How Our Springfield Car Accident Attorneys Help
Car Accident Case Illustration
According to driving-tests.org, approximately 229,000 U.S. drivers drove more than three trillion miles in 2019. In the same year, there were 36,096 fatalities from car accidents. Many of today’s drivers are chronically distracted, tired, impaired, careless, or reckless while behind the wheel. This makes the roadways more dangerous and the average driver much more likely to be hit by another motorist. Consider the following car accident case illustration.
Tamara takes her children to school each morning and picks them up in the afternoon. As she leaves the school one morning, she remembers she needs to stop by the grocery store. Conscious of the fact that she is still in the school zone, Tamara carefully watches her speed and looks out for children. Suddenly, a driver on her right runs the stop sign, causing a side-impact car accident. Jill, the driver of the other vehicle, and her children are shaken up, but unhurt. When Jill struck Tamara’s car, Tamara’s head slammed into her driver’s side window. She is bleeding from her head and unconscious when the ambulance arrives.
Hospital staff diagnoses Tamara with severe whiplash and a serious concussion. She will be in the hospital for several days and then will be allowed to go home. Concussions are a milder form of traumatic brain injury, occurring when the brain is slammed inside the skull. Concussions can cause loss of consciousness, headaches, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, nausea, fatigue, slurred speech, blurry vision, confusion, and more. A serious concussion can result in difficulty with balance, problems controlling emotions, and memory issues. While the short-term effects of a concussion can last for weeks, long-term issues can persist for months, maybe years.
While Tamara does not work outside the home, she now finds herself unable to drive, go to the grocery, cook meals, and do any of the things she once did on a daily basis. She experiences lingering memory issues and finds herself unexpectedly dizzy and nauseous. Her headaches are debilitating, forcing her to spend time in bed. Tamara speaks to the car accident lawyers at the Noll Law Office. The Noll Law Office personal injury attorneys immediately begin gathering information to hold Jill’s insurance company financially liable for Tamara’s injuries. Tamara can finally put all her energy into healing, knowing her future is protected.
Illinois Car Accident Statistics
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 9,170,304 licensed drivers in the State of Illinois in 2019. During the same year, there were 312,988 car collisions, resulting in 1,010 deaths, and 9,685 serious injuries. Speed is a factor in many car accidents across the nation. In the United States, excess speed killed more than 10,000 people in 2016, accounting for about 27 percent of all traffic fatalities. A survey of American drivers found that almost half of all drivers do not consider driving 10 miles over the speed limit speeding.
What Are the Most Common Injuries Following a Springfield Car Accident?
Broken bones and fractures, cuts, scrapes, abrasions, sprains, strains, bruising, and soft-tissue injuries are the most common injuries seen after a car accident. Soft-tissue injuries include whiplash, which is an extremely common injury following a car accident. Although soft-tissue injuries are accompanied by pain and other debilitating symptoms, they can be difficult to prove. While tests like X-rays, can clearly show a broken bone, brain injury, or damaged organ, soft tissue injuries are different.
While many soft tissue injuries will resolve in weeks, or perhaps several months, others may persist, causing chronic pain and other symptoms. Having experienced car accident lawyers from Noll Law Office can make the difference between a full, fair settlement, and one that does not cover your medical bills. Along with your treating physicians, Daniel and Sarah Noll will help you get back on your feet—physically, emotionally, and financially.
What Should I Do Following a Car Accident?
Many of us know the basics of what we should do following a car accident. Call 911, get immediate medical attention, and when able, take photos of the scene and obtain witness contact information. Once home, contact your insurer and write down any details you remember about the accident. But do you know what you should not do following a car accident? Below is a list of things you should never do following a Springfield Illinois car accident:
- You should never let the other driver persuade you not to call the police.
- You should never wait to go to the doctor.
- You should never admit fault—until you have spoken with an attorney.
- Never, ever speak to the other person’s insurance company without a lawyer.
- Accepting the first settlement offer from the insurance company is virtually never a good idea.
- Never provide a written statement to the insurance company or agree to be recorded.
- Avoid posting anything about your car accident on social media.
- Never agree to allow anyone to access your medical records.
What you should always do is seek medical attention and then consult with knowledgeable Springfield car accident lawyers as soon as possible following your accident. This will ensure your rights are protected.
How Do I Choose the Best Car Accident Attorney for Me?
When you are injured and in pain, it can be difficult to think of hiring car accident lawyers. However, once you have hired an attorney, you can focus on healing from your injuries. Your attorney will handle all the legal issues associated with your car accident. The Noll Law Office injury attorneys are experienced and local. They will be with you throughout the case so you will not be shuffled from one attorney to another.
What is the Car Accident Injury Claim Process?
Your attorneys will first definitively prove fault in your car accident. They do this through police reports, reports from the insurance company, and our own investigation. Once liability is proven, negotiations begin. The lawyers will gather all the evidence necessary to build a strong case on your behalf. They will present a demand letter to the at-fault driver’s insurance company and negotiations will begin. If the insurance company refuses to pay what your claim is worth, they will aggressively advocate for you. A judge or jury will determine the merits of your claim and, if successful, you will receive an award for your damages. When you have Noll Law Office attorneys by your side, your case will be zealously prosecuted through the civil justice system.
How Long Will My Car Accident Injury Claim Take?
The biggest determining factor on the length of a case is how long treatment takes to get you back to maximum medical improvement. Once treatment is done, negotiated settlements usually take a few months to complete. If your injury claim goes to court, that time could be much longer. Once in the court system, most cases will be taken to trial within one to two years. If your attorney negotiates a fair settlement, you usually receive your check within six weeks.
If your case is decided at trial, you should also receive your check within six weeks of the verdict unless the case is appealed. The size of the verdict will be based upon the evidence presented at court but it should include reimbursement for all your present and future related medical expenses, as well as lost wages, and pain and suffering. Your exact recovery will depend on proving liability, the extent of your injuries, and how those injuries have impacted your life.
How the Noll Law Office Can Help
The car accident lawyers at the Noll Law Office has a long history of service to their community and neighbors. Attorneys Sarah and Daniel Noll have updated their law firm to use modern technology coupled with old fashion face to face client communication. They believe in helping clients achieve their goals through honest communication, hard work and experience. If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Springfield or anywhere in Central Illinois, contact the Noll Law Office today. They are ready to help.