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Chicago, Illinois Car Accident & Auto Accident Lawyers

Millions of Americans suffer car accident injuries in crashes every year. Thousands die. Some wrecks are unavoidable, but most crashes could be prevented. They are caused by someone’s careless acts.

Our experienced and recognized car accident lawyers can help with auto accidents that happen every day in Chicago and across Illinois – even to the safest drivers.

You can’t control what careless motorists do. But you can take control of your life after a crash. The road to recovery starts by contacting a car accident attorney who will protect your rights, seek the compensation you deserve and ultimately help to lift your burdens.

The personal injury lawyers of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., have decades of experience with helping injured victims and their families in Chicago and throughout Illinois. Clients know they can trust us with their car accident case while they focus on getting better.

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Legally Reviewed By
Patrick A. Salvi, Sr.
Patrick A. Salvi
Patrick A. Salvi concentrates his legal practice in cases concerning serious personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and mass torts. Mr. Salvi has achieved record-breaking jury verdicts...

Car Accident compensation

Our car accident lawyers in Chicago, Illinois strive to ensure our clients are fully compensated for their losses. We have recovered more than $2.3 billion on behalf of our clients, with more than 330 multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in all areas of practice. Our results include:

We take pride in the professional, friendly service we provide to every client. We may work quickly and aggressively – but we always take the time to talk with our clients about their case.

To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today. Call or submit our online form. Our consultations are always free, and they carry no obligations.

Why hire a Chicago auto accident attorney?

Studies have shown that auto accident victims recover more in damages when represented by an attorney than when they attempt to deal with an auto insurance company on their own.

The reality is that a Chicago car accident attorney can provide a variety of services that are aimed at recovering the maximum amount for you and your family after a car accident. These services include:

  • Thoroughly investigating your accident.
  • Consulting with experts from a variety of fields, including accident reconstruction, mechanical engineering, medical care and life-care planning experts.
  • Closely looking at all insurance policies involved in your case.
  • Ensuring all documents are filed in a timely manner.
  • Aggressively negotiating with the auto insurance company.
  • Presenting a persuasive case on your behalf in court.
  • Resolving any health care or other liens attached to your recovery in a manner that ensures you receive the amount you need to pay for all of your medical expenses and move on in life with financial security.
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At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we provide free consultations. We do not charge for our legal services unless we obtain a recovery for you. Our firm has a record of success, including 330 cases that have resulted in awards of $1 million or more.Salvi Schostok & Pritchard P.C. Attorneys

What Will A Car Crash Attorney Do For Your Motor Vehicle Accident Claim?

At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we believe it is crucial to conduct an immediate, thorough investigation of a car wreck so as to ensure that no evidence is lost or destroyed. It is critical you contact a Chicago car accident attorney immediately about your car accident claim.

We can collect extensive evidence in your case, including:

  • The police crash report
  • Photos of the accident scene
  • Photos of the damaged vehicles
  • Eyewitness statements
  • Information from the event data recorder (EDR, or “black box”)
  • Cell phone records and other electronic evidence
  • Manufacturer records or recall information
  • Medical records and work records
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We can also consult with highly qualified experts who can help us to determine:

  • Who caused the accident?
  • Who should be held liable?
  • How much you deserve to recover?

Our goal is to compile enough evidence to establish a solid car accident claim and make the best case possible for full and fair compensation. We aggressively negotiate with insurance companies and use a skilled approach to representing our clients in the courtroom.

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As we pursue compensation for our car crash clients, our
experienced attorneys can search through all possible options, including:

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage

You are required by Illinois law to have this coverage. It covers bodily injury to you, your passengers, members of your household or others authorized to drive your car if the other driver lacks liability coverage

Car Insurance Claims: Understand the Do’s and Don’ts

Insurance companies prefer to minimize the amount they pay out in claims. So, when it comes to your insurance claim, be smart and document what you can. Here are some things to do and not do when it comes to your claim.

As we stress to each of our clients: Do not speak with the insurance company unless you have first talked with an attorney. You do not want to say or sign anything that will cost you the chance to obtain a just recovery for your losses after a car wreck.

