Every year, a thousand people are hurt, and hundreds of people die, in Cook County motor vehicle crashes. Each crash may cause physical trauma and emotional suffering that can last forever.
You want your life to return to the way it was before your wreck. The Law Office of Timothy J. Deffet is here to help you obtain that result. I will give you the personal attention that you need from an experienced lawyer who isn’t afraid to fight for your rights after any kind of Chicagoland auto accident.
Types of Car Crashes
Not all accidents are the same, but they can all have comparable effects on your life. I represent people hurt in the Chicagoland area and in many parts of the State of Illinois, including the counties of Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kane and Will, as well as Chicago, Joliet, Aurora, Waukegan, Oak Park, Geneva, Des Plaines, Evanston, Mt. Prospect, Rolling Meadows and Wheaton as well as clients in the neighborhoods of the northern, western and southern parts of Chicago:
- Car wrecks. Passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs, are involved in more accidents than other types of vehicles. Rear-end crashes, head-on collisions, and T-bones can all result in serious injuries or fatalities.
- Motorcycle crashes. Motorcyclists do not have seat belts, as car drivers do. Many times, motorcycle riders are seriously hurt in crashes that may cause minimal injuries to other motorists.
- Truck collisions. Large trucks can cause catastrophic injuries, and truck wreck cases can be extremely complicated in unwinding who may be at fault. The trucker, trucking company, or another motorist could be responsible for the wreck. An experienced lawyer, such as Timothy J. Deffet, can determine who is liable and help you make a good recovery.
- Bus collisions. Bus collisions, like truck crashes, can have more at issue than a car crash. The bus driver, bussing company, or even the government may be responsible for your crash.
- Limo wrecks. Limousines don’t always meet the same safety requirements as other vehicles, and limo passengers may not be wearing seat belts.
Causes of Car Accidents
Just as there are many types of auto accidents, there are many different reasons that accidents occur. In my Chicago office, I represent people who were injured throughout the Chicagoland area when another driver caused a wreck by:
- Aggressive driving. Aggressive drivers who go in and out of traffic, pass people on the shoulder, or speed up at intersections may lose control of their vehicles and cause accidents.
- Speeding. A driver who is traveling too fast for road conditions or over the speed limit may cause a crash.
- Distracted driving. Cell phones are the best-known form of distracted driving. However, anything that can distract a driver, or a driver’s mind off of driving safely, or take the driver’s hands off the wheel is a form of this type pf driving that can cause a collision.
- Drunk driving. Like other states, Illinois defines the crime of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) as having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. However, in a personal injury case, even a lower BAC may be relevant to your case, if someone is impaired.
- Drugged driving. Certain prescription medications and many illegal medications can make safe driving impossible. Drivers who operate vehicles while under the influence of drugs can cause serious crashes.
- Drowsy driving. There are studies that show drunk drivers and tired drivers act the same. A tired driver may swerve out of a lane, not stop when they should, miss a red light or stop sign, and cause a crash.
Any of the above may cause a serious accident and injury may occur.
Common Injuries That Happen in Car Crashes
A car crash may cause temporary or permanent injuries. Either way, you deserve compensation for all of these injuries, which may or may not include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Paralysis
- Herniated disc in the back or neck
- Back issues
- Anxiety and depression
- PTSD
- Pregnancy complications
Car accidents also cause deaths. After a fatal crash, the surviving family members may file a wrongful death claim against the negligent driver.
How to Protect Your Rights After a Chicagoland Auto Crash
The first step is up to you. If you contact my Chicagoland law firm, we can make sure that you know:
• What to do after an accident. Certain steps, such as getting medical care and preserving important evidence, can make an essential difference in your legal recovery.
- What compensation you may receive after a motor vehicle crash. In Missouri, your compensation may include but may not be limited to past and future medical expenses, lost income, out of pocket costs, physical pain, and emotional suffering.
- How long you have to file a case. In most cases, the Missouri statute of limitations gives you five years to file a motor vehicle accident case. If you wait any longer, then you may be unable to recover any compensation for your injuries.
- For more detailed information, see Tim’s Ten Tips on What to Do After Getting Into a Car Accident in Chicago
Mr. Deffet’s career has focused strictly on trial practice. He has spent time defending and prosecuting civil claims, as well as defending criminal and DUI cases. This has given him a unique experience and knowledge of the law. He knows how a defense attorney handling a personal injury claim assesses a case in a certain way to help his client. He knows what attorneys on the other side are looking for because he has been there himself. He knows how to prosecute and try cases from a plaintiff’s perspective and is always working hard to perfect his craft as a trial lawyer.
Contact Me Today
Contact me today to learn more about your rights. The first consultation is always free, and if we establish an attorney-client relationship, then I may represent you on a contingency fee basis, which means that you won’t owe me any hourly fees. Instead, our fee will be an agreed-upon percentage of your recovery.