Your attorney can guide you through this complicated legal process
The financial toll of a serious car accident in Illinois can add up fast. Whether you’re dealing with a rear-end accident in Chicago or a speeding car crash on I-80 or I-72, all it takes is one small mistake by a reckless or negligent driver to cause your collision.
When this happens, it’s important that you know how to get the money you rightfully deserve for your accident-related expenses. Otherwise, you could end up having to pay for your accident out of your own pocket.
This is why it’s important to understand how the compensation system works for car accidents in Illinois. The process is different from many other states. That’s why it’s critical that you have a verified Illinois car accident lawyer on your side, guiding you every step of the way.
Illinois is an “at-fault” state
Like many other states, Illinois’ car insurance system is an “at-fault” system. This means the at-fault party is responsible for compensating injury victims for their accident-related expenses. The money paid to injury victims is legally known as “damages.” Often, the at-fault party pays for an injury victim’s damages in the form of a one-time settlement claim or jury verdict. Either way, you should not have to pay for your injury-related expenses if someone else caused your Illinois car accident.
What are the insurance requirements in Illinois?
In Illinois, state law requires all drivers to have car insurance coverage for all registered motor vehicles. The minimum required amount of liability insurance for property damage and/or injury-related expenses in Illinois is:
- $20,000 for property damage caused by a car accident.
- $25,000 per person for injury-related expenses.
- $25,000 per person for fatal car accidents.
- $50,000 per accident resulting in more than one injury or death.
- $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage (UM).
Drivers must carry proof of car insurance in Illinois at all times. Other rules and regulations may apply depending on the circumstances of your car accident.
Optional car insurance in Illinois
In addition to the mandatory minimum amount of car insurance required by the State of Illinois, drivers can choose to have additional, optional car insurance. According to the Illinois Department of Insurance, drivers may want to consider purchasing the following extra, optional insurance:
- Collision Coverage – Insurance that pays for car repairs due to a collision involving another driver or a fixed object, such as a tree or telephone pole.
- Comprehensive Coverage – Pays for damage to vehicle caused by something other than a collision, including fire damage, flood damage or hail.
- Gap Coverage – Insurance that pays the amount you still owe for a car loan or lease not covered by your insurance.
- Medical Payments Coverage – Additional insurance that covers medical expenses due to a car accident, regardless of who caused the collision.
- Physical Damage/Replacement Coverage – Insurance that pays for the cost of buying a new car if repairing your damaged car is more than the value of a new car.
- Rental Reimbursement Coverage – Insurance that pays a specific amount per day (e.g. $15) to rent a vehicle while yours is being repaired due to a covered loss.
- Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Insurance (UIM) – Insurance coverage that covers your injured-related expenses if you’re involved in a car accident involving a driver who’s “underinsured,” meaning their insurance coverage does not cover your injury-related expenses.
These are just some of the different types of optional car insurance available in Illinois. Talk to your insurance company or an experienced Illinois car accident lawyer to learn more about your options.
