Chicago Car Accident Lawyer

In just an instant, a major car accident can change your life. Regardless of your role in the wreck, you’re at risk of major injuries or even death. A person who was perfectly healthy just before the accident can quickly accrue thousands of dollars worth of medical bills and car repair fees.

While car accident injuries will always be a concern, luckily, Michael J. Brennan is a Chicago car accident attorney that can help you file a car accident claim and recover your rightful compensation. No amount of money can reverse some injuries or bring people back that were lost as a result of a car accident, but it can alleviate some financial burden and ease the additional pain that causes.

How a Chicago Car Accident Attorney Can Help

As your Chicago car accident attorney, it is our goal to walk you through the steps of your car accident claim so you can receive the compensation you deserve. For many years, we have been helping victims just like you who have been wronged by a negligent driver.

The burden of fighting for compensation shouldn’t be yours alone — we’re here to help. Our goal is always to make the entire process as stress-free as possible so you can focus on regaining strength, getting back to good health, and spending time with family as you heal.

Some people will try to settle their claim without the help of a lawyer, but this road can have many challenges, including gathering proper evidence and making a strong argument before the court.

When you work with a reputable Chicago car accident attorney, you can rest assured that your case is being handled with great care, from start to finish. We help all of our car accident clients with the following processes:

Collecting evidence via police reports
Gathering all medical bills and records
Obtaining any evidence such as security camera footage or phone recordings
Getting statements from witnesses
Speaking directly with insurance adjusters
Securing witness testimony
Inspecting for automobile recalls or defects

Benefits of Working With a Trusted Chicago Car Accident Lawyer

There are many reasons to hire a Chicago car accident lawyer, but here are the nine biggest reasons most people choose to work with our firm:

Our clients are often compensated higher than those without representation.
Representing yourself is a challenge, from the legal aspects to evidence-gathering.
Working with our attorneys avoids common mistakes.
Legal timelines and procedures are often more complex than people realize, so it helps to have an expert by your side.
Insurance companies are more open to negotiations when lawyers are involved.
We can fight a denial of your claim more effectively.
We have years of training, deep knowledge of the legal landscape, and specific trial experience.
You shift the financial risk to someone else.
The insurance company has an attorney, so wouldn’t you want one?

The Top Causes of Car Accidents

A car accident in Chicago can happen for many reasons. Unfortunately, we see time and time again that these accidents are caused by the same recurring things. From impaired drivers to speeding and reckless driving, there are always risks when driving on the roads.

While these do not encompass the full spectrum of causes for a car accident in Chicago, the most common reasons include:

DUI

Driving under the influence is dangerous, reckless, and illegal. Yet, drunk driving accidents happen every day in Chicago and Illinois as a whole. If you are injured in a car crash that involved a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you have a right to seek compensatory damages from the driver through your claim.

Our attorneys are experienced handling complex auto accident cases in court and always do everything in our power to obtain the settlement our clients deserve.

Speeding

Speeding continues to be a major problem in all areas of the United States, and it happens daily in the Chicago area. Accidents caused by a speeding driver, due to their intense nature and acceleration, can lead to incredibly serious injuries. Unfortunately, they often lead to death as well. When the weather is bad or a car is speeding at night, the potential for damage is even higher.

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving cases have been on the rise in recent years. This includes behavior such as cutting off other cars, weaving in and out of lanes on the road, tailgating, and road rage. Reckless driving is unnecessary and incredibly dangerous, putting more than just the driver at risk. Often, these drivers are overly confident in their skills, leading to accidents.

If you’re involved in a car accident in Chicago with a reckless driver, it’s critical that you get legal representation. As a team, we can send the driver one simple, clear message: reckless driving is not tolerated here.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving has been on the rise as smartphones have become commonplace. Texting and driving is one form of distracted driving, but it can also include any activity on the phone while driving or attempting to complete other tasks at the same time, like putting on makeup or eating. Backseat drivers and even changing the radio station can also lead to distracted driving.

Drowsy Driving

Drowsy driving is likely more of an issue than you might think. Over 100,000 car crashes happen annually due to drowsy driving. While driving while tired might not seem like that big of a risk at first, it’s not much better than driving while drunk.

If someone has not been to sleep in an extended period of time, it can greatly impair their decision-making and vision. It also runs the risk of falling asleep at the wheel, which can have disastrous consequences.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident involving a drowsy driver, contact us at your earliest convenience.

The Most Common Car Accident Injuries

Even a seemingly minor car accident in Chicago can have tremendous consequences. Serious injuries, many life-altering or life-threatening can occur from car accidents. We see too many people suffering from car accident injuries. Many people will make full recoveries, but others don’t have that luxury. Some of the most common auto accident injuries include:

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries that result in hospitalization. When a car crash throws the victim around with high force, the body is experiencing movement it is not made to endure. Many victims hit their head on the windows, the steering wheel, or the car doors or roof. Even when victims don’t directly hit their head, the brain can still experience great trauma. These victims often experience symptoms for months or even the rest of their life.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord is critical to just about every major bodily function. Without one that works properly, someone may be left paralyzed. These can be some of the most extensive and expensive injuries to treat.

Broken Bones

Broken bones are some of the most common injuries to see resulting from a car crash. Someone who breaks a bone will need medical coverage for surgeries often including titanium screws and rods, the time to heal outside of work, and rehabilitation.

Facial Injuries

If the face makes contact with a window, the dashboard, the steering wheel, or other blunt objects in the car, major facial injuries like lacerations, fractures, and dental issues can occur.

Death

In worst case scenarios, sometimes victims will not survive a serious car accident in Chicago. If you have lost a loved one due to reckless driving or another driver’s negligence, you need the support of an experienced auto accident law firm to help you through the claims process.

Seek Compensation With a Car Accident Claim

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a car accident in Chicago, you may have rights to compensation. Since Illinois is an at-fault state, whoever is responsible for causing the crash is also responsible for any of the expenses that come as a result of the accident.

In your case, the at-fault party’s insurance policy must cover the compensation. However, you won’t receive the money by doing nothing. You must initiate a car accident claim and provide substantial evidence to prove who was at fault.

Our personal injury law firm can help you navigate your car accident claim and advocate on your behalf in court.

What to Do After a Car Accident

“I’ve just been involved in a car accident in Chicago, what do I do now?”

We know how hard it can be to stay focused at the scene of an accident, especially if you’ve sustained any injuries. Try to stay calm and follow these steps, when possible:

1) Always call 911 and ask for a police officer to respond to the accident to create a report.

2) Check yourself for injuries as well as any passengers and the other vehicle.

3) Move the vehicles and any debris out of the road if possible and safe to do so.

4) Exchange information, including driver’s license and insurance information with the driver involved. If any witnesses are on the scene, gather their contact information as well.

5) Take photos and make notes of the accident — how it occurred, where, when, why, and any damage to the car/yourself.

6) Let your insurance company know about the accident.

7) Get in touch with a reputable Chicago car accident attorney.

8) Seek medical attention.

Our Chicago Car Accident Attorney Has Your Back

If you have been the victim of a car accident in Chicago, don’t delay in contacting us to represent you as you file a claim against the responsible party’s insurance company. Michael Brennan is an aggressive, experienced, and compassionate attorney here to ensure clients get the compensation they deserve.