Car AccidentAttorney | Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers | Illinois
- 6 years ago
Chicago Car Accident Attorneys | Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
If you have been involved in a car accident that was not your fault, you are likely wondering what you need to do. Should you retain a Chicago car accident lawyer, or contact insurance companies on your own to negotiate a settlement to cover your property damage and medical bills? You carry vehicle insurance to avoid financial catastrophe, but exactly what are the steps involved to make sure that the responsible party is held liable for their neglect?
Make Sure Everyone Is Safe
The first step you should take at the scene of the accident is to ensure everyone that requires medical attention is sent to the emergency room right away. This is because many injuries caused by the collision might not be obvious until many hours, days, weeks or months later. Any trauma to the brain, internal organs or spinal cord could become deadly if not treated immediately.
Document the Accident
Liability or responsibility of exactly who caused the accident is not always clear. Because of that, it is essential to provide all valuable pertinent information for the law enforcement officer arriving at the scene. Make sure you also have contact information at the scene, including witnesses before leaving the accident scene, unless you are being transported to a medical facility for care.
Evaluating the Claim
Determining the value of your claim for financial compensation is complex, especially when multiple drivers share responsibility for causing the accident. The losses you will need to claim involve a variety of tangible and intangible damages including:
• Medical bills
• Hospital stay expenses
• Lost wages
• Lost earning ability in the future
• Loss of consortium
• Pain and suffering
• Damage to your vehicle and other property
Consider Retaining an Attorney
The following examples can help you determine if it is necessary to retain a Chicago car accident lawyer. These examples include:
• Your injuries were more than just minor, requiring hospitalization or doctor visits
• Your injuries might be permanent, or involve scarring or bone fractures
• You suffer muscular, bone, neck or back injuries that are yet to be resolved
• The accident involved a delivery truck, tractor-trailer, cargo van or other commercial vehicle
• Your accident involved the fatality of the driver, a passenger, husband, wife, parent, child or other loved one
• Punitive damages might be available because your injuries are the result of a drunk driver
• The insurance company, police officer or other drivers are indicating you are responsible for causing the accident, when it is not true, or you are not sure
• The driver of the other vehicle is uninsured or underinsured, limiting the amount of compensation you might receive
What an Attorney Will Do for You
Hiring a skilled attorney can be beneficial to managing your case to produce a successful financial outcome. This is because a Chicago car accident lawyer is skilled in Illinois tor
If you have been involved in a car accident that was not your fault, you are likely wondering what you need to do. Should you retain a Chicago car accident lawyer, or contact insurance companies on your own to negotiate a settlement to cover your property damage and medical bills? You carry vehicle insurance to avoid financial catastrophe, but exactly what are the steps involved to make sure that the responsible party is held liable for their neglect?
Make Sure Everyone Is Safe
The first step you should take at the scene of the accident is to ensure everyone that requires medical attention is sent to the emergency room right away. This is because many injuries caused by the collision might not be obvious until many hours, days, weeks or months later. Any trauma to the brain, internal organs or spinal cord could become deadly if not treated immediately.
Document the Accident
Liability or responsibility of exactly who caused the accident is not always clear. Because of that, it is essential to provide all valuable pertinent information for the law enforcement officer arriving at the scene. Make sure you also have contact information at the scene, including witnesses before leaving the accident scene, unless you are being transported to a medical facility for care.
Evaluating the Claim
Determining the value of your claim for financial compensation is complex, especially when multiple drivers share responsibility for causing the accident. The losses you will need to claim involve a variety of tangible and intangible damages including:
• Medical bills
• Hospital stay expenses
• Lost wages
• Lost earning ability in the future
• Loss of consortium
• Pain and suffering
• Damage to your vehicle and other property
Consider Retaining an Attorney
The following examples can help you determine if it is necessary to retain a Chicago car accident lawyer. These examples include:
• Your injuries were more than just minor, requiring hospitalization or doctor visits
• Your injuries might be permanent, or involve scarring or bone fractures
• You suffer muscular, bone, neck or back injuries that are yet to be resolved
• The accident involved a delivery truck, tractor-trailer, cargo van or other commercial vehicle
• Your accident involved the fatality of the driver, a passenger, husband, wife, parent, child or other loved one
• Punitive damages might be available because your injuries are the result of a drunk driver
• The insurance company, police officer or other drivers are indicating you are responsible for causing the accident, when it is not true, or you are not sure
• The driver of the other vehicle is uninsured or underinsured, limiting the amount of compensation you might receive
What an Attorney Will Do for You
Hiring a skilled attorney can be beneficial to managing your case to produce a successful financial outcome. This is because a Chicago car accident lawyer is skilled in Illinois tor