Experienced Belleville, IL Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys
Motor vehicle accidents, including car accidents, motorcycle accidents and truck accidents, are among the most common, serious and complex types of personal injuries in the United States. If you or a loved one has been involved in a motor vehicle accident, it can be overwhelming. When faced with these challenges, it is critical to seek out a committed, experienced and knowledgeable car accident attorney in Belleville IL.
If you were involved in a motor vehicle accident due to the fault of someone else, the only thing you should have to worry about is feeling better. While everything after an accident can feel overwhelming, the car accident lawyers near me at Katzman & Sugden, LLC will be there for you every step of the way. We are there to assist you so you can take care of what matters most: yourself and your family.
From repairing or replacing your vehicle to handling the influx of medical bills that you have incurred to missing work to receive medical treatment, the aftermath of a car accident can be overwhelming. At Katzman & Sugden, LLC, we are here to assist you and your family. Our office is a family environment and we will treat you like family.
When you call our law office, we will discuss your legal options, address any questions, and begin working immediately to protect your rights. Every accident and every client is unique so we strive to provide individual attention and service that is best suited for each client. We are always available to discuss your case. Whether you prefer communication via text messages, emails, telephone conversations, or in-person meetings, we tailor our representation to your preferences and your needs.
Our attorneys will work for you to recover for your injuries due to an automobile, motorcycle, or truck accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence. Our car accident lawyers take cases involving, but are not limited to:
ATV Accidents
Car Accidents
Drunk Driver Accidents
Hit and Run Accidents
Rear-End Collisions
Motorcycle Accidents
Truck Accidents
Semi-Tractor Trailer Accidents
What You Should Do After A Car Accident
Always call the police after an accident – the police report is one of the most critical pieces of evidence when it comes to your car accident claim.
Always avoid talking too much to the other people at the scene about how the accident happened.
Take photographs of the scene of the accident, including the location of the vehicles after the accident, damage to each vehicle, and any hazardous road conditions that may have contributed to the accident.
Always stay at the scene of the accident until the police and medical personnel tell you it is safe to leave.
Get the information of all potential witnesses. Many witnesses are not listed on a police report so getting their contact information is extremely important.
If you are injured or shaken up, you should seek medical treatment immediately. It is not uncommon for injuries to appear or worsen several days after an accident.
Call your insurance company right way to report the accident. Even if the accident was not your fault, you should notify your insurance company immediately.
Always avoid talking to the insurance company for the other driver(s). Before speaking with the insurance company, seek legal advice from an experienced car accident lawyer immediately. Insurance companies will always try to obtain a recorded statement to use against you later.
Never sign any paperwork from the insurance company without consulting an attorney first.
Keep a journal of all medical appointments and lost wages/hours from work.
Where to look for answers after a serious car accident
Putting the pieces of an accident together can be an overwhelming challenge, especially when the accident is more complicated than a fender-bender. People don’t tell the truth; they embellish; they leave the scene of an accident or are killed in the crash and cannot give their side of the story.
In these situations, finding concrete answers to what happened and who is to blame can be very difficult. It is not impossible, though. There are ways to put the pieces of an accident together, even if you don’t have all those pieces to begin with.
After an accident, the following sources can provide valuable insight and information.
Accident reconstructions – A reconstruction professional works backward from the crash scene and uses mathematical formulas and available evidence to reconstruct the accident to reveal what happened.
Photographs – They say that a picture paints a thousand words, and that can be true after an accident. Photographs of the crash scene, the damage to the vehicle and the road conditions can provide critical details that people may not agree on or remember.
Black boxes – Most cars have event data recorders, or so-called black boxes. As this article from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discusses, these devices store vast amounts of information, like whether a person was wearing a seat belt and whether a driver applied the brakes before an accident.
Cellphone records – Even though Illinois laws prohibit using a handheld phone while driving, people still do it. In the event of a crash, an examination of a person’s phone records could reveal that he or she was using their phone at the time.
Video recordings – Video recordings are more common than ever. Dashboard cameras, cellphone videos, nearby surveillance cameras can all provide valuable accounts of what happened in a crash, so it is important to seek them out after an accident.
