| Illinois is one of the majority of states in the | | | | uninsured and under insured motorist benefits. |
| United States that has chosen not to implement | | | | Although the State of Illinois mandates minimum |
| no fault legislation. As such, whether an individual | | | | insurance coverage there are still many people |
| can recover medical expenses and/or loss of | | | | who drive without any insurance or without |
| income typically can only be determined by | | | | sufficient insurance to cover the damages their |
| knowing whether a person is at fault, in whole or | | | | negligence causes. These types of insurance |
| in part, for the accident and the specific insurance | | | | coverage protect you if a negligent driver without |
| policies held by the people involved in the accident. | | | | insurance, or with inadequate insurance, causes a |
| There are generally two types of car insurance | | | | car accident in which you suffer personal injuries. |
| coverage. First party coverage is insurance that | | | | In Illinois, if you have insurance coverage you |
| covers you and your property. It can cover such | | | | automatically have uninsured coverage UNLESS |
| things as medical expenses, damage to your car, | | | | you signed a form called a UM Waver Form. |
| the cost of lawyers to defend an action if you | | | | As this brief summary suggests, the wording of |
| are sued by another driver, etc. Third party | | | | each car insurance policy held by the drivers and |
| coverage is insurance that protects you by paying | | | | or owners of the cars involved in a car accident |
| other people damages for injuries that you | | | | will largely determine what a person who suffers |
| caused them. In Illinois, for the most part, the | | | | personal injuries can or cannot recover. What |
| extent of both the first party and the third party | | | | might appear to be language that is straight |
| coverage a car owner has is determined by the | | | | forward and clear cut to the typical person, may |
| insurance policy itself. | | | | not have such a straight forward and clear cut |
| The State of Illinois sets out certain minimum | | | | legal interpretation. Also, every person who |
| insurance coverages that all car owners are | | | | suffers personal injuries in a car accident has their |
| required to carry. There is a minimum of | | | | own unique problems to solve. As such it is |
| $20,000.00 for personal injuries to a single person | | | | impossible to provide any hard and fast rules or |
| and a minimum of $40,000.00 for personal injuries | | | | suggestions of how best to proceed. One thing is |
| if there is more than one person injured in the car | | | | clear, however. There are strict time lines within |
| accident. There is also a minimum of $15,000.00 | | | | which legal actions must be started. There may |
| property damage coverage required. In today's | | | | also be time lines for forms to be filled out and |
| society these minimum limits are inadequate to | | | | claims to be filed with the insurer. It is always |
| protect most people. It is common to purchase | | | | best to speak with an Illinois qualified car accident |
| car insurance that increases these limits. Two of | | | | lawyer as soon as possible after the car accident. |
| the more common car insurance limits are first: | | | | Typically a car accident personal injury lawyer will |
| $100,000 for each person that suffers personal | | | | give you an initial consultation for free. Take |
| injuries to a maximum of $300,000 if more than | | | | advantage of that service and protect your rights. |
| one person suffers personal injuries in the car | | | | Contact Injury Alliance and get the help you |
| accident, and second: $300,000 per person injured | | | | deserve. |
| to a maximum of $500,000 if more than one | | | | This article is not intended to be a full or complete |
| person suffers personal injuries. | | | | summary of Illinois law nor is it intended to be |
| In addition to increasing the limits, a car owner | | | | used in any way as legal advice. For legal advice |
| may well be advised to also consider purchasing | | | | you should call a qualified, licensed personal injury |
| medical payments coverage. Unlike jurisdictions | | | | lawyer. This article is simply an overview of some |
| that have imposed "no-fault" legislation where | | | | points that might be of general interest to people, |
| certain medical payment coverage is mandatory, | | | | and in particular people that have suffered |
| Illinois does not require such coverage and it is left | | | | personal injuries in a car accident. If you want |
| to the individual to decide if they want it or not. | | | | legal advice the Injury Alliance can assist you in |
| Medical payment coverage is like a form of health | | | | locating a qualified personal injury lawyer that |
| coverage. It is often referred to as "personal | | | | practices in your area. First consultation, be it by |
| injury protection" or "PIP" protection. Again, if this | | | | telephone or in person, will be free. If you do not |
| type of coverage is purchased the insurance | | | | choose to find a lawyer through the Injury |
| policy will specify the maximum amount the | | | | Alliance but prefer to find one by yourself, we still |
| insurer will pay out under this coverage. | | | | recommend you choose someone who specializes |
| While there are many different types of insurance | | | | in car accident claims. Many attorney's specializing |
| coverage that are available two more will be of | | | | in car accident claims will also provide a free initial |
| specific interest to the person that has suffered | | | | consultation. |
| personal injuries in a car accident. These are the | | | | |