Wheeling sits at the crossroads of several major highways — Route 83, Dundee Road, and close to the I-294 Tollway. That heavy traffic corridor means a lot of car accidents, and the mix of commercial trucks, commuter traffic, and local drivers creates conditions that lead to some serious crashes.
One thing that's unique about handling car accident cases in the Wheeling area is the number of commercial vehicle accidents. With the industrial parks and distribution centers nearby, there are a lot of trucks on the road. If you're hit by a commercial vehicle, the case immediately becomes more complex because you may be dealing with the trucking company's insurance in addition to — or instead of — a standard auto policy. Commercial policies often have much higher limits, which means more money is available, but the trucking company and their insurer will fight harder to protect that money.
Another factor in Wheeling car accident cases is the intersection design. Some of the intersections along Milwaukee Avenue and Dundee Road are notorious for accidents because of poor sight lines, inadequate signaling, or confusing lane configurations. In some cases, we can argue that the municipality bears some responsibility for failing to maintain safe road conditions. That's a separate theory of liability called 'negligent road design' or 'negligent maintenance,' and it can add another source of recovery to your case.
For Wheeling car accident victims, the single most important thing you can do is get medical treatment immediately. Don't wait a week to see if the pain goes away. Go to the emergency room or an urgent care facility on the day of the accident. This creates a medical record that directly links your injuries to the crash, which is the strongest evidence you can have when negotiating with the insurance company.
If you've been in a car accident in Wheeling, call us at 312-500-4500 for a free case evaluation. We handle cases throughout the northwest suburbs and know the roads, the courts, and the insurance companies you'll be dealing with.
You probably have many questions after a car accident or any other type of accident. Victims of accidents often have a number of questions.
Is there a doctor I should see? Does it cost money to see a doctor? Is anyone liable for my condition? Are there any consequences if my injuries do not heal? Would I have to miss work if they didn't heal? I need to hire a personal injury lawyer. Who is the best to assist me?
This type of question is normal and expected. Over the years, I have assisted thousands of accident victims. We make sure that our clients recover fully from their injuries. We make sure that they get paid for their lost wages and we make sure that all of their medical bills are paid for. And, most of our cases settle quickly and with zero fuss and hassle for our clients.
We are able to see people anywhere in Wheeling, IL for Wheeling, IL car accidents or other kinds of injuries thanks to technology. There is almost never a need for anyone to come to my office. Instead, I travel and visit my clients in their homes or nearby restaurants. Also, we use zoom, docusign, and the Internet. As a result, you can easily gather information on your case and resolve it to your advantage if you choose to do so.
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After a car accident, neck and back injuries are the most common. Rear-end collisions and side impacts are the most common causes. They will occur if you move violently backwards, forwards, or sideways. Those over 35 or those with a history of back or neck injuries are more likely to suffer new injuries in a Wheeling, IL car accident.
Injuries to the neck and back begin similarly, whether they are short-term muscle strains or longer-term and more severe injuries. Any injury, no matter how minor or serious, should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible.
The ideal doctor to choose after a car accident is one who knows how to handle car accident injury claims. Therefore, your doctor will record all of the necessary information in your medical record that an insurance company will need to proceed with your claim. A doctor should be honest and communicate well with you. It is not fair for you to be treated by a physician who does not spend time with you, who does not explain the injuries or treatment protocol. You want a doctor who communicates with you and your attorney so that the three of us can cooperate to make your case a success.
I almost always get asked this question by accident victims. The answer will vary depending on the circumstances. It may take years.
Until you see your doctor, we can begin to resolve your case. Until you heal as much as you can, this will need to be done. It should be painless after some time. As a result of permanent injuries, one can suffer both permanent disabilities and chronic pain.
In retrospect, it makes sense. If you've been injured in a car accident, we won't settle your case until we know exactly how it happened. We can take care of any surgery you need. Clients who require surgery should wait until they are fully recovered from the surgery. Some surgeries require other surgeries to be performed. A single operation is not always the solution for some problems. In spite of a successful surgery, permanent damage can still occur.
Injuries that are permanent are much more valuable than those that are temporary. Please seek appropriate medical care prior to settlement.
Therefore, it is impossible to predict when a case will settle. We have a completely trained staff who understand how important it is to get your money as soon as possible. We typically settle our cases within a year of the accident. That's on par with other accident lawyers. Clients get excellent service as soon as possible.
Many people are unaware that car insurance companies control injury claims. After a fender bender or a more serious accident, the insurance company hires a lawyer to defeat your claim. Insurers have written scripts for how to take recorded statements from people involved in crashes who might be injured. They are designed to minimize the amount of compensation an injured person receives. The questions are tricky. They ask them in a tricky way to try to get you to say things you may not fully understand or mean.
