Chicago Car Accident FAQs
Chicago Car Accident Attorney Phil Berenz Answers Your Questions
Will I have to go to court if I file a claim?
Not necessarily. Whether or not you will have to go to court will depend on the response that we get from the other driver’s insurance company. For example, if the other driver’s insurance provider agrees to pay the amount that we have determined to be the worth of your case, then no courtroom action will be needed. In most cases, car accident claims can be settled outside of court. However, a trial proceeding could be necessary if the other driver’s insurance company refuses to pay you the settlement amount that we feel you rightfully deserve.
The other driver’s adjuster is asking me to release my medical records. Should I?
No. The intentions of the other driver’s insurance company when asking for your medical records could be misleading. While they may seem concerned with your health and well-being, they might actually be searching for information to be used against you in your case. Therefore, it is not wise to release such information to the other driver’s insurance company simply because they asked you to do so. Only a very limited set of circumstances call for the release of a car accident victim’s medical records, which is why you should always speak to an attorney about this type of matter before taking any action.
How much is my case worth?
The most accurate estimate of the worth of your case comes from the full assessment of the details surrounding your accident and injury. Accordingly, factors such as the following should be thoroughly examined in order to make an assessment of the worth of your case: medical expenses, lost wages, potential future damages, permanent physical impairment, scarring / disfigurement, and degree of fault. Additionally, we will look at aspects such as where the accident occurred, where the case is filed, the amount of insurance coverage that was offered, and the likelihood of punitive damages. With these considerations in mind, the worth of your case can be established.
How much will it cost me to hire a lawyer for my case?
At Berenz Law Network, hiring a lawyer for your case is completely free of charge. We ask for no upfront fees or obligations when representing our clients. Instead, we work on a contingency fee basis that allows for full legal coverage and representation at absolutely no cost to you until a favorable verdict or settlement has been reached. If, for some reason, we aren’t successful in our efforts to secure you wining results, then you won’t be asked to pay us anything. We strongly believe in making legal representation affordable to the individuals who need it, and we have committed our legal practice to doing exactly that.
Do I have to notify my insurance company of the accident?
Yes. The working relationship that has been established between you and your insurance provider calls for mutual cooperation. Part of this cooperation involves following the requirements expected of you, one of which is to promptly notify your policyholder in the event of an auto accident. Failure to provide such information to your insurance company in a timely manner could significantly jeopardize your case, and could even result in complete loss of coverage for the accident.
What kind of recorded statement should I give to the other driver’s insurance company?
The short answer would be that no recorded statement should be provided to another insurance provider; that is, not without the legal guidance of an Chicago car accident lawyer from our office. Your obligation to cooperate with your own insurance company does not require that you also submit to a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. As master negotiators with professional experience, insurance company claims adjusters are well-trained in the art of asking questions that are specifically designed to trigger a response that could then be used to hurt your case.
One of the primary intentions behind an insurance adjustor’s actions is to save his or her own company money. To ensure that you are not taken advantage of in any way during this process, do not wait to align yourself and your case with a professional car accident lawyer from our office. If any communication between you and the other driver’s insurance company is required, then we would be more than happy to step in and act on your behalf.
Do I have to notify the other driver’s insurance company of the accident?
No. You are under absolutely no obligation to notify the other driver’s insurance company of the car accident in which you were involved; this is the responsibility of the other driver(s). In fact, any communications that you have with an insurance company other than your own could put your entire case in jeopardy. It would be far better to involve a personal injury attorney in the matter who can act on your behalf when any communications are necessary between yourself and another insurance provider.
The other driver’s insurance company denied liability. What should I do?
Driver liability is perhaps the easiest thing for the insurance company to immediately deny or dispute when a car accident claim is made against one of their clients. Whether or not the other driver was actually at fault for the accident, it is very likely that his or her insurance company will at first deny liability. In such cases, it becomes the responsibility of you (and your lawyer) to prove that the other driver was, in fact, responsible for the accident that left you injured and / or your property damaged.
Need a lawyer for your car accident in Chicago?
If you’re looking for a Chicago personal injury lawyer for your accident, then you should not hesitate to contact Berenz Law Network. Our professional corporation is intent upon delivering upstanding legal representation to the victims of personal injury accidents of every nature, and we are more than prepared to do the same for you.
We understand that the questions and answers included on this page may not satisfy all of your concerns. For this reason, we encourage you to contact our office to schedule a free consultation with our firm. Together, we can review the details of your accident and answer any additional queries that you might have about your collision.