Chicago Car Accidents Information Center

Overview of Car Accident Law

Every 10 seconds a person is taken to the emergency room for injuries sustained in a car accident and every 16 minutes someone dies in one. As such, automobile accidents account for an overwhelming majority of personal injury claims nationwide. If you have been injured or lost a loved one because of another driver’s carelessness (negligence) or wrongdoing, you have the right under our legal system to pursue monetary compensation for your personal injury or loss. The injury can be physical or financial, and the responsible (negligent) party can be an individual, an automobile manufacturer, or a corporate or governmental entity.

Car accident laws are designed to compensate you when you have been harmed due to someone’s carelessness. A car accident attorney is your legal representative and best asset to ensure that you receive maximum monetary compensation for your pain and suffering, lost wages, and past and future medical expenses – expenses that can affect you for months and possibly years to come. The goals of a car accident lawsuit are to identify and compel the responsible party to compensate the injured party for his or her damages.

There are many stages to the lawsuit process, from hiring an attorney, to proving fault, to having your case settled out of court or tried before a jury. In general, straightforward cases can be resolved in as little as six months, while complex cases can take two or more years. The amount of monetary compensation you may receive depends on the nature of your injury, related financial losses, and other factors. The first steps you take immediately after an accident are important to your lawsuit, and meeting with an attorney as soon as possible will ensure that your legal rights are protected and that your lawsuit is filed on time.

Email us