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Bolingbrook Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer
Getting hit by an uninsured driver on the road near Bolingbrook is one of the most frustrating situations you can face. You did everything right. You have insurance. You followed the law. And now you’re dealing with injuries, medical bills, and a driver who has no coverage to pay for any of it. That’s where a Bolingbrook uninsured motorist accident lawyer can make a real difference. At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, we understand how stressful this situation is, and we’re here to help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
Table of Contents
- The Uninsured Driver Problem in Illinois Is Bigger Than You Think
- Illinois Law Requires Uninsured Motorist Coverage, But It Has Limits
- How Illinois Negligence Law Affects Your Uninsured Motorist Claim
- What Damages Can You Recover After an Uninsured Motorist Accident?
- Steps to Take After an Uninsured Motorist Accident in Bolingbrook
- FAQs About Bolingbrook Uninsured Motorist Accident Claims
The Uninsured Driver Problem in Illinois Is Bigger Than You Think
Uninsured drivers are not a rare problem. They are a daily reality on Illinois roads, including the busy stretches of I-55, Route 53, and Weber Road that run through and around Bolingbrook. In 2023, more than one in seven drivers nationally, about 15.4 percent, were uninsured. That number has been climbing. Across all fifty states and the District of Columbia, one in three drivers, or 33.4 percent, were either uninsured or underinsured in 2023, a 10 percentage point increase in the combined rate since 2017.
Illinois is not immune to this trend. Illinois has an uninsured motorist rate of around 13%, and while the state has effective legislation, economic disparities contribute to the persistent number of uninsured drivers. Think about what that means when you’re driving through downtown Bolingbrook, near Promenade Bolingbrook, or heading out on Route 59. Roughly one in eight drivers around you may have no insurance at all.
The consequences are serious. When an uninsured driver causes a crash, victims often find themselves stuck with mounting medical bills and no clear path to recovery. The at-fault driver simply cannot pay. Without the right legal help, injured victims can end up absorbing costs that were never their responsibility. That’s not fair, and it’s not what the law intends. If you’ve been hurt in a crash involving an uninsured driver anywhere in the Bolingbrook area, contact Briskman Briskman & Greenberg today to talk through your options.
Illinois Law Requires Uninsured Motorist Coverage, But It Has Limits
Illinois takes the uninsured driver problem seriously. Under the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/7-601), no person may operate or register a motor vehicle on a public highway in this state unless that vehicle is covered by a liability insurance policy. That policy must meet minimum coverage amounts set under Section 7-203 of the Code. Despite this requirement, thousands of drivers still hit the road without coverage every single day.
To protect drivers from those who break the law, Illinois also mandates uninsured motorist coverage as part of every auto liability policy. Illinois law requires uninsured motorist limits of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage covers you for bodily injury caused by a hit-and-run driver or an at-fault driver who has no auto liability insurance.
But here’s something many people don’t realize. Uninsured motorist property damage covers damage to your vehicle caused by an identified, at-fault, uninsured driver. This optional coverage may be purchased with or without collision coverage, and Illinois law requires that the company offer this coverage with a maximum $250 deductible. So if you didn’t add property damage coverage, your car repairs may not be covered at all. This is exactly why it matters to have a lawyer review your policy and your situation. The team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg can help you understand what coverage you actually have and how to use it. We also serve clients throughout the Chicago metro area, including as a Chicago abogado de lesiones personales.
How Illinois Negligence Law Affects Your Uninsured Motorist Claim
When you file an uninsured motorist claim, Illinois negligence law still applies. One of the most important rules to understand is Illinois’ modified comparative fault law under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. Under this law, you can still recover damages even if you were partly at fault for the crash, as long as your share of the fault does not exceed 50 percent. However, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you were 20 percent at fault, you recover 80 percent of your damages. If you were 51 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing.
This matters in uninsured motorist cases because insurance companies will often try to assign some of the blame to you. They may argue you were speeding, distracted, or failed to avoid the collision. Their goal is to reduce what they owe you. Having an experienced attorney on your side means someone is pushing back against those tactics and protecting your right to full compensation.
Illinois law under 735 ILCS 5/2-1117 also addresses joint and several liability in negligence cases. Under this rule, defendants found liable are jointly and severally liable for a plaintiff’s past and future medical and medically related expenses. This can be relevant when multiple parties share responsibility for your crash, such as in cases involving road hazards, vehicle defects, or commercial drivers. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg will evaluate every angle of your case to make sure no source of compensation is overlooked. We also handle cases in communities across the region, including as a Champaign car accident lawyer and a Gurnee car accident lawyer.
What Damages Can You Recover After an Uninsured Motorist Accident?
One of the first questions people ask after a crash with an uninsured driver is, “What can I actually get?” The answer depends on the facts of your case, the coverage available, and how effectively your claim is presented. In Illinois, injured victims can generally seek compensation for a wide range of losses after an uninsured motorist accident.
Medical expenses are typically the largest category. This includes emergency room visits, surgeries, hospital stays, physical therapy, prescription medications, and any future medical care you’ll need because of the accident. If you were hurt badly enough to miss work, you can also claim lost wages. If your injuries affect your ability to earn in the future, that lost earning capacity is also recoverable.
