Car accidents can cause devastating injuries. It can be difficult for victims to navigate the complicated road to recovery. Many people question how long they have to report a car accident injury.
You must report your car accident injury to the police immediately after suffering a crash. A driver who flees the scene of an accident that causes an injury may be charged with a hit and run. Afterwards, you should contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible for help reporting the injury to your insurance company and filing your car accident lawsuit.
If you were injured because of a car accident in Chicago, get help recovering the compensation available to you. Contact our experienced Chicago car accident lawyers by calling the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502 for a free case review.
When to Report a Car Accident Injury to the Police in Chicago
You should report a car accident injury to the police right away in Chicago. Under 625 I.L.C.S. 5/11-401, a driver involved in an accident that causes an injury must stop immediately and remain as close to the scene as is safely possible. A motorist who flees the scene of a harmful accident may be charged with a hit and run.
Also, after each car accident injury, a police officer should visit the scene to draft an official accident report. An accident report will contain a variety of information regarding the circumstances of your accident. The following information may be found in an officer’s report:
- Details regarding the property and people involved in the crash
- Statements from drivers involved in the crash
- Statements from eyewitnesses
- A diagram of the accident
- An officer’s observations regarding how or why a crash occurred
A police report can be a crucial tool when determining fault for your car accident injuries. When reporting your car accident injury to your insurance company, the accident report will likely be one of the first items investigated by their team.
Additionally, police reports can be very valuable when pursuing monetary damages through car accident lawsuits. Officers’ reports may not be admitted as evidence at trial, but these reports can be helpful to our Naperville, IL car accident lawyers when negotiating with defendants’ insurers before trial.
Therefore, you should remain at the scene of your crash and report your injuries to the police immediately after an accident. Reporting your injuries to the police is a necessary step towards recovering financial compensation.
Do I Need to Submit an Illinois Motorist Report After a Car Accident Injury in Chicago?
You no longer need to fill out an Illinois Motorist Report after accidents that cause injury in Chicago. Previously, under 625 I.L.C.S. 5/11-406, you were required to fill out a form and submit it to the Illinois Department of Transportation within 10 days of any car accident that caused an injury.
However, according to Public Act 102-0560, the aforementioned statute has been repealed and submission of this form is no longer a requirement. This change has been in effect since August 20, 2021. Only employees involved in crashes while driving state vehicles are still required to fill out this report. If you require a copy of this form, you must send a request to DOT.CrashForms@Illinois.gov.
When to Report Your Car Accident Injury to Your Insurance Company in Chicago
You should also report your car accident injury to your insurance company as soon as possible. Illinois follows at-fault car insurance rules. This means that you will typically seek compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance company after a car accident in Chicago.
Chicago drivers are not required by law to report their accidents to their insurance company. However, most policies require it. Even if you were not at fault for a crash, you should still report your car accident injury to your insurer.
Different insurance companies may have varying deadlines for reporting an injury. Our Joilet, IL car accident lawyers can offer guidance and support when reporting your injury to your insurer.
When to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Chicago
Injured parties can seek monetary damages through car accident lawsuits. According to 735 I.L.C.S. 5/13-202, victims will typically have two years from the date of their crash to file a car accident lawsuit in Chicago. However, you should not wait to file your case. There are numerous requirements plaintiffs must comply with when filing car accident lawsuits. For instance, plaintiffs must take the following actions when filing their cases:
- File their cases in the right courts
- Attach required supporting documents
- Pay any necessary court fees
- Serve all named defendants
- File a complete and valid claim
Failure to satisfy any of the aforementioned conditions could force you to re-file your case. By attempting to file your lawsuit as soon as possible, you may afford yourself time to re-file your claim if necessary.
Furthermore, filing early will keep important evidence from being forgotten or lost. Copious amounts of evidence may be required to support your car accident case. Over time, witnesses can forget evidence and crucial documents can be misplaced. Accordingly, you should contact our experienced Chicago car accident lawyers as soon as possible to begin building your case.
Parents may bring car accident lawsuits to court on behalf of their minor child at any point until the child turns 18. After turning 18, the victim will then have two years to file car accident lawsuits related to injuries that occurred while they were a minor. This separate statute of limitations for minors is established by 735 I.L.C.S. 5/13-211.
The damages available in car accident lawsuits can provide crucial support to victims. You can contact our experienced Rockford, IL car accident lawyers for help filling your case on time.
If You Were Injured Because of a Car Accident in Chicago, Our Lawyers Can Help
If you were injured because of a car accident, seek assistance from our experienced Aurora car accident lawyers by calling the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502 for a free case review.
Related Posts