In Cook County, we drive like we mean it. We have places to go, things to do, and no amount of honking can stop us. If we are a bit too aggressive at times, it’s only because waiting doesn’t get you where you need to be. It’s the same attitude that generations of Chicagoans have embraced as we built a small settlement by the lake into one of the best cities in the world.
The downside to this mindset is reflected in Cook County’s car crash data. A large number of car accidents occur in Cook County each year. Distracted driving, speeding, and the sheer volume of cars on the road lead to some nasty accidents.
During our 50+ years in practice, the Stein & Shulman team has represented accident victims involved in all sorts of wrecks. Including:
- Too many sideswipes, head-on collisions, t-bones, and multi-car pile-ups to count;
- Hit and run accidents and other situations where the other driver is uninsured or underinsured;
- Accidents where DUIs, speeding, or distracted driving played a major role;
- Ridesharing – Uber/Lyft accidents;
- Accidents involving motorcycles; and
- Wrecks with a large truck, tractor-trailer, or semi.
We leverage the knowledge and experience we have gained working on these car accident cases to get top results for our clients. Over the years, the Stein & Shulman team has recovered millions of dollars for car accident victims.
How Much Money Is My Cook County Car Accident Case Worth?
If you have suffered serious injuries in a car accident in Cook County, the amount of money you can seek depends on two factors: the severity of your injuries, and the cause of your accident. The Stein & Shulman team knows exactly what kind of evidence is needed to maximize your compensation.
To start things off, we:
- Gather all of your medical records;
- Work with your healthcare team to figure out your current and ongoing medical issues;
- Pull together all of your medical bills;
- Consult with experts on future medical expenses;
- Tally up other expenses like lost income; and
- Estimate future expenses that are not healthcare-related.
But accidents take other things away from you as well. You may be permanently disfigured or disabled. You may not be able to participate in activities you once enjoyed, or even do everyday things like teaching your kids how to ride a bike. Can you put a dollar amount on these intangible losses? Our legal system expects you to.
As attorneys, our job is to tell your story so that the full scope of what you have lost is recognized. To do this, we work closely with you so we can understand your pain and loss, but we also research what has been done in similar cases and consult with various experts. We work hard to make sure you get fully and fairly compensated for your injuries.
To be fully compensated is to be put in the position you would have been in if your accident had never occurred. Unfortunately, no amount of money can turn back the clock so this is somewhat of a gray area. It is further complicated by the fact that Illinois is a comparative fault state.
Under Illinois’ law, you may only seek compensation following a car accident if you were less than 51% responsible for causing the accident. If your actions were the main cause of the accident, you will be denied any money to help pay your medical expenses or other bills.
Even if you are eligible for compensation, the amount you can recover may be reduced if you were even partially responsible for the accident. For example, if you incur $100,000 in medical expenses because of your accident, but the evidence shows you were 20% responsible for the accident, you will only be eligible for $80,000 in compensation.
In order to show who or what caused your accident, the Stein & Shulman team will:
- Investigate the site and circumstances of your accident;
- Examine police reports;
- Interview witnesses; and
- Consult with experts on causation.
Accidents aren’t caused by karma, fate, or divine intervention, so we want the facts that will prove you were not at fault. It is our goal to get you every penny you deserve so you can move forward with your life.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire Stein & Shulman?
Now that you have a sense of the kind of work our team will do for you following an accident, you may be wondering how much it costs to hire us.
Stein & Shulman works on all Cook County car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t owe us a dime unless we win your case. If we are successful, we will take a portion of the amount you receive as our fee. We are happy to answer any questions you have about this payment system.
Contact The Cook County Car Accident Attorneys At Stein & Shulman Today
If you or a loved one in Cook County has been involved in a car accident and suffered a serious injury, we are here to help. We advocate on behalf of Chicagoans involved in everything from parking lot fender benders to horrific wrongful death accidents.
All of the attorneys at Stein & Shulman graduated from John Marshall Law School in downtown Chicago, and have dedicated their careers to serving clients in the Chicagoland area. Members of our team frequently appear in Cook County Circuit Court, the Appellate Court of Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, all of which have courthouses here in Cook County. Several of these courthouses are near our firm’s office on LaSalle Street.
Although our office is in the Loop, we travel all over the area to meet with our clients because we know it can be difficult for someone who has suffered a serious personal injury to travel too far from home. Whether you live in Evanston or Streamwood, Oak Park or Oak Lawn, or anywhere in between, we can come to you to meet with you about your case.
Whether you are ready to take legal action and seek compensation for your injuries, or are simply curious about what options are available to you after a serious car accident, we are ready to take your call. Please contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation.
