Were you injured in a car accident in Rockford, IL? Car crashes can leave victims struggling with significant and long-term injuries. If you were involved in a crash, an experienced Rockford car accident lawyer can be your most valuable asset. Contact Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys today at (815) 662-0330 for dedicated legal representation.
Our team has decades of experience in personal injury law between us. We’ve successfully recovered over $100 million in settlements and verdicts over the years. Now, we’re prepared to put our track record of success to work for you and your family. We are dedicated to providing expert representation throughout the legal process.
Do you have questions about your legal rights? Is the insurance company giving you the runaround? Call our law firm in Rockford, Illinois, to schedule a free consultation today. Our car accident attorneys are ready to go to bat for you.
How Can Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys Help Me Recover Compensation After a Car Crash in Rockford?
Car crashes happen every day in Illinois. However, handling the insurance and legal issues can be anything but simple when you’re involved in a car accident case.
You may be dealing with an insurance company that’s only out to maximize its profits. They may deny or undervalue your claim. Many even resort to blaming the victim for their injuries.
We are committed to serving injured clients by understanding their needs and providing personalized support.
Having an experienced Rockford personal injury lawyer on your team is important. That’s where our skilled attorneys at Zayed Law Offices can help.
Over the years, our lawyers have been recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum for our quality legal representation. Most importantly, we’ve helped countless clients recover the full compensation they need to move on with their lives.
We’ll handle every aspect of your case, including:
- Conducting our own investigation to determine why your accident occurred and who was responsible
- Explaining all of your legal options and rights
- Locating any source of insurance company
- Handling the paperwork and insurance claims process
- Bringing in experts in medicine, vocational rehabilitation, and other specialties who can testify about complicated or contested aspects of your case
- Defending you against unfair allegations that that accident was your fault
- Identifying your damages
- Locating the documentation to prove how much compensation you deserve
- Negotiating with the insurance companies for a full and fair settlement
- Rejecting lowball deals and taking your case to court if necessary to get what you deserve
You don’t have to settle for an inexperienced lawyer. Our experienced team attorneys know the law inside and out–and we know exactly what it takes to help you maximize your financial recovery. Call today to get started.
Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Hiring experienced car accident lawyers is always the best way to ensure you receive the maximum compensation available after a crash.
Here are some reasons why:
- Insurance companies use many strategies to avoid paying fair compensation for claims. An attorney can level the playing field by investing their own resources and defending against insurance tactics designed to undervalue your claim.
- An experienced lawyer will have access to expert witnesses if needed. Many crashes involve complicated issues. You may need a medical expert to testify about the impact of your injuries. Experienced lawyers know where to turn for help.
- Shared fault could reduce your case value under Illinois law. Your lawyer can protect you if you’re blamed for the crash unfairly.
Ultimately, injuries take a toll on your life. You deserve time to focus on recovering from the physical and mental toll without worrying about your finances. Your attorney can take care of the legal issues and give you time to rest and recover. It is also crucial to file your claim quickly to provide your lawyer sufficient time to build a strong case and avoid costly mistakes in negotiations with insurance companies.
How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?
The compensation awarded to a victim in an auto accident case can vary dramatically based on the injuries suffered. Typically, for example, damages awarded for broken bones will be much less than those offered in a wrongful death case.
That said, the more serious and impactful the injuries on the victim and their family, the more damages are awarded. It all depends on the unique facts of the injury case and the at-fault driver’s auto insurance coverage.
Some key factors that an experienced attorney will consider as they’re building your case include:
- The nature of the injuries suffered
- The cost of the victim’s medical treatment
- The victim’s need for ongoing medical care or rehabilitation and the cost
- The victim’s lost earnings during recovery
- Whether the victim’s earning capacity will remain impaired after reaching maximum medical improvement
- How a long-term disability or impairment will impact the victim’s quality of life, lifestyle, and ability to enjoy life
- The available insurance coverage
- Whether comparative negligence is an issue
As the victim, it’s up to you to establish the value of your personal injury claim. The insurance company and their defense teams, on the other hand, are out to pay as little as possible. That’s another reason why it’s particularly important to hire an attorney who has experience handling injury cases that are similar to yours.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover By Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit?
