Vehicle Accidents

• Types of Vehicle Accidents We Handle
• What Should You Do After a Vehicle Accident?
• How Does an Accident Lawyer at Nessler & Associates Build Your Case?
• What Kind of Damages Can You Recover?
• Why Do You Need a Vehicle Accident Lawyer?
• Why Should You Choose Nessler & Associates?

Vehicle accidents can cause minor or catastrophic injuries that require medical attention and time away from work. Some injuries can also negatively impact your ability to work in the future and cause emotional damage.

A personal injury attorney with Nessler & Associates can help if you get injured in a vehicle accident. We can explain what to do after an accident and the damages you might recover. We can also help you assemble your case and protect your rights to a fair settlement, no matter what type of vehicle accident you are involved in.

Types of Vehicle Accidents We Handle

At Nessler & Associates, we handle several types of vehicle accident cases. Our attorneys can help if you’ve suffered injuries in an accident involving the following:

Boat Accident

Those who take watercraft out onto the state’s waterways can suffer injuries in boating accidents. In 2020, there were 36 boating-related injuries in Illinois and 21 fatalities.

Boat operators are responsible for following all laws regarding safety equipment and operation. If they fail to follow the rules and cause an accident, by driving the vessel while drunk, for example, you can hold them liable for injuries you suffer.
Nessler & Associates can help you investigate the circumstances of your boating accident to determine liability. We can then help you file a claim with the operator’s insurance company to get a fair settlement for the damage you suffered.

Bus Accident

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 12% of fatal crashes between 2009 and 2019 at the national level were due to intercity buses. Transit buses account for 34% of fatal crashes, while school buses make up 39% of fatal collisions involving buses.

If you or your loved one is involved in a bus accident, Nessler & Associates can help. Bus crashes don’t happen as often as car accidents, but the damages can be severe. If you are in a passenger vehicle involved in a bus accident, the bus’s large size and solid design can lead to devastating injuries that require years of medical care and impact your ability to work.

Motorcycle Accident

If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, Nesser & Associates can represent you and your accident claim. We can help you fight against unfair perceptions of insurance companies to win you a fair settlement to help you pay for your medical bills and cover lost wages you incur due to another driver’s irresponsible behavior.

Truck Accident

Commercial truck accidents can occur for many reasons. Tired or distracted truck drivers can veer into your lane and cause catastrophic injuries to your and your passengers. Commercial trucks weigh nearly 20 to 30 times more than most passenger vehicles, and 68% of people killed in truck collisions were passengers or drivers of the passenger vehicle.

If you suffer damages in a commercial truck accident, Nessler & Associates can help you gain compensation to pay for medical care and rehabilitation necessary to help you recover from your injuries.

Auto Accident

Auto accidents claim the lives of more motorists than any other type of vehicle accident. In 2021, there were 1,134 auto accident fatalities in Illinois. The majority of these accidents happened on city streets in the Prairie State.

The legal team at Nessler & Associates is well-versed in auto accident cases. After a collision, we can guide you through the insurance claims process and stand up for your right to receive a fair settlement for your injuries.

What Should You Do After a Vehicle Accident?

Vehicle accidents raise your adrenaline levels, causing you confusion and panic. Knowing what to do if you are injured in a car or other vehicle accident helps you stay calm and improves your chances of winning a personal injury case after the incident.

Document the Scene

Take pictures of the accident scene, including all property damage and injuries, if you are physically able. A lot of witness information never makes it into the police report; do your best to record the names and contact information of everyone who witnessed the crash. Ask someone to do it for you if you cannot document the scene due to your injuries.

Also, exchange information with the other vehicle operator. This information should include legal names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance companies, and policy numbers.

Seek Medical Attention

The adrenalin release can mask accident injuries like traumatic brain injuries or internal bleeding. Get a medical evaluation as soon as possible after an accident. In addition to treating injuries, this exam establishes when you got injured and the extent of the damage. Keep your records and receipts from this visit and any follow-up care you require. These will help your case if you need to file a lawsuit.

Avoid Posting on Social Media

The defendant’s legal team can use any information you post on social media against you in court. For example, if you post a picture of yourself on a walk, they may use it to claim you didn’t suffer any injuries or that they aren’t affecting your quality of life.

Do not post pictures or the details of your accident. Refrain from publicly blaming the other driver and avoid posting photos or posts until your case is complete.

Hire a Lawyer

Talk with a lawyer before you discuss your case with an insurance adjuster. The adjuster can and will use whatever you say to deny your claim or decrease your payment. A personal injury lawyer can advise you on what to say and how much detail to provide.

The attorneys with Nessler & Associates have considerable experience handling all aspects of a vehicle accident claim. We can guide you through the claims process and negotiate with the insurance company. If necessary, we can represent you in court and help you maximize your settlement.

How Does an Accident Lawyer at Nessler & Associates Build Your Case?

You must provide enough evidence to the insurer or jury to convince them that you should receive compensation. Your lawyer from Nessler & Associates can help you build a solid case with the following process:

It Starts With a Free Case Evaluation

We will review your evidence during your initial consultation and ask questions about the accident. This meeting allows us to learn about your case and enables you to understand what to expect.

We Investigate Your Accident

Our investigators examine the scene of your accident and the damage to the vehicles to determine what happened. We look for surveillance footage from nearby businesses and interview witnesses. We also obtain police reports and phone records if necessary.

