Chicago Car Accident Attorneys
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Let Our Car Accident Lawyers Help You Make the Most of Your Claim
Were you hurt in a car accident in Illinois? If another driver caused your crash, you have the right to recover money to help you pay for your medical bills, replace your lost wages, and compensate you for your pain and suffering. The more serious your injuries, the more your accident claim may be worth. Collecting the compensation you need to help you through this difficult time, however, is not always easy. Insurance companies go to great lengths to minimize or deny accident claims, and they retain teams of lawyers to help defend their bottom line.
Fortunately, you don’t have to fight the insurance company and their attorneys alone.
The sooner you reach out to our Chicago car accident attorneys at the Lloyd Miller Law, the more quickly we can begin working on your case.
Call: 773-838-8100 or Contact Us Now!
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Why Hire the Car Accident Attorneys at Lloyd Miller Law?
The car accident lawyers at Lloyd Miller Law combine more than 75 years of experience with the personalized service that only a client-focused law firm can give. We fight to ensure our clients recover emotionally, physically, and financially after motor vehicle accidents. Our top-rated trial lawyers have won hundreds of millions of dollars in awards for injured victims throughout the state. When the innocent people in Illinois are injured, our attorneys are always ready to help.
If you were injured or a loved one was injured or killed in a car accident off of I-55, near Midway International Airport, in Chicago, Cicero, Oak Lawn, Berwyn, or elsewhere in Illinois, call the car accident lawyers at Lloyd Miller Law for a FREE, no-obligation consultation. 773-838-8100.
VLACHOS, A MINOR V. NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
ROBERTSON, A MINOR V. ADVOCATE CHRIST HOSPITAL
Car Accident Victims: Your Recovery Is Our #1 Priority
When you hire a car accident injury lawyer at Lloyd Miller Law, your recovery is our law firm’s priority. Our accident lawyers understand the impact serious injuries can have on your home life, emotional and physical well-being, and finances. While we can’t always erase the pain, suffering, or trauma you’ve endured, filing a lawsuit with our attorneys can greatly help ease your discomfort. Unlike many injury law firms that put their own profits ahead of the well-being of their clients, our accident lawyers always put your best interests first. Our attorneys will expertly handle every aspect of your personal injury, wrongful death, or workers’ compensation case. When you file a claim or lawsuit, our attorneys will:
- Help you obtain quality medical care to optimize recovery.
- Identify and locate witnesses and crucial evidence
- Provide prompt sound legal advice
- Identify all negligent entities.
- Answer your questions about your car accident injury claim.
- Negotiate with the insurance company.
- Thoroughly investigate your motor vehicle crash.
- HELP YOU WIN.
Car Accident Victims Are Not in Good Hands with Insurance Companies
Illinois law gives injured people like you the right to file a claim to recover damages from negligent parties who do them harm. Unfortunately, an insurance company’s version of fair compensation tends to be significantly less than what it takes to make accident victims whole. Their accident investigators, insurance adjusters, and representatives often employ deceitful and even unethical tactics to minimize payouts for personal injury claims. The more your claim is worth, the harder they will fight to win. To reduce the value of accident claims, insurance companies frequently:
- Sift through accident victims’ medical records to identify pre-existing conditions.
- Point fingers at innocent victims to deny liability for auto accidents.
- Highlight victims’ past accidents, personal injury claims, or even criminal histories to draw attention away from the severity of injuries.
- Request recorded or signed statements from accident victims to trick them into admitting fault.
- Misrepresent what the law or the insurance policy says.
- Coerce injured parties into accepting low settlement offers.
- Minimize the benefits of hiring car accident lawyers.
Are you frustrated with how the insurance company is handling your car accident claim? Let the injury lawyers at Lloyd Miller Law stop deceitful insurance representatives in their tracks.
Call Us Today: 773-838-8100 | There’s no fee until we win.
Car Accidents Are On the Rise in Illinois
If you were seriously injured in a car accident in Illinois, you’re not alone. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) reports that auto accident injuries that result in personal injury claims or lawsuits are on the rise throughout the state. Despite initiatives including Life or Death Illinois, Start Seeing Motorcycles, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, and Click It or Ticket:
motor vehicle accidents occur in Illinois every year
Approximately 20% of the state’s car crashes result in serious injuries
Speeding is involved in 37.6% of injury accidents and 39.2% of fatality crashes
Types of Crashes Our Car Accident Lawyers Handle
The injury attorneys at Lloyd Miller Law handle a wide range of motor vehicle accident cases. These include, but are not limited to:
- Drunk-driving accidents
- Drugged-driving crashes
- Roll-overs
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Auto pedestrian accidents
- Wrong-way accidents
- T-bone and side-impact crashes
- Distracted driving accidents
- Crashes caused by defective vehicle parts
- Uber & Lyft Accidents
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Accidents on I-55 and other interstates
- Crashes near Chicago Midway International Airport
Rear-End Collisions
In Cook County, rear-end collisions are the most common type of auto accident, injuring approximately 9,000 people every year. Rear-end accidents also top the list in cities like Cicero, Berwyn, Oak Lawn, and Chicago. These crashes can happen when a motorist drives too fast to be able to stop in time, when someone is texting or otherwise distracted and fails to notice you’ve slowed down or stopped, or when brakes fail. They often happen at stop signs, red lights, and in congested traffic. Most of the time, the driver in back is the one who causes the crash.
