Edwardsville Car Accident Lawyer

What Steps Should I Take if I’m Involved in a Car Accident in Edwardsville?

If you are involved in an accident, it is important to do the following:

1. Do not leave the scene of the accident.
2. If it is an emergency, immediately call 911 to alert authorities and receive medical attention. If there are no injuries and the accident is not blocking traffic, call the Edwardsville Police Department non-emergency number at (618) 656-2131 to report the accident.
3. Follow any instructions given to you by the police. If told to move to a safe location, do so.
4. Be polite to all individuals, including the police, but do not admit fault at any point.
5. Collect any evidence of the scene: pictures, videos, contact information of individuals involved, and the name and badge number of responding law enforcement.
6. Keep track of all costs associated with your accident including medical bills and vehicle repairs.
7. Call a car accident lawyer at TorHoerman Law for a free case consultation.
8. Ask your personal injury legal team any questions. We are here to help.

Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Edwardsville IL

Gather Evidence for a Car Accident Claim

Car accident cases rely heavily on solid evidence.

An accident claim are won or lost based solely on the quality of evidence.

It’s important that you begin to gather evidence and preserve it after your car accident.

Evidence for a car accident may include:

• Photos and videos of the accident or scene of accident
• Witness statements and testimony
• Reports from police or other responding authorities
• Medical reports and medical bills

A car accident lawyer will help to determine what evidence is most relevant and useful in a particular case.

Mitigating Injuries

Injury victims have a difficult time following a car accident, and things can become unnecessarily complicated if they do not take necessary steps to improve their condition.

Mitigation is a critical element to any car accident claim.

If you wait too long and the statute of limitations of your case expires, you may not be eligible to file a lawsuit or receive any compensation.

Always follow the advice of your car accident lawyer and a trusted medical professional during the time after your accident.

Proper steps to mitigation include:

• Receiving official injury diagnoses
• Seeking medical care for injury
• Following your doctor’s orders
• Doing everything in your power to minimize the extent of your injuries

Mitigation is an important step in building a strong, honest claim.

Assessing Damages in a Car Accident Claim

Damages refer to all economic and non-economic losses suffered as the result of a car accident.

A car accident lawyer will help you to determine what relevant damages you are able to claim.

Typical damages in a car accident case include:

• Medical Expenses
• Lost Wages
• Property Damage
• Emotional Distress
• Pain and Suffering
• Loss of Consortium and Quality of Life

The total damages incurred will be amount to your total compensation, which will be paid by the negligent party.

Never Admit Fault in an Car Accident

There is never a reason to admit or accept fault at the scene of a car accident.

You are not required by law to admit or accept fault.

If you are pressured to accept fault by authorities, you can invoke your right to refuse to be questioned, but it is important to always remain polite and kind.

A person who has been involved in a car accident is sometimes confused and overwhelmed.

Individuals can have a hard time recollecting what incidents actually led to an accident, sometimes resulting in taking blame for an accident, even if they were not at fault.

It’s overwhelmingly suggested to remain calm and silent, and to let a car accident lawyer handle events following the incident.

Shared Liability

The legal concept of Shared Liability allows multiple parties to be at fault for an accident, deciding compensation in percentages.

Auto accident fault is a complex topic based on laws and situational details.

Leave the determination of fault up to to an experienced car accident lawyer and the court system.

Comparative Negligence in Illinois

Illinois is not a “no-fault” state, but instead follows a legal statute referred to as “comparative negligence.”

In personal injury lawsuits, negligence, or fault, determines who pays for damages after a car accident.

Comparative negligence determines how fault will be divided among the individuals involved in the lawsuit.

For example, if you are in an accident and both you and the other individual are at fault because of failure to pay attention to your surroundings, you may be responsible for 10% of the accident.

Under the comparative negligence statute, you will only be eligible to receive 90% of a settlement because you were 10% at fault for the accident.

Contact an Edwardsville car accident lawyer as soon as possible if you have any questions about your car accident case.