At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we will conduct a comprehensive review of your car accident case to determine the full extent of your losses and the proper value of your motor vehicle accident claim. We can then negotiate directly with the insurance company or go to court on your behalf to obtain a car accident settlement.

We can also carefully resolve any healthcare, workers’ compensation or other liens that may be attached to your recovery after an auto accident.

Read more about what to do if you have been in a crash in Chicago…

Illinois Car Accidents 101: A guide to your case

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Traffic collisions FAQs


Car Accidents FAQs

I was injured in a car accident. I have insurance, and I have the other driver’s insurance information. Why do I need a lawyer?

Do you know what the insurance company should pay you for your car accident? Do you know the elements of damage to claim under the law? Do you know what your case’s value is? Do you know what to do if the insurance company denies your claim?

An experienced car accident attorney from Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., will know how to stop an insurance company from taking advantage of you and seek maximum compensation for your injuries. We work with car accident victims, insurance policies and insurance adjusters every day.

Insurance companies are profit-minded businesses. They also work with car accident victims and insurance policies every day. They do not have your best interests in mind. They have an incentive to pay you as little as possible. If you are on your own and lack familiarity with the legal process, you are simply outmatched.

But when you retain a personal injury attorney, insurance companies must work through your attorney to resolve your case. Your attorney will work to investigate the accident, including photos, witness statements, traffic court, records and bill requests. Your attorney will also determine what damages you should be paid for the cost of your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, scarring and more.

My bills are piling up, and I have been unable to work because of my injuries. What is my car accident case worth?

The compensation you receive in a car accident lawsuit – whether through a verdict or settlement – should make you “whole.” In other words, it should come as close as possible to returning you to the position you were in before being injured by another person’s negligent driving. This amount will differ from case to case.

To determine the amount of damages that should be recovered in your case, your lawyer will examine many factors, including:

You may also be eligible to recover punitive damages. Unlike the above damages, these damages are not aimed at making you whole but rather at punishing the party who harmed you in an auto accident and deterring future misconduct. These damages typically are awarded where the at-fault party engaged in reckless or intentional misconduct such as drunk driving or road rage.

If you have lost a loved one in a crash, you would seek wrongful death damages, which consists of “just and fair compensation” for your own losses, including the loss of money, goods and services provided by your loved one.

It is important to note that any recovery would be limited to the amount of available insurance coverage, including the at-fault party’s liability coverage and your own insurance such as uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM / UIM) coverage.

How do I pay for a lawyer?

At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., our attorney fees are paid from the settlement or court award we obtain for you. We only receive this payment at the end of the case, and only if we are successful. Simply put: We don’t get paid until you do.

The payment does not come out of your own pocket. Instead, it is deducted from the check the insurance company writes if and when we obtain a recovery for you. If we do not obtain a recovery for you, you pay us nothing for our services.

The American Bar Association describes this as a “contingency” or “contingent” fee. The legal fee is contingent, or depends, on the result the law firm obtains for you and the amount of the recovery.

When we agree to pursue a claim for you, and you agree to have us represent you, we will enter into a contract that states that we will receive a percentage of any settlement or court award from the case plus repayment for costs.

You should note that Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., has a record of obtaining results for our clients in a wide range of personal injury and wrongful death cases, including 200 cases resulting in awards of $1 million or more.

We begin each case with a free and confidential consultation. This consultation allows us to answer questions you may have about your legal rights and options. It also allows us to review the facts of your case and help you to decide whether pursing a car accident claim is in your best interests.

My car accident caused by another driver. Can I still collect money from my insurance company?

What your insurance company might pay you starts with what your policy entails.

If you have the minimum amount of auto insurance required by Illinois law, then you have coverage that is supposed to pay you for  a car accident caused by uninsured motorists.

Most of the auto insurance drivers are required to buy in Illinois is liability insurance. This coverage makes payments for injuries the policyholder causes others. So, typically, if you are in an accident caused by someone else, you seek a settlement through that driver’s liability insurance.

