Naperville Car Accident Lawyers
If you suffered injuries in a car accident in Naperville, Chicago, or one of the surrounding communities, you may be entitled to a sizeable financial award.
When you’re in pain, traumatized, and you’re dealing with doctors and surgeons and ongoing medical care, however, the last thing you need is to be negotiating with a reluctant insurance adjuster.
Contact our experienced Naperville car accident lawyers at Chute, O’Malley, Knobloch & Turcy, and let our legal team shoulder the challenges of your injury case so you can focus on your recovery.
- Se Habla Español
- 50+ Years of Combined Experience
- Risk-Free Consultations
- You Don’t Pay Unless We Win
Case Result
$2.05M
Case Result
$1.5M
Case Result
$1.25M
Case Result
$640,000
Table of Contents
ToggleWhy Trust Our Car Accident Attorneys?
Our team of Naperville car accident attorneys brings decades of combined experience to help you win your case. We’ve recovered millions in compensation for our clients, demonstrating our commitment to achieving optimal results. Our attorneys are known for their aggressive representation, personalized approach, and in-depth knowledge of the complicated injury laws in Illinois. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. With our resources, skill, and unwavering dedication, we’ll fight tirelessly to secure the compensation you are entitled to receive.
We’ll Maximize Your Compensation
Complicated injury cases often involve multiple at-fault parties and numerous insurance policies. Even if liability in your car accident case initially appears to be cut and dry, our attorneys will investigate to determine whether additional sources of compensation may be available. We’ll help you file claims against all at-fault drivers, negligent vehicle manufacturers, and even government entities who played a role in causing your injuries.
We’ll Create Personalized Legal Strategies
You are not just another injury case when you hire our law firm. Your satisfaction, your well-being, and your full recovery, are important to us. Your case outcome is not successful unless you’re happy with the results. To ensure we deliver first class legal representation to you and your family, our attorneys will evaluate all the details of your accident, the ways your injuries impact your life, and your goals to create a customized legal strategy that’s specific to your case.
We Won’t Charge Upfront Fees
You shouldn’t have to worry about the cost of hiring a car accident attorney, or paying for legal fees when you’re already dealing with the aftermath of a crash that was caused by someone else. To make sure injured people in Naperville have access to legal representation to help them pursue compensation for their losses without any additional financial risk, we handle car accident cases on contingency. We’ll only charge you attorney fees if we win your case.
Client Testimonials
“My wife was head on hit in her lane while driving home. She had multiple injuries and the car was totaled.
Although the at fault driver got 5 tickets for the violence driving, but the worst case was that driver does not have insurance.
Michael Knobloch helped us go through the difficult time. One year later, we got the settlement with my own car insurance company for the compensation, and my health insurance company for the huge medical bill. We are very happy with the results. Thanks a lot, Mike.”
Everyone was outstanding, great communication and helpful in explaining how this process would work.
I highly recommend Tom and his team.
I was unceremoniously included in a physics lesson that the driver behind me was forced to learn because a cigarette had the opportunity to demonstrate the laws of gravity as well as angular momentum to the driver. After the accident I wanted legal advice but all of the heavily advertised law firms had that “Better Call Saul” / ambulance chaser feel. What I wanted was a Law Firm that I felt comfortable with and I could trust. So, I asked my Uncle for a recommendation. Chute, O’Malley, Knobloch & Turcy was at the top of his list as well as his friends list. My Uncle and his friends and been using this Law Firm for decades for much more serious injuries than mine. Thomas Chute was my lawyer and he was excellent. That said, what I was most impressed with was the staff. Each was a joy to interact with, got my dark sense of humor and were thoroughly knowledgeable about what questions they could and could not answer with regard to legal inquires. The fact that every person, including Thomas, was a joy to work work with speaks volumes to the leadership at Chute, O’Malley, Knobloch & Turcy.
Understanding the Basics of Car Accident Claims in Naperville
Understanding the basics of car accident cases can help you navigate the claims process more effectively if you’re involved in a car accident in Naperville.
What’s Involved in an Illinois Car Accident Case?
Illinois is an at-fault state when it comes to car accidents. This means that the driver who is determined to be responsible for causing the accident is also responsible for any resulting damages or injuries. When you pursue damages for your car accident injuries and losses, you’ll need to consider the following.
