This page was written and legally reviewed by Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates‘ team of Illinois Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyers.

Car crashes often result in serious injuries that can lead to years of suffering and substantial financial losses. To make matters worse, many collisions are preventable and are caused by someone else’s negligence.

If you were hurt in a collision that wasn’t your fault, an Aurora personal injury lawyer with Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates is ready to help you obtain maximum compensation for your injuries. Our firm has decades of experience in this area of the law, and we’ll fight for your best interests. 

You can schedule a free case review by contacting us online or calling (800) 985-1819.

Aurora car accident lawyer

How much does it cost to hire an Aurora car accident lawyer?

At Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, our attorneys are highly experienced, and our investigations are exhaustive—all without you paying any of our fees upfront. You won’t pay us anything out-of-pocket for your consultation or when you first hire us. This means that you won’t pay unless we win your case. Our payment is a percentage of your settlement or damages award, so you don’t suffer a loss by hiring the best Aurora car accident lawyer.

What should I do after being in a crash?

Being involved in a car wreck is stressful and can be disorienting, leaving you wondering what to do. If you find yourself in this situation, following these simple steps can dramatically impact your health and any potential claim you decide to make.

1. Move your vehicle to a safe location

If your car is drivable, move it to a safe spot as soon as possible, especially on a highway or a heavily traveled street. Even if you can only move it to the shoulder, that will be much safer than leaving it in the middle of the road for you and others. If you’re near a parking lot, take it there to be as safe as possible. 

2. Check yourself and your passenger(s) for injuries

Check to see if you’ve been injured by checking for any bleeding so that you can move your limbs and determine if you’re thinking clearly. If possible and safe, check on your passengers and other motorists to see if they’re okay. 

3. Call 911 and ask for police and an ambulance

Even if you don’t think you’re injured or that your injury is major, report the accident to 911. The dispatcher will send emergency medical technicians and police to the accident scene, all necessary.

If any emergency personnel recommend that they transport you to the hospital, you take their advice and go to the doctor because several serious injuries could be masked by adrenaline or require formal medical testing to diagnose and treat.

4. Tell your story to the responding police officer

Be honest with the arriving officer, and tell them exactly what happened. Your statements will be incredibly important to your case and will appear in the police report, so if you don’t remember something because you’re in shock, tell the officer you don’t remember then.

You can supplement your statement later if necessary, and it’ll be better to provide additional information rather than change the information you initially provided.

This report will reflect the opinions of the officer who investigated the accident, and their opinions or conclusions will play a major role in determining the outcome of any lawsuit you file.

5. Gather evidence at the scene

The more evidence you gather at the accident scene, the better, but only do so if you can do it safely. Take pictures and videos of the scene and surrounding area, including the road itself, the conditions, the damage to all involved vehicles, and any other damage such as property damage, collapsed guard rails, bent road signs, or anything else you can see. If possible, take pictures of your injuries if you can. 

6. Visit Urgent Care or your primary care physician

Don’t wait to see a doctor; go right away — the importance of this can’t be stressed enough. Several injuries aren’t visible or apparent immediately after the accident. You might not start feeling symptoms for hours or, in some instances, even days. Delaying medical treatment could increase the chances of complications or worse injuries that could set back your recovery for months.

Immediate medical care is critical for your health, but it could also be critical to your case because the at-fault driver’s insurance company will do everything possible to deny you compensation. If you don’t get medical help, the insurer will argue that your injury wasn’t nearly as bad as you’re claiming, or they might claim you were injured at another time and are simply trying to get them to pay for your treatment.

car accident lawyer aurora

7. Notify your insurance company

Contact your insurer as soon as you can. They can help you get situated following your accident while you consult with attorneys. Your insurer might also cover some expenses while your personal injury claim is pending. 

