Chicago Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Accident Lawyer

All car accidents are frightening and inconvenient at best and can end in tragedy at their worst. Often, the trauma of a car accident continues long after the accident, as car accident victims in Chicago or the surrounding area deal with the aftermath of the crash and face the complex process of recovering compensation for their losses. Unfortunately, a significant number of car accident survivors face the additional distress of learning that the driver responsible for their accident doesn’t have adequate insurance to cover the damages, or—even worse—has no insurance at all. Call the Chicago accident lawyers at Smith LaCien LLP in Chicago for experienced representation in this challenging type of claim. We offer free case consultations.

Why Choose Us as Your Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Accident Lawyers in Chicago?

Learning your accident was caused by an uninsured driver can leave you feeling bewildered, but that doesn’t mean you have to bear the costs alone when there may be other options for compensation available to you. With representation from a Chicago uninsured/underinsured motorist accident lawyer from Smith LaCien LLP, you’ll have the following advantages:

• A free case consultation and contingency-based payment, so you pay nothing until you have your compensation in hand
• Our track record of recovering over $3 billion for our injured clients puts a powerful voice behind your claim
• A results-oriented approach that holds negligent parties accountable and demands that insurance companies live up to the terms of their contracts

Our recent notable case results include a $17.5 million recovery for a college student injured in an Illinois car accident.

What Are the Minimum Insurance Requirements In Illinois?

Illinois has a fault-based insurance system requiring all drivers to carry at least the minimum insurance coverage to provide compensation to car accident victims if the policyholder causes an accident. The state requires the following insurance coverage for all drivers:

• $25,000 for the injury or death of one person in a crash
• $50,000 total for the injury or death of more than one person in a crash
• $20,000 for damage to the property of another motorist

Despite the mandatory minimum insurance requirements, an estimated one in seven drivers in the U.S. is uninsured, including uninsured motorists in Chicago and throughout Illinois. Unlike a handful of other states with no requirement for motorists to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, Illinois requires all drivers to carry at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

What Are the Options for Compensation After an Accident With an Uninsured Driver In Chicago?

Learning that the driver responsible for your car accident isn’t insured or that their minimal insurance coverage does not adequately cover the extensive damages you’ve experienced is disconcerting. Many car accident survivors aren’t certain where to turn next. Fortunately, there may be options available to you to cover your losses. A Chicago uninsured/underinsured motorist accident attorney will explore all available avenues for your compensation, including the following:

• Filing a claim against your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage as required under Chicago’s minimum auto insurance laws
• Filing a claim against your collision insurance if you added this optional additional coverage
• Pursuing a lawsuit against the uninsured individual who caused the accident if they have significant financial resources
• Filing a claim against an umbrella insurance policy, if available
• Determining if any other entity caused or contributed to the accident, such as a negligent road maintenance agency that left a dangerous pothole in the road, a road-planning department that designed a dangerous intersection, or the manufacturer of a defective auto part.

An experienced investigation after an uninsured/underinsured vehicle accident in Chicago or the surrounding area often uncovers additional avenues for obtaining compensation for common damages under the state’s modified comparative negligence system. This system holds all those who contribute to an accident financially accountable according to their proportion of fault.

Common Car Accident Injuries In Chicago Crashes

The crash force of an accident propels motorists forward at the speed the car was traveling before the collision. Then the seatbelt snaps them back against the seat, causing significant physical trauma. Often, the motorist also suffers blunt force trauma from the structures of the vehicle collapsing inward at the impact site. Common injuries our Chicago uninsured/underinsured motorist accident lawyers typically see include the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries, ranging from mild concussions to severe brain injuries with lasting impairment
• External head and facial injuries
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Broken bones
• Soft-tissue injuries like sprains and damage to ligaments and tendons
• Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
• Spinal cord injuries
• Burns
• Traumatic amputations
• Internal organ injuries

Serious injuries quickly become expensive when they require time away from work at the same time that medical bills pile up. When the motorist responsible for your injury lacks adequate insurance coverage or has no insurance at all, it’s distressing. Fortunately, an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer can help you learn your rights and options.

What Damages Can I Recover In an Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Claim In Chicago?

The compensation available to a car accident victim in Chicago depends on the type and severity of their injuries as well as the insurance coverage that applies in their case. The economic and non-economic damages in most car accident cases include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Past and future income loss
• Diminished future earning capacity (if the accident caused disability)
• Compensation for pain and suffering

Depending on the unique circumstances of the injuries, sometimes additional damages are available, such as compensation for loss of limb, the loss of one of the senses, disfigurement, or emotional damages like diminished quality of life. If a loved one died in a car accident in Chicago, a wrongful death claim against the uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage could bring compensation to close family members.

How Can a Chicago Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Accident Attorney Help Me?

When another driver’s actions cause injuries or wrongful death in a serious car accident in Chicago, turn to the experienced Chicago uninsured/underinsured motorist accident attorneys at Smith LaCien LLP to investigate your case and pursue compensation through all available means, even when the responsible driver lacks adequate or valid auto insurance. Call the Chicago uninsured/underinsured vehicle accident attorneys at (312) 509-8900 for a free evaluation of your case.