Elgin Car Accident Attorney
A car accident has the power to inflict serious and painful physical injuries, emotional trauma and expensive costs. In the overwhelming aftermath of a motor vehicle collision in Elgin, know that help is available at Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman, LLC.
Our local team of car accident lawyers and support staff can assist you with a claim to ensure that you are treated fairly. We will fight for the case results, accountability and financial compensation that you deserve. Contact us to begin with a free case evaluation.
Why Choose Our Elgin Car Accident Attorney?
- Our law firm takes a unique approach to personal injury law. We are a modern law firm where client communication and client satisfaction come first. We work as a team for every car accident case so that no stone is left unturned.
- We have collected over $500 million on behalf of our clients and are nationally recognized for our case results. Our litigators do not back down from a fight and are willing to go to trial on a car accident case in Elgin, if necessary, for maximum compensation.
- We bring together skill, dedication, knowledge and legal resources to pursue life-changing results for clients. We will help you rebuild your life as much as possible and move forward with greater peace of mind in the aftermath of a serious car crash.
What Can a Car Accident Attorney Do for You?
Hiring an attorney to act as your negotiator and litigator during a car accident claim in Elgin can improve the outcome of your case while protecting you from the stress of the legal process. A car accident attorney can take care of crash investigation, evidence collection, case analysis, settlement negotiations and litigation at trial, if necessary, to maximize your case results.
A car insurance company does not want to offer you the best payout possible during this difficult time; instead, it wants to protect its own profits by minimizing your payout. It may try to do this using various tactics to underpay you, such as denying or delaying your claim. You have the right to hire a lawyer to advocate for you during conversations with a claims adjuster to fight for a fair outcome.
Elgin, Illinois Car Crash Statistics
Elgin is a city located 35 miles northwest of Chicago with a population of around 115,000. It is situated in both Cook and Kane counties. Cook County is the most dangerous for drivers in Illinois, based on crash statistics collected by the Illinois Department of Transportation. In 2023, Cook County had 160,036 crashes, including 356 fatal accidents and 29,781 injury crashes. Kane County had 10,286 reported motor vehicle accidents and 43 fatalities.
Common Types of Car Accidents and Their Causes
The majority of motor vehicle accidents reported in Elgin are caused by driver error or negligence, meaning a driver not behaving with proper care. One of the most common causes of collisions in Illinois is driver distraction or inattention. The most dangerous form of distraction is texting while driving.
Driver distraction can result in the following types of collisions in Elgin:
- Rear-end collision
- Chain reaction crash
- Intersection accident
- Sideswipe accident
- Lane-change accident
- Blind spot accident
- Bicycle or pedestrian collision
Drowsy driving can cause similar collisions due to the tired driver’s inability to focus on the road. Another common issue is driving under the influence (DUI). Driving while intoxicated can result in catastrophic accidents such as high-speed collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, wrong-way accidents, and hit-and-runs.
Liability for a Car Accident in Elgin, Illinois
Most states use either a fault or no-fault rule when it comes to determining liability, or financial accountability, for an automobile accident. The majority of states, including Illinois, have fault laws. Under this insurance rule, crash victims have the right to hold at-fault parties responsible for their losses.
The other driver involved in your crash is legally required to carry minimum amounts of liability insurance to pay for your medical bills and property damage repairs in the aftermath of an at-fault accident. However, it will be up to you or your personal injury attorney to prove fault using evidence. Keep in mind that someone other than the driver could also be to blame, such as the manufacturer of a defective vehicle part.
Determining and proving liability are tasks that an experienced car accident attorney at Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman, LLC can handle for you. We have years of experience navigating Illinois’s car accident and insurance laws on behalf of our clients. We will explore all sources of compensation and liable parties.
What Happens if I Am Blamed for a Car Accident in Elgin?
Illinois follows a “modified comparative negligence” law that can affect your financial recovery if you are determined to share fault for a car accident in Elgin. Under 735 Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) 5/2-1116, if a victim is given a proportion of fault for an accident or injury, his or her financial damages will be “diminished in the proportion to the amount of fault attributable to the plaintiff.”
For example, if you are found to be 20 percent responsible for a car crash, a $100,000 settlement would be reduced by a matching 20 percent ($20,000) to $80,000. There is a cap, however, of 50 percent of fault. If you are found to have the majority share of fault, you will no longer be eligible for any financial compensation from a defendant.
Statute of Limitations for a Car Accident Case in Elgin
You should take prompt action to file a claim for a car accident in Elgin, Illinois. Under a state law known as the statute of limitations, you have a limited time to pursue financial compensation. In addition, waiting can risk evidence in your favor becoming lost or destroyed.
The best thing you can do to protect your rights is to contact an attorney at Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman, LLC as soon as possible. We will take over claims filing to ensure you meet the deadline, which is two years from the date of the accident under 735 ILCS 5/13-202 (with some exceptions).
Schedule Your Free Consultation in Elgin
Hiring the right car accident attorney can make a critical difference to your legal experience and the outcome of your case if you get injured in a car accident in Elgin. The lawyers at Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman, LLC have a reputation for providing unparalleled customer service and getting the results clients need.
Contact our local car accident lawyers for a free, no-obligation consultation to explore your legal options. You can call (312) 586-1700 or fill out our online contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.