Highland Car Accident Lawyer

TorHoerman Law gives Highland clients access to a personal injury firm with deep roots in Southern Illinois and the resources to handle serious car accident litigation.

Our law firm’s nearby Edwardsville office serves injured people throughout Madison County and the surrounding Metro East region.

Eric Terry leads TorHoerman Law’s single-event personal injury practice and has more than two decades of experience handling car accidents and other common personal injury cases, including serious motor vehicle crashes and wrongful death claims.

TorHoerman Law has helped secure more than $4.5 billion in verdicts and negotiated settlements nationwide, including significant recoveries in personal injury matters.

When car accidents involve disputed liability, severe injuries, or complex evidence, the firm can build a case using medical records, accident reconstruction evidence, expert testimony, and other documentation needed to establish fault and damages.

Reasons personal injury victims in Highland choose TorHoerman Law include:

• Local experience: TorHoerman Law represents injured people throughout Southern Illinois and understands the Illinois traffic laws, insurance rules, and court procedures that may affect a Highland car wreck claim.
• Experienced personal injury attorneys: The firm’s single-event injury team has extensive experience investigating negligence claims, negotiating settlements, taking depositions, working with experts, and preparing cases for trial.
• Resources for serious cases: Depending on the circumstances, attorneys may work with accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, economists, and other professionals to evaluate liability, injuries, and financial losses.
• Proven case results: TorHoerman Law has obtained substantial settlements and verdicts for injured clients, including motor vehicle accident recoveries, although past results do not guarantee a particular outcome.
• Responsive client communication: The firm emphasizes personal attention, direct communication, and keeping clients informed throughout the claims and litigation process.

A strong attorney-client relationship is especially important after a serious crash, when injured people may be balancing medical treatment, lost income, insurance disputes, and uncertainty about what comes next.

TorHoerman Law works to give Highland clients both local access and the broader resources needed to pursue a well-supported personal injury claim.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Car Accident Lawyer from TorHoerman Law?

TorHoerman Law handles eligible car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means clients do not pay attorney fees upfront.

Instead, the firm receives a percentage of the compensation recovered through a settlement or verdict, subject to the terms of the fee agreement.

This arrangement allows injured people to pursue a claim without adding hourly legal fees to the financial strain caused by medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle damage.

TorHoerman Law also offers free consultations so potential clients can discuss the circumstances of their crash and learn more about their legal options before deciding how to proceed.

If no compensation is recovered, clients generally do not owe attorney fees under the contingency fee agreement.

If you were involved in a car accident in

The first 24 hours after a car crash can affect both your health and any insurance or personal injury claim that follows.

Your immediate priority should be determining whether anyone is hurt and whether the vehicles are creating an additional safety risk.

Even when injuries are not immediately obvious, symptoms can develop after the accident occurred, making it important to seek medical attention if you experience pain, dizziness, confusion, limited movement, or other concerning symptoms.

This early period is also when important information about the collision is easiest to document and preserve.

Insurance companies may begin evaluating the incident soon after it is reported, so the information gathered during these first hours can become important later.

Taking deliberate steps early can help create a clearer record of what happened, the injuries involved, and the losses caused by the crash.

After an auto accident in Highland, take these steps if you can:

1. Check for injuries and move to a safe location if possible.
2. Call 911 and report the accident.
3. Seek medical attention, even if your injuries initially seem minor.
4. Exchange contact, vehicle, license, and insurance information with the other drivers involved.
5. Photograph the vehicles, roadway, traffic signs, debris, visible injuries, and surrounding accident scene.
6. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses.
7. Avoid admitting fault or making assumptions about what caused the crash.
8. Report the accident to your insurance company and provide the basic information needed to begin the claims process.
9. Save medical records, repair estimates, receipts, and other documentation related to the accident.
10. Consider speaking with a Highland car accident lawyer before giving a detailed recorded statement or accepting a settlement from another driver’s insurer.

These steps can help preserve evidence while providing insurers and attorneys with a more complete record of the collision.

You should continue monitoring your symptoms and follow any treatment recommendations from your healthcare providers after leaving the scene.

If questions arise about fault, insurance coverage, or compensation, an attorney can review what happened and explain how Illinois law may apply to your claim.

