The Best Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers in DeKalb
If you or a loved one has been hurt or injured in DeKalb, we can help.
DeKalb we’re here for you. If you find yourself worried about what to do or how you’ll get by after an accident that shouldn’t have happened, we can help. Or if you’re fighting with an insurance company for fair compensation to cover your bills and, we can help.
We have represented clients in 30 counties across Illinois, holding negligent parties accountable for their actions.
Don’t wait to seek the compensation you deserve. Contact our team to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
DeKalb Car Accident Lawyers
Should you reach out to our car accident lawyers after a car crash?
There is a good chance that if your accident isn’t just a fender bender a lawyer can help. If you’re hurt, or you have a significant insurance claim, having a lawyer by your side can reduce stress and give you guidance for processing the claim, or if it comes to it, lawsuit.
First, they can help you understand your rights and responsibilities after an accident. They can advise you on what you should and should not say to insurance companies and other parties involved in the accident. They can also help you gather evidence and build a strong case to support your claim.
Second, a car accident lawyer can help you navigate the complex legal system. They can file your claim, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. They can also help you understand the various laws that apply to your case, including the statute of limitations.
Finally, a car accident lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve. They can help you recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. They can also help you recover damages for property damage and other expenses related to the accident.
Overall, if you’ve been in a car wreck in DeKalb, our accident and injury lawyers can provide you with the guidance and support you need to navigate the aftermath.
Read more about our Car Accident Lawyers and Other Resources
Car Accident Reporting Agencies in DeKalb
Help us help you, contact us with your crash report.
If your injury stems from a car accident, the responding law enforcement agency will prepare a crash report. This report helps our lawyers with important and valuable information regarding your car accident.
If you or a loved one were in a car wreck in DeKalb or in DeKalb County, these are the two main law enforcement agencies who might have responded:
- DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department
150 N. Main St. Sycamore, IL 61078 815-895-7260 or on the web - DeKalb City Police Department
700 W. Lincoln Highway DeKalb, IL 60115 815-748-8400, or on the web
Compensation Recovery Options for Personal Injury and Car Accidents
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in DeKalb, Illinois or in a nearby community, there are three ways to recover compensation for your injury.
The first way is to handle your claim yourself or with a lawyer and work out a settlement with the insurance company. If you have complex injuries or the accident was sever enough, having a lawyer is a really good option. A law firm that works car accidents will have a better idea of what your compensation should be valued as. Keep in mind that insurance companies don’t always play fair.
The second is to file a lawsuit and have a judge or jury decide on liability and damages. This would be a lawsuit you bring against the insurance company and would require an attorneys help. Sometimes the lawsuit is settled out of court but they can also go to trails. For cases that go to trail you’ll want a law firm that prepares any case or lawsuit for trails. Not every firm does this, it’s more work, but our firm does.
The third option is to litigate your claim through the Illinois Car Accident Settlement Process, which is described in further detail on this page.
Illinois Car Accident Settlement Process
The car accident settlement process roughly flows in this order:
- The accident occurs.
- You seek treatment and a lawyer (we can refer you to various healthcare providers if you don’t have your own providers).
- You work on getting better through treatment (physical recovery). Yes, this can be a time-consuming process, but we take care of everything with your insurance, and handle your property damage claim to get your vehicle fixed in as short a time period as possible.
- We investigate your claim, and perhaps bring on an accident reconstructionist or other useful experts to build your case in preparation for a jury to hear your story.
- When you are back to how you were prior to your accident, or as close to 100% as your doctor believes you will get, we start to compile your medical bills.
- We then compile any of your lost wages (e.g., time missed from work for medical appointments, time lost to various treatments, and time you were out of work from the injury).
- We then assess how your quality of life has been impacted from your accident. So, if you can no longer participate in the activities you did prior to the accident, if you can’t pick your children up anymore, or if you have problems grocery shopping, among other limitations, we start to formulate what we may be seeking in pain and suffering amounts for an accurate idea of what to ask an insurance adjuster or jury to award you.
- We then submit what is known as a “demand” letter to the other driver’s insurance company, requesting a specific amount to avoid litigation. From there, they have the choice to accept the demand, counter offer a different amount, or reject settlement.
- If we cannot arrive at a resolution that you are satisfied with, the next step is to pursue a trial. Steps 2-9 can occur while a lawsuit is pending. If negotiations don’t work, we move into a trial or arbitration stage of your case, in which we make an argument to a DeKalb County judge, jury, or panel of arbitrators, and argue over liability (i.e., who caused your accident) and/or what a fair amount of money is to resolve your case (i.e., damages).
Can I file a Claim if my Injuries Show up After an Accident?
In most cases in Illinois, there is a two-year time limit on personal injury lawsuits.
Yes you can. Serious injuries can hide themselves. Illinois sets a time limit of two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in the state’s civil court system.
In most cases, this two-year time limit, known as a “statute of limitations,” begins on the date of the accident. Sometimes a statute of limitations might run from the date that you discovered you were injured, rather than the date of the event that injured you. This later date is known as a “discovery date.”
For injury claims against a city or county, you have one year to file a lawsuit. The time limit to sue the state is generally two years, but you must file a formal claim within one year in order to sue.
It can get a bit tricky to understand the details of automotive accident law here in Illinois, but we’re here to help.
Contact Us, We’re Here to Help – Rockford Personal Injury Lawyers
For an honest, free, and compassionate consultation about your DeKalb, Illinois personal injury case, feel free to call or text message us confidentially at (815) 964-8303 or contact us using the form on this page. Remember, our service is absolutely at no cost to you unless we earn a recovery on your behalf. Let our trusted professionals help you or your loved one navigate the legal side of your case and fight for your financial recovery, while you focus on your physical recovery.