The seventy-two hours after a Chicago car accident are the most critical window for your case. What you do and do not do in those three days can make a six-figure difference in what you recover. I am not exaggerating. After almost thirty years and thousands of cases, I have seen it over and over.
Evidence disappears fast in this city. Traffic cameras at Chicago intersections typically overwrite footage within forty-eight to seventy-two hours unless someone requests it. Nearby businesses with security cameras facing the street do the same. Skid marks fade. Debris gets swept up. Witnesses who saw the whole thing drive away and forget about it within a week. If your lawyer is not sending preservation letters and tracking down footage within the first few days, that evidence is gone forever.
The insurance adjuster will call you fast. Sometimes within twenty-four hours. They will sound sympathetic. They will ask how you are feeling. They will ask you to describe what happened in your own words. They may even offer a quick settlement to help with your bills. Do not fall for it. Everything you say in that conversation is being recorded and will be used to minimize your claim. If you say you feel okay because you are being polite, that one word becomes their evidence that you were not injured. If you guess about the speed or the distance or the timing, and you get it slightly wrong, they will use the inconsistency to attack your credibility.
The correct answer to any insurance adjuster calling you after a Chicago car accident is this. I am represented by an attorney. Please direct all communication to my lawyer. Then give them my number. That is it. You do not owe them a statement. You do not owe them a recorded interview. You do not owe them anything.
Get to a doctor within twenty-four hours if you have not already. Not next week. Not when it gets worse. The gap between the accident and your first medical visit is the insurance company's favorite weapon. If you waited five days to see a doctor, they will argue your injuries are not from the accident or they are not serious. It does not matter that you were sore and hoping it would go away. The medical record is what counts, and a five-day gap in that record costs you money.
Document everything. Take photos of the damage to your car and theirs. Screenshot the other driver's insurance card and license plate. Write down what happened while it is fresh. Save the police report number. If you were taken by ambulance, save the EMS records. All of this becomes part of your case file, and the more thorough you are in those first seventy-two hours, the stronger your position when we negotiate.
Do not post about the accident on social media. Do not post photos of your car. Do not post about your injuries. Do not post that you are grateful to be alive. Insurance companies have teams that monitor plaintiffs' social media accounts and they will use everything you post against you. Lock down your profiles and stay quiet until the case is resolved.
If you were in a Chicago car accident in the last few days, call me now at 312-500-4500. The clock is running.
The Law Office of Scott D. DeSalvo (Car Accident Lawyer Chicago) is dedicated to protecting the rights of Chicago Car accident victims. If you have been involved in a Chicago Car Accident, we can help you.
Did you know that if you are the victim of a car accident, you may be entitled to substantial money compensation for any injuries, losses, property damage and lost wages? The problem many people face is that they do not take action to obtain the benefits that are rightfully theirs. Turn to a Chicago Car Accident Attorney to relieve you of your burdens.
Most substantial cases are heard in downtown Chicago. And, most of the most prestigious auto accident lawyers in Chicago have offices downtown. The lawyers who focus on injury law and go to Court like to have an office downtown because it is closer to the Courthouse, insurance companies and insurance Defense law firms. It makes handling cases much more efficient. That means a quicker settlement or trial for you.
Of course, that DOES NOT mean that you have to travel downtown. Most of my clients never even have to come to my office.
Chicago auto accident lawyers can get you a bigger settlement, and much faster. In my office, many of my clients have z denial or zero offer when they hire me, and as soon as their medial treatment is over or plateaus, we are able to get an offer on their case in lkess than a month, in some cases.
Call before you talk to any insurance company — including your own. The first 24 to 48 hours after an accident are critical. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and insurance adjusters are already working to minimize your claim. If you were injured, if there is any dispute about fault, or if the other driver's insurance company contacts you, you need representation. My consultations are free and available 24/7 — call 312-500-4500 before you sign or say anything.
Illinois requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, and your own policy likely has it. You can make a UM claim against your own insurance for your injuries caused by an uninsured driver. Your own insurer will try to minimize what they pay you. Having an attorney on your UM claim is just as important as having one on a liability claim. I handle UM claims regularly.
Cases with clear liability and soft tissue injuries often settle within six to twelve months. Cases involving surgery, serious injuries, or disputed liability take one to two years or more. I don't rush cases before you've reached maximum medical improvement, because settling too early means leaving money on the table. I also don't drag cases out unnecessarily.
Illinois follows modified comparative fault. If you are partially at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing. Insurance companies routinely try to assign you more fault than is warranted. I challenge those assignments with accident reconstruction, witness testimony, and traffic analysis.
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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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