While recreational vehicles can be much more dangerous than automobiles, many people are surprised by the number of accidents these vehicles cause. Thousands of people are injured or killed each year in accidents involving ATVs, snow-mobiles, jet-skis, boats, RVs, and dirt bikes. Because many of these injuries occur in wilderness areas, some people are led to believe that it is difficult to receive compensation for these injuries. However, as experienced Illinois recreational injury lawyers have seen, victims of recreational vehicle accidents are entitled to fair compensation just as much as victims of negligent driving accidents.
Recreational Vehicle Lawsuits
Individuals who have been injured in recreational vehicle accidents can consult with an Illinois recreational vehicle accident attorney about filing a lawsuit. While recreational vehicle lawsuits share many similarities with car collision lawsuits, there are a number of significant differences. Most importantly, most recreational vehicle accidents occur outside the scope of common traffic laws. For example, few ATV collisions occur because one driver runs a red light. Accordingly, a recreational vehicle lawyer must have a thorough understanding of common law negligence and theories such as negligent supervision and negligent entrustment. In general, for a plaintiff in a recreational vehicle lawsuit to suceed, he or she must demonstrate that the defendant violated a duty of care and injured the plaintiff, by failing to take reasonable care. Some actions, such as driving while intoxicated or allowing an untrained minor to operate the vehicle, are widely considered to be unreasonable.
Contacting a Chicago Recreational Vehicle Lawyer
In Illinois, a recreational vehicle accident lawsuit generally must be brought within two years of the accident. Victims of recreational vehicle accidents should contact a Chicago Recreational vehicle attorney as soon as possible. This is particularly true if the victim has been contacted by an insurance company or the one who caused the accident to talk about a settlement. Any statements made after the accident could be used to limit or even deny compensation for the victim. A recreational vehicle injury lawyer can collect evidence and contact technical and forensic experts to determine the true cause of the accident and the extent of the victim’s injuries. This information is crucial for negotiating with an insurance company and deciding to file a lawsuit.
A victim of a recreational vehicle accident is entitled to fair and just compensation, which may include: medical expenses, lost wages, physical and emotional pain and suffering, and possibly punitive damages particularly egregious misconduct.
Contact the Chicago Recreational Injury Attorneys at Dolan Law Offices
The recreational injury lawyers at Dolan Law Offices represent injured victims throughout Illinois and the greater Chicagoland area, including Aurora, Addison, Chicago Heights, Joliet, Hillsdale, Plainfield, Rolling Meadows, Des Plaines, Schaumburg, Palatine, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Hanover Park, Streamwood, Prospect Heights, Wheeling, Wheaton, Waukegan, Inverness, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Elgin, Bartlett, Itasca, Bloomingdale, Wooddale, Cook County, DuPage County, Lake County, McHenry County, and Will County.
If you have been injured in a recreational vehicle accident contact the Chicago recreational vehicle accident lawyers at Dolan Law Offices online or at 312-676-7600.
