The Majority of Crashes in Illinois Occur in Urban Areas Like Chicago
At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, our personal injury attorneys have seen first-hand the toll that an accident can take on you and your loved ones. Having spent decades representing people who have been injured in car accidents or who have lost loved ones in fatal car accidents because of the carelessness of others, we are confident that we will get you the compensation that you deserve. At the same time, as a family-owned and family-operated law firm, our attorneys strive to treat our clients with respect, compassion and empathy — just like we would a member of our family. Although we have successfully represented thousands of clients in Chicago and throughout Illinois, recovering millions of dollars of damages, we have not lost sight of the fact that each client’s case is unique and important, regardless of its size.
The Majority of Crashes in Illinois Occur in Urban Areas Like Chicago
According to an analysis by the National Safety Council (NSC), there were 118,304 car accidents in Chicago in 2018. Of those, 123 resulted in at least one death, while 21,881caused at least one injury.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Illinois had 948 fatal motor vehicle crashes in 2018 that resulted in 1,031 deaths. The majority —63 percent —of accidents occurred in urban areas, while 37 percent took place in rural settings. Car occupants accounted for around 40 percent of deaths, compared to just 2 percent of large truck occupants. Sixteen percent and 12 percent of pedestrians and motorcyclists, respectively, were killed in collisions. Alcohol was a factor in 509 driver deaths in the state. Of those fatalities, around 30 percent of drivers had a blood alcohol content above 0.08 percent.
Our Attorneys Handle Personal Injury Cases from Many Types of Car Accidents
Although pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents are less common than car accidents in Chicago (accounting for 1.7 percent, 1.3 percent and 1.5 percent of the total crashes in Illinois, respectively), these accidents are more likely to cause serious injury or death. Similarly, while crashes involving tractor-trailers account for 3.6 percent of overall crashes, they make up 9.1 percent of fatal car accidents, according to statistics from the Illinois DOT.
WE ARE CONFIDENT WE WILL GET YOU THE COMPENSATION THAT YOU DESERVE FOR YOUR CAR ACCIDENT INJURY
Our commitment is simple:
We promise that you do not have to pay attorney’s fees unless we make a financial recovery for you in your motor vehicle accident case. In short, we don’t get paid unless you do.
Common Chicago Car Accident Injuries
There are many types of injuries that commonly result from car accidents. They range from minor bumps and bruises to serious, catastrophic injuries such as paralysis or death. No part of the body is immune from injury in a car accident; accident victims can suffer injuries to the brain and head, including concussion or traumatic brain injury, and to the neck and spine, like whiplash or a disc bulge or herniation. Car accident victims can also suffer from psychological injuries and mental distress, which can be as painful and debilitating as a broken bone.
A study of available data from 2019 and 2020 reveals a disturbing trend in Chicago accident fatalities. Illinois saw an 11 percent increase in traffic deaths in the first quarter of 2020 when compared to the same period in 2019. Speeding is one likely cause of this increase in accident fatalities. According to the Chicago Department of Transportation, officials saw a 14 percent jump in speeding incidents on Chicago streets in April 2020 alone when compared to April 2019.
Over 1.3 million accidents each year in America are cell phone related. Don’t put you, your passengers, and other drivers in Chicago at risk of personal injury. Avoid auto accidents and save lives. Don’t text and drive.
Practicing law in the personal injury field, we have helped many people who have been seriously injured in preventable accidents. Although we take great pride in winning compensation for our clients, we advocate that everyone do their utmost to stay safe on the road.
Wearing a seat belt and observing a safe speed limit are basic safety tips that are too often ignored. While you cannot prevent other drivers from causing a hazard, you can still protect yourself. According to the CDC, seat belt use can reduce serious injury and death from car accidents by 50 percent.
It should also go without saying that driving while impaired, either by alcohol or by illicit or prescription drugs, is extremely dangerous. But many people do not realize that distracted or fatigued driving can be equally treacherous. According to a study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, using a cell phone while driving can make a crash three times more likely.
If you have been injured in a car accident in Chicago Illinois or a family member died in a fatal car accident because of someone else’s carelessness, you are probably wondering whether you have an auto accident claim. In order to recover monetary compensation, you and your attorney must prove three things: the responsible party negligent, the negligence caused injury, and the injury resulted in harm.
The statute of limitations is the time frame that an injured car accident victim has to file a lawsuit for the damages suffered. In our legal system, if your lawsuit is filed too late, you can be denied from receiving compensation for your loss or injury forever. The typical statute of limitations on car accident injuries is two years; however there are some exceptions.
Each car accident case is unique. However, several factors can have a marked effect on the length of your case. In general, straightforward cases can be resolved in as little as six months, while complex cases can take two or more years to resolve.
Most people have never been involved in a lawsuit. As such, many auto accident victims and their families are anxious about pursuing a personal injury claim. It is true that a lawsuit could result in a trial before a jury, but most don’t, and the process should not be a stressful one.
DO I HAVE A CAR ACCIDENT CASE?
The attorneys at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg have put together this interactive tool to help you discover if you have a car accident case.
There are three basic requirements:
IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT, THERE ARE SEVERAL CRUCIAL THINGS YOU SHOULD DO
The best practice is to notify your insurance company about your car accident as soon as possible. Cooperate with your insurer but do so very carefully and keep your comments to a minimum. If you are asked to provide a statement, be sure to divulge only absolutely necessary information. Do not go into details about your injuries, and avoid admitting or discussing fault. Stick to the following facts:
Dealing with insurance companies after a car accident can be an extremely complicated process that involves skillful negotiation. At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, we know exactly how to handle insurers. We make sure that you can focus on getting better while our knowledgeable car accident lawyers conduct investigations and gather valuable evidence to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Sharing extra information with your insurance company can weaken your case for compensation. To avoid making any mistakes and ensure your case is in safe hands, consult a Chicago car accident lawyer before speaking to any insurance company.
If you have been involved in a car accident, it is important to remember that the insurance company is not on your side. Most insurers are seeking to pay injured victims as little as possible. Even your own insurance company may try to downplay the severity of your accident and injuries in an attempt to pay a smaller settlement amount.
If the other party’s insurance company contacts you, be courteous but do not provide a recorded statement. Tell the insurer that they should speak with your insurance company or your lawyer for details.
Every Illinois driver is required to purchase auto insurance that provides coverage in the event of potential liability in a car accident. Under the state’s comparative negligence law, a car accident victim who was partly to blame for the crash may still recover damages, but they may lose a settlement amount equal to their fault percentage for causing the accident.
After a car accident, make sure to exchange contact details and insurance information with the other driver. Remember, avoid admitting fault at the scene because your statement can be used against you in the future. If there is a disagreement between parties, several key pieces of evidence can help support your claim and determine fault in the car crash, including the following:
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident because of the carelessness of another, you may be able to receive compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
When you call Briskman Briskman & Greenberg for a free consultation, you will speak directly to an experienced car accident attorney in Chicago, usually one of the firm’s principals, who will assess the facts of your situation and advise you of your rights. Don’t delay getting your free legal consultation: if you fail to pursue your claim in a timely fashion, you could forever lose your rights.