Motor Vehicle Accidents Practice Center

Aggressive DeKalb County Auto Accident Lawyers

Car and truck accident injuries caused by the negligence of another person can and should be covered by the negligent driver's insurance company. If you have been in any type of motor vehicle accident, you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer immediately.

At the Law Office of Amato & Sheen, P.C. in Sycamore, Illinois, we have experience handling all types of auto, truck and motorcycle accident cases. We represent injury victims and hold negligent parties accountable for the harm they cause.

Contact our office today to discuss your case and learn more about how we can help you.

Compensation

When injuries are sustained due to an automobile accident, the individuals involved can seek monetary compensation to cover the cost of medical bills, injuries, lost wages, and other damages incurred. What is covered can vary between states or insurance policies, but an experienced attorney from Amato &Sheen P.C. can help you sort through the information and determine what is the best way to get compensation for your injuries. Depending on the state and the insurance carrier, the injured party can seek compensation for many accident-related things, including but not limited to the following.

• physical injuries
• current and long term medical bills for accident related injuries
• physical therapy
• rehabilitation
• lost wages
• property damage
• mental suffering due to the accident (this can be difficult to prove without an attorney and records)*
• permanent physical disfigurements
• further damage to existing injuries*

*Keeping personal and doctor records is important when dealing with insurance companies. Documentation can prove that an injury was related to the auto accident, and lack of documentation can be an excuse for an insurance company not to pay for something.

Loss of Consortium - Compensation for Dependants

This refers to the loss that a spouse or other dependant may experience due to an auto accident even if they were not in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Most states recognize the loss of consortium, which can include monetary support, companionship, or any physical, mental, monetary, etc. support that was provided by the injured person.

Auto Insurance

Usually, the driver’s auto insurance pays the injured party. However, in the case that the driver was not insured or was not insured well enough to cover the damages that were caused, the injured party may have to seek other means of compensation. In this case, even with their own insurance policy, it is best to contact an attorney, like those at Amato & Sheen P.C. to determine the best course of action.

Insurance Claims

How you make an auto insurance claim has a lot to do with the compensations that you receive. It’s best to contact an experienced attorney, like those at Amato & Sheen, P.C., to ensure the greatest compensation.

Recommended Actions:

• Contact an attorney to discuss your options
• Immediately notify your insurance company of an accident or vehicle theft or damage.
• Photograph the auto accident, vehicle damage, or personal injuries
• Keep receipts for anything related to your auto accident. This can include medical bills, car rentals, auto repairs, etc.
• Take notes of the names, job titles, dates and times from conversations with auto insurance representatives. Be sure to record what was discussed.
• Be honest with your insurance company. This increases your chances of receiving the highest compensation possible.
• Review your insurance policy, know what is covered and what is not covered.
• Check out your auto, homeowners, or other insurance policies to determine whether anything you may not have thought of will cover the damages incurred.
• If you haven’t completely paid for your vehicle (loan, lease, or buy), know how much you owe and how much you have paid. If you owe more than the current cash value of your vehicle and it has been totaled, car insurance will not pay more than the current cash value. Gap coverage will usually cover the difference, but know your auto insurance policy.

Do not do the following:

• Don’t immediately accept an insurance company’s estimate for your losses and damages. Contact an attorney, and research the matter yourself to ensure you receive the best compensation possible.
• It is important to make sure you understand your insurance policies and have determined the best choice for your family before you commit to anything in writing with your insurance company. Your best option is to contact an experienced attorney, like those at at Amato & Sheen, P.C. to discuss your options.

No-Fault Insurance

A no-fault insurance policy allows the driver to collect from their insurance company regardless of fault. In order to fully understand the no-fault insurance regulations about when, how much, and for how long the injured party is permitted to collect from their insurance, it is best to contact the attorneys a  Amato & Sheen, P.C. Sheen for a free initial consultation!

How it Works

No-fault insurance compensates the driver in case of an accident regardless of who was at fault, as opposed to at-fault insurance policies, where the insurance carrier of driver who was at fault in the accident pays the majority of the benefits. At fault insurance requires that a court or the insurance companies determine who was at fault in the accident, and sometimes takes a lot of time.

The no-fault insurance system is designed to compensate the injured parties as quickly as possible and to minimize the burden on the courts. There is often a limit on what no-fault insurance will pay, however payment is usually more certain and immediately available to the driver than when using an at-fault insurance policy.

The specifics of no-fault insurance can vary widely in different states, and it is best to discuss your case with an attorney before making an agreement with an insurance company. The attorneys at Amato & Sheen, P.C. in Sycamore, Illiniois are available to help you find the right option for you!

Personal Injury Protection

Personal Injury Protection Package (PIP) is another name for a no-fault insurance policy. What a PIP insurance policy will cover depends on the state, but it usually includes monetary compensation for physical injuries of the driver and passengers who sustained injuries during the auto accident, and can include lost wages or funeral expenses.

No-fault Insurance Claim

Insurance policies vary from state to state, and insurance companies can have complex systems. To insure you receive the highest compensation, contact an attorney at Amato & Sheen, P.C., before agreeing to the terms of an insurance company or another party who was involved in the auto accident.

If You’re in an Accident...

At the Scene...

1. In most states, it is a crime to leave the scene of a vehicle accident. If you were involved in the accident, pull over to the side of the road.
2. If you have passengers, see if any of them are injured. If other vehicles were involved, determine if any of their passengers were injured. If so, call an ambulance. Do not try to move an injured person.
3. To prevent further injury, put out road flares, turn on your hazard lights, and make your vehicle visible to others.
4. Call the police. Some states require this by law, but the police can determine whether or not they need to be there.
5. Exchange information with the other driver. This includes:

Name,
Phone number,
Address,
License plate number,
Drivers license number,
Auto insurance and information. 
Do NOT admit fault. This will be determined later and can affect your insurance claims.
Do NOT accept offers by the other driver or insurance companies at this time.
6. Try and get information for anyone who witnessed the accident.
7. Make notes of what happened, how the accident occurred, weather conditions, your speed, etc.
8. When the police arrive, cooperate, provide them with information, and be honest, but do not admit fault or blame others. It can be helpful to have the business cards of the police officers who come to the scene, and to ask for the incident number, so that you can look up who was there and what was recorded. This can also help your insurance company.
9. When the police tell you it is okay to leave the scene, you may.

After the Accident...

1. If you have any pain, it is best to see a doctor and have a record of it. An injury that may not seem serious at first can often change, and it is very helpful with insurance claims if there is a clear record of the progression of injuries. An insurance company can argue that by not seeing a doctor, your injury was worsened, and therefore they are not responsible for the medical costs.
2. Contact an attorney. It is best not to accept any money from insurance or other drivers before contacting an attorney, and to bring all records of the accident and money spent due to the accident to your lawyer.

The experienced attorneys at Amato & Sheen P.C. in Sycamore, Illinois will help you sort through your information and determine the best way to work with your insurance company. Contact us today for a free consultation!