Damages in personal injury cases can be broken down into economic damages or non-economic damages. The precise damages you’ll recover will depend on the nature of your losses, including medical bills. In rare cases, courts in Illinois may award punitive damages to punish a defendant for their acts.
Economic damages compensate for any financial costs you have incurred due to an accident and injury.
You can seek compensation for any loss you’ve suffered, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Specialized therapies
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Nursing care and assistance
- Property damage and vehicle repairs
- Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses
Your current economic damages will be relatively easy to prove. Still, it’s important to keep all receipts and records associated with the costs you’ve incurred.
Proving your expected future costs can be much more difficult. If you were severely injured, your financial costs may be ongoing. Expert witness testimony is often necessary to establish the value of these anticipated future costs.
Non-economic damages offer some compensation for the personal trauma and suffering you have experienced due to the accident.
Some key examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Chronic pain
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
Compared to economic damages, non-economic damages are much more difficult to assess. Experts, again, can help prove the value of your non-economic damages.
When Can Illinois Courts Award Punitive Damages?
Punitive damages aren’t available in all personal injury cases. Under Illinois law, punitive damages are reserved solely for cases where the defendant’s actions were intentional or particularly reckless. That’s because punitive damages are only awarded to punish a defendant for their shocking actions rather than to compensate car accident victims for specific losses.
Determining Liability in A Car Accident
When most motorists are involved in a motor vehicle collision, they assume the other driver is at fault. If you were driving carefully and following all the traffic laws, you would likely blame the other driver for your injuries. However, you may also discover that other parties could have played a role in causing the wreck.
Suppose the other driver is held liable for the crash—you must show evidence of unsafe driving like driving under the influence, driving aggressively while swerving in traffic, or speeding. Proof of negligence, distracted driving, and driving while drowsy can make the other driver liable for your injuries. These are some circumstances that our car accident lawyer can look into when evaluating your case, determining liability, and estimating the value of your claim.
In some cases, the local government road authority might be held liable for injuries that resulted from a motor vehicle accident. For instance, you might pursue compensation if you were involved in an accident and suffered injuries because of debris left on the road by the road authorities. In addition, missing traffic signs, deep potholes, unmarked or unsecured road construction zones are other instances that can make the local government responsible for injuries suffered after a motor vehicle accident in Rockford, IL.
Although rare, the car manufacturer can also be held accountable for injuries suffered after an auto accident due to faulty car parts or malfunctions. Car manufacturers are responsible for producing and maintaining safe automobiles. If manufacturers recalled one or more components of your vehicle but did not appropriately notify you, or a mechanic knowingly installed a defective part, you may seek compensation.
We Handle All Types of Car Accident Claims
At Zayed Law Offices, our personal injury attorney is ready to assist in all types of car accident claims, including those involving car accident injury cases.
Some examples of our practice areas include:
Head-On Crashes
Head-on crashes can cause devastating injuries to the brain, spine, and chest. The injuries can become even more devastating when high speeds are involved in an accident. If someone else was responsible, you deserve to be compensated. Our experienced head-on crash attorneys can help you fight for full compensation.
Rear-End Accidents
Many people think that rear-end collisions are minor fender-benders. That’s not always the case. High speeds and other factors can change the picture and turn a minor crash into one that causes life-changing injuries. If you were injured in an accident, we can help you determine who is at fault and locate the evidence you need.
Highway Car Accidents
Highway accidents can be particularly dangerous. Often, drivers are moving at higher speeds on the highway. It’s also more likely that multiple vehicles will be involved in the crash, which can complicate matters regarding proving responsibility. After a highway crash, reach out to our highway accident attorney for help ensuring you receive fair compensation.
