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Award Winning Chicago personal injury lawyer

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Award Winning Chicago personal injury lawyer

Jonathan Rosenfeld - J.D

November 28, 2024

  • Over $450 Million worth of case results
  • Awarded The Best Lawyer in 2024 by U.S. News

When you need to hire a car accident lawyer to help you with your accident claim, Rosenfield Injury Lawyers is here to help you throughout the legal process and get you the justice you deserve. 

Car accidents can have immense emotional, physical, and financial impacts on someone’s life. Emotional impacts, such as a fear of getting in a vehicle again could arise, requiring mental health counseling to overcome phobias. 

Physical impacts could include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, disfigurement, and other serious injuries altering your life forever. These injuries often require ongoing medical care, leading to increased financial burdens.

Due to the cost of ongoing medical care, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity, the financial impacts of a car accident could significantly affect your quality of life. Whether the car crash is due to drunk driving or carelessness, a car accident lawyer can help you throughout the entire process.

Read on to learn more about the settlement process, what types of damages you can recover, and how long the process takes with our expert team of car accident attorneys. 

Settlements Secured on Behalf of Car Accident Victims

It is an unfortunate fact that there are numerous car accidents across the country each day. The effects of the accident, both physical and mental, can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life. So, what is the average settlement we win for our clients? 

The average car accident settlement depends on the severity of the injuries, and the extent of medical care required for treatment. 

Therefore, it is quite difficult to initially put a dollar figure on a case as each one is different. However, in past car accident settlements, we’ve obtained anywhere between $25,000-$75,000 for our clients. 

In one example, involving a rear-seat passenger who suffered fatal injuries, we were able to secure $1,000,000 for the car accident victim’s family. In another instance, our car accident attorneys secured $7,000,000 for a pedestrian hit by a company car.

These statistics show we have an excellent track record of success for our clients. If you were involved in a car accident, you can trust Rosenfield Injury Lawyers to provide you with a settlement that covers your medical expenses, helping you get your life back. As your car accident lawyer, we will fight for you every step of the way.

How Common Are Car Accidents?

Car accidents are an all too common occurrence. This is why accident lawyers are always at the ready to help victims recover damages. Here are a few car accident statistics, showing how frequent accidents are throughout the midwest.

  • Nearly 41,000 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2023, a decrease of about 3.6% from 2022​. [1]
  • Most car accidents happen between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm, typically during commuting hours. Fatal crashes are most frequent on Thursdays and Fridays. [2]
  • The average cost of a car accident in the U.S. is $9,500, including medical bills, lost work time, and property damage​. [2]

These statistics are quite shocking, and explain the increase in car accident claims in the last few years. If you were in an accident, you can file a car accident lawsuit to recover damages for your injuries, and the financial toll the accident has taken on your life. 

The Most Common Causes of Car Accidents

Car accidents occur at alarming rates nationwide. But what causes these accidents to occur? Some of the most common causes include:

  • Distracted Driving: Distracted driving can include texting, talking on the phone, or just not paying attention. It’s estimated to account for 9% of fatal crashes in the US. [2]
  • Speeding: Many drivers do not obey the speed limit, causing catastrophic accidents and putting lives in danger. This is behind 29% of fatal car accidents. [2]
  • Drunk Driving: Although easily avoided, drunk driving continues to be one of the leading causes of auto accidents nationwide. It accounts for a third of traffic deaths. [2]
  • Reckless Driving: Reckless driving, such as making unsafe lane changes, speeding, or just a blatant disregard of others safety is one of the main causes of auto accidents.
  • Adverse Weather Conditions: Rain, snow, fog, and the lack of being able to adapt to changing weather conditions can cause auto accidents.

As personal injury lawyers, we have experienced many of our clients falling victim to the above. It can be difficult to fight these car accident claims on your own, which is why it’s best to hire an experienced car accident lawyer to handle your case, while you focus on recovery. 

The Most Common Car Accident Injuries

When our clients are involved in a car accident, our personal injury attorneys jump into action to help them recover the costs of their medical bills. The most common car accident injuries our clients have experienced, include:

  • Traumatic Brain Injury: Traumatic brain injuries are when the brain experiences a hard impact. This could result in long-term disability, or even death.
  • Back Injuries: Back injuries are common in an accident. Back injuries could cause immense pain, and even financial difficulties, by not being able to return to work.
  • Spinal Cord Injury: Spinal cord injuries can be extremely painful, and severely impact your quality of life.
  • Severe Burns: An auto accident could cause severe burns, especially if the victim’s skin makes contact with a hot liquid, such as oil or water.
  • Internal Injuries: Damage to internal organs could occur when flying debris impacts the body. This could cause internal bleeding, and should be treated immediately.
  • Broken Bones: Due to the nature of the impact, the victim could break arms, legs, ribs, ankles, and other bones.
  • Whiplash: Whiplash occurs due to the immense forces at play during an accident. Whiplash could cause neck pain, and soft tissue damage.

