When a personal injury case goes to trial, a jury verdict will often return a certain amount of money awarded to the plaintiff. In general, both parties in the case, the plaintiff and the defendant, have the ability to appeal the decision that the jury makes if they disagree with it. There are times, however, when the jury returns an award that is excessively low or excessively high. In these cases, additur and remittitur could be used, in lieu of an appeal, to increase or decrease the total damages awarded. Here, we want to discuss these two terms and how they are used in personal injury cases.

What is Additur?

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Negligent driver behaviors such as speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving rank among top causes of car accidents in Illinois.

Each year, car accidents upend the lives of thousands of people in Illinois. Just in 2014, over 296,000 crashes occurred throughout the state, leading to 84,652 injuries and 924 deaths, as the Illinois Department of Transportation reports. Sadly, local data shows that a large proportion of these accidents involve unnecessary and reckless behaviors on the part of at least one of the involved motorists.

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Drowsy driving is a problem that affects most people at some point during their lives. Driving while sleep-deprived can be as dangerous as drunk driving.

As fall transitions into winter and the holidays are approaching, a great deal of attention is being placed on the dangers of drunk and distracted driving. Many drivers in Illinois and elsewhere might get behind the wheel after celebrating a little too much at a holiday party, or they could take out their cellphone to make a quick text to let relatives know when they will be over for Thanksgiving dinner. The most visible safety issues, however, do not make another common hazard any less dangerous.

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Some of the most serious and common car accident injuries include soft tissue trauma, psychological injuries and damage to the spine or brain.

Car accidents represent an incredibly common cause of injuries in Chicago and other parts of Illinois. Per the Illinois Department of Transportation, in 2014, over one-fifth of all car crashes reported in the state led to injuries, and over 82,000 injuries were recorded in total. Sadly, in many cases, the victims of these accidents may be left facing life-changing and debilitating physical or psychological ailments.

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The popular app Pokemon Go is getting people out of the house and exercising. However, distraction may be a dangerous issue involving the game.

The latest gaming craze among kids and adults alike, Pokemon Go, has millions of people across the country getting off the couch and out in the fresh air. After downloading the smartphone app, many people in Chicago and elsewhere have walked miles in search of the virtual monsters. The app has been applauded for inspiring people to get outside and move, but is also a source of concern when it comes to dangerous distractions. If fans of the game are not careful how they play or use the app incorrectly, it can lead to injuries, including those caused by distracted driving.

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Children are particularly in danger walking to school. During the National Safety Council’s Back to School month, drivers are reminded to be careful.

During the summer, many children can be seen on Chicago streets walking or riding their bikes to and from their friends’ houses, playgrounds or around their own neighborhoods. Soon enough, they will start school again, and drivers will encounter children walking in the early mornings and afternoons as they head to and from school. It can be easy to miss a child around all of the other traffic distractions and hazards, which is why the National Safety Council has designated August as Back to School Month. This is to draw attention to the dangers that young pedestrians face, and to get drivers accustomed once again to the idea of paying attention to school zones and buses.

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The number of fatal pedestrian accidents in Illinois and across the country is increasing, according to recent reports.

In a collision between a vehicle and a person, it goes without saying that the individual will bear the brunt of the impact. In Illinois and across the country, these pedestrian accidents happen at an alarming rate.

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Alcohol-related accidents are all too common, but people may avoid being involved in them by spotting and avoiding drunk drivers on the road.

Drunk driving accidents are all too common in Illinois, and frequently result in serious injuries or death for those involved. In fact, the state’s Department of Transportation reported alcohol played a part in 33.2 percent of the fatal collisions that occurred across Illinois in 2013. While people may help protect themselves from such crashes by not drinking and driving, they cannot guarantee that others have done the same. However, there are things that motorists can do to avoid drunk driving accidents.

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Illinois uses a modified comparative negligence model, which means an injured party’s award could be reduced if he or she is to blame for a car wreck.

In September 2015, the daughter of actor Paul Walker filed a lawsuit against Porsche for an accident that killed her father in 2013. According to Fox59, the wrongful death claim alleges that the car had design flaws that caused the wreck. However, Porsche states that Walker’s accident was the result of his comparative fault, stating that the vehicle had been altered and that Walker knew the risks of his behavior.

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People often take selfies while driving, but engaging in this distracting behavior may lead to auto accidents, which may cause serious injuries or death.

The popularity of self-portraits, also known as selfies, is ever-growing in Illinois, and elsewhere. People regularly take these types of photos at all times and in all types of places. In fact, CBS Interactive Inc. reported that 17 percent of the respondents in one survey admitted to taking photos, including selfies, while behind the wheel. A potentially dangerous distraction, this can result in collisions, which may cause serious injuries or death for those involved.

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