I've been doing this for a long time, and I see it every day. Rarely do I receive a recorded statement from a client before I represent them. There is usually a lot of bad stuff in that statement, and I am rarely disappointed. My clients' car accident injury cases are often hurt by it.
This is why you should never give a recorded statement before you are represented. Be careful when signing any papers, and be careful what you say to the insurance company.
From the very beginning, insurance companies are represented by a lawyer. Since they're rich, they can afford to deal with that sort of thing. Most injured people do not have money coming in and cannot afford to hire a lawyer.
Personal injury lawyers offer free consultations because of this. Whenever possible, I offer free, no-obligation consultations in person, over the phone, or even via Zoom if that is what you prefer. In this way, you will know what your rights are, as well as what the danger zones in your case might be and how to avoid them. If you want me to take your case, I will tell you whether it's a good case or not. We can sign you up over the Internet via email or Docusign. Alternatively, I can mail you sign up paperwork or you can come into my office to sign up. I can even drive near you to sign up.
I devote my entire law practice to helping car accident victims and people who have been injured in auto accidents. My goal is to make the whole process of filing a car accident injury claim as simple and stress-free as possible for victims. Keep your doctor appointments and focus on getting better. I'll handle the rest.
You can reach me at 312-500-4500 if you need help, want representation, or even if you just have questions. You can reach me night or day, any day of the year. That number is always answered. If you have been involved in a car accident in Wheeling, IL, I look forward to hearing from you.
Wheeling sits at a major traffic nexus - Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21), Dundee Road, Palatine Road, and Lake Cook Road carry heavy commuter and commercial traffic through the area. Route 83 and the I-294 Tollway add significant truck traffic from the industrial parks and distribution centers. Commercial development along Milwaukee Avenue creates high-density intersection accident exposure. Wheeling straddles the Cook County and Lake County line, so depending on the crash location, cases file in Cook County Circuit Court or Lake County Circuit Court - local court knowledge matters in both.
Yes - I handle cases throughout northeastern Illinois including Cook County and Lake County. I appear in both Cook County Circuit Court and Lake County Circuit Court and know the local procedures and judicial environment in each. For most clients, the work happens by phone and video with in-person meetings when needed. Distance from my office doesn't affect the quality of your representation. Free consultation - call 312-500-4500 any time.
The police report from Wheeling Police Department or the county sheriff. Photographs of the vehicles, scene, injuries, and road conditions taken immediately after the accident. Witness contact information. Medical records from the same day. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses - Milwaukee Avenue has significant commercial camera coverage. I request preservation of all footage immediately upon retention because many systems overwrite within 24 to 72 hours.
Two years from the date of the accident - same as throughout Illinois. This is a hard deadline. If a government entity may be partly responsible - for example, if a dangerous road condition contributed to the crash - the notice deadline can be as short as one year. Call me well in advance at 312-500-4500. Free consultation, no fee unless we win.
Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) is the busiest corridor in Wheeling and produces the most car accidents - especially at intersections with Dundee Road, Lake Cook Road, Palatine Road, and Hintz Road. Route 83 and the I-294 access ramps see high-speed crashes including multi-vehicle incidents involving commercial trucks. The industrial park areas off Wolf Road and Hintz Road see commercial vehicle accidents disproportionately because of the truck traffic. High-speed and commercial vehicle crashes typically produce more severe injuries and higher case values.
Call 911 - the responding Wheeling Police or county sheriff will create a police report, which is the backbone of your case. Get medical attention the same day, even if you feel fine, because car accident injuries can take 24 to 48 hours to show up. Take photos of the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries. Get contact information from the other driver and any witnesses. Do not admit fault, do not apologize, and do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company before talking to me. Call me at 312-500-4500 - I am available 24/7.
Yes. You have the right to choose your own doctor in a car accident case - the insurance company cannot force you to use their preferred provider. Choose a doctor who handles car accident injury claims regularly, because they will need to record the right information in your medical records for the insurance company to evaluate your claim properly. A good car accident doctor communicates with you and with your attorney so all three of us can work together to make your case successful.
Illinois follows a modified comparative fault rule. As long as you are 50 percent or less at fault for the crash, you can still recover - your damages just get reduced by your percentage of fault. If a jury finds you 20 percent at fault and awards $100,000 in damages, you recover $80,000. If you are 51 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. Do not assume you have no case just because you think you were partly to blame. The insurance company will try to push your percentage as high as possible to reduce what they pay - I push back. Call me at 312-500-4500.
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If you or a loved one is dealing with a situation like this, give us a call any time, day or night. We are here to help. 312-500-4500
Scott DeSalvo founded DeSalvo Law to help injured people throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Licensed to practice law in Illinois since 1998, IARDC #6244452, Scott has represented over 3,000 clients in personal injury, workers compensation, and accident cases.
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