More electric vehicles are hitting the road in Illinois and first responders want to be prepared. Firefighters are finding out that it can take three hours or longer to put out an electric car fire. By 2025 one in ten cars will be electric. Part of the problem is that thousands of gallons of water are needed when an electric car erupts into flames. If you or your loved one suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of an electric car fire, you should try to seek the help of an Illinois personal injury attorney.

Who Can Be Responsible for My Injuries?

Under Illinois law, if things meant to keep you safe do not work, you and your family should get a lawyer to help you get compensation for what happened. Most cars use batteries called lithium-ion. They are different from the old batteries with lead. These new batteries are stronger and can be charged quickly. Inside the battery, there are a lot of tiny parts called cells. If these parts break, the battery can get very hot and start a fire. Firefighters usually cannot put out these fires easily, because they need a lot of water and special tools.

Chronic pain impacts every aspect of a person’s life. It is not only the physical pain that causes suffering, but also the stress, sleeplessness, unease, and despair caused by being in constant pain.  

If you or a loved one have suffered chronic pain because of your car accident injuries, you may be able to file a personal injury claim and recover financial compensation for your damages.

Monetary damages cannot take away your pain, but the compensation may cover the cost of pain-relieving medication and medical treatment, lost income from missed work, and other expenses. Bringing a successful personal injury claim can also provide a sense of justice and closure regarding the accident.

While there are many injuries that a victim could suffer in a car accident, some are more severe than others. Life-altering and life-threatening injuries can result in extreme financial losses and may even cause financial devastation for the victim and their family, not to mention the severe physical and mental effects. If you have suffered a traumatic injury, a qualified personal injury attorney can help you pursue the most compensation possible.

Severe Head Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries are one of the most common injuries in car crashes, and they can be deadly because they are easy to overlook. Victims may not have an open wound, bruise, or bump. In fact, a victim might not have even hit his or her head since a traumatic brain injury can be caused by a sudden jarring of the brain, not necessarily a blow to the head. If you notice symptoms of confusion, loss of consciousness, persistent headaches, or other strange symptoms, you should contact a healthcare professional immediately. A victim could also sustain a skull fracture or a penetrating head wound, both of which could be fatal, especially when not promptly treated.

Penetrating Chest and Abdominal Injuries

Any penetration of the body is typically considered a medical emergency, but those involving the chest or abdominal area can quickly turn into a fatal situation. The lungs, heart, bowels, liver, kidneys, and major blood vessels are all contained within these areas of the body. Injuries from a penetrating wound often require complicated emergency surgery to repair, and this can come with high expenses for which you may be able to seek compensation through a personal injury claim.

Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists often have to share the same roads. When motorists fail to obey traffic laws and pay attention to their surroundings, they may hit pedestrians or cyclists, causing catastrophic accidents. A human body is no match for a motor vehicle, and pedestrian accident victims are often left with severe, life-changing injuries. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a pedestrian accident, it is important to understand your legal options fully.

Pedestrian Crashes Caused by Negligent Drivers

Part of being a responsible driver is remaining cautious of other people on the roads. Many pedestrian crashes are caused by distracted driving. Pedestrian accidents may occur because a driver is absorbed in their smartphone, looking down at the car’s GPS system, distracted by passengers, or simply daydreaming. Drivers intoxicated by alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications may also present dangers to pedestrians. Speeding, running a red light, or other traffic violations can result in devastating pedestrian injuries as well. If you or a loved one were involved in a pedestrian crash caused by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

Seeking Justice and Compensation

By law, drivers in Illinois must carry car insurance. If a person is hit by a car, the at-fault driver’s insurance company is usually the first place they seek compensation. Unfortunately, dealing with the auto insurance company can be confusing and frustrating—especially when recovering from a serious injury. Insurance companies may offer a very low payout or outright deny the driver’s liability for the accident. If an injured person cannot negotiate a reasonable settlement from the insurance company, the next step may be to file a personal injury lawsuit.  

Texting while driving is illegal in Illinois, but thousands of people still do it every day. In 2020, distracted driving lead to nearly 200 people losing their lives in car accidents in Illinois alone. Even more financial and physical damage was caused by the many distracted driving accidents that were not fatal. 

The primary cause of distracted driving accidents is the use of cell phones while driving. While eating, talking, and adjusting the radio can all cause accidents as well, it is the ubiquitous need to be constantly checking text messages and app notifications that causes the most distracted driving traffic fatalities. 

How Do Distracted Driving Accidents Happen? 

When someone is talking on the phone or texting, they are unable to pay attention or respond quickly to the flow of traffic or changing road conditions. Distracted driving accidents can occur when a driver: