Here at 844 See Mike, we proudly serve the citizens of Rockford in personal injury cases, including when you or a loved one has suffered injuries or wrongful death in a car accident, and our auto accident attorneys are fully committed to protecting your rights and ensuring that the other party is held legally accountable when negligence occurs. We will fight until the very end to ensure that you receive full financial compensation for all injuries and losses resulting from the car accident, including medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and you won’t owe us a dime for our services. Contact our Rockford car accident lawyers today for a free consultation.
Car Accidents
Automobile accidents occur all the time, and auto accident cases are among the most common types of personal injury claims. Many victims suffer injuries, and common car accident injuries include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries (SCIs), and internal injuries. In addition to personal injury law, Illinois also has certain highway laws that may apply to some personal injury claims.
Aside from negligence, here are some common examples of mechanical problems in vehicles which may result in an accident and/or serious injury:
Brake/tire failures
Drivers must ensure that their tires are fully inflated and have proper traction, and worn-out brake pads or defective brake-line systems can also be dangerous, as they significantly reduce the driver’s ability to stop.
Lighting system failures
Visibility is essential when driving in inclement weather, and drivers must ensure that all of their lights are working properly. Unfortunately, many drivers may not realize they have a lighting-defect until they are caught in poor weather conditions, so it’s important to check them regularly even when it isn’t absolutely necessary.
Steering/suspension failures
Loss of steering control means lost control of the vehicle, which can be dangerous and even deadly if a driver careens into a fixed object or one or more vehicles.
Negligence
However, most car crashes and associated personal injuries result from a driver’s poor judgment or decision-making. Here are the most common driver errors:
Disregard for other vehicles
Many accidents result from a driver’s failure to check his/her blind spot or identify vehicles, motorcyclists, bicyclists, or pedestrians who have the right-of-way in a given situation; these accidents are especially common at night and in poor weather conditions. Drowsy or fatigued driving also count as negligence.
Distracted driving accidents
Distractions to drivers have always existed, but not to the extent that smartphones and similar devices have taken it today. Distraction by electronic devices while driving now results in serious and even fatal auto accidents on a daily basis and is a contributing factor in more auto accidents than ever before, and we strongly encourage all drivers to put their phones and other devices away when behind the wheel.
Intoxicated driving
Intoxicated driving remains a problem, and drunk driving now results in as much as one-third of all auto-related deaths. These are very serious and preventable accidents and the drunk driver must be held accountable for the damages that result from their negligence.
Speeding
Speeding and reckless driving correlate strongly to injuries sustained in car accidents, and it remains a common factor in accidents overall. It’s important for drivers to understand that speeding is ultimately ineffective for getting them to their destinations quicker, as violating speed limits may only result in one or two minutes saved at most and is not worth the increased risk of an accident.
What to Do After a Car Accident
While a motor vehicle accident is never expected, it’s important for drivers of all ages to understand the necessary steps to take after an accident has occurred, provided that they are safely able to do so. In any case, your health and well-being are most important, especially after a serious car accident. Here are the ideal steps for a car accident victim to take:
Contact the Police
Simply relay the facts of the car crash and follow any instructions when an officer arrives on the accident scene. Before leaving, be sure to request a copy of the police report or instructions for how to obtain it once it is filed.
Inform your insurance company without admitting fault
Some insurance companies have time-limits for car accident victims to inform them of the accident. Be honest about the facts of the accident, but do not admit fault, make any legal conclusions, or say anything that could be used against your insurance claim at a later time. All other details should be saved for personal injury lawyers and your car accident case.
Receive medical attention
Seek medical treatment as soon as possible, even after a minor car accident or if you do not believe you’ve been seriously injured. Some injuries from motor vehicle accidents, even serious injuries, do not produce symptoms until hours or even days later, so it’s important that any potential injuries are identified and evaluated immediately.
Exchange information with the other driver
Exchange full legal names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance carriers, license plate numbers, and other necessary contact information with the drivers involved.
Take necessary notes and photographs
Write down any important details or circumstances pertaining to the accident, at-fault driver, or surrounding scene, as they will be valuable later in your personal injury claim. Also take pictures of the damaged vehicles, the accident scene, any visible injuries, and anything else relevant to the accident.
Obtain witness statements
If anyone directly witnessed the accident, use a notepad or even a smartphone or similar recording device to obtain statements if they are willing to provide them; these statements are very helpful in an auto accident lawsuit.
Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer
Our experienced personal injury attorneys are here for you every step of the way to ensure that your rights are protected and you receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses. Call us today for a free consultation regarding your car accident injury case, and remember that Illinois law contains a statute of limitations to file your case, and our state’s time limit is two (2) years from the date of the accident.
Insurance Claims
The insurance companies involved and the injuries you sustained may be factors in whether a lawsuit will be necessary, but there are multiple steps you can take to ensure that your personal injury case can be resolved in a fair and timely manner. Here are some forms of information that injury victims can provide:
- Complete medical bills and records from all doctors, hospitals, and health care providers;
- Reports from treating physicians or medical professionals regarding your injury, its permanency, and necessary treatment;
- Lost-wage verification from your employer and tax returns to support your wage-loss claim;
- Photos of your injury;
- Police reports and witness statements;
- Reports from accident-reconstruction experts or similar specialists to help determine damages and liability.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Today!
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you need an experienced car accident attorney. Contact 844 See Mike for a free case evaluation. We are a Chicago-based personal injury law firm with offices all across Illinois, and helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people and not the powerful, we will file your car accident claim and take care of the insurance adjusters, future medical expenses, property damage, and lost wages. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. Lastly, our car accident attorneys are not paid attorney fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.