Investigating data from these sources can provide victims and their families with the answers they need after a serious car accident. Understand, though, that you do not have to track down this information yourself. You can consult an attorney who has the experience, resources and knowledge to conduct a thorough investigation, allowing you to stay focused on recovering.
Determining if distraction contributed to a car accident
Did you know that hundreds of thousands of drivers have been injured in accidents involved a distracted driver? In just one year, according to the most recent reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 391,000 people were injured in a crash with a distracted driver; nearly 3,500 people were killed.
These numbers paint a troubling picture of how common it is for people to drive while distracted. That said, it can be a challenge to prove that a person was distracted at the time of an accident. However, it is not impossible.
To begin with, understand that there are many types of distracted driving. Perhaps the most dangerous type of distraction is using a cellphone while driving. Handheld phone use while driving is undoubtedly unsafe (and illegal in Illinois), but so are other forms of distraction, including:
Eating
Grooming
Using a GPS or in-dash infotainment system
Reaching for something in the passenger or backseat
Having several passengers in the car
Experiencing significant emotional distress, like anger or sadness
These behaviors can take a person’s eyes and attention of the road and hands off the wheel.
To determine if a driver was engaged in these or other distracting behaviors after an accident, victims — with the help of their attorneys — can look in the following places.
Cellphone records
Surveillance video from dashboard cameras or other cameras in the area
Witness statements, photos or recordings
Data from the car to show braking, speed or accident avoidance measures taken or not taken
Admissions to police by the other driver
Evidence at the scene, like grooming items or food
Injuries consistent with having the hands off the wheel
Under these circumstances, a driver could be held responsible for distracted driving if he or she causes an accident and injuries.
Again, it may not always be obvious that another driver was distracted at the time of a crash. However, there are ways to prove distraction, which can be crucial if a victim or a victim’s family pursues legal action and compensation.
FAQ For Car Accident Claims
How much does it cost to hire a Belleville IL auto accident attorney to represent me for my car accident?
Absolutely nothing. At Katzman & Sugden, LLC, our initial consultation for car accident cases is 100% free of charge. If you hire our office to assist you, we will work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t get paid unless you get paid. There is no hourly fee and no upfront retainer cost for car accident cases. We are always available to discuss your case and since your case is being handled on a contingency fee, there is no additional charge to you. There is nothing to lose by scheduling a consultation to speak with our office after your car accident.
How long do I have to file a car accident case?
Any claim you may have is governed by a strict statute of limitations, which places a limit on how long a person has to file a claim against another person in a personal injury case. It’s important to consult with a car accident attorney about the statute of limitations for your case. If your claim isn’t settled out of court within this time period, you must file a lawsuit against any other parties before the expiration of the statute of limitations. After this time limit has expired, you will be forever time barred from bringing your case, regardless of the merits of the case. Since the statute of limitations varies from state to state (including Illinois and Missouri), it is very important to speak with a car accident attorney immediately after an accident to discuss your legal rights.
What compensation can I recover for my car accident?
The type of compensation that you can recover in a car accident depends on many different factors, including the extent of your injuries and the percentage of fault that was allocated to you for the accident. Typical forms of compensation that you may be entitled to receive include:
Medical expenses, such as hospital bills, surgery bills, rehabilitation costs, physical therapy bills, chiropractic bills, and costs of medical equipment needed after the accident;
Lost wages and lost working opportunities;
Physical pain that you suffered both during and after your automobile accident;
Emotional trauma that you sustained as a result of your accident, including depression, anxiety, inability to sleep, fear of driving;
In certain instances, you may be entitled to punitive damages; and
Costs to repair your vehicle, or costs to replace your vehicle if it was totaled in your car accident.
How much is my car accident case worth?
Unfortunately, there is no calculator or formula to determine the dollar amount of compensation that you will receive for your car accident claim. A number of factors must be considered in determining the potential compensation that you could be awarded after your accident. Every car accident case and every client is unique. At Katzman & Sugden, LLC , we will take an individualized approach to every case to obtain the maximum compensation possible for your claim. In general, the more severe your injuries that can be correlated to the accident, the more compensation that may be available for your case.