Proving Fault
After an accident, it’s crucial to gather evidence that can help establish who was at fault. This may include police reports, witness statements, and photographs of the accident scene. The more evidence you have that demonstrates negligence on the part of the other driver or drivers, the better your chances of recovering compensation.
Insurance Claims
The at-fault driver’s insurance company is typically responsible for covering the costs of damages and injuries to other parties involved in the accident. Not all insurance policies have equal amounts of coverage, however. If the at-fault driver’s insurance policy limits are not high enough to cover your losses, additional policies or other sources of compensation may be available.
Comparative Negligence
Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule in personal injury cases. This means that if you’re found to be more than 50% at fault for the accident, you cannot recover damages from the other party. If you are 50% or less at fault for the accident, you can recover compensation, but your award will be reduced accordingly.
Statute of Limitations
In Illinois, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, and five years for property damage claims. Exceptions may apply to your case, and an attorney can provide you with case-specific information. Just remember – if you wait too long to hire a car accident lawyer and take legal action, you will lose your right to recover compensation through the legal system.
Minimum Insurance Requirements
All drivers in Illinois are required to carry minimum liability insurance coverage to protect against losses incurred in motor vehicle accidents. Minimum coverage requirements in Illinois are: $25,000 for the injury or death of one person, $50,000 for the injuries or deaths suffered by two or more people, and $20,000 in property damage coverage.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
UM/UIM coverage can protect you if you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance, doesn’t have enough coverage, or leaves the scene of a crash. To recover compensation in one of these situations, you’ll need to file a claim against your own insurance policy. Keep in mind – just because it’s your own insurer doesn’t mean the adjuster will play fair. Concerns over their own bottom line will take priority over your recovery.
How to Recover Compensation in a Naperville Car Accident Case
In most car accident cases in Illinois, victims start the recovery process by filing claims against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy. Sometimes, further investigation leads to claims or lawsuits against additional at-fault parties, however, like parts manufacturers, mechanics, or government entities. If you hire a car accident lawyer to handle your case, he or she will determine who you can file a claim against, and take care of this part for you.
To increase your chances of recovering compensation, your lawyer will gather evidence to submit to the insurance company, including information about the amount of your losses. This is typically when car accident settlement negotiations begin.
Will your car accident case go to trial? Probably not. It is a common misconception in Illinois that complicated claims and those with severe injuries always lead to lengthy trials. However, while the insurance company will usually fight harder against high-value car accident claims that involve large payouts, roughly 95% of injury cases still settle out of court.
What Are Damages in a Car Accident Case?
In a car accident case, “damages” refer to the financial compensation that an injured party may be entitled to receive. The compensatory damages are intended to cover the losses suffered as a result of the accident. In Naperville and throughout Illinois, damages in a car accident case typically fall into two main categories: economic and non-economic damages. In some cases, punitive damages are awarded as well.
Economic Damages
Economic damages, also known as “special damages”, are the financial, or material, losses suffered by the car accident victim. These losses are calculated by adding up medical bills, statements, and receipts, evaluating wage and earnings statements, and sometimes consulting with financial experts. Your damages in a car accident case might include:
- Lost Wages
- Medical Care
- Medications
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages, or “general damages”, are the non-financial losses suffered because of your accident. These losses are subjective. They are more difficult to assign a monetary value to since they are not linked to bills or financial statements. After a car accident, non-economic damages might include:
- Physical Pain
- Emotional Trauma
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages may be awarded in your car accident case if the at-fault driver’s behavior was particularly egregious or intentional. These are different from compensatory damages, which are intended to make the victim “whole”. Instead, punitive damages are designed to punish the wrongdoer and prevent similar acts from occurring in the future. They might be awarded in cases involving:
- Aggressive Driving
- Drunk Driving
- Hit-and Run Accidents
How Much Is Your Car Accident Claim Really Worth?
More Videos About Car Accident Cases
Illinois Car Accident Statistics
- Illinois drivers travel an estimated 100 billion miles every year.
- An average of 285,000 motor vehicle crashes happen annually in the state.
- Of those, more than 1,100 are fatality accidents that cause approximately 1,260 deaths.
Most auto accidents that result in severe injuries or deaths involve speeding, alcohol consumption, or distracted driving. Nearly all crashes can be prevented.