Car Accident Cases TorHoerman Law Handles in Highland IL

TorHoerman Law represents people injured in a wide range of motor vehicle accidents in Highland and throughout Madison County.

These cases may involve careless driving, violations of traffic laws, impaired driving, unsafe vehicle operation, or other forms of negligence.

Some crashes involve straightforward liability, while others require a closer review of multiple drivers, insurance policies, commercial vehicles, or disputed evidence.

Our law firm investigates how the collision occurred, identifies potentially responsible parties, and evaluates the injuries and financial losses involved.

Depending on the circumstances, TorHoerman Law may handle Highland car accident cases involving:

• Rear-end collisions
• T-bone and side-impact crashes
• Head-on collisions
• Intersection accidents
• Multi-vehicle crashes
• Distracted driving accidents
• Drunk or impaired driving accidents
• Speeding and reckless driving crashes
• Hit-and-run accidents
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims
• Rideshare accidents involving Uber or Lyft
• Commercial truck and delivery vehicle crashes
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
• Fatal crashes and wrongful death claims

Common Car Accident Injuries We Seek Compensation For

Car accidents can cause injuries ranging from relatively minor soft-tissue damage to conditions that require extensive medical care, surgery, rehabilitation, or long-term treatment.

Injuries such as whiplash, back injuries, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries can affect a person’s ability to work and carry out normal daily activities.

Some crash victims also experience psychological effects, including anxiety, depression, or PTSD, after a serious collision.

An experienced attorney from TorHoerman Law can review medical records, treatment recommendations, and other evidence to document how an injury has affected a client’s health and quality of life.

Our attorneys seek compensation based on the full physical, emotional, and financial impact of the injuries involved.

Common car accident injuries we may seek compensation for include:

• Whiplash and other neck injuries
• Back injuries and herniated discs
• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Shoulder, knee, and other orthopedic injuries
• Internal bleeding and organ damage
• Nerve damage
• Burns, cuts, and scarring
• Facial and dental injuries
• PTSD and other forms of emotional distress
• Catastrophic or permanently disabling injuries

The severity of an injury can affect the medical treatment required, time away from work, future care needs, and the overall value of a personal injury claim.

Our attorneys can work with medical providers and other experts when necessary to understand the long-term effects of serious injuries.

TorHoerman Law uses that evidence to pursue compensation that reflects both current losses and future harm caused by the crash.

The legal process after a serious car accident can vary depending on the injuries involved, disputed fault, available insurance coverage, and whether a lawsuit becomes necessary.

A personal injury lawyer can guide you through the entire legal process while protecting your rights and building the evidence needed to support your claim.

Our attorneys can review photos of the vehicles, road conditions, visible injuries, police reports, medical records, witness statements, and other evidence showing how the crash occurred.

That evidence can help establish liability, assess the full extent of your damages, and strengthen negotiations with the insurance company.

The process is similar in many wrongful death cases, although additional issues involving surviving family members, estates, and damages may also need to be addressed.

The legal process for a Highland car accident claim may include the following steps:

1. Initial consultation and case review: A legal representative reviews the accident, your injuries, available evidence, insurance coverage, and potential legal options.
2. Investigation and evidence gathering: Our attorneys collect police reports, photographs, medical records, witness statements, video footage, vehicle records, and other evidence that may help prove liability.
3. Damages assessment: Your attorney calculates medical expenses, lost wages, future treatment costs, pain and suffering, and other losses connected to the accident.
4. Insurance claim and negotiations: Our law firm presents the insurance claim, responds to disputes over fault or damages, and negotiates with the insurer for a fair settlement.
5. Filing a lawsuit if necessary: If the insurance company does not offer an appropriate resolution, our attorneys may file a personal injury lawsuit and prepare the case for litigation or trial.
6. Case resolution: The claim may ultimately be resolved through a negotiated settlement, mediation, court judgment, or jury verdict.

Not every Highland car accident case will require each of these stages, and many claims resolve before a lawsuit is filed.

Throughout the process, your personal injury lawyer can keep you informed, evaluate settlement offers, and explain how new evidence or developments may affect the case.

The goal is to build a well-supported claim that reflects the full injuries and financial losses caused by the accident.

Illinois Car Accident Statute of Limitations

In Illinois, a person injured in a car accident generally has two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit under 735 ILCS 5/13-202.

