Naperville is one of the largest cities in Illinois and one of the most affluent suburbs in the Midwest. What does that have to do with your car accident case? More than you might think. The demographics of an area affect jury expectations, which in turn affect settlement negotiations.
Here's how it works. Car accident cases in the Naperville area are filed in DuPage County Circuit Court. DuPage County jurors tend to be well-educated, financially comfortable, and they expect people to be compensated fairly for injuries caused by someone else's negligence. Insurance companies know this. They know that if a Naperville car accident case goes to trial in DuPage County, the jury could award a substantial verdict. That fear of a large verdict pushes insurance companies to offer more in settlement negotiations.
Beyond the demographics, Naperville car accident cases often involve higher damages simply because of the traffic patterns. Route 59, Ogden Avenue, and the I-88 corridor all see heavy traffic. Accidents on these high-speed roads tend to be more severe than a fender bender in a parking lot. More severe accidents mean more serious injuries, higher medical bills, and bigger settlements.
I also handle a lot of Naperville cases involving accidents at major intersections — Route 59 and 95th Street, Ogden and Washington, and the I-88 on-ramps and off-ramps are all spots where we see frequent collisions. When an intersection has a history of accidents, it can sometimes support an argument that the municipality or the Illinois Department of Transportation bears some responsibility for failing to improve the dangerous conditions.
If you've been in a car accident in Naperville, don't settle for less than your case is worth. Insurance companies will try to lowball you regardless of where the accident happened. Having a lawyer who knows DuPage County and understands how to leverage the venue to your advantage can make a significant difference in your outcome. Call us at 312-500-4500.
When you are involved in an accident, whether it is a car accident or another type, you may have a lot of questions. The questions will be different based on the victim.
What is your recommendation for a doctor? Are there any costs associated with visiting a doctor? And what do I do if I'm injured? Can my injuries be healed? What will it take for me to return to work? This should be discussed with a lawyer. Who should I talk with?
Such questions are not unusual. Several accident victims have sought assistance from me in the past. Those victims got complete medical treatment after they were injured. In addition to paying their medical bills, we ensure that they receive payment for their lost wages. Usually, the case is handled quickly and without much hassle.
Anyone who has sustained an injury in a car accident or any other type of accident can be tracked regardless of where they live. I almost never need to meet the individual. Many of my clients are willing to meet with me at their home or favorite restaurant. Zoom and Docusign allow clients to become clients without visiting my office. Therefore, if that is your intention, you can easily assess your case and take the appropriate steps to resolve it to your advantage.
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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 Naperville, 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 when they hire our firm of Car Accident Attorneys in Naperville, IL.
Many people don't know but it car insurance companies control injury claims. The minute you are in a fender bender or a more serious crash with someone else, the car accident insurance company hires a lawyer to defeat your case. The insurance adjusters have written scripts for how to take recorded statements from people involved in a crash who might be injured. These scripts are designed to minimize the money that an injured person ultimately gets. They asked tricky questions and ask them in a tricky way to try to get you to say things you might not fully understand or you might not fully mean. This is why I advise my clients to speak with one of our Car Accident Attorneys in Naperville, IL before giving a statement.
Two reasons. First, venue. Naperville car accident cases are filed in DuPage County Circuit Court, where jurors tend to be well-educated and financially comfortable - and they expect injured people to be fairly compensated. Insurance companies know that DuPage juries can award substantial verdicts, and that fear pushes them to offer more in settlement. Second, the crashes themselves. Naperville accidents on Route 59, Ogden Avenue, and the I-88 corridor are usually high-speed, which means more severe injuries, bigger medical bills, and higher case values than a parking lot fender bender.
Route 59 and 95th Street, Ogden Avenue and Washington Street, and the I-88 on-ramps and off-ramps are some of the worst. These spots see frequent collisions, often at high speed. When an intersection has a documented history of crashes, it can sometimes support an argument that the City of Naperville or the Illinois Department of Transportation bears some responsibility for failing to fix the dangerous condition. Those third-party claims go beyond what the at-fault driver's insurance pays. I evaluate every Naperville case for these additional avenues of recovery.
Call 911 and file a police report - that report is the backbone of your case later. 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 very 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 deadline can be as short as one year. Do not wait. Call me at 312-500-4500 as soon as possible after a Naperville 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 knows how to handle car accident injury claims, 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 that percentage as high as possible to reduce what they pay - I push back. Call me at 312-500-4500.
"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!"
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"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
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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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