Chicago Car Accident Attorney

Motor vehicle accidents are among the most common personal injury cases handled by the team at Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman, LLC. The injuries sustained in a car crash can be severe and life-changing, and the road to recovery can be long and costly. Insurance companies often make it difficult to secure full coverage for your medical expenses, and in some cases, ongoing care may be needed for years. If you’re facing this challenge, a Chicago car accident lawyer from our firm can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

Contact us today at (312) 586-1700 to schedule your free consultation. We’re here to guide you through every step of the process.

Why Choose Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman to Represent You?

Our prominent Chicago personal injury law firm was established by four highly accomplished attorneys. This isn’t mere rhetoric; it’s a testament to our years of dedicated service in the realm of personal injury law, advocating for victims of negligence. Collectively, we offer decades of experience handling a wide range of injury and accident cases.

Proven results: Our firm has recovered over $500 million in settlements and record-setting jury verdicts on behalf of our clients. We will advocate aggressively for your maximum possible compensation.
Decades of experience: Our Chicago personal injury attorneys have decades of experience representing clients in their personal injury claims, including car accidents. We will leverage our knowledge and skill set to craft a compelling case in your favor and protect your rights.
We take care of you: Navigating an auto accident claim can be difficult after a recent injury. Our attorneys will handle all aspects of your case on your behalf, allowing you to focus on recovery—not paperwork.

What Are My Legal Options After an Accident in Illinois?

Through a car accident claim, you can recover damages for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you are in a car accident with an at-fault driver, you have three options to recover this compensation.

You can file a car accident lawsuit against the at-fault driver in Illinois civil court.
You can file an insurance claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
You can file an insurance claim with your own auto insurance company, if you have the appropriate policy.

What Happens If a Loved One Dies in a Car Accident?

In the most tragic cases, car accidents can result in the wrongful death of a loved one. If you’ve lost a family member due to a car accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit with the help of a Chicago wrongful death lawyer.

What Happens If I Am Partially at Fault for an Accident?

Being accused of causing or partially contributing to an accident can be a challenging situation, and it’s a tactic often used by insurance companies and at-fault parties to reduce their financial responsibility. By shifting some or all of the blame onto you, they aim to limit the compensation you may receive. Under Illinois’ modified comparative negligence system, you can still recover compensation if you are less than 51% responsible for the accident. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

How Much Are Most Chicago Car Accident Settlements?

The value of car accident settlements in Chicago can vary widely, as every case depends on the specific circumstances involved. Factors like the severity of injuries, the extent of property damage, medical expenses, and the impact on your daily life all play a role in determining the final settlement amount. While some cases may resolve for a few thousand dollars, others involving catastrophic injuries could reach six or seven figures.

Notable Car Accident Settlements We’ve Secured For Our Clients

$4.8 Million

A combined verdict and settlement for a family of three that sustained significant injuries in a car crash in Chicago. This was a zero offer case in which our client was actually improperly ticketed.

$3.125 Million

Awarded in DuPage County for an ankle injury following a vehicle roll-over collision.

$2.5 Million

A settlement amount given for a bicyclist hit by a car and suffered multiple injuries.

$1.2 Million

Awarded for a rear-end collision with no property damage for a woman who had back surgery.

$1.045 Million

An excess verdict in an automobile case. We tried to settle the case without filing a lawsuit for the full policy limit of $250,000, but Allstate refused to offer the money and denied the claims arguing that the injuries suffered by our clients were not related to the collision. Allstate ultimately settled for a total of $1,045,923 after the trial.

View More Case Results

What Damages Can I Recover in a Car Accident Claim in Chicago?

Under Illinois law, car accident victims have the right to recover two types of damages: economic damages and non-economic damages. These categories address both tangible financial losses and intangible suffering caused by the accident.

Economic Damages

Economic damages refer to the tangible financial losses you may experience due to a car accident. These are measurable costs that often come with bills, receipts, and invoices. Common economic damages include:

Medical expenses: You can recover compensation for all past and future medical costs associated with your accident, such as doctor’s visits, surgeries, hospital stays, and prescription medications.
Disability accommodations: If your injuries result in disabilities, you may require special accommodations. Compensation can cover home and vehicle modifications, mobility equipment, and live-in care or in-home assistance
Lost wages and future earnings: Car accident victims are often unable to work during recovery.You can recover damages for lost wages during your recovery period, as well as loss of future earning capacity and benefits if you cannot return to work due to permanent injuries.
Vehicle repairs and replacements: You are entitled to compensation for property damage, which includes vehicle repairs and replacements for any other personal property damaged in the accident
Rehabilitation and therapy costs: Rehabilitation can be essential for recovery. Economic damages may cover physical therapy, occupational therapy, and mental health counseling.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages involve losses that do not come with a specific price tag but have significant impacts on your quality of life. These damages include compensation for emotional and physical suffering.