An accident victim might experience multiple injuries during a car accident. Even in minor car accidents, whiplash and other injuries could occur. If you have been involved in a car accident, it is important to seek medical attention, as injuries could present themselves hours, or even days after the accident. 

What Should You Do Immediately After a Car Wreck?

After a motor vehicle accident, it is important to remain calm, and assess the situation around you. There are a few key actions you should take immediately after an automobile accident that will help your personal injury claim. So, what should you do immediately after a car wreck?

  • Take Photos and Video: It is critical to take pictures and video of the scene. This provides concrete evidence to the insurance company.
  • Seek medical attention: Even if you are not suffering from severe injuries, it is important to seek medical attention. This provides evidence to the insurance company that you were examined and treated as necessary. 
  • Gather Insurance Information: To recover compensation, it is important to get the insurance information from everyone involved, especially, the other driver. The insurance company of the at fault driver will ultimately be the one to cover your expenses. 
  • Eyewitness Testimony: If anyone witnessed the accident, it is critical to record their contact information. This will come in handy later when negotiating with the at fault driver’s car insurance. 
  • File a Police Report: It is critical for every personal injury lawsuit to file a police report. This tells the insurance company that the police were on the scene. 

You Have A Limited Time to File Your Claim

It is important to file your claim as soon as possible. Typically, the statute of limitations nationwide for filing car crash cases is two to four years. Always consider contacting an experienced car accident attorney to help represent you with your claim. 

Depending on the state you were injured in, the statute of limitations can be even shorter, so it’s important to check with each individual jurisdiction. In Illinois, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years, where in neighboring Missouri, it is five years.

If you are planning to file a personal injury claim due to an auto accident, it is important to file before the statute of limitations expires. If you try to file after this time period, it will be difficult to receive compensation.

Do You Have a Car Accident Case?

When it comes to motor vehicle accidents, there are certain elements needed for a case and to receive compensation. The most crucial elements include:

  • Duty of Care: The individual responsible for the accident had a legal obligation to act safely, and with a certain degree of care. This is the first element that must be present to file a negligence suit. 
  • Breach: This is when the duty of care is breached, and the individual acted in a way that could harm another. The most important element that must be present here is the person or organization owed the victim a certain duty of care.
  • Causation: You must establish causation to initiate a personal injury case. In a legal sense, causation means that the individual’s negligence directly correlated to the injuries the victim sustained. 
  • Damages: Damages are the injuries and financial losses the victim sustained, and are seeking to recover. Some common damages include future medical expenses, loss of wages, and emotional trauma. 

It is critical to have an experienced auto accident attorney handle the legalities of your case. It can be daunting to navigate the legal system on your own, especially when you are working towards recovery. 

For a minor motor vehicle accident, you may wonder whether or not you are able to seek legal counsel. The bottom line is that if you suffered injuries, whether physical or mental, due to a car accident, you can seek legal counsel to recover compensation. There are a few reasons why an individual might sue for a minor car accident.

Although it may have been a minor accident, the expenses can quickly add up. Expenses such as repair costs, medical bills, and even counseling due to mental anguish could constitute seeking legal action. Regardless of how minor the auto accident might be, it is critical to seek medical attention immediately, as many injuries may not present themselves until days after the accident occurred.

In many cases, the victim will try to negotiate with the insurance company of the at fault party. If these negotiations fail, it might be worthwhile to hire a car accident lawyer  to handle your claim. Your attorney is a skilled negotiator, and knows how to get a fair settlement from the insurance company. 

Does Fault Impact Whether or Not You Have a Case?

Yes, fault is a critical element in whether or not you have a case. To have a car accident claim, you must demonstrate the at-fault party acted negligently, and caused injury to the victim. 

Fault is a major component of whether or not you have a personal injury case. In personal injury law, there are fault states and no-fault states. In no-fault states, each individual insurance company cover’s each individual’s damages, regardless of who is ultimately found at fault.

However, in the case of serious injury, the threshold for no-fault systems might allow legal action. 

In comparison, in fault states, the insurance company of the at-fault party pays for the damages to the victim, so their own insurance company does not have to pay out. Therefore, it depends on where the accident took place as to whether fault impacts if you have a case.

