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Streamwood Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer

Getting hit by a driver who has no insurance is one of the most frustrating situations a Streamwood resident can face. You did everything right. You carried insurance, followed the rules of the road, and then someone without coverage ran into you on IL-59, near Barrington Road, or on one of the busy surface streets cutting through town. Now you’re dealing with medical bills, lost wages, and a car that may be totaled, all while wondering who is going to pay. The team at Chicago personal injury lawyer firm Briskman Briskman & Greenberg has helped injured people across the Chicago area recover compensation after accidents with uninsured drivers, and we are ready to help you too.

How Common Are Uninsured Drivers in Illinois?
What Illinois Law Says About Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Steps to Take After an Uninsured Motorist Accident in Streamwood
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Why Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Is the Right Call for Streamwood Residents
FAQs About Streamwood Uninsured Motorist Accidents

How Common Are Uninsured Drivers in Illinois?

The problem of uninsured drivers is bigger than most people realize. Despite state laws in Illinois requiring all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance, as many as 14% to 16% of motorists on Illinois roads are believed to be uninsured. That means roughly one out of every six or seven cars you pass on the Elgin O’Hare Expressway or along Route 20 through Streamwood could be driven by someone with no coverage at all.

Nationally, the trend is moving in the wrong direction. The U.S. uninsured rate climbed from 11.6% in 2019 to 15.4% in 2023, a 3.8 percentage point jump in just four years. Rising insurance premiums are a big reason why. Drivers who dropped coverage during the 2020 lockdowns largely have not come back, and rate hikes averaging 22.6% in 2024 alone, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI, have made the gap harder to close.

Illinois law under Chicago car accident lawyer resources and Section 7-601 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/7-601) requires every registered vehicle to carry liability insurance. Driving without it can result in fines and suspension of driving privileges. But enforcement gaps mean plenty of uninsured drivers are still on the road every day, and some of them will cause accidents. If one of them hits you near the Streamwood Metra station or along Schaumburg Road, knowing your legal options ahead of time matters.

What Illinois Law Says About Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Illinois does not just require drivers to carry liability insurance. It also requires that every auto insurance policy include protection for you in case the other driver has none. In Illinois, uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory under the Illinois Insurance Code, 215 ILCS 5/143a. This statute requires all auto insurance policies to include uninsured motorist coverage to protect policyholders from financial losses when involved in accidents with uninsured drivers. The coverage must at least match the state’s minimum liability limits, currently set at $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury.

That minimum sounds like a lot until you consider what a serious crash actually costs. A single night in a Cook County hospital, a surgery, physical therapy, and weeks of missed work can easily exceed $25,000. That is why Illinois law also gives you the option to carry higher limits. No policy insuring against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for bodily injury or death suffered by any person arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle shall be renewed or delivered or issued for delivery in this State unless uninsured motorist coverage is included in an amount equal to the insured’s bodily injury liability limits unless specifically rejected by the insured in writing.

In plain terms, your UM coverage should match your own liability limits unless you signed a written rejection. Illinois law also requires insurers to offer underinsured motorist coverage, which provides added protection when the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage is insufficient. That separate protection, governed by 215 ILCS 5/143a-2, fills the gap when a driver has some insurance but not enough. Both coverages work together to protect you when the other driver cannot.

Hit-and-run crashes fall under UM coverage too. An “uninsured motorist” in Illinois is any at-fault driver who either has no liability insurance, has a denied or canceled policy, or cannot be identified, including hit-and-run drivers. If someone rear-ended you on I-290 and drove away before police arrived, your own UM policy is likely your primary source of recovery.

Steps to Take After an Uninsured Motorist Accident in Streamwood

What you do in the hours and days after a crash can directly affect your ability to recover compensation. First, call 911. A police report creates an official record of the crash, and most UM policies require one, especially in hit-and-run situations. Officers who respond near the Cook-DuPage county line or anywhere in the Streamwood area will document the scene, which becomes critical evidence later.

Get medical attention right away, even if you feel okay. Symptoms from whiplash, concussions, and soft tissue injuries often take days to appear. Gaps in treatment give insurance companies a reason to argue your injuries were not caused by the crash. Keep every bill, every discharge summary, and every record of missed work.

Notify your own insurance company promptly. Most UM policies have strict notice requirements, and missing a deadline can result in a denied claim. If your notice is late or your demand for arbitration misses the policy window, the claim can be denied on technicalities, even when the underlying facts are airtight. That is a painful outcome that proper legal guidance can help you avoid.

Gather witness contact information and photograph everything at the scene. If surveillance cameras were nearby, such as those at a gas station on Irving Park Road or a retail lot near Streamwood’s Poplar Creek area, that footage may only be preserved for a short time. An attorney can move quickly to secure it. Understanding the full car accident lawsuit process from the start gives you a real advantage over dealing with insurers alone.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

A successful uninsured motorist claim can cover a wide range of losses. Medical expenses are the most obvious, including emergency room visits, surgeries, specialist care, prescription costs, and ongoing rehabilitation. But your damages do not stop there. Lost wages matter when an injury keeps you off the job for weeks or months. If your injuries are permanent, future lost earning capacity is also part of the picture.