Physical pain and suffering: This category covers the physical consequences of your injuries, such as chronic pain, permanent disability, disfigurement or scarring, and amputation or loss of function
Emotional pain and suffering: Non-economic damages may include compensation for emotional distress, anxiety or depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Chicago?

According to Illinois Statutes Chapter 735. Civil Procedure § 5/13-202, car accident lawsuits must be filed in civil court within two years from the date an injury occurs. If a crash victim fails to file a lawsuit against the alleged negligent party within this two-year time frame, then the case will likely be dismissed, and the victim will not be able to recover compensation for their losses.

What About Filing an Insurance Claim?

Most Chicago car accident cases are resolved through settlements with insurance carriers. Each insurance carrier involved in a case will have its own reporting deadlines that individuals need to be aware of. It is best to file a car accident claim within a day or two after the incident occurs to avoid the insurance carrier delaying or denying the claim for failure to meet their deadlines.

How Is Negligence Established in Chicago Car Accident Cases?

In the state of Illinois, a fault-based system is used to determine liability after a vehicle accident occurs. Some states use a no-fault system in which individuals will turn to their own insurance carriers for compensation after an accident, regardless of who caused the incident. However, since this is a fault-based system, determining liability is important period this revolves around establishing negligence, which includes four separate elements.

The Four Elements of Negligence

Duty. Every driver on the roadway owes a duty of care to others around them. This duty extends to those inside other vehicles as well as pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. A driver’s duty includes operating the vehicle within the confines of traffic law. Establishing a duty of care in a car accident case in Chicago is not challenging. So long as drivers were operating vehicles, they did indeed owe a duty of care to others.
Breach. Establishing a breach of duty is more challenging. Drivers can breach their duty of care to others on the roadway in a variety of ways. This includes but is not limited to speeding, following others too closely, driving while impaired, driving distracted, failing to yield the right of way, road rage incidents, and more. There will need to be an extensive investigation into the incident to determine whether or not one driver breached their duty of care.
Causation. After establishing that a breach of duty occurred, a plaintiff and their Chicago auto accident attorney will need to show that the breach directly or indirectly led to injuries or property damage.
Damages. Lastly, it must be shown that the plaintiff sustained some sort of monetary loss as a result of the vehicle accident that occurred.

Understanding the Entire Car Accident Case Process

Below is a complete breakdown from start to finish of what you can expect for your car accident claim.

Investigation: After a car accident, a thorough investigation is essential to establish liability and gather evidence to support your claim. This process involves collecting police reports, witness statements, and any available video footage of the accident. Your attorney will work diligently to determine who was at fault and build a strong case on your behalf.
Medical treatment: Seeking immediate medical attention after a car accident is crucial, even if your injuries seem minor at first. Delayed symptoms can develop later, and medical documentation is key to your injury claim. It’s important to keep all records of medical bills, treatments, and prescriptions. These will be necessary for both your recovery and your legal case to ensure that you’re compensated for all current and future medical costs.
Filing a claim with your insurance company: Once you’ve received medical treatment, it’s time to notify your insurance company about the accident. Your attorney will guide you through this process, ensuring you provide the right information without jeopardizing your claim. While you need to cooperate with your own insurer, be cautious about providing detailed statements without consulting your Chicago car accident lawyer first. Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts, so legal guidance is critical.
Further investigation: During this stage, your attorney may conduct additional investigation to gather more evidence or hire experts to strengthen your case. In complex cases, accident reconstruction experts may be brought in to recreate the incident and clarify how the accident occurred, which can be useful in establishing liability.
Prepare a settlement demand: Once your medical treatment is complete and the investigation is finalized, your car accident attorney in Chicago will prepare a settlement demand to present to the at-fault party’s insurance company. They will draft a detailed demand letter outlining your injuries, damages, and the compensation you are seeking. This is a crucial step in the negotiation process.
Discovery in preparation for trial: If the case does not settle, the next phase is discovery, where both sides exchange information in preparation for trial. This may involve depositions, interrogatories, and document requests. Depositions allow attorneys to question witnesses and involved parties under oath, providing valuable information for trial.
Mediation and pre-trial conferences: Before the case goes to trial, there may be opportunities to resolve the dispute through mediation or pre-trial conferences, which can result in a settlement without the need for a full trial. Mediation allows both parties to negotiate with the help of a neutral third party. Often, this can lead to a fair settlement and avoid the lengthy trial process.
Trial: If all previous attempts to settle fail, your case will go to trial, where a judge or jury will determine the outcome based on the evidence presented. Your attorney will represent you at trial, presenting evidence, questioning witnesses, and making arguments to secure the compensation you deserve.

Claim Your Free Consultation with Our Chicago Car Accident Attorney Today

If you, a family member, a loved one, or someone you know has been injured due to negligence, it will cost you nothing to discuss your injury case with an attorney. Reach out to our accident lawyers anytime by filling our online form, or by phone at (312) 586-1700 and get legal representation from an experienced accident attorney in Chicago.

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