100% Focus on Your Recovery,
Chicago Auto Accident Lawyer
Chicago Auto Accident Lawyer
Our Team of Attorneys Are Committed to Maximizing the Value of Your Case
Aurora Car Accident Lawyer
If you were hurt in a car accident in Aurora, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Illinois gives most injured people two years to file a lawsuit, so it helps to talk with an Aurora car accident lawyer as soon as you can.
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC, we help injured people understand their legal options after a collision. Whether your accident happened on Route 59, near East New York Street, or along the I-88 corridor, we can review the circumstances and explain your next steps. We serve Aurora and nearby communities across Kane, DuPage, Will, and Kendall counties. If your crash happened elsewhere in the region, visit our Chicago car accident lawyer page for more information.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Aurora
Taking a few practical steps after a collision can help protect your health and preserve evidence.
- Call 911 when necessary. Report the crash and request emergency assistance if anyone is injured. Obtain police report information when available.
- Seek medical care. Get checked even if your symptoms seem minor. Some injuries become noticeable hours or days later.
- Document the scene. If safe, photograph vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signs, and other relevant details.
- Collect information. Exchange contact and insurance details with the other driver and obtain witness contact information.
- Avoid admitting fault. Stick to the facts and do not speculate about what caused the collision.
- Be careful with insurers. Notify your insurer as required, but consider legal advice before giving the other driver’s insurer a recorded statement or accepting a settlement.
Keep medical records, repair estimates, receipts, and insurance correspondence together. These documents may help establish what happened and how the crash affected you.
Why Hire an Aurora Car Accident Lawyer
An insurance adjuster may question your injuries, dispute liability, or offer a settlement before you understand the full extent of your losses. An Aurora car accident attorney can help you navigate these challenges while you focus on recovery.
Our team can:
- Investigate the collision: Review police reports, photographs, witness accounts, and available video footage.
- Handle insurance communications: Organize documentation, respond to requests, and evaluate settlement offers.
- Address fault disputes: Challenge unsupported allegations and examine evidence of each party’s actions.
- Document your losses: Gather medical records, wage information, and evidence of other damages.
Every case is different. We can explain your options, discuss potential challenges, and help you decide whether settlement negotiations or litigation may be appropriate.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Aurora
Aurora connects residential neighborhoods, shopping areas, workplaces, and regional highways. Several driving behaviors and road conditions can contribute to collisions.
Distracted driving occurs when drivers look at phones, adjust navigation, or divert attention from traffic. Speeding reduces reaction time and increases the severity of a collision. Failure to yield can cause crashes at intersections when drivers turn across traffic or enter a roadway without checking for approaching vehicles.
Winter conditions also create hazards. Snow, freezing rain, and ice can reduce traction and increase stopping distances. Drivers who fail to adjust their speed may lose control or strike another vehicle. Impaired driving can further compromise judgment and reaction time.
These risks can arise on Route 59, East New York Street, Farnsworth Avenue, Orchard Road, Eola Road, Lake Street, and the I-88 corridor, also known as the Reagan Memorial Tollway.
For example, a rear-end car accident may occur when a driver follows too closely or fails to stop in time. However, the type of collision alone does not establish fault. The evidence must show what happened and whether a driver’s conduct contributed to the crash.
Railroad Crossings, Winter Weather and Other Local Risks in Aurora
Aurora’s transportation network includes railroad crossings along the Metra BNSF line, busy intersections, and commuter routes. Drivers should obey crossing signals and gates, watch traffic queues, and avoid stopping on railroad tracks.
Winter weather can make bridges, ramps, and shaded road sections especially slippery. Snow and ice can also reduce visibility and make it harder to stop safely. Drivers should slow down when conditions require it and leave enough following distance.
If another driver’s actions or a road-related hazard contributed to your accident, photographs, witness accounts, and information about the conditions at the time may help establish responsibility.
Aurora Car Accident Statistics
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s 2023 City Summary Crash Report for Aurora, the city recorded 4,360 crashes, including 10 fatal crashes and 1,053 injury crashes. These collisions resulted in 10 deaths and 1,474 reported injuries.
Front-to-rear collisions were the most common crash type, accounting for 1,236 crashes during the year. These figures provide local context for road safety in Aurora, although the circumstances and evidence in each individual accident determine who may be legally responsible.
Local Traffic Laws and Codes That Can Affect Your Aurora Claim
Several Illinois laws may affect an Aurora car accident claim.
Handheld phone use: Under 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2, Illinois generally prohibits drivers from using handheld electronic communication devices while driving, subject to statutory exceptions. Evidence of unlawful phone use may be relevant to a distracted driving investigation.
Move-over law: Under 625 ILCS 5/11-907, drivers must follow applicable requirements when approaching certain stopped emergency and other protected vehicles displaying the required signals.
