FAQs

1. Check for Injuries – You should immediately seek medical attention even if you do not immediately appear hurt, as some injuries may be masked by adrenaline or shock.
2. Contact Law Enforcement – You should contact law enforcement after an accident. The officer will often prepare an accident report, which may be needed by your insurance company or the other driver’s insurer.
3. Document the Scene – You should thoroughly document the scene, including obtaining the other driver’s contact information and information for any witnesses, as well as taking pictures of the vehicles and the location of the accident.
4. Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer – An experienced attorney may often be crucial after a car accident in helping you pursue any compensation you may be entitled to.

Learn more about this, in our FAQ.

What to Do After a Minor Accident?

Minor car accidents may typically appear to be less serious than other accidents, but may nonetheless require certain steps to be taken by you, such as:

1. Document the Scene – Even if the accident appears minor, you should still document the scene thoroughly as you would with any car accident.
2. Contact the Police – For minor accidents with no apparent injuries, you should generally call the direct number for the local police or sheriff’s department instead of using 911.
3. Move Your Vehicle – After minor accidents, it is generally best to move your car to the side of the road if able to do so.
4. Exchange Information – You should exchange names of everyone involved, document the other driver’s license plate, driver’s license number, and any insurance information, as well as the state of the other driver, such as if he or she appears to be intoxicated.
5. Seek Medical Attention if Necessary –Often, some soft-tissue injuries such as whiplash may not be immediately noticeable because your adrenaline may be masking the pain. You should seek medical attention if you appear to be injured. You should also pay close attention to how you feel after the accident and seek attention if you begin experiencing pain or other symptoms of an injury.
6. Contact a Car Accident Lawyer – A car accident lawyer may help you even after a minor accident by helping you file a claim with your insurer, understand your legal options, and negotiate with your insurer or the other driver’s if necessary.

Contact Michael J. Brennan

By contacting an experienced car accident attorney like Michael Brennan, he will help you pursue the compensation you may be entitled to. Michael will thoroughly investigate the accident to gather evidence to prove the other driver’s liability for the wreck as well as to prove the extent of your injuries and damages. Michael has years of experience negotiating with insurance companies and can help level the playing field against the teams of lawyers these insurers hire to help them avoid paying as much as possible to settle any claims.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 36,096 people died in car crashes in 2019. This number of fatalities represented a two percent decrease from the 36,835 deaths that were reported in 2018.

Injured in a Chicago Accident? What to Do

The aftermath of a car crash that you did not cause may often be a confusing time. As you recover from your unexpected physical injuries, you may be unsure how you will pay for your medical bills, repair your vehicle, and recover emotionally from the accident. Fortunately, an experienced car accident attorney like Michael J. Brennan can allow you to focus on your recovery while he handles your case and helps you pursue any compensation you may be entitled to.

What Steps Should Someone Take After A Car Accident that Isn’t Their Fault?

The steps someone should take after an accident include seeking medical attention, documenting the accident, contacting law enforcement, contacting a personal injury lawyer like Michael J. Brennan to help you, and avoid speaking with the insurance company without your lawyer.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention 

If you have been in an accident that is not your fault, you should seek immediate medical attention to treat any injuries you may have suffered. Car accidents may often lead to catastrophic injuries that could be life-threatening or even fatal, especially if left untreated. Even if the accident seems relatively minor, or if you do not immediately appear to be injured, you should still seek medical treatment to make sure you have not suffered an injury. Some injuries may often not be immediately apparent, especially immediately after an accident when adrenaline or shock may mask an injury’s symptoms, especially with soft tissue injuries such as whiplash. If you are still experiencing stiffness, neck pain, back pain, or soreness in your muscles, you should go to your doctor, as this may be evidence of spinal injuries or whiplash.

Internal injuries may also not be readily apparent, such as internal bleeding, which could be life-threatening if not immediately treated. If you experience any symptoms such as confusion, loss of consciousness, or tingling in your legs or arms, seek medical attention immediately.

