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Legally Reviewed by:

Jonathan Rosenfeld
J.D

March 2, 2023

Over $400 Million worth of case results

Awarded The Best Lawyer in 2024 by U.S. News

Nationally Recognized in Legal Community

An auto accident injury can result in physical or emotional harm, ranging from bruises and scrapes to whiplash and post-traumatic stress disorder. Many people are harmed in car accidents yearly, and the injuries can impact their lives.

If you have been injured in a car crash, seeking medical attention and filing an accident claim with your insurance company is vital. Beyond just the physical pain and emotional anguish, victims face expensive medical bills and lost earnings.

Waukegan car accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC understand that a car crash takes only moments to occur, while the time the victim needs to recover from injuries often takes months or years to heal completely. In some incidents, serious injuries are permanent and change the victim’s life forever.

Contact our Waukegan car accident lawyers at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone call) or through the contact form today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your car crash and how to protect your legal rights. All information you share about your car accident case remains confidential through an attorney-client relationship.

Car Accidents and Insurance Companies

Unfortunately, many compensation claims filed by the injured party are resolved quickly by insurance companies that offer unreasonably low settlement amounts. Claims adjusters work hard to protect the negligent insurance policyholder and the insurance company’s best interest at the cost of those harmed.

Because Waukegan, Illinois, is a densely populated community in the Chicago Metropolitan area, it has maintained a high incidence rate of vehicle crashes yearly. Sadly, four individuals died in fatal car accidents in 2018, double the rate compared to the previous two years.

Even though heavily congested Interstate 94 (Tri-State Tollway) [1] travels through a portion of Waukegan, most of the community’s fatal car crashes occur on the city side streets. On May 8, 2018, a deadly car crash on North Sheridan Road just south of West Ridgeland Avenue involved drunk driving.

Waukegan Car Accident Attorney

Maintaining Waukegan’s Red-Light Program

Even though Illinois legislators hope to enact a statewide ban on installing red-light cameras, the local leaders of Waukegan are arguing to keep them in place to ensure traffic safety in the community.

The original red-light cameras were first installed in Waukegan in 2008 along Green Bay Rd. and other areas in the community at locations with very high automobile accident rates.

The pact between Waukegan and RedSpeed Illinois – based in Lombard – was recently renewed to maintain existing cameras installed at four city intersections. Many officials throughout Chicagoland indicate that the red light camera system continues to be ‘fairly successful’ in minimizing the frequency of crossroad crashes since each one was installed years ago.

These cameras were placed in areas often deemed highly challenging for local law enforcement to monitor. However, not everyone is convinced that the cameras reduce the volume of severe car crashes occurring at intersections.

In 2014, the Chicago Tribune commissioned a study that showed an increase of more than 22% in the number of rear-end accidents occurring with injuries at these locations.

Recovering Compensation for Injuries Sustained in a Waukegan Car Accident

If Waukegan car accident victims can prove that other parties are at fault for the crash, they will likely receive financial compensation for their injuries, damages, and losses.

However, these civil lawsuits and compensation claims are challenging to negotiate with the defendant’s insurance company or litigate through the court system. Because of that, many victims will hire an Illinois car accident lawyer to handle their case.

A skilled car accident attorney can build a strong claim by investigating the car crash, gathering evidence, collecting eyewitness accounts, and analyzing police records and medical documents.

The Waukegan car accident lawyer will negotiate directly with the claims adjuster working for all insurance companies involved in the compensation case.

Suppose a negotiation cannot be reached with one or more defendants. In that case, the client’s catastrophic personal injury lawyer will file a Lake County personal injury claim against the insurance company and take the case to trial.

The lawyer will seek fair compensation for the injured person that covers crash-related expenses, including:

  • Medical bills and hospitalization costs
  • Future costs involving the plaintiff’s rehabilitation, physical therapy, and additional surgeries
  • Lost wages caused by time away from work
  • Future lost income earning capacity
  • General damages
  • Loss of consortium, companionship, and enjoyment of life
  • Disfigurement and amputation
  • Wrongful death
Waukegan Car Accident Attorney

Waukegan Car Accidents FAQ

Our Lake County personal injury lawyers understand that many families have unanswered questions about resolving car accidents with another driver and their insurance company. A Waukegan car accident lawyer has answered some of those questions below.

Contact the Waukegan car accident lawyer today at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone call) or through the contact form for additional information or schedule a free consultation. Our law firm handles car accident cases throughout Illinois.

What are the contributing factors to most car accidents in the United States?

According to NHTSA, distracted driving remains the leading contributing factor to most car accidents in America.

Most serious car accidents cause catastrophic bodily injury to innocent people harmed when the driver takes their focus off the roadway while their hands are on the steering wheel. Common injuries requiring medical attention include:

  • Broken bones
  • Back and neck injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Amputation (dismemberment)
  • Internal organ damage
  • Internal bleeding
  • Puncture wounds
  • Permanent disability

Other contributing factors include drug impairment, driving drunk, speeding, reckless driving, changing the radio station, running stop lights, fatigue, aggressive behavior, adverse weather conditions, and reading a text while driving.

Most of these cases are resolved through compensation claims filed by victims seeking financial recovery from the responsible party’s insurance company.

How do accident victims resolve their personal injury claims?

All drivers must carry medical liability insurance to pay for any damages when victims file a personal injury claim through their insurance company. Usually, police reports will identify the crash site, the extent of the injury, or property damage when the police report documents the crash scene and determines who is at fault for causing the crash.

