At any given time on Illinois roads, there are a handful of emergency vehicles on their way to attend to a health emergency or a call from individuals who may have been the victim of a crime or an accident. Individuals working in this sector face numerous hurdles and for them, time is everything. To this end, they will do everything in their power to get to a location in a timely manner in order to administer life-saving emergency care. Emergency vehicles may be found zipping across the highway, with emergency lights as well as sirens blaring, or parked by the side of the road, attending to accident victims. A new law was recently updated making it illegal not to stop or yield to emergency vehicles after a Chicago Fire Department Lieutenant was killed after being struck by a drunk driver in 2000 on the expressway.
Are you looking for a personal injury attorney in Chicago who handles car accidents? Please call our law firm NOW at 1 (773) 825-3547 and benefit from our 20+ years helping people just like you get compensation for their injuries. We offer a free initial telephone consultation and answer all your basic questions so you can get a feel of what to expect as well as what your case is worth depending on the circumstances. Call 1 (773) 825-3547 NOW to speak with a friendly Chicago car crash attorney to learn more about your legal options for compensation.
More on Scott’s Law in Illinois
The death of Lieutenant Scot Gillen brought to the foreground the risks of working in this field of work as well as the high speed traffic one may experience or encounter on the many busy highways in Illinois. Last year, Scott’s Law got a much-needed update to reflect the advancements in the law as far as liability for accidents on our roads is concerned.
According to Scott’s Law, or Move Over Law as it is commonly known, Illinois drivers are required to change lanes when approaching emergency vehicles or the police while on the interstate. Failure to change lanes or yield attracts heavy fines that may start at $10,000 as well as the suspension of one’s license, and even jail time if the actions of the driver are found to be particularly egregious.
Scott’s Law 2017 Gets an Update
Scott’s Law is found in Chapter 625 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes and it requires that drivers approaching authorized emergency vehicles whose lights are flashing amber or yellow, or red and blue to proceed with caution and yield right of way, all the while taking into consideration traffic conditions. The law also goes on to state that motorists should reduce their vehicle speed as well as maintain a safe speed if changing lanes may not be feasible. The 2017 update has included ALL vehicles displaying emergency lights, and not only those that belong to emergency response installations.
Illinois Move Over Law Injuries – We Can Help!
Were you hurt by the actions of an Illinois driver who failed to take into account Scott’s law in 2017 or 2018? If so, please give us a call NOW at 1 (773) 825-3547 so we can determine the value of your claim. Thanks, and we look forward to hearing from you.