Taylorville Car Accident Case Illustration
If you’ve been involved in a car accident Taylorville, Illinois, your injuries could be severe, preventing you from returning to work or altering your life forever. The situation can be stressful and overwhelming. Speaking to knowledgeable Taylorville car accident lawyers can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. The Noll Law Office can answer your questions and help you make informed decisions on how to move forward with your case. The Noll Law Office attorneys are local, central Illinois attorneys who believe that struggling families should be able to meet directly with their lawyers and receive honest, direct advice on how to handle the insurance claims process. Consider the following case illustration:
Charlie is on his way to buy groceries when another driver slams into the rear of his car. Charlie is taken to the ER, where he is diagnosed with whiplash— and minor concussion. While Charlie is relieved his injuries are not more severe, he now suffers from stiff neck pain, back pain, and headaches. He also has vertigo and eye spots that comes and go. His employer won’t let him return to his job as a roofer until he is medically cleared from his doctor. Charlie’s doctor won’t clear him to return to work until the concussion fades. If Charlie doesn’t work, he cannot pay his family’s monthly rent and utility expenses. The other driver’s insurance company is implying Charlie’s injuries are not that severe, refusing to pay him a reasonable settlement. Charlie decides it is time to contact experienced Taylorville car accident lawyers to help him with the ongoing insurance claim.
The Noll Law Office can help in these situations. They know how to take the depositions of medical doctors, and obtain deposition testimony, explaining why it is unsafe for persons with concussions to work with large tools or high altitudes until their symptoms resolve. The lawyers know how to file complaints with the Illinois Department of Insurance and can help the client understand the seemingly never-ending paperwork that accompanies insurance claims. The Noll Law Office regularly works with local medical providers, knows how to negotiate medical records and bills, and can make sure the same are submitted to the insurance companies involved. Better yet, the Noll Law Office is situated in Central Illinois, and its lawyers live directly between Taylorville, Illinois, and Springfield, Illinois, so that the attorneys are readily available to help local families.
Local Accident Resources
Those injured in a Taylorville car accident may find the following accident resources helpful:
- Taylorville Memorial Hospital—201 E Pleasant Street, Taylorville, IL 62568—(217) 707-5555
- Taylorville Urgent Care—1510 W. Springfield Road, Taylorville, IL 62568—(217) 824-8244
- Taylorville Police Department—108 West Vine Street, Taylorville, IL 62568—(217) 824-2211
What Are Common Injuries Following a Car Accident?
Car accident injuries can range from relatively minor to catastrophic. “Typical” car accident injuries include cuts, scrapes, sprains, strains, bruising, concussions, fractures, spinal injuries, and shoulder and knee injuries. Perhaps the most common injury resulting from a car accident are sprain and strain type injuries, that involve tearing or stress of the muscles and ligaments following the impact of the vehicles. Unfortunately, whiplash is not always taken as seriously as it should be. As a soft-tissue injury, whiplash can be more difficult to prove because torn muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues do not show up on x-rays in the same way that bones do. This causes many insurance companies to refuse to pay for medical treatment associated with whiplash injuries that oftentimes require physical therapy and other exercises to strengthen the area and increase the range of motion of the body part affected.
According to Harvard Health, strain injuries are typically divided into three grades. Grade I strains are minor, with normal strength and only a few torn or strained muscle fibers. Grade II strains are more severe, and typically involve severely painful muscles that are swollen with an obvious loss of strength. Grade II strains have a larger number of injured fibers and injured muscle. Grade III strains are the most severe and occur when the muscle tears away from the tendon or is ripped into multiple pieces. These types of strains typically require surgery because they cause almost a complete loss of function of the muscle.
What Should I Do Following My Car Accident?
