Chicago Car Accident Lawyer

Record-Setting Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Aggressively Fighting For Injured Victims Throughout Chicago, Illinois To Get The Compensation They Deserve

• Recognized by Super Lawyers as one of the best law firms in the state of Illinois, we have earned 4.9/5.0 stars – based on 95 reviews.
• Qualified attorneys who will be diligent and aggressive while protecting your legal rights.
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• When you hire Phillips Law Offices, you can be sure our attorneys will fight for you every step of the way.
• Phillips Law Offices secures a spot on the 2018 Top 50 Car Accident Verdicts list.

Illinois roads can be dangerous. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 957 deaths in 887 auto accidents in 2012, an increase over 2011. Of the 887 fatal accidents, 130 happened in Chicago, reflecting a 19 percent increase over 2011. For all of Cook County, there were 243 fatal car crashes, more than 27 percent of the state’s total. According to the IDOT’s 2019 crash data, the city with the highest number of crashes that year was Chicago, with a total of 135,813 crashes. Rockford, with 5,317 crashes, followed this, and Aurora, with 4,506 crashes.

It is important to note that the number of crashes in a city is not necessarily an indicator of the likelihood of being involved in a car accident. Other factors, such as population density and traffic volume in a city, can also affect the risk of accidents. Additionally, it is essential to remember that accidents can happen anywhere. Therefore, taking precautions such as driving defensively, obeying traffic laws, and avoiding distracted driving can help reduce the risk of being involved in an accident.

Laws are in place to protect the rights of injured victims and the families of those who lost a loved one in an auto accident. As Chicago car accident lawyers, we strive to protect your rights.

With a team of experts, including safety engineers, accident reconstructionists, and forensics specialists, we conduct thorough research into the facts of your automobile accident.

A comprehensive assessment of the facts surrounding an accident often includes an examination of the following:

1. The location of the accident: This includes the road or intersection where the accident occurred and any relevant road conditions, such as construction or maintenance work.
2. The weather conditions at the time of the accident: This includes factors such as rain, snow, ice, fog, or wind that may have contributed to the accident.
3. The vehicles involved include the cars’ make and model, as well as any damage sustained during the accident.
4. The drivers involved: This includes the names and contact information of the drivers, as well as any relevant details about their driving history, such as previous accidents or traffic violations.
5. The witnesses: This includes the names and contact information of any witnesses to the accident and any relevant information they may have observed.
6. The police report includes the details of the police investigation, including any citations or charges issued to the drivers involved.
7. The medical records of any injured parties: This includes any medical treatment received by the parties involved in the accident and any medical expenses incurred as a result of the accident.
   

Why Do Motor Vehicle Accidents Occur?

Many different factors and circumstances can lead to a car accident. However, here are some of the most common reasons why car accidents happen, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

1. Distracted driving: This includes any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from the road, such as texting, talking on the phone, eating, or adjusting the radio.
2. Speeding: Driving at a speed that exceeds the posted limit or is unsafe for road conditions can increase the likelihood of an accident and the severity of injuries sustained in an accident.
3. Driving under the influence: Operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal and can impair a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely.
4. Reckless driving includes actions such as tailgating, swerving in and out of lanes, and failing to yield the right of way.
5. Inclement weather: Rain, snow, ice, and other weather conditions can make it more challenging to control a vehicle and increase the risk of accidents.
6. Vehicle malfunctions: Mechanical failures such as brake or tire blowouts can lead to accidents.
7. Poor road conditions: Potholes, uneven pavement, and other road hazards can cause accidents.
8. Young teen drivers (or inexperienced drivers): Teenagers and inexperienced drivers are at a higher risk of accidents due to their lack of experience and tendency to engage in risky behaviors.
9. Running red lights: Drivers who run red lights or stop signs can cause serious accidents and injuries, as they may collide with other vehicles or pedestrians with the right of way.
10. Night driving and poor lighting: Driving at night or in areas with poor lighting can increase the risk of accidents due to reduced visibility and difficulty seeing other vehicles or road hazards.

