The bills quickly begin piling up when you’re in a car accident. A serious collision can leave you with ongoing medical bills and lost wages, and in many cases, an insurance claim doesn’t provide you with nearly enough to cover them.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers represents Schaumburg, Illinois, car accident victims. We work hard to complete a thorough investigation and seek compensation from the responsible parties.
We’re here to help those injured in a car accident minimize the financial impact of the injury on their lives. Continue reading to learn about the different types of car accident cases we handle, some of the most common injuries, and how much you can expect to receive.
Types of Cases Our Schaumburg Auto Accident Lawyers Handle
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers handle a wide range of car accident cases, including the following:
- Head-on collision
- Hit-and-run
- Drunk driver accidents
- Rear end collisions
- Roll over accidents
- Sideswipe accidents
- Side impact collision
- Multiple vehicle crashes
- Auto accidents involving high speeds
The Most Common Causes of Schaumburg Car Accidents
Car accidents occur in Schaumburg, Illinois, for a number of reasons, including the following:
- Drunk driving: The Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM) reports 154 DUI arrests per year in Schaumburg, Illinois [1];
- Distracted driving: Illinois State Police report a 400% increase in crash risk when using a smartphone [2];
- Breaking Schaumburg and Illinois laws: Breaking state laws is one of the leading causes of car accidents and may include running red lights, exceeding speed limits, or failing to yield or stop at city signs [3];
- Inclement weather: Most Illinois accidents occur in clear weather during daylight hours [4].
What to Do After a Car Accident in Schaumburg
If you’re involved in an auto accident, it’s important to take immediate action to protect your overall well-being and legal options. Here are a few steps to take after a car accident:
- Seek immediate medical care: Immediate medical care should always be a priority following a car accident;
- Notify the police and file a report: Notify the Schaumburg Police Department of the accident and file a police report;
- Gather time-sensitive evidence: Some evidence is time-sensitive and should be collected as soon as possible. This includes photos, videos, or witness contacts;
- Contact a Schaumburg car accident lawyer: Attorneys can help you navigate your case while focusing on your recovery.
You Have Limited Time to File a Car Accident Claim in Schaumburg, IL
Illinois law sets strict time limits on filing a personal injury lawsuit. For car accidents, you have just two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. Since collecting evidence and building a strong case can take time, it’s important to consider your legal options as quickly as possible.
Different details of your case could also affect the timeline. For example, wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within two years from the death date. Product liability cases must be filed within two years when related to a personal injury.
Legal Liability in Car Accident Cases
Proving liability is one important component of a car accident case. Our Schaumburg car accident attorneys will work hard to investigate your case and determine who’s at fault. Any of the following could be to blame when a car accident occurs:
- Other drivers: The other driver in an accident can often be liable when injuries occur;
- Road maintenance: If Schaumburg or Cook County fails to maintain the roads safely, government agencies could also be liable;
- Vehicle manufacturer: Faulty or defective automotive parts, like seat belts or tires, could make the manufacturer liable;
- Driver employers: In some cases, a driver’s employer can be liable if a commercial work truck is involved in the accident.
Proving Fault for a Schaumburg Car Crash
It’s not enough to identify liability in a car accident case. Illinois state law also requires we show proof of that person’s negligence. To do this, we’ll collect evidence like photographs and videos from the scene of the accident, witness reports, and medical records.
Our Schaumburg personal injury attorneys will work hard to identify the other party to get you full compensation based on liability.
Financial Compensation We Can Secure for Schaumburg Car Accident Injury Victims
No two car accidents are the same, meaning there isn’t a set financial recovery amount you can expect. Instead, the compensation you receive should be based on your incurred expenses, the extent of your injuries, and the available evidence.
Our Schaumburg car accident lawyers work hard to serve justice for car accident victims. Here are just a few of the settlements we have received for our clients:
- $1,000,000 in a wrongful death case in which a rear-seat passenger was injured after the other party rear-ended the family;
- $18,500,000 after a resident was left with permanent injuries from a head-on semi-truck accident;
- $7,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a commercial vehicle;
- $2,500,000 for a driver who was injured in a rollover crash by an underinsured driver.