8. Meet with an Aurora car accident lawyer to understand your legal options

After receiving the medical help you need, speak with an Illinois personal injury attorney at Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates as soon as possible. Your attorney will need to investigate the accident to determine how it occurred, what evidence will be helpful for your case, and to identify all liable parties. The investigation must start soon after the accident to secure evidence before it disappears. 

How long do I have to file a claim in Aurora?

In Illinois, you only have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is called the statute of limitations. 

Although you have two years to take legal action and it seems like a long time, you should start the process as soon as possible because not only will your lawyer need to perform an investigation, but many additional steps need to be taken. The earlier you hire an attorney, the sooner you receive the compensation you deserve.

What kinds of damages can I claim?

You will encounter many legal terms regarding your accident that you might not know. One of them is the word “damages” which is simply the losses you’ve suffered due to the accident and the compensation you receive in the personal injury claim. 

There are two main categories of damages: economic and non-economic.

Economic damages

These damages are easily proven with documents like medical bills, invoices, receipts, pay stubs, and more. These can include: 

  • Your medical expenses incurred after the accident, such as the ambulance, the hospital, or urgent care
  • Necessary follow-up care and treatment
  • Medications
  • Future medical care you’ll need for your injuries
  • Wages or benefits you lost during your recovery
  • Future benefits or wages, including bonuses and promotions that you’re expected to lose if your injuries prevent you from working in the same capacity or from returning to work at all

Non-economic damages

You’re also probably going through a great deal of pain and suffering due to your injury. You might not be able to sleep at night because of the emotional trauma associated with the wreck and because of the stress caused by all of your expenses.

Since you can’t pursue the activities you love because you’re hurt, the quality of your life has also diminished. Although they might be difficult to calculate, these damages can be recovered with the assistance of an experienced and knowledgeable Aurora car accident lawyer.

Who’s liable for my injury?

Although it might seem like only one driver is to blame for a two-car accident, other liable parties could also be involved if they contributed to the wreck. For example, if a tire was defectively manufactured and blew out, you might also be able to sue the manufacturer. 

How can our Aurora car accident lawyer prove negligence?

When you hire an Aurora car accident attorney with Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, we’ll work to prove negligence through our in-depth investigation and with evidence that the negligent driver can’t disprove. Our attorneys will talk to witnesses, obtain video from nearby surveillance cameras, and request phone records if needed. We’ll leave no stone unturned to see that justice prevails.

We fight the insurance company to get you maximum compensation

We can’t overstate the importance of hiring a lawyer immediately after your accident– it all goes back to the investigation. Once we gather the proof we need, we’ll present it to the insurer and negotiate a fair settlement. If they refuse to offer what you deserve, we’ll be well-positioned to defeat them in court.

Our car accident case results

$40 Million

Attorneys Mike Wierzbicki and Michael Carter from Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates secured a settlement exceeding $40 million from a trucking company following a collision involving a semi-truck and a car. The car’s driver sustained severe burn injuries, and the settlement, though confidential, was obtained on behalf of the injured driver.

$16.4 Million

A settlement was reached due to a car collision caused by negligent driving of a “loaner car” from an auto dealership. Despite challenges, including resistance from the dealership’s insurance carrier, attorney Michael Carter persisted in seeking justice and compensation for his client’s injuries.

$5.5 Million

Attorneys at Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates successfully obtained $5.5 million in claims against a prominent U.S. automobile manufacturer. The details of the settlement and related facts remain confidential due to a confidentiality agreement.

What are common car accident injuries in Aurora?

Car wrecks subject drivers and passengers to incredibly strong forces, which can result in catastrophic injuries such as:

Why work with an Aurora car accident lawyer from Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates?

No other law firm will provide you with more passionate and skilled representation than we will. We have a long track record of helping clients obtain maximum compensation, and we’re ready to do the same for you.

If you would like to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about how we may be able to help you, such as options that are only available to you through an attorney, please contact us online or call (800) 985-1819 to get in touch with an Aurora car accident lawyer from Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates.

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