How Much Do Lawyers Charge For Car Accident Claims?

Civil lawsuits can quickly become situations where both parties worry about costs. These costs include property damage, medical expenses, and office visits. This is a particularly pressing problem for the plaintiff, as the response could impact the plaintiff’s compensation due to civil litigation. There is no set amount that a lawyer can typically charge for a car accident. However, it is common for personal injury lawyers to work on a contingency fee basis.

You won’t have to pay anything in advance when you engage with a professional personal injury lawyer. Lawyers specializing in personal injury cases are paid on a contingency fee basis. This means that the lawyer will not get paid by the client until they recover money in the case. Contingency fees can be very beneficial because they help ensure the lawyer has your (as the client’s) best interests in mind. Read more

Are you hiring a car accident lawyer after a minor accident: Beneficial?

Remember that you only have a limited time to file a personal injury case if you hire a car accident lawyer for a minor accident. Every state has a deadline for filing a lawsuit, known as a statute of limitations. If you miss the deadline, you may be unable to claim compensation for your losses and injuries.

When it comes to automobile accident attorneys, consider them as your advocates throughout the process. As soon as the mishap occurs, you can begin the recovery process. When a lawyer works on your behalf, they can collect evidence about the accident by speaking to witnesses and calling police agencies to get a crash report.

In reality, dealing with insurance companies is a significant advantage of hiring a car accident lawyer. Even if you wait days or weeks to contact a lawyer after the accident, the assistance you receive may be substantial. A lawyer aids clients in compiling the medical information and expenses required to build a complete requisition package.

With a lawyer’s assistance, you can ensure that your insurance claim case proceeds smoothly. Simply put, a lawyer can handle all of the legal aspects of your accident while you concentrate on getting better and returning to your everyday life. Read More

Common Questions About Car Accidents and Uninsured Drivers

If an uninsured motorist injures you in Illinois, even if you pursue and win a civil personal injury lawsuit, you’ll receive nothing if that driver has no money. However, that does not mean you have no legal recourse if a negligent, uninsured driver injures you. Even if the driver who injured you is uninsured and genuinely penniless, an excellent personal injury lawyer can often find another pathway for you to obtain compensation.

1. What should I do in a car accident with an uninsured driver?
   If you’re in a car accident with an uninsured driver, you should still follow the same steps you would in any other accident. This includes exchanging contact and insurance information with the other driver, taking photos of the accident scene and damages, and contacting the police. If the other driver is at fault and uninsured, you may need to file a claim with your insurance company or take legal action to recover damages.
2. What happens if I’m in a car accident with an uninsured driver and I don’t have insurance?
   If you’re in a car accident with an uninsured driver and don’t have insurance, you may be responsible for paying for your damages and injuries out of pocket. This can be expensive and potentially leave you with a significant financial burden.
3. Can I sue an uninsured driver for damages?
   Yes, you can sue an uninsured driver for damages, but recovering those damages may be difficult. Uninsured drivers may not have the financial resources to pay for damages, and suing them may not result in a successful recovery of damages.
4. How common are car accidents involving uninsured drivers?
   According to the Insurance Information Institute, about 1 in 8 drivers in the United States are uninsured. Car accidents involving uninsured drivers are, unfortunately, fairly common.
5. How can I protect myself in an accident with an uninsured driver?
   You can consider adding uninsured motorist coverage to your auto insurance policy to protect yourself in an accident with an uninsured driver. This type of coverage can help cover damages and injuries if you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver. Of course, it’s also important to always drive defensively and follow safe driving practices to reduce the risk of accidents in the first place.
6. What automobile insurance does the law require in Illinois?
   Illinois law requires drivers to carry liability insurance coverage, which includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage. The minimum coverage limits in Illinois are $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $20,000 per accident for property damage.
7. How can drivers be uninsured in Illinois if auto insurance is mandatory?
   Despite the requirement for auto insurance in Illinois, some drivers may still choose to drive without insurance. They may let their insurance lapse or may not have purchased insurance in the first place. Sometimes, they may present fraudulent insurance information to law enforcement or other parties.
8. How can compensation be obtained if an uninsured driver injures you in Illinois?
   If an uninsured driver in Illinois injures you, you may be able to seek compensation through your own insurance company’s uninsured motorist coverage if you have it. You may also consider taking legal action against the at-fault driver to recover damages, although this may not always result in a successful recovery.
9. Is there a legal penalty for those who drive without insurance in Illinois?
   Yes, there is a legal penalty for driving without insurance in Illinois. Fines and penalties can vary but include suspension of your driver’s license, registration, and fees.
10. What happens if you loan your vehicle, which is insured, to an uninsured friend who causes an accident with injuries?
    If you loan your vehicle to an uninsured friend and they cause an accident with injuries, you may still be held liable for damages and injuries resulting from the accident. Your insurance policy may cover the cracks, but it’s essential to review your policy and discuss it with your insurance provider.
11. What is your recourse if a hit-and-run driver injures you?
    If a hit-and-run driver in Illinois injures you, you may be able to seek compensation through your own insurance company’s uninsured motorist coverage. You may also consider taking legal action against the hit-and-run driver if they are identified and located.
12. Are there additional steps you can take to protect yourself and your passengers?
    You can take several additional steps to protect yourself and your passengers. This includes always wearing seatbelts, following traffic laws and safe driving practices, maintaining your vehicle, avoiding distracted driving, and carrying adequate insurance coverage. It’s also essential to remain calm and stay at the scene of an accident to ensure everyone’s safety and adequately document the incident.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accidents and Chiropractic Care

