After a car accident, you may need expensive medical care, car repairs, and time away from work. These damages should be compensated through car insurance, but getting full damages can be difficult and may require a lawsuit.
Never trust the insurance companies to have your best interests in mind. Instead, work with a lawyer to protect your right to sue, negotiate damages, and take your case to trial if needed.
For a free case review, call Rhatigan Law Offices’ car accident lawyers at (312) 578-8502.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Moline, IL
There are steps to take in the immediate aftermath and in the days/weeks following a car accident:
Immediate Steps
- Pull over to the side of the road (if your car is not disabled).
- Call 911.
- Wait in a safe, well-lit location.
- Get all medical care needed from EMTs or at the hospital, even if that means missing out on other steps.
- Collect the other driver’s name, contact info, and insurance info.
- Write down the make, model, and license plate numbers of all vehicles involved.
- Get names and contact info for any witnesses.
- See if any witnesses caught the crash on a dash cam.
- Answer the police officer’s questions.
- Take photos of the car accident scene, damages, and vehicles.
When taking care of these steps, do not admit fault, and write down any statements made by the defendant about fault.
Following Days
In the days after the crash, you will have to take care of a few important things:
- Continue getting all medical care you need
- Contact a lawyer
- Report your accident to your own insurance company
- Get vehicle appraisals and damage reports.
Our attorneys can help you speak to insurance, and you should never talk to insurance companies once you are represented. There are many pieces of information or admissions they will want to get out of you, and they will often try to get you to sign things or accept money. You should never do so before speaking with a lawyer.
We can also look for additional evidence, such as security camera footage that might have caught the accident.
Who is Responsible in a Car Accident?
In most accident cases, there is an at-fault party who did something wrong or failed to uphold a legal duty. If that is what caused the crash, we can hold that party responsible.
Drivers
Typically, this will be another driver. They can be responsible for a crash they caused through speeding, drunk driving, or any other legal violation. They can also be responsible if they failed to use the proper care and skill behind the wheel but did not otherwise violate a specific traffic law.
You might also be held partially responsible, but you can still sue as long as your fault is not over 50%.
Employers
When commercial drivers or truckers are involved in a crash, their employer might be responsible. This can come in the form of the employer’s direct liability, as the party responsible for hiring/firing drivers and repairing the truck. They can also be held liable for an employee’s crash within the scope of their job duties.
Auto Manufacturers
If the crash was caused by a defective vehicle or auto part, the company that manufactured it might be responsible.
Local Governments/Contractors
If the roads themselves were dangerous, the government responsible for the roadway or the contractors that negligently repaired the road could be partially liable.
When to Contact a Lawyer
You should work with a car accident lawyer if any of the following conditions are present in your case:
- Your injuries were severe enough to require medical treatment and time away from work.
- Fault issues are complex.
- Multiple drivers are involved.
- The other driver is uninsured.
- The accident was a hit and run.
While we recommend calling a car accident lawyer in any case, these cases are especially complex.
You should contact us as soon as you can in your case. The earlier we are on the case, the earlier we can guide you to proper medical care, locate missing evidence, track your damages, and advise you.
However, victims typically have up to 2 years from the date of the accident to file claims, though insurance might expect a claim much earlier.
FAQs for Car Accident Victims in Moline
What if I Live in Moline but was Hurt in a Crash in Iowa?
With Moline being right on the Iowa-Illinois line, it is possible your accident might have happened over the state line in Davenport or somewhere else nearby. Accidents are typically handled where they happen, but call our lawyers to see if there is any chance of handling your case here instead.
Insurance policies typically have protection for out-of-state injuries.
What if Either Driver is from Out of State?
Similarly, if the other driver was from across state lines, but your accident happened here in Moline, then you can file a claim or lawsuit here, under Illinois law.
What Damages Can I Claim?
Car accident claims typically involve four major areas of damages:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Vehicle repairs/replacement costs.
However, you should always go over these damages with a lawyer to make sure there are not other areas you are missing, such as other incidental economic damages or loss of consortium for your spouse.
How Much is My Case Worth?
It is impossible to put a value on your case without analyzing the specifics of your case. Especially when it comes to pain and suffering, damages can vary widely based on age, physical ability (before and after the accident), and many other factors.
Never trust the insurance company’s valuation of your case or accept a settlement without reviewing it with a lawyer first.
What Does Insurance Cover?
Illinois is an at-fault state (not a no-fault state) for car insurance. This means that you typically claim damages from the at-fault driver’s insurance.
State minimum insurance must cover at least
- $25,000 per person for injuries
- $50,000 per accident for injuries
- $20,000 for vehicle damage.
However, your policy might have coverages that can help you out without needing to prove fault first, such as collision coverage or medical payment coverage. With some policies, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is also required, which can help you if the other driver has no or low insurance.
Call Our Car Accident Lawyers in Moline, IL Today
For your free case review with the car accident lawyers at Rhatigan Law Offices, call (312) 578-8502 as soon as you can.
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