Motor Vehicle Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are the most common causes of personal injuries and wrongful deaths.  According to statistics from the Illinois Department of Transportation, over 1,000 deaths and over 100,000 injuries occurred in Illinois motor vehicle accidents in 2007.  In addition to car accidents, motor vehicle accidents can include motorcycle accidents and pedestrians and bicyclists who are hit by motor vehicles.  Although these types of accidents are common, they are often complex and may involve other legal doctrines such as products liability if a defective product contributed to the accident.  Accidents involving large trucks and commercial vehicles can be particularly devastating; please see our trucking accidents page for further information about this unique type of motor vehicle accidents.

Illinois Insurance Laws

Illinois is a traditional insurance state, as opposed to a "no-fault" insurance state.  This means you may sue the person who was at fault for causing the accident to recover for your injuries and expenses.

Illinois law requires each driver to maintain the following amounts of motor vehicle insurance:

• Bodily Injury Liability: $20,000 (with a $40,000 limit per accident)
• Property Damage Liability: $15,000 limit

Uninsured Motorists

Unfortunately, many Illinois drivers fail to maintain the minimum levels of liability insurance.  To protect drivers who are injured in accidents caused by uninsured motorists, Illinois is one of several states that requires drivers to maintain uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage as part of their basic automobile insurance.  In addition to the foregoing insurance minimums, Illinois law requires drivers to maintain a minimum coverage of $20,000 per person (with a limit of $40,000 per accident) for bodily injury caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers.

Seek Experienced Legal Representation

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to another driver's negligence, it is important to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.  With over 175 years of combined legal experience, we have the expertise to successfully handle even the most complex motor vehicle accident case.  To schedule a free consultation to discuss your case, contact Harrington, Thompson, Acker & Harrington, Ltd. today.