Orland Park Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys

The law office of Schussler & Kutsulis Ltd., Attorneys at Law, represents clients in Orland Park, Illinois and neighboring southwest suburban Chicago area communities in Cook County, Will County, and DuPage County who have suffered from car accidents. We help victims identify responsible parties, file for insurance claims in a timely and assertive fashion, press other responsible parties for compensation due, and initiate litigation whenever necessary.

We’re with you all the way. As professionals living among professionals in this community, we see many of our clients as our friends and neighbors. When you are hurt, we understand your pain and are determined to use every legal tool at our disposal to make sure that you recover all due monetary damages.

In your Illinois motor vehicle accident, you may have suffered neck injuries, broken bones, a concussion, head injuries, back injuries or other painful, debilitating injuries. Your injuries suffered in an automobile accident may result in lasting pain and suffering, loss of wage-earning capacity and a host of other problems. Even the loss of your car can be highly disruptive.

Insurance companies are more defensive than they were in the past about fully compensating any and all injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Therefore, it is important to have an experienced and skillful lawyer on your side such as Andrew Kutsulis, Jr. or Edward G. Schussler (of counsel).

Southwest Chicago Suburban Personal Injury Law Firm

To go to trial or not to go to trial following a motor vehicle accident? At our law firm, the answer to that question rests with our clients. We prepare the best case we can based on the facts of your automobile accident; keep you fully informed of everything uncovered in the case; press responsible parties for acceptable compensation; and then leave it to you to accept any settlement offers, or take the case to trial in any Illinois court.

Contact us as soon as possible if you or a family member has suffered injuries in an auto accident. Let us be your spokesmen and advocates and help you recover full monetary compensation. Our fees are charged on a contingency basis, which means that if you aren’t paid, we won’t be, either. Let us help get your life back on track when you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident.

Motor Vehicle Accidents - An Overview

Motor vehicle accidents cause the loss of time, property, health and even life. Such accidents occur because of elements including driver error, negligence, manufacturing defects and dangerous weather. No matter what the specific cause or result, a crash can turn a normal day into a prolonged struggle. Speaking with a lawyer can help you sort out your rights, your options and your future. Contact an attorney to find out more.

At-Fault, Negligent and Aggressive Drivers

When you have been in an auto accident, you may have a sense of who caused it. Issues of fault, however, can be complicated by who acted when and which laws governed the situation. If the other driver was negligent, you may have to prove that the driver breached a duty of care to you and that the breach caused your damages. The assistance of an attorney can be immensely valuable at this time, whether you are battling an insurance company, seeking compensation for your injuries or defending yourself in court.

Sources of information on the accident include police reports, witnesses and the condition of the vehicles involved in the accident. They could reveal what happened and why.

Actions, on the part of either driver, that may have contributed to the accident include:

• Failure to stop at a red light or stop sign
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Failure to compensate for dangerous weather conditions
• Driving above or below the posted speed limits
• Driver distraction caused by a cell phone, passenger, radio or another source
• Failure to obey traffic laws regarding turn signals, right-of-way and other rules

Sometimes the at-fault driver is more than merely negligent; he or she may have acted recklessly or even intentionally. A reckless driver acts with conscious disregard for the probable consequences of the driver’s actions. Road rage incidents often involve reckless behavior, and they can escalate into intentional behavior. Road rage in particular can be extremely dangerous, leading to injuries and criminal charges. Generally, aggressive drivers are a serious threat to safety. Speeding and taking other risks contributes significantly to highway and other fatalities.

It is important to avoid confrontation with road-rage drivers and aggressive drivers. You have a better chance of staying safe if you:

• Get out of the way
• Avoid eye contact
• Refuse to make or return obscene gestures
• Let go of your pride for a while; don’t challenge the other driver
• Report the aggressive driving to the authorities, stopping in a safe spot to use your cell phone if necessary

Drunk Driving

In the US, someone dies every 30 minutes in an alcohol-related crash; someone is non-fatally injured every two minutes. Drunk driving can lead to both criminal charges and a civil lawsuit. Additionally, the business that sold alcohol to the drunk driver may be held liable if it served the driver when he or she was visibly intoxicated. This, however, does not take any responsibility from the driver who drove while intoxicated. If you have been in an accident involving alcohol or drugs, seek the help of an attorney who will explain your legal options.

Auto Accidents Not Caused by the Drivers

Sometimes, no matter how carefully you drive, you cannot avoid an accident. In certain cases, a vehicle’s manufacturing or design defect causes the accident or makes it worse. This might happen if, for instance, the brakes on your car fail or the airbag does not deploy when it should. The law of products liability applies in this situation, protecting consumers when products create an unreasonable risk of harm. If a product defect caused your injuries, you may have a case against the designer, manufacturer or distributor of the product.

Another responsible party could be a mechanic who improperly repaired the car that caused the accident. Both the mechanic and the mechanic’s employer could be liable in such a case.

Finally, poorly maintained roads, messy and confusing construction, unclear signage, improperly designed roads and similar problems can contribute to an accident. Government entities are typically responsible for the roads and highways; they may, therefore, be liable for accidents caused by the above factors. Special rules, however, apply to lawsuits against government entities; a lawyer will be able to explain them in detail.

Schedule a Consultation

It is important to take prompt action when you have been in a motor vehicle accident. This will help you preserve your rights and seek proper compensation. Contact an attorney for help.

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