Key Takeaways
- Car accidents in Joliet often leave victims with serious injuries, financial strain, and long-term challenges.
- Insurance companies may undervalue or deny claims, making it crucial to have an attorney protect your rights.
- Power Rogers’ Joliet car accident lawyers have decades of experience fighting for justice and fair compensation for injured clients.
Joliet, Illinois, is home to more than 150,000 people, making it the third-most populous city in Illinois. Located just 40 miles from Chicago, Joliet sees thousands of car accidents annually, many of which end in serious injuries and fatalities.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a crash, schedule a free consultation with a Joliet car accident lawyer from Power Rogers. Our attorneys can help you understand whether you can file a claim for compensation as well as overcome common barriers you may face throughout the process.
Why Hire An Attorney After a Car Accident in Joliet?
Many injured drivers assume that filing a car accident claim is a straightforward affair, especially when fault clearly lies with the other driver. Unfortunately, insurers can, and often do, use underhanded tactics to try to avoid paying out claims. In some cases, they may attempt to shift blame for the accident onto you in order to justify a low settlement or even an outright denial. In others, they may offer you a quick settlement, hoping you’ll accept it without realizing the full value of your claim.
Our car accident lawyers in Joliet understand how insurance companies operate, how to talk to adjusters, and what to do when your claim isn’t being treated fairly. We can shoulder the burden of gathering the evidence needed to prove your case and present it effectively to the insurance company, giving you the best chance to recover what you need to move forward after an accident.
Why Choose Power Rogers for Your Joliet Car Accident Case?
Power Rogers has served Illinois residents since 1993, handling thousands of car accident cases for our clients in Chicagoland and beyond. Our intimate knowledge of Joliet’s roads and laws, coupled with our history of record-breaking results, makes our firm the right choice for your car accident case.
What to Expect When Working With Our Joliet Car Accident Attorneys
When you work with our car accident attorneys, you can expect compassionate, transparent representation at all times. All of our clients receive a free consultation for their first meeting with a member of our firm. We do this as a way for you to feel comfortable with our team and allow you to ask any questions you have about our firm or your case. We work on a contingency fee structure, which means that we do not get paid unless we win your case. Here is how we can help:
Building Your Joliet Car Accident Case
Our auto accident attorneys in Joliet will build your case by collecting evidence (photos, videos, witness testimony, expert witness testimony, police reports, accident reconstruction reports, medical records, etc.), regularly meeting with you, conducting our own investigation, and dealing with insurance adjusters and attorneys for the at-fault party.
Negotiating a Settlement
Once all of the evidence has been collected and evaluated, our team will determine a value for your case. We will then present that number to the insurance company or opposing counsel. We will do our best to negotiate a fair settlement for you out of court so you do not have to worry about anything else besides healing from your injuries.
Representing You in Court
We do not shy away from taking cases to trial. If we cannot reach a fair settlement agreement with the opposing team, we will move the case to court. Should this be necessary, you can rest assured that we will prepare you with all of the information and guidance you need to have the best chance at a successful outcome.
Our car accident lawyers understand how insurance companies operate, how to talk to adjusters, and what to do when your claim isn’t being treated fairly.
What Types of Compensation Can You Recover After a Car Crash in Joliet?
There are two main types of damages you can recover following a car crash in Joliet: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are quantifiable in that they can be calculated by acquiring receipts, medical bills, repair bills, paystubs, and other financial documents related to the crash. Non-economic damages are intangible losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and the loss of enjoyment of life.
Damages for a Fatal Car Accident in Joliet
If your loved one was involved in a fatal crash, our attorneys can help you file a wrongful death claim. Damages in these claims may include medical, funeral, and burial expenses, lost income, loss of future earnings, emotional distress, loss of companionship, and more.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Car Accident in Joliet?
Most often, the at-fault driver and their insurance company are the parties held liable for a car accident. However, there are some situations where the driver’s employer (if acting in the scope of their employment or driving a delivery vehicle) can be held liable.
A vehicle manufacturer can also be held liable if a defective part caused the crash. There may even be cases where a government entity can be held liable, such as if a road was not maintained, a street light was not working properly, or a traffic light was inoperable at the time of the accident.
Even if your accident involved a hit-and-run driver, we encourage you to reach out to us. If the driver cannot be found, you may still be able to file a claim with your own insurer if you hold uninsured motorist coverage.
How Long Do You Have to File a Joliet Car Accident Claim?
In most cases, you have just two years from the date of the accident to file a claim, according to the Illinois personal injury statute of limitations. If you fail to file a claim within the two-year limit, your case can be thrown out by the court.
Can You Still File a Claim If You Were Partially At Fault?
Yes, you can still file a claim if you were partially at fault for a car accident because Illinois is a modified comparative negligence state. However, your fault percentage has to be less than 50 percent of the total fault in the crash. If so, your award will be reduced by the percentage of fault the court assigns you. For example, if you are awarded $500,000 and assigned 30 percent of the fault, your award will be reduced by $150,000.
Quick Tips for What To Do After an Auto Accident in Joliet
After an auto accident, be sure to follow these quick tips to improve your chances of filing a successful claim:
- Call 911 and remain at the scene even if the at-fault driver fled the area.
- Collect contact and insurance info from all drivers involved, as well as contact info from any witnesses.
- Take photos and videos of all vehicles involved, the damage to vehicles, your injuries, road debris, and anything else pertinent to the scene.
- Tell the responding police officers what happened, but avoid admitting fault or speculating.
- Get medical care quickly, and schedule a doctor’s appointment even if you feel uninjured.
- Follow all the doctor’s orders and take medication as prescribed
- Avoid posting on social media about the accident
- Call our Joliet car accident lawyers as soon as possible so that you can begin working on filing a claim for compensation.
Get in Touch With a Joliet Car Accident Attorney Today
The days after a car accident can be overwhelming. While you focus on recovering, missing work and covering medical expenses can put a strain on your family. Contact Power Rogers today to schedule a free consultation with a Joliet car accident attorney. We bring the compassion and experience you need to move forward after an accident.
