Frequently Asked Questions

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...

All personal injury and car accident cases are different and include varying circumstances that can affect how long it takes to get a settlement check. In some cases, you may see a settlement check arrive in a matter of weeks, but that is not always the case for car accident personal injury cases. Car accident cases can be complicated when...

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 Much Can You Go Over the Speed Limit? There is a misconception that as long as people stay within five miles per hour (mph) over the speed limit, they are within the law, but this is not true. Chicago drivers cannot go any mph over the posted limit and must obey speed limits at all times or they may...

Going any amount over the speed limit is illegal—even if it’s only 5 miles per hour (MPH). You have legal rights if you were injured by a speeding motorist—even if they were only exceeding the speed limit by a small amount. If you were injured by a driver who was exceeding the speed limit, even if they just went 5...

Car accidents can be very stressful and even tragic events. Whether you're the victim or the other driver, you may wonder (even while still at the accident scene) "do you have to go to court for a car accident?" In most car accident cases, you will not have to go to court for a car accident. Most car accident claims...

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 body. Knowing the difference between bodily injury and personal injury could...

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the main causes of car accidents include vehicle, driver, environmental and unknown factors. Drivers account for about 94 percent of traffic accidents. The NHTSA’s Crash Causation Survey states vehicle, environmental, and unknown factors are each about two percent of the total critical reasons that are identified as collision causes. In this...

According to the CDC, each day there are nine people in the United States who are killed in fatal crashes involving a distracted driver. Distracted driving is any activity that takes a driver's attention away from the primary task of driving. This can include things like texting, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, using a navigation system, and adjusting the...

Yes, when insurance companies settle claims, they do pay for pain and suffering. When seeking compensation in a personal injury claim, attorneys ask for economic and non-economic damages. Examples of economic damages include lost wages and medical bills. These examples can be easily calculated. Non-economic damages can include emotional distress, pain, suffering and loss of a normal life. This category of damages is...

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...

Every case consists of its own unique set of circumstances, meaning that there is no clear answer regarding what the average settlement for a motorcycle accident is. A few major factors contribute to the outcome of a case—first and foremost, the amount of insurance a person has. If our team calculates that your damages amount to $100,000, but the negligent...

If you suspect that they were responsible for your injuries, you can sue someone personally after a motorcycle accident. The only party that is virtually immune to lawsuits is your employer. You can sue many other entities, including: Government organizations (like the city, county, and state) Manufacturers Mechanics Businesses Subcontractors When to File a Lawsuit After a Motorcycle Accident While...

If you are seeking compensation for your injuries and other damages, you may have to go to court for a motorcycle accident. The good news is that the majority of motorcycle accident injury claims resolve without the need for a trial, per the American Bar Association (ABA). Ultimately, this will depend on whether you are able to agree to a...

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...

Calculating pain and suffering damages in Illinois is not as straightforward as calculating other types of financial compensation. Unlike with damages like your medical expenses, there is no objective way to determine what a pain and suffering claim is worth. This means that a judge or jury will need to consider a wide range of factors when awarding damages in...

The Illinois Wrongful Death Act determines what qualifies as a wrongful death lawsuit in our state. 740 ILCS 180 says that an eligible party can file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover their losses when a negligent or intentional act causes the death of a close relative. How the Statute Defines Wrongful Death Illinois law provides a legal remedy for...

You can sue a doctor without malpractice insurance. Even though Illinois does not require physicians to carry insurance, if they work for a hospital or healthcare facility, they could be covered under its insurance policy. However, things can get complicated if this isn’t an option. If you are not familiar with filing an injury lawsuit against a medical entity, a...

It is challenging to place an exact dollar amount on the average settlement for medical malpractice, as no two cases are identical. Compensation awarded varies depending on the nature of your injury, illness, and the other circumstances of your case. If you believe substandard care on the part of the provider or their facility resulted in harm done to you,...

If you or someone you love was injured due to a mechanic’s negligence, then you can sue them for damages.  When a mechanic’s subpar work contributes to or causes a car accident, you can hold them accountable for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Here is how.  Pursuing Damages for Your Accident To recover damages on your...

The timeline for bringing criminal charges against a driver who causes a hit and run accident will depend on the severity of the incident and whether the accident resulted in property damage, injuries to another, or death. This means a driver who causes a hit and run could be charged up to three years after a collision or one year and six...

According to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), the four types of workers’ compensation benefits are: medical and wage replacement benefits, rehabilitation benefits, and other benefits (e.g., death benefits).  Because most Illinois employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, an employee who suffered an on-the-job injury may be entitled to recover some or all of these benefits (except for death...

You have the right to file a whiplash injury claim without an attorney. You are ultimately in control of your own personal injury case, and the choice to hire an attorney is yours to make. The courts will allow you to pursue a whiplash injury lawsuit without an attorney. However, serving as your own legal counsel risks associated. Personal injury...

Illinois is a fault state, so motorists can pursue an insurance claim or lawsuit against the party that was responsible for the accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident in Illinois, an attorney with our firm could guide you on your legal options. While you have the right to pursue a personal injury lawsuit,...

Whether or not you should sign an insurance company release is a complex question. By signing an insurance release, you are formalizing a settlement offer resulting in financial compensation for you. That said, a release also waives all future claims for that injury. Your decision to sign a release depends on the contents of the document.  Before you sign a...

There are numerous reasons why you should hire a personal injury lawyer after an accident. If your injuries resulted in costly medical care or time away from work, a personal injury lawsuit could be your best opportunity to recover compensation. A Chicago personal injury lawyer from our firm could obtain a fair award for you. From serving as your advocate to building...

Comparative fault is a legal principle that applies to certain injury claims. This principle governs when a plaintiff might be 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 a car accident...

When it comes to evidence in a personal injury case, legal and medical witnesses are important. Eyewitness accounts of your accident could help you establish the other party was at fault. Medical expert testimony could show the jury the extent of your injuries.  If you are considering a civil lawsuit following an injury, it is important that you build the...

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...

Most likely, you will not have to go to court for a truck accident. The vast majority of Chicago personal injury cases stemming from collision-related injuries reach a settlement without ever going to trial. Why Settling Out of Court Could Work in Your Favor The fact that your case will likely never go to trial benefits you in several ways....

You do not need a lawyer for a car accident settlement. You can file an insurance claim and negotiate for a settlement on your own. You can also file a personal injury lawsuit without a lawyer. However, working with a car accident lawyer may provide you with several benefits. A lawyer may be able to handle all legal work, communications,...

Whether you are pursuing a claim with an insurance company or filing a lawsuit in state court, slip and fall cases can be hard to win. The good news is that our team could help recover the compensation you need after such an accident. In order to secure compensation for your injuries, it is necessary to prove the property owner...

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...

After signing with a personal injury lawyer at The Kryder Law Group, LLC, you can expect the law firm to begin a personal injury investigation. Because there are many practice areas that cover personal injury laws in Illinois, there are various methods of collecting evidence to build your personal injury case. Personal injury cases in Illinois may involve, but are...

The costs of hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer vary case by case. Nevertheless, what usually happens when you first hire a lawyer to represent you is that you two will agree on a percentage that they will take from your final compensatory award. According to the American Bar Association (ABA), your lawyer will typically charge one-third of your winnings. Still,...

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...