Chicago, IL Car Accident Lawyers

Trusted Attorneys Helping Car Accident Victims Obtain Compensation in Chicago, Illinois

Every day, drivers throughout Chicago navigate busy streets, congested highways, and complex intersections. Even though many drivers take care to drive safely, they can suffer serious harm when someone else's careless or reckless behavior causes an accident. Victims of car crashes may suffer injuries that will require medical treatment, they may miss work while recovering, and they may need to deal with multiple types of expenses. To ensure that they will be compensated for their losses, legal representation from an experienced lawyer can be essential.

Our attorneys at Gallagher & Kosner Law represent people who have been injured in car accidents throughout Chicago and the surrounding communities. With a thorough understanding of the legal issues involved in these cases, we can build strong claims that demonstrate liability and document the full extent of a victim's losses. We will negotiate with insurance adjusters, handle all communications and paperwork, and fight to secure the financial recovery needed to address medical bills, replace lost income, and ensure that a person can move forward after an accident.

Forms of Driver Negligence That Can Cause Collisions

The majority of car accidents in Chicago are caused by driver errors. When a person acts unsafely while behind the wheel, they can cause serious harm to others. Driver negligence can take many forms on Chicago's streets and highways, and it may include:

• Distracted Driving: Drivers who take their eyes off the road or their hands off the wheel can put others at risk of harm in car accidents. Texting while driving, talking on cell phones, eating, adjusting navigation systems, reaching for objects, or attending to children in the back seat can all be dangerous distractions. A driver who is distracted may drift into another lane and collide with another vehicle, or they may fail to notice brake lights ahead of them, and they may not stop in time to avoid a rear-end collision.
• Speeding: Many drivers exceed the posted speed limits, or they may drive too fast in dangerous conditions like winter storms or heavy rain. Speeding can reduce a driver's ability to react to hazards, and it can also lead to more severe crashes. A motorist racing down Lake Shore Drive at 70 miles per hour will have less time to avoid a vehicle merging into their lane or a pedestrian who is crossing the road.
• Impaired Driving: When a driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, their judgment, reaction time, vision, and coordination will be affected. Despite strict laws prohibiting drunk driving, people often violate these laws, and they may cause accidents throughout Chicago, particularly during evening and late-night hours.
• Aggressive Driving: Dangerous behaviors like road rage, tailgating, unsafe lane changes, cutting off other vehicles, and running red lights can endanger everyone on the road. A driver who tailgates behind another vehicle on the Kennedy Expressway may be unable to stop when traffic suddenly slows, and they may cause a multi-car pileup.
• Drowsy Driving: People who are fatigued may experience reduced alertness, slower reaction times, and a loss of coordination. They may even fall asleep at the wheel. People who drive while tired or drowsy may cause dangerous accidents that can injure others.

Common Types of Car Accidents in Chicago

Different types of collisions can occur based on the configurations of roads and intersections, traffic patterns, and the behavior of drivers. Injuries may occur in situations such as:

• Rear-End Accidents: A driver may strike another vehicle from behind because they were distracted, speeding, or tailgating. These crashes can take place at traffic lights along busy roads like Michigan Avenue when drivers do not notice that traffic has slowed down or stopped.
• Head-On Collisions: When vehicles collide while traveling in opposite directions, people may suffer catastrophic injuries or fatalities. These accidents may happen when a driver crosses the center line on a road or when someone enters an expressway ramp going in the wrong direction.
• T-Bone Accidents: Side-impact crashes can occur in intersections throughout Chicago when drivers run red lights or do not yield the right-of-way when making turns.
• Sideswipe Accidents: These collisions may occur when drivers change lanes without checking their blind spots, when a person drifts out of their lane due to a distraction, or when a person merges onto a highway like the Dan Ryan Expressway without ensuring that they have enough space.

Injuries in Car Accidents

The force generated in car crashes can cause injuries that may range from minor bumps or bruises to life-threatening bodily harm. Even accidents that do not seem severe at the time can result in injuries that may not be recognized until hours or days later.

Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries to the neck and back can occur in rear-end collisions. These injuries cause pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion, and the issues may persist for weeks or months.

Broken bones can happen when the force of a collision affects a person's arms, legs, ribs, or other bones. Fractures will require medical treatment, and they will usually take several months to heal. Surgery may be needed if bones are shattered or crushed. The limitations placed on a person while they are recovering from a broken bone may prevent them from returning to work or performing other tasks.

Traumatic brain injuries can occur when a person suffers a blow to the head in a collision. Concussions that are classified as mild traumatic brain injuries can lead to pain, memory loss, and other issues. Moderate or severe brain injuries are likely to lead to more extensive and long-lasting symptoms, including cognitive difficulties, emotional disorders, seizures, loss of coordination, and other issues that may affect a person's daily life.

Spinal cord damage can occur in high-speed crashes or when vehicles roll over. A fractured spine, a severed spinal cord, or other issues that lead to nerve damage may result in paralysis that could permanently change a victim's life.

Lacerations from broken glass, contusions from airbag deployment, and internal injuries to organs can also occur in car accidents. Many injuries will require immediate medical attention, and they can cause long-term difficulties while a person is recovering.

Contact Our Chicago, IL Car Accident Attorneys

After a car accident, you may be able to take steps to recover compensation for the damages you have suffered. The compensation you receive may address medical expenses for emergency room treatment, hospital stays, surgery, medications, physical therapy, and ongoing care. You may also be compensated for lost wages when you miss work or when your ability to earn an income in the future has been affected. Property damage to your vehicle, pain and suffering, and emotional distress may all factor into the total value of your claim.

At Gallagher & Kosner Law, we can evaluate your accident and the injuries you have suffered, explain your legal options, and work to secure the full financial compensation you deserve. Contact our Chicago motor vehicle accident lawyers at 312-910-5050 to set up a free consultation and discuss your case with us.