Chicago Intersection Car Accident Lawyer
The experienced Chicago car accident lawyers at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC recognize the dangers of intersection collisions and a serious car accident.
Our legal team is committed to helping people injured in Chicago intersection car accidents seek justice. Let a personal injury lawyer get the compensation for your injuries you deserve. All documentation must be filed before the statute of limitations expires.
Contact us today at (888) 424-5757 to discuss your injuries and property damage during a free consultation call.
We handle all cases that occur in intersections or rear-end collisions, hit-and-run cases, uninsured motorists, leaving the car accident scene, and motor vehicle accidents with catastrophic injuries.
Intersection Car Accident Data Confirms Dangers
The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), estimates that forty percent of all auto accidents occur at intersections. More than 2.3 million car accidents occur at intersections nationwide, causing more than 7,000 fatalities and 700,000 serious injuries each year.
In Illinois, 27.2% of motor vehicle fatalities in 2018 happened at intersections. According to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), many of these accidents could have been avoided.
An Intersection Car Accident Attorney Can Help
The Chicago car accident lawyers at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC know the auto insurance companies' tactics to handle personal injury claims related to these collisions. We are committed to getting you the most favorable recovery via a negotiated car accident settlement or jury verdict in court.
As with all our motor vehicle injury cases, your Chicago car accident attorney will handle your intersection car accident case on a contingency fee basis. We only receive a legal fee when we are successful in obtaining financial compensation on your behalf.
Chicago Intersection Car Crash Injuries
Many Chicago auto accident cases involve conflicting accounts of how a collision occurred at the intersection. While one driver may claim that there was a red light, the other driver may say otherwise.
Even in situations when police report squarely put the responsibility on one driver, the at-fault driver’s insurance company may evaluate the car accident claim differently and attempt to share fault with another party.
Having prosecuted many contested liability car accident cases successfully, our attorneys quickly move to secure the evidence necessary to address allegations of comparative fault preemptively. We will secure witness statements, red light camera images, cell phone records, and police reports to establish liability.
After our personal injury lawyers establish liability, we then address damages related to your injuries. We get all medical records, medical expenses, and other medical expenses incurred in the past or expected in the future to the insurance company for the responsible party so the car accident claim can be evaluated quickly.
The most common causes of car accident injuries involve the impact of a head-on collision, hit-and-run car crash, and rear-end collision.
Many auto accident victims are left with years of medical treatment to heal from their catastrophic injuries, including:
- Spinal cord damage
- Traumatic brain injury
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Fractures and crushed, broken bones
- Death
Illinois Law Applicable to Control of Intersections
Many Chicago auto accident cases involve conflicting accounts of how a collision occurred at the intersection. While one driver may claim that there was a red light, the other driver may say otherwise.
Even in situations when police report squarely put the responsibility on one driver, the at-fault driver’s insurance company may evaluate the car accident claim differently and attempt to share fault with another party.
Having prosecuted many contested liability car accident cases successfully, our attorneys quickly move to secure the evidence necessary to address allegations of comparative fault preemptively. We will secure witness statements, red light camera images, cell phone records, and police reports to establish liability.
After our personal injury lawyers establish liability, we then address damages related to your injuries. We get all medical records, medical expenses, and other medical expenses incurred in the past or expected in the future to the insurance company for the responsible party so the car accident claim can be evaluated quickly.
The most common causes of car accident injuries involve the impact of a head-on collision, hit-and-run car crash, and rear-end collision.
Many auto accident victims are left with years of medical treatment to heal from their catastrophic injuries, including:
- Spinal cord damage
- Traumatic brain injury
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Fractures and crushed, broken bones
- Death
Illinois Law Applicable to Control of Intersections
It is vital to understand traffic rules before determining fault with so many motor vehicle accidents happening at these road junctions, many resulting in injury or death.
Any intersection car accident, truck crash, motorcycle accident, and pedestrian accident may happen because one or many drivers made poor decisions before proceeding safely.
This poor judgment or recklessness may lead to motor vehicle drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists being injured when motorists do not obey the laws that apply to right-of-way, posted speed limits, and traffic control devices.
Many vehicle accidents involving rear-end collisions, leaving the scene (hit and run), happen from distracted driving, failing to obey traffic controls, driving impaired, and negligence.
According to Illinois state law, crosswalk intersection right-of-way requires people to yield to the person to their right or to whoever approached the intersection, stop sign, and traffic signal first.
(625 ILCS 5/11-901) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-901) Sec. 11-901.
“Vehicles approaching or entering an intersection. (a) When two vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different roadways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left must yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right. (b) The right-of-way rule declared in paragraph (a) of this Section is modified through highways and otherwise, as stated in this Chapter. (Source: P.A. 76-1739.)”
Types of Intersection Car Accidents
Every intersection creates hazards that could cause a minor or horrific traffic accident. Four-way stops, whether controlled by traffic signs or traffic lights, can be dangerous due to the volume of cars passing through them and the actions they may take.
- U-turns – According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, drivers cannot make a U-turn within 100 feet of an intersection unless official signs are posted stating that the driver can do so.
- Running a stoplight or stop sign – Drivers who do not obey red light signals or stop signs are often at fault for intersection accidents. “T-bone” car accidents occur when vehicles collide perpendicularly.
- Uncontrolled intersections –Multiple vehicles arrive at an uncontrolled intersection with no signs or lights to direct traffic mandate that every driver follows the right-of-way rules. Statistics show that, on average, about forty percent of all traffic-related deaths involved intersection fatalities. The annual number of deaths has doubled since the early 2000s.
