Our vehicles take us wherever we need to go. A responsible car owner will properly maintain their vehicle and ensure they follow the rules of the road when they’re driving. Unfortunately, not all drivers are responsible. In the event you’re involved in a crash that someone else caused, you’ll benefit from working with a Plainfield car accident lawyer from Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP.
When you’re involved in a crash, it’s normal to experience shock, fear, and possibly anger. It’s important to do your best to stay calm and evaluate the situation. You may or may not be suffering from injuries. Either way, you’ll want to call 911 for emergency responder assistance.
Once you speak with the police, trade information with the other driver involved, and receive medical attention, you should be able to return home to rest and recover. In the event you’re dealing with serious injuries, extensive property damage, or lost wages from time away from work, you’ll want to consider filing a personal injury claim.
Car Accidents in Plainfield, Illinois
While Plainfield is a fairly small village located in both Kendall and Will counties, it does experience its fair share of car accidents. While most only result in property damage and some minor injuries, the area has experienced fatal crashes as well.
For example, a collision in February 2020 resulted in two people getting injured and one woman dying from accident-related injuries. The accident happened on Route 126 between Meadow Lane and Indian Boundary. A man lost control of his Toyota Camry and struck a BMW. The passenger in the Camry was killed and the other two were transported to a local hospital.
Throughout the entire state, there were 319,146 crashes in 2018. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, injury crashes accounted for 21.1% of the wrecks, and less than one percent were fatal.
Between Will and Kendall counties, there were more than 17,000 accidents in 2018. The majority of those crashes were the result of human error. Distracted driving, speeding, drunk driving, and other forms of reckless driving were common factors.
If you’ve been involved in a crash in Plainfield, an accident attorney can help you file a claim to seek compensation for your losses. We’ll guide you through the process and ensure you have everything you need to handle what you’ve been through.
Dealing With the Aftermath of a Car Crash
Auto wrecks affect victims in more than one way. Initially after a crash, you want to see to your physical injuries. Depending on the severity of the accident you were involved in, you could be dealing with serious lacerations, broken bones, burn injuries, spinal cord damage, or head trauma. You’ll want to see a doctor as soon as possible so they can evaluate your injuries.
Once you have an official diagnosis and treatment plan, you’ll have a better idea of what your recovery will involve and what you’ll need to do to maximize your chances of getting your life back in order as quickly as possible.
While the physical injuries have to be dealt with first, it’s important to understand the likelihood of developing psychological trauma. Car accident victims may experience depression, anxiety, fear of driving, sleeplessness, nightmares, mood swings, and other behavioral changes. They may also develop post traumatic stress disorder.
Coping with your mental health is just as important as tending to your physical injuries. You may need to seek therapy from a counselor or psychologist. It’s normal for some individuals to attend therapy sessions for weeks or even months after a crash, especially if fatalities were involved. Others may use medication to help them cope with distressing emotional trauma.
While it’s most important to focus on your health and well-being after an accident, there may come a point where you also need to worry about your finances. Medical bills add up quickly—especially when surgeries and physical therapy are involved. If you needed to take a significant amount of time off of work, you may not have your standard income to rely on for your regular bills, let alone additional expenses.
If you’re struggling financially and believe another party caused your accident, that’s when it’s time to contact a car accident lawyer to determine what your rights are and what legal options are available to you.
Preventing Traffic Accidents in Plainfield
The state of Illinois has a number of programs and initiatives in place to encourage safe driving. The Illinois Tollway, in particular, is dedicated to exploring ways to develop and promote road safety. Their most recent initiatives include the following:
- Work Zone Safety. During the 2020 construction season, the Illinois Tollway partnered with the Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Police to remind drivers to be prepared, stay focused, and watch for workers.
- Drop It And Drive. The Drop It and Drive campaign focuses on discouraging using a cellphone while driving. In Illinois it’s illegal to use an electronic communication device at any time while driving, including when stopped at a traffic signal. The fine for a first offense is $75, $100 for a second offense, $125 for a third offense, and $150 for a fourth or subsequent offense. If a driver gets three or more moving violations within a year period, they risk the suspension of their license.
- Give Them Distances. Give Them Distance promotes Illinois’ Move Over Law, which requires drivers to slow down, move over, and change lanes, if possible, in order to make extra room for any stopped vehicle with flashing lights. This campaign expands awareness of the importance of this law, which was signed in 2002 as Scott’s Law to protect first responders and roadway workers.
While the programs above encourage drivers to do their best behind the wheel and remain focused on the road and what’s going on around them, there are still some drivers that choose to negligently operate their vehicles. Fortunately, accident victims can take legal action to hold them accountable for their negligence.
Recover Compensation for Your Injuries and Losses
If you’re in the process of dealing with the consequences of a crash you didn’t cause, you’ll benefit from seeking legal guidance and representation from a Plainfield car accident lawyer from Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP.
While you focus on recovering physically and emotionally from the wreck, we can help manage your financial losses by filing a car accident claim on your behalf. When you reach out to us to pursue a claim, we’ll investigate your accident, speak with experts to determine the cause of the crash and how the other driver was at fault, and we’ll build a claim with the goal of maximizing the compensation you’re owed for your losses.
Depending on the situation, you could be eligible for different types of compensation, including economic and noneconomic. Economic damages cover losses like medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. Noneconomic damages are for more subjective losses like pain and suffering and loss of a normal life. Your attorney will be sure to properly value your claim and fight to maximize your full and fair compensation.
While there are some car accident claims that are fairly straightforward, many are complex. Because of this and because of how the value of evidence depreciates over time, it’s important to get in touch with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. When you’re ready, contact us to schedule an obligation free case evaluation. We’ll discuss the merits of your potential claim and help you decide how best to proceed to secure your future.