You should always contact the police (Taylorville Police Department, Christian County Sheriff’s Office or Illinois State Police) and seek medical attention following your car accident. Equally important, speak to experienced Taylorville car accident lawyers from the Noll Law Office as soon as possible. As soon as you are home from the hospital, you may receive a phone call from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. They may ask you for a recorded statement – which is almost always a bad idea. The statement is recorded in order for the insurance agent to attempt to avoid coverage. The questions asked are usually posed in such a way that they can be construed later to change or minimize liability or to minimize your injuries.
You are not legally obligated to make a statement to the insurance company without first consulting an attorney. If you receive such a call, tell the insurer that you will have your lawyer contact them. Don’t answer questions about your medical condition unless your doctor has provided you with a diagnosis, and never agree to sign anything or accept a quick (low) settlement offer. The goal of insurance companies is to pay out as little as possible. Once you agree to settle, the insurance company can attempt to file a motion to enforce settlement even if you continue to receive medical bills. That can be financially devastating for hard working, central Illinois families.
When you talk to the insurance company you may inadvertently say something that can be taken out of context. In turn, this may allow the insurer to deny your claim.. Your car accident lawyers from the Noll Law Office practice law in Taylorville. You can avoid the big, Chicago-style law firms in which you rarely speak to a seasoned attorney. In the era of Zoom court appearances and mass media, you can rest assured that the Noll Law Office is a family owned, family operated law firm dedicated to helping other local Illinois families. Its attorneys are aggressive and experienced, but provide compassionate counsel to their clients.
How Do I Choose the Best Car Accident Lawyer for Me?
When you choose a lawyer for your car accident in Taylorville, Illinois, you will want attorneys you can trust and who have extensive litigation experience. The attorneys at the Noll Law Office believe strongly in honest, open communication with every client. They have a track record of success in these types of cases. The Nolls have significant ties to the Christian County community and are present in the area often. Their office is located in the historic Great Western Depot in Springfield, and their home is a short drive on Interstate 29 to Taylorville.
What is the Car Accident Injury Claim Process?
Once you have received medical attention and have retained an attorney from the Noll Law Office, the law firm will immediately begin advocating for the support you need. The Noll Law Office attorneys will manage contact with the at-fault driver’s insurance company on your bodily injury claim and help you calculate a fair settlement claim for filing. They know how to put together a comprehensive demand that includes police and medical reports, video footage (if it exists), witness observations, photographs, and more.
With your agreement, they will then submit a demand letter to the other driver’s insurance company. The demand letter highlights arguments about fault, the extent of your financial damage due to injuries, such as lost wages and medical bills, and additional damages like pain and suffering. They will negotiate on your behalf. If the insurance company won’t agree to the demand, the attorneys are able to litigate in Christian County (or the proper court of competent jurisdiction) and a jury or judge can determine the outcome.
How is Fault Determined in Taylorville, IL Car Accidents?
Fault may be determined in a variety of ways. The police report may clearly identify traffic violations and the officer may issue citations.. The insurance company may hire their own investigators to determine which driver was at fault. In some cases, the Event Data Recorder of each vehicle may be used to determine fault. Sometimes known as the “black box,” the EDR records information from the five seconds prior to a collision. This information can include speed, speed change, engine throttle percentage, braking status, and more. Older vehicles may not include an EDR but most vehicles manufactured after 2013 have one.
In more serious cases, the Illinois State Police will provide crash reconstruction services. These reports require extensive time and resources and often take up to six months to complete. The Noll Law Office has experience with these sorts of investigations and how to use the same in civil lawsuits to assist their injured clients.
How Can Noll Law Office Help?
If you or your loved one has been injured in an automobile crash, the car accident lawyers at the Noll Law Office would be honored to represent you or your loved one in Taylorville, Illinois. They continually seek positive outcomes for central Illinois families and work hard to help their injured clients. You will work with a local, experienced attorney directly throughout the entire process. You will not be shuffled off to an attorney fresh out of law school, or a paralegal who does not litigate the case. The Noll Law Office provides Taylorville clients with aggressive advocacy, honest advice, and compassionate counsel. Contact the Noll Law Office today.