Levinson and Stefani

(312) 376-3812

Have you looked at your insurance policy lately?

It never hurts to brush up

Like most states, Illinois requires drivers to a carry a minimum of $25,000 in liability coverage, a relatively low number compared to other states.

It’s called the mandatory insurance law,  enacted in 1989 and updated in 2013, which increased the mandatory minimum from $20,000 to $25,000. The idea was to protect drivers from spending out-of-pocket for accident claims. It was a victory for Representative Laura Fine, a Glenview Democrat and sponsor of the bill, whose husband was involved in a severe accident that forced responders to amputate his arm. Fine recalled later that she and her family were at the mercy of astronomically high medical bills.

The new provisions of the mandatory minimum went into effect more than two years ago, yet it feels as though we’re still revealing what drivers should already know. The insurance laws in Illinois call for two forms of insurance coverage—liability and uninsured motorist coverage. Both types protect you in different ways. If you’re a driver, it’s important to understand what types coverage you’re required to carry. It’s also important to know what types of optional insurance coverage exist and how they work. Here’s a short refresher.

Mandatory Insurance in the State of Illinois

Liability: $25,000 per person. A requirement under most state laws that covers the costs associated with an accident that you were responsible for causing. That accounts for bodily injuries and property damage. It’s the most common type of insurance coverage, which is intended to provide financial assistance to the other party involved.

Uninsured and Underinsured: Coverage against uninsured and underinsured (UM/UIM) drivers is required in Illinois. In 2011, the Insurance Research Council found that one in seven drivers were uninsured. Uninsured motorist coverage protects you in the event that another driver is responsible for a crash, but doesn’t carry insurance. Underinsurance coverage is similar, in the sense that it protects you if the at-fault driver’s liability insurance is too low to cover costs of an accident. Illinois is one of 21 states that requires uninsured and underinsured coverage. By law, the UM/UIM policy limit equals your liability policy limit.

Optional Insurance

Collision insurance: Covers damages to your car in the event of a crash

Comprehensive: Pays for repairs in non-accident related damages to your car (i.e. an act of vandalism)

Medical payments: Covers medical costs if you’re injured in or by a motor vehicle

Uninsured property motorist damage: Covers damages to your car after an accident with an uninsured driver

Four things you should accomplish after an accident

It’s hard to think about the legal implications of an auto accident in the aftermath of a crash. The reaction, whether it’s the crash victim or a family member, is to focus on his/her injuries versus a protracted legal battle. I recently returned from teaching at the AAJ Trucking College in Dallas, where about 100 lawyers came together to discuss their cases and gain insight into legal know-hows. It reminded me of a few points that crash victims should be thinking about in the event of an accident, things that could prove to be difference makers once your lawyer starts negotiating a settlement or starts preparing for a trial.

What you know is that you’ve been hurt. What you don’t know is that insurance companies have taken steps to protect their interests almost immediately.

We’ve put together an informal checklist to make you aware of legal protections and to help you avoid the pitfalls of the shady business practices of insurance companies at the expense of someone’s inexperience. Contrary to what they tell you, insurance companies are looking to pay as little as possible, no matter how much they like to pretend. Of the dozens of crash cases we see each year, the bottom line is money: one side is looking for fair compensation (injured clients) while the other is looking to save themselves from paying more than they have to (insurance companies). That’s a different discussion entirely, but in the meantime keep these things in mind if you ever find yourself in an auto accident.

Contact a lawyer immediately

You’d be surprised to learn that some people wait until it’s too late. Our team fields calls each day from crash victims who take insurance companies at face value. Clients tell us how, in the beginning, insurers claim that ensuing compensation will be fair and equitable. Whether that turns out to be true is not necessarily the case. If you think about it from the perspective of an insurance claims representative, their goal is simple: save money, however possible. If that means pulling the wool over your eyes, then so be it. Our job is to make sure that doesn’t happen. You’ll save yourself a world of angst just by taking the time to contact the appropriate people with the appropriate resources.

By contacting a lawyer immediately, you’ve done three things: You’ve a) contacted someone who will protect your interests from the beginning of the process, b) you’ve contacted someone who knows the ins and outs of legal necessities (in the case of a truck crash, for example, gaining access to a black box, video surveillance, driving logs, etc. before they somehow “disappear”) and c) you’ve contacted someone who’s familiar with what fair compensation is and how to assess your injuries and the damage you’ve sustained. In short, lawyers are your vessel for full protection when your immediate concerns should be about your health.

Gather all relevant details of your crash

This might seem self-explanatory, and it may seem like it’s a job for someone else, namely the responding officer. It’s not necessarily enough. What’s worse, it’s likely not the first thing that’s on your mind after a crash. Still, witnesses are one of the most important factors in any injury case for obvious reasons. Did your accident take place at a nearby school or in front of a supermarket? Did it happen in your neighborhood or in a populated region? Did someone take pictures?

These are the details that can prove effective during settlement negotiations or a trial, even something as simple as noting the time of day, taking note of a cell phone log, or even the type of shirt the driver was wearing (was it a novelty shirt that, however jokingly, referenced fast driving?). All the ammunition you can muster will only help to serve your interests. Recounting them by putting it on paper will keep you ahead of the game.

Think of a family member/friend that might be willing to help

An auto accident can be a traumatizing experience. One of the things that many people find helpful is asking a friend and/or family member to act on their behalf. The scope of which you decided to allow your friend or family member to be involved is up to you, but the purpose is to take undue stress off your shoulders. If that means organizing a schedule of events, keeping up to speed with updates or acting as liaison to your lawyer, then all the better. The point is to make sure your interests are protected from the start and throughout the process of litigation.

Get to the “human level”

Trust is the most important part of any relationship. That goes for your lawyer, too. You need to feel safe. You need to feel comfortable. That’s part of our job, but you can’t take things for granted. There are questions you want to ask: “Have you handled a case like this before?” for example. “Are you licensed to practice in Illinois?” Sound bizarre? You’d be surprised just how many people are willing to take on a case without the proper licensure. To use an old adage: no question is a bad question. The more comfortable you feel, the better the opportunity for a seamless process and peace of mind. Build together, grow together, win together.

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