There is also the component of comparative negligence, which is used in some jurisdictions to determine the degree of fault, and the allocation of damages in a personal injury case. Comparative negligence is often used when more than one party is found at fault in the accident. There are two different types of comparative negligence:

  1. Pure Comparative Negligence is where each individual involved is assigned a percentage of fault, and is responsible for paying their percentage of damages. 
  2. Modified Comparative Negligence is a little different, as in some cases, if a party is found more than 50% at fault, they might not be eligible for any damages.

When considering fault vs. no-fault states, and the jurisdictions using comparative negligence, there are quite a few elements involved in deciding whether or not you have a case. This is why it’s best to have a trusted personal injury attorney by your side throughout the entire process.

Following a car accident, the first matter that must be addressed is determining who is at fault. In many cases, fault is determined by who is responsible for the accident, whether they were distracted, under the influence, or just acting carelessly. 

The insurance companies use this information to award settlements to the affected parties. Depending on each individual case, fault is sometimes evident, other times it is more difficult to determine. 

Some of the ways to determine fault include the on-scene police report, drivers involved, and the actions of insurance companies. Although this varies significantly, depending on if there were traffic law violations, the type of accident, (i.e. a rear-end collision), and the amount of damage done to the vehicles. 

Police reports can be a crucial piece of evidence in your case. A report from the police officer who arrived at the scene provides insight of how the scene appeared after the accident, such as skid marks, road conditions, or other elements that could have led to the accident. Although this is a crucial piece of evidence, it is not the final determination of fault.

In the case of multi-vehicle accidents, determination of fault gets a bit more complex. In most cases, the insurance company and law enforcement gather evidence from the scene and the parties involved. The officer could take photographs to document the scene, and could get statements from the individuals involved. 

In states with comparative negligence, multiple parties could share liability for the accident. In most cases, any injured party can seek compensation as long as they are not determined more than 50% at fault for the accident. 

In the event of a chain-reaction crash, determination of liability becomes even more difficult. It is an unfortunate reality that chain-reaction crashes can make it challenging to determine who is liable for the damages, and can make it difficult to file a personal injury claim against the other drivers. 

For a crash to be considered a chain-reaction incident, usually three or more vehicles must be involved. In most cases, the driver that caused the initial collision will be found at fault for the accident, however, this is not always the case, and is different depending on each individual accident. 

This can all be confusing, but your car accident attorneys can guide you through these chaotic times, and help you get the justice you deserve. 

Our Car Accident Law Firm Is Here to Help You

Jonathan Rosenfeld Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer

As car accident attorneys, our firm is here for you every step of the way. We will help you understand the legalities of your case, and ensure you are kept updated on your case’s progress. 

Regardless of which type of car accident injuries you have sustained, our experienced legal team will be with you. We will help you deal with the insurance company and help you get the maximum amount of damages possible for your car accident claim. 

Why Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

Hiring an accident lawyer is one of the first orders of business after an accident. Your attorney will represent you and fight for you every step of the way. Legal representation allows you the best opportunity to receive the maximum compensation possible for your damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. 

An auto accident attorney can help you with the legalities of your case by filing suit before the statute of limitations expires, navigating the complex legal system, and negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf. 

Furthermore, your auto accident lawyer will gather evidence, get eyewitness testimony, hire industry experts, and represent you in front of a jury if the case fails to settle outside of court. As your auto accident lawyers, we will be with you, every step of the way. 

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Attorney?

Rosenfield Injury Lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning we do not get paid unless we win your case. This allows nearly anyone to seek legal counsel from a car accident attorney after motor vehicle accidents, and negates costly legal fees. As your personal injury law firm, our main priority is helping you win your case, and we will not quit until it is resolved.

What Type of Damages Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help You Recover?

When a car accident occurs, there are a few different types of damages that can be awarded, these include:

  • Economic Damages: Damages that can easily be put into a dollar amount. These include medical expenses, cost of future treatment, and property damage.
  • Non-economic damages: Damages that are more difficult to assess; however, they are just as critical to the accident victim. These include pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and mental anguish, such as post traumatic stress disorder.
  • Punitive Damages: In rare cases, punitive damages may be handed down to the party responsible for the accident and are intended as a punishment or deterrent. 
  • Wrongful Death Damages: Wrongful death damages are possible when an accident results in the death of the victim. Damages are awarded to the next of kin, and are usually based on the individual’s income or future income.

We understand this can all be extremely confusing, however, Rosenfield Injury Lawyers are here to help! We can help with most car accidents, and provide you a free case review to see if it is worth pursuing legal action. 

We can help you determine who is at fault for your accident, and what damages you are entitled to for your pain and suffering, future medical expenses, severe injuries and property damage. 

Settlement Negotiations and Litigation

Negotiating fair settlements with insurance companies is one of the most difficult aspects of the settlement process. Insurance companies will often provide accident victims with the lowest possible compensation if a lawyer is not present. 

