Litigation Process
Mediation in Cook County Car Accident Lawsuits: How It Works
Learn how mediation works in Cook County car accident lawsuits — who selects the mediator, what happens at the session, and your right to walk away.
·7 min read
Author: Phillips Law Offices
Evidence & Documentation
The Insurance Company's Doctor: Defense Medical Exams in Illinois Car Accident Lawsuits
A defense medical exam is court-ordered under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 215 and arranged by the other side. What the rule requires, what the defense has to pay for, and the 21-day report deadline that can keep their doctor off the stand.
·7 min read
Litigation Process
Claims Against a Driver Who Died in the Crash: Suing an Estate in Illinois
Illinois allows car accident claims against a deceased driver's estate. Learn about the two-deadline problem under 735 ILCS 5/13-209 and the Probate Act's creditors period.
·6 min read
Hiring a Lawyer
What Happens in the First 30 Days After You Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
Learn what your car accident lawyer does in the first 30 days: fee agreements, insurer letters, policy limits requests, medical records, and preservation notices.
·7 min read
Illinois Traffic Laws
Hit by an Unlicensed or Suspended Driver in Illinois
An unlicensed driver does not automatically mean automatic fault, but it does create insurance gaps and a potential negligent entrustment claim against the vehicle owner under Illinois law.
·7 min read
Evidence & Documentation
Your Car's Black Box: How EDR Data Helps Prove an Illinois Crash Claim
Most 2013+ vehicles record speed, braking, and seatbelt data in the seconds before a crash. Learn how EDR black box data is preserved, downloaded, and used to prove fault in an Illinois accident claim.
·7 min read
Injuries & Medical Treatment
Seat Belt Syndrome: The Internal Injuries Hiding Behind a Bruise
The bruise across your chest after a crash is a warning sign, not the injury. What can hide behind it, why Illinois law keeps the seat belt out of your claim, and what to do in the first 72 hours.
·7 min read
Accident Types
Airbag Injuries and Airbag Non-Deployment Claims in Illinois
Airbag did not deploy in your Illinois accident? Learn FMVSS 208 deployment thresholds, how to preserve vehicle evidence, and your product liability claim options.
·7 min read
Injuries & Medical Treatment
Car Accidents While Pregnant: Medical Care and Your Injury Claim
Crashes are the leading cause of trauma in pregnancy, and placental abruption can develop hours after a minor impact. What the monitoring is for, why a normal ultrasound does not rule it out, and how insurers treat these claims.
·7 min read
Accident Types
Turo and Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Accidents in Illinois
Hurt in a Turo crash in Illinois? Learn which insurance layer applies — host plan, renter policy, or Turo protection tier — and how to protect your claim.
·7 min read