How long do you have to report a hit and run in Illinois by a Chicago car accident attorney?
On August 17, 2023, at around 8:00 PM, a hit-and-run accident occurred in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago.
According to witnesses, a driver of a black SUV ran a red light and struck a pedestrian crossing the street at the intersection of Madison and Halsted. The driver then fled the scene without stopping to share their personal information.
Assume the above scenario just happen to you. What would you do? According to Illinois accident laws, you must report the crash to the police. How would you proceed to report the crash?
Alright, To report a hit and run in Chicago, file a Desk Report in person or call 311 if you know the perpetrator. Contact the Illinois State Police if no officer appears on the scene.
Recommended reading: How long after a hit and run accident can you be charged?
But is that all that is required? how exactly should execute reporting the auto accident to the police? Do you really need to speak to a car accident attorney before police? Here we go, guys!
Page Contents
What is a hit and run accident?
According to Illinois statute, drivers that are party to the accident are required by law to stop at the scene of an accident.
You must stop at the scene and exchange personal information with others, report the accident to traffic authorities, and or render help to the injured.
Failure to do the above-mentioned implies you committed a hit-and-run by leaving the scene of an accident.
What are the common causes of hit and run accidents in Chicago?
According to statistics, the USA yearly experiences at least 700,000 hit and run accidents. From other reliable sources, there were more than 37,226 hit-and-run accidents in Chicago in the year 2021.
Well, I don’t know the credibility of this data, but it’s estimated that there are an average of 100 hit-and-run accidents in Chicago daily.
The commonest types of car accidents in Chicago, and Illinois at large include rear-ended collisions, single-vehicle crashes, T-bone accidents, and sideswipes.
In Chicago, Illinois, the following are the commonest causes of hit and run accidents:
1. Drink driving. From current studies, it’s estimated that around 28 people die every day due to alcohol-related auto accidents.
According to the national highway traffic safety administration, the fear of criminal charges on top of causing a collision is the most reason why people decide to flee the scene of an accident.
2. Distracted driving. A recent study done by zendrive found that drivers spend at least 3.5 minutes on phones every hour while driving.
From other sources I visited, studies have confirmed that spending even 2 seconds on your phone increases your likelihood of getting involved in a car crash by 20%.
3. Reckless driving. This includes things like overspeeding, aggressive driving, and failure to respect traffic signs.
4. Innexperienced driving. These drivers are more likely to cause accidents and out of fear will flee the scene of an accident in Chicago, Illinois.
5. Fear of consequences. A driver that has pending criminal cases or immigration issues won’t stop at the scene of an accident for fear of aggravated consequences.
To sum it up, Common causes of hit and run accidents in Chicago include distracted, reckless, inexperienced, and impaired driving, as well as fear of consequences.
What information should I provide when reporting a hit and run in Chicago?
Remember, you will be reporting a hit and run accident to both the police officers and or your insurance company.
In an accident, inviting the police can help assess injuries, gather information, determine fault, create an official record, and comply with legal requirements.
But, do not just sit and rely on what police will compile from the scene of an accident. Please, go on and collect as much information from the scene as possible.
If you are reporting a hit and run in Chicago, you should follow these steps:
1. Call 911. Calling 911 not only reports the accident but also invites medical emergency services to the scene of an accident. You will have ‘killed 2 birds with the same stone”.
2. Do not follow the offending vehicle. This will stop you from reporting the hit and run accident and at the same time puts you at risk of getting involved in additional traffic accidents.
3. Gather information. Instead of chasing the hit and run car, stop right at the scene of the crash and gather information such as license plate number, make and model of the vehicle, and any other identifying features.
4. File a police report. You must file a car accident report as soon as possible or within the first 10 days. If a police officer does not show up at the scene, walk to any Illinois State Police station and file a report.
Alternatively, you could file a Desk Report in person if you were involved in an accident on a freeway in the Chicago metro area (Cook County).
5. Provide as much information as possible. While reporting the hit and run accident in Chicago, endeavor to give as much information as possible to the police.
However, take note of what you say in the absence of an accident attorney, especially if you are the at-fault driver.
In short, want to learn how to report a hit and run in Chicago: call 911, provide detailed information, and file a police report within 10 days.
How long does it take to get a copy of a police report in Chicago?
