Car accidents are all too common in Waukegan, IL, and the greater Lake County area. If you are injured in an automobile accident, you should consider calling a Waukegan car accident lawyer to handle your case.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have a long history of winning settlements for our clients in Waukegan. Read on to find out how we can help with your case.
Types of Cases Our Waukegan Car Accident Lawyers Handle
An auto accident can take many forms, and our Waukegan car accident lawyers have seen them all. Whether you are involved in head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, sideswipes, hit-and-runs, T-bone accidents, fender benders, or even rollover accidents, our team can represent your interests as you pursue a personal injury claim against the at-fault party.
The Most Common Causes of Waukegan Car Accidents
Waukegan car accidents can occur at any moment. It is important to always be vigilant while on the roads. Over 81% of crashes in Waukegan in 2022 occurred on a clear day [1], so weather is rarely a factor. Potential causes of an accident include:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield
- Failure to follow traffic laws
- Driver fatigue
- Faulty vehicle parts
- Inclement weather
- Poor road maintenance
What to Do After a Car Accident in Waukegan
Taking the right steps after an auto accident is important to prioritize your health and prepare for the financial impact. Small mistakes could have major consequences in the immediate aftermath of the collision. Here are the steps to take after a crash occurs.
- Search for injuries – Your top priority is your health, so examine yourself for any obvious pain or injuries so you can report them to emergency responders
- Call emergency services – The sooner you get medical personnel and local authorities on the scene, the better it is for your health and the investigation of the accident
- Gather information and evidence – Information is key in an insurance claim, so exchange information with other drivers and gather evidence at the scene, such as photographs of the wreck, eyewitness statements, and copies of police reports
- Call a Waukegan car accident lawyer – Car accident attorneys from our team will help you build a strong case to win the maximum amount of compensation for any legal damages suffered from the crash
You Have Limited Time to File a Car Accident Personal Injury Claim in Waukegan, IL
The statute of limitations for most personal injuries in Illinois is two years. That means anyone who is experiencing personal injury, product liability, or even a loved one’s wrongful death has two years to file their claim.
For wrongful death, this timeframe begins on the date of the victim’s passing. Exceptions may apply if the defendant is unresponsive or they leave the state.
In general, it is to your advantage to hire a lawyer and file a claim as soon as possible to have the best chance of building a compelling case.
Legal Liability in Waukegan Motor Vehicle Accidents
To hold the at-fault party responsible, you have to know who they are. Other drivers are not the only parties who may be responsible for your injuries. Potentially liable persons include:
- Drivers of other vehicles, including a distracted or intoxicated driver
- Trucking or shipping companies that employ the at-fault driver
- Government agencies who fail to maintain safe roads
- Pedestrians for making illegal crossings
- Parts manufacturers for poor product design or installation
- Repair shops for failing to address a requested service that causes an accident
Proving Fault for a Waukegan Car Crash
Proving fault is the most challenging aspect of an injury claim. Evidence must establish that the defendant behaved negligently and caused the collision causing your injuries.
Additionally, Illinois is a comparative fault state, meaning the victim must be less than 50% responsible for the accident to pursue fair compensation.
Financial Compensation We Can Secure for Waukegan Car Accident Injury Victims
There is no exact formula for calculating a potential settlement amount for your claim. It varies from case to case. Multiple factors will impact the final settlement amount, but a lot depends on hiring the right Waukegan car accident attorney.
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we have a history of earning large compensation packages for our clients, such as:
- $2.5 million in an underinsured motorist settlement where the victim was a passenger and obtained severe facial injuries and vision loss in a rollover accident
- $1 million (policy maximum) for the family of a rear-seat passenger who was fatally injured when the vehicle was rear-ended
- $7 million for a pedestrian hit by a national medical supplier company car while the driver was in town for a meeting
Factors Affecting Car Accident Settlement Amounts
The maximum amount of a settlement after an auto accident will depend on a variety of factors. The amount of your losses, the extent of the injuries, the coverage from the insurance company, the amount of evidence available, and the Illinois comparative fault factor will all play a role in calculating the final amount.
The Most Common Car Accident Injuries in Waukegan, Illinois
An auto accident can result in a wide range of injuries, some of which are mild and others that are life-threatening. Possible injuries sustained in Waukegan car accidents include lacerations, bruises, whiplash, broken bones, soft tissue damage, nerve damage, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, crush injuries, amputations, and even death.
Damages Our Waukegan Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You Recover
Depending on the circumstances of your auto accident and who is filing the claim, there are multiple legal damages you can pursue. They are organized into four categories; economic, non-economic, punitive, and wrongful death.
Economic damages include medical expenses, future costs of medical care, lost income, and property damage. Non-economic damages include emotional trauma, disability or disfigurement, physical pain, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Punitive damages are only awarded if the defendant behaved with malicious intent. If a wrongful death occurs because of the auto accident, surviving families can recover damages like funeral costs, loss of companionship, and loss of financial support.
Filing an Auto Accident Claim With Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
The right process can make all the difference between a successful claim and missing out on compensation for your injury. Your Waukegan car accident lawyer from Rosenfeld will guide you through our process to ensure the best chance of success.
- Free consultation to discuss the merits of your case and determine your options;
- Case investigation our lawyers will determine the viability of your claim under federal and local laws;
- Gathering evidence to support your claim and prove fault, such as medical records, police reports, witness statements, and footage of the auto accident;
- Consulting and hiring experts in subjects like accident reconstruction to provide more details about how the incident occurred;
- Negotiating with the insurance company to defend you from their tactics and ensure your settlement covers all damages suffered;
- Preparing for trial if the case cannot be settled outside of a court and representing you throughout the process if necessary.
The Statistics of Waukegan, Lake County Car Accidents
- 1,955 crashes occurred in Waukegan in 2022 [1]
- They resulted in 783 injuries and 10 fatalities [1]
- 445 of these crashes were front-to-rear [1]
- 23,047 vehicles were involved in accidents in Lake County in 2022 [2]
- Those accidents led to 4,161 injured parties [2]
- 8,209 of these crashes occurred in broad daylight [2]
The Time It Takes to Settle Car Crash Personal Injury Lawsuits
Cases involving motor vehicle accidents usually take at least six months to resolve. However, these timelines can shift depending on the circumstances of your case. Unresponsive defendants, an arduous investigation, a long discovery process, and a court proceeding can all cause delays meaning your case may take years to resolve.
No matter the timeline, hiring Waukegan car accident attorneys quickly is the wisest approach to building a case with compelling evidence.
The Cost of Hiring a Waukegan Car Accident Attorney
Waukegan car accident attorneys from our law firm work on a contingency fee basis. This type of agreement means there are no upfront legal costs to you. Instead, we are only paid if we win your case.
When we do get paid, our fee is deducted from your final settlement offer. This agreement reduces the financial burden on victims who are already trying to make a full recovery physically and may not have significant funds due to damages suffered.
Contact a Waukegan Car Accident Lawyer Today!
Dealing with the aftermath of an auto accident is devastating for victims or surviving family members. Our law firm serves clients in the Waukegan and Lake County area by helping them file claims against the negligent parties that caused the collisions.
Call 888-424-5757 for your free consultation today, or fill out our contact form. Our Waukegan personal injury lawyers are ready to defend your rights, help you win your claim, and potentially recover millions, all under a contingency fee agreement that involves no financial risk to you.
Resources: [1] IDOT City Crash Facts: Waukegan, [2] IDOT County Crash Facts: Lake