After a car crash in Chicago, your life can change dramatically. Medical bills start piling up. You miss work. Insurance companies pressure you to accept low settlements.
At Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, our award winning attorneys can help car accident victims get the money they deserve. The Chicago car attorneys at Willens & Baez have recovered millions for injured clients, including a $15.8 million award for a car crash victim who suffered brain injuries.
Consult for free with an experienced car accident attorney from Willens & Baez. You won’t pay us legal fees until we win for you. Call us today at (312) 957-4166.
Car Accident Statistics in Chicago
Chicago roads can be dangerous. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, Cook County (which includes Chicago) had 160,036 motor vehicle crashes in 2023 alone. These crashes resulted in 356 fatalities and 29,781 injuries, making it the county with the highest number of traffic accidents in Illinois.
Citywide, the most dangerous areas include:
- Lake Shore Drive
- Interstate 90/94
- The Kennedy Expressway
- Major intersections like Western Avenue and Peterson Avenue.
Common Causes of Chicago Car Accidents
Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers has successfully handled hundreds of car accident cases in Chicago. The most common causes we see include:
- Distracted driving (texting, phone use)
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Weather conditions (snow, ice, rain)
- Running red lights
- Tailgating
- Reckless driving.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that distracted driving killed 3,275 people nationwide in 2023, while drunk driving remains a serious problem. Every day, about 34 persons in the United States are killed in drunk-driving crashes, which is about one fatality every 42 minutes. According to the NHTSA’s Alcohol-Impaired Driving data, drunk driving claimed 12,429 lives across the United States in 2023.
Types of Car Accident Injuries We Handle
Car crashes can cause many types of injuries, from minor to catastrophic. The Chicago car attorneys at Willens & Baez have proven expertise helping clients with:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken bones
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Burns
- Amputations
- Wrongful death.
Car accident injuries often require long-term care. Medical costs for severe injuries can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. We fight to make sure you have money for both current and future medical needs.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
After a car accident in Chicago, you may be able to get money for:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
- Disfigurement
- Loss of normal life.
Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You may still be eligible for compensation even if you share some blame, provided your responsibility doesn’t reach 50% of the accident’s cause.
The Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents in Illinois
Illinois law allows two years to file personal injury lawsuits and five years for property damage claims following your accident.
Missing these deadlines can mean losing your right to compensation forever. That’s why it’s crucial to talk to a Chicago car attorney at Willens & Baez as soon as possible after your accident.
Why Insurance Companies Aren’t on Your Side
Insurance companies make money by paying out as little as possible. After an accident, they may:
- Offer quick, low settlements
- Ask for recorded statements they can use against you
- Claim your injuries existed before the accident
- Delay processing your claim
- Deny valid claims outright.
The Chicago car attorneys at Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers know the tactics insurance companies use and negotiate with insurers every day to get maximum compensation for clients. Both Matthew Willens and David Baez, the founders of Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, used to work for insurance companies and have the experience to protect your interests from unfair tactics.
How Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You
Led by top attorney Matthew Willens, the Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers team brings over 30 years of experience fighting for car accident victims in Chicago. Matthew Willens is recognized as one of Illinois’ top personal injury lawyers and has been named a “Leading Lawyer” by his peers.
When you hire our firm, we will:
- Investigate your accident thoroughly
- Gather evidence (police reports, witness statements, medical records, and more)
- Work with accident reconstruction experts when needed
- Calculate the full value of your damages
- Handle all insurance communications
- Prepare your case for trial if necessary
- Fight for maximum compensation.
Our Results Speak for Themselves
Willens & Baez Personal Injury lawyers are trusted and experienced and have secured numerous multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for car accident victims, including:
- $15,808,277 Car Accident / TBI Brain Injury
- $3,000,000 Chicago Car Accident Wrongful Death Settlement
- $2,250,000 Truck Accident Wrongful Death Settlement
- $1,500,000 Truck versus Pedestrian Accident Wrongful Death Settlement
- $1,350,000 Auto versus Pedestrian Accident.
The Car Accident Claim Process
Working with our firm is straightforward:
- Free consultation: We review your case at no cost.
- Investigation: We gather evidence and build your case.
- Medical treatment: We help connect you with top doctors.
- Demand letter: We notify the at-fault party’s insurance of your claim.
- Negotiation: We fight for a fair settlement.
- Litigation: If necessary, we file a lawsuit and go to court.
Most cases settle without trial, but we prepare every case as if it will go before a jury.
You Pay Nothing Until We Secure Your Compensation
How much does it cost to hire Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers for your accident case? Willens and Baez work on a contingency success-based payment structure. This means:
- No upfront costs
- No hourly fees
- We only get paid if we win your case.
If we don’t recover money for you, you owe us nothing.
Common Questions From Car Accident Victims
What immediate steps should I take following a Chicago car crash?
First, check for injuries and call 911. Get medical help even if you feel fine, because some injuries only appear days later. Exchange information with other drivers. Take photos of the scene, damage, and injuries. Get witness contact information. Report the accident to your insurance company, but don’t give recorded statements without talking to a lawyer first.
What factors determine my car accident claim’s value?
Each case is unique. The value depends on factors like injury severity, medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and insurance coverage. During your free consultation, we can give you a better idea of what your case might be worth.
What’s the typical timeline for resolving a car accident claim?
Simple cases might settle in months. Complex cases can take a year or longer, especially if they go to trial. Willens & Baez work to resolve your case efficiently while still fighting for maximum compensation.
How can I recover damages if the at-fault driver lacks insurance?
If you have uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy, we can help you file a claim with your insurance company. State law in Illinois mandates that every driver carry uninsured motorist protection.
Contact Chicago’s Top-Rated Car Accident Lawyers Willens & Baez Today
Don’t settle for less than you deserve. The legal community acknowledges Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers as authorities in car accident cases, and Matthew Willens has earned the prestigious “Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyer” distinction, an achievement reserved for the top 1% of attorneys in the state.
Willens & Baez has a proven track record which includes numerous million-dollar settlements for car accident victims, including a verdict that was recognized as one of the Top 100 Verdicts in the country.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a car crash, call Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers today at (312) 957-4166 for a free case review. The award-winning Chicago car attorneys at WIllens & Baez are ready to fight for your rights and the compensation you deserve.
