Orland Park Car Accident Lawyer

This content is also available in: img-4Español

If you have been injured in a car accident, it is important to seek legal representation from a qualified car accident lawyer. At Ktenas Injury Attorneys we have been practicing law in the Chicago area for many years and have a proven track record of success in personal injury cases. We offer free and confidential consultations to help you understand your legal options. Contact us today at (312) 300-2515 to see how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.

What To Do After a Car Accident?

If you or a loved one has been in a car accident caused by the negligent or reckless actions of another person, this can be a confusing and challenging time for you and your family. Not only do accident victims have to deal with injuries, but they also have to contend with extra expenses brought about by medical bills, lost wages, and even rehabilitation. An auto accident victim can take several steps after an accident to make sure they receive maximum compensation for their personal injury claim, including:

  • Stop and check for injuries and call 911.
  • Seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
  • Collect evidence and exchange information.
  • Report the car accident.
  • Inform your insurance carrier.
  • Contact an Orland Park car accident lawyer.
a gavel and two model cars on a lawyers desk

How Much Does an Orland Park Car Accident Lawyer Cost?

Usually, Orland Park car accident lawyers charge on a contingency basis. This means you don't have to pay attorney’s fees unless you win your case.  So, you pay no money upfront. Injury attorneys charge a percentage of the amount they recover from the insurer.

Mostly, car accident lawyers advance the costs to prosecute a car accident case. The costs of a car accident case include paying for medical records, court filing fees, expert witnesses, and court reporters. You reimburse the costs after recovering compensation.

Although hiring an attorney won’t cost you anything unless you recover compensation, not hiring a car accident attorney can cost you a fair settlement. Almost all car accident victims in Illinois recover more compensation with an Orland Park car accident lawyer representing them. Insurance companies often offer higher settlements once they discover a claimant has hired an attorney.

Types of Car Accidents We Handle

Whether you’re on a side road, in traffic, in a small neighborhood, or even in a parking lot, car crashes occur anywhere and in different situations. Depending on how vehicles collide with one another; this affects the resulting injuries. Here are the 5 most common types of car accidents:

Head-On Collisions

These occur when a driver drives the wrong way down a one-way street or an exit ramp, or when they cross the median on a highway. These are some of the most traumatic and potentially fatal types of auto accidents, however, they’re the least common type. For a head-on collision, the fault is usually clear because one driver was moving in the wrong direction.

Chris Ktenas reviewing a personal injury case with a client

Rear-End Accidents

Rear-end accidents are much more common but are less damaging because they usually occur at lower speeds. Often, the rear driver is presumed to be at fault for not leaving enough stopping distance, but that’s not always the case.

Side-Impact Accidents

These collisions, also known as broadside or T-bone accidents, occur when one driver can’t yield to another driver at an intersection. Because the side of a car has less structural protection, passengers in the car that’s T-boned may suffer serious bodily injuries.

Vehicle Rollovers

These types of accidents are complicated and fatal. Rollovers show the interaction of the driver, road, vehicle, and environmental factors. Even though the type of vehicle has a tremendous role in the crash, so does the driver’s behavior and road and environmental factors. Other causes of rollovers include alcohol consumption, speed, and location. According to data from the NHTSA, about 85% of all rollover-related accidents are because of single-vehicle crashes.

Negligent Driver Accidents

These accidents occur when a driver can’t exercise a reasonable level of care and damages property or injuries to another person in the process. Here, the driver is said to be negligent and is liable for the damages incurred by the victim(s).

How Does Fault Work in Illinois?

Illinois follows a fault-based system when handling car accident cases. An injured driver files a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance policy after a crash. Just like other fault-based states, Illinois requires all drivers to get and maintain individual auto insurance policies that meet the state’s minimum requirements for liability coverage. However, before a driver can file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance policy, they must prove fault for the accident.

How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim?

Under Illinois’ 735 Illinois Compiled Statutes section 5/13-202, an accident victim must begin claims for damages within two years after the accident occurred.

a car with extensive front end damage after an accident

This means that after you have suffered injuries in an auto accident in Illinois, you must file your claim within two years of the exact date of the car accident. If you don’t file your claim on time, you may lose your rights permanently. Your Orland Park personal injury lawyer will inform you of your time frame and make sure you file your claim on time.

Types of Damages You Can Recover After a Car Accident

In a personal injury case, the injured party may recover different compensatory damages, including:

Economic Damages

If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in a car accident, you’re entitled to a loss of income from the date of the accident to the date of recovery and future earning ability that’s lost because of the accident. Economic losses include anything related to a loss including car rentals, vehicle repair and replacement, ambulance fees, and attorney’s fees.

Medical Expenses

Car accident victims are eligible for past, current, and future medical expenses. An auto accident victim may receive compensation for bills paid for or which they’re liable to pay, for customary, usual, and reasonable medical services.

Noneconomic Damages

This refers to general damages, such as pain and suffering, and emotional distress. This category of damages is difficult to prove because it includes past and future physical and emotional distress, disability, and trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

Punitive Damages

Unlike other types of damages, punitive damages punish the at-fault party for their behavior. In Illinois, judges award these types of damages under limited situations where the at-fault party engaged in reckless and dangerous behavior.

Each of these damages is a well-recognized part of the compensation equation that experienced Orland Park car accident lawyers are well versed in figuring out to help their clients recover maximum compensation for their losses.

Contact Us Today for a Free Car Accident Case Review!

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, our firm can help. We understand it’s challenging to decide what actions to take after a car accident. When you hire our law firm, our car accident lawyers in Chicago diligently investigate the cause of the accident and fight fiercely for your full legal recovery.

We have recovered millions in settlements and verdicts for our treasured clients. Contact our personal injury law firm today at (312) 300-2515, or chat with us online for a free consultation. Don’t wait! Contact us today!

homesmartphonebubblecrossmenuarrow-rightcross-circlechevron-up-circle