Our Lawyers Maximize the Value of Your Car or Truck Accident Claim

When you are the victim of a car or truck accident, your number one priority should be on recovery. Your second concern should be to contact a qualified personal injury attorney who can help you obtain financial compensation for your damages. The lawyers of Pignatelli & Associates, P.C. take every conceivable measure to ensure that your clients receive a fair settlement when they have been injured in a car accident through the negligence of another driver.

There are many complicated and crucial issues that need to be addressed after a car or truck accident. Injured clients require not only emergent but ongoing medical treatment, and are entitled to damages for their injuries including personal injuries, lost wages, disability and dealing with insurance companies. We consult leading experts such as accident scene reconstructionists, medical professionals and economists, in order to accurately assess a rightful compensation amount. We will not back down when insurance companies fail to present a fair offer. Our goal is always to maximize our personal injury clients’ settlements, and ensure that they are compensated fairly.

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After the Accident: What Now?

Safety First
Immediately after an accident it is important to remain calm and to remain in, or move to a place of safety given the circumstances. Once you are in this position, determine whether you and your passengers have been injured.
Call for Help
Contact first responders such as emergency medical technicians, paramedics and local and regional law enforcement by calling 911.
Have Contact Information Ready
Be prepared to provide contact information for the other driver or drivers involved in the accident. If the other driver asks for the information, inform them that you have this information ready and that when the responding law enforcement officer arrives you will provide it at that time.
Do Not Discuss Who Was At Fault
Do not speak to the other driver or others on the scene about conclusions like who was at fault for causing the accident.
Document the Scene
Remembering that safety is the most important thing, if possible document the scene with your smartphone. Photograph the damages to your vehicle, the accident scene, and any injuries that are visible.
Exchange Contact Information: Eye-Witnesses
Obtain contact information from any witnesses willing to provide it. An eyewitness may be helpful to your case, especially if key facts are contested at a later point in time.
Respectfully Answer Law Enforcement's Questions
Answer questions asked by law enforcement truthfully and respectfully. Answer the questions asked by the responding agencies without volunteering or providing excessive information and detail. Do not speak about or address the question of fault.
The Accident Report
Ask the responding law enforcement officers how to get a copy of the accident report.
Contact an Experienced Attorney
Keep Detailed and Comprehensive Records
Maintain a file in which you keep all information related to the accident. Important documents may include police reports, contact information of eyewitnesses and responding law enforcement and medical personnel, medical records, treatment records, physicians’ notes, and anything related to your insurance claim.
Contact your Insurance Company
Report the accident to your insurer and follow their steps to get estimates for the repair of your vehicle. However, do not accept or agree to any offers to settle the case. Do not sign any documents. If contacted by the insurance company of the other driver involved, make it clear that you will cooperate in the claims process through your insurance provider.

Why Call a Lawyer?

While the amount that a skilled lawyer can recover for a client who has suffered injury in a car accident is highly dependent on the facts specific to the case, an average car accident can result in costs between approximately $10,000 and $1,500,000 dollars according to data from the State of Illinois. A skilled lawyer can maximize the value of your claim, including the following elements.

Vehicle Repair or Replacement

A lawyer will seek compensation for costs of repair or replacement for the damages to the vehicle.

Compensation for Pain and Suffering

A lawyer will evaluate and advocate for the maximum compensation for their client’s physical and mental injuries experienced as a result of a car accident.

Compensation of Medical Bills

Lawyers determine and demand compensation for their clients medical costs arising of the treatment needed because of the car accident including emergency and long term care, surgery, hospital stay, medication and rehabilitation.

Recovering Lost Wages or Income

Lawyers calculate past and future income their clients lose following car accident injuries, including income and benefits of all forms (e.g., bonuses, commissions, etc.).

Compensation for Emotional Distress

Lawyers will advocate for the recovery for psychological and physiological injury including anxiety, depression and PTSD that their clients suffer as a result of a car accident.

Punitive Damages

Lawyers argue for damages that punish the adverse party for abhorrent behavior or terrible acts such as driving under the influence that caused or made worse the damages suffered by their client as a result of a car accident.

How Lawyers Maximize Your Car or Truck Accident Claim

Accident Investigation and Evaluation

Accident Report

Lawyers request and analyze the accident crash report provided by the responding law enforcement agency.

Photographic or Video Evidence

Lawyers collect any available evidence from the accident scene including photos or videos capture by bystanders, security camera footage, dash camera and other available sources.

Eye-Witness Testimony

Lawyers will follow-up by contacting available witnesses to the accident. The statements made by on-scene eyewitnesses may be of use to evaluate and throughout the process of your case.

Electronic Communications

Lawyers obtain communications records such as cell phones and electronic devices data usage, sent and received messages, and sent and received media.

Medical records

Lawyers request and review all relevant medical records relating to the car accident.

Vehicle Black Box Data

Information collected by the vehicles involved that may be stored in their computer or “black box” and a skilled lawyer will gather this information for use to the benefit of their clients’ claim.

Evaluate Available Insurance Coverage

Insurance Coverage of the Driver at Fault

Illinois Law requires drivers to carry liability insurance policies that pay out for personal bodily injury and property damages that are caused by others.

Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Drivers who have purchased underinsured motorist coverage that exceeds the policy of the driver determined to be at fault may be entitled to compensation from this policy for personal injury damages.

Additional Insurance Coverage

Other insurance policies may be available to cover medical payments, collision and comprehensive coverage.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Illinois Law requires motorists to purchase uninsured motorist coverage. If the other driver does not have coverage for liability, uninsured motorist coverage will provide for bodily injury to you and your passengers and other members authorized to drive the vehicle.

Consult Qualified and Preeminent Experts

Accident Reconstruction Experts and Mechanical Engineers

Lawyers consult with accident reconstruction experts and mechanical engineers to determine the cause of the accident and which party should be held liable for damages suffered.

Medical and Life-Care Planning Experts

Lawyers engage medical and life-care planning experts to determine what damages a client may have suffered, is now suffering and will continue to suffer in the future.

Insurance Claims Negotiation

Maximizes Insurance Claim Value

A skilled lawyer will assemble and evaluate all available evidence and determine the value of your claim. A lawyer will use this evidence to negotiate with insurance claims representatives from conference room to courtroom to get the maximum compensation for their client.

Resolves Medical Bills

A lawyer efficiently and strategically resolves medical bills following the claim in the best interest of their client.

What Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer?

Our car accident clients do not pay for legal fees out of their pockets. The attorney fees for representation by Pignatelli & Associates, P.C. are paid from the judicial award or settlement obtained from the adverse party. We do not charge our clients unless they receive compensation. If our clients do not get paid, we do not get paid. This is a contingent fee. Our fee is contingent on the result we obtain for your recovery. We have secured settlements and awards in excess of $90m for injured clients.