How long it takes to get a copy of the police report in Chicago depends on various factors like the complexity of the accident, the effectiveness of the police that responded, and the investigation processes.
Remember your options for submitting a police report in Chicago include; by mail, in person, and online. All these will affect how long you will receive the copy of the police report In Chicago, Illinois.
In short, To get a copy of a police report, you need to submit a request in person, online, or by mail. The processing time varies, but it usually takes about a week to receive the report.
How long do I have to report a hit and run accident in Chicago?
You could be charged with a hit-and-run felony or misdemeanor just because you failed to report the car accident to the authorities.
In Chicago, if you are involved in a hit and run accident, there are certain reporting requirements that you need to be aware of. Here is the information regarding reporting a hit and run accident in Chicago:
1. Illinois accident laws. According to these laws, you must stop at the scene of an accident and do as I already explained in previous sections of this article. You do not want to face charges just because you did not report the crash, do you?
2. Reporting deadlines. According to Illinois law, you must report any accident that involved injuries, deaths, and property damages that exceed $1,500. The report must be filed within 10 days.
3. Reporting process. The report is compiled at the scene by the responding officer. Alternatively, you can complete the form online or by mail as indicated on the form.
4. Criminal charges. In Illinois and Chicago, there is no statute of limitations for charging hit and run criminals. Your file will stay open, more especially if you committed a hit-and-run felony. You could still be prosecuted for up to 3 years.
5. Civil lawsuits. If you are the victim of a hit and run, you will have up to 2 years to file a civil claim/lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
To summarize the above, To file a police report after a car accident in Chicago, you must submit a written report within 10 days of the accident.
What are the consequences of a hit and run in Chicago?
The consequences of leaving the scene of an accident can be severe in Chicago. Consequences will depend on the circumstances of the crash and the damages/injuries.
Below are some of the consequences of hit and run Chicago:
1. Imprisonment. Depending on whether you committed a misdemeanor or felony, you could be sentenced to 1-3 years in prison, or up to 14 years in prison.
2. Fines. The fine for a misdemeanor is up to $2,500 whereas it could be as much as $25,000 for a hit-and-run felony.
3. License revocation. Yes, you risk having your driving rights suspended and or revoked.
4. Criminal charges. The penalties for hit and run in Chicago range from a class A misdemeanor to a class 2 felony.
5. Civil lawsuits. The victims of hit and run accidents could file civil claims to recover damages for the injuries and or property damages suffered due to your negligence.
To sum it up, Hit and run accidents in Chicago can result in imprisonment, fines, license revocation, criminal charges, and civil lawsuits. I advise you to seek legal advice if involved.
How to find a lawyer for a hit and run accident case in Chicago?
If you are looking for a lawyer for a hit and run accident case in Chicago, there are several options available to you. Here are some steps you can take to find a lawyer:
1. Seek referrals. Ask family and friends if they know any attorney in Chicago that handles hit-and-run accident cases.
2. Search online. To find a good hit-and-run accident attorney in Chicago, just use Google. Using keywords like “Chicago hit and run accident lawyer” or “car accident attorneys Chicago” will return valuable data for you.
3. Explore lawyer directories. Websites like Avvo, FindLaw, and Justia have good information about lawyers in Chicago, Illinois that specializes in various areas including personal injuries.
4. Read reviews. Once you have narrowed down to potential choices, read reviews to know past client experiences working with the said hit-and-run lawyers.
5. Contact the lawyer. You have done the search, and read the past clients’ reviews. Now call and schedule a consultation session with your chosen legal officer.
In case you need my recommendation, here we go. The Kryder Law Group in Chicago offers free consultations for hit and run accident cases, providing assistance with investigations and interpreting police reports
Conclusion.
According to Illinois accident laws, drivers must stop at the scene of an accident and fulfill their legal obligations.
These legal obligations include exchanging personal and car information, reporting the accident, and rendering help to injured victims.
If you need to report a hit and run accident in Chicago, call the police and document the accident. Contact an attorney and report the accident to your insurance company.
Sources.
1. Illinois Car Accident Law. https://www.hg.org/car-accident-law-illinois.asp
2. What Are the Illinois Car Accident Laws? https://www.coplancrane.com/posts/what-to-know-about-illinois-car-accident-laws/
3. Online Crime Reporting | Chicago Police Department. https://home.chicagopolice.org/services/online-crime-reporting/