As your personal injury law firm, our attorneys are skilled negotiators, and will be able to get you the maximum compensation possible for your case.

How Long Does It Typically Take to Settle a Car Accident Case?

How long it takes to settle car accident cases depends on each individual situation. Oftentimes, it can take anywhere between 12-18 months to settle your case. In most cases, lawsuits are settled either during or after the discovery phase. 

The time it takes to settle is often determined by the amount of evidence collected and how skilled your attorney is at negotiating your damages with the insurance companies. Luckily, our firm has some of the best car accident attorneys in the nation, and have won tens of millions of dollars for our clients.

If a settlement cannot be reached with the insurance company, we will begin preparation for potential litigation. Your personal injury lawyer will represent you in front of a jury, and present your case. 

This is one of the most important reasons to hire a personal injury lawyer, as your attorney is a skilled litigator, and knows how the court operates within their jurisdiction. As an experienced car accident attorney, we will fight for you every step of the way.  From your consultation to the potential litigation phase, we will be by your side.

What Type of Cases Can Our Car Accident Lawyers Help With?

There are a few common types of collisions usually due to distracted driving, drunk driving, or just pure recklessness. The most common types of collisions your car accident lawyers can help with include: 

Rear End Collisions

Rear end collisions are when one vehicle strikes the rear bumper of another vehicle.  In most cases, the driver striking the vehicle in front of them is found to be at fault.

Head On Collisions

Head on collisions are one of the most serious, often resulting in catastrophic injuries.  This is when two vehicles collide facing each other.

T-Bone Collisions

A T-bone collision is when one vehicle strikes the side of another vehicle.  This type of collision forms a “T” at the point of impact.

Roll Over Accident

Roll over accidents occur when a car leaves its four wheels and turns over either on its side or roof.  This is a very serious type of accident and can result in broken bones as well as other serious injuries.

Hit and Run Accidents

Hit and run accidents occur when a vehicle is involved in an accident and leaves the scene.  This is a serious offense and can complicate matters further when it comes to assigning fault.

Fatal Car Accidents

When one or more occupants in the vehicle die from their injuries. This could result in pain and suffering and mental anguish for the individual’s family, often leading to a wrongful death lawsuit.

Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers For Your Free Consultation

Jonathan Rosenfeld, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer

Get in touch with Rosenfield Injury Lawyers to learn more about how we can help you with your case. There is no risk and no cost to you! Our personal injury lawyers are experts in handling car crash cases, and will be with you every step of the way. 

From gathering evidence, to negotiating with the insurance companies, to potential litigation, we are your premier legal partners. It is so important to consider contacting legal experts to help you with your case, so contact us today! We are here to help you with your personal injury claims!

Specific Cases We Handle

Resources: [1] NHTSA, [2] House Grail, [3] AutoInsurance

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Consulting an experienced attorney is a critical first step in understanding your legal options. During a free consultation, we will examine the unique details of your case, explain the possible paths forward, and answer any questions you may have. Our skilled lawyers will provide you with personalized advice tailored to your needs, helping you understand your rights and explore the options available to pursue fair compensation.

350+ reviews

Client reviews

“Jonathan Rosenfeld was professionally objective, timely, and knowledgeable. Also, his advice was extremely effective regarding my case. In addition, Jonathan was understanding and patient pertaining to any of my questions or concerns. I was very happy with the end result and I highly recommend Jonathan Rosenfeld.”

Michonne Proulx

“Extremely impressed with this law firm. They took control of a bad motorcycle crash that left my uncle seriously injured. Without any guarantee of a financial recovery, they went out and hired accident investigators and engineers to help prove how the accident happened. I am grateful that they worked on a contingency fee basis as there was no way we could have paid for these services on our own.”

Ethan Armstrong

“Jonathan Rosenfeld was professionally objective, timely, and knowledgeable. Also, his advice was extremely effective regarding my case. In addition, Jonathan was understanding and patient pertaining to any of my questions or concerns. I was very happy with the end result and I highly recommend Jonathan Rosenfeld.”

Giulia

“This lawyer really helped me get compensation for my motorcycle accident case. I know there is no way that I could have gotten anywhere near the amount that Mr. Rosenfeld was able to get to settle my case. Thank you.”

– Daniel Kaim

“Jonathan did a great job helping my family navigate through a lengthy lawsuit involving my grandmother’s death in a nursing home. Through every step of the case, Jonathan kept my family informed of the progression of the case. Although our case eventually settled at a mediation, I really was impressed at how well prepared Jonathan was to take the case to trial.”

Lisa