Creating A Solid Legal Defense

If you or a loved one have recently been involved in a motor vehicle accident, it is crucial to speak with a personal injury attorney. It is easy to think that you should call a lawyer. However, when the insurance company approves the charges, even if you do not agree with them, it may seem more prudent to comply with the decisions made by your insurance company. Doing so may be a good financial decision now, as you are less likely to owe anything out- of- pocket, but it could also raise your insurance cost and stay on your driving record for many years. 

Therefore, it makes sense that speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney will be helpful, so that you can do the right thing for yourself and the other driver.

Understand Your Insurance Policy And Know What To Expect

As of March 2015, Illinois requires any vehicle owned or driven in the state to have a minimum amount of insurance. That covers the other vehicle as well as the driver and any passengers that were in the car at the time of the accident. 

That includes:

• $20,000 per person
• $40,000 per accident bodily damage
• $15,000 for property damage liability

It is important to note that you can increase the coverage on your vehicle. If you were involved in an accident that caused severe injuries, those amounts could be drained quickly. You also have the legal right to be contacted by the insurance company handling the case within 21 days of the accident to update you about the case.

Why Would You Fight The Insurance Company?

If the insurance company, either yours or the other driver's, is holding you responsible for causing or contributing to the damage from the accident, you are undoubtedly in a difficult situation. There are two big problems that could be occurring immediately after that, both of which could be catastrophic for many people.

If the dollar amount of the accident caused more financial damage than your insurance policy covers, the other party is unlikely to simply walk away. Instead, they can take you to court and sue for the balance of what has not been paid by your insurance company. That includes rental car expenses, repairing or replacing their vehicle, medical costs and pain and suffering.    

It is obvious that by speaking with a knowledgeable car crash attorney, you can get a more thorough examination of the case and have someone who is advocating for you. Insurance companies want to pay as little as possible and may not always be able to send an extended period of time on each case. Mistakes are possible and you could be paying for that mistake for many years, in the form of higher insurance costs and a black mark on your driving record.   

In addition, insurance and personal injury laws in the state of Illinois can often be confusing. Because Illinois is not a no-fault state, where recovery costs after an accident are limited, your expenses after an accident that you are accused of starting could be monumental.

In conclusion, you should contact an attorney to protect your rights, your lifestyle and your driving record. If you did not cause the accident or even if you are not sure whether or not it was your fault, your attorney, such as someone from the Law Office Of Daniel E Goodman, can protect your interests.