Auto Accidents: What to Expect When the Unexpected Occurs

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Car Accidents

For the past two decades, over 10 million car accidents have occurred each year in the United States. Collisions occur unexpectedly and can be traumatic for everyone involved, not just physically, but financially and emotionally.

Injuries may occur at the time of collision, but often do not show up until days or sometimes weeks after the incident has passed. In the most serious cases, injuries can result in crash-related deaths. The Chicago Tribune reported that for the second straight year, Illinois traffic fatalities rose in 2013. Based on data from the Illinois Department of Transportation, 973 fatalities occurred due to collisions on the road, nearly a two percent increase from the year before.

Common injuries that auto accident victims sustain include:

• whiplash;
• back pain;
• dizziness; and
• migraines.

Costs for care can add extra stress to the situation. When dealing with pain and treating injuries, it is hard to focus on the claims process that follows.

The time it takes to properly file a claim properly requires collecting information from several different parties, which can become a headache itself. Retrieving a copy of the accident report is the first step, and the following is an example of the types of additional records needed:

• eyewitness accounts, if available;
• insurance information from all parties involved;
• medical bills; and
• wages lost as a result of the accident.

If you incur medical expenses as a result of an auto accident, paperwork and bills should be kept in chronological order for a case summary. Medical bills may not be for the day of the accident alone. Additional costs can include:

• ambulance records;
• emergency room and hospital costs;
• follow-up, including physical therapy or chiropractic care; and
• other accident-related costs.

It is important to find an attorney who understands the claim process and has experience handling auto accident cases. If you have suffered a personal injury as a result of an auto accident, there is a statute of limitations on when you can file a claim. An auto accident attorney understands what is needed for a claim and has the resources to help with the process to alleviate some of this burden for you. If you need legal counseling or advice about personal injuries in Illinois, contact an experienced Chicago auto accident attorney today.