Car accidents are the most common serious injury our clients face. Brandenburg & Rees provides complete legal support to people injured on Illinois roads, from the first call with an adjuster through settlement or trial, and you pay no fee unless we win.
What to do after a crash
- Get medical care, even if you feel fine. Neck, back, and head injuries often surface a day or two later, and a gap in treatment is the first thing an insurer will point to.
- Report the crash. Illinois requires a police report when a crash involves injury, death, or significant property damage.
- Document everything. Photos of the vehicles, the scene, the road, and your injuries. Names and numbers of witnesses.
- Notify your own insurer, but do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer before speaking with a lawyer.
- Keep the vehicle until it has been photographed and, if necessary, inspected.
Our article The First 72 Hours After a Car Accident in Illinois walks through these steps in detail.
Illinois rules that shape your claim
- Modified comparative fault. You can recover if you were 50 percent or less at fault, and your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
- Minimum insurance. Illinois requires drivers to carry liability coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injury. Serious injuries routinely exceed those limits, which is where uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy becomes critical.
- Two-year deadline. Most crash claims must be filed within two years. Crashes involving government vehicles or employees carry shorter notice requirements.
- Distracted and impaired driving. Illinois bans handheld phone use while driving. Phone records and, where available, vehicle data can establish what the other driver was doing.
What we do
- Case evaluation. A candid assessment of liability, damages, and available coverage.
- Investigation. Crash reports, 911 recordings, scene photographs, vehicle data, and witness statements, preserved before they disappear.
- Medical documentation. We work with your providers to document the full extent and future cost of your injuries.
- Insurance negotiation. We deal with the adjusters so you do not have to, and we handle medical liens and subrogation claims that reduce your net recovery.
- Litigation. When the offer does not match the injury, we file suit and prepare for trial.
Our published results include six-figure recoveries in seven automobile accident cases. See verdicts and settlements.
Common questions
The other driver was uninsured. Can I still recover?
Often, yes. Your own uninsured motorist coverage steps in when the at-fault driver has no insurance, and underinsured motorist coverage applies when their limits are too low. Illinois requires insurers to offer this coverage, and many policies include it.
Should I talk to the other driver's insurance company?
You are not required to. Their adjuster's job is to reduce what the company pays, and a recorded statement given early is frequently used against you. Let your attorney handle those communications.
What is my car accident case worth?
It depends on the severity and permanence of your injuries, your medical costs, lost income, the effect on your daily life, the clarity of fault, and the insurance available. We give you a realistic assessment after reviewing your medical picture, not a number on the first call.
How long does a car accident case take?
Straightforward claims can resolve in months once treatment is complete. Cases with disputed fault, serious injuries, or unreasonable insurers can take a year or more, especially if suit is filed.
This page provides general information about Illinois law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Brandenburg & Rees, LLP. Laws change and every situation is different; consult an attorney about your specific circumstances.
