21.10.2021
Free Consultations | Tap To Call Today: 1.888.625.6265When you’re in an auto accident, everyone wants to figure out who to blame. Sometimes, that’s immediately clear, like if one party was under the influence or demonstrably negligent. When the situation is more open to interpretation, though, you may need an car accident attorney to take on the complexities of the case. No matter how sure you are of what happened, when it comes to working inside the legal system, you need someone in your corner who understands the best strategies for presenting your side of the story and making it clear that you were the victim in the situation.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, time is of the essence, so don’t wait—get representation today. Contact Malman Law for more information and a free consultation.
An effective auto accident and injury attorney may have to take an in-depth, hands-on approach to proving your case and assigning liability to the other driver. For example, an attorney may report to the scene of the accident to investigate, or take other steps to recreate the circumstances of the accident and demonstrate what went wrong and who was at fault. An experienced auto injury lawyer knows how to present the facts of the case in an objective, scientific and authoritative manner.
The stakes are even higher when you’re the victim in a car accident and you yourself were not driving. For example, if you were a pedestrian at the time of the accident, or you were on a bicycle, your injuries may be significant and devastating. Even responsible bicyclists and pedestrians can be seriously injured or killed by reckless drivers, and if it’s happened to you, you need an auto accident and injury lawyer that can get you the compensation you deserve.
A serious accident and the ensuing injuries can cause serious impairments with lifelong consequences, including spinal cord damage, brain damage, paralysis and more. Even if your injuries won’t last a lifetime, you shouldn’t be responsible for your own medical expenses and time off work when your injury was caused by someone else’s dangerous driving. An auto accident lawyer can help.
Lawsuits and even settlements are won on evidence, and the more relevant evidence you can produce, the stronger your case will be. In addition to interviewing witnesses, it would also be helpful to collect the following:
All photographs should be taken as soon as possible after the accident, even if you have to have someone else take them for you, in order to ensure their effectiveness and admissibility. They will even be useful in settlement negotiations. If you retain a personal injury lawyer early enough, your law firm can take these photos for you.
Not necessarily. In Illinois, proving that the faulty driver violated a traffic law immediately prior to the accident is considered “prima facie” evidence of negligence – in other words, it shifts the burden from you onto the defendant to prove that he or she was not negligent, which would be greatly helpful to your case.
If the defendant cannot prove that he or she was not driving negligently, in principle you can win damages as long as you can show that (i) negligence was a substantial cause of the accident, and (ii) you suffered actual damages. Your odds of victory are high (although less than 100 percent) if the other driver was legally intoxicated at the time of the accident. Even if you prove all this, you could still be denied damages if you were also at fault (please see below for further explanation of comparative negligence).
It depends. If the other driver was an on-duty employee of a company at the time of the accident, you can generally sue the company. If the employee was off-duty at the time, you generally can’t. If the driver was an “independent contractor” rather than an employee (as is the case with many long-distance truck drivers), you generally cannot sue the company.
The court will decide whether the driver was an independent contractor or an employee, independently of how the company categorizes him or her – it all depends on the degree of independence from the company that the driver enjoyed. The more independence that he or she enjoyed, the more likely he or she is to be declared an independent contractor, thereby relieving the company of liability.
In some cases, you can sue the company even if the driver was an independent contractor – if the driver had a history of DUIs, for example, and the company negligently failed to check his or her driving record before it retained the worker.
Illinois personal injury law provides for the situation in which both parties are at fault for an auto accident. Known as “comparative negligence with a 50 percent bar,” this system allows the court to assign a percentage of fault to each party. Any party whose fault was at least 50 percent will receive nothing, while any party whose fault was less than 50 percent will see his or her damages reduced in proportion to the assigned percentage of fault.
If your damages were $20,000, for example, and your percentage of fault was 10 percent, you would only be eligible for 90 percent of your damages, or $9,000. If the court finds you more than 50 percent at fault, the defendant may be able to file a lawsuit against you.
Contact our offices today to schedule a free no-obligation consultation with an experienced personal injury and car accident attorney.
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They are very helpful, and when it comes to getting things done with your case I had the pleasure of working with Jason Kellerman he was awesome I highly recommend them.
Britany WeaverPersonal Injury Victim
I’m very pleased to recommend Malman Law to my friends and relatives! I have to mention how efficient and professional in dealing with my case has been with everyo...
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Omolewa SnyderI have had an amazing experience with Malman law so far. From the start, Dan was super easy to work with, got me the medical attention I needed, and fast. Couldn’t ask...
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Ernest PittsAlexis was the attorney on my case and she was GREAT. She made sure I was updated on everything about my case. I would highly recommend Malman Law if you’re ever in ne...
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Malak St.ClairHelped me out of a big jam when my auto was hit twice when and the other drivers had no insurance. Adam Meadow is the only Lawyer I will call for helping me and my daugh...
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Jeff WalkerMr. Kellerman of Malman Law shows compassion for his clients. Returns calls and emails promptly, he takes time to listen to his clients, and gather facts accordingly.
Steve AcostaEveryone at Malman Law made me feel welcomed and heard. My lawyer, Adam Meadow, as well as staff, kept me up to date and were more than happy to do so! I would highly re...
Adrianna GomezDan Petrich was the best man for my case of falling through my porch of an apartment I rented. He made sure I got what I deserved not only $ wise but medical wise and th...
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Christina OconMailman Law, Excellent firm!! Tiffany Alberty and her assistant Margie Gallegos were super efficient and knowledgeable. Great communication—very quick response and gre...
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Jazlyn CaraballoMy experience with Malman Law was great. I worked with Attorney Tiffany Alberty and her assistant Margie. Both communicated what was going on with my case, explained the...
Ashley Jenkins
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2 years ago I was involved in a trucking accident involving a 14-wheeler truck that nearly disabled me for life. Steve fought to make sure that I received the most possible compensation for my injuries. I was about to take the insurance company’s lowball offer, but decided to call Steve first – it was the best decision I’ve made yet
NOAH TAFFELPersonal Injury Victim