How much does a Chicago car accident lawyer cost?

You pay nothing up front and nothing unless we win. Chicago Accident Encyclopedia represents crash victims on contingency, which means our fee comes out of the settlement or verdict only if we recover compensation for you. The percentage and structure are explained in the engagement letter before you sign. Initial consultations are free and confidential.

How long do I have to file a Chicago car accident lawsuit?

Two years from the date of the crash under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. For wrongful death, two years from the date of death under 740 ILCS 180/2. Claims against government entities like the CTA, City of Chicago, or Cook County often require a written notice within one year and have shorter overall deadlines. Do not assume you have two years — talk to an attorney early.

What if the other driver was uninsured or fled the scene?

Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage under 215 ILCS 5/143a becomes the recovery source. Illinois requires every auto policy to include UM coverage. Hit-and-run crashes trigger UM the same way a crash with an uninsured driver does. We file the UM claim, push the carrier for payment, and arbitrate if the carrier refuses fair value.

The other driver's insurance company is calling me. Should I talk to them?

No. You have no legal obligation to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. Their adjuster is trained to extract statements that minimize their payout. Politely tell them to direct all communication to your attorney.

What if I was partly at fault for the crash?

Illinois uses modified comparative negligence under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. You can recover as long as you are 50 percent or less at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your fault percentage. Being partially at fault does not automatically destroy your case, but the insurance company will try to push as much fault onto you as possible.

Should I accept the first settlement offer?

Almost never. First offers are designed to close the case fast and cheap, before you know the full extent of your injuries or future medical costs. Once you sign a release, you cannot reopen the claim, even if your injuries get worse. Have any settlement offer reviewed by counsel before you sign.

How long does a Chicago car accident case take?

Most cases resolve in 6 to 18 months. Cases involving disputed liability, serious injury, or litigation through trial can take 2 to 3 years. Simpler cases with clear liability and modest damages can settle in under 90 days. The factor that most affects timeline is whether your medical treatment is complete — settling before you have reached maximum medical improvement risks underselling your case.

What if my crash involved a CTA bus, a City of Chicago vehicle, or a Cook County vehicle?

Claims against Illinois government entities follow different rules and shorter deadlines under the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act (745 ILCS 10). Notice requirements, damage caps, and procedural defenses make these cases procedurally trickier than ordinary auto crashes. Get counsel involved fast.

How do I get a Chicago Police crash report?

Chicago Police crash reports can be obtained through the Chicago Data Portal, the Illinois Department of Transportation, or directly through CPD records. You will typically need the RD number assigned at the scene, the date and approximate location, and identification.

Do I need a lawyer if I was not seriously injured?

Not every case requires counsel. For minor property damage with no injury, you may be able to handle the claim yourself. But injuries that seem minor at first often turn out to be serious (soft tissue, concussion, delayed-onset back and neck injuries are common). A free consultation costs nothing and tells you whether you need representation.

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Hit in Chicago? Recover everything Illinois law allows.

We are the editorial team behind the Chicago Accident Encyclopedia — the deepest reference on Illinois crash law anywhere online — and we represent the people injured in the crashes we write about. Medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage. No fee unless we win.

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Crash types we handle — jump straight to your case

Auto

Car Accidents

Rear-end, intersection, head-on, sideswipe. The full library of Illinois auto law.

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Commercial

Truck Accidents

Semi & 18-wheeler. Federal FMCSA regs apply. Higher limits, harder fights.

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Rider

Motorcycle

Catastrophic injury cases. No IL helmet law, no helmet defense. We fight rider bias.

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On Foot

Pedestrian & Bike

Crosswalk and bike-lane crashes. Illinois right-of-way law protects you.

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Fatal

Wrongful Death

Wrongful Death Act + Survival Act. Compensation for the family left behind.

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Lifetime

Catastrophic Injury

TBI, spinal cord, amputation, burns. Lifetime medical and care calculations.

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Reference

The Encyclopedia

Every Illinois statute, rule, and crash pattern — documented and indexed.

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Tools

Claim Tools

Crash report lookup, statute checker, insurance guide, settlement guide.

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Why Chicago Accident Encyclopedia

We wrote the reference other Illinois lawyers cite.

We are not just another personal injury website. Every statute, every procedural rule, every Cook County crash pattern, every Illinois Supreme Court personal injury decision — documented, explained, and indexed by the attorneys you would be hiring. When you hire us, you hire the people who wrote the reference work.

Our practice combines federal courtroom trial experience with deep editorial mastery of Illinois personal injury law. Every case is handled directly by counsel — never passed to a paralegal or junior associate.

What you can recover

A Chicago crash can produce six categories of compensation.

Economic

Medical expenses

ER, surgery, imaging, therapy, and reasonably certain future medical costs.

Economic

Lost wages

Time off work, missed promotions, and reduced future earning capacity.

Non-economic

Pain & suffering

Physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of normal life. Uncapped in Illinois.

Economic

Property damage

Repair, total-loss value, diminished value, rental, and towing.

Statutory

Wrongful death

Lost support, consortium, and grief under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act.

Enhanced

Punitive damages

For willful or reckless conduct — DUI, street racing, hit-and-run.

The first 72 hours

What to do after a car accident in Chicago.

The first three days often determine the strength of your claim. Adjusters are already gathering evidence designed to limit their payout. Follow this protocol:

Call 911 and get medical attention. Adrenaline masks injuries. Document everything from the start.
Get a Chicago Police crash report. Illinois requires one for any injury or damage over $1,500. You'll need the RD number later.
Photograph everything. Damage, plates, the scene, signals, skid marks, and visible injuries.
Get witness contact info. Witnesses disappear fast. Their info at the scene is gold.
Notify your insurer carefully. Basic facts only. No recorded statement, no speculation on fault.
Don't talk to the other driver's insurer. You have no obligation to give them a statement. Refer them to your attorney.
Call a lawyer before you sign anything. The wrong signature can permanently bar your claim. The first call is free.

The law that governs your claim

Illinois personal injury law in three rules.

2yr

The deadline

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, you have two years from the crash to file. Government claims can be one year. Miss it and the claim is barred.

51%

The fault bar

Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, if you're more than 50% at fault you recover nothing. At 50% or less, your recovery is reduced by your share.

Your own coverage

Under 215 ILCS 5/143a, when the at-fault driver has too little insurance, your own UM/UIM coverage often becomes the real source of recovery.

Free consultation · 24/7 intake · No fee unless we win

Call before you sign anything.

The insurance adjuster wants you to settle fast and cheap. Before you sign a release or give a recorded statement, talk to a Chicago car accident lawyer who knows Illinois law and the Cook County courts. The first call is free. The wrong signature is permanent.

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