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A chain reaction car crash can be extremely frightening. If you were involved in a multi-vehicle wreck, a Chicago car accident lawyer can help you recover damages.
Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. has been representing Chicagoans since 2002. If you were injured in a multi-vehicle crash, a chain reaction accident lawyer in Chicago can guide you through the claims process and help you obtain compensation.
How Can a Chicago Chain Reaction Accident Lawyer Help?
Car accident cases that involve multiple vehicles are rarely straightforward. A Chicago chain reaction accident lawyer can assist with your case by:
- Investigating the crash: We can gather police reports, witness statements, dashcam footage, and other evidence to determine what happened and strengthen your claim.
- Calculating the value of your claim: We can assess both your economic and non-economic losses to determine your claim’s value.
- Negotiating a settlement: We can handle all communications with insurance adjusters and push back against low settlement offers.
- Representing you: If a fair settlement isn’t possible, we can take your case to court and present a strong argument on your behalf.
Types of Damages You Can Pursue
Illinois law allows you to seek compensation for a wide range of losses after a car crash, including:
- Medical bills: You can recover the cost of hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, and any ongoing treatment you may need.
- Lost income: You can be compensated for wages you lost while recovering from the crash.
- Loss of future earning capacity: You can pursue damages if your injuries limit your ability to earn income in the future.
- Pain and suffering: You can pursue compensation for the physical pain and discomfort caused by your injuries.
- Emotional distress: You can seek compensation for any anxiety, depression, or trauma resulting from the crash.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: You can be compensated if your injuries prevent you from participating in activities you used to enjoy.
- Property damage: You can recover the cost to repair or replace your vehicle and any personal property damaged in the crash.
- Punitive damages: In some situations, you may pursue additional compensation in cases involving especially reckless or egregious behavior from other parties.
A Chicago personal injury lawyer can assess your case and determine which types of compensation you qualify for.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim in Illinois?
According to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, you typically have two years from the date of a crash to file a car accident claim in Illinois. If you don’t file a lawsuit within that time frame, you will risk losing your right to recover compensation.
Certain exceptions can affect this deadline. For example, claims involving government entities may have shorter notice requirements. A chain reaction accident attorney in Chicago can help make sure you file your claim on time.
Who Is Liable for a Chain Reaction Accident?
In most multi-vehicle accidents, the person driving the rear-most vehicle is at fault because their negligence set the chain reaction in motion. However, in some cases, when the vehicle in front unexpectedly stops, and the vehicle behind it rear-ends it, liability might be more complicated.
The answer as to who is liable for your crash comes down to which driver (or drivers) acted negligently. In Illinois, negligence occurs when a person fails to exercise reasonable care behind the wheel, thereby causing a crash. Reasonable care is defined as how a prudent or sensible person would have driven in the same or a similar situation.
What if I Was Partially at Fault?
Illinois is a modified comparative fault state, which means that the law requires courts to consider the contributory fault of each party involved in an accident, then assign each of them a percentage of responsibility. Under this rule, if you are 51% or more at fault for an accident, you will not be able to recover compensation.
If you are 50% or less at fault, you will be able to recover damages, but your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your fault. For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault, you would go home with 80% of the total damages awarded.
What Is a Chain Reaction Accident?
Chain reaction accidents (also known as multi-vehicle accidents) occur when three or more cars hit each other in a sequence of rear-end collisions. Put another way, this type of accident occurs when one car rear-ends the car in front of it, causing it to crash into the vehicle in front of it.
These accidents are especially common in heavy traffic conditions, on highways, or during inclement weather. Since multiple vehicles are involved, the damage and injuries can be severe.
What Causes Chain Reaction Accidents in Chicago?
Every driver has a duty to drive safely so as not to endanger others on the road. However, many drivers engage in dangerous driving behaviors that can lead to serious chain reaction accidents.
Common causes of these crashes include:
- Tailgating: Following too closely reduces a driver’s reaction time and increases the likelihood of rear-end collisions.
- Distracted driving: Drivers who are texting, eating, or otherwise not paying attention may fail to notice sudden stops in traffic.
- Speeding: Higher speeds make it harder to stop in time and increase the force of impact.
- Inclement weather: Rain, snow, and ice can reduce traction and visibility, making multi-vehicle crashes more likely.
- Sudden traffic congestion: Unexpected slowdowns on highways can catch drivers off guard.
- Impaired driving: Alcohol or drug use can delay reaction times and impair judgment.
- Mechanical failures: Faulty brakes or other vehicle issues can prevent drivers from stopping in time.
Common Injuries in Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Since chain reaction accidents involve multiple impacts, the injuries they cause can be particularly severe.
Victims may suffer:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Severe cuts and lacerations
- Burns from vehicle fires or explosions
Steps to Take After a Multi-Vehicle Accident in Chicago
The steps you take after a chain reaction accident can have a significant impact on your ability to recover compensation. Acting quickly and carefully can help protect both your health and your legal claim.
Promptly take these steps after a collision:
- Call law enforcement: A police report can provide important documentation of the accident and help establish fault.
- Document the scene: Take photos of the vehicle damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries if it’s safe to do so.
- Exchange information: Collect contact and insurance details from all drivers involved in the crash.
- Seek medical attention immediately: Even if you feel fine, you should get checked by a medical professional to identify any hidden injuries.
- Avoid making statements about fault: Anything you say at the scene could be used against you later, so stick to the facts when speaking to police and insurance adjusters.
- Talk to a lawyer: Speaking with a lawyer early on can help you understand your rights and avoid costly mistakes.
Book a Free Consultation
Cases involving multiple vehicles require a strategic approach. If you were injured in a multi-vehicle crash, a Chicago chain reaction accident attorney from Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., can handle every aspect of your case and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Schedule a free consultation to get help with your claim.