Document the Accident

It is often crucial to make sure you immediately begin gathering as much information as may be available about the accident. You should always be sure to obtain the other driver’s contact information, insurance information, vehicle make and model, as well as the license plate number and contact information for any witnesses to the accident. You should also take pictures, if possible, of the vehicles, any damage, the scene of the accident and the surrounding area, and any injuries. You should also be sure to keep all of your medical records related to the accident, any repair bills for your vehicle, or documentation showing that your car was totaled and had to be replaced. Finally, keep a record of any missed work due to the injuries and your resulting loss of income. This documentation may often be critical in proving your case when the other party or insurer may attempt to dispute your version of events or the extent of your injuries.

Contact Law Enforcement

After seeking any necessary immediate medical attention, you should call the police. Even if the accident seems minor, it is often best to contact the police. The police officer will generally file an accident report, which can help provide relevant information for your claim. This report will help support your claim for compensation against the other at-fault driver.

 Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer

You should contact a skilled car accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident. An experienced attorney like Michael J. Brennan may help you better understand your legal options and how best to pursue any compensation you may be entitled to. After hiring Michael to represent you, he may often conduct a thorough investigation into the accident to gather as much evidence as possible. This evidence may include police reports, any pictures of the accident scene, insurance information, your medical records, the repair bill for your vehicle, and any witness statements. Michael can also negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company on your behalf to pursue a satisfactory settlement. Insurers often hire large teams of lawyers to make sure the insurer pays as little as possible to settle any claims but hiring an experienced car accident attorney can level this playing field and help you seek compensation. If the insurance company refuses to agree to a reasonable settlement, Michael may decide to take your case to trial.

Do Not Speak to the Insurance Company Without Your Lawyer

Insurance companies may often rush to speak with you after an accident. However, you should remember that the insurer’s goal is to pay as little as possible, not to compensate you for your losses fully. While the insurer may often seem helpful and may offer to settle your claim and provide you with some compensation quickly, you should contact your lawyer before speaking with the insurer, as your lawyer can help you avoid saying any statements that could be used against you while better understanding how much compensation you are entitled to before agreeing to a potential settlement with the insurer.

Orland Park & Chicago Area Truck Injury Attorney

Since 2009, semi-truck accidents have increased significantly across the country, with the number of truck crashes rising approximately 45 percent between 2009 and 2018, with most of these accidents taking place on interstate highways or rural areas. In 2018, there were 4,136 reported fatalities from crashes involving large trucks, which was 31 percent higher than in 2009. Meanwhile, about 96 percent of deaths in two-vehicle collisions between passenger vehicles and a large truck were the passenger vehicle occupants.

What Causes Semi-Truck Accidents? 

Several causes of semi-truck accidents include reckless driving/speeding, distracted driving, failing to yield the right-of-way, fatigued driving, and intoxicated driving.

Reckless Driving or Speeding

Semi-truck drivers can cause accidents by driving recklessly, such as speeding, changing lanes without using signals, or running red lights or stop signs. Given the additional size and force of large commercial trucks, semi-truck drivers must take extra precautions than many other drivers to ensure the driver has time to stop the vehicle or avoid crashing into another car. In 2018, speeding was the most frequently listed cause of semi-truck accidents in the United States.

Distracted Driving

Another common cause of many semi-truck accidents is distracted driving. Truck drivers who fail to pay adequate attention to the road while driving may be unable to avoid hazards on the street, fail to stop an intersection, or avoid crashing into another vehicle. Activities such as talking or texting on the phone, adjusting the radio, reaching for dropped items on the floor, or eating all contribute to a driver’s distractions. Indeed, distracted driving was the second most common cause of crashes involving large trucks in 2018. 

Failure to Yield

Failing to yield the right-of-way was listed as the third most common cause of truck crashes in 2018 by the FMCSA. Large trucks may often fail to yield to oncoming traffic when merging onto highways or interstate highways. In many of these instances, the driver may have failed to check blind spots or oncoming traffic properly. In some cases, the truck driver may also run a red light or stop sign, crashing into another vehicle in an intersection, often due to fatigued or distracted driving.

