Frequently Asked Questions

Meet Andrew S. Kryder, Esq., the founding partner of The Kryder Law Group, LLC, Accident and Injury Lawyers. Andy brings decades of experience representing workers who suffered some of the most common workplace injuries in Chicago and across Illinois. Known for making complex legal issues understandable, Andy answers the question, "What are the main causes of workers' compensation accidents?" in...

Meet Andrew S. Kryder, Esq., a personal injury lawyer and the founding partner of The Kryder Law Group, LLC, Accident and Injury Lawyers. Andy brings decades of experience representing slip and fall accident victims whose slip and fall case was due to the negligence of a property owner in Chicago or across Illinois. As a slip and fall injury lawyer...

Meet Andrew S. Kryder, Esq., the founding partner of The Kryder Law Group, LLC, Accident and Injury Lawyers. Andy and his legal team have decades of experience representing motorcycle operators seriously injured in accidents in Chicago and across Illinois. Known for making complex legal issues understandable, Andy describes the major causes of motorcycle accidents in this video. The motorcycle injury...

Hear from personal injury attorney Andrew S. Kryder, Esq., founding partner of the car accident law firm, The Kryder Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers, "When we begin a case, many clients will ask, 'Do you have to go to court for a car accident?'... And the answer is, Maybe. We just don't know yet." Most car accident cases do...

It's not always necessary to appear in court after a truck accident involving you or your loved ones. Hear directly from Andrew S. Kryder, Esq. founding partner of the personal injury law firm The Kryder Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers who answers this question. "When we begin a case," Andy says, "many clients will ask, 'Do you have to...

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, you may be wondering “Do you have to go to court for a motorcycle accident?” Andrew S. Kryder, Esq. founding partner of The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers, addresses that question. "When we begin a case," Andy tells us, "Many clients will ask whether...

Meet Andrew S. Kryder, Esq., the founding partner of The Kryder Law Group, LLC, Accident and Injury Lawyers. Andy brings decades of experience representing car drivers seriously injured in commercial truck collisions in Chicago and across Illinois to clearly answer this question. Known for making complex legal issues understandable, Andy describes the major causes of truck accidents in this...

If you or a loved one have been injured in a hit and run, you might want to know, "How long do hit and run accident victims have to take legal action in Illinois?" There are two different answers to this question depending on whether you have a civil or criminal case: There is a statute of limitations of two...

If you were hurt in an accident caused by distracted driving, you may be wondering, "How does distracted driving cause accidents?" and if you can seek compensation for your injuries and losses. Distracted driving diverts attention from the road, delays reaction times, impairs judgment, and significantly increases collision risks. You can obtain compensation for a serious accident through a personal...

If you’ve been in an accident, you may find yourself wondering, "What is the difference between bodily injury and personal injury?" Personal injury refers to any injury that occurred in an accident, including physical, mental, or emotional damage, whereas bodily injury more specifically refers to physical injury to one’s own body. An experienced personal injury lawyer on our legal team...

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to the negligence of someone else, you may ask, "Do insurance companies pay for pain and suffering?" Yes, insurance settlements often include compensation for pain and suffering. Personal injury claims comprise both economic (e.g., lost wages and expenses for medical treatment) and harder-to-quantify non-economic damages like emotional...

You may want to know how many MPH can you go over the speed limit in Chicago and not be ticketed for speeding violations. There is a misconception that as long as drivers stay within five miles per hour (mph) of speed limits, they are within the law. This is not true. If you have been seriously injured by a...

You may wonder, "Is going 5 MPH over the speed limit legal?" Going any amount over the posted speed limit is illegal—even if it’s only 5 miles per hour (MPH). If you were injured by a motorist who was speeding, even if it was just by a small margin over the speed limit, you still have rights. Working with an...

Automobile accidents are unfortunately common occurrences, with the main causes of car accidents ranging from reckless and aggressive driving, to harsh weather conditions. When such accidents occur, victims need reliable legal representation to fight for their rights. The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers, have decades of experience handling cases related to car accidents caused by the negligence...

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how much pain and suffering damage is worth, as it can vary greatly from case to case. In Illinois, a personal injury lawyer, insurance company, or jury will consider many factors in the calculation of pain and suffering damages including the severity of injuries, impact on daily life, emotional distress, length of recovery, and...

