After you file a car accident claim that turns into a lawsuit in Illinois, the case moves through a defined sequence: filing the complaint, serving the defendant, the defendant’s answer, discovery, possible mandatory arbitration, settlement negotiations, and only then trial if the case doesn’t resolve first. In Cook County, most car accident cases start at the Richard J. Daley Center and are resolved well before ever reaching a jury. Understanding each stage in advance helps set realistic expectations for how long the process takes and what’s actually happening behind the scenes while a case moves forward.
Filing the Complaint
A…
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Discovery is the phase of a Chicago personal injury case where both sides formally exchange evidence and take testimony before trial, and it’s often the single longest and most document-heavy part of the entire litigation process. In Illinois, it’s governed by Illinois Supreme Court Rule 201 and includes written interrogatories, document requests, depositions, independent medical examinations, expert witness disclosure, and requests to admit, each with its own specific rule and limits.
Rule 201: The General Discovery Framework
Illinois Supreme Court Rule 201 is the starting point for discovery in every civil case, including car accident claims. It authorizes the tools…
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Tailgating crashes in Chicago are governed by Illinois’ “following too closely” statute, but that law alone doesn’t automatically decide who’s at fault, which surprises a lot of people who assume the rear driver is always to blame. Illinois doesn’t apply an automatic rear-driver-is-always-at-fault rule, and a following-too-closely citation only counts as evidence of negligence, not proof of it by itself.
The Illinois “Following Too Closely” Law
Illinois law, 625 ILCS 5/11-710, states that “the driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles…
Continue Reading Liability for Tailgating Crashes in Chicago

Head-on collisions are among the most severe crashes on the road, and liability usually comes down to one question: which driver left their lane. Because the injuries involved are so often catastrophic or fatal, these cases also tend to involve more complex insurance and damages questions than a typical fender-bender claim. National data from IIHS shows frontal impacts caused more passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2024 than any other crash type, and in Illinois, the driver who crossed into oncoming traffic is generally the one found at fault, once the physical evidence establishes who that was.
Why Head-On Collisions Are…
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Illinois’ texting and driving law is broader than its name suggests: 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2 bans nearly all handheld electronic device use behind the wheel, not just texting, with fines running from $75 for a first offense up to a $1,000 minimum if device use causes a serious injury or death.
What the Law Actually Prohibits
Illinois’ electronic communication device law, 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2, covers more than texting. It prohibits handheld phone calls, texting, web browsing, email, and app use while driving. Illinois moved years ago from a texting-only ban to this broader handheld restriction, so “hands-free” is the operative standard,…
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Accident News | Effingham County, Ill

A 50-year-old Springfield man was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 57 south of Effingham, Illinois, early Wednesday morning. According to the Effingham County Coroner’s Office, the crash occurred on the southbound lanes of I-57, approximately eight miles south of Effingham. The victim, identified as David Vorties, was found trapped and unresponsive inside his vehicle when Illinois State Police arrived at the scene. He was pronounced dead at the location.

Preliminary information indicated that Vorties was traveling southbound at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his vehicle while exiting…
Continue Reading Springfield Man Killed in Crash on I-57 Outside Effingham, Illinois

After a car crash in Chicago, the evidence that matters most is: photos of the scene and vehicle damage, the official police report, the other driver’s contact and insurance information, witness statements, your medical records, and dashcam or surveillance footage where it exists. Under Illinois’ comparative negligence law, this evidence doesn’t just support your claim, it directly decides how much of it you can recover, or whether you can recover anything at all.
Why Evidence Matters More in Illinois Than in Most States
Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule (735 ILCS 5/2-1116): if you’re found 50% or less at…
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