Over the quarter-century that Kirk has been fighting for injury victims or the families of those killed because of someone else’s negligence, he has recovered tens of millions of dollars for his clients in Gurnee and throughout Lake County. He is there for his clients when and where they need him, answering their questions, providing them with peace of mind, and getting them the resources they need and deserve. Kirk is a car accident attorney who fights for the residents of Gurnee for decades.
Kirk helps his clients pursue wrongful death claims against at-fault drivers. He works to get you justice for your loved ones and provide future security for you and your family.
Kirk obtains compensation for clients injured or killed in:
Right after a sudden and unexpected collision, you may be in shock. As a car accident victim, you may be confused and dazed and worried about your passengers or folks in the other vehicle; you may, in fact, be seriously injured in the car crash.
With all of that going on, it can be hard to think with a clear head where the accident occurred and take the steps necessary to protect your health and your rights. Knowing in advance what you need to do, or keeping a checklist in your glove compartment, can help you in the event of an accident.
Feel free to print this checklist of eight essential things to do right after you’ve been in an automobile accident:
- Get off the road. If it’s possible to do so safely, move your car off the road and out of traffic, as close to the scene as possible. Put your hazard lights on. This can allow you to take stock of the situation and avoid any additional dangers from other vehicles.
- Call 911. You need to report the incident immediately and make sure that both the police as well as medical attention are on the way. Use your phone or request that a bystander call 911. Report basic information such as your location, your name, address, and driver’s license number and state whether there are any injuries. While you should truthfully and calmly answer all questions a first responder asks you, do not admit or imply that you were at fault.
- GET MEDICAL ATTENTION. Even if you don’t think you are hurt, it is important to seek medical attention after your accident. Some injuries don’t show any symptoms until hours, days, or even weeks later. Listen to what first responders tell you, and if they tell you to go to the ER, go to the ER.
- Exchange information with the other driver. While nerves may be frayed and there may be some bad blood between you and the other driver right after an accident, you must get the other driver’s name, contact information, and insurance information.
- Take pictures. If you have your phone and it still works, try to take photos of the scene as well as any damage to your car.
- See if there are any witnesses. If anyone around the scene saw what happened, try to get their names and contact information.
- Contact your car insurance company. Call your insurance company and report the accident. However, do not under any circumstances admit fault or enter into any agreement with the insurance company about compensation or payment without first speaking with an auto accident lawyer. Never accept a settlement offer from your insurance company unless you have spoken with a car accident lawyer.
- Speak with a Gurnee auto accident lawyer. Even if you aren’t thinking about a lawsuit or seeking compensation from the other driver, or are just intimidated about the idea of contacting a lawyer, seeking legal advice is one of the most important things you can do after a car accident. Contacting a lawyer doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a claim, or will file a lawsuit, though both may wind up being the case.
Meeting with a Gurnee auto accident lawyer can help you understand your rights, learn what your options are, and find out what you should do next. Most injury/accident lawyers offer free initial consultations, so there is no reason not to reach out to one as soon as possible for legal advice.
We help car accident victims file lawsuits to recover compensation for:
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Pain and suffering
- Medical bills
- Long-term care
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
Aside from regular vehicle accidents, we represent injury victims due to bike accidents and motorcycle crashes, including pedestrians who have been hit by a car.
Settling a personal injury case does not mean settling for less than you deserve. Unfortunately, too many people injured in car accidents and other incidents do precisely that, negotiating with insurance companies without having a lawyer and accepting amounts far less than they deserve to compensate them for their injuries and losses.
You don’t need to make the same mistake. You don’t need to take an insurer’s lowball offer or give up if they deny your claim entirely. If you want to get the most from your settlement, what you need is an experienced and aggressive Gurnee injury attorney. That is because injury and car accident victims who retain an attorney to handle their claim typically receive larger settlements and get more money in their pockets than people who try to negotiate with insurance companies and deal with their case on their own.
An Insurance Research Council (IRC) study revealed that settlements for auto accident injury victims who had hired an attorney were, on average, 40 percent higher than the settlements reached by injury victims who tried to negotiate on their own behalf. A separate IRC study found that individuals who retained a lawyer received 85% of all funds paid by auto insurance companies to settle claims.
Insurance companies are in business to make money. Every dollar they pay in claims is a dollar that cuts into their profits. They will do everything possible to either deny your claim or try to get you to accept the lowest possible sum. They know that you need money as you see medical bills and other expenses piling up while remaining out of work recovering from your injuries. The promise of quick cash can be tempting, and insurers will exploit your desperation to get out of your claim on the cheap.
But insurers also know that attorneys, who deal with their tactics and games all the time, aren’t such easy marks. They understand that their denials of liability or efforts to reach a paltry settlement won’t fool an experienced Gurnee auto accident lawyer. If an insurer knows that the attorney is aggressive, thorough, and fully prepared to take a matter to trial, they will be more inclined to make a larger settlement offer rather than take on the risk and expense of a lengthy and unpredictable trial.
What is the dollar value of not being able to play catch with your child? How much is it worth when you need assistance with basic daily tasks? What sum of money can make up for being in excruciating pain and having a quality of life that is far from what it was before a serious injury?
Those are examples of the challenges involved in figuring out pain and suffering damages in Illinois personal injury cases. While Illinois law recognizes that pain and suffering are genuine consequences of a severe injury, such “non-economic” damages aren’t usually found on bills, invoices, and paystubs. They don’t lend themselves to easy calculation. The amount of compensation you can recover for these losses largely depends on your Gurnee personal injury attorney’s ability to prove the nature and scope of the injury’s impact on your life.
The words “pain” and “suffering” encompass a wide range of physical, emotional, and psychological consequences of an accident or injury. These elements can include:
- Physical pain
- Stress, anxiety, or depression
- Embarrassment from scarring or disfigurement
- Limitations and restrictions on the victim’s day-to-day life
- Impact on a victim’s ability to sleep
- Effect on a victim’s relationships with loved ones
- Shortened life expectancy
Like all other elements of a claim, your lawyer must present convincing and admissible evidence as to your pain and suffering to recover damages for such losses.
Examples of the types of evidence that your lawyer can use to prove the extent of your pain and suffering and justify an award of substantial damages include:
- Expert medical testimony discussing your injuries, treatment, and ongoing needs
- Photos contrasting your condition before and after your injury
- Personal diaries or journals describing your physical and emotional state
- Letters or statements from friends and family explaining how the injury has impacted your life and your relationships with others
- Proof of mental health issues and treatment
We all know that pain is real and suffering isn’t a figment of our imaginations. But when you are in a court of law and are asking a jury to award you compensation for the pain and suffering a defendant has caused you, it is imperative that you have an experienced Gurnee attorney on your side who knows how make your unseen injuries crystal clear.
