Chicago Car Accident Lawyer

Most drivers experience a car accident at some point in their lives, regardless of how carefully they drive. But when a crash is caused by someone else’s negligence, the aftermath can be especially frustrating. Beyond the physical injuries and emotional toll, many people are shocked to discover that insurance companies often try to avoid paying what’s fair. Victims may face high medical bills, lost income, and lasting pain, only to be met with delays, denials, or pressure to settle for less than their claim is worth.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, Power Rogers can help you pursue the compensation you need to recover. For over 30 years, our Chicago personal injury attorneys have represented clients in some of the most tragic and complex car accident cases in Illinois, many of which have resulted in millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements. Contact us today for a free consultation.

What Can a Chicago Car Accident Lawyer at Power Rogers Do For You?

Power Rogers has secured over $6 billion for clients injured in motor vehicle accidents, and our track record includes some of the largest and most significant verdicts and settlements in Illinois:

• $100 Million Recovery: A Chicago family lost six children in a fiery crash caused by an unqualified truck driver. The case led to a sweeping federal corruption investigation and remains one of the largest personal injury settlements for a single family in U.S. history.
• $39.9 Million Recovery: A father was killed and his family severely injured when a commercial truck rear-ended their vehicle during highway construction traffic. His young daughter required multiple amputations due to burn injuries.
• $16 Million Settlement: A pickup truck passenger was killed in a multi-vehicle crash caused by a freight truck driver who failed to stop for construction traffic. The vehicle exploded on impact, trapping and fatally burning the victim.

But results aren’t everything. We understand that behind every case is a person and family facing pain, uncertainty, and financial stress. Our team will guide you through the entire process, including:

• Investigating the accident by gathering police reports, witness statements, expert opinions, and other key evidence.
• Coordinating with medical professionals to document your injuries and care needs
• Negotiating with insurance companies to maximize compensation
• Preparing for trial if a fair settlement can’t be reached

When you work with Power Rogers, you benefit from a firm that pairs deep experience with genuine client care and attention.

What Types of Damages Can You Recover After a Chicago Car Crash?

Car accidents often cause serious injuries that can affect many areas of your life. At Power Rogers, we fight to recover all possible damages after a car accident, which may include compensation for:

• Medical bills: Past, current, and future treatment costs
• Lost income: Wages lost while you’re unable to work and potential future earnings.
• Disfigurement: Visible scars or other lasting physical changes
• Emotional trauma: Anxiety, depression, and other mental health effects
• Disability: Permanent impairments that limit your day-to-day life
• Loss of enjoyment: Inability to participate in activities you once loved

Our goal is to hold negligent parties accountable for the full extent of the harm they cause.

What Factors Can Affect the Value of Your Auto Accident Claim?

While the damages listed above are typical in car accident lawsuits, the settlement amount you may be eligible for depends on how the car accident has specifically affected you and the level of evidence that supports your claim. In other words, the more severe your injuries are and the more supporting evidence you and your lawyer are able to recover, the higher your settlement is likely to be.

Common Types of Car Accident Claims Our Firm Handles

Our car accident law firm has spent years representing clients who were seriously injured or killed in crashes caused by all types of negligent and reckless behavior. We understand what it takes to secure the maximum compensation possible, no matter your situation.

• Distracted driving – Drivers who take their eyes off the road and/or hands off the wheel are among the most dangerous hazards to everyone else on the road.
• Drunk driving crashes – It’s legal to drive a car with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) as high as 0.08 percent, but even a slight amount of alcohol can impair a driver’s ability to function at the highest level.
• Head-on collision – Head-on collisions cause some of the most devastating injuries because of the sheer speed involved. Even at low speeds, victims can suffer serious injuries. At high speeds, these crashes can easily claim the lives of anyone, and even everyone involved. These crashes are almost always caused by reckless actions, including driving under the influence, distracted driving, and road rage, but they can also be caused by poor road design.
• Hit-and-run collisions – Driving away from a crash may be against the law, but that doesn’t stop people from attempting to avoid responsibility when they cause a serious crash.
• Tire blowouts – The number one cause of tire blowouts is under-inflated tires, which also negatively affect the vehicle’s handling and braking ability. While tire manufacturers keep most data about tire blowouts out of the public, these companies have reported that May through October is the most common time of year for this issue to occur.
• Wrong-way driving crash – Alcohol is the single biggest contributor to these types of crashes. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), 59 percent of drivers traveling the wrong way before the crash had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.15 percent or higher, and 69 percent of these drivers had a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher.

Whether you were involved in one of these or another type of accident, our Chicago auto accident attorneys are prepared to help. We’ve assisted clients whose cases involved serious car accident injuries, including:

• Broken bones
• Spinal cord damage
• Brain injuries
• Lacerations and cuts
• Neck injuries
• Paralysis
• Severe burn injuries

How Do You Prove Fault in a Chicago Car Accident Case?

To succeed in a car accident claim, you’ll need to prove that the other driver’s negligence directly caused your injuries. This starts with building a strong foundation of evidence. Key pieces of evidence may include:

• Police reports
• Medical records and evaluations
• Witness statements
• Dashcam or security camera footage
• Photographs of the vehicles and the scene of the accident
• Expert analysis of the crash reconstruction or your injuries

This evidence helps establish what happened, how the crash occurred, and who was responsible.

Because Illinois follows a comparative negligence system, it’s not enough to show that the other driver made a mistake; you also need to prove that you weren’t primarily at fault. If you’re found partially responsible, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. And if you’re more than 50% at fault, you may not be eligible for any compensation.