Chiropractors represent less than five percent of the entire healthcare industry in the United States. Yet, they treat more personal injury patients than any other specialist. “chiropractic” comes originally from Greek and means “done by hand.” As Chicago car accident lawyers, we know that chiropractic care is designed to heal musculoskeletal injuries and is based on the premise that when the skeletal system is aligned correctly and the nervous system functions properly, the human body is self-healing.

What is whiplash?

Traffic accident victims frequently sustain the cervical/neck strain known as whiplash. Whiplash injuries happen mainly, but not only in rear-end collisions, and they occur in low-speed and high-speed collisions. For example, when someone’s head is violently snapped forward and instantly thrown backward, that person will likely sustain a whiplash injury.

Specifically, whiplash happens when neck muscles and tendons are stretched by forces beyond their natural range of motion. This can occur in traffic collisions when the head is shoved forward and tossed immediately backward. Along with sprains and strains of the neck, the shoving or yanking force may sometimes result in severely misaligned cervical vertebrae. Therefore, seeking medical attention must always be your priority after any traffic accident – because some injuries can’t be seen.

What are the symptoms of whiplash?

Whiplash may cause severe headaches and migraines, a stiff back and neck, shoulder pain, light and sound sensitivity, nausea and dizziness, and pain and stiffness radiating from the neck to the arms and shoulders. A person who suspects whiplash should have an examination as quickly as possible because it does not fade away. Whiplash symptoms typically get worse with time, and without timely treatment, whiplash can permanently restrict the motion of the neck. Some accident victims recover quickly from whiplash, but the suffering is long-term for others.

When should an accident victim seek chiropractic treatment?

Accident victims shouldn’t wait. In Chicago, traffic accident victims should seek medical attention immediately after an accident. Victims should consult with an experienced Chicago personal injury attorney if negligence were responsible for the accident. Some injuries may not appear until days or even several weeks after an accident, but the sooner treatment begins, the better.

Chiropractors heal traffic accident injuries – or, more precisely, help the body heal itself – by correcting misalignments in the vertebrae, reducing swelling and inflammation, and enhancing circulation by using manual adjustments, spinal decompression, acupuncture, and physical therapy. Most chiropractors will also make dietary supplement recommendations.

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What Parties Can An Injury Victim Sue After A Car Accident?

