As one of America’s most populous cities, Chicago is a complex web of roadways and intersections, and anywhere in the city can become the site of a car accident. That said, highways like Dan Ryan, Interstate 290 (“the Ike”), John F. Kennedy Expressway, and Stevenson Expressway are often busy and, therefore, common sites of collisions.
Intersections in every city also pose a heightened risk for car accidents. East 79th Street & South Stony Island Avenue is widely considered to be the city’s most dangerous intersection, while other dangerous intersections include East 9th Street & South Stony Island Avenue, West Garfield Boulevard & South Wentworth Avenue, and West Garfield and South Wells Street.
If you or a loved one are in a car accident in Chicago, hire a car accident lawyer in Chicago to seek the compensation you deserve.
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Conditions in Chicago That Increase the Risk of Car Accidents
Though specific roads and intersections in Chicago have higher accident rates than most, a collision can happen at any point where vehicles travel in the Windy City.
A distracted driving mistake, road defect, or other hazard can happen virtually anywhere at any time. Still, several other conditions can increase the likelihood of a car accident. Such conditions include:
High Pedestrian Traffic
Chicago is one of the most walkable major cities, so pedestrians are almost always out and about. However, there are areas where an abnormal number of pedestrians are present, including:
- Near schools, which the city notes as a high-risk zone for accidents
- Near Wrigley Field, Soldier Field, United Center, and other sporting venues
- Neighborhoods with a high density of bars and clubs, like Wicker Park, Old Town,
- Neighborhoods with a high density of apartments and houses, like Printer’s Row and New East Side
- Areas with many cultural attractions and hotspots, like River North
Motorists may have to swerve or stop suddenly to avoid pedestrians, leading to single-vehicle accidents, collisions with other motor vehicles, or collisions with pedestrians. Therefore, areas with heavy foot traffic pose a heightened risk for car accidents.
Dense Vehicle Traffic
The more vehicles on a given road, the more opportunities there are for accidents to happen. This is why Chicago’s most traffic-heavy roads, including its many highways, pose a heightened risk of accidents.
Adverse Weather Conditions
Chicago is a city that experiences all the seasons and, therefore, is exposed to many types of inclement weather. Some conditions that can increase the risk of car accidents include:
- Snow
- Hail
- Ice
- Sleet
- Fog
- Rain
While Chicagoans are no strangers to these hazardous weather conditions, many motorists fail to adapt to such hazards by reducing speed, increasing the distance from other vehicles, and taking other necessary precautions.
Nighttime (Especially on Roads with Poor Lighting)
Visibility decreases at night, particularly on roadways or at intersections with inadequate lighting. Lower visibility may prevent motorists from seeing defects in the road, other vehicles, or other hazards they must avoid.
Intersections
Half of all traffic accident-related injuries in the United States occur from collisions at intersections. This is the case because:
- Intersections bring together vehicles traveling in opposite directions, meaning those vehicles can collide when failures happen
- Intersections can be unusually chaotic, causing motorists to become nervous, confused, and more likely to cause a car collision
- When traffic lights are down, stop signs are not present, and other necessary safety features are not in place, the risk of intersection accidents rises even further
Pedestrians are also present at many intersections in Chicago, further increasing the risk of car accidents.
Motorists, motor vehicle manufacturers, the City of Chicago, and other responsible parties must take every available measure to reduce the likelihood that a car accident will occur. When such parties fail to take preventative measures, they become financially liable for victims’ accident-related damages.
Car Accidents Always Result from Someone’s Failure
Negligence is the standard of liability in most car accident cases. When someone is negligent, it means they have failed in some way, and that failure may directly lead to a motor vehicle collision.
Some of the parties whose negligence can lead to car accidents include:
- Motorists, who often cause collisions by speeding, driving while distracted, driving under the influence, and tailgating
- Motor vehicle manufacturers, who are liable when their defective vehicles cause collisions
- Municipalities (including the City of Chicago), which can be liable when road defects, lack of lighting, defective traffic signals, dangerous work zones, and other hazards result in accidents
- Pedestrians, who can spark a chain reaction when they enter the roadway without the right of way
Car accidents have many potential causes, and each case is unique. A Chicago car accident attorney can determine exactly why your accident happened, identify liable parties, and demand fair compensation from those liable parties (or their insurance providers).
What to Do After a Car Accident in Chicago
If you were involved in a car accident in Chicago, it’s fair to assume you have already left the accident scene. Some steps you should take after the collision (if you have not already) include:
- Seeing a doctor: Always assume you might have injuries after a car accident. If you are, seeing a doctor will ensure you receive clear diagnoses, all necessary medical care, and a medical paper trail between the accident and resulting injuries.
- Hiring an attorney: Between the time your accident happens and when you hire a car accident lawyer, your rights are at risk. Insurers and others who owe you compensation may try to have you accept a lowball settlement, say you are at fault for the accident, or act in other ways that harm your case. Hire your lawyer as soon as possible so they can protect you from such bad-faith tactics (and fulfill several other critical duties).