However, as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates, more than 12 percent of drivers lack required insurance. Even if they have the requisite coverage, it may be at the minimum levels and fail to cover the full amount of your losses. In fact, this tends to happen in severe accidents.

If the driver lacks insurance or has inadequate insurance, you can turn to your uninsured / underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage. At a minimum, your uninsured (UM) policy should pay $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident for bodily injury caused by an uninsured motorist. Of course, you may have purchased more than the minimum. Your coverage would depend on the amount you purchased. If you have higher underinsured limits than the at-fault driver, you may be able to collect the difference between the policies.

So, yes – if you have coverage that applies, you can probably collect some money from your insurance company after a crash caused by another driver.

The question is: How much will you recover? You would like to get the maximum amount that your coverage provides. However, your insurer would like to pay you less – perhaps much less.

Even when you have what looks like a simple, straightforward claim, you can usually benefit from having help from Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.

How much time do I have to file a motor vehicle accident claim?

In Illinois, you must bring a legal claim within a specific time period after a motor vehicle accident. This is known as the “statute of limitations.” The statute of limitations that applies to your case will depend on the type of claim you assert.

The following are the Illinois statutes of limitations that often arise in motor vehicle accident cases:

  • Personal injury – You have two years from the date of the accident in which to file your claim. The date of the accident is called the “accrual date.”
  • Wrongful death – You must bring a claim within two years from the date of the death.
  • Product liability – Two years from the date of the accident for a personal injury claim. However, in no case can a lawsuit be filed 12 years from the date of the first sale or 10 years from the date of the first sale to the vehicle’s initial user – whichever comes earlier.
  • Dram Shop Act – You have one year from the date of the accident to bring a claim.

If you are suing a local government agency in Illinois, you must bring the action within one year from the date of the accident.

Exceptions may apply to your case. For instance, if a person has a legal “disability” such as being under the age of 18, the statute of limitations does not begin to run until after the disability has been removed.

The driver’s insurance company has offered me a settlement, but it barely covers what I’ve spent on hospital bills so far. Should I take the money and sign a release?

Not unless you have first spoken with a lawyer and given the lawyer a chance to review the insurance company’s offer first.

You should never accept an insurance settlement or sign anything that an insurance company representative offers to you without the advice of a lawyer who is experienced with the type of accident you have been involved in. You could be giving up money you deserve.

You may not be getting fairly and fully compensated for your injuries and expenses, including:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Lost wages and future lost earnings
  • Pain and suffering.

The attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., can sit down with you and review your circumstances to determine whether you are entitled to a better settlement for your losses.

Can I get compensated if I was partly at fault for my car accident?

Even though your own negligence may have contributed to your car accident, you may still be able to recover damages. Whether you are eligible – and the amount you can recover – will depend on the extent of your fault.

Under Illinois’ modified comparative negligence law, you can recover damages as long as you are less than 50 percent at fault for the injuries you have suffered. However, your damages will be reduced according to the percentage of fault attributed to you. If you are more than 50 percent at fault, you are barred from recovering anything.

So, let’s say you are sitting at a red light. When the light turns green, you delay going. A driver approaching your car from the rear fails to notice you are stopped because he or she is texting while driving. You suffer $100,000 in damages in the rear-end collision.

If your delay is found to have contributed 10 percent to the crash, you would not be barred from a recovery. However, your recovery would be reduced by 10 percent. As a result, the most you could recover would be $90,000.

Comparative negligence may be an issue when negotiating a settlement with an insurance company. Your lawyer’s role will be to make sure that no undue blame is placed on you and to seek the full amount you are due.

How do I know if I have an auto accident lawsuit?

It is crucial to meet with an attorney as soon as possible after you are injured in a crash. The attorney can conduct a thorough review of your case and determine whether it would be in your best interest to pursue an auto accident lawsuit.

When a lawyer reviews your case, the lawyer will focus on three basic factors: Fault, damages and insurance.

