Rock Island Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney

Why Hire a Rock Island Personal Injury Attorney After Your Auto Accident?

If you suffered a severe personal injury in an Illinois car crash, you cannot rely on the other driver’s auto insurance company to provide a fair settlement that covers your medical costs, lost wages, and other losses. The insurance adjuster is not likely putting your needs first, however. A personal injury attorney who is experienced with motor vehicle accidents will help you understand the value of your case to determine whether your settlement offer is fair. Your lawyer will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to ensure you receive maximum compensation. At Strong Law Offices, we prepare all personal injury cases that we handle as if they will go to court. If an agreement cannot be reached, our law firm will present your personal injury case to the jury and let them decide.

Motor Vehicle Accidents Our Rock Island Law Firm Handles

Passenger cars account for 66% of the registered vehicles in Illinois, while trucks, vans, and SUVs accounted for 12%; commercial trucks and buses for 5%; and motorcycles for 3%. The drivers of these vehicles have a responsibility to others to operate their autos safely. Failing to do so endangers their passengers, as well as the other drivers, motorcyclists, pedestrians, bicyclists with whom they share the road. 

For more than 25 years, our personal injury law firm has helped injured victims recover maximum compensation in cases involving:

• Car Accidents
• Truck Crashes
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents

Our Rock Island, IL, attorneys recognize the physical, emotional, and financial impact that severe personal injuries have on victims and their families. Let us help with your financial recovery, so you can focus on healing and moving forward with your life. 

Common Injuries Seen by a Rock Island Car Accident Lawyer

Over the course of his or her career, a car accident lawyer will see a wide range of injuries. Victims with minor injuries usually recover fairly quickly. For people with serious injuries, however, dealing with ongoing medical treatment and the inability to work becomes part of their daily life. The most common auto accident injuries our accident lawyers see include:

Internal Injuries

The blunt force impact resulting from auto accidents can cause internal injuries such as bleeding and organ damage. Since internal injuries may not display any visual symptoms, they often go unnoticed. Without appropriate medical treatment, internal injuries may be fatal.

Broken Bones

Car accidents commonly lead to bone fractures. Bones in the hands, arms, and legs are the most commonly affected. Broken bones usually require medical treatment, such as resetting or casting, to heal correctly. Sometimes, victims require surgery and physical therapy as well.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Jolts, blows, and penetrations of the head can lead to traumatic brain injuries. TBIs may cause physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms, some of which may affect your ability to work and provide for your family. Some head trauma signs subside with time, rest, and appropriate medical care. Others, however, are permanently life-altering.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can be caused by a car crash as well. A sudden blow or cut to the back that damages the spinal cord can cause partial or total paralysis. People who suffer spinal cord injuries often need emergency medical attention, as well as ongoing care.

Common Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents

Vehicles of all types and sizes share the road at all times of the day and night. While some collisions involving motorists, as well as others such as pedestrians and bicyclists, are unavoidable, others would not occur if not for an at-fault party’s negligent or intentional actions.

Some of the most common causes of traffic-related accidents in Rock Island, IL, include:

1. Driving Under the Influence

Drinking alcohol or using drugs causes impaired judgment, reduced coordination, and slowed reaction times. Despite the risk, drivers still get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, or using drugs. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, alcohol contributed to 22.2% of the fatal collisions occurring in 2021.

2. Reckless Driving/Speeding

Traveling at unsafe speeds, tailgating, and engaging in other reckless driving behaviors significantly increases the risk of auto accidents in Rock Island, IL. When speeding or following too close, drivers may not have adequate time to react to changes in the traffic conditions or to hazards that appear on the road.

3. Distracted Driving

Distracted driving causes over 3,000 deaths each year. Visual, manual, and cognitive distractions can impact a driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle and avoid crashing. Anything that takes your hands off the wheel, eyes off the road, or attention from the task of driving, can be a distraction. This includes singing, eating, drinking, talking to someone on a cell phone, interacting with a passenger, changing the radio station, or reaching for something.

4. Drowsy/Fatigued Driving

Drowsiness and fatigue can cause impairments similar to those from drinking alcohol. In addition, there is the risk of falling asleep at the wheel. Drowsiness or fatigue may also cause people to experience microsleep, wherein they fall asleep for several seconds, but may not even realize it has happened.

Available Damages in a Motor Vehicle Accident Claim

People who suffer injuries in an auto accident may file lawsuits to hold the at-fault driver, or the insurance company, financially liable. Compensatory damages seek to make you as close to financially whole as possible. Punitive damages, which are intended to punish drivers for egregious behavior, may be available as well. An experienced personal injury attorney at our law firm will help you understand the types and amounts of damages you may be entitled to receive. 

The damages available in a personal injury case in Rock Island, IL might include:

Economic Damages

Economic damages in personal injury cases are the monetary losses caused by your accident. Examples include your lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and medical bills. Documentation such as earning statements, invoices for healthcare services, and medical records are often used to help estimate the value of economic damages in injury cases.

Non-Economic Damages

An injury crash may also lead to subjective losses. Non-economic damages provide compensation for emotional distress, pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. If the car accident caused a wrongful death, family members may be entitled to non-economic damages for loss of consortium, emotional support, and instruction and guidance.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are awarded to punish the defendant and to prevent others from acting similarly. The court may award punitive damages in cases when the at-fault party acted intentionally or with extreme negligence. If punitive damages are available in your case, the court will decide your award amount based on what is reasonable and proportional to the harm suffered.

Frequently Asked Questions About Motor Vehicle Accidents in Rock Island, IL

What if I Was Partly At-Fault for an Accident?

If you were partly at fault for the truck or car accident that caused your injuries, you may still be able to receive compensation from the other driver. Illinois uses a modified comparative negligence rule when calculating damages. Under this rule, you can recover damages in personal injury claims and lawsuits, provided you are not found more than 50% at fault for the accident. The damages awarded to you will be reduced in proportion to the percentage of fault you were assessed.

What is the Statute of Limitations for Motor Vehicle Crashes in Illinois?

In Illinois, you usually have up to two years from the date of your car wreck or other collision to file a personal injury lawsuit. Filing outside the allowed timeframe will typically result in the court dismissing your claim. You will lose the right to recover fair compensation for your losses. Contacting a Rock Island, IL, personal injury lawyer soon after your accident can help ensure legal action is initiated before the statute of limitations expires.

How Long Does It Take to get a Settlement From a Personal Injury Claim?

The time it takes to get your crash settlement will depend on several factors. The willingness of the liability insurance company to reach an agreement plays the most significant role in the timeline. If you accepted a settlement offer, and you have not received your payment within six weeks of signing the release, you should contact your attorney.

You might be interested in these personal injury resources:

• Questions to Ask When Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer
• Who to Sue in a Car Accident Involving a Taxi
• Is Distracted Driving Negligence?