While even minor rear-end collisions can cause serious injuries, those that occur when vehicles are traveling at high speeds can be deadly. Victims who survive frequently suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and whiplash.
Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Accidents
Illinois law requires drivers to maintain liability insurance to pay for victims’ losses in the event of a crash, but thousands of drivers throughout the state are uninsured. The recently implemented Illinois Insurance Verification System automatically verifies vehicle owners’ insurance coverage at least twice per year to help reduce the number of uninsured drivers, but the problem remain. Many people who do maintain auto insurance only have the minimum coverages required by state law. These amounts are not nearly enough to pay for a serious injury accident.
If the driver who hit you was uninsured or didn’t carry enough insurance to cover your losses, you may still be able to recover compensation. Our uninsured/underinsured motorist accident attorneys can help you file an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim against your own insurance policy to help you pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Uber and Lyft Accidents
The streets of Chicago and surrounding communities like Cicero, Oak Law Berwyn, Palos Heights, Lyons, Evergreen Park, and Oak Park are filled with Uber and Lyft drivers. Because these drivers are often overworked and fatigued, distracted by GPS and rideshare apps, and sometimes even under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they are often involved in car accidents. In a typical car accident case, the at-fault driver is liable for injuries. If that driver is performing the duties of a job, his or her employer may be held liable. Since rideshare drivers are independent contractors who are using their vehicles for business, their personal car insurance doesn’t usually apply and neither does workers’ compensation or employer liability.
Fortunately, Uber and Lyft maintain insurance policies to cover rideshare passengers and other motorists who are injured in Uber and Lyft accidents. The insurance coverage available, however, depends on whether the driver was transporting passengers, traveling to pick up passengers, waiting for a ride request, or driving for personal reasons. In some cases, victims can recover up to $1 million for their losses.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions are some of the most dangerous accidents that happen in Illinois. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that a head-on collision in a passenger car has a 57% chance of causing death. Victims who survive are often left with traumatic brain injuries, amputations, spinal cord injuries, disfigurement, and other severe injuries. In many cases, they need ongoing medical treatment for the rest of their lives.
Also referred to as “frontal collisions”, these crashes happen when two vehicles that are traveling in the opposite direction collide front-end to front-end. Sometimes they occur because of black ice on the roadway or tire blowouts. In the majority of cases, however, head-on collisions are caused by a negligent driver.
Drunk Driving Accidents
Alcohol consumption significantly reduces a driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. When a driver is intoxicated, his or her response time is delayed. Motor skills are diminished. Vision is blurred. Judgement is impaired. And everyone on the roadway is in danger. Drunk driving causes approximately 28% of all motor vehicle collisions in the United States.
If you were injured in a drunk driving accident in Illinois, you may have various pathways to pursue compensation. In addition to filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the drunk driver, you may be able to hold the party who served the alcohol liable for damages. Under Illinois dram shop law, people and businesses who serve intoxicated people who later get into a crash can be held financially responsible.
Hit and Run Accidents
Drivers in Illinois are required to remain at the scene when they are involved in car accidents. Hit-and-run accidents happen when a driver flees the scene of a crash. They may do so because they are intoxicated or using drugs and are afraid of the legal repercussions. Some drivers leave the scene because they are driving without auto insurance or a valid driver license. Other times, people simply flee to avoid paying for the injuries and property damages.
If you were in a hit-and-run accident and the driver cannot be located, all is not lost. Our hit-and-run accident attorneys can help you file a claim against your own uninsured motorist policy to recover damages. If the driver is later found, we can also help you file a lawsuit directly against him or her to recover additional compensation. In some cases, punitive damages may also be awarded.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Illinois
- Speeding
- Distracted Driving
- Impaired Driving
- Fatigued Driving
- Reckless Driving
- Faulty Vehicle Parts
Common Car Accident Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Severe Burns
- Amputations
- Spine Injuries
- Broken Bones
- Whiplash
What Is the Car Accident Risk in Your Neighborhood?