If you or your loved ones suffered injuries from a house fire, the answer is yes, you should get a lawyer. House fires can become valid personal injury cases when negligence or wrongful actions lead to injuries or fatalities. The Chicago house fire lawyers at The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers are dedicated to helping victims of...

Insurance adjusters play a pivotal role in the insurance sector, evaluating claims, establishing the insurer's liability, and settling claims accordingly. They conduct investigations to determine fault, confirm the validity of claims, and compute fair payouts. Remember, an adjuster's allegiance is to the insurance company, not you. Irrespective of whether they represent your own insurance company or the other driver's, their...

A pre-settlement loan, also known as a lawsuit loan, litigation financing, pre-settlement funding, lawsuit funding, legal funding, or lawsuit loans, is a type of financial assistance provided to individuals who are involved in pending legal cases. Pre-settlement loans are not technically loans but rather a cash advance against the future settlement or verdict of a pending lawsuit. Getting pre-settlement lawsuit...

Medical malpractice lawsuits can vary significantly in their settlement amounts, depending on the nature and severity of the medical errors or medical negligence involved. Some of the highest payments are often seen in cases involving birth injuries, surgical errors, and medication errors. These cases typically involve severe and permanent damage or wrongful death leading to substantial compensation. At The Kryder...

According to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), the four types of workers' compensation benefits are: medical benefits, wage replacement benefits, vocational rehabilitation benefits, and other benefits, such as death benefits. Each type of benefit provides specific coverage and support to workers who have suffered workplace injuries or illnesses. We will discuss each type of workers' compensation benefit in more...

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Practitioner Data Bank, while the average settlement amount can vary greatly depending on the specifics of the case, over the 10 year period of 2013-2022, the average payout for medical malpractice in the United States was $342,307.97. Moreover, the average payout in Illinois is even higher. In Illinois,...

You do not have to hire a lawyer for a car accident settlement, but without a lawyer to negotiate on your behalf, you can miss out on compensation you deserve. It is possible to file an insurance claim and negotiate for a settlement on your own. You can also file a personal injury lawsuit without a personal injury lawyer. However,...

Whether or not you should sign an insurance company release is a complex question. By signing an insurance release of claims form, you are formalizing the settlement offer from the insurance company that will result in a payment to you within 30 days. When you sign, you also waive all future claims for that accident or injury. Your decision to...

When it comes to a personal injury case, witnesses with reliable testimony can be extremely important. Witnesses provide valuable information that can help build your case and ultimately lead to the best outcome possible. Both lay witnesses and expert witnesses play an integral role in helping you get the most out of your settlement with an insurance company. What Is...

If you have been the victim of a car accident, it is important to gather contact information of people who can be a credible witness and provide valuable information for the police report in their witness statement about the events that led up to and occurred during the accident. Credible Witness Criteria The most important criteria for determining whether someone...

Comparative fault, sometimes called comparative negligence or comparative responsibility, is a legal principle for personal injury claims that governs when a plaintiff is entitled to financial compensation despite sharing in the fault of an accident. Comparative fault rules are used in the vast majority of states, but there are different ways jurisdictions approach this principle. If you were injured in...

When you need to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer in Chicago, you may ask, "How much will a motorcycle lawyer cost?" The costs can vary quite a bit from case to case. In most cases, you won't need to pay anything up front. Your lawyer will take a percentage of your final compensatory award as their payment for services rendered....

If you have suffered an injury in a motorcycle accident, you may be wondering what is the average motorcycle accident settlement for these types of cases. The amount of your own injury settlement will depend on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, pain and suffering, the medical costs, the impact of your wreck on your day to day...

No, an unlicensed driver is not always at fault for a Chicago car accident. Unlicensed driving can be very dangerous and irresponsible but there are many factors that can contribute to an accident, and fault is not always clear-cut. However, if an unlicensed driver is involved in an accident, it may be more difficult to recover compensation from them. According...

Although you may not have been at fault when a traffic accident occurred, you should still consider getting a car accident lawyer, especially if you are looking to recover compensation from the at fault driver who caused the accident. Recovering compensation from the at-fault party or their insurer sounds like it would be straightforward. However, a personal injury lawyer can...

