Chicago’s Car Accident Attorney

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A car accident can change your life in an instant. From minor fender benders to multiple vehicle collisions and rollovers, the injuries you sustain from the energy and collision of an auto accident can impact your life—and your family’s life—for weeks, months, years, or even permanently.

Auto accidents occur at all times of day and night, under various weather conditions, and as a result of many different driver errors, acts of negligence, and types of intoxication. Distracted driving, cell phone use, and texting are now significant causes of devastating car accidents. If you or a loved one has been injured because another driver’s negligence, then you have the right to financial compensation for the cost of that injury, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and loss of a normal life.

Our experienced personal injury lawyers can help you obtain the maximum compensation your personal injury demands. For nearly 35 years, the personal injury lawyers at Adler & Adler, P.C. have successfully represented thousands of people who have been seriously injured in all types of motor vehicle accidents.

Adler & Adler, P.C. offers the dedication and expertise you expect from a firm with more than 70 years of combined experience. We will fight for you!

Automobile accidents aren’t limited to business hours! That’s why we are available 24-hours a day. Contact us for a free consultation immediately through our 24-Hour Hotline: (312) 443-1488 – even if you aren’t sure that you have a case. If we don’t recover compensation on your behalf, you don’t pay.

Examples of Motor Vehicle Accidents:

  • Car Accidents
  • Truck Accidents
  • Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Claims
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Bicycle Accidents
  • Railroad Crossing Accidents
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Wrongful Death (due to any of the above causes)

 

One Accident, Multiple Claims

All drivers of any type of motor vehicle must use reasonable care to avoid injuring others. Reasonable care includes obeying all federal and Illinois laws, keeping your vehicle maintained, not driving while impaired, and using the care an average person would use while driving. Not using reasonable care may be considered negligence – and the driver or drivers who caused the collision may be liable for damages.

Through accident investigation, your attorney at Adler & Adler can determine the party or parties either partially or fully liable for your injuries. The results may be surprising. Car accident injuries may involve not only one insurance claim, but rather, depending on the circumstances of an accident, multiple auto insurance claims or even a product liability claim. If you have been injured in a work-related car accident, you may have an Illinois workers compensation claim as well as a personal injury claim.

Accidents Involving Uninsured or Underinsured Drivers

The State of Illinois requires drivers to carry liability insurance, however that does not guarantee that all drivers on the road are insured, or even adequately insured. According to the Insurance Research Council, more than 25% of drivers are uninsured. Even if the other driver has liability insurance, he or she may be underinsured. An underinsured motorist has liability insurance that meets the state-required minimum, but is not enough to pay for total damages. In Illinois, that minimum is currently only $25,000.

Protect Yourself & Passengers with UM/UIM Coverage

Uninsured Motorist (UM) and Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage gives you the peace of mind that you and your passengers would receive compensation for injuries that are the result of the negligence of any other driver, even one who is uninsured or underinsured. When you elect UM/UIM coverage, you are protecting yourself and your passengers from the risk that the driver who causes an accident does not have adequate insurance to compensate you. UM/UIM coverage is relatively inexpensive to add to your existing auto policy. Your UM/UIM coverage should equal your Bodily Injury liability limits. Depending on your insurer, you may be able to add UM/UIM coverage for as little as $3-$4 per month for $100,000/$300,000 per person/per accident. Making a claim for benefits will not increase your insurance rates because you are not at fault for the accident.

A Real Life Example

Adler & Adler, P.C., obtained a $57,000 settlement for a client from his own insurance company. His case is a good example of how UM/UIM coverage protects you when you are injured by a driver without insurance or with inadequate liability insurance.

In February 2006, Defendant A, an uninsured teenage driver, took a joy ride in the car of Defendant B, who had minimum policy limits of $20,000. Our client was walking in a Chicago park, when the teen lost control of the car and hit him. He suffered an injury to his right shoulder, causing him to lose time from work and to undergo extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. His medical bills alone totaled more than $9,000.