Although motor vehicle accidents can happen 24 hours a day and virtually anywhere, the risk of crashes is especially high in some areas of Cook County. Some of the most dangerous areas to drive include:
This major north-south interstate, also known as the Stevenson Expressway in Cook County, is heavily used by commuters in Illinois. Over 20,000 vehicles per day travel this highway. The expressway is the site of countless injury and fatality accidents every year.
The six-lane, diagonal intersection is trafficked by approximately 70,000 motor vehicles each day. On average, 60 auto accidents happen here annually.
With 10 lanes of heavy traffic, a confusing layout, and motorists merging on and off Interstate 294, this stretch of road is one of the most dangerous in Chicago.
On I-294 in Chicago, motorists share the roads with a large number of commercial trucks that travel long distances. As a result, Accident lawyers see a continuous stream of personal injury claims stemming from crashes caused by trucker fatigue, distracted driving, DUI, and wrecks involving overweight trucks and those with unbalanced loads.
Despite the installation of Red Light Running (RLR) cameras at the intersection of Archer and Harlem, the area sees approximately 30 auto accidents each year.
95th Street is a major highway that connects Chicago’s South Side with various suburbs. Busy 24 hours a day, the intersection of 95th and Cicero Avenue is the site of countless auto accidents that cause serious injuries and fatalities each year.
How Our Car Accident Attorneys Maximize Your Injury Settlement
The importance of hiring a car accident attorney after a crash cannot be overstated. Studies show that victims who hire lawyers to handle their injury claims receive an average of three times more in compensation. To maximize your injury award, our auto accident lawyers take a comprehensive approach when investigating car crashes. We make sure no evidence is left behind or destroyed and consider all contributing factors to help you make the most of your recovery. We will collect:
The police report and supplements along with any follow-up investigation
Photos and/or videos of the accident scene
Diagrams and data related to the location and accident
Photos and/or videos of the accident scene
Photos of the motor vehicles involved
Eyewitness statements
Cellphone records
EDR or “black box” information
Your medical records
Your wage information
Information about defective car parts and recalls
Expert opinions
When you file a claim after a traffic accident, this information and evidence will help us prove:
“John and Kurt were very helpful, informative, and were on top of everything with my case! They got back to me as soon as possible whenever I had questions. They helped me to understand everything that was going on. They did everything as quickly as they could and they are very professional! If there were six stars to rate they’d get SIX! Thanks to their team who made sure I got what I deserved!”
~ Cherine Matejias
“Very friendly people and very persistent to stick with my case even through a pandemic, I definitely will recommend them”
~ Mike Stubbe
“This It’s a Great Law Firm that is loyal and worked very hard at my case to make sure it was successful.”
~ John Vitale
What to Do After a Car Accident That Was Not Your Fault
Experiencing a car accident that wasn’t your fault can be a disorienting and stressful situation. It’s important to take specific steps immediately following the accident to ensure your safety, protect your legal rights, and facilitate a smoother claims process. Here’s a guide on what to do after a car accident that was not your fault:
- Ensure Safety: First and foremost, check yourself and others involved in the accident for injuries. If anyone is injured, call 911 for emergency medical assistance. If it's safe to do so, move your vehicle to the side of the road to prevent further accidents.
- Contact the Police: Regardless of the accident's severity, it's essential to contact the police and file an accident report. The police report will document the details of the accident, including witness statements and the officer's assessment of fault.
- Gather Information: Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver(s) involved. Collect names, phone numbers, addresses, and insurance policy details. Additionally, gather contact information from any witnesses to the accident.
- Document the Scene: Use your phone or camera to take photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, license plates, and any visible injuries. These visuals can serve as valuable evidence later.
- Notify Your Insurance Company: Report the accident to your own insurance company as soon as possible. Provide them with accurate information and details about the accident.
- Seek Medical Attention: Even if you don't believe you're seriously injured, it's advisable to seek medical attention promptly. Some injuries may not show symptoms immediately, and a medical evaluation can create a record of your condition.
- Preserve Evidence: Preserve evidence related to the accident, such as vehicle damage, medical bills, repair estimates, and correspondence with insurance companies. This documentation can be crucial for your claim.
- Consult an Attorney: If you've sustained injuries or are encountering difficulties with the insurance process, consult a personal injury attorney. An attorney can help protect your rights, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue a legal claim if necessary.
- Follow Medical Advice: If you receive medical treatment, follow your healthcare provider's recommendations and attend all necessary appointments. This demonstrates your commitment to your recovery and can be important for your claim.
