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Auto Accidents


Our Rockford Illinois Car Accident Attorneys Will Get You The Compensation You Deserve After an Auto Accident In Rockford And Anywhere In Northern Illinois

Auto accidents are far too commonplace today, even here in Rockford, Illinois. We hear the reports every day of the mayhem and injuries from car accidents on our roadways. Every time you get behind the wheel of your car and go somewhere, you do so knowing that an auto accident is a real possibility.

But when it actually happens to you, suddenly that possibility turns to reality and you may be facing serious injury or worse. When you have been injured in an auto accident you need to call the top-rated Rockford accident lawyers at Fisk & Monteleone.Rockford-Auto-Accident-Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been involved in an  auto accident in Rockford or elsewhere in Northern Illinois, you should ask yourself some questions:

  • Did someone else’s mistake cause the crash?
  • Was there a serious injury and/or loss of property as a result of the car accident?
  • Will insurance provide you with what you need to cover the costs of medical treatment and loss of income?

At The Fisk & Monteleone Law Firm in Rockford, we know exactly what you are going through and have successfully represented many others who have the same questions after an auto accident.

Coming Soon Our FREE BOOK, 7 Mistakes That Can WRECK Your Illinois Accident Claim

The Illinois Traffic Accident Statistics Are Sobering

Like every other state in the U.S., Illinois car crash statistics remind us of just how many lives are disrupted each year by car accidents. Here are just a few:

  • There were 281,788 motor vehicle crashes on Illinois roadways in 2011.
  • Of these, 84,172 people were injured in auto accidents that year.
  • 918 of our citizens lost their lives in these car accidents.
  • The cost of all of these automobile accidents was approximately $5.5 billion.
  • Each injury cost between $22,700 and $70,300.
  • Each fatality cost an estimated $1,432,800.

But when you are involved in a crash, statistics mean nothing. A serious Rockford car accident can turn your world upside down, especially when it could have been prevented.

Common Causes of Auto Accidents in Rockford, Illinois

There are many different causes of auto accidents in the Rockford, Illinois area. From high-speed collisions on I-90 caused by aggressive drivers to low-speed crashes that occur in retail parking lots because of distracted drivers, nearly any kind of motor vehicle collision can result in serious injuries. Some of the most common causes of auto accidents in Rockford include but are not limited to the following:

  • Driver error, which can include aggressive driving, drunk or intoxicated driving, drowsy or fatigued driving, and distracted driving
  • Negligent maintenance of the automobile, including failure to have the tires changed when treads become bare or improper servicing of the brakes
  • Pedestrian error, which may include walking against a “do not walk” sign, walking in an area where pedestrians are not permitted (such as I-90), or distractedly stepping into traffic
  • Bicyclist error, which may include riding against traffic (which bicyclists are supposed to ride with traffic as if they are a vehicle), distracted cycling, or intoxicated cycling

You should know that inclement weather alone is not often the sole reason for a crash, and most collisions that occur in inclement weather also involve another driver’s negligence. To be sure, Illinois law requires motorists to drive safely based on the conditions, and even traveling at or just below the speed limit in a heavy rainstorm or snowfall might be considered negligent and could allow you to seek financial compensation by filing a lawsuit against that driver. Your auto accident attorney in Rockford can assess your case for you today and help you to determine who may be responsible for your losses.

Types of Rockford Auto Accident Cases Our Firm Handles

Our firm handles a wide range of auto accident cases in and around Rockford, including but not limited to the following:

  • Texting while driving accidents
  • Left-turn accidents
  • Tire blowout crashes
  • Red-light running accidents
  • Improper merging or passing collisions
  • Line-of-sight crashes
  • Rear-end accidents
  • Chain-reaction collisions
  • Stop sign accidents
  • Speeding-related crashes
  • Driving at a speed too fast for the conditions
  • Rollover accidents
  • Tailgating collisions or following too closely
  • Teen driving accidents
  • Reckless driving accidents
  • Road rage accidents
  • Parking lot collisions
  • Crosswalk accidents
  • Wrong-way crashes
  • Collisions involving pedestrians or bicyclists
  • Intoxicating and drunk driving accidents

Steps You Should Take After a Rockford Auto Accident

After a serious auto accident in or around Rockford, it is critical to take certain steps so that you preserve your right to obtain financial compensation through an auto insurance claim or an auto accident lawsuit. Anyone who has been injured in a crash should make sure to do the following:

