Villa Park Car Accident Attorneys

With millions of motorists on the road, car accidents are incredibly common. While most collisions are minor fender benders or bumper-to-bumper scrapes, some accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries. If you were hurt in a wreck, turn to our Villa Park car accident attorneys to discuss your options. From auto accidents to dog bites to wrongful deaths, we’ve helped our clients secure millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS to connect with one of our lawyers.

How Much Is My Auto Accident Claim Worth?

From your repair costs to your medical bills, your accident-related expenses can add up at an alarming rate in the wake of a wreck. It’s an immense financial burden that could decimate your savings, leaving you and your family struggling to stay afloat. As such, you may be eager to find out what your claim is worth as a fair settlement could be a safety net during these uncertain times. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee a specific outcome for your case. No attorney can. However, we can help with all aspects of your claim such as collecting evidence, overseeing settlement negotiations, and representing you in court if necessary. Here are a few factors we may consider when estimating the potential recovery in your case:

• Were You Unable to Work Due to Your Injuries? If you had to take time off work, either because you were in hospital or while following orders to rest, you may be entitled to compensation for lost income. Additionally, if your injuries inhibit your ability to earn a living—and are likely to do so in the future—your attorney might be able to build a case for lost income-earning capacity.
• How Serious Are Your Injuries? Catastrophic injuries tend to cause high levels of pain and cost far more to treat than relatively minor conditions. As such, the extent of your injuries will usually have a major influence over the potential recovery in your case. For example, if you suffered a traumatic brain injury, you would likely be seeking a greater sum than someone who sprained their arm.
• Have You Experienced Pain, Anxiety, or Humiliation? While there are no receipts for emotional distress or invoices for suffering, the psychological effects of your injuries can degrade your quality of life. As such, plaintiffs in a personal injury case have a right to seek compensation for so-called non-economic damages. Your attorney can review your claim to determine whether these losses are available. He or she may also instruct you to start a personal injury journal to track your pain levels, symptoms, doctor’s visits, medication side effects, and limitations.
• Did You Play a Role in Causing the Accident? In some cases, one party may be entirely responsible for causing your injuries. However, it’s not uncommon for liability to be shared between multiple parties including yourself. For instance, if you were hit by a drunk driver but it emerges that you were making an illegal U-turn, you may be held partially responsible for causing the accident. Alternatively, if you failed to take sufficient steps to mitigate damages after the accident—i.e., you ignored your doctor’s instructions—the insurance company may refuse to compensate you for some of your damages.

Elements of a Personal Injury Journal

A car wreck can be a traumatic experience. As such, you may think you’ll never forget the visceral details of this sudden accident. However, even these vivid memories will fade over time. Weeks or months after the accident you may struggle to recall important information that could help you prove your claim. At HPIL, we may advise you to start a personal injury journal. This diary is a space for you to write a firsthand account of how the accident happened, track your pain levels and symptoms, and record any other important information related to your injuries and recovery. Here are a few items you should include in your journal:

• A Written Account of the Accident: What were you doing in the moments before the accident? What did the other parties involved say immediately afterwards? Were there any onlookers who could help corroborate your version of events? Did police officers respond to the scene? The answers to these questions could assist your attorney with their investigation. For example, he or she may want to interview eyewitnesses to determine whether their statements could help prove liability and damages.
• Pain Levels, Symptoms, and Limitations: Even minor conditions can lead to significant pain and suffering. While you might not have receipts to demonstrate the psychological effects of your injuries, you can pursue compensation for such losses. Your attorney will rely on a wide range of evidence to prove these non-economic damages including your personal injury journal. As such, you should be diligent about tracking your pain levels by describing the nature, duration, and severity of these sensations whenever they occur. It’s often recommended to grade your pain levels on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 representing extreme pain levels that make it impossible to focus on anything else.
• Doctor’s Visits: During follow-ups and consultations with specialists, you should take notes on what your healthcare providers have said. Not only can this make it easier to keep track of their instructions, but it may also help your attorney demonstrate that you have stuck rigidly to your treatment plan.

Speak to a Villa Park Car Accident Attorney Today

Our operators are available day and night, seven days a week. Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS or switch over to our Contact Form to arrange your free consultation.