FOCUSED ADVOCACY AFTER AN ACCIDENT
Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Helping You Move Forward After A Crash
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If you or a loved one has been injured or lost their life as a result of a car accident, our team can help you understand what options the law provides you in the face of negligence.
FOCUSED ON WHAT COMES NEXT
Experienced Counsel After a Serious Collision
Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents happen every day and cause catastrophic injuries, property damage, and even fatalities. In many cases, this has nothing to do with your own behavior, but rather, the carelessness of other drivers.
If you or a loved one were injured in a motor vehicle accident, there is limited time to bring forward a case, and it’s imperative to speak to an experienced attorney sooner rather than later.
Table of Contents
Why Should I Hire A Personal Injury Attorney For A Car Accident?
The moments, hours, and days following an accident are often filled with uncertainty as you and your family navigate the aftermath of a collision. By hiring a Pavich Law Group, you will have a dedicated team to help investigate the accident, compile important and necessary documents and information, and work to ensure that all –important, and legally immovable,deadlines are met.
Handling the paperwork, police reports, medical care, and vehicle damage can be overwhelming, and navigating it alone without legal counsel can leave you with countless unanswered questions. When someone else’s negligence harms, injures, or bereaves you, you should not have to suffer the consequences alone.
- Car accident claims
- Truck and commercial vehicle accidents
- Pedestrian injury cases
- Bicycle accidents
How Is Liability Determined After An Accident?
After any kind of motor vehicle accident, make sure to check yourself and any passengers for injuries first. If someone is seriously hurt, call 911 and wait for help to arrive. Do not, under any circumstances, leave the scene of an accident.
No matter how minor a crash may seem, you should contact local authorities. If there are no serious injuries, you can call the nearest police station or highway patrol and gather evidence while you wait. Take pictures of the damage to the vehicles and the scene of the collision, and document any injuries you may have. If possible, exchange contact information with the other driver and check to see if anyone witnessed the crash. Once the police arrive, tell them what happened. Avoid speculation and speak in terms of fact.
Request a copy of your police report – this will be a valuable tool for determining liability.
Once you have seen your doctor, received a copy of the police report and compiled any information you have about the accident, contact our attorneys. Even if you don’t want to pursue legal action, our car accident lawyers can help you deal with insurance companies so that you get a fair settlement.
If I Am Partially At Fault In A Car Accident, Can I Still Get Compensation?
All states handle this issue differently. Illinois and Indiana are both “comparative fault” states in auto accident cases. Comparative fault means that a plaintiff’s compensation will be reduced by the amount he or she is deemed to have contributed to the accident. This means that even if you were partially at fault, you can still obtain compensation.
These are difficult determinations to make, requiring the experience and knowledge of a trusted team of attorneys.
What To Do Immediately After A Car Accident
After an accident, consider the following:
- Check for injuries: Prioritize safety. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately.
- Move to safety: If the vehicles can be moved, pull over to avoid further danger.
- Call law enforcement: Make sure there is a record of how the accident occurred and who was involved.
- Exchange information: Get names, contact details, insurance and license numbers from all involved drivers.
- Document the scene: Take photos of vehicle damage, the crash site, road conditions and visible injuries.
- Speak carefully: Avoid admitting fault or making speculative statements to others or to insurers.
- Seek medical attention: Even if you feel fine, get checked. Some injuries may appear hours or days later.
- Notify your insurer: Report the accident immediately to start your claim.
- Consult an attorney: A lawyer can guide you on your rights and help you avoid costly mistakes.
Each of these steps helps protect your health and preserve your legal options.
Illinois Car Insurance Requirements And How They Affect Your Claim
Every Illinois driver is required by law to carry minimum liability insurance, but those limits might not fully cover serious accidents. In Illinois, the minimum coverage includes:
- $25,000 for injury or death of one person
- $50,000 for injury or death of more than one person
- $20,000 for damage to property
While these are the legal minimums, many serious crashes involve damages that exceed these amounts. If the at-fault driver has only the minimum coverage, it may not be enough to compensate you fully.
Common Car Accident Injuries And Their Long-Term Impact
Here are some common car accident injuries and the long-term challenges they can bring:
- Whiplash and neck injuries: These may lead to chronic neck pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.
- Back and spinal injuries: Damage to the spine can result in long-term mobility issues, nerve pain or paralysis in severe cases.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): Even mild TBIs can cause memory loss, mood changes, and difficulty concentrating.
- Soft tissue injuries: Torn ligaments or tendons can make everyday tasks painful or difficult.
- Emotional trauma: Many survivors deal with anxiety, PTSD or depression after a serious crash.
Long-term recovery includes physical therapy, ongoing medication, surgical interventions, and mental health counseling. These treatments can be costly and time-consuming. We work with you as we understand how to include both present and future damages in your claim.
OUR MISSION
Focused on the People Behind Every Case
With over 100 years of combined legal experience, we are familiar with defense tactics and build you an effective, creative and personally oriented case. When you choose our firm, you get to work one-on-one with our talented team of car accident attorneys, and receive the highest quality legal service available.
Pavich Law Group, P.C., approaches every case with this philosophy: we understand that each case and client is different and has different needs, and use those very differences and individualities to investigate, prepare, litigate, and try each case.
No matter if your case is for a car accident, wrongful death, medical malpractice, or a premises liability, we are here to help. For some, the best possible result comes outside the courtroom. For others, true justice cannot be obtained short of trial. We are fully prepared to fight for our clients in all environments.
WHY PAVICH LAW
The Hallmarks of Our Firm
We combine experience, focus, and a client-first approach to deliver the representation you and your family deserve.
Providing Personalized One-On-One Service To Our Clients
A History Of Achieving Results On Behalf Of Our Clients
Litigation Strategies Designed Specifically For Your Needs
More Than 100 Years Of Collective Experience
YOUR CASE DESERVES FOCUSED ATTENTION
Let’s Discuss Your Legal Options
If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, you deserve justice and compensation. Our firm can help you get a fair settlement, and we are prepared to take your case to trial if the at-fault parties and their insurance companies do not cooperate.
Begin building your case today – discuss your case with our team
We look forward to helping you get your life back after a motor vehicle accident.
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