After a car accident, an injury victim may be able to sue one or more parties who may be responsible for the accident and their injuries. These parties may include:

1. The at-fault driver: If another driver’s negligence caused the accident, the injured victim could sue the at-fault driver for damages.
2. The vehicle owner: If the at-fault driver was operating a vehicle owned by someone else, the injured victim might be able to sue the vehicle owner for damages.
3. Employers: If the at-fault driver was driving a commercial vehicle or for work purposes, the employer may be liable for damages.
4. Government entities: If a dangerous road condition causes the accident, the injured victim might be able to sue the government entity responsible for maintaining the road.
5. Vehicle manufacturers: If a defect in the vehicle caused the accident, the injured victim might be able to sue the vehicle manufacturer for damages.

It’s important to note that determining liability after a car accident can be complicated and may require the assistance of a skilled attorney. An experienced personal injury attorney can investigate the accident, gather evidence, and identify all potentially liable parties to pursue maximum compensation for the injured victim. Read More

What Questions Will an Auto Accident Attorney Seek to Answer?

After investigating the case and reviewing the details, a personal injury lawyer will determine the answers to the questions listed below. The answers to these questions will determine your next legal move:

What was the cause of the traffic accident? Were your injuries caused directly by the collision and another driver’s negligence? Do you have pre-existing injuries? Will the medical tests and records support your claim?

Which party is liable? In some traffic accidents in Illinois, the motorists will both be partially liable.

What coverage is applicable? An experienced accident attorney will search through each insurance policy that may apply and identify all possible compensation sources.

What sources of compensation might be available to the injured victim of a negligent driver – that is, what sources other than that negligent driver’s own auto insurance policy? The answer is, “It depends.”

What If an Uber or Lyft Driver Hits Your Car?

Before you ride – or ride again – with a service like Uber or Lyft, what should a Chicago-area consumer know? What if you are a passenger, you’re involved in a crash, and you are severely injured? You’ll need to speak immediately with a Chicago car accident attorney.

Both companies provide a variety of amenities and conveniences to consumers. Rideshare rides typically cost less than taxi rides. Nevertheless, consumers need to know about insurance and liability issues that can emerge when an Uber or Lyft vehicle is involved in a collision.

Who is Liable in a Rideshare Accident?

Suppose a Lyft or Uber driver is negligent on the job and responsible for a car accident that causes injuries in most cases. In that case, Lyft or Uber will have liability for the accident. The key factor is that the driver must be on duty for liability to transfer to the rideshare company.

An Illinois personal injury lawyer can take legal action if a Lyft or Uber driver injures you. However, if the driver was not working or on duty when the crash occurred, your claim will be no different from an injury claim from a typical traffic accident.

However, suppose an Uber or Lyft driver carries a passenger when a crash happens. In that case, the driver, the passenger or passengers, and anyone else injured will be covered by a million-dollar liability insurance policy and a million dollars of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Why are Car Crash Fatalities More Common in The U.S. than Other High-Income Countries?

Politicians and public health authorities in the United States often point proudly to reductions in traffic fatalities due to seat belts, airbags, and heightened enforcement of DUI laws. From the years 2000 through 2013, traffic fatalities in the United States dropped by 31 percent. Still, the National Safety Council estimates that more than 32,000 people were killed and more than two million were injured on U.S. streets and highways in 2013. Can we do better?

Yes, we can, and a number of other nations already are. According to a study released this summer by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), our nation had the highest rate of traffic fatalities in 2013 per 100,000 people when compared against nineteen other developed nations. Traffic fatalities continue in the United States because of intoxicated driving, speeding, and the failure to use seat belts and booster seats. In 2013, about half of the people who perished in traffic in the U.S. were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

Erin Sauber-Schatz, one of the authors of the CDC report, added that distracted driving is a factor in at least ten percent of all fatal accidents and eighteen percent of accidents with non-fatal injuries. Anyone injured by a driver who is drunk, texting, talking on the phone, or otherwise impaired or distracted has the legal right to full compensation for medical treatment, lost Chicago personal injury attorney wages, and all other injury-related damages. In the Chicago area, an experienced can provide more details if you’ve been injured in a traffic collision. Read More

Should You Call An Attorney When You’ve Been Rear-Ended?