Edwardsville Car Accident Statistics

The statistics presented below are gathered from the most recent data, calendar year 2019,  published by the Illinois Department of Transportation:

• 5,850 involving 10,240 vehicles were reported in Madison County.
• 37 fatal occurred in 2019.
• Most accidents happened during clear, dry weather conditions (4,447 accidents).
• The most common accidents were front to rear collisions (1,416 accidents) and fixed object collisions (1,083).
• 459 animal collisions also occurred in 2019.
• Most accidents occurred during daylight hours (3,376).
• A wide majority of accidents occurred when drivers were unimpaired (8,517).
• 174 drunk driving accidents occurred.

Edwardsville Car Accident Injuries

According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, “Over 37,000 people die in car accidents each year and an additional 2.35 million are injured or disabled in the United States.”

The statistics are truly frightening – countless injuries, even death, can occur in a car accident.

Which injuries are most common in a motor vehicle accident though?

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussions
• Lacerations
• Wrongful death

Some injuries may not be obvious immediately after a car accident, and for that reason, it is important to seek medical treatment even if you “feel fine.”

Medical professionals may find an internal injury that could have caused complications down the road had it not been treated.

Visit the following for additional information regarding common injuries from motor vehicle accidents:

Most Common Car Accident Injury Information

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Edwardsville IL

Distracted driving

Over 3,000 people were killed due to distracted driving in 2020.

Impaired driving

In 2019, over 10,000 people were killed due to drunk driving, a top reason for car accidents in the country.

Speeding

Drivers breaking the speed limit account for higher accident and fatality rates.

Speeding was a factor in over 9,000 fatal motor vehicle accidents in 2019.

Improper lane change

Failing to signal a lane change can cause a car accident.

Always check your blind spots before merging or changing lanes.

Failure to obey traffic signals or signs

Running a red light is an example of failing to obey traffic signals.

Failure to yield

Failing to recognize right of way can easily lead to a car accident.

Reckless driving

Reckless driving refers to when a motorist is aware that their negligent actions can cause harm to others on the road.

Reckless driving is associated with road rage, other dangerous maneuvers, and street racing, all of which can cause a car accident.

Bad Weather

Inclement weather can cause a car accident.

If you have to drive in poor weather conditions, keep a safe distance from other motorists, adjust your speed, and increase stopping time.

Illinois Laws of the Road

In Illinois, all passengers must wear seat belts at all times.

Children under the age of 8 must be properly secured in a child safety seat approved by the Child Passenger Protection Act.

The responsibility of ensuring all passengers are wearing seatbelts falls on the driver.

If the driver or passengers are found to be disobeying Illinois law, they are subject to a fine and court costs.

The Illinois safety belt law went into effect on July 1, 1985, and since then, injuries and fatalities have drastically decreased.

Around the United States, seat belts saved an estimated 14,668 lives of passenger vehicle occupants aged five and older in 2016 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Wearing a seatbelt is the most effective way to keep yourself safe in a car accident.

Seat belts save lives – fasten yours.

Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer in Edwardsville IL

Navigating a lawsuit after a traumatic accident can be difficult.

Choosing an experienced personal injury attorney can be an extra, unneeded stress.

When hiring a car accident lawyer, you should be able to focus on your recovery while legal representation works hard on your case.

A car accident lawyer will be able to act on your behalf, doing the following:

• Files a legal claim
• Deliberates with any insurance company involved
• Assesses your medical expenses and damages
• Ensures that you receive compensation for any injuries or damages from the negligent party.

Your car accident lawyer will fight for you and your rights.

At TorHoerman Law, that is our primary objective – fighting for you.

TorHoerman Law, Edwardsville IL Car Accident Attorneys

THL Edwardsville car accident lawyers are here to guide you through the lawsuit process and provide aggressive legal representation to right the wrongs of your car accident case.

TorHoerman Law is a well-established personal injury law firm, focusing on various legal practice areas, and serving communities including:

• Edwardsville
• Glen Carbon
• Collinsville
• Granite City
• Alton
• East Alton
• Wood River
• Other cities in Southern Illinois
• The Metropolitan East, St. Louis area
• And more areas listed below

We offer free, no-obligation case consultations to all prospective clients and operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning we do not charge for legal representation unless fair compensation is secured.

If you or a family member suffered injuries from a car accident, contact a THL car accident attorney today.

Want to find out if you qualify for compensation instantly?

Use our chatbot to receive a free, instant online case evaluation.

TorHoerman Law – your car accident lawyer.