Do I have to go to court for my car accident case?
Most people injured in a car accident never have to see the inside of a courtroom, as the majority of cases are usually settled before they reach the trial stage. However, in some cases, if insurance companies are unwilling to settle for a fair and agreeable amount of money, a lawsuit may be filed. The last stage of the litigation process would be a trial. However, the lawyers at Katzman & Sugden, LLC will advise you of your options every step of the way.
Contact the Car Accident Legal Experts at Katzman & Sugden LLC
The best way to fight for and protect your rights against insurance companies is to a consult the Belleville IL car accident lawyers at Katzman & Sugden, LLC. Insurance companies are not your friends. They have one goal, which is to maximize their company’s profit by offering injured individuals the lowest possible compensation. Katzman & Sugden, LLC put our clients first. We are there for you through every step of the process to help reduce the stress after a car accident and fight for your right to receive fair compensation.
Driving Directions to our Belleville IL Law Office
Katzman & Sugden, LLC is a law firm located in downtown Belleville, Illinois. Belleville is located in St. Clair County in Southwestern Illinois, just a short drive east of downtown St. Louis, MO. Belleville is also the county seat of St. Clair County, IL. It is the most-populated city in the Metro-East region of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area and in Southern Illinois. Scott Air Force Base is located just minutes east of downtown Belleville. Because of its’ close proximity to the Base, Belleville receives a population boost from military and federal civilian personnel, defense contractors, and military retirees.
From St. Clair County Court House, 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL. Head south on S 1st St toward W Washington St. In 121 ft, turn left onto W Washington St. In 0.4 miles, turn right onto S Charles St. Our location will be on the left at 300 S Charles St, Belleville, IL 62220.
From Hough City Park, Belleville, IL. Head northwest on W D St toward Richland Creek Greenway Trail. In 66 ft, turn left onto N 4th Street Rear. In 377 ft, turn left at the 1st cross street onto W C St. In 0.6 miles, turn right onto N Charles St. Our location will be on the left at 300 S Charles St, Belleville, IL 62220.
From East End City Park, Belleville, IL. Head northwest on Park Ave toward E Adams St. In 0.3 miles, turn left onto E Garfield St. In 0.3 miles, turn right onto S Charles St. Our location will be on the right at 300 S Charles St, Belleville, IL 62220.
From Bicentennial Park, Belleville, IL. Head southeast toward Belleville Crossing St. In 0.1 miles, turn left onto Belleville Crossing St. In 0.5 miles, continue onto S 17th St. In 0.5 miles, turn right onto W Main St. In 1.1 miles, at Public Square, take the 1st exit onto S Illinois St. In 0.1 miles, turn left onto E Lincoln St. In 0.3 miles, turn right onto S Charles St. Our location will be on the left at 300 S Charles St, Belleville, IL 62220.
From Memorial Hospital Belleville, 4500 Memorial Dr, Belleville, IL. Head east on Memorial Dr. In 0.7 miles, turn left onto Royal Heights Rd. In 0.1 miles, turn right onto IL-161 E. In 1.6 miles, continue straight onto Boul Ave. In 0.5 miles, turn right onto IL-159 S/N Illinois St. In 0.4 miles, turn left onto N Douglas Ave. In 0.5 miles, turn right onto N Charles St/Scheel St. Our location will be on the left at 300 S Charles St, Belleville, IL 62220.
From Swansea, IL. Head southeast on N Belt W toward N Belt W Connector. In 0.3 miles, turn right onto IL-159 S/N Illinois St. In 0.7 miles, turn left onto N Douglas Ave. In 0.5 miles, turn right onto N Charles St/Scheel St. Continue to follow N Charles St. Our location will be on the left at 300 S Charles St, Belleville, IL 62220.
Did you know that hundreds of thousands of drivers have been injured in accidents involved a distracted driver? In just one year, according to the most recent reports from 
FAQ For Car Accident Claims