As per the latest available data, there were 3,900 car accidents in Aurora, Illinois in 2022. Of them, about 75% resulted in property damage. However, about 35% resulted in injuries too, and 13 people lost their lives in car accidents that year alone. [1]
If you or someone you love has been involved in a car accident, our experienced car accident lawyers are here to help you seek compensation. Read on to find out how to best improve your chances of winning a big settlement and give us a call for a no-obligation free case review.
What to Do After an Auto Accident in Aurora
Car accidents can be very stressful and disorienting. You may be seriously injured along with others in the car.
If safe and possible, get out of the car and move away from the flow of traffic. You should call 911 to get medical professionals on the scene right away, even if you feel fine, as some severe injuries in auto accidents may not show symptoms until later.
By following the simple steps below, you can ensure those responsible for your accident are made to pay for their negligence.
- Gather Evidence – Proactively capture photos and videos of the scene as it will be vital evidence to help establish fault once we begin the process of putting together your case.
- Exchange Information – Obtain insurance information from the other driver so that it’s easier to file your claim.
- File a Police Report – Once the police arrive at the accident scene, provide your statement with as much detail about how the accident happened as possible, as it will be very helpful in the legal process.
- Speak to an Aurora Car Accident Lawyer – There’s no replacement for professional legal assistance. Get in touch with an experienced car accident lawyer to significantly improve your chances of maximum compensation through effective legal representation.
You Have Limited Time to File a Car Accident Personal Injury Claim in Aurora, IL
The statute of limitations is a firm time limit in which legal action must be filed for personal injury or death from a car accident. Illinois law allows you to file personal injury claims within two years, claims for property damage within five years, and wrongful death lawsuits within two years of car accidents in Aurora.
There’s typically no exception to these time limits. A late filing may prevent you from claiming any damages from the at-fault driver. The importance of hiring a car accident attorney on time can’t be stressed enough. This is your first line of defense against the clock running out on your claim for damages.
Types of Cases Our Aurora Car Accident Attorneys Handle
As leading Aurora car accident attorneys, our law firm has handled both highly complicated and relatively straightforward cases. Regardless of the nature of your case, our commitment remains to securing the highest possible compensation for your pain and suffering.
- Hit and Run Accidents – Drivers will often flee the scene after causing an accident to not be held accountable. We utilize various legal options to bring them to justice.
- Head-On Crashes – These tend to be catastrophic accidents as two cars coming from opposite directions drive straight into each other, often causing serious injuries.
- Rear-End Collisions – Accidents caused by drivers who are tailgating, not keeping a safe distance from the car in front of them, or driving while distracted are among the most common cases we deal with.
- Blind Spot Collisions – These accidents are the result of drivers failing to check their vehicle’s blind spot before turning or merging, leading to sideswipe collisions that may even cause vehicle rollovers.
The Most Common Causes of Aurora, Illinois Car Accidents
While the facts of every car accident are unique, the causes tend to be quite common. For example, perhaps the driver was intoxicated or the visibility was very poor due to inclement weather. The other common causes that we see in our practice include:
- Driving Under the Influence – A drunk driver or one who has been taking drugs is not capable of safely operating a vehicle and ends up causing serious accidents.
- Breaking Traffic Laws – Drivers who disregard traffic rules by speeding, running stop signs, failing to yield, and otherwise driving recklessly will more often than not be responsible for accidents.
- Vehicle Defects – It’s not uncommon for accidents to be caused by a manufacturing defect in the vehicle or in one of its parts that the driver had no knowledge of.
- Bad Weather – It becomes difficult to drive safely when the visibility is reduced significantly due to bad weather, such as heavy snow or fog.
Do You Have a Car Wreck Case?
You have a case if it can be established the other driver owed you a duty of care, breached that duty through their negligence, and caused an accident resulting in your injuries. This is easier said than done and that’s why having an experienced Aurora car accident attorney is so important when the burden to prove negligence is on you.
All drivers in Illinois owe a duty of care to others on the road that they will follow traffic laws and safely operate their vehicles. Reckless driving, distracted driving, and breaking traffic rules are a breach of that duty. Once you establish it was because of the negligent driver that the accident happened, damages can then be sought through insurance claims.
Legal Liability in Car Accident Claims
While many accidents are the fault of another driver, it is possible that others may also be responsible for your accident. Working with Aurora car accident lawyers helps you pursue personal injury and wrongful death claims against all potentially liable parties including:
- Vehicle or Part Manufacturers – Suppliers of defective vehicles or parts may be liable for the accident, particularly if the fault was known and they didn’t fix it.
- Government Liability – Government departments may also be liable if they’ve been negligent in their duties, such as maintaining roads, or if an official vehicle caused the accident.
- DRAM Shop Liability – Establishments continuing to provide alcohol to an intoxicated customer who later caused a drunk driving accident can be held liable under DRAM shop laws.
Proving Fault for Car Crashes in Aurora, IL
Illinois is an at-fault state, meaning the driver who is at fault for the accident has to compensate you. A claim has to be filed with their insurance company to recover compensation. The amount you’re entitled to receive can be reduced if the accident is found to be partially your fault.
This is due to Illinois following a modified comparative negligence framework. A percentage of the fault is assessed for all parties in an accident and assigned accordingly. No compensation can be claimed if you’re found to be 51% at fault for the accident. If your share of the fault is 30%, the amount of money you get in the settlement will be reduced by 30%.
Financial Compensation We Can Secure for Aurora, IL Car Accident Victims
Our mission is to get you the highest possible compensation by utilizing all available legal options. There’s no predetermined amount every Aurora car accident victim receives. The exact amount you receive will be based on several factors such as how many defendants are liable, your percentage of fault, and insurance policy limits.
