Illinois requires all motorists to purchase insurance to cover certain damages of others and themselves in the event of an accident. If you are injured in a car accident in Illinois, one of the factors impacting the value of your claim is the at-fault party’s insurance coverage limits. Ideally, the at-fault party will have adequate coverage to pay your damages.
When the at-fault party does not have insurance or is underinsured, you may have other options, including filing a claim with your own insurer, or filing a lawsuit against the responsible parties. At Meyers & Flowers, our Chicago car accident attorneys will investigate your accident to determine all possible causes and identify all potentially liable parties to help maximize the sources of compensation to pay your damages.
What Insurance Coverage Is Required in Chicago?
Illinois mandates minimum liability insurance for all motorists in the amount of:
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in an accident.
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death of more than one person in an accident.
- $20,000 for property damage of another person.
These minimum amounts of coverage may be woefully insufficient when severe injuries are involved. If you are injured in an accident, you hope the other driver has much more than minimum coverage.
In addition to the above liability insurance, Illinois requires all motorists to carry uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. The minimum UM/UIM coverage required in Illinois is $20,000 per person for bodily injury and $40,000 for more than one person. As with liability insurance, it is wise to purchase higher than minimum amounts of UM/UIM coverage to protect yourself against non-compliant motorists.
What If the At-Fault Driver is Uninsured or Underinsured?
If the at-fault driver is uninsured, or if you are injured in a hit-and-run accident, you can file a claim under your own UM policy for bodily injury. And if the other driver has insurance but it is insufficient to pay your full damages, you can file under your own UIM policy to recover the difference.
In addition to looking to your own insurer, you may choose to file a lawsuit against the at-fault parties if they have assets that can be used to pay your damages.
When you consult an experienced Chicago personal injury attorney from Meyers & Flowers, we will consider all your options to recover the compensation you deserve.
What If I Am Partially At Fault in the Accident?
Illinois follows a comparative negligence model in which fault may be apportioned to multiple parties. If you were 50% or less at fault in the accident, you can still recover compensation for your damages from the other at-fault parties.
However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 30% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you could still recover $70,000 after your percentage of fault is deducted.
Contact an Experienced Chicago Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in a Chicago car accident caused by another party, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages. If the at-fault party is uninsured or underinsured, you may be able to file under your own insurance policy or file a lawsuit against the at-fault parties.
At Meyers & Flowers, our Chicago car accident attorneys will investigate your accident to determine all possible causes and liable parties and help maximize your compensation. We have the resources, skills, and knowledge to help you get the justice you deserve. Call (630) 280-3771 or visit our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your car accident claim.