Pain and suffering is a real category of damages under Illinois law, not just a legal phrase. It accounts for the physical discomfort, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life that follow a serious crash. Illinois follows a modified comparative fault system under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. If you are found partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still recover as long as you are not more than 50% responsible.

Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1117, defendants found liable in negligence cases are jointly and severally liable for a plaintiff’s past and future medical and medically related expenses. This matters in cases where multiple parties share responsibility. When you are dealing with an uninsured driver and your own UM carrier, having an attorney who understands how these rules interact can make a real difference in the outcome of your case.

Property damage is another consideration. The minimum UM policy does not automatically cover your vehicle. You may need separate uninsured motorist property damage coverage, or collision coverage, to repair or replace your car. A lawyer can help you identify every available source of compensation so nothing is left on the table.

Why Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Is the Right Call for Streamwood Residents

Briskman Briskman & Greenberg has spent decades representing injured people throughout the Chicago area, including communities like Streamwood, Hanover Park, Bartlett, and Elgin. We know the local roads, the local courts, and the tactics insurance companies use to minimize claims. Our firm handles uninsured motorist cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. You should be focused on healing, not on worrying about legal costs.

Insurance companies are not on your side, even when the claim is against your own policy. Adjusters are trained to look for reasons to reduce or deny claims. Having legal representation from the start sends a clear message that you will not accept a lowball offer. We handle communication with the insurer, gather evidence, work with medical experts, and push for the full value of your claim, whether that means negotiating a settlement or taking your case to arbitration.

Our reach extends well beyond Streamwood. Whether you were injured in a crash near the Waukegan car accident lawyer service area to the north or closer to the Rockford car accident lawyer service area to the west, we can help. Uninsured motorist cases sometimes involve rideshare drivers too. If an uninsured driver hit you while you were a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, the analysis of available coverage becomes more involved. Our team handles those situations as well, including cases handled by our Chicago Uber accident lawyer team.

If you or a family member was hurt by an uninsured driver in Streamwood or anywhere in the Chicago area, call Briskman Briskman & Greenberg at (312) 222-0010 for a free consultation. There is no obligation, and you will speak with someone who understands exactly what you are going through.

This content is advertising material. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, 134 N. LaSalle St., Suite 1515, Chicago, IL 60602. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes in future cases. Each case is unique and results will vary based on the specific facts and circumstances involved.

FAQs About Streamwood Uninsured Motorist Accidents

What happens if the driver who hit me in Streamwood has no insurance and no assets?

This is exactly the situation your own uninsured motorist coverage is designed for. Under 215 ILCS 5/143a, your Illinois auto policy must include UM coverage, and that coverage steps in to pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering when the at-fault driver cannot. Suing an uninsured driver personally is possible, but collecting on a judgment against someone with no assets is rarely practical. Your UM policy is almost always the more reliable path to compensation.

Does uninsured motorist coverage apply to hit-and-run accidents in Illinois?

Yes. Illinois law treats hit-and-run drivers as uninsured motorists, so your UM coverage applies even when the at-fault driver is never identified. Most policies require you to file a police report promptly for a hit-and-run claim to be valid. You should also notify your insurance company as soon as possible. Delays in reporting can complicate or even jeopardize your claim, so acting quickly after the crash is important.

How long do I have to file an uninsured motorist claim in Illinois?

Illinois law gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit against an uninsured driver under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. However, your UM insurance policy may have its own shorter deadlines for notifying the insurer and demanding arbitration. Missing a policy deadline can result in a denied claim even if the two-year legal window has not yet closed. Consulting an attorney early protects you from losing your rights to a technicality.

Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault for the accident?

Illinois follows a modified comparative fault rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. You can still recover compensation as long as your share of fault is 50% or less. Your total recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found 20% at fault and your total damages were $100,000, you would recover $80,000. An attorney can help build the strongest possible case for the other driver’s fault and work to minimize any fault attributed to you.

What if the minimum UM coverage on my policy is not enough to cover my medical bills?

If your medical bills and other damages exceed your UM policy limits, there may be other sources of compensation to explore. If you carry underinsured motorist coverage under 215 ILCS 5/143a-2, that coverage can supplement your UM benefits in certain situations. Health insurance may also cover some medical costs. In some cases, third parties such as a negligent vehicle owner or an employer may share responsibility for the crash. An attorney can evaluate all potential sources of recovery so you are not left paying out of pocket for someone else’s negligence.

More Resources About Car & Motor Vehicle Accidents

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I needed a personal injury lawyer and Gavin and his team went above and beyond.

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Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers (BBG) is a legal team you want on your side.

They handled my case in a professional, sensitive and very competent manner. The staff exhibits expertise in the legal realm and provided excellent customer support and care. Thanks BBG for your help with navigating a very sensitive and challenging case for my family.

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From the moment I contacted this law firm I was treated like family.

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I cannot say enough good things about the attorneys at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers.

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