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How to Get Compensated for a Car Accident in Grayslake

grayslake car accidentA car accident can be devastating, especially if the insurance company or the other driver refuses to pay you for damages. However, you may sabotage your chances for compensation if you fail to follow proper protocols post-accident.

What You Should Do To Get Compensated After A Grayslake Car Accident

Here are some things you should do right after a car accident to ensure you can recover maximum damages.

Stop Your Vehicle

If another car hits your vehicle, stop immediately and move away from traffic. If you leave, you may be charged with a crime and may even lose your driver’s license. A hit-and-run accident that only results in damages can also land you in jail. You may also have to pay a hefty fine amounting to $2,500. If the accident caused injuries or proved fatal, you can be charged with a felony and face years in jail.

Contact The Police

Once you park your vehicle in a safe spot, contact the police and ask them to make an accident report. Do not wait. If the accident results in injuries or proves fatal for any individual, call the police within half an hour tops. You may lose your license otherwise.

Provide Essential Information

You need to provide the following information to the other driver to get compensation if you are eligible for it. This includes:

  • Your name
  • Your address
  • The license plate number of your vehicle

Types Of Damages You Can Recover From A Grayslake Car Accident

If you follow the tips mentioned above, your car accident lawyer in Grayslake can ensure you get the maximum compensation possible for your claim. You can seek two types of damages.

Economic damages

This includes tangible and objective losses that result from the accident. These damages can take the form of medical expenses, wages you lose as you recover from your injuries, property damage, physical therapy, and even transportation.

Non-economic damages

Non-economic damages include non-monetary losses. Some examples include depression, stress, loss of future earning abilities, loss of enjoyment in life, disfigurement due to injuries, and physical/mental suffering.

In Illinois, you have at least two years to file your lawsuit if you are denied compensation by your insurance company or the other driver. If your case involves a government agency or a city, you have one year to file the claim or forfeit compensation. The deadline may seem restrictive, but it is essential for preserving witness testimonies and evidence.

Calculating damages for a Grayslake car accident can be a challenge, but not if you have a skilled attorney such as Robert Edens in your corner. He can help you determine the damages you are eligible for and the settlement offer you can get.

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens will handle everything, so you don’t have to. Robert and his team of dedicated car accident lawyers in Grayslake have been fighting for the rights of personal injury victims for more than two decades. Get in touch with Robert for a consultation today. Delays can make you lose the compensation you rightly deserve.

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How Not To Get Into An Auto Accident

Auto Accident AttorneyAuto accidents are caused due to a number of reasons and can have wide-ranging ramifications. The outcome can range from a broken tail light, to a serious injury and even death if help doesn’t arrive on time. Having health and car insurance in such cases will help you if you get into an auto accident; they might not lessen the pain or trauma, but they will help pay for the car repair and hospital bills. If your insurance doesn’t cover the damages, or the accident was your fault and the other driver is taking you to court, then it’s time to start searching for good car accident lawyers.

How Can You Avoid Auto Accidents?

There are ways you can avoid auto accidents that might be caused because of your own negligence or any other factors. Just be careful about the following things:

  • Find out the road rules, traffic guidelines and laws of the state and stick to them. For example, if you drive below the assigned speed limit or above it or take a sharp cut at an intersection, then your car is likely to collide with another car thereby causing a serious auto accident.
  • Driving under the influence or if you drive with a blood alcohol level higher than that is permitted by the law, then your reflexes and vision will be somewhat impaired. This can lead to a serious accident.
  • Speeding is not an option even if you are late for work. Try leaving your home on time to avoid situations where you are tempted to speed. Speeding more times than not, leads to car collisions that can have life-threatening effects.
  • Never multitask while driving – Applying makeup, eating, texting or reading while driving is a huge distraction and negligence on a driver’s part that can lead to distracted driving accidents. Taking your eyes off the road or not hitting the brakes on time can cause a huge mess, so beware.
  • Running red lights is a serious traffic violation that causes multiple accidents. If you run a red light, a car coming from the other side of the cross-section which might not have anticipated this, will collide with your car.
  • Get a fresh set of tires, if your old ones have become bald, to avoid your cart from skidding which might result in an auto accident.
  • Driving in the rain can be a challenge too since there is little visibility and slippery roads. It is better to avoid driving under such conditions, and if you do, then drive with your headlights on at full-beam, keep your speed slow and be extra careful. If your wipers aren’t working properly then avoid driving in the rain at all costs.

These were the most common reasons that could lead to an auto accident. Therefore, if you want to avoid having to hire an auto accident lawyer, then follow these instructions and drive safely.

Personal Injury Attorney

For more information or to schedule a free consultation, contact The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, P.C. today at 847.395.2200 to speak with an experienced attorney on this topic.