Factors Affecting Car Accident Settlement Amounts
How much you receive in a car accident settlement depends on numerous factors, including the following:
- The total value of the damage
- Insurance coverage available
- Available evidence
- How the other party caused the accident
- Whether negligence was a part of the case
- The life impact of your injuries
The Most Common Car Accident Injuries in Schaumburg, Illinois
Car accidents can lead to serious injuries, affecting your ability to work or live life in the same way you once did. Some of the most common injuries our attorneys have worked with include the following:
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Back and neck injuries
- Traumatic head injury
- Whiplash
- Arm and leg injuries
- Chemical burns
- Soft tissue injury
- Facial and bodily trauma
Damages Our Schaumburg Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You Recover
A car accident lawsuit aims to recover compensation for your damages. Illinois separates available compensation into the following categories:
Economic Damages
Economic damages include financial damages related to the accident. This may include past and future medical bills, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, or property damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are non-monetary damages that deserve compensation. A few examples include pain and suffering, emotional trauma, disability or disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Wrongful Death
We also work on wrongful death cases that result from a car accident. The available damages in a wrongful death claim may include burial or funeral expenses, previous medical costs, loss of consortium, or loss of financial assistance.
Filing a Car Accident Claim With Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers aims to make the personal injury claims process as easy and convenient as possible for Schaumburg car accident victims. Here is what you can expect when you work with an auto accident lawyer from our team:
- Free consultation: A no-obligation consultation allows you to explore your legal options following a car accident;
- Case investigation: Our law firm will thoroughly investigate your case to decide if someone else’s negligence was the cause and if it makes sense to file a lawsuit;
- Gather evidence: Our team will begin gathering evidence to support your case;
- Consult with experts: Expert witnesses can strengthen your car accident case;
- Negotiate with the insurance company: Let our firm handle all insurance communications and negotiations on your behalf;
- Review settlement offer: We’ll help you evaluate any offers you receive;
- Prepare for trial: If any settlement offers don’t appropriately cover your damages, we’ll prepare for trial to seek full compensation.
The Statistics of Schaumburg Car Accidents
- The most severe car accidents in Schaumburg occur in clear weather conditions [5].
- Schaumburg Police found that distracted driving was the most common cause of accidents during the holiday months [6].
- Cook County reports an average of 658,000 car accidents per year [7].
- Front-to-rear car accidents are among the most common in Schaumburg, followed closely by impact at an angle [8].
- The most severe car accidents in Cook County also occur during daylight [9].
- SAFE Roads finds that most Cook County accidents happen between the hours of 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. [10].
- Reckless driving is also a leading cause of Schaumburg and Cook County car accidents [11].
The Time It Takes to Settle Car Crash Personal Injury Lawsuits
The average time span it takes to settle an auto accident claim is six months to a year. However, many factors can affect this timeline, including the availability of evidence and the severity of your injuries. Working with a Schaumburg car accident lawyer can significantly speed up the expected timeline.
Not only does working with car accident lawyers keep your case within the strict state timeline, but it also allows you to stay diligent about collecting necessary evidence. Insurance companies and other law firms also tend to negotiate and respond more quickly when they know an injured motorist is working with an experienced personal injury attorney.
The Cost of Hiring a Schaumburg Car Accident Attorney
The cost of hiring a Schaumburg car accident attorney depends on many factors, including the value of your case and whether or not it goes to trial. We know how tight money can be when dealing with the financial losses that come with a car accident. That’s why Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers never charge any legal fees unless we’re able to win your case.
We don’t receive any compensation until you do. Working on a contingency fee basis allows us to protect the best interests of our clients while getting them the compensation they need and deserve.
Contact a Schaumburg Car Accident Lawyer Today!
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is a leading law firm that helps Schaumburg, Illinois, residents recover the compensation they need after a car accident. Our attorneys are here to help you navigate the process of establishing liability and building a successful case.
Our firm has recovered millions in compensation for Schaumburg and other Illinois residents. Call a car accident attorney today at (888) 424-5757 or fill out our online form for a free consultation.
Resources: [1] AAIM, [2] Illinois State Police, [3] SAFE ROADS, [4] Illinois Department of Transportation, [5] Illinois Department of Transporation, [6] Patch, [7] SAFE Roads USA, [8] Illinois Department of Transportation, [9] Illinois Department of Transportation, [10] SAFE Roads USA, [11] SAFE Roads USA