Car accidents are frightening and traumatic experiences, especially when they cause a serious injury to you or a loved one. Unfortunately, the distress is often prolonged by the legal complexities of a car accident claim seeking compensation against the other driver under Illinois’s fault-based car accident law.
This law requires the claimant to prove the other driver’s negligence and liability. A first crucial step in this process is obtaining a copy of the police report after an Illinois car accident. Reach out to our car accident lawyer in Chicago for further assistance.
It’s always wise to report a car accident to the police, even if there are no injuries. Under Illinois law, drivers must report an accident if anyone is injured, there’s a fatality, or the damage to at least one vehicle exceeds $1,500. Because it may be difficult to determine the expense of a dented vehicle, and injuries may show delayed symptoms, it’s best to report the accident even if no one is hurt—especially if the damage is more than a scratched paint job.
Illinois law requires drivers to remain at the scene of an accident until the police clear them to leave, unless they are transported to a hospital by ambulance.
At the accident scene, the police begin a comprehensive report listing their observations and the contact and insurance information of all involved drivers.
If the police do not come to the scene and instead inform drivers to exchange information, both drivers must self-report the accident to the Illinois Department of Transportation within ten days of the accident date.
The police report for an accident in Illinois is typically completed and available within 10 days of the crash. It may be available sooner for a minor accident, or could take up to two weeks for a complex accident, especially those involving multiple vehicles or commercial trucks.
To request a copy of the police report of an Illinois car accident, you may use the state’s online portal and pay a small fee. Or, you may also request a copy of the report by mail, with a check made out to the Illinois State Police and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail your request to the address below:
You must include the information given to you at the accident scene by the responding officer on the document for exchanging contact information. The necessary information includes the names of all involved in the accident, the date and location of the crash, and the crash report number.
Unlike the handful of no-fault car accident states where drivers must file claims against their own personal injury protection (PIP) policies after an accident regardless of fault, Illinois has fault-based insurance laws requiring the party responsible for an accident to pay for all damages through their insurance.
The police report of the accident is a critical starting point for the insurance investigation. In addition, an Illinois car accident lawyer reviews the police report during an independent investigation of the accident to protect their client’s rights.
Your personal injury attorney in Chicago will also examine your medical records and medical bills to calculate your damages before filing a compelling car accident compensation claim against the at-fault party to recover your losses. Call Smith LaCien Trial Lawyers, LLP, today so we can take prompt action on your behalf.
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