- Keeping detailed records of damages: Your lawyer will obtain all available documentation of your damages. You can help in this process by keeping copies of all medical records, keeping a journal documenting your pain and suffering, and keeping any other documentation (like vehicle repair invoices) that can be useful to your attorney.
- Following your attorney’s counsel: Your car accident lawyer will provide easy-to-follow advice. If you are careful when choosing your lawyer, you can trust that their advice is sound. Therefore, you should follow the guidance they provide.
- Prioritizing your recovery: As the victim of a car accident who has a lawyer handling their case, your primary focus should be recovery. This will likely require you to follow your doctor’s treatment plan, get plenty of rest, and avoid any activities that can jeopardize your physical or mental health.
Meanwhile, your attorney will build your claim or lawsuit from start to finish. This will be a massive weight off your mind, and you can better focus on your health because an attorney is fighting for your financial recovery.
Why Hiring a Chicago Car Accident Attorney May Be the Right Decision for You
Hiring a lawyer is not always the obvious choice, but it may certainly be the right choice. Those who hire car accident attorneys quickly recognize that:
- The lawyer’s experience has value: Those who do something over and over tend to get better at completing that task. This is why your lawyer’s background in completing car accident claims and lawsuits may be highly valuable to you.
- The law firm provides financial support for the case: Law firms are responsible for building car accident cases and covering each case’s financial expenses. Many firms have access to resources that clients might not otherwise pay for, including experts.
- There is no out-of-pocket cost to hire a car accident attorney: Most Chicago car accident attorneys offer contingency fees, which they only receive if their client gets compensation. This means there is no direct financial risk to the client.
- A lawyer allows you to file a lawsuit, should you choose: While many car accident victims have tried to handle their own insurance claims, most are uncomfortable with or capable of leading a lawsuit. When you hire a lawyer, you hire someone who is highly capable of leading both insurance claims and lawsuits. This means all options for seeking compensation are available to you.
Many who hire a lawyer also realize that an attorney’s help is an immense source of relief and support. If you have questions, your lawyer will have answers. If you have concerns, your lawyer will address them. If you need guidance, your attorney will provide instructions.
How a Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Will Benefit You
Your car accident lawyer will manage every detail of your case while leading that case from beginning to end. Some of the duties your lawyer will oversee are:
Obtaining Evidence of Negligence
Someone caused your accident, and an attorney will prove who and why the collision in Chicago happened. Some common forms of evidence in car accident cases include:
- Video footage of the accident, which can come from dashboard cameras, security cameras, cellphones, traffic cameras, and other sources
- Eyewitness testimony about the accident
- A police report
- Photographs of damaged vehicles
- A reconstruction of the accident
A lawyer will not hesitate to secure evidence, as time is a crucial factor in whether the most valuable types of evidence are available.
Documenting Your Recoverable Damages
The damages you’ve suffered from the car accident will be a key focus of your case. Your lawyer may prove your accident-related damages with:
- Testimony from doctors and mental health professionals
- All accident-related medical and mental health-related records
- Invoices for vehicle repairs, temporary transportation, and the replacement of damaged personal items
- Photographs and diagnostic images of your injuries
- Employment records and bank statements that help prove lost income and other professional damages
Leave it to your lawyer to determine what types of documentation prove the cost of your collision in Chicago.
Calculating a Fair Settlement Value
Once they have gathered all relevant information and documentation, your attorney will determine how much money you deserve. Their settlement demands will assign a specific value to each of your damages, and the documentation will show why those values are justified.
Negotiating a Settlement
Your attorney will present the settlement demands to the liable parties. Those liable parties may not initially meet the demands, and negotiations may then occur.
Filing a Lawsuit
Your lawyer will review all settlement offers with you. If no settlement offers come or the offers are less than you deserve, you may choose to file a lawsuit. Your attorney will file suit before any applicable statutes of limitations expire.
Completing a Trial
The ability to go to trial is a key benefit of hiring a car accident attorney. If you and your legal team mutually agree that a trial is the right move, your attorney will represent you throughout your court case.
Your lawyer will oversee communications, too. This will spare you from unwanted correspondence from insurers while also protecting your rights and case.
Recoverable Damages in Your Chicago Car Accident Case
Your attorney will know that your injuries, mental health challenges, property damage, professional losses, and other damages are entirely unique to you. This is why they will conduct a detailed investigation to document:
- All accident-related medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income
- Diminished earning power
- Vehicle repair costs
- The cost of replacing a totaled vehicle
These are all common damages among car accident victims, both in Chicago and elsewhere. You may have additional damages, and an effective lawyer will include every single one of your damages in their settlement demand letter.
Hire Your Chicago Car Accident Attorney as Soon as Possible
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Illinois generally requires car accident lawyers to file lawsuits within two years of the accident and injuries. This period can pass by in a blink, especially if you are busy focusing on your recovery. Don’t risk missing your filing deadline or losing crucial evidence because of hesitation—speak with a Chicago legal team as soon as possible. They can immediately begin investigating and preserving evidence to support your claim.
Call a trusted firm today and complete a free consultation about hiring a Chicago personal injury attorney.
