1. Kinnally Flaherty Krentz Loran Hodge & Masur P.C.
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, construction accidents, premises liability, defective products, nursing home injuries
Case Types Handled: Auto collisions, commercial truck accidents, rear-end collisions, intersection crashes, multi-vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury cases including brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, fatal accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation, evidence preservation, expert witness consultation, medical record analysis, wrongful death claims
Background: The firm has over 100 combined years of trial experience. Partners Patrick M. Flaherty, Paul G. Krentz, Gerald K. Hodge, and Mark F. Masur have received high peer ratings for skill and integrity. Many attorneys have been designated as Leading Lawyers and Super Lawyers, signifying recognition among the top attorneys in Illinois. The firm recently secured a $4,850,000 settlement for a victim of a landscaping company accident. The attorneys have achieved victories in the Ohio Supreme Court, Federal Courts, Federal Courts of Appeals, State Courts of Appeals, and trial courts.
Location: 2114 Deerpath Road, Aurora, Illinois 60506
Contact: (630) 907-0909 | https://www.kfkllaw.com/
Consultation: Free consultations available by phone or in person
2. Amoni Law Offices, P.C.
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability, dog bites, slip and fall accidents
Case Types Handled: Vehicle accidents involving cars, trucks, and motorcycles, intoxicated driver accidents, distracted driver accidents, uninsured motorist claims, wrongful death cases
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, health care lien resolution, subrogation interest management, Medicare rights advocacy
Background: Attorney Larry Amoni has earned an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, recognizing legal ability and ethics. He has been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer and holds a Top 100 Illinois Trial Attorneys rating from the American Trial Attorneys Association. He is an associate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. The firm provides personalized attention with the attorney working directly with each client.
Location: Aurora, Illinois
Contact: https://www.amonilaw.com/
Consultation: Free initial consultation
3. Kryder Law Group, LLC
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, workplace injuries, slip and fall accidents, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, T-bone collisions, hit-and-run accidents, rideshare accidents, multi-vehicle accidents, rollover accidents, catastrophic injury cases including traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation, medical record collection, expert witness coordination, property damage claims, lost wage recovery
Background: The firm’s attorneys have secured notable recoveries including settlements for construction workers injured in workplace accidents that ranked as the highest awards on record for construction injuries in DuPage County and McHenry County at the time. The attorneys have extensive experience navigating Illinois personal injury law and the modified comparative negligence system.
Location: Aurora, IL office serving Kane County, DuPage County, and surrounding areas
Contact: https://www.kryderlaw.com/aurora-injury/
Consultation: Free initial consultation, contingency fee basis (no fee unless recovery is obtained)
4. Patankar Law P.C.
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bite injuries, defective product injuries, personal injury
Case Types Handled: Motor vehicle collisions, rear-end accidents, intersection crashes, multi-vehicle pileups, wrongful death cases
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, evidence preservation, accident investigation, damage documentation
Background: The attorneys at Patankar Law P.C. have more than 50 years of combined legal experience. The firm emphasizes acting quickly after accidents to preserve evidence and protect client rights. The firm serves Aurora, North Aurora, Batavia, Winfield, Warrenville, Naperville, Geneva, St. Charles, Oswego, Montgomery, Yorkville, Elgin, Lisle, Sugar Grove, Kane County, DuPage County, and Kendall County.
Location: Aurora, Illinois (serving Kane County, DuPage County, and Kendall County)
Contact: (630) 820-8877 | https://www.patankarlaw.com/
Consultation: Free initial consultation
5. Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, workplace injuries, defective products, premises liability, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, intersection crashes, commercial vehicle accidents, workplace third-party claims, catastrophic injury cases
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical care coordination, evidence collection, witness interviews, damage documentation
Background: The firm has extensive experience representing injury victims in Aurora and the Fox Valley region. The attorneys handle cases from initial investigation through trial if necessary. The firm coordinates with healthcare providers to ensure clients receive necessary medical treatment while cases are pending, without requiring out-of-pocket payment.
