If you suffered injuries or sustained vehicle damages, you should contact a lawyer after a car accident in Chicago. Our attorneys can help you collect evidence related to your accident and pursue compensation for your losses.
How Can Your Lawyer Assist You with Your Car Accident Case?
Accidents can be shocking and traumatic experiences. Chances are, in the time immediately following a crash, you may not be thinking clearly, especially if you suffered severe injuries. Afterward, you may find yourself dealing with mounting accident-related expenses, insurance claims, and legal action. Your primary focus should be your recovery.
Our car accident lawyers can take over the work of fighting for an insurance settlement or verdict. We can:
- File your insurance claim or lawsuit
- Manage case deadlines
- Handle phone calls and emails with the insurance company and other parties
- Protect your rights and shield you from pressure to settle too quickly and for less than you deserve
- Look over settlement offers and negotiate for the best outcome possible for your case
- Represent you at trial if needed
What Awards Can a Lawyer Help You Pursue?
Our attorneys can help you identify and pursue all of your accident-related expenses. This may include:
Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses
You can seek the cost of your medical bills, including emergency department visits, hospital stays, medical procedures, doctor visits, and more.
Future Medical Needs
You may require long-term care services, rehabilitation, mobility aids, medications, and follow-up procedures. Our lawyers can estimate the cost of your future medical needs and help you seek a fair sum.
Miscellaneous Expenses
This includes household services you cannot perform because of your injuries (driving, cleaning, childcare) and other costs related to your injury. These could include medical travel, medical equipment, and home modifications.
Lost Wages
You can pursue back pay lost due to your injuries and recovery. If you have an injury that prevents you from working, you can seek compensation for losing your future earning capacity.
Vehicle Damages
You can seek awards to pay for fixing your vehicle. If it is beyond repair, you can receive a sum for its fair market value. You can also seek reimbursement for rental car fees.
Pain and Suffering
Our personal injury lawyers will speak with you about your injury and how it inconveniences your life and affects your physical, emotional, and mental health. We use this to determine a fair amount of compensation for your pain and suffering.
This may include awards for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain, loss of mobility or paralysis, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Wrongful Death
According to 740 ILCS 180/, if your loved one died from a wrongful or negligent act in Illinois, you could receive compensation for their wrongful death. A representative of the deceased’s estate (executor) can pursue damages on behalf of the estate and surviving family members.
You may qualify for awards for expenses related to your loved one’s injury, loss of their financial support, and your pain and suffering.
How does an Attorney Prove Car Accident Liability?
The insurance company will not take your word for it when it comes to your accident claims. You will have to prove their policyholder is liable and that you suffered injuries and financial losses due to the other driver’s actions. Negligent driving includes:
- Speeding
- Reckless or aggressive driving (road rage)
- Drunk driving
- Following too closely
- Illegal passing
- Driving in the wrong lane
- Improper cell phone use or texting and driving
- Improper turns
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Running stop lights and stop signs
Our lawyers can assist you by quickly gathering and preserving evidence, which we will use to build a case for negligence. We will:
- Investigate the scene of your accident with help from a crash reconstruction expert if necessary
- Obtain medical bills, records, and receipts showing your accident-related expenses
- Locate and interview eyewitnesses
- Consult with medical experts about your injuries
- Locate available cell phone video, surveillance footage, or photos of your crash
How Long do You Have to Take Action in Illinois?
In general, the sooner you take action, the better. A long gap between your accident and your claim could result in the insurance company alleging your injuries are not due to your crash.
Additionally, you want to speak with eyewitnesses while your accident is fresh in their minds. You also want to record any details at the scene that could fade over time. Our lawyers can help you start on your insurance claims right away.
If the insurance company denies your claim or does not offer adequate compensation, you could pursue a lawsuit. According to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, you have two years from your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Illinois’ wrongful death statute allows victims’ families two years to take action from the time of the decedent’s death.
Call The Kryder Law Group, LLC So We Can Get Started on Your Case
The Kryder Law Group, LLC is here to help you through every step of your car accident case. Give us a call today at (312) 223-1700 for a free consultation.
(312) 223-1700