Car Accidents
Chicago Car Accident Lawyer
Helping Injured Drivers, Passengers and Pedestrians Recover Compensation After Serious Accidents
A serious car accident can change your life in seconds. In addition to physical injuries, accident victims may suddenly face medical bills, time away from work, vehicle damage, ongoing treatment, and pressure from insurance companies to resolve a claim before the full extent of their injuries is known.
At The Karlin Law Firm, LLC, we represent people injured in car accidents, pedestrian accidents, rideshare accidents, and other motor vehicle collisions throughout Chicago and Illinois. We investigate how the accident occurred, identify available insurance coverage, document our clients’ injuries and financial losses, and pursue compensation from the responsible parties and their insurers.
Whether an accident occurs on a Chicago neighborhood street, Lake Shore Drive, the Kennedy Expressway, the Eisenhower Expressway, or in the surrounding suburbs, our goal is to protect our client’s rights and pursue the full compensation supported by the evidence.
Car Accident Cases We Handle
Motor vehicle accidents occur for many reasons, but most serious collisions are preventable.
We represent clients injured in accidents involving:
- Distracted driving and texting while driving
- Speeding
- Drunk or impaired driving
- Reckless and aggressive driving
- Rear-end collisions
- Intersection accidents
- Failure to yield
- Red-light and stop-sign violations
- Pedestrian accidents
- Rideshare and Uber/Lyft accidents
- Uninsured and underinsured drivers
- Multi-vehicle collisions
- Serious and catastrophic injuries
Determining exactly how an accident occurred is an important part of establishing liability and building a strong personal injury claim.
Serious Injuries Caused by Chicago Car Accidents
Even an accident that initially appears straightforward can result in significant injuries requiring months or years of treatment.
Car accident injuries may include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Shoulder and knee injuries
- Nerve damage
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Internal injuries
- Chronic pain
- Psychological trauma
- Permanent disability
When injuries are serious, it is particularly important to understand the long-term medical prognosis before resolving an insurance claim.
What Compensation Can Be Recovered After a Car Accident in Illinois?
The value of a car accident claim depends on the individual circumstances of the collision and the injuries suffered.
Depending on the case, recoverable damages can include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of a normal life
- Property damage
- Other damages available under Illinois law
Insurance companies may attempt to minimize the seriousness of an injury or resolve a claim before the victim understands its long-term consequences. We evaluate the complete impact of an accident before recommending resolution.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident in Chicago?
The actions taken immediately after an accident can affect both your health and your ability to pursue compensation.
If you are involved in a collision:
- Seek medical attention. Your health comes first. Some injuries are not immediately apparent after an accident.
- Call the police. A police report can provide important information about the collision, drivers, witnesses and insurance coverage.
- Document the accident scene. If you can safely do so, photograph the vehicles, roadway, traffic signals, visible injuries and surrounding conditions.
- Obtain information from witnesses. Independent witnesses may become important if the drivers later disagree about how the accident occurred.
- Preserve evidence. Keep photographs, medical records, receipts, insurance correspondence and other documents related to the accident.
- Be cautious when speaking with insurance companies. An insurance adjuster’s job is to investigate and resolve claims on behalf of the insurance company. Consider obtaining legal advice before providing recorded statements or accepting a settlement.
- Speak with a car accident attorney. An attorney can evaluate liability, available insurance coverage and potential damages and help protect your rights throughout the claims process.
Pedestrian Accident Claims
Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable when struck by motor vehicles and often suffer severe injuries even in relatively low-speed collisions.
We represent pedestrians injured in crosswalk accidents, parking lots, shopping centers, intersections, and other locations throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
Pedestrian accident claims may involve distracted drivers, failure to yield, speeding, unsafe turns, or drivers who fail to observe pedestrians in crosswalks and parking areas.
Our firm has successfully obtained compensation for pedestrians suffering serious injuries, including fractures, following motor vehicle collisions.
Uber, Lyft and Rideshare Accident Claims
Accidents involving Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services can present additional insurance questions because available coverage may depend upon whether the rideshare driver was transporting a passenger, waiting for a ride request, or using the vehicle for personal purposes when the accident occurred.
We represent rideshare passengers, rideshare drivers, pedestrians, and occupants of other vehicles injured in accidents involving rideshare vehicles.
Identifying all potentially available insurance coverage is an important part of evaluating these claims.
What If the Other Driver Does Not Have Enough Insurance?
A serious injury can result in damages far exceeding the at-fault driver’s insurance limits.
Depending on your insurance coverage, you may be able to pursue an uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM) claim through your own automobile insurance policy.
We review available insurance policies to determine what coverage may apply and whether additional sources of recovery exist.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Illinois?
Illinois law imposes deadlines for filing personal injury lawsuits. The applicable deadline can vary depending on the circumstances, including the identity of the defendant, the age of the injured person, and other factors.
Waiting too long can also make it more difficult to preserve surveillance video, witness testimony, vehicle evidence and other important information.
For those reasons, accident victims should speak with an attorney promptly rather than waiting until a filing deadline approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions About Illinois Car Accident Claims
Should I accept the insurance company’s settlement offer?
Not before you understand the nature and extent of your injuries.
An early settlement may not account for future treatment, ongoing symptoms, lost income, or permanent limitations. Once a claim is finally settled and a release is signed, you generally cannot return later and demand additional compensation because your injuries turned out to be more serious than expected.
What if I was partially responsible for the accident?
Being partially responsible does not necessarily prevent recovery in Illinois.
Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence system. Depending on the degree of fault attributed to each party, an injured person may still recover damages, although the recovery may be reduced by that person’s percentage of responsibility.
Do all car accident cases go to court?
No. Many motor vehicle accident claims are resolved through negotiations with insurance companies without filing a lawsuit.
When an insurance company will not offer appropriate compensation, however, litigation may become necessary. We prepare each claim based on its individual circumstances and advise our clients whether negotiation, mediation, or litigation is the appropriate path forward.
Contact The Karlin Law Firm
If you or a family member has been seriously injured in a car accident, pedestrian accident, or rideshare collision, The Karlin Law Firm, LLC can evaluate your case and explain your legal options.
We provide individualized representation and direct attention to our clients while pursuing compensation from responsible drivers and insurance companies.
Contact us today, 773-661-9106 or pr.karlinlawfirm@gmail.com, for a confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights and options.