We obtained a default judgment against the teenager, but she had no assets or insurance to pay the judgment. Defendant B’s insurance carrier denied the claim because his car had been stolen. Like most policies, the insurance did not cover a driver who used the car without permission. Our client carried full coverage on his own vehicle, including UM/UIM coverage in the amount of $100,000. His insurance carrier paid the settlement under the UM coverage. Without this coverage, our client could not have obtained any compensation for his injuries.

This case also illustrates other important points. UM/UIM coverage protects you when you are injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver, even if you are not in your car when you are injured. In our above case, if Defendant B’s insurance policy had applied, our client could have collected $20,000 from Defendant B. Our client’s insurance company would have paid the remaining balance of $37,000. Without UIM coverage, only $20,000 could have been collected.

UM/UIM Claims Require Experienced Attorneys

You need an attorney to protect your legal rights and pursue maximum compensation in a UM/UIM claim. Your insurance policy specifies rules for when, how, and if a claim can be made. Failure to comply with those rules can invalidate your coverage and defeat your claim.

Defective Automobile & Truck Parts

In some cases, auto or truck accidents may be caused by a part that has failed or was defective, either in its design or manufacturing. In these instances, the automobile manufacturer may be fully or partially liable.

Like any product liability case, it is critical that your personal injury or workers’ compensation attorney has the experience to recognize when a product defect may be involved in an accident. This suspicion often results in a detailed examination of the vehicle by a recognized automotive expert.

Past defective vehicle design and/or parts have involved gas pedals, ignition systems, tires, transmission design systems, dangerous fuel systems, seatbelts, insufficient stability, poorly designed seatbacks, rollover tendencies, and more.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an vehicle accident, whether or not you believe it is due to a defective part, please contact Adler & Adler, P.C. for a free initial consultation and case review.

The injuries you sustain from the energy and collision of an auto accident can impact your life—and your family’s life—for weeks, months, years, or even permanently.

Auto accidents aren’t limited to business hours! That’s why our car accident lawyers are available 24-hours a day. If you or a loved one is injured in a car accident, maximize your claim by contacting us immediately through our 24-Hour Hotline: (312) 443-1488—even if you aren’t sure that you have a case.

We are here for you when you need us! We offer free initial consultations, and you take no risk. If we don’t recover compensation on your behalf, you don’t pay.

Fighting for the Compensation You Deserve

Insurance companies are under no obligation to inform you of your rights and may use your statement to attempt to reduce or deny your claim. In fact, many insurers try to cover as little of your claim as possible and may attempt to undervalue your injuries. We will help you understand your rights and options.

Senior Partners Mark Adler and Valerie Harris Adler bring authoritative, expert knowledge to each injury claim, knowledge that is critical to obtaining full compensation for serious injuries. While many cases are negotiated and settled out of court, we are always prepared to stand up to insurance companies and their representatives in order to take a case to trial if doing so will lead to an optimal financial outcome for our client.

While each case is different, compensation depends on many factors, including the severity of your injuries and recovery time. We work on behalf of our clients to seek maximum compensation for all damages, including:

  • Related Medical Expenses, including: Hospital & Physician Bills, Prescriptions, Physical Therapy, & Medical Equipment
  • Future Medical Care, including: Anticipated Surgeries, Long-Term care, & Rehabilitation
  • Lost Wages & Future Loss of Income and/or Earnings Capacity
  • Pain & Suffering
  • Loss of Limbs &/or Permanent Impairments
  • Loss of a Normal Life

Accident victims can suffer from mere bumps and bruises to much more serious injuries. We can help you recover financial compensation for injuries such as:

  • Traumatic Brain Injuries
  • Broken Bones and/or Loss of Limbs
  • Internal Injuries
  • Whiplash & Soft Tissue Damage
  • Spinal Cord Injuries & Paralysis
  • Injury to the Face & Eyes
  • Knee, Neck, & Back Injuries
  • Wrongful Death