- Maintain Open Communication: Keep lines of communication open with your insurance company, your attorney (if applicable), and any other involved parties. Be honest and consistent in your statements and actions.
How Does a Car Accident Case Work?
Understanding how a car accident case works helps you understand what to expect as your case progresses.
Consultation with a Car Accident Lawyer
The first step in a car accident case is consulting with an experienced car accident lawyer. Our law firm offers free initial consultations during which we will evaluate your case and help you review your legal options. We won’t charge you any upfront legal fees if you decide to pursue compensation.
Investigation
When you hire our law firm to handle your case, we won’t rely on police reports and other people’s interpretation of what happened. Instead, we will conduct our own investigation of the accident scene, reviewing photos and videos, interviewing witnesses, and possibly working with experts to determine how the accident occurred.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim
Next, our legal team will help you file a personal injury claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. You will probably begin receiving phone calls from the insurance adjusters once the claim is filed. Remember not to make any statements or answer any questions without advice from your lawyer.
Negotiations
Your lawyer will begin negotiating with the insurance company to maximize your compensation soon after the personal injury claim is filed. Initially, you can expect the insurer to offer a low settlement or deny liability for your losses altogether, since their goal is to protect their own bottom line. Your attorney will counter their offer and continue to negotiate for a larger payout until your case settles or is decided in court.
Filing a Lawsuit
If negotiation attempts are unsuccessful, your car accident lawyer will file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf. In many cases, simply demonstrating that you are serious about your recovery and willing to take legal action is enough to bump insurers into offering a fair settlement. In other cases, however, insurers won’t budge, and the case goes to trial.
Discovery
During the discovery phase of your car accident case, each side will share the evidence they have with the other side. Additional evidence may be gathered, depositions may be performed, and experts may be interviewed. It’s common for cases to settle during this phase, when the insurer realizes the evidence against them.
Trial
While over 90% of personal injury cases are settled outside the courtroom, trial is necessary in some cases. If your case goes before the judge and jury, both sides will be given the opportunity to present their clients’ arguments and the evidence they have. Expert witnesses may testify as well. Even during this stage of your car accident case, the insurer may come forth with a fair settlement offer.
Settlement or Jury Verdict
If your case doesn’t settle before the trial ends, the jury will determine the verdict. Soon after, you will receive your settlement check or jury award. At this time, your car accident lawyer will subtract his or her attorney fees and any other expenses from your payout.
More Car Accident Statistics for Illinois
- Illinois saw 1,268 fatalities that occurred in 1,147 fatal car accidents in 2022.
- There were over 60,000 injury accidents in Illinois in 2021.
- More than 30% of motor vehicle crashes involve speeding.
- 44.4% of fatality accidents involve excessive speed.
- In 2021, more than 9 people per hour were injured in auto accidents.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accidents in Illinois
Our injury lawyers have the answers to the most frequently asked questions about auto accidents in Illinois.
My financial resources are limited. How do I pay for an auto accident lawyer when filing a lawsuit?
At Lloyd Miller Law, our auto accident lawyers accept injury cases on a contingency fee basis. We deduct our attorney fees from the insurance check you receive only when we win your case. If you don’t get paid, neither do we.
What damages can I recover after a car accident?
In Illinois, car accident victims can recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more by filing a lawsuit or personal injury claim.
How much time do I have to file an injury lawsuit in Illinois?
Car accident victims have just 2 years from the date of the auto accident to file a claim against the negligent party or the insurance company.
Can I Handle My Own Injury Claim With an Auto Insurance Company?
While you can certainly handle your own injury claim with the auto insurance company, we don’t recommend that you do so. People who hire personal injury lawyers to handle their car accident claims recover up to 300% more than those who handle their claims on their own.
What Happens if the Insurance Company Denies Liability in a Car Accident Claim?
If the insurance company denied liability in your car accident claim, you should hire an experienced car accident attorney right away. Claims denials are often used by insurers to protect their bottom line – even when they are convinced the insured was at-fault. Your attorney may work with accident reconstruction specialists and other experts to investigate your case, uncovering details that were missed or concealed previously. It’s often in these small details that car accident cases are won.
Should I Give a Statement to The Insurance Company?
If you were involved in a car accident, you should not provide a statement to the insurance company without getting advice from your attorney first. Insurers frequently twist the words of unsuspecting victims to avoid playing out on claims.
Why is it Important to Visit the Doctor After a Car Accident?
Seeing a doctor after a car accident is important because doing so ensures your well-being and provides documentation that protects your right to receive compensation for your losses. Without medical records that support your injury claim, it will be hard for your car accident attorney to prove you suffered injuries in the crash.