A traffic citation can damage more than just your driving record.
Driver Defense Team’s Illinois car accident lawyers have your back
Getting into a car accident is stressful enough, even if you walk away without a scratch. It’s even worse if you have painful injuries or big repair bills. Whatever the case, the police can give you a ticket — even if you’re innocent in the crash.
If you’ve got a ticket after a car accident in Illinois, you don’t just need to accept it. Driver Defense Team is the best-rated DUI and traffic ticket firm in Illinois.
Traffic tickets are all we do, so we know how to get the best outcome, however your accident happened.
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What are the most common citations issued after Illinois car accidents?
Law enforcement can pull you up on practically any driver violation. The most common traffic citations issued after car accidents in Illinois include the following:
Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident
Failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident is by far the most common ticket issued after a car accident. When the police issue this ticket, the first thing you might think is, “But I wasn’t speeding!” You could be below the speed limit or barely rolling along the road.
Law enforcement will usually argue that you committed the violation by the simple fact you were in the accident. Failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident is a traffic ticket — not a criminal offense — but a conviction on your record can cause your insurance premiums to increase and add points to your record.
Improper Lane Usage
If you drift out of your lane, are weaving, or make an unsafe lane change that leads to an accident, you’ll likely face this citation. This moving violation will add 20 points to your record if you plead or are found guilty.
Failure to Yield
Most are traffic violations resulting in fines and points on your record, but the consequences are more severe if you violate Scott’s Law (failure to yield to an emergency vehicle).
Disobeying Traffic Control Device
If you run a red light or stop sign and are in an accident, you’ll usually get this citation. On top of a fine, you’ll get 20 points on your license for this charge.
Following Too Closely
If you’re in a rear-end collision, the police will usually issue a citation for following too closely. A tailgating conviction will net you 25 points on your driving record.
Reckless Driving
This is the most serious traffic citation commonly issued after car accidents. Reckless driving is a Class A misdemeanor — you face up to $2,500 in fines and up to a year in jail. 55 points on your record.
Speeding
Driving 1-25 mph over the limit is a petty speeding offense, resulting in fines and between 5 and 20 points on your driving record. Driving over 25 mph (aggravated speeding) is a misdemeanor offense.
Should I just pay the fine?
If you get a ticket after an accident, you might be tempted to pay it off so you can put the accident behind you, especially if it’s a minor fine. But by paying the ticket, you admit guilt, and that can come back to bite you later.
All of these common car accident citations add points to your record. If you’re over 21 and you get three moving violations within 12 months, the Illinois Secretary of State will suspend your license.
Traffic accident citations and personal injury claims
When someone is injured in a car accident or their vehicle is badly damaged and will cost more than $1,500 to repair, the crash must be reported to the police. But injury victims are also entitled to recover their costs (called damages) from the person responsible, and it will only be easier for them to make their case if you quickly paid your ticket.
And, because accident victims have two years from an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, you could find yourself staring down a potential lawsuit long after your conviction.
