Center Line Accidents

Accidents in which a driver crosses over the center line are likely to be catastrophic because they result in head-on collisions. If you or a relative has been injured or killed as a result of a careless driver who caused a center line accident, you need to reach out to a Wheaton or Schaumburg car accident attorney who can help. At Therman Law Offices, our firm has considerable experience negotiating with insurers and taking cases to trial when necessary. Time is of the essence in these cases, so it is important to act as quickly as possible.

Understanding Your Options After a Center Line Accident

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s data, about 37,000 people died on U.S. roads in 2016, an increase of 5.6 percent from the previous year of 2015. Drivers are expected to stay in their own lanes when using the road. Crossing over into another lane can cause serious accidents, especially when a driver crosses a double yellow line into oncoming traffic. The other drivers in these accidents often have little or no time to react. When center line accidents happen at high speeds, they can result in fatal head-on collisions. Some common reasons for drivers to veer from their lanes into other lanes include:

• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
• Distracted driving;
• Reaching for items in the car;
• Eating and driving; or
• Drowsy driving.

If a driver departs from their lane, the driver will typically be considered liable for any accident that results from this action. These cases are typically rooted in the legal theory of negligence. Drivers are legally required to use a certain “duty of care” by operating their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner. This includes refraining from dangerous activities behind the wheel that endanger others on the road.

Thus, negligence occurs when a driver causes an accident or injuries by failing to use the appropriate standard of care while driving. The duty of care is defined as how a prudent person would have acted in the same or similar circumstances. In order to win on a negligence claim, the plaintiff’s lawyer must prove that the plaintiff was owed a duty of care by the defendant, the duty of care owed to the plaintiff was violated when the defendant crossed over the center line, and the defendant’s center line violation was a direct cause of the accident and injuries.

If negligence is established, your attorney can assist you in proving the damages that would be appropriate in your case. A serious center line accident not only is physically traumatic but also can have significant consequences for the spouse of the victim. Compensation may include medical bills, lost wages, funeral costs, future medical care, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, loss of companionship, and more. The exact dollar amount will depend on the circumstances of the case.

In tragic situations in which a person is killed in a center line accident, their family has the right to sue for wrongful death. Family members in these cases sue on behalf of their deceased loved one, essentially taking their place in the case and seeking the damages that would have been available to the decedent. The surviving family members may also be able to seek damages on their own behalf, such as burial and funeral costs and loss of consortium, companionship, and guidance.

Retain an Attorney in Wheaton or Schaumburg to Investigate Your Case

When a distracted, intoxicated, or otherwise reckless driver veers across a center line, the results can be deadly. If you or someone close to you has been injured in a center line accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At Therman Law Offices, our car accident attorneys can examine the facts of your case and help you determine your next steps. We proudly serve clients in cities such as Wheaton, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Streamwood, Elgin, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Bensenville, Wood Dale, Bloomingdale, and Roselle. For a free consultation, call us at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.