Getting caught driving recklessly or negligently in Chicago can cost you more than just a traffic ticket. Depending on the severity of the offense, you could face prison sentences, heavy fines and loss of your driver’s license.
Whether the crime was minor or serious, an experienced attorney can help you avoid penalties. This article will discuss some of the most common traffic-related cases in Chicago.
Hit-and-run accidents
When a driver causes an accident and then flees the scene of the crash, they break the law. In Illinois, all drivers are required to stop after an accident and provide information to the police. Failing to do so can result in serious penalties, including a felony.
Fortunately, hit-and-run drivers often leave behind evidence that can lead to their arrest. Eyewitnesses may notice paint scrapings or other damage to the vehicle or license plate. Also, business owners may have surveillance cameras in parking lots or outside their buildings. These tapes may reveal the vehicle or even the driver who fled the scene of the crash.
A Chicago hit-and-run accident lawyer can help victims find the perpetrator and recover adequate compensation for their injuries and losses. Victims can typically recover their medical bills, lost income, home nursing care, and pain and suffering from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. An experienced Chicago hit-and-run lawyer can investigate the case, interpret police reports, and negotiate with the insurance company.
Reckless driving
Reckless driving is a serious traffic offense and carries potential jail time, hefty fines, and a permanent mark on your record. A Chicago reckless driving attorney can help you defend against these charges or work with the State’s Attorney to get your case expunged.
Reckless driving involves flagrantly disregarding the safety of other drivers and passengers on public roads. It can be a Class A misdemeanor or elevated to a felony if you cause great bodily harm, permanent disability, disfigurement, or kill another person. It is especially serious if the reckless driving injures a child or school crossing guard while they are performing their official duties, as this could be considered aggravated reckless driving and carry a prison sentence of up to three years and a fine of up to $25,000. Police officers can also issue a ticket for reckless driving when you change lanes too quickly, pass slower cars, or otherwise fail to consider other drivers’ safety.
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence is a serious offense that can cause severe consequences for your life, especially if you are a commercial driver or rely on your vehicle to get to work. Fortunately, an experienced Chicago DUI defense attorney can help you build a strong defense against these charges. He can challenge the initial stop by the police, question the administration of the breathalyzer test, and review the calibration of any other evidence.
Even the safest drivers can find themselves in a car accident, and traffic crashes often occur due to the congestion of urban roadways, winter weather that brings ice and snow, and roadways in need of repair. The city of Chicago is no stranger to this, and the Magnificent Mile has one of the highest rates of crash-related deaths among major neighborhoods.
A first-time DUI is a Class A misdemeanor and carries penalties that include up to a year in jail, fines, and community service. A second offense increases the penalties to a mandatory minimum five days of imprisonment and 240 hours of community service. A third conviction increases the penalties to a felony and can lead to a prison sentence of 1-12 years for causing one fatality or 6 – 28 years for multiple deaths.
Driving without a license
If you are caught driving in Illinois without a license, you may face stiff penalties. A conviction of this offense can result in jail time and significant fines, and it can also prevent you from obtaining a license for a period of time.
Many drivers choose to pay their citations rather than fight them in court, but this is an admission of guilt. A skilled Chicago criminal traffic defense lawyer can help you assert your best legal defenses and obtain a not guilty verdict, or work out a more acceptable plea deal if you are convicted.
Some traffic violations are petty offenses and punishable by a fine, while others are business offenses or misdemeanors that carry more serious penalties. If your traffic violation results in a death, it is often considered a felony and heard in criminal court. Those who are caught driving without a license may be subject to a jail sentence and have their vehicle confiscated.