Location: 1444 North Farnsworth Avenue, Suite 504, Aurora, IL 60505
Contact: https://www.horwitzlaw.com/
Consultation: Free initial consultation, contingency fee basis
Car Accident Laws and Regulations in Illinois
Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: Illinois has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from car accidents under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. This means you must file a lawsuit within two years from the date of the accident. For property damage claims, the statute of limitations is five years under 735 ILCS 5/13-205. Missing these deadlines typically results in the court dismissing your case.
Statute of Limitations for Claims Against Government Entities: If you need to sue the State of Illinois or a state agency, you have one year to file with the Illinois Court of Claims. For claims against local governments, you must file within one year under 745 ILCS 10/8-101.
Fault vs. No-Fault Insurance State Status: Illinois is a fault-based (tort) state for car accidents. The driver who caused the accident is financially responsible for the resulting damages. Victims can pursue compensation by filing claims against the at-fault driver’s insurance company or by filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Comparative Negligence Rules: Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence system under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, with a 51% bar rule. You can recover damages if you are 50% or less at fault for the accident, but your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover any damages. For example, if you are found 30% at fault and have $100,000 in damages, you would receive $70,000.
Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements: Illinois law requires drivers to carry liability insurance with minimum coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $20,000 for property damage (25/50/20) under 625 ILCS 5/7-601. Additionally, drivers must carry uninsured motorist coverage at the same minimum levels.
Accident Reporting Requirements: Under Illinois law (625 ILCS 5/11-408), any accident resulting in death, injury, or property damage exceeding $1,500 must be reported to police. If any driver is uninsured, the reporting threshold drops to $500. If police do not respond to the scene, you must report the accident to the Illinois State Police within 10 days.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Illinois requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage at minimum levels matching liability requirements. This protects drivers injured by motorists who lack adequate insurance.
Damage Caps: Illinois does not impose caps on economic or non-economic damages in personal injury cases. Previous caps on non-economic damages were struck down by the Illinois Supreme Court as unconstitutional.
Wrongful Death Claims: In Illinois, wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of the decedent’s death under 740 ILCS 180/2. The personal representative of the estate files the claim on behalf of surviving family members.
Dram Shop Liability: Illinois has dram shop liability laws under 235 ILCS 5/6-21 that allow injured parties to pursue claims against establishments that served alcohol to intoxicated individuals who subsequently caused accidents.
Seat Belt Law: Illinois requires all front-seat occupants to wear seat belts. While failure to wear a seat belt is not considered negligence per se, insurance companies may argue it contributed to the severity of injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the deadline to file a car accident lawsuit in Illinois?
A: The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Illinois is two years from the date of the accident. For property damage claims, you have five years. However, if you are filing a claim against a government entity, you typically have only one year. Missing these deadlines generally results in losing your right to pursue compensation, so it is advisable to consult with an attorney as soon as possible after an accident.
Q: How does Illinois’s modified comparative negligence rule affect my case?
A: Under Illinois law, you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for the accident, as long as your fault does not exceed 50%. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if a jury determines your damages are $100,000 but you were 25% at fault, you would receive $75,000. However, if you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover any damages.
Q: What are the minimum auto insurance requirements in Illinois?
A: Illinois requires drivers to carry liability insurance with minimum coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for bodily injury to all persons in an accident, and $20,000 for property damage. Drivers must also carry uninsured motorist coverage at the same minimum levels. These are minimum requirements, and many drivers carry higher limits for additional protection.
Q: What should I do if the at-fault driver in my accident is uninsured?
A: If you are injured by an uninsured driver, you can file a claim under your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which is required in Illinois. This coverage protects you when the at-fault driver lacks insurance. The claims process is similar to filing against another driver’s insurance, but you work with your own insurance company. An attorney can help ensure your UM claim is handled properly.
Q: Can I recover compensation if I was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident?
A: While Illinois requires front-seat occupants to wear seat belts, failure to wear one is not considered negligence per se in a personal injury case. However, the insurance company or defense attorney may argue that your injuries were more severe because you were not wearing a seat belt. This could potentially reduce your compensation, though an experienced attorney can help counter such arguments.