Car Accident Lawyer in Kankakee

Kankakee mixes city streets, busy state routes, and the I-57 freight corridor, with farm fields and deer country only minutes from downtown. If a crash on any of those roads left you hurt, Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. can be the car accident lawyer in Kankakee who handles the insurance companies while you focus on healing.

When you choose Charlie, you work with people who know your name and your case. Our personal injury lawyer in Kankakee offers a free consultation by phone, in person, or on Zoom, and you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. We return calls and keep you updated.

Deer Crashes in Kankakee County

Kankakee County recorded 136 crashes involving deer in 2023, according to IDOT’s county breakdown. The same agency’s city report counted 18 animal crashes inside Kankakee itself that year. Statewide, Illinois recorded 14,436 deer crashes in 2024, and 698 caused injuries, according to IDOT figures reported by the Daily Herald.

Deer move around more at dawn and dusk, especially in the fall. If you hit a deer or see one in the road, IDOT and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources advise drivers to take these steps:

• Don’t swerve, because veering can send you into oncoming traffic or off the road.
• Pull onto the shoulder and turn on your hazard lights.
• Call 911 to report the crash.
• Stay in your vehicle instead of checking on the animal.

Damage from hitting a deer is often handled under the part of your own policy that covers animal strikes, sometimes called other-than-collision coverage. If another driver swerved into you to avoid a deer, though, that driver may be at fault for your injuries. Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers can review the report and photos to sort out who’s responsible.

Truck Crashes on the I-57 Corridor

I-57 carries freight between Chicago and southern Illinois past the city’s exits, and IDOT’s 2023 Kankakee report counted 41 trucks and truck-tractors in city crashes, 26 of them tractor-trailers. Interstate carriers hauling general freight must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage under 49 U.S.C. § 31139.

Federal rules also limit how long truck drivers can drive. Property-carrying drivers are generally limited to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour window after 10 hours off duty, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Drivers who push past those limits are more likely to make mistakes.

A truck’s electronic logs, dashcam video, and maintenance records can show whether fatigue or poor upkeep played a part. A car accident attorney in Kankakee can send preservation letters quickly so trucking companies don’t lose or overwrite that evidence. 

How Our Kankakee Car Accident Lawyers Help

Before founding the firm, Charles Therman worked on the insurance side with Allstate, so he knows how insurers evaluate claims and what it takes to negotiate a fair settlement. We use that knowledge to anticipate an adjuster’s arguments and answer them with evidence. We gather the crash report, photos, and medical records early.

Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers has recovered more than $100 million for injured clients. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Our attorneys bring more than 75 years of combined experience, and Charles Therman has practiced law in Illinois since 2000. We’ve represented injured Illinois residents since 2002.

You don’t have to travel while you recover. We can meet with you on Zoom, and through our client app and website, you can upload forms and message our team from home. 

What If the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Enough Insurance?

If the other driver doesn’t have enough insurance, underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy may pay the difference, up to your limits. Illinois only requires $25,000 per person in bodily injury liability coverage under 625 ILCS 5/7-203, which may not cover a serious injury. A crash with a truck or several cars can use up those limits fast.

Illinois requires underinsured motorist coverage on policies whose uninsured motorist limits exceed the state minimum, under 215 ILCS 5/143a-2. Check your declarations page for these items:

• Uninsured and underinsured motorist limits per person and per crash
• Medical payments (MedPay) coverage, which can pay bills regardless of fault
• Any other household policy that may also cover you

Insurers don’t always point out every policy that applies. We review each one so no source of coverage gets missed. Bring your policy, or a photo of its declarations page, to your consultation so we can check it together.

How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit After a Kankakee Crash?

You generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit after a Kankakee crash, under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. Insurance negotiations don’t pause that clock, so it’s wise to talk with a lawyer well before it runs out. The date of the crash usually starts the clock.

Shorter and longer deadlines apply in some cases. A claim against a local public entity, such as the City of Kankakee or Kankakee County, generally must be filed within one year under 745 ILCS 10/8-101. For an injured child, the two-year clock generally starts at age 18 under 735 ILCS 5/13-211.

If you’re not sure which deadline applies, Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers can check the dates in your case during a free consultation. If you don’t have health insurance, we can also connect you with medical providers who may treat you on a lien, which means they wait to be paid until your case resolves.

Kankakee Crash Numbers and Who Responds

In 2023, the City of Kankakee recorded 766 traffic crashes, including 115 injury crashes that hurt 171 people and three fatal crashes, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Turning crashes (177) led all types, followed by rear-end crashes (145) and angle crashes (77). That’s more than two crashes a day.

Who investigates depends on where the crash happens. The Kankakee Police Department handles city streets, the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office covers many rural roads, and Illinois State Police, including Troop 5, generally handle I-57 and state routes such as Illinois Route 17 outside the city. Help can take longer to reach a rural crash, so call 911 right away.

Serious injuries in the area are often treated at Riverside Medical Center, which describes itself as Kankakee County’s Level II trauma center. Ask the responding officer for the report number before you leave the scene, since you’ll need it to request the crash report. Keep copies of every medical bill and record from your care.

Talk With Us About Your Kankakee Crash

Insurers start building their case right after a crash. A car accident lawyer in Kankakee can gather the evidence, find every policy that applies, and keep your claim moving while you recover. We’ll also help you get medical care while the claim moves forward.

We go to bat for our clients against insurers, trucking companies, and the drivers who hurt them. Call or message Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers for a free consultation, and we’ll meet with you on Zoom or in person. Tell us what happened, and we’ll explain your options in plain language.