If you’ve been injured in a car accident through no fault of your own, you may be wondering which steps to take next. Like other accident victims, you face a number of challenges: mounting medical bills, missed time at work, car repairs, stress and more. Our car accident lawyers in Arlington Heights can help you pursue compensation for these damages.
We’ll help you understand your rights, which laws apply to your case and your options for seeking compensation.
At Vito & Dollenmaier Law, we understand that navigating the complex legal system can be overwhelming. We take a client-centric approach to our cases to ensure you feel confident and informed every step of the way.
Arlington Heights Crash Statistics
In 2022, there were 1,097 car accidents in Arlington Heights. Among them:
- 2 involved drug impairment
- 29 involved drunk drivers
- 4 involved fatigued driving
Four car accidents resulted in fatalities.
Common Injuries Resulting from Car Accidents
Car accidents can result in a number of injuries ranging from minor to severe. Some of the most common injuries include:
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
TBI can occur when the brain is jolted, which is common in car accident cases:
- Your neck can snap forward on impact
- Your head can hit the side of the window, the dashboard or the steering wheel
TBIs can result in brain damage and often have long-lasting effects. Unfortunately, this kind of injury isn’t always easy to detect, but its severe nature requires immediate medical care.
Spinal Cord Injury
A spinal cord injury can result in permanent disability and will often have lifelong effects. The effects of this type of injury may not always be immediate. Paralysis may be immediate, but it may also take time for these effects to manifest.
Spinal cord injuries are severe and require immediate and ongoing medical care.
Broken Bones
Many car accident victims suffer from broken bones. While these injuries are often apparent, they may not always be. Some victims may not discover they have a broken bone until after they’ve left the accident scene.
For this reason, it is crucial to seek medical care even if you have no apparent injuries.
Facial Injuries
Car accidents can cause a wide range of facial injuries, including:
- Scarring
- Broken bones
- Bruising
- Eye damage
- Disfigurement
Whiplash
When a vehicle collides with another vehicle or object, the impact can snap the neck forward and backward. The weight of the head puts excess strain on the neck muscles, leading to whiplash.
Depending on the severity of the injury, it can take several months or longer to recover from whiplash.
Our car accident lawyers in Arlington Heights have experience handling car accident cases involving serious injuries that require advanced precision and focus.
Types of Car Accidents
At Vito & Dollenmaier Law, we have experience handling all types of car accidents, including:
Distracted Driving
When drivers engage in other activities while behind the wheel, it takes their attention off of the road. It takes just a split-second of unawareness to cause an accident.
Distractions can include texting, eating, grooming or even talking to other passengers.
Speeding
Speeding is one of the most common causes of car accidents. Driving over the speed limit makes it more difficult to stop and avoid a collision. Traveling at a high rate of speed also increases the risk of severe injuries.
Drunk Driving
In 2022, 29 accidents in Arlington Heights were caused by alcohol impairment. Twelve of those accidents resulted in injuries and one was fatal. Driving while under the influence of alcohol impairs your judgment, slows your reaction time and makes you more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors.
Reckless Driving
When drivers operate vehicles carelessly in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of others, their behavior can result in catastrophic accidents and injuries.
Reckless driving can include road rage, aggressive lane changes, excessive speed, tailgating and other careless driving behaviors.
Fatigued Driving
An estimated 328,000 drowsy driving accidents occur each year. Fatigued drivers have impaired judgment, slower reaction times and often make risky decisions on roadways.
Mechanical Defects
Car accidents can also occur because of mechanical defects, such as tire problems, steering issues, brake problems, headlight or taillight malfunctions, or engine or transmission problems.
Improper Turns
Many serious car accidents are the result of improper turning, such as turning on a “No Turn on Red” sign, turning when you don’t have the right of way, taking a left turn at a light where left turns are prohibited.
Unlicensed Operators
Unlicensed drivers are another cause of accidents. These drivers, often inexperienced or who have lost their driving privileges, operate vehicles without a license. Often, these drivers:
- Disregard basic traffic laws
- Operate vehicles while under the influence
- Do not have automobile insurance
Applicable Law
Car accident law falls within the personal injury category, which in Illinois, means the following apply:
- Statute of limitations: 2 years from the date of the accident (longer in unique circumstances)
- Fault/Comparative Negligence: If you are more than 50% at fault, you cannot seek recovery
Claims Process
Filing your claim within the statute of limitations is crucial if you want to pursue damages. Before doing anything else, seek the emergency medical care you need immediately. Once you’re in stable condition, you can then:
- Open a claim with the insurance company.
- Contact our car accident lawyers in Arlington Heights.
- Gather your medical bills and records, along with any other evidence relating to the accident.
- Prepare your demand package, which will include the total cost of damages, witness statements, proof of lost wages, treatment records and more. We’ll work with you to create this package so that every last expense is documented.
A settlement offer may be made, and in most cases, we’ll settle out of court. If the settlement is a lowball offer, we’re willing to bring the case to court before a judge or jury.
Do I Have a Case? What Is My Case Worth?
One of the first questions clients have for our car accident lawyers in Arlington Heights is, do I have a case? Shortly after, they want to know what their case is worth.
Illinois is a modified comparative negligence state, which means that you must be less than 50% at fault for the accident to recover damages.
If you’re more than 50% at fault for the accident, you don’t have a case.
Determining your case’s worth is complex and will require us to consider and evaluate your:
- Injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Disability (even if it’s temporary)
- Disfigurement
- Medical expenses
- Therapy expenses
- Damage to property
- Loss of income
- Future loss of income
How To Choose the Best Car Accident Lawyer for Me
Car accidents are nerve-wracking enough. Finding a lawyer who will fight back against opposing drivers and insurance companies who want to settle for the least amount possible will help ease the process.
Start your search by reviewing the lawyer’s qualifications.
Qualifications
Your lawyer should:
- Focus on car accident cases
- Offer a free consultation
- Provide you with recent settlement figures
- Give you testimonials and reviews from other clients if you ask for them
Healing after an accident is a top priority. Your lawyer – and their firm – must provide the time and attention your case needs to win it. Expert witnesses, accident reconstruction experts and extensive investigation may need to go into your case.
Choosing a lawyer who will handle the ins and outs of your claim and case is critical to receiving the compensation you deserve.
Vito & Dollenmaier Law’s car accident lawyers in Arlington Heights are ready to help you pursue damages for your accident.
Call us at (224) 539-8821 to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers.
Local Emergency Services
Police
Arlington Heights Police Department
1150 N Arlington Heights Rd
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
(847) 368-5450
Fire Departments
Arlington Heights Fire Department
200 E Sigwalt St
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(847) 368-5300
EMTs
Arlington Heights Fire Department (firefighters are trained EMTs)
200 E Sigwalt St
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(847) 368-5300
Hospitals
Northwest Community Healthcare/Hospital
800 W Central Rd
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(847) 618-3700
Urgent Cares
199 W Rand Rd
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(847) 618-5400