What to Do After a Car Accident in Illinois

After a car accident in Illinois, you should consider following these steps:

• Pulling over to the side of the road and calling for help
• Exchanging contact information and gathering evidence
• Getting medical attention
• Contacting your insurance company
• Filing a car accident claim and/or lawsuit

How you act following a crash can impact how much compensation you can recover.

How to Act Following an Illinois Car Accident

If you were in a car accident in Illinois, you may want to take these precautions to help ensure your safety and right to financial recovery.

Pull Over to the Side of Road, and Call Law Enforcement

Right after a car accident, pull over to the shoulder of the road and make sure everyone in your car is alright. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), all drivers must stop at the scene of an accident.

After that, contact 911. Tell the dispatcher what happened and give them your location. If anyone has been injured, ask them to send an ambulance.

You must report the accident if someone suffered physical injuries or the involved vehicles sustained damages worth more than $1,500.

Exchange Contact Information, and Gather Evidence

Processing claims for car accident injuries in Illinois requires providing enough evidence, so document the scene as much as you can. If the accident involved other drivers, ask for their name, contact and insurance information, and vehicle registration number. If there are any witnesses, request their contact details.

It would also benefit you to take photos of the damages to all vehicles and your injuries sustained before and after receiving medical attention.

Get Medical Attention

Car accident victims can sustain various injuries. Some of which may be:

• Broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries (SCI)
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries
• Cuts and bruises
• Burns
• Internal bleeding

You should get immediate medical attention following the crash. That way, a doctor can detect injuries that may not show symptoms. Seeking prompt medical help also prevents complications that may occur due to untreated wounds.

After receiving treatment, get receipts for all accident-related expenses. You can also request copies of records indicating all the medication provided. Having such information will help you support your case when claiming compensation from the liable party.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Most insurance companies have a specified duration for their clients to contact them after a car accident. Failing to abide by your contract can lead to losing rights for claiming compensation.

The best way to avoid such problems is by contacting your insurance company immediately after a crash. Provide details like when and where the accident happened, who was involved, and the damages sustained.

Once you provide your insurer with details about the crash, they may advise you on the steps you can take when claiming compensation for damages.

Filing an Insurance Claim or Personal Injury Lawsuit

You can file a claim for damages after an Illinois car accident. However, you must gather solid evidence to prove the liable party’s negligence. Common types of evidence in car accident cases include:

• Police reports
• Surveillance footage of the accident
• Statements from an accident reconstruction analyst
• Drug tests results
• Witness testimonies
• Relevant photographs
• Traffic citations

After determining who caused the accident and how it happened, you can start evaluating your damages. You may qualify to recover:

• Pain and suffering
• Past and future medical bills
• Wage losses
• Diminished earning potential
• Car repair costs
• Mental anguish
• Disfigurement
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of consortium

If you decide to file a lawsuit for compensation, you must comply with Illinois’ deadlines. According to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, those bringing a personal injury lawsuit are generally given two years to file. If you lost your loved one to the crash and wish to file a wrongful death lawsuit, 740 ILCS 180/2 typically enforces a two-year time limit. Adhering to your timeline is crucial to your right to securing compensation.

Reach Out to The Kryder Law Group, LLC After an Illinois Car Accident

If you do not know what to do after a car accident in Illinois, you may want to consider hiring a car accident lawyer with our firm. At The Kryder Law Group, LLC, we have a team of attorneys who can help you determine the measures you should take after suffering damages in a crash.

They will help you collect evidence, assign a value to your damages, and negotiate a fair settlement. Call The Kryder Law Group, LLC today at (312) 223-1700 to start a free case consultation and get legal guidance after an Illinois car accident. We offer our help on a contingency-fee basis, so you won’t pay any fees unless we settle or win your case.