Our Chicago Car Accident Attorneys Are Here For You

Without knowing the facts of your case, it’s difficult to know whether or not you have a claim against the other driver. In general, if another driver seriously injured you, you likely have a case. If you were in a fender bender and no one was hurt, you may not have a case. However, there are shades of grey between those examples.

Our attorneys at Shannon Law Group would be happy to sit down with you and discuss your legal options. Our consultations are always free. Call us today at (312) 578-9501 to schedule your appointment. We will come to you if you’re unable to come to our Chicago or Woodridge office.

In every state across the U.S., there are laws that state-specific deadlines for people to bring a personal injury lawsuit against another individual or party. These deadlines are called the statutes of limitations.

In Illinois, the statute of limitations varies depending on what type of party you’re filing suit against. To sue a government entity like a county or city, you generally have to file a lawsuit within one year.

For most Illinois car accident cases, you have two years to file an injury lawsuit from the date of the crash.

Because the statute of limitations can be tricky, we recommend contacting a reputable Chicago injury law firm like Shannon Law Group after a car accident. Don’t wait until the last minute to contact a lawyer—or else you may hurt your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.

Car crashes often put a financial strain on you and your family, especially if someone was hurt and needed months of treatment to get better. At Shannon Law Group, we understand your situation. That’s why there are no immediate fees associated with hiring our experienced trial law firm to represent you after a catastrophic car accident.

At Shannon Law Group, we never send bills directly to our clients for any time we spend on their cases. Why? Because our accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis.

When you hire us, our lawyers agree to accept a fixed percentage of the compensation we obtain for you at the end of your case. This fee is contingent on the fact that we must come through for you first before we are paid for our work on your case.

If we don’t come through for you, we will absorb the costs of your case. You will never receive a bill from our office for any outstanding fees.

Sometimes, the driver liable for an accident doesn’t have auto insurance. This situation happens more often than you’d think, especially in Illinois. You still have a car accident claim, even if the police say that the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance.

When the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance, you can file an uninsured motorist (UM) claim under your insurance policy. This type of insurance coverage is included in most Illinois automobile insurance policies unless you explicitly stated that you did not want to purchase uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

Through an uninsured motorist claim, your insurance company will compensate you for any damages you sustained from the accident, up to your UM policy limits. However, collecting the compensation you deserve from your insurance company can be just as tricky as obtaining payment from the at-fault driver’s insurer. 

That’s why we highly recommend contacting a car accident lawyer like Shannon Law Group to review your case. Our team will investigate the accident to determine if the at-fault driver is insured. If not, we will pursue an uninsured motorist claim through your insurance policy. We will hold your insurance company accountable and demand that they pay you what you justly deserve.

No. Before you sign any forms that the insurance company sends you, you should consult with a personal injury lawyer. These forms prevent you from pursuing a lawsuit against the other party in the future.

For a small fee, you can request a redacted copy of the police report after an Illinois crash. Click here to get started.

When you meet with our attorneys, we will often request a copy of the police report for you as a courtesy – regardless of whether you hire us. If you have any questions related to your accident, call Shannon Law Group today at (312) 578-9501. We’re available 24/7 to speak with you. 

If the police didn’t file a report of the car accident, go to the police station and file a report for the accident no later than ten days after the collision. You must submit a report of the accident to the Illinois Department of Transportation if there was more than $1,500 in property damage or if someone was injured or passed away in the crash.

If you don’t file the report, then you may face penalties such as fines or having your license suspended.

The hardest part about car accident lawsuits is that you don’t receive any compensation until the very end of your case. Many people think that the at-fault driver’s insurance will pay their medical bills—but that’s not how it works. Their insurance company won’t pay a dime until the case resolves through settlement or a trial. Sometimes, you may have to wait two or three years before you’re compensated.

We understand how difficult it is to wait for your case to resolve, especially when your medical bills are piling up, and you can no longer work. When we sit down with clients in a similar situation, we tell them to explore the following options:

Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay)

If you have auto insurance, you may have Medical Payments (MedPay) Coverage under your policy. This coverage helps pay for accident-related medical bills up to the limits of your policy. Look at your insurance policy’s declaration page to see how much MedPay coverage you have. Your insurance company will issue you a check when you or your attorney submit your medical bills to them.