First, the lawyer will examine whether another party was at fault for the crash. Fault means that another driver caused the crash. Examples are:

  • A motorist who engaged in careless or reckless driving such as speeding
  • A mechanic who failed to perform an adequate repair
  • A manufacturer who sold a defective vehicle or vehicle part
  • A government agency who allowed a hazardous road condition to exist.

The lawyer will also look at whether you were partially at fault for the crash. Under Illinois law, you would be barred from a recovery if you were more than 50 percent at fault.

Second, the lawyer will determine the amount of damages involved in your case, including:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Past and future lost wages
  • Pain and suffering.

If the amount is minimal, an attorney may advise against pursuing a lawsuit.

Third, the lawyer will review insurance coverage available in your case, including the at-fault party’s liability coverage and, perhaps, your own coverage. For example, you may need to turn to your own uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM / UIM) coverage to pay for your damages.

If, after considering all of these factors, a lawyer advises you to go forward with an auto accident lawsuit, the lawyer will work aggressively to obtain full and fair compensation for you.

What happens during a car accident lawsuit?

Typically, you can expect a car accident lawsuit to go through the following stages after your initial consultation with a lawyer:

  • Initial investigation – An attorney will investigate your case and consult with experts to determine why the crash occurred, who should be held responsible, how much should be sought in damages and what insurance coverage is available to cover the damages.
  • Filing of a complaint – Once the investigation is complete, the lawyer will file a lawsuit, or complaint, in the proper court – typically, in the county where the accident occurred. The lawsuit will name the party from whom a recovery is sought such as the other driver involved in the crash. In some cases, multiple parties may be named in a lawsuit.
  • Discovery – After a lawsuit is filed, a formal information-gathering process can begin. This is called “discovery.” The parties may seek answers to questions (interrogatories) and request production of documents. They may also obtain sworn written statements (affidavits) or oral statements (depositions). A medical examination may also occur.
  • Settlement negotiations – At the proper time, your attorney will send a demand letter, or package, to the at-fault party’s insurance company. The demand will request a specific amount in damages. This typically will start settlement negotiations. If a full and fair settlement is reached, you will sign a document which releases the at-fault party from liability, or from being sued in the future.
  • Trial – If a settlement cannot be reached, the case will go to trial. Both sides will have the opportunity to present evidence. Then, the judge or jury will make its decision, or reach a “verdict.” If the verdict is in your favor, a decision will be made on how much you should receive in damages. The court will enter a judgment in that amount. In some cases, a party may admit liability. So, a trial will concern only damages.
  • Post-trial – After trial, either side may file motions or an appeal to a higher court. After those post-trial matters are resolved, additional legal action may need to be taken to collect the judgment.
  • Disbursement – The final stage in the case will be to disburse funds that are obtained through a verdict or settlement, including resolving any liens attached to your recovery and paying attorney fees. The amount you receive will be paid in a lump sum or in a structured schedule of payments.

How long will my car accident lawsuit last?

Many factors go into the amount of time it takes to resolve a car accident lawsuit. These factors include:

  • Investigation – In many cases, how a crash occurred and who should be held responsible can be easily identified. However, if the cause of the accident requires extensive investigation, or if a case involves multiple parties, it may lengthen the time it takes to complete an investigation.
  • Settlement negotiations – A settlement can often be reached without the need for lengthy negotiations. It helps to present a case to the insurance company that has been carefully prepared. This means that legal responsibility (or liability) and the amount of damages being sought are supported by solid evidence. However, if the auto insurance company refuses to agree to a full and fair settlement, it can add time to a case.
  • Trial – A motor vehicle accident trial may last a few days or several weeks. It depends on the amount of evidence that each side presents. In some cases, a party may admit liability for an auto accident, and a trial will be held only on the issue of how much damages should be paid.
  • Collection – If a case is resolved through a settlement, you should expect to collect the settlement amount within a month after an agreement is reached. If a case is resolved through a judgment, however, you could run into difficulties. An auto insurance company may choose to file post-trial motions or an appeal, which can add time to the case. In some cases, legal action may need to be taken to collect the judgment.