Intersection Accidents
Intersections are particularly dangerous because they involve multiple lanes with drivers heading in different directions. Pedestrians crossing the road are also at risk for injury. The potential for injuries increases dramatically when a driver isn’t paying attention. If you were involved in an intersection crash, contact our attorney to learn about your legal options today.
Our attorneys also handle car accident cases involving:
- Rollovers
- Sideswipe accidents
- T-bone accidents
- Single-vehicle accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Commercial vehicle accidents
- Accidents involving uninsured or underinsured motorists
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists
Hiring an experienced car accident attorney can be critical to the success of your case. Our experienced personal injury attorney is always available to discuss your rights and options. Just give us a call today to arrange your free case review.
Car Accident FAQ’s
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident in Illinois?
Illinois has deadlines for taking legal action. After an auto accident, you have two years to file a lawsuit in Illinois. This deadline is called the statute of limitations. If the deadline is missed, you lose your ability to file a lawsuit entirely.
Exceptions are relatively rare. Aside from the concrete deadline, it’s always important to consult an experienced personal injury lawyer soon after an accident. As time passes, people tend to forget important details. Hard evidence can also disappear with time.
What is Comparative Negligence?
Comparative Negligence is a legal concept that helps decide how much each party is responsible for the accident—and how that affects the compensation you can receive. Illinois operates under a modified comparative negligence law with a 51% bar to recovery. In plain English, you’re barred from recovering compensation if you’re found to be more than 50% responsible for your own injuries.
You can share some blame and still recover damages. That’s assuming your share of fault is less than 51%. If you’re found to be 40% responsible, your damages award is reduced by 40%.
Expect defendants and their insurance adjusters to try blaming you for the crash. If they’re successful, they reduce the amount of money they have to pay. Experienced accident attorneys can anticipate these tactics and know how to protect against them.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents?
Negligence, or a failure to use a reasonable amount of caution, is the leading cause of car crashes.
More specifically, some common causes of motor vehicle accidents include:
- Speeding, whether exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for road and weather conditions
- Texting while driving
- Other types of distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Lane departures
- Aggressive driving
- Weaving between lanes
- Unsafe passing
- Illegal lane changes
- Dangerous turns
- Illegal u-turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Driving while under the influence of drugs
- Fatigued drivers
- Road hazards
- Negligent vehicle maintenance
Anytime you can demonstrate that someone else’s actions or inactions caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. That’s true regardless of the nature of your accident.
Common Types of Car Accident Injuries
Auto accidents can potentially cause any type of injury. The injuries involved will depend on the nature of the crash, its severity, and characteristics unique to the victim.
Some common types of car accident injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Dislocations
- Chest injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Soft tissue damage to the muscles, tendons and ligaments
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Nerve damage
- Facial injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Contact an Experienced Rockford Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Initial Consultation Today
If you or a loved one were injured in a car crash, don’t hesitate to reach out for legal assistance. Experienced legal guidance can be the key to recovering the full financial compensation you need and deserve. Zayed Law Offices can help you stand up to the insurance companies and their defense attorneys.
We have the tools to help you maximize your financial recovery. We know how to help you navigate the legal process and hold the at-fault party accountable.
Contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation with our Rockford car accident lawyer. Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Rockford at 318 N 1st St, Rockford, IL 61107. Find us with our GeoCoordinates:42.2707334,-89.0870539
Car Accident Client Review
Read this review and more of our Google reviews.
Additional Resources & Information
- FAQs: Car Accident Reports in Illinois
- How Much to Expect from a Car Accident Settlement
- What Can I Do if an Insurance Company Denies My Claim?
Local Auto Repair Shops Near You
- Mike’s Auto Service – 769 N Madison St, Rockford, IL 61107
- Martinez Auto Repair – 815 1st Ave, Rockford, IL 61104
- Carl’s Auto Repair – 1019 2nd Ave, Rockford, IL 61104
*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website. These were some of the highest-rated auto repair shops on Google.
