Auto Accident Case Results

The fates of a car carrying 4 young people on their way home at night, a drunk driver, and a truck driver intersected at every motorist’s worst nightmare. Traveling southbound along I-57 in Illinois at midnight, a car crosses the grassy median, and collides into a car approaching in the opposite direction. Seconds later, that car is plowed into by a semi tractor-trailer. The 30 year-old drunk driver and a 19 year old passenger are dead at the scene. A baby has life altering injuries. Motor vehicle insurance and a homeowner's umbrella policy combine to provide compensation to the victims. Lipkin & Apter now turn their attention to the second crash with the semi tractor-trailer.

LD was stopped in rush hour traffic on the Eisenhower Expressway in Chicago when his car was struck by a construction truck traveling less than 5 mph. At first denying injury until knee pain brought him to the emergency room. Litigation followed with a central question being whether LD would actually undergo knee replacement. With medical bills mounting, lost wage claim growing, and the case set for trial early the next year, the insurance company for the construction truck agreed to settle this case for $950,000.

A drunk driver crossed the median on I-57 striking a car occupied by 4 persons. One adult died. Tragically, the initial crash was followed seconds later by a trucker driving a semi-trailer crashing into the same car. In this second accident there was no apparent evidence of trucker fault. Nevertheless, the insurance company offered the 1,000,000 policy maximum to settle. This unfortunate accident illustrates some of the evaluations made by insurers which may lead to settlement offers.

All lawyers do not view cases the same way. Some see opportunity for their client where others see only failure and waste of time. At the last minute, as the Statute of Limitations approached, we replaced the original injury attorney and turned a complete loss into substantial client compensation.

The personal injury lawyers at Lipkin & Apter were hired to represent DP, a 28-year-old, part-time office employee who suffered a severe knee injury as a pedestrian when struck by a car making a right-turn in Chicago's Downtown Loop.. After being taken to a local hospital emergency room by ambulance, DP was diagnosed with a fractured patella, or knee cap, the bone covering the knee joint.

This 25 year old woman's injury demonstrates why underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) is so important. After collecting $25,000 from the negligent driver who caused her injury, she was able to collect an additional $75,000 from her OWN insurance.