- Turning at an intersection – According to the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey, gathering information on crashes that happened between 2016-2018, turning at an intersection was responsible for more than twenty-two percent of intersection crashes during that time frame.
Unfortunately, due to no small number of intersection car crashes in congested cities like Chicago, there is also a large amount of property and personal injury claims to compensate injured victims.
Whether they are a driver, a passenger in a car, a pedestrian, or a bicyclist, all motor vehicle accident victims deserve financial compensation for their losses and injuries.I Was Involved in an Intersection Accident – What Do I Do Now?
Were you involved in a car accident that was not your fault? The next steps you take could ensure your health and financial well-being.
Accidents happen, even among attentive, careful drivers following road rules.
Innocent drivers involved in intersection accidents should take specific steps that include:
- Ensure your safety and the safety of your passengers and other motorists;
- Call 911 and report what happened to local law enforcement and asked for immediate medical attention by first responders;
- Get information from all other drivers involved in the accident, including their names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, along with their driver's licenses and registration information;
- Forego giving any statement as to what happened until you contact a personal injury attorney who specializes in auto accidents;
- Don't talk with any auto insurance claims adjuster until after we have spoken to your auto accident lawyer;
- Ask your lawyer to contact your insurance company to discuss the accident and details;
- Speak to eyewitnesses and gather their information, including their name, address, phone number, and email address;
- Take photographic evidence of the accident scene and property damage, including the damage to vehicles involved in the crash;
- Photograph your injuries to capture imagery that could be used to bolster your compensation case;
- Make sure to ask for medical assistance by first responders even if you do not believe you are injured. Often, the flow of adrenaline caused by the crash could mask internal injuries like spinal cord damage or brain injury.
- Understand that only a licensed medical professional trained in emergency care with the best tools can accurately diagnose your condition.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim After a Car Accident
Sometimes, a personal injury attorney working on behalf of innocent victims will investigate a compensation claim to determine third parties are responsible for causing the accident. The crash might result from a faulty design or defective component that failed and caused the accident.
Other times, the accident resulted from a failure for the municipality or others in charge of clearing snow and ice in the road that led to the crash. In these cases, multiple defendants can be added to the same civil lawsuit, or individual claims can be made against every party individually.
Since the accident was not your fault, the insurance company of other drivers or third parties will typically pay for the damage to your vehicle and property along with other expenses, including:
- Medical expenses
- Hospitalization costs
- Lost wages
- Lost future earnings
- Mental stress and emotional anguish
- Pain-and-suffering
If the individual who caused your accident was a hit-and-run driver who fled the scene, you might still get paid through your family's insurance coverage. Your attorney can file a claim under your policy's uninsured motorist coverage (UM).
A Chicago car accident lawyer can handle every aspect of your case, speak directly with Insurance companies, and file all the appropriate documents to begin the civil process. Your attorney can review police reports, medical records, and eyewitness accounts to build a solid accident case to recover damages for your injuries.
Contact us today at (888) 424-5757. Let our law firm work on your behalf to ensure you receive the maximum financial compensation you deserve.
Filing an Illinois Car Crash Claim Before the Statute of Limitations Expires
Hiring experienced legal representation to deal directly with the insurance company is crucial to successfully resolve the claim. According to Illinois law, vehicle accident victims have a limited time to file a claim against the auto insurance company to receive financial compensation based on their damages, losses, and injuries.
Typically, the restriction limits filing a claim to two years from the time of the crash. However, there are some cases with extenuating circumstances that could extend the time limit.
A Chicago car accident attorney working on your behalf can obtain the police report, file the auto accident claim, talk directly with insurance companies, and negotiate an acceptable out of court settlement.
If the insurance company fails to make a good faith offer, your Chicago car accident attorney can build a case to take to trial.
Your compensation case could be based on various damages, including your serious injuries that may involve:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord damage
- Fractures and broken bones
- Cuts and lacerations
- Extensive property damage, including substantial auto repairs
- Lost wages due to time away from work
- Pain-and-suffering
Have you lost a family member in a vehicle accident caused by the reckless actions of others?
You, and other surviving family members, have a legal right to file a civil lawsuit against those at fault for causing the accident to recover compensation under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act.
However, all documents and paperwork must be filed in the appropriate county courthouse before the statute of limitations expires.
Intersection Stoplight Car Accident FAQs
Below are some frequently asked questions raised by people injured in car accidents at intersections in Chicago, IL. We appreciate that many of these questions will give rise to additional questions.
Consequently, we invite you to contact our law offices for a free consultation with our Chicago car accident lawyers.
Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Committed to Your Case
The Chicago car accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC are experienced in all aspects of Chicago auto injury claims and can negotiate the best settlement for your car accident injuries, or wrongful death of the law loved one.
As with all our personal injury cases, our law office charges a fee after securing damages on your behalf when resolving intersection car accident cases.
Do you need a Chicago intersection car accident lawyer? Call us today at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone call) or contact our Chicago, IL law firm through the online contact form to schedule a free case evaluation as soon as possible.
Your personal injury attorney will ensure you receive maximum compensation to cover your medical expenses, hospitalization costs, property damage, pain, and suffering.
Surviving family members who lost a loved one may hold those responsible for the wrongful death financially accountable.
Usually, the at-fault driver's insurance company will compensate accident victims or family survivors for all damages, including burial/funeral expenses, pain, and suffering.
Intersection Car Accident Resources:
- National Safety Council – Intersection Hidden Dangers
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Crash Factors