There is no magic number for the “right” truck accident settlement amount after an accident with a truck driver in Chicago. Rather, the amount you should settle for after a commercial vehicle accident depends on factors unique to your case, including your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. The right truck accident settlement will be completely...

Pain and suffering is separate from medical bills when it comes to compensation in a civil matter. Medical bills are objective evidence of the financial damages that have been incurred. They can be used to support a claim for reimbursement in a civil lawsuit. Pain and suffering is more subjective, and it can be more difficult to place a monetary...

Intentional or negligent acts by caregivers that result in harm to patients are considered patient abuse or elder abuse. If your loved one experienced elder abuse in a nursing home facility, a personal injury lawyer may be able to help you. Your loved one may be entitled to compensation. Patient abuse is especially upsetting due to the vulnerability of those...

How long does an insurance claim take? There is no single answer to the question: "how long does an insurance claim take after a car accident?" Each car accident settlement case is completely unique and depends on the circumstances of your specific crash. These circumstances can include the nature of the accident itself, the injuries you've sustained and your insurance...

When you've been seriously injured and are looking for a lawyer, you might see the slogan "we don't get paid until you do." But what does that really mean? How do personal injury contingency agreements work? These contingent fee agreements involve a lawyer taking your case in exchange for a percentage of any compensation they recover on your behalf. If they...

Coming up with an average payout for slip and fall cases is hard to do because the details of a fall and the severity of injuries sustained can vary greatly from case to case. When it comes to slip and fall personal injury cases, there is no one-size-fits-all answer for what the average payout is. Every case is unique, and...

If you have settled on compensation from an insurance company, you may want to know, "How long will it take to get my settlement check from a car accident?" All car accident cases are different and may include various circumstances that can affect how long it will take to receive your car accident settlement check. Depending on the complexity of...

Though you may wonder, “What is the average semi-truck accident settlement amount?” this question is not especially useful. You should instead ask, “What is the amount of my semi-truck accident settlement?” Every victim of a semi-truck accident has different losses, injuries, and prognoses. Rather than worrying about the value of other settlements, your lawyer will focus on your own losses....

If you want an advocate by your side who will protect your rights from the beginning, then you should call a lawyer after a car accident. When you make your initial call, you will first speak with a representative who will assess your case and determine if the firm is a fit for your legal needs. A lawyer works for...

A slip and fall is a personal injury that may entitle you to compensation if the property owner was negligent. You may be able to recover several types of damages, such as your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A slip and fall injury is a sudden shock that may require a long recovery. Your potential need for...

An uninsured driver is not automatically at fault in a traffic accident. According to the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI), fault in Illinois is determined based on something called comparative negligence. Basically, the driver whose negligence contributed the most to the accident will be held at fault for what happened, regardless of insurance status. Modified Comparative Negligence in Illinois Modified...

Truck accident claims can take longer to settle than those involving passenger vehicle accidents. This is primarily because the liability investigation is more complex, and victims’ damages tend to be more substantial. That being said, how long it will take for a truck accident claim to settle will depend on the specific details of your situation. You Must Establish Liability...

You prove wrongful death by introducing evidence that establishes each element of the civil tort of wrongful death. Even if the death happened because of someone’s criminal act, wrongful death is a civil lawsuit, so you have to establish all the factors for that cause of action. The Elements of Wrongful Death in Illinois The Illinois state legislature created the...

Research and statistics tell us a lot about how common nursing home abuse is. In the United States, approximately one-third of nursing homes had serious violations that might have or did lead to resident harm, according to National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) statistics. Of the 2,000 nursing home residents interviewed: 44% identified themselves as victims of abuse 95% identified...

Yes, in Illinois, you can settle a car accident without a lawyer. Before you decide to negotiate and settle your car accident claim on your own, though, ask yourself these questions: Does the at-fault driver have enough coverage to fully cover your losses? Does your own insurance policy offer any additional coverage? What if the at-fault driver is uninsured or...

When thinking about whose fault is a rear end collision, ultimately, the answer depends on what happened. Every rear end collision comes with its own set of circumstances. For instance, if you were rear-ended by a speeding driver, the fault for the accident would likely rest on them. However, suppose that you rear-ended another motorist who braked suddenly. In that...