Make sure that your medical providers bill your health insurance

Doublecheck with all of your medical providers to make sure they’re billing your health insurance company. Sometimes, healthcare providers will send the entire bill directly to the car insurance company. Why? Because they know they can make more money that way. However, it saves you more money in the long run if they bill your health insurance directly.

Check your eligibility for financial assistance programs

You may qualify for several financial assistance programs through the government. In the past, our car accident clients have applied for Medicare, Medicaid, disability insurance benefits, Social Security Disability benefits, and more. Our lawyers can help you apply for these programs as well.

When it comes to insurance companies, they have a nifty formula they use on a computer to calculate the value of your car accident claim. However, this formulated settlement offer is rarely accurate.

At Shannon Law Group, we can tell you one thing: Your case is worth significantly more with an attorney than without—especially if you sustained permanent injuries as a result of the crash. Why? Because the insurance company knows that you likely don’t understand the full value of your case. On the other hand, an experienced personal injury attorney will understand the value of your case—and they won’t settle for less when the insurance company makes a lowball offer.  

Other factors that may impact the value of your case include:

• The amount of medical bills you’ve accrued while treating any crash-related injuries.
• The amount of lost wages or income you have from not being able to work after the accident.
• The type of injuries you have and what type of treatment and care you need to live a normal life. For example, because of your injuries, you may need surgery or 24/7 at-home care that you otherwise wouldn’t have needed before the crash.

The short answer is yes: You can still file a lawsuit against another driver if the police said you were at fault for the accident. Sometimes, the responding police officer doesn’t have all of the evidence before issuing a citation. That’s why it’s crucial to hire an attorney to investigate the crash and obtain the evidence.

When we investigate an accident at Shannon Law Group, our attorneys gather any evidence of the crash, including surveillance videos and photos.

Even if you were partially at fault for the crash, you could also file a lawsuit. In Illinois, you can still receive compensation if you’re found less than 50 percent at fault for a car accident.

Who decides what percentage at fault you are? A jury.

Let’s say a jury finds you were 30 percent liable for the crash. Therefore, the total amount of money awarded to you will be reduced by 30 percent. If you’re found more than 50 percent liable for a car accident, you will not receive an award from the jury.

If a drunk driver hits you in Illinois, you might have a personal injury case against the bar or restaurant that served alcohol to the intoxicated driver.

Under the Illinois Dram Shop Act (AKA the Illinois Liquor Control Act), an injured plaintiff can sue the bar or restaurant if they prove the following:

• The bar or restaurant sold alcohol to the driver;
• The sale of alcohol proximately caused the driver’s intoxication; and
• The driver’s intoxication contributed to the plaintiff’s damages.

In Illinois, you typically have one year to file a lawsuit under the Dram Shop Act. If a drunk driver hits you or someone you love in Illinois, don’t wait. Contact our accident lawyers today for a free consultation. We’re available to speak with you 24/7 at (312) 578-9501. You can also text Attorney Joe Shannon directly at (312) 847-2428.

Your auto insurance company should pay for all or most of the costs associated with repairing your car after an accident. Follow these steps to get your car in the shop as soon as possible after a crash:

1. Contact your insurance company and make a claim as soon as possible.
2. Choose a highly rated repair shop that has experience with fixing collision damage.
3. Transport your vehicle to the shop, either by a tow truck or driving it yourself (if it’s safe to do so).
4. Rent a vehicle while your car’s in the shop if you have rental car coverage on your insurance policy.
5. Follow up with your insurance company and the repair shop.
6. Confirm repairs with the mechanic, and review the bill. Check to see if the final itemized bill matches the estimate they gave you.

Pay for repairs. You may have to pay your deductible for the repairs

If your vehicle is deemed a “total loss” after an accident, you will receive payment from your insurance company based on your car’s current market value. Insurance companies may use different calculations to determine your car’s value.

If you disagree with the amount they’re offering you, you can negotiate with them. However, you will have to prove to the insurance adjuster that your vehicle is worth more. First, look up your vehicle’s market value on websites like Kelley Blue Book. Verify that the price they quoted you matches the value price listed on these websites.

Second, if you made any improvements to the car that increased its value, provide receipts and photos to the insurance company.

It may be an uphill battle to negotiate the insurance company’s offer. At Shannon Law Group, our lawyers will negotiate the offer for free if we’re handling your personal injury case. Call us 24/7 at (312) 578-9501 for more information.