It is important to work with an attorney who will make sure that you receive the medical care and treatment you need while resolution of your case is pending, keep you updated about the progress of your case and work toward resolving your case as efficiently as possible.

What do I do if the other driver who was at-fault, does not have insurance?

You can use your own uninsured motorist portion of a policy of insurance that you have with your own automobile. If you do not have a car, but you live at home with your parents, you may be able to use the policy of insurance on a parent’s vehicle. There is always the possibility of suing the other driver and collecting the money from the driver personally, but a search of assets will reveal whether the person could ever afford to pay a judgment against him or her.

What are some of the damages that I can recover when I am in a car accident in Illinois?

The damages will vary from case to case, but economic damages usually include medical bills and wage loss. Other non-economic damages may include pain & suffering, loss of a normal life, or disability and disfigurement (i.e. scarring). You can also seek damages that are reasonably likely to occur in the future if the foundation is laid by a qualified medical doctor to a reasonable degree of medical certainty. Your spouse may also have his or her own claim for the loss of services, companionship, or relationship, etc., which is called a loss of consortium.

How do I get my car repaired after an accident?

How and where you get your car repaired may be dictated by your insurance company.

Among the first steps to take after a car accident is contacting your insurer. The company may have specific requirements for filing a claim, including getting vehicle damage estimates. You will need to follow those steps.

For instance, the insurer may have certain Chicago garages it wants you to use for estimates or the actual repair work on your car. If you have a shop you prefer, you may be able to get them to agree to your using it, or the insurer may refuse to go over the amount estimated by the repair shop it chose.

Please note: Before your car is towed or taken by you to a garage for repairs, it needs to be examined for important evidence about your car crash. This is why contacting a car accident lawyer is also among the first steps to take after a car accident.

If Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., is working on your case soon enough, we can examine your car before evidence it contains is disturbed or destroyed. We can also examine the other driver’s car for potentially important evidence before it is lost – even if we need to get a court order to do so.

Another important consideration regarding repairs is what the insurance adjuster decides about your car. You may be told that it is “totaled.” This means the adjuster thinks the cost to repair your car is more than it is worth – or more than the company is willing to pay. The insurance company will provide an actual cash value (ACV) for your car, which is what it wants to pay you.

The ACV may well be less than what your car is worth, or your vehicle may actually be repairable.

You can challenge an adjuster’s decision that your car is totaled, and you can challenge the ACV put on a totaled car. You can also accept the ACV for your “totaled” car and have it repaired with that money plus your own. You will need to weigh the pros and cons of accepting or rejecting the insurer’s offer.

A car accident attorney from Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., can start to help you immediately after you contact us about your crash. We can help establish an ACV for your car and protect your rights to proper compensation for your damaged vehicle or help you to have it repaired.

We can also help you take steps to protect a potential injury claim and avoid mistakes that will hurt your claim.

What Can I Recover After a Car
Accident in Illinois?

A car accident can result in heavy financial losses. According to Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the average costs of crashes during one recent year were:

  • Fatal crashes – $1,479,670
  • “A” injury crashes — $72,580
  • Property damage crashes – $9,280.

(An “A” injury crash is one that results in car crash injuries that prevent a victim from walking, driving or “normally continuing the activities he/she was capable of performing before the injury occurred.”)

The amount that can be recovered in a car accident lawsuit in Chicago or elsewhere in Illinois will depend on the case’s unique facts and legal issues, including the availability of insurance coverage. However, the damages typically sought in a car accident lawsuit are:

Car Compensation - Vehicle repair or replacement

Vehicle repair or replacement

Reimbursement for all necessary repairs to your vehicle or the fair market value for your car if it is declared to be a “total loss” by the insurance company.

Car Compensation - Pain and suffering Compensation

Pain and suffering Compensation

Compensation for all physical and mental suffering that you experience due to being involved in a crash caused by another person.