Once the insurance claim is filed, the defendant’s insurer will hire a claims adjuster to compensate accident victims. However, the insurers often use strategies and tactics to limit the financial compensation they offer victims to pay their medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering.

In response, the injured party can hire car accident lawyers to handle their case, negotiate a settlement, or take it to trial. The car accident lawyer will work on behalf of clients to ensure they receive total compensation based on their claim’s actual, provable value.

What should I do after a car accident?

The first step you take after a car accident could determine the outcome of your health and financial situation. Once an auto accident occurs, check to ensure that the passengers and all drivers are not injured.

Call 911 to file the police report of the accident and ask emergency medical technicians to transport you to the hospital, even if you suspect you only have a minor injury. The adrenaline level in your body may mask the extent of any bodily harm, and only a competent emergency room doctor with the best diagnostic tools can accurately identify the extent of your injuries.

If you remain at the accident scene, gather contact information from all drivers and obtain witness statements from any people who saw what happened. Consider hiring accident injury attorneys to protect your rights and handle your case to ensure you receive adequate money for your property damage and bodily harm.

How many accidents occurred in Lake County, Illinois, in 2018?

The 2018 Illinois Department of Transportation data revealed that 14,057 accidents were reported in Lake County. This number includes 38 fatalities and 3,438 bodily harm cases in accidents involving 27,439 vehicles.

The data included 436 cases of an incapacitating accident injury, 1,919 cases of a non-incapacitating injury, and 2,520 cases with an accident injury not visible, but there were pain complaints. That year, 150 crashes were reported involving pedestrians, including thirteen fatalities and 137 with mild to severe injuries.

In 2018, the Illinois DOT reported 173 crashes within Lake County involving defective brakes. The reports indicate that 46 people suffered bodily harm in those cases, including nine cases of an incapacitating accident injury and fourteen non-incapacitating accident injuries.

Waukegan, IL Car Accident Injury Statistics

What is the statute of limitations for filing a car accident lawsuit in Illinois?

In Illinois, victims of car accidents have two years from the crash date to file an injury claim. This time limit is based on the statute of limitations and applies to all cases, including hit-and-run accidents and under-insured/uninsured motorist incidents.

If you fail to file a claim or lawsuit before the statute expires, your case cannot be heard in court, even if you have compelling evidence to prove your claim.

The statute of limitations can be extended under certain circumstances, such as if the victim is a minor or was incapacitated during the crash. A knowledgeable auto injury attorney can better explain the law and advise you on how to proceed with filing your claim.

If you have been injured in a car crash, contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible to ensure your rights and interests are protected throughout the process. A lawyer can help you obtain full compensation for your damages and losses.

Waukegan Car Accident Lawyer

Hiring an Attorney to Prosecute a Waukegan Auto Accident Case Involving Injuries or Fatalities

Were you injured in an Illinois car crash, or did you lose a loved one through a wrongful death caused by another’s negligence? Call Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone calls) or use the contact form for a free case review.

We can help file a car accident claim or lawsuit against every party at fault for the collision. Our team of legal experts can investigate your case for additional damages against every party responsible for causing the auto accident and your injuries, losses, and damages.

Our reputable Illinois law firm has years of experience handling personal injury claims. Our lawyers comprehensively understand Illinois civil tort laws, rules, and procedures required to recover compensation through an insurance car accident claim.

Your Waukegan Car Accident Attorney

Your Waukegan car accident lawyer will work as your advocate and legal representative in every aspect of your case to ensure you financially recover entirely from your Illinois car accident. Our law firm offers an initial free consultation to discuss the elements of your case.

Your Waukegan motor vehicle accident lawyer will provide all available solutions to obtain the monetary compensation you deserve through legal advice.

Our personal injury law firm offers legal services in various practice areas, including auto accident injuries, truck crashes, medical malpractice, product liability, defective medications, slip and fall injuries, nursing home abuse, and wrongful death.

Resources: [1] Illinois Tollway

Client Reviews

Jonathan Rosenfeld was professionally objective, timely, and knowledgeable. Also, his advice was extremely effective regarding my case. In addition, Jonathan was understanding and patient pertaining to any of my questions or concerns. I was very happy with the end result and I highly recommend Jonathan Rosenfeld.

- Michonne Proulx

Extremely impressed with this law firm. They took control of a bad motorcycle crash that left my uncle seriously injured. Without any guarantee of a financial recovery, they went out and hired accident investigators and engineers to help prove how the accident happened. I am grateful that they worked on a contingency fee basis as there was no way we could have paid for these services on our own.

- Ethan Armstrong

Jonathan helped my family heal and get compensation after our child was suffered a life threatening injury at daycare. He was sympathetic and in constant contact with us letting us know all he knew every step of the way. We were so blessed to find Jonathan!

- Giulia

This lawyer really helped me get compensation for my motorcycle accident case. I know there is no way that I could have gotten anywhere near the amount that Mr. Rosenfeld was able to get to settle my case. Thank you.

- Daniel Kaim

Jonathan did a great job helping my family navigate through a lengthy lawsuit involving my grandmother's death in a nursing home. Through every step of the case, Jonathan kept my family informed of the progression of the case. Although our case eventually settled at a mediation, I really was impressed at how well prepared Jonathan was to take the case to trial.

- Lisa
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