This deadline applies even when evidence indicates that the at-fault driver caused the personal injury accident, so waiting too long can result in losing the right to pursue compensation.

Certain cases can be subject to different or shorter deadlines depending on the parties involved and the type of claim.

For example, many injury claims against an Illinois local public entity or public employee must be filed within one year.

Other circumstances involving minors, wrongful death, or particular insurance claims can also affect how much time is available.

Because the applicable deadline depends on the facts of the case, a Highland car accident attorney can review the claim and determine how long you have to take legal action.

You may have a Highland car accident claim if someone else’s negligence caused the crash and you suffered injuries or other losses as a result.

Many collisions involve negligent driving behaviors such as distraction, speeding, impaired driving, failure to yield, or other violations of traffic laws.

Rain, snow, fog, and other hazardous conditions can also contribute to a crash, particularly when a driver fails to adjust their speed or driving behavior for the conditions.

A personal injury lawyer can review the circumstances of the accident, identify potentially responsible parties, and determine whether the available evidence supports a claim under Illinois law.

Our attorneys can also deal with the insurance provider and respond when fault, injuries, or damages are disputed.

You may have grounds to pursue a car accident claim if:

• Another driver’s negligent conduct caused or contributed to the crash.
• You suffered physical injuries and required medical treatment.
• The accident caused lost wages or reduced your ability to work.
• You incurred vehicle damage or other accident-related financial losses.
• A distracted, speeding, impaired, or reckless driver caused the collision.
• A driver failed to operate safely in hazardous weather or road conditions.
• You were injured as a passenger, pedestrian, bicyclist, motorcyclist, or rideshare passenger.
• A loved one died because of injuries sustained in the crash.

Negligence may include distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failure to yield, unsafe lane changes, running a red light, or failing to maintain reasonable control of a vehicle.

Even if you believe you may share some responsibility for the accident, you may still have legal options.

Under Illinois modified comparative negligence law, compensation may be available when your share of fault is 50% or less, although any recovery can be reduced according to your percentage of fault.

Gathering Evidence for a Car Accident Case

Evidence can help establish how a car accident occurred, who was responsible, and how the crash affected the injured person.

Strong documentation can also help address disputes over fault, medical treatment, lost income, and the value of a claim.

A legal team can gather, preserve, and organize evidence before important records, video footage, or witness recollections are lost.

The more complete the evidence, the easier it may be to present a well-supported claim to the insurance company or court.

Important evidence in a car accident case may include:

• Police reports
• Photos of the accident scene
• Photos of vehicle damage
• Photos of visible injuries
• Medical records and bills
• Diagnostic imaging
• Witness statements
• Dashcam or surveillance footage
• Traffic camera footage, when available
• Cell phone records in distracted driving cases
• Toxicology records in impaired driving cases
• Vehicle repair estimates
• Insurance policy information
• Pay stubs and employment records
• Proof of lost wages
• Accident reconstruction reports
• Expert opinions

Damages in Car Accident Cases

Damages are the financial and non-financial losses caused by a car accident.

Our attorneys assess damages by reviewing medical records, physical therapy costs, lost income, property losses, and the ways an injury has affected a client’s daily life.

In more complex cases, lawyers may also consider future treatment needs, reduced earning capacity, expert opinions, and whether commercial vehicle rules or federal traffic laws affect liability and available compensation.

While no attorney can guarantee maximum compensation, a well-documented claim can help account for the full extent of a client’s losses.

Damages in a car accident case may include:

• Emergency medical expenses
• Hospital bills
• Surgery costs
• Physical therapy costs
• Prescription medication costs
• Future medical treatment
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Vehicle repair or replacement costs
• Damage to other personal property
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Disability
• Disfigurement
• Loss of normal life
• Funeral and burial expenses in wrongful death cases
• Other wrongful death damages available under Illinois law

If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident in Highland, TorHoerman Law can review the circumstances of the crash and explain your legal options.

Our attorneys can investigate fault, gather evidence, deal with insurance companies, and pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and other losses.

Our law firm handles eligible car accident claims on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront attorney fees to get started.

Every case is different, and the value of a claim depends on the injuries, available evidence, insurance coverage, and other factors.

Contact TorHoerman Law today for a free consultation to discuss your Highland car accident claim.

You can also use the chat feature on this page to connect with our legal team.