This is a question that you’re likely to ask yourself when you’ve been rear-ended. Even if it seems like a minor accident, you shouldn’t leave anything to chance. You should immediately look for a Chicago car accident lawyer just to be safe. What initially seems like a minor fender bender could lead to a full-blown trial.

According to statistics, there were over six million police-reported motor vehicle accidents in 2015. This number has surely gone up over the last couple of years. There are a couple of reasons why you could have been rear-ended. It could’ve been a careless driver who was not mindful of the rules of the road. There are occasions where both parties might be at fault. Either way, it’s best to contact an attorney.

What are Common Rear-End Accident Injuries?

It should be noted that any auto accident has the potential to cause fatal injuries. For rear-end accidents, the majority of victims will suffer from soft-tissue injuries.

• Back Injuries: This comes as a result of the sudden impact of a rear-end collision. It might take a while for someone to fully recover from such an injury.
• Whiplash: This injury causes stiffness and pain in and around the neck area. It occurs when the impact of the accident causes the head and neck to jerk forward and backward beyond its normal range of motion. According to statistics, 1 out of 5 people involved in a rear-end accident suffer a whiplash injury. More than 80% of the victims experience pain that lasts more than a week. That is why it is important to see a doctor even though there might not be obvious signs of injuries immediately after the car accident.

Where Do Most Highway Accidents Happen? What Roads Are Most Dangerous?

There are certain locations that tend to be more dangerous and risky for drivers. According to the NHTSA’s Report to Congress:

Auto accident fatalities vary dramatically from state to state, according to figures from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. These figures are generally not calculated in percentages, but rather, by the number of accidents per 100,000 people.

To illustrate the degree of variance by state, in 2015, the District of Columbia saw a fatality rate of 3.4 people per 100,000, while Wyoming saw a fatality rate of 24.7 per 100,000 people. In 2015 — the most recent figures available — the U.S. saw 32,166 fatal car crashes, resulting in 35,092 deaths.

Estimates vary, but on average, it’s believed that approximately 5% of car accident cases go to trial.

A fairly large portion of cases are settled before a personal injury lawsuit is even filed. Of the cases that do result in a lawsuit, about half of those cases are settled before going to trial.

It is possible to settle a car accident without insurance. Some drivers have coverage that protects them from losses in a crash involving an uninsured driver. In other cases, a lawsuit may be filed and the uninsured driver could be held personally liable for damages. This type of case may be settled pre-trial or at trial.

To get you full and fair compensation, your attorney must prove the other driver was negligent. We prepare your case with the intent to show:

By Illinois state law, you usually have two years from the date of the injury to file a claim. Bear in mind that multiple parties may be negligent, such as a municipality for road defects or a car manufacturer for faulty design or manufacturing.

You must notify your own insurance company when you have been involved in an auto accident. An adjuster will be assigned to your claim and will send you paperwork for its own investigation of the auto accident, such as:

When our car accident attorneys file an automobile accident claim on your behalf with the court, we apply our experience and the trusted opinions of your medical professionals to place a value on your damages. We know the games insurance companies play at your expense. These include

Crashes caused by speeding account for almost 30 percent of all car crashes in Illinois. Exceeding the posted speed limit, running red lights, and other speeding and reckless or careless driving behaviors cause aggressive drivers put themselves and others in danger. They may also weave between the lanes without signaling.
The probability of sustaining serious injuries is three times higher in speed-related crashes than in non-speed related crashes. Speeding contributes to the impact of a car crash, because it:

Reduces the amount of time to make fast decisions
Increases difficulty in maneuvering the car
Decreases the time and ability to stop safely
If a driver exceeds the speed limit and collides with another vehicle, that driver could be given a summons for a criminal offense. 

What You Should Know About Car Accident Laws in Illinois