A car accident can be a severe disruption to your life, and you might be unable to financially afford it. Between painful injuries, sky-high medical bills, and lost time from work, you might be drowning in debt. Our team can help you fight for fair compensation from the person responsible for the accident.
Following a car accident, you should call for help as soon as possible. Even if you do not believe your injuries require emergency medical attention, call 911 and have an ambulance and the police sent to your location. When ready, you should contact a lawyer to talk about how to get compensation for your injuries. Your injuries might involve substantial economic and non-economic damages, and your lawyer can assist you in calculating what your claims are worth. Act quickly, as you have only 2 years to file your case unless special conditions exist. Your legal team needs as much time as possible to gather evidence to support your claims.
Get a private case assessment for free by calling (312) 578-8502 and speaking to our car accident lawyers at the Rhatigan Law Offices.
What You Should Do Following a Car Accident in Wheaton, IL
If you can, call for emergency help immediately after a car accident. If possible, move your car into a safe spot along the side of the road to avoid oncoming traffic. When it is safe to do so, call 911. If you are unable to call for help because of your injuries, a passenger or the other driver should make the call. You might be tempted to avoid contacting the authorities, especially if you feel your injuries are not that serious. A lot of people are afraid they might get in trouble with the police or have to pay a costly fee for an ambulance. It is better to err on the side of caution and call for help. You might have internal injuries that need treatment, and the police can help figure out who caused the crash.
While waiting for help to arrive, you can exit your car and take photos of the accident scene. This is not always possible, as some drivers are badly hurt or cannot safely exit their cars. However, if you can, take lots of photos. Our car accident attorneys may be able to use your photos as evidence later if you file an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the other driver.
Once you have gotten to a doctor and received the medical care you need, contact an attorney for legal assistance. You might need financial compensation to pay for medical bills, vehicle repairs, and more. An attorney can help you explore your legal options and get you justice.
Damages Available in a Wheaton, IL Auto Accident Case
Many auto accident victims endure severe injuries with significant medical complications. As such, they often incur very large medical debts. Even if your injuries are less serious and may fully heal in time, a single visit to the hospital might cost you thousands of dollars, depending on what kind of treatment you receive. Those in need of long-term or ongoing medical care might have to claim current and future medical expenses related to their injuries.
There may be other expenses to think about. For example, the damage to your vehicle might be substantial. You might need an entirely new car if yours was totaled in the collision. You might have also lost personal belongings that were inside your car during the crash, like phones, your wedding ring, wallets, purses, and more. On top of that, you might lose income from being unable to work due to your injuries, and you may claim your lost income as part of your damages.
Not all your damage may be related to money. Non-economic damages stem from painful personal experiences. While these damages may be worth substantial compensation, they are highly subjective and unique to each plaintiff. You might claim damage for emotional distress, psychological injuries, physical pain, and other painful experiences.
When You Can File a Case for a Vehicle Accident in Wheaton, IL
While getting a case into court takes time, your time is not unlimited. The statute of limitations on civil injury claims under 735 I.L.C.S. § 5/13-202 allows plaintiffs only 2 years to file their cases. This limitation period begins on the same day as the accident, meaning the clock starts counting down on your time immediately. It often takes months just to get a case ready for filing, possibly longer if the case is especially complex or evidence is difficult to find. The sooner you get started, the better.
If you are running out of time, you might be able to extend your limitation period by having the statute of limitation tolled. Tolling may pause the clock counting down on your case, but only for very specific reasons. According to § 5/13-211(a), tolling may be available for minors and people with legal disabilities.
Under the law, if you are a minor when a car accident occurs, the 2-year limitation period should not begin until you are 18, meaning you have until age 20 to file the case. A legal disability is a bit different and may include conditions that prevent someone from filing their case on their own or understanding their legal rights. Your limitation period may be tolled until the legal disability is lifted.
While tolling can be helpful, it is not without its limits. According to subsection(b) of the above law, if you have the statute of limitation tolled for a legal disability, it may not be tolled for more than 10 years. Even so, getting started on your case as soon as possible is better to maximize the time you have to prepare with your lawyer.
Ask Our Wheaton, IL Car Accident Attorneys for Help Now
Get a private case assessment for free by calling (312) 578-8502 and speaking to our car accident lawyers at the Rhatigan Law Offices.
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