Auto Accident Injury in Chicago, IL

Have you suffered an injury due to a car accident in Chicago? If so, your life may never be the same again. Injuries from a car accident can interfere with your ability both to work and to enjoy everyday activities. They can also be incredibly painful. As such, you need an auto accident attorney who understands the laws in and around Chicago, IL that will fight for your legal rights and help you receive the financial compensation you deserve.

Auto Accident Injury Statistics in Chicago, Illinois

According to the National Safety Council, in 2019 about 4.4 million people suffered serious injuries in motor vehicle accidents and an estimated 38,000 were killed. In Illinois, 11,345 people suffered serious injuries in year-2018 crashes. The Chicago Tribune notes that in the initial 10 months of 2019, Chicago saw traffic fatalities drop to 77 deaths. During the same period in 2017, the city saw approximately 100 traffic fatalities.

Chicago could owe the reduction in fatalities to its Vision Zero plan, which aims to wipe out severe injuries and traffic fatalities by 2026 and reduce roadway accidents. The city used crash data to pinpoint areas and corridors with high accident rates, which helped cultivate Vision Zero. While educating the city’s public, boosting public transportation use in high-crash locations, and changing the design of streets to make them safer aims to reduce traffic fatalities, drivers still operate motor vehicles while distracted, and the city has a culture that highly values driving a car.

What to Do After an Auto Accident

It’s important to be prepared in the event you are a victim of a car accident. Below are the steps to remember immediately after your crash.

Receive Immediate Medical Attention

What is the most important step that you need to take after an auto accident? You need to receive immediate and proper medical treatment. You may believe that the injuries sustained after an auto accident are minor. Proper medical treatment helps ensure that you have not sustained any internal injuries that you may not be aware of.

File a Police Report

Even if no one sustained injuries, you still need to call 911 and request law enforcement assistance. When officers arrive, jot down each one’s name and badge number. Answer their questions honestly, but don’t volunteer any unasked-for information, especially your thoughts on exactly what happened or who caused the car accident. Be sure to ask the officers for the number of their police report.

The Chicago Police Department keeps traffic crash reports for the last seven years online. Each report costs $6, which includes a $1 convenience fee and a $5 service fee.  

Gather the Appropriate Documentation

While waiting for officers to arrive after a car accident, collect information from all other drivers involved in the accident, including the following:

  • Full name, address, phone number, and email address
  • Driver’s license state and number
  • Auto insurance company name, policy number, and phone number

Use your cell phone to take pictures of each driver’s license, auto insurance card, your vehicle, and each additional vehicle involved in the car accident. Don’t rely on verbal communication. Having as much information as possible will only help you and your case later on. Try to keep this exchange as civil and friendly as possible. However, do not apologize for causing the accident or indicate in any way that you think you may have caused it. 

Recovering Damages After an Auto Accident Injury

After surviving a car accident, the emotional and economic toll it takes can be staggering. You are not only dealing with the mental anguish that comes with being involved in a crash, but you may also be experiencing severe physical harm as well.

Common injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents include:

  • Burn injuries
  • Back and neck injuries, such as whiplash
  • Brain and head injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Spinal injuries
  • Soft tissue injuries

In 2018, the cost of traffic deaths for motor vehicle accidents in Illinois was approximately $1.18 billion. One study estimates that when car crash injuries and property damage are included, the total cost of Illinois car crashes reaches $3.8 billion, every year.

Hiring a car accident lawyer ensures you have the financial ability to cover any losses that have occurred as a result of a crash. An auto accident attorney will also help you handle the paperwork that you will have to complete from insurance companies. This boosts your odds of receiving the insurance compensation you deserve.

Auto Accident Laws in Illinois

Liability Laws for Chicago

When car accidents happen, it is essential to determine who bears responsibility for the resulting damage and medical bills. Determining fault impacts everything from your insurance claim and level of liability to the amount of confusion you may endure during the claims process. In fact, like most states, Illinois uses a fault-based car insurance system. This holds the at-fault driver liable for damages.

Illinois is a modified comparative negligence state. That means that injured parties found to bear more than 50% of the fault for the incident cannot recover damages. That is, unless the defendant acted in a “willful and wanton” manner. Local lawyers understand insurance companies for this area.

Statute of Limitations in Chicago

Each state has its own tort laws that determine the statute of limitations on a claim. In some states, this gives you just one year to file a claim in court, while some others may give you up to six years. The statute of limitations for a motor vehicle accident in Illinois is two years from the date of the incident.   

This is why it is important to consult with an attorney immediately after your car crash. Don’t wait and risk losing out on any compensation they can recover.

Work With an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer Near Chicago, IL

After a car accident, you have enough to worry about. We can help you find an auto accident attorney for your unique case. Get the financial restitution that you deserve if you’re the victim of someone else’s conduct.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in Illinois!

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