Fatigued Driving

Fatigued driving may often be typical for semi-truck drivers as they rush to meet tight delivery schedules. Trucking companies may encourage or pressure drivers to avoid stopping or forego an appropriate amount of rest to meet these tight schedules. This sense of urgency may often result in tired drivers becoming drowsy and failing to properly pay attention to the road or even falling asleep behind the wheel. Many semi-truck drivers are subject to federal regulations, including “hours-of-service” rules required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which require truck drivers to rest for set amounts of time after driving for so long. Semi-truck drivers who fail to comply with these rules may cause an accident and may often be liable for any accidents. The FMCSA listed fatigued driving or falling asleep behind the wheel as one of the most common driver impairment-related factors for large truck crashes in 2018.

Intoxicated Driving

Finally, as with many vehicle accidents, intoxicated driving may also be a common cause of semi-truck accidents. Truck drivers may get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, creating a serious danger to other vehicles on the road. For truck drivers, a leading cause of intoxication may often be prescription drug or over-the-counter drug use rather than alcohol, often as drivers attempt to use these drugs to remain alert or awake after failing to rest properly.

What You Should Look for When Choosing a Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer

Semi-truck accidents may often be problematic in proving the truck driver’s liability for the accident and dealing with the insurance company. Insurance companies often have teams of lawyers to help them pay as little as possible in settling any claim. Therefore, you must hire an experienced semi-truck accident attorney to help you pursue any compensation you may be entitled to. By hiring a skilled personal injury lawyer with experience in negotiating with insurance companies and pursuing truck accident claims, you can level the playing field against the insurer and increase your chances of successfully seeking compensation.

If you have been injured in an accident involving a semi-truck, you should contact Michael Brennan as soon as possible. Michael has years of experience in pursuing truck accident claims and can help you seek compensation for your injuries and damages. Michael Brennan will negotiate with the insurer on your behalf to obtain a satisfactory settlement while making it clear he is willing to take your case to trial, should the insurer refuses to agree to an acceptable settlement demand.

Car accidents can often be traumatic events, causing severe or life-threatening injuries or even death in some cases. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, you should contact the Law Offices of Michael J. Brennan. As a skilled attorney with years of experience, Michael Brennan can help you pursue any compensation you may be entitled to after your accident.

What Are Common Injuries After an Accident?

Common injuries after an accident include head and traumatic brain injuries, neck injuries, chest or abdominal injuries, back injuries and burns:

Head Injuries and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Head injuries can be severe in a car accident. A collision force may cause the head to strike the dashboard or other part of the car or object. These injuries may range from mild concussions to more serious traumatic brain injuries (TBI) such as bruising, bleeding, tearing, or other physical severe damage to the brain. Depending on the severity of the head or brain injury, these injuries may heal over a few weeks or lead to chronic and debilitating symptoms

Neck Injuries

The force of the impact in a car accident may often cause the head to jerk forward, injuring the neck. Whiplash is one of the most common neck injuries, typically caused by the sudden jerking motion damaging muscles, ligaments, or spinal disks in the neck. Another common neck injury after an accident includes broken bones in the neck.

Chest or Abdominal Injuries

Car crashes may also cause damage to the diaphragm through ruptures or tears to the muscle. Other abdominal injuries may include injuries to major internal organs such as the kidneys, spleen, liver, or other organs, resulting in internal bleeding and require surgery.

Back Injuries

Common back injuries after a car accident include spinal injuries such as thoracic or lumbar strains. Minor injuries to the back may result in chronic pain, while more severe injuries may often cause paralysis in one or more limbs or over large portions of the body.

Burns

Car accidents may cause burns if the vehicle catches fire or from touching hot parts of the car. Severe burns may cause serious deep tissue damage and often require years of repeated and expensive treatment. Smoke inhalation may also cause lung damage.