Pain and suffering is another major component. Illinois law allows injured victims to seek compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and the impact the injuries have had on your daily life. If you used to enjoy hiking at Hammel Woods in Shorewood or spending weekends at the Bolingbrook Recreation and Aquatic Complex, and your injuries have taken that away, that loss matters legally and financially.
Property damage is recoverable too, though as noted above, your uninsured motorist property damage coverage must be specifically included in your policy. If you have collision coverage, that may also be a path to getting your vehicle repaired. Our team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg will look at every available source of recovery. We also help clients in nearby communities such as those working with a Mundelein car accident lawyer, an Oak Lawn car accident lawyer, and an Orland Park car accident lawyer.
Steps to Take After an Uninsured Motorist Accident in Bolingbrook
What you do in the hours and days after a crash can have a real impact on your claim. If you’ve been hit by an uninsured driver in or around Bolingbrook, here are the steps that matter most.
First, call 911 immediately. Getting a police report is critical. Officers will document the scene, gather witness information, and note whether the other driver had insurance. If the crash happened near a local landmark like the Bolingbrook Police Department on Boughton Road or along the busy Route 53 corridor, there may even be nearby traffic cameras that captured the incident. Don’t assume the other driver will be honest about their coverage status. Let law enforcement do their job.
Second, seek medical attention right away, even if you feel okay. Adrenaline can mask pain. Many serious injuries, including whiplash, concussions, and internal injuries, don’t show full symptoms for hours or even days. A prompt medical evaluation creates a documented record that connects your injuries to the crash. That record is vital to your claim.
Third, gather as much information as you can at the scene. Take photos of the vehicles, the road, any skid marks, traffic signs, and your injuries. Get the other driver’s name, contact information, and license plate number. Talk to witnesses and get their contact details too.
Fourth, notify your own insurance company that the accident involved an uninsured driver. Under Illinois law and most policy terms, you must report the claim promptly. Delays can give the insurer grounds to dispute coverage.
Fifth, and perhaps most importantly, contact Briskman Briskman & Greenberg before you give any recorded statements to your insurance company. Even your own insurer has financial interests that may not align with yours. Having an attorney guide you through the process helps protect your right to full compensation from the very start.
FAQs About Bolingbrook Uninsured Motorist Accident Claims
Can I file a claim with my own insurance company if the other driver has no insurance?
Yes. That’s exactly what uninsured motorist coverage is for. Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage covers you for injuries caused by a hit-and-run driver or an at-fault driver who has no auto liability insurance. You file the claim with your own insurer, and they step in to compensate you up to your policy limits. Illinois requires this coverage as part of every auto liability policy, so you should have it unless you specifically waived it in writing.
What if the uninsured driver fled the scene and I don’t know who they are?
Hit-and-run accidents are treated similarly to uninsured motorist cases under Illinois law. In many states, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage includes hit-and-runs, accidents in which the driver flees the scene without leaving any insurance or contact information. Illinois is one of those states. You would file a claim under your own uninsured motorist coverage. It’s important to report the accident to police immediately and document everything you can, since your insurer may require proof that the hit-and-run actually occurred.
What if the at-fault driver has some insurance, but not enough to cover all my damages?
That situation involves underinsured motorist coverage rather than uninsured motorist coverage. Underinsured motorist bodily injury insurance pays the difference between your UIM limits and the liability limits of the at-fault driver, if lower than your UIM limits. Illinois law under 215 ILCS 5/143a-2 requires this type of coverage if you purchase higher limits of uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage. In other words, if you bought more than the minimum UM coverage, you automatically have UIM coverage too. An attorney can help you figure out how to stack these coverages for the best possible outcome.
How long do I have to file an uninsured motorist claim in Illinois?
Illinois has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. However, your insurance policy may have its own deadlines for reporting an uninsured motorist claim or demanding arbitration, and those deadlines can be shorter. Missing a policy deadline could result in a denial of your claim. This is one of the most important reasons to contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident, so nothing slips through the cracks.
Do I need a lawyer for an uninsured motorist claim, or can I handle it myself?
You can file a claim on your own, but it’s rarely in your best interest. Insurance companies, including your own, have adjusters and lawyers working to minimize payouts. They may dispute the severity of your injuries, argue that some of your medical treatment was unnecessary, or try to assign you a share of the fault to reduce what they owe. An attorney who knows Illinois personal injury law can push back against those tactics, gather the evidence needed to support your claim, and negotiate for the full compensation you deserve. The team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg offers free consultations, so there’s no cost to find out where you stand.
More Resources About Vehicle Injuries
- Dangerous Roads & Intersections in Bolingbrook
- Bolingbrook Bicycle Accident Lawyer
- Bolingbrook Car Accident Lawyer
- Bolingbrook Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer
- Bolingbrook Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
- Bolingbrook Fatal Car Accident Lawyer
- Bolingbrook Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
- Bolingbrook Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
- Bolingbrook Truck Accident Attorney
- Bolingbrook Uber Accident Lawyer
- Bolingbrook Lyft Accident Lawyer
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