That’s why it’s critical to have an experienced lawyer who can not only gather the right evidence but also present it clearly to protect your claim and challenge any attempts to shift the blame onto you.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident?

The moments after a car accident can be chaotic and overwhelming. What you do next can make a significant difference in your recovery, your safety, and your ability to pursue full compensation later.

Contact the Police

Always call 911, even if the accident seems minor. A responding officer will document the scene and create an official accident report, which becomes one of the most important pieces of evidence in your case. Without it, insurance companies have an easier time disputing what actually happened.

Check on the Safety of Other Involved Parties (Do Not Leave!)

Check yourself and anyone else involved for injuries, and call for medical help if needed. Leaving the scene of an accident, even briefly, can carry serious legal consequences and may hurt your case down the line.

Exchange Info

Get the other driver’s name, contact information, insurance details, and license plate number. If there are witnesses, ask for their contact information as well. Their account of the crash could prove valuable if the insurance company later disputes fault.

Record the Scene

Use your phone to photograph the vehicles, visible damage, license plates, road conditions, skid marks, traffic signals, and any injuries. These details fade quickly from memory but can carry significant weight when it comes time to prove liability.

Never Admit Fault

Be careful with what you say at the scene, to the other driver, and to insurance adjusters. Even a casual “I’m sorry” can be twisted into an admission of fault. Stick to the facts and let the evidence speak for itself.

Seek Medical Attention

Some injuries, like whiplash or internal trauma, don’t show symptoms right away. Getting evaluated immediately protects your health and creates a medical record that ties your injuries directly to the accident, which insurance companies will look for reasons to question.

Call a Car Accident Lawyer!

Before you speak with an insurance adjuster, talk to an experienced Chicago car accident lawyer. Insurance companies have teams working to minimize what they pay out. Having Power Rogers, LLP in your corner from the start levels the playing field.

How Can a Lawyer Help Me File My Insurance Claim?

Filing an insurance claim sounds simple, but insurance companies are skilled at finding ways to reduce or deny payouts. A car accident lawyer at Power Rogers, LLP can handle every stage of the process on your behalf, from gathering documentation and calculating the full value of your damages to negotiating directly with adjusters trained to protect the insurer’s bottom line, not yours.

Our attorneys know the tactics insurance companies rely on, from disputing liability to downplaying injuries or pressuring victims into fast, lowball settlements. We build a case backed by medical records, accident reports, and expert testimony where needed, then fight to make sure your claim reflects the true cost of your accident, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

What Can I Do if Insurance Denies My Claim?

A denied claim isn’t the end of the road. Insurance companies deny or undervalue claims for many reasons, some legitimate, many not. Common reasons include disputes over fault, claims that injuries were pre-existing, missed deadlines, or gaps in documentation.

If your claim has been denied, an attorney can review the denial letter, identify the insurer’s reasoning, and gather additional evidence to challenge it. This may include obtaining updated medical records, consulting accident reconstruction experts, or pursuing an appeal directly with the insurance company.

If the insurer still refuses to offer a fair settlement, Power Rogers, LLP is prepared to take the case to court. With decades of trial experience and a track record of securing significant verdicts for injury victims, our firm has the resources to hold insurance companies accountable when they refuse to do right by our clients.

Chicago Car Accident Lawyer: FAQs

How Long Do You Have To File a Car Accident Claim in Illinois?

You typically have two years from the date of the accident to file a car accident claim in Illinois. However, it’s important to remember that the process for filing can take several weeks or even months, which is why it’s important to hire a lawyer as soon as possible to make sure you still have the ability to pursue fair payment for your injuries.

How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?

At Power Rogers, our car accident attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that you don’t owe us anything unless we win your case. If your case is successful, our fees will equate to a percentage taken from your overall settlement.

How Long Does a Car Accident Case Take?

It depends on the nature of your injuries and the details of the accident, as well as court and insurance processing times. Generally speaking, you may wait as little as a few months if insurance quickly responds to your case. However, in other, more complicated cases, you may have to wait longer as the concerned parties investigate how the accident happened and who might be liable.

How Often Do Car Accident Cases Go To Court?

Very rarely. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, only about 3% of personal injury cases go to trial, and many of those cases are resolved in favor of the plaintiff.

Should I Get a Lawyer For a Minor Car Accident?

The majority of car accident cases are more likely to result in a higher settlement when the driver has acquired legal representation. However, hiring a lawyer to handle your case becomes more essential if you have significant injuries, are being ignored or dismissed by insurance, or are being accused of causing the accident. Because of Illinois contributive negligence laws, if you are found even partially at fault for the accident, your settlement can be reduced significantly, which is why hiring a lawyer is often the difference between a failed case and a successful one.

Do You Have a Car Accident Injury Lawyer Near Me?

Power Rogers is located in downtown Chicago at 70 West Madison Street, Suite 5500, near Willis Tower.

Speak With Our Chicago Car Accident Attorneys About Your Case Today

Car accidents caused by someone else’s negligence can be life-changing, but with a skilled and experienced car accident lawyer by your side, your chances of securing fair compensation for your injuries are much higher.

Power Rogers has represented Chicagoans in car accident cases for decades, recovering more than $6 billion for our clients and earning a reputation for both results and personalized service. Whether you have a quick question or are in need of immediate representation, we encourage you to reach out to us today for a free consultation.