  • Take photographs at the scene of the accident, making sure to document the scene from multiple angles and to take close-up photos of the scene and any resulting injuries or damage
  • Ask witnesses for contact information
  • Obtain insurance and contact information for anyone else involved in the crash, and note the make and model, as well as license plate numbers, of any other vehicles involved in the collision
  • Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as you can, but provide only the objective facts (making sure to avoid any statements about fault or your opinion about the crash, since the insurance company could use these kinds of subjective statement against you at a later date to deny compensation)
  • Seek a medical evaluation immediately, making sure to get checked out for any injuries for which you may not immediately show signs or symptoms like traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), whiplash, or internal bleeding
  • Get in touch with our Rockford auto accident lawyers as quickly as possible to begin strategizing about your options for seeking financial compensation and moving forward with a claim

Should I File an Auto Insurance Claim or an Auto Accident Lawsuit?

In most auto insurance cases, the injured party will start the process of seeking financial compensation by working with an auto accident in Rockford, IL on an auto insurance claim. But should you file a first-party or a third-party auto insurance claim? Under Illinois auto insurance law, Illinois is a fault-based or tort state when it comes to auto accidents and insurance claims.

What this means is that a person who is injured because of another driver’s negligence typically has the option to file a first-party claim through his or her own insurance or a third-party claim through the negligent motorist’s insurance. There are benefits and limitations to each approach. With a first-party claim, you will need to pay your deductible upfront, but you could obtain compensation more quickly.

With a third-party claim, you will not need to pay your deductible, but you could end up running into insurance limits that prevent you from being eligible to obtain anything close to complete compensation due to the terms of the negligent driver’s policy.

When an auto insurance claim does not yield an appropriate settlement, you can work with your Rockford car accident attorney to file a lawsuit against one or more at-fault parties who may be responsible for your injuries.

Timeline for a Rockford Auto Accident Lawsuit

Under Illinois’s personal injury statute of limitations, most auto accident lawsuits will need to be filed within two years from the date of the collision. What is the statute of limitations? It is the time window in which you must file your lawsuit, and the clock on the statute of limitations will start ticking on the date of the crash. Once the clock runs out—after two years—you will not be eligible to obtain compensation because you will have a time-barred claim.

Although you might be thinking that two years is a long time and that you can wait and see if you need to file a lawsuit, it is essential to begin working with our Rockford auto accident attorneys on the sooner side. Two years can go by quite quickly, especially when you are negotiating with an insurance company for a reasonable settlement.

Further, the longer you wait, the more likely it is that valuable and essential evidence can be lost in your case. The quicker you begin planning for a lawsuit, even if you ultimately get the money you need from the insurance company, the better you will be prepared if it becomes necessary to sue the at-fault driver for damages.

Don’t Give Up Your Rights

At the Fisk & Monteleone Law Firm, we know that too many times, victims of serious Illinois auto accidents do not understand their rights. Instead of getting the legal help they need, many simply accept what the insurance companies tell them and end up with much less than they deserve.

You must keep in mind that insurance companies, both your own and the other drivers, are in business to make money. They will sometimes try to get you to settle for much less than you need to cover your loss. At a time like this, you should find someone who understands how to use the laws that protect you to represent your best interests.

Protect Yourself and Your Family

With over 50 years of combined experience representing auto accident victims, we know that sometimes the smartest thing to do is file an Illinois auto accident lawsuit. Our Northern Illinois car crash attorneys offer our clients the kind of personal attention that you can only get from a smaller law firm. If we take your case, you can be sure you will receive:

  • Immediate attention from real lawyers, not clerks or paralegals.
  • Assistance with every aspect of your case, including help dealing with your medical bills, insurance companies, and car rental.
  • The kind of help you need to recover financially, physically, and mentally from the trauma of an Illinois auto accident.
  • The experience to settle your case successfully, in the courtroom or out.

Fight Back: It’s Your Right

Contact Fisk & Monteleone Ltd. today to get started fighting back when you or a loved one has been injured due to negligence in a Rockford area auto accident. No-Risk Call Fisk. Call us today TOLL-FREE at 815-962-0044 to learn about your rights and schedule a free consultation. We understand your situation and will work hard to make things much better.