We Calculate the Damages You Deserve

A skilled lawyer can help you determine a fair settlement amount for your injuries and lost wages. To determine how much compensation to pursue, we evaluate:

• Your medical bills
• Estimates for future treatments
• Pay stubs or tax returns
• Receipts for out-of-pocket items
• Receipts for transportation costs to and from appointments
• Medical records that show the extent of your injuries
• Your account of how the injuries impact your life
• Interviews with friends and family

We use a formula based on your financial losses and the severity of the damage to decide how much to pursue in non-economic losses. These include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress.

We Prepare Evidence for Negotiation or Trial

Our lawyers compile the evidence collected for your case and use it to plan our negotiating tactics. If the insurer refuses to settle for a reasonable amount, we will create an argument around the evidence to sway a jury in a lawsuit.

Building a successful case takes effort and expertise. The accident lawyers with Nessler & Associates have over 100 years of combined experience handling various vehicle accident cases. We can assemble your case with speed and accuracy. We will ensure everyone who contributed to your accident pays for their negligence.

What Kind of Damages Can You Recover?

Insurance settlements and jury awards provide compensation for financial losses and intangible harm.

Recovering Financial Losses

When calculating a settlement, we examine your medical bills and records showing your long-term prognosis. If your injuries prevent you from ever returning to work, your compensation will include the loss of income. If you must return to light duty or restricted hours, the settlement will include that difference in your income.

Other costs that a settlement might cover include the cost of mobility devices, prescription medication, and modifications to your home and vehicle. It also covers property damage to your vehicle.

Compensation for Intangible Harm

You can collect compensation for the emotional and psychological harm that does not have a definitive dollar value. Non-economic damages include:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Mental anguish
• Chronic pain
• Loss of enjoyment of life or the inability to participate in your usual activities
• The inconvenience of a permanent, debilitating injury
• Loss of consortium or the inability of a spouse or parent to provide the same level of care and attention as before the accident

The severity and permanence of your injuries affect the amount we seek for non-economic damages. Illinois does not restrict the damages you can receive.

Workers’ Compensation if You Were Working During Your Accident

Workers’ compensation would cover your injuries and partial lost wages if your accident occurred during work. This coverage does not provide for intangible losses.

Discuss your case with a Nessler & Associates lawyer to determine the best course of action. We can help you get the compensation owed by an at-fault driver, your no-fault insurance, or your employer’s workers’ comp policy.

Why Do You Need a Vehicle Accident Lawyer?

A lawyer handling your vehicle accident case increases your chances of winning, especially in complicated situations. You can take advantage of our considerable experience to strengthen your claim.

Some Claims are More Complicated Than Usual

Claims involving motorcycles, commercial trucks, and buses are more complex than those involving only passenger vehicles. Government-owned vehicles also complicate matters.

• Motorcycle riders face bias from police, insurance adjusters, and juries. They often believe motorcyclists cause accidents even when the evidence suggests otherwise. These accidents also cause more severe injuries than other types. We protect the rights of motorcycle operators and passengers.
• Commercial trucks cause more damage than most vehicles. These accidents might have multiple liable parties. Their insurance companies start working to diminish the claim within hours of the crash. These factors make legal counsel necessary for protecting your rights and achieving a fair settlement.
• Bus accident victims can face issues getting compensation from insurance companies. Many buses are also owned by state or local governments, which makes matters more complex.
• Accidents caused by government vehicles have different rules. For example, statutes of limitations are drastically shorter. In some states, such as Illinois, all claims involving state-owned cars must be trialed in a Court of Claims rather than a civil court.

We Have Decades of Experience With Car Accident Claims

Our firm has represented victims of car accidents since 1977. We frequently negotiate with insurance companies. We have seen several manipulative tactics insurance adjusters use to avoid paying claims, and we know how to fight back.

For example, most insurance companies will attempt to place as much blame on you as possible. Illinois uses a modified contributory fault standard. This law prohibits people with more than 50% responsibility for the accident from recovering any damages.

It also lowers the amount of a jury award by the percentage of responsibility you bear. The insurance companies use this concept to reduce the settlement amounts they offer.

We Know What Kinds of Evidence are Required

We understand which types of evidence sway insurance adjusters and juries and know how to find it. Examples include video of the crash, interviews with witnesses, and medical reports.

We Have a Network of Experts to Consult

We can hire vehicle accident reconstructionists and medical and forensics experts. These experts can show the jury how the accident occurred and caused your injuries. Effective witnesses can make technical information understandable for people without expertise. We work with the best expert witnesses in the business.

We Understand Courtroom Procedures

We understand the importance of courtroom procedures and how they can influence your case. For example, we know when objections to witness testimony are appropriate and what kinds of evidence should be barred. This knowledge significantly increases your chance of winning.

Why Should You Choose Nessler & Associates?

The vehicle accident attorneys with Nessler & Associates have a winning track record with personal injury cases. We collected $15 million for a 13-year-old who suffered a permanent brain injury in a crash. We won $2.1 million for a bicyclist hit by a state-owned vehicle.

We fight aggressively to get our clients the maximum financial recovery they deserve. We value the client relationship and believe open communication is crucial. A lawyer will answer your legal questions promptly.

To get a free case review, contact us online or at (800) 727-8010. We can examine your evidence and give you feedback on your claim.