Car accidents are a fact of life. They happen every day in Illinois. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 1,136 fatal accidents in Illinois in 2006. If you’ve been in a car accident and are looking for information about how to assess your rights and responsibilities and where to go for help, you’ve come to the right spot. Our car accident articles cover relevant issues such as fault, insurance, claims, personal injury, property damage, government liability, and structured settlements. You will also find rules, laws and other information specific to the state of Illinois, and links to Illinois personal injury attorneys who can assess the value of your claim and provide advice on your best course of action.

Illinois Car Accident Articles:

How an Auto Accident Insurance Claim Works

What is Your Car Accident Injury Claim Worth

Who is at Fault?

Car Insurance and Auto Accidents: Are You Covered?

What You Can Expect to Recover for Property Damage in Auto Accident Cases

Auto Accidents: Options if You’re at an Impasse with the Insurance Adjuster

Car Accidents Involving Government-Owned Vehicles and Government Workers

Structured Settlements

Do I Need to Contact an Attorney After a Car Accident?

Illinois Car Accident Lawyers:

Find an experienced Illinois Car Accident Attorney at AttorneyPages.com

Post your case to a Connecticut Car Accident Lawyer (it’s free, with no obligations)

Post your auto accident question on the Free Advice Auto Accidents and Vehicle Claims forum

Article: How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

Special Rules for Illinois Car Accidents:

Illinois Fault: Proportional Comparative Fault at 51%

Illinois Car Insurance Requirements/Limits: Bodily Injury & Property Damage Liability. Minimum coverage limits by law are: Up to $40,000 covers personal injury of all persons in the car at the time of the accident, subject to a limit of $20,000 for any one individual; up to $15,000 for property damage. Uninsured motorist coverage is optional, but a driver must waive the coverage in writing.

Illinois Small Claims Limits: $10,000

Illinois Personal Injury Statute of Limitations: 2 years from the date of the injury.

Illinois Auto Accidents Involving Government Vehicles: Notice to File Against Government: If you were injured in a car accident caused by a government employee, you may sue the government agency —the city or town, county or state, public agency, school—that employs that person.

For claims against the federal government use form 95 and follow the instructions on page 2.

For claims against the state of Illinois, contact the Attorney General’s Office.

For claims against a county government employee, contact the county in which you want to file your lawsuit.

For claims against a City of Chicago employee, use the Motor Vehicle Accident claim form. For claims against a different city government employee, contact the city in which you want to file your lawsuit.http://www.chicityclerk.com/claims/mod_mvform.html

In dealing with accidents involving government entities and workers, be aware that there are special notices that must be filed against the appropriate government unit responsible for your injury within a certain time period (30 days to 180 days) AND before filing a lawsuit. Each entity has its own separate time periods and may differ from your state’s Personal Injury Statute of Limitations against a private party. The rules can be confusing. Check the form you are filling out to find out the time limit for filing your claim. Accident claims involving the government can be complicated. Any mistakes in filing or failing to file on time could result in losing your ability to recover for your damages and injuries. Consult an experienced attorney right away to preserve your rights. See also Auto Accidents Involving the Government.

Illinois Personal Injury Venue (Where to File Lawsuit): File in the Circuit Clerk's Office in the county where the defendant (the person you are suing) lives or does business. Alternatively, you might consider filing in a court located where the accident occurred. If you are filing a claim against a government agency and are unsure of which agency is responsible, the most prudent course is to file a separate claim against each. Or contact an Illinois auto accident attorney.