O'Fallon is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Metro East area, and with that growth comes more traffic, more construction, and unfortunately, more car accidents. If you've been in a crash in or around O'Fallon, Illinois, there are some specific things you should know about how car accident cases work in this part of the state.
First, car accident cases in the Metro East are filed in St. Clair County Circuit Court. This matters because different counties have different reputations when it comes to jury verdicts. St. Clair County has historically been a strong plaintiff's county, meaning juries there tend to be sympathetic to injured people. Insurance companies know this, and they adjust their settlement offers accordingly. A case that might settle for $50,000 in one county could be worth $75,000 or more in St. Clair County simply because the insurance company doesn't want to go to trial there.
Second, O'Fallon sits right near I-64 and Route 50, which are both high-traffic corridors. Accidents on these roads tend to be more serious because of the higher speeds involved. Interstate accidents also sometimes involve commercial trucks, which makes the case more complex because you may be dealing with a trucking company and their insurance in addition to a regular auto insurance policy.
One thing I always tell O'Fallon clients: even though my office is in the Chicago area, we handle cases all across Illinois. We've represented plenty of clients in the Metro East and we know the courts, the judges, and the local insurance adjusters. The fact that we're a larger firm with resources actually benefits our downstate clients because insurance companies know we have the capacity to take a case all the way to trial if needed.
If you were in a car accident in O'Fallon and you're wondering whether you have a case, call us at 312-500-4500. We'll review the details of your accident for free and give you an honest answer about what your case might be worth. You don't pay us anything unless we recover money for you.
If you've been involved in a car accident or some other accident resulting in injury you probably have lots of questions. Most people who get hurt have a lot of questions.
Some of those case questions probably include who should I see for a doctor? How will I pay my medical bills? Who will be found responsible for my injuries? What if my injuries never heal? What if I'm missing time from work? Who is the right personal injury attorney to help me with my car crash case?
These sorts of questions are normal and are to be expected. My firm has helped thousands of car accident victims over the years. We make sure that our clients get a full recovery for 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.
Thanks to the power of technology, we can see people in any O'Fallon, IL location for any O'Fallon, IL car accident or other kind of injury. It is rare indeed that anyone needs to see me in my office. And I travel and visit people in their homes or in nearby restaurants. We also leverage the power of the Internet and zoom and doc you sign and other technologies so that collecting information on your case and resolving it for maximum value is fast and easy for you.
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
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 an O'Fallon, 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.
Your car accident injury case value is directly affected by how serious your injuries are and how much medical attention you receive. Your case may be more valuable if your injuries are serious and permanent, and if you receive more medical care. The value of your case will likely be lower if you were injured for a short period of time and received little medical care.
You should not let that discourage you. The best thing you can do after a car accident is to seek medical treatment and legal representation. Because you can never predict how serious or how long your injuries will be at the start of a case. I have represented hundreds of clients who waited too long to talk to a lawyer and it ultimately hurt their case. They didn't think they were that hurt, or they thought their neck or back pain or their shoulder or knee pain would just go away on their own, so they didn't want to go to a doctor. They were wrong. Ignoring legal counsel is also a mistake.
Insurers who cover people who cause injuries in a car accident hire lawyers and claims adjusters to fool injured people into saying or doing things that damage their case. There are times when I run into a person who has signed away their rights without even knowing it. I am horrified.
In order for people to fully understand their rights and determine whether or not they have a strong case, I offer a free consultation.
Here is what I would tell you based on my over 20 years of experience helping victims of car accidents in O'Fallon, IL:
Even a very small case can settle for four or five figures. Most middle-of-the-road car accident cases settle for high five figures or lower six figures. In a serious car accident case, the settlement can reach the mid- to high six figures, or even seven or eight figures, depending on the amount of insurance and the severity of the injuries.
During the early stages of a case, you will not know how big the case will be. Doctors will take some time to determine the severity of your injuries, and whether you are likely to recover or suffer long-term consequences. You should however hire a lawyer right away so they can make sure your case is positioned for maximum value and maximum strength right from the start. When you're involved in an O'Fallon, IL car accident, failing to consult with a lawyer is one of the worst things you can do.
Don't be fooled by tricks from insurance companies. Call 312-500-4500 right away for a free consultation.
"Scott is absolutely fantastic. He will always go the extra mile for his clients. They always take the time to return phone calls at all hours and I highly recommend him to all my friends."
-Melissa Brooks
"Great people and Scott's a great lawyer. They helped me make the wisest decision for my case, and that's important in serious legal matters. I trust him completely. He is the one to call."
-Tony Skvarenina
"Beyond satisfied with the services I received from this law firm. Definitely recommend! They got me fully paid and all the doctor bills, too. If you want the best, this is the law firm for your injury case!"
-Cynthia Rodriguez
"Scott represented me and I was really pleased with everything, my car accident paid a lot and quick. If you want a good Lawyer who is responsive, and straight with you, I highly recommend him."
-Greg Garcia
St. Clair County Circuit Court, in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit. St. Clair County has historically been a plaintiff-friendly venue compared to many other Illinois counties, and insurance companies know it. That reputation often translates into stronger settlement offers because the insurer would rather not put the case in front of a St. Clair County jury. Local court knowledge matters - I appear in St. Clair County when cases require it and know the local procedures.
Yes. I am licensed throughout Illinois and handle car accident cases statewide, including the Metro East. Most client work happens by phone, video, and DocuSign - you do not need to come to my office, and I travel to clients when in-person meetings make sense. Distance from Chicago does not affect the quality of representation, and being part of a statewide firm with resources can actually help your case because insurance companies know we have the capacity to take cases to trial. Free consultation - call 312-500-4500.
I-64 and Route 50 are the busiest corridors near O'Fallon and produce the most serious crashes - high speeds mean more severe injuries, higher medical bills, and higher case values. I-64 also brings significant commercial truck traffic, which adds complexity to crashes involving trucking companies and their commercial insurance. Local arteries like Highway 159, Green Mount Road, and the I-64 interchanges also see frequent intersection accidents. Crash location and road type drive a lot of the case analysis.
Commercial truck crashes are more complex than ordinary car accidents and the cases usually involve significantly higher insurance limits. You are dealing with the trucking company, the driver's employer, and federal motor carrier regulations under FMCSA. Trucking companies have rapid-response teams that arrive at the scene within hours to gather evidence that favors them - which is why you need to preserve your own evidence immediately. I send formal preservation demands on every commercial truck case to lock down driver logs, ECM data, and dashcam footage before they are overwritten.
Call 911 and file a police report - that report becomes 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.
Two years from the date of the crash. That is the Illinois personal injury statute of limitations and it is strict - miss it and your case is over no matter how badly you were hurt. There are limited exceptions for minors and certain other categories. 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. Do not wait. Call me at 312-500-4500 as soon as possible after an O'Fallon car accident.
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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