We have over two decades of experience in winning big settlements and our personal injury attorneys will rely on this expertise to forcefully argue your claim and obtain the most in damages. Our proven track record includes record settlements as high as:
- $18.5 million for a semi-truck collision that left the client with lifelong mobility issues
- $14.1 million for the family of a motorcyclist fatally injured by a distracted truck driver
- $2.5 million under-insured motorist settlement for a passenger who suffered loss of vision
Factors That Affect Car Accident Settlement Amounts
There are many factors impacting what your actual settlement will be. Some may even reduce the amount of money you can receive. These factors include:
- Cost of Losses – If your losses resulting from injuries and property damage are higher, your claim for damages will be proportionally higher.
- Seriousness of Injuries – The extent of your injuries also affects settlement amounts with higher settlements likely for more serious injuries.
- Insurance Policy Limits – The defendant may only have the absolute minimum insurance coverage required or may even be uninsured or underinsured, thereby capping your potential for full compensation.
- Share of Fault – Your actual settlement could be reduced if up to 50% of the fault for the accident is assigned to you, thereby lowering the settlement amount by the same percentage.
- Evidence and Witnesses – If there’s a lack of evidence and witnesses, your claim might be weak, making it difficult to secure fair compensation.
The Most Common Car Accident Injuries
There’s always a risk of serious injury in most car accidents as the body is exposed to trauma from crushed metal, exploding airbags, and broken glass, causing common injuries such as:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – Trauma to the head causes traumatic brain injuries that can even result in disability. Similar damage may also be inflicted by severe neck injuries like whiplash which forcefully causes the head to move back and forth.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – Injuries to the spinal cord can be devastating, causing paralysis of the arms, legs, and other limbs, thereby significantly reducing the victim’s quality of life.
- Lacerations and Fractures – It’s common for bones in various parts of the body to fracture due to blunt force trauma. Deep cuts from broken metal and shards of glass can cause permanent disfigurement of the skin that may not heal entirely.
- Internal Bleeding – This can go unnoticed initially but can result in significant medical bills later on, due to consequences such as organ damage, so it’s always recommended to seek immediate medical care after an accident.
Damages Our Aurora Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You Recover
Depending on who’s filing the claim, we help clients recover economic, non-economic, punitive, and wrongful death damages. Accident victims can receive compensation for economic damages including, lost wages, medical bills, vehicle repair, physical therapy, and future medical expenses.
Non-economic damages include compensation for emotional trauma, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of income potential. The family of a deceased accident victim can claim funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship in a death claim.
The Statistics of Aurora, IL Motor Vehicle Accidents
The Illinois Department of Transportation’s most recent publicly available data is for the year 2022. [1] It showcases various key statistics regarding car accidents in Aurora, IL, such as:
- There were a total of 3,900 accidents in Aurora involving 7,765 vehicles
- Rear-end collisions were the most frequent car accidents recorded with 1,080
- Of the 127 accidents caused by drunk drivers, 2 were fatal
- Brake defects in vehicles resulted in 41 accidents with 15 injuries
- Most fatal car accidents occurred on urban local roads and streets
- 403 accidents occurred in rainy weather conditions with 103 injuries
The Time It Takes to Settle a Car Accident Claim
A car accident settlement in Aurora usually takes around six months or less but that depends on how the insurance company proceeds. If they prefer taking the case to trial, or if there are multiple defendants, it may take longer than that. Our attorneys proactively deal with how the situation evolves to secure your rights.
When you hire our Aurora car accident lawyers soon after your accident, you increase your chances of winning a full and fair settlement. With professional legal representation in your corner, the insurance company’s tactics won’t work, all evidence will be secured to solidify your claim, and effective advocacy provided at trial will secure a favorable outcome.
The Cost of Hiring an Aurora Car Accident Attorney
We understand your accident has left you in a tough financial situation. This shouldn’t be a barrier for you in getting justice. We won’t charge any fees upfront to take your car accident case. You’ll have access to the best legal representation throughout the entire recovery process, including the best trial lawyers, without having to pay a single cent.
Our law firm works on a contingency fee basis. Only when you get paid do we get paid. Our fee is a percentage of your negotiated settlement offer. We’ll fight for you every step of the way for as long as it takes to win maximum compensation. If you don’t win, you don’t pay anything.
Filing a Car Crash Personal Injury Lawsuit With Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
We’re committed to holding negligent drivers and everyone who contributed to your accident accountable. When you reach out to Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers after a car accident, here’s how we’ll proceed:
- Free Case Evaluation – Our expert personal injury attorneys will evaluate your case for free giving you a sense of how things will move forward and how much you could win in damages for medical expenses incurred, lost wages, property damage, and more.
- Independent Investigation – We’ll investigate the accident independently and quickly secure all of the evidence, backed by expert testimonies, helping us create a strong legal foundation for your insurance claim.
- Thorough Negotiations – Our car accident lawyers push for the maximum settlement in negotiations with the insurance company to ensure a just and fair outcome for you.
- Going To Trial – In the event there’s no settlement with the insurance company, your car accident lawyer will provide experienced trial advocacy in court to secure a verdict resulting in a significant damage award.
Contact an Aurora Car Accident Lawyer Today!
We are a leading personal injury law firm with over two decades of experience in winning millions of dollars in settlements for car accident victims. Trust us with your claim and we’ll handle everything at no upfront cost, so there’s no risk for you to get the best Aurora car accident lawyer for your case.
Give us a call at (888) 424-5757 to schedule your free no-obligation consultation. Our experienced Aurora personal injury lawyers are standing by 24/7. You have nothing to lose and since we work on a contingency fee basis, you won’t have to pay us anything if you don’t win.
Resources: [1] IDOT