Cook County Car Accident Lawyers Assert Victims’ Rights

Bridgeview, Illinois firm pursues full compensation for severe injuries

Greater Chicago, home to some 5.7 million residents, is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country, so there’s no shortage of opportunities for auto accidents. Cook County, encompassing Chicago and almost 130 other municipalities, has some of the most dangerous roadways in the state, including Halsted Street, Pulaski Road, Western Avenue and Cicero Avenue. The Illinois Department of Transportation reports that Cook County reported 399 traffic fatalities in 2022 and 379 in 2023. But statistics hardly matter when you’ve been hurt in an auto accident. Skinner Law Firm, P.C. in Bridgeview provides skilled representation aimed at obtaining the full compensation you deserve.

Types of car accidents in Cook County 

Most serious auto accidents occur at busy intersections, especially where freeways meet surface streets. The types of accidents we see frequently in our practice include:

• T-bones — This type of crash occurs when the front end of one vehicle strikes the side panel of another, forming a letter T. It can happen at an intersection when a vehicle runs a red light or makes an improper left turn. It can also occur when a car backs out of a driveway quickly without looking. 
• Side swipes — When cars are traveling on parallel paths and one veers slightly, they can collide, often disrupting the course of the impacted car.
• Head on collisions — This is the deadliest type of crash because the combined force of vehicles traveling in opposite directions leads to a heavy impact.
• Rear-end collisions — Aggressive driving and tailgating often cause rear-end crashes when the driver of the trailing car is inattentive or follows too closely, leaving inadequate stopping distance.
• Single vehicle accidents — Though most often the result of driver error, single vehicle accidents can occur due to mechanical failures or poor road conditions.
• Multi-vehicle accidents — Also called chain-reaction crashes, these collisions can be difficult to sort out, so liability becomes a complex issue.

Our legal team conducts thorough investigations to ascertain the cause of the crash and identify the at-fault parties.

Common injuries from car accidents 

The trauma of a motor vehicle accident can wreak havoc on the human body. We frequently represent car crash victims who have suffered one or more of the following:

• Head injuries — From mild abrasions to traumatic brain injury, head injuries demand immediate attention.
• Whiplash — The violent snapping of the head front to back or side to side can strain and tear soft tissue, leading to chronic pain and loss of mobility.
• Spinal cord injuries — Rough torqueing of the spine can cause bruising. When fibers of the spinal cord break, a person can become partially or fully paralyzed below the trauma point.
• Broken bones — Displaced fractures and other serious breaks often require surgery.
• Burn injuries — Fuel fires can inflict third degree burns causing disfigurement and loss of bodily function in the afflicted areas.
• Internal injuries — Organ damage and internal bleeding is not uncommon in high-speed collisions.
• Loss of limbs — Burns or crush injuries can necessitate amputation. In some cases, limbs are severed in the crash. 

While you are recovering from your injuries, our attorneys are hard at work, pursuing the full compensation you deserve.

Recovering damages after a car accident in Cook County 

Injured accident victims are entitled to compensation for their economic and noneconomic losses, which can include:

• Current and future medical expenses related to the injury 
• Rehabilitation expenses and costs related to permanent disability, such as travel expenses for treatments and home modifications like wheelchair ramps and handrails
• Lost earning and benefits due to missed work
• Future lost earnings due to diminished capacity to work
• Compensation for physical pain and mental suffering
• Compensation for loss of quality of life, enjoyment of life, and consortium

In most personal injury cases, punitive damages are not available. Exceptions are made when a defendant’s conduct has been outrageous, which in accident cases usually means or “willful and wanton.” 

Contact a Cook County auto accident attorney for a free initial consultation

Skinner Law Firm, P.C. represents victims of auto accidents throughout Cook County. Please call 312-635-6459 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation at our Bridgeview, Illinois office.