Car Compensation - Payment For Medical Bills

Payment For Medical Bills

All past and future medical costs that arise from the treatment you need due to your accident, including emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, medication, assistive devices and rehabilitation

Car Compensation - Lost Income Compensation

Lost Income Compensation

All past and future wages that you lose because your injuries prevent you from being able to work and earn a living. Compensation should include all bonuses, commissions, fringe benefits and income you would have earned through self-employment.

Car Compensation - Punitive damages

Punitive damages

Damages that are intended to punish a party for engaging in especially egregious misconduct such as drunk driving (and to deter that party and others from engaging in similar conduct in the future).

If you lost a loved one in a car accident, you may be able to seek coverage of all medical costs as well as:

If your own negligence partially contributed to an auto accident, you may still be able to recover damages. Your recovery would be reduced according to your percentage of fault. If you were 51 percent or more at fault, you would be barred from recovering anything unless the other party was engaged in reckless conduct such as drunk driving.

Car Accident
Do’s and Dont's from our Lawyers

Car Accidents Do's & Don'ts From Our Chicago Auto Accident Lawyers

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Key steps to take and mistakes to avoid if you have been in a crash in Chicago or elsewhere in Illinois.

Download our free pdf on the Do’s and Don’ts of car accidents. Our Chicago auto accident lawyers have put together a quick checklist of items you should and should not do after you have been involved in a vehicle collision.

Read Our Guide –
Six Key Steps After a Car Accident

6 Keys Steps after a car accident

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Following up the Do’s and Don’ts of car accidents is this downloadable pdf on the 6 key steps to take after a car accident. If you have been in a car wreck before then you know how stressful and chaotic it can be. Follow these steps to insure you are properly covered after you have been in an accident.

Illinois Motor Vehicle Accident Facts

You are not alone when it comes to getting into an Illinois car accident. Many others face the same challenges as you after a crash.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) reports that 296,049 auto accidents occurred in our state in one recent year, or a rate of 811 crashes per day. Those crashes caused:

61,084

injuries

845

Deaths

The following car accident facts break it down by county. The majority of those crashes – 69 percent – occurred in Cook County and its five bordering counties. As these stats show, driving can be especially dangerous in Chicago and surrounding areas, which may be due in part to the high volume of traffic, heavy road construction and large number of pedestrians and bicyclists who share the road with vehicles in our region:

County Total Injury Fatal
Cook 137,271 27,204 231
DuPage 19,458 4,455 25
Lake 13,230 3,148 33
Will 12,426 2,710 40
Kane 9,851 2,586 27
McHenry 4,834 1,247 16
Total 197,070 41,350 372

The key is to take charge after an auto accident. You must act right away to protect your legal rights and increase your chances of obtaining a full recovery for the physical, mental and financial harm you have suffered. Like many others who have been impacted by a crash, you can move on in life with a sense of security.

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Types of Car Accidents in Chicago and Illinois

The types of car accidents that we most commonly encounter when working with injured victims and their families in Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois include:

Uber & Lyft Accidents Image

Uber & Lyft Accidents

All of these services involve drivers who use their own cars to transport passengers. In this sense, the drivers with these ride-hailing companies are just like any other drivers you may encounter. Ridersharing drivers can engage in the types of careless and reckless conduct that causes accidents

Distracted Driving Accident Image

Distracted Driving

When a person tries to multi-task behind the wheel, it can lead to a crash. Talking on a phone and texting while driving are common examples. Distracted driving also includes interacting with other passengers, eating and drinking, putting on makeup or any other activity that takes one’s attention away from driving.

Speeding Accident Image

Speeding Accident

Speeding factors into roughly one-third of Illinois auto accidents, IDOT reports. A driver can cause a crash when he or she drives above the posted speed limit or goes too fast for weather and road conditions.

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Head-on Collisions

A driver can cause devastating harm by using poor judgment and attempting to pass a vehicle on a two-lane road or by drifting across the center line due to impairment caused by distraction, alcohol or fatigue.

