will County Sheriff’s Office or Bolingbrook Police Department, traffic camera footage along I-55, eyewitness accounts, and phone records obtained through legal channels. If the crash happened near a busy intersection like Boughton Road and Route 53, there is often surveillance footage nearby that can confirm what the driver was doing at the time of impact.
We also work with accident reconstruction experts when needed. These professionals can analyze skid marks, vehicle damage, and road conditions to show that the driver failed to react in time, which is consistent with distracted driving. It takes an average of 27 seconds for the brain to re-focus on the road after a glance at a screen. That kind of delayed reaction leaves a physical record at the crash scene.
We handle distracted driving cases across the Chicago metro area. Whether your crash happened near Bolingbrook, in the city, or in another part of the state, our firm is ready to help. We also represent clients in cases involving rideshare vehicles, and our Chicago Uber accident lawyer team handles those claims as well. Our reach extends statewide, with resources available to clients through our Rockford car accident lawyer team, our Belleville car accident lawyer team, our Champaign car accident lawyer team, and our Gurnee car accident lawyer team.
The Deadline to File Your Claim and Why You Should Act Now
Time is one of the most important factors in a distracted driving injury case. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois. That may sound like plenty of time, but it goes faster than you think, especially when you are focused on recovering from your injuries.
Missing the deadline means losing your right to pursue compensation entirely, no matter how strong your case is. Beyond the legal deadline, waiting too long also hurts your case in practical ways. Witnesses forget details. Surveillance footage gets deleted. Phone records become harder to obtain. The sooner you contact an attorney, the better your chances of building a complete and compelling case.
Bolingbrook is part of Will County, and cases may be filed in the Will County Courthouse in Joliet. Depending on the facts of your case, it may also be possible to file in Cook County. Knowing which court to use and how to present your case effectively is something Briskman Briskman & Greenberg handles every day. We serve the Bolingbrook community and the surrounding suburbs, and we are ready to put our resources to work for you.
If you or someone you love was hurt by a distracted driver in the Bolingbrook area, do not wait. Contact Briskman Briskman & Greenberg today for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
FAQs About Bolingbrook Distracted Driving Accidents
What counts as distracted driving under Illinois law?
Illinois law covers a broad range of behaviors. Under 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2, it is illegal to use any handheld electronic communication device while driving. This includes texting, calling, browsing the internet, using apps, and as of January 1, 2024, participating in video-conferencing or accessing social media. Beyond phone use, other distractions like eating, adjusting a GPS, or grooming can also support a negligence claim in a civil lawsuit, even if they do not result in a specific traffic citation.
How do I prove the other driver was distracted at the time of the crash?
Evidence in distracted driving cases can come from several sources. Police reports sometimes note suspected distraction. Eyewitnesses may have seen the driver looking at a phone. Cell phone records, obtained through the legal discovery process, can show whether the driver was actively using their device at the time of impact. Traffic cameras and nearby business surveillance footage can also be valuable. An attorney can help you gather and preserve this evidence quickly before it is lost or overwritten.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault for the crash?
Yes, in many cases you can. Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. You can still recover damages as long as your share of the fault is 50% or less. However, your total compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would recover $80,000. Insurance companies often try to inflate your share of the blame, which is why having legal representation matters.
How long do I have to file a distracted driving injury lawsuit in Illinois?
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, most personal injury claims in Illinois must be filed within two years of the date the injury occurred. If you miss this deadline, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, and you will lose your right to any compensation. There are limited exceptions, such as cases involving minors, but these are narrow. Do not assume you have more time than you do. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your crash to protect your rights.
What types of damages can I recover in a distracted driving accident case?
Illinois personal injury law allows you to seek compensation for a wide range of losses. These include past and future medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. In cases involving multiple at-fault parties, Illinois law under 735 ILCS 5/2-1117 may allow you to hold each party responsible for medical expenses jointly and severally. The full value of your claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the strength of the evidence, and how the case is presented.
More Resources About Vehicle Injuries
- Dangerous Roads & Intersections in Bolingbrook
- Bolingbrook Bicycle Accident Lawyer
- Bolingbrook Car Accident Lawyer
- Bolingbrook Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
- Bolingbrook Fatal Car Accident Lawyer
- Bolingbrook Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
- Bolingbrook Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
- Bolingbrook Truck Accident Attorney
- Bolingbrook Uber Accident Lawyer
- Bolingbrook Lyft Accident Lawyer
- Bolingbrook Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer
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