Crash reporting: Under 625 ILCS 5/11-406, drivers must report qualifying crashes involving injury, death, or property damage as required by law. The applicable property damage threshold generally is $1,500, or $500 if a driver is uninsured, subject to the statute’s requirements.
Aurora’s municipal traffic code may also contain relevant local provisions.
Aurora’s municipal traffic code may also contain provisions relevant to local traffic control and driving conduct. The specific ordinance that applies depends on the circumstances of the collision.
Claims against local government entities or their employees may have shorter filing deadlines than ordinary personal injury claims. Under 745 ILCS 10/8-101, many claims are subject to a one-year deadline, although exceptions may apply. If your accident involved a government-owned vehicle or a public entity, consult an attorney promptly to confirm the applicable deadline.
For more information about relevant state requirements, see our guide to Illinois car accident laws.
Illinois Fault Rules After a Crash
Illinois follows modified comparative negligence under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. You can recover compensation if you are not more than 50% at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility, and you cannot recover damages if you are 51% or more at fault.
For example, if your damages total $80,000 and you are 25% at fault, your potential recovery would be $60,000 after the reduction.
An insurer may argue that you were speeding, failed to yield, or could have avoided the crash. Police reports, witness statements, photographs, and other evidence can help resolve these disputes. If a settlement cannot be reached, an Illinois car accident lawsuit may be an option.
What Compensation Can You Recover After an Aurora Car Accident?
Depending on the circumstances, compensation may cover economic and non-economic losses, including:
- Medical expenses: Emergency treatment, rehabilitation, medication, and other accident-related care.
- Lost wages: Income lost during recovery and, where supported, reduced future earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering: Physical pain and the effects of injuries on everyday life.
- Loss of normal activities: Limitations on hobbies, routines, and other activities.
The available damages depend on the evidence and applicable law. Our guide explains how to calculate a car accident settlement. The time needed to resolve a claim varies with injury severity, liability disputes, and negotiations. Learn more about how long a car accident settlement takes.
Insurance coverage also affects your options. Read about Illinois car accident insurance coverage and the car insurance claim process.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit From Aurora?
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, most Illinois personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury. Exceptions may apply, and claims involving government vehicles or public entities may have shorter notice deadlines.
Do not assume the standard deadline applies to your circumstances. Our guide to the Illinois car accident statute of limitations explains the general rules. Getting advice early can help preserve evidence and clarify the deadline for your claim.
Contact an Aurora Car Accident Lawyer
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC offers a free consultation to discuss your accident, potential compensation, and available legal options. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront attorney fees and fees are contingent on recovering compensation under the terms of your agreement.
If you are dealing with a hit and run accident, or if the collision involved a rideshare vehicle, you can explore our Chicago rideshare accident lawyer resource for information relevant to those circumstances.
We are available 24/7, and our Chicago office serves injured people in Aurora and surrounding communities. If you need help understanding your options after a crash, contact our team to speak with an Aurora car accident lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer after a car accident in Aurora?
Not for every crash, but it helps in most injury cases. A lawyer can deal with the insurer, protect you from unfair fault claims, and make sure your losses are counted.
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Aurora?
Two years from the date of the crash for most injury claims under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. Claims involving a government vehicle can have shorter notice deadlines, so seek advice early.
What if I was partly at fault?
You can still recover if you were not more than 50% at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your share of fault, and at 51% or more you cannot recover.
What if the other driver has no insurance?
You may be able to claim under your own uninsured motorist coverage. Illinois requires this bodily injury coverage in automobile policies that include bodily injury liability coverage. Learn more about uninsured motorist coverage.
Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company?
Be careful. Give only basic facts, avoid a recorded statement, and do not sign anything before speaking with a lawyer.
How much does an Aurora car accident lawyer cost?
There are no upfront attorney fees under a contingency fee arrangement. Attorney fees are contingent on recovering compensation, subject to your fee agreement.
What should I do if my injuries show up days later?
See a doctor promptly and explain that you were in a crash. Some injuries, including concussions and internal injuries, may not be immediately apparent. Read about delayed car accident injuries.
Legally Reviewed By
Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld
Content legally reviewed by Jonathan Rosenfeld This page has been reviewed for legal accuracy by Jonathan Rosenfeld, a Chicago personal injury attorney with nearly 25 years of experience representing people injured in car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, and rideshare accidents. Jonathan has recovered more than $450 million in settlements and verdicts for injured clients and families in Chicago. He holds a 10/10 rating on Avvo, is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and has been repeatedly recognized by Super Lawyers. Jonathan leads the firm’s approach to holding insurance carriers and corporate defendants accountable for serious traffic injuries.