Truck Accident Image

Semi-trailer Truck Accidents

Truck drivers often cause crashes due to speeding, fatigue, distraction or impairment. Many crashes involving large tractor-trailers (or semis) can be traced to mechanical defects. These crashes can result in severe and often fatal injuries due to the size and weight difference between trucks and passenger cars.

Motorcycle Accident Image

Motorcycle Accidents

Careless mistakes by car drivers and motorcycle riders alike can lead to deadly accidents, including following too closely or trying to share the same lane. IDOT reports that motorcycle crashes accounted for 16 percent of the state’s traffic fatalities during a recent year.

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Pedestrian Accident

A driver failing to keep a proper lookout, rushing to beat a red light or turning with an obstructed view are common causes of crashes that occur at intersections in Chicago and other areas of Illinois.

Intersection Accident Image

Intersection Accidents

A driver can cause devastating harm by using poor judgment and attempting to pass a vehicle on a two-lane road or by drifting across the center line due to impairment caused by distraction, alcohol or fatigue.

Teen Driving Accident Image

Teen Driving Accidents

Distracted driving is a particular concern when it comes to young, inexperienced drivers. A recently published AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study found that distraction played a role in 58 percent of teen crashes, including 76 percent of rear-end accidents.

Side Impact Accident Image

Side Impact Accident

These are also known as angle crashes or T-bone collisions. They commonly occur at intersections. They can produce severe injuries due to the lack of protection most cars provide on the sides.

Rear End Accidents

Rear End Accidents

IDOT statistics show that these are the most common type of car accident in our state. In a recent year, there were 84,000 rear-end collisions in Illinois. They often are caused by a driver “tailgating” a car in front or failing to pay attention as he or she approaches a red light or stop sign at an intersection.

Reckless Driving

Reckless Driving

Speeding, running a red light, tailgating, weaving in-and-out of traffic, refusing to yield the right of way – these are all forms of reckless driving (also called “aggressive driving”) that puts others in danger.

Self-Driving Car Accident

Self-Driving Car Accident

Throughout the country, a number of collisions have occurred that involved self-driving vehicles. A Chicago car accident lawyer from Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., will know how to aggressively protect your rights.

Interstate Accidents

Interstate Accidents

Chicago has seven major interstates and numerous smaller interstates and roads. We are passionate about helping victims and their families recover compensation.

Trinity Guardrail Accident Image

Trinity Guardrail Accident

Illinois has banned future use of the ET-Plus, a guardrail system manufactured by Trinity Industries, Inc. To discuss your case immediately, please contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.

Car Passenger Injury Image

Car Passenger Injury

When someone’s negligence or recklessness causes another person to be harmed, the person who was at fault can be held liable for the injured person’s losses, pain and suffering. Contact us immediately for help with your case.

Causes of Car Accidents

Drunk Driving Accident Image

Drunk Driving

IDOT reports that roughly one-third (30.4 percent) of the state’s fatal crashes during a recent year involved alcohol. In some circumstances, the establishment or social host who provided alcohol to the person who caused the crash can be held accountable.

Highway Construction Accident Image

Highway Construction Accidents

Even slight misplacement of equipment or road markers in a highway construction zone can create a hazard that endangers the safety of motorists and workers alike. A government agency or its contractors may ultimately be held responsible for.

Vehicle Defect Accident Image

Vehicle Defects

Many car accidents are not caused by driver error but rather by a defective automobile or automotive part such as brakes, tires, or steering. In some cases, a crash victim’s injuries are made worse by a defective safety feature such as an airbag or seatbelt.

Drowsy Driving Accidents

Drowsy Driving Accidents

Fatigue can have an impairing effect on a driver that is on par with alcohol or drugs. In fact, one recently published study estimated that fatigue plays a role in 6-10 percent of all motor vehicle accidents.

Drugged Driving Accidents

Drugged Driving Accidents

A recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) roadside survey revealed a significant increase in the number of drivers who use illegal and prescription drugs while driving.

Texting-While-Driving Accidents

Texting-While-Driving Accidents

Texting while driving is illegal in Chicago and Illinois. At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we may seek to hold the driver liable for the harm you or your family member has suffered.

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