After a car accident, one of the most common diagnoses people hear is “soft tissue injury.” It sounds minor. It sounds temporary. It sounds like something that should go away in a few days. But if you’ve actually gone through it, you know that’s not always true. Neck, back, and shoulder strain injuries can last…
You should hire a lawyer as soon as possible after a car accident—especially if you were injured, the insurance company is involved, or there is any dispute about fault. Early legal help protects evidence, ensures your injuries are properly documented, and helps you avoid mistakes that can reduce your compensation. Many people wait until the…
After a car accident in Chicago, you should call 911, check for injuries, move to safety if possible, get medical attention, exchange information, document the scene, report the crash, and be careful before speaking with insurance or accepting a settlement. What you do in the first hours and days after a crash can affect your…
The value of a car accident case in Illinois depends on several key factors, including the severity of your injuries, the medical treatment required, lost income, pain and suffering, and the available insurance coverage. Some cases may be worth a few thousand dollars, while others involving serious or permanent injuries may be worth significantly more….
Facial trauma after a car accident in Illinois can be one of the most serious and life-changing types of injury. A crash can cause facial lacerations, permanent scars, broken facial bones, dental injuries, eye injuries, nerve damage, burns, disfigurement, and the need for plastic or reconstructive surgery. Facial injury settlements in Illinois can vary widely….
Catastrophic injuries after a car accident in Illinois are serious, life-changing injuries that can cause permanent disability, disfigurement, paralysis, amputation, loss of mobility, brain damage, spinal cord damage, major surgery, or the inability to return to work. These are not ordinary injury claims. Catastrophic car accident cases often involve emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, future…
What Are Some Safety Tips for Driving During the Holidays? During the holidays, many people are traveling to visit family and friends and/or to attend holiday parties. More and more cars, motorcyclists, and trucks are on the road, and the increased traffic and number of vehicles aren’t the only danger drivers have to look out…
Sideswipe accidents are a fairly common type of car accident. Because of their commonality, some drivers assume that sideswipes are mostly not that dangerous, especially because they don’t involve a direct impact. However, this is quite far from the truth. Sideswipes can be just as dangerous and devastating as any other collision, depending on what…
No driver wants to hit an innocent animal while they are driving, yet accidents involving a car and an animal happen all the time. If you’re in an accident with an animal, can you hold someone liable for the damage to your car? Can the animal’s owner, if there is one, hold you liable for…
Halloween night often has busy streets that are packed with motorists and trick-or-treaters alike. With so many people on the roads, it is important that you prioritize safety first and foremost if you are heading out on Halloween. Before you drive anywhere, check out this quick list of Halloween driving safety tips. Stay sober: Drunk…
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) tracks and reports on known car accidents throughout the state and as they happen throughout the year. The data that the IDOT collects can shine a light on what type of traffic collisions are happening and possibly why. Although we are only in May, our team from McHargue &…
Speeding is one of the leading causes of serious car accidents in Illinois. Speed limits are not random — they are carefully established using traffic engineering studies designed to reduce crashes and prevent catastrophic injuries. When a driver exceeds a posted or statutory speed limit in Chicago or anywhere in Illinois and causes a collision,…
Do Pedestrians Always Have the Right of Way? It’s a common saying: “Pedestrians always have the right of way.” And while it is true that motorists should always do everything they can to avoid hitting people on foot, there are certain times when Illinois law requires pedestrians to yield to oncoming traffic. In Chicago and…
No, Illinois is not a no-fault car accident state. Illinois follows an at-fault (tort) insurance system, meaning the driver who caused the crash is responsible for paying damages. To recover compensation, injured victims must typically prove the other driver’s negligence. Illinois also applies a modified comparative negligence rule (the 51% rule), which can reduce or…
Updated April 30, 2026 A whiplash injury car accident settlement in Illinois can range from a few thousand dollars to much more, depending on the medical treatment, length of symptoms, pain and suffering, lost wages, fault, and available insurance coverage. Many whiplash claims involve rear-end accidents, delayed neck pain, headaches, stiffness, physical therapy, and soft…
