Tag Archives: Chicago accident lawyers

What Is Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage

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Illinois law requires all motorists carry car insurance. The Illinois state minimum for bodily injury coverage is $25,000.00. What happens if the driver causing the auto accident has only the minimum coverage ($25,000) required by law, but your medical bills, injuries and total damages far exceed the $25,000.00 minimum coverage? Or what if the at-fault driver does not have any auto insurance? Can anything be done? 

Clients are surprised to learn that their own insurance policies can carry what is called uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage applies when a driver is injured in an auto accident caused by an uninsured driver. The injured driver, through the help of an attorney, can make a claim against their own insurance company pay their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and loss of a normal life. An official demand for arbitration must be made by the injured party and sent to their own insurance carrier. Once the injured party has completed medical treatment, their attorney can work on settling the claim with the insurance company. If settlement is not reached then the injured party and the insurance company partake in a binding arbitration to determine an award based the injured parties total damages (medical bills, lost wages, inuries, pain & suffering and loss of a normal life).

A claim can also be made against a client’s own insurance company when the other driver have enough insurance to compensate the entire amount of damages. These claims are called underinsured motorist claims. The process for recovering money damages is the same as an uninsured motorist claim. The only difference is the at fault’s party’s insurance must be exhausted before the injured party’s insurance can be claimed.

The uninsured motorist process can be complicated. I highly recommend contacting an Illinois injury attorney to discuss and walk you throught the uninsured motorist claims process in a order to maximize your recovery. The Chicago accident lawyers at the Bryant Law Group have years of experience handling these types of claims and provide free legal consultations. Feel free to call at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Finally, and just as important, is to make sure you purchase full coverage when buying auto insurance. This will ensure that you have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and protect you in case you are involved in an accident with no inurance or only the state minimum.

Lake County Launches Holiday Driving Safety Program

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The holiday season is upon us and there are records numbers of people on the roads in the Chicagoland area. People are driving to visit family, go on vacation or just attending holiday parties. It’s important to take precautions before hitting the road this year. According to Patch.com, the Lake County Illinois Sheriff’s office and the Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) are launching a holiday safety traffic initiative called  “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Drive High, Get a DUI.” The program runs from December 17 through January 2.

The Lake County Sheriff’s office is urging all drivers to plan ahead and do the following before getting behind the wheel:

  • Plan ahead — Designate a sober driver, use public transportation, or arrange for a ride-sharing service.
  • Report dangers — If you spot an impaired driver, pull over safely and dial 911.
  • Buckle up — It’s your best defense against impaired drivers.

There will be extra police enforcement on the roads looking for excessive speeders, drunk and distracted drivers. The funding for the program comes from the President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure bill through the National Highway Traffic Administration and the funds are administered by IDOT.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then please call the Chicago accident lawyers at the Bryant Law Group for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or you can go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

IDOT Announces Delay In Kennedy Express Lane Opening

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I wrote earlier this fall that the Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) was expected to complete the construction on the I-90/94 (“Kennedy”) express lane construction by the “late fall.” Unfortunately they did not meet their own deadline as they announced this week that the express lanes would not open back up until mid-January 2025.

IDOT blames the delay on “software issues.” In their press release they stated, “Due to the complexity of the overall Reversible Lane Access Control system, additional time is needed to ensure the safety components are fully integrated and their functions operating seamlessly.”

This means continued gridlock on the Kennedy, especially from O’Hare airport down to the loop. The entire Kennedy construction project is $150 million project is expected to be completed next year. Phase 3 of the project includes construction on the outbound lanes.

Although discouraging that the express lane project was delayed, I think this is the safest and most prudent way for IDOT to proceed. It could be incredibly dangerous if there are any glitches with the entrance and exits of the express lanes. Let’s hope they actually meet this deadline.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then call the Chicago accident lawyers at the Bryant Law Group, LLC., for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or click here to go to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.