Champaign, IL Car Accident Lawyers
Standing Up for the Rights of Injured Drivers
At Haxel Law, we’re always ready to stand up for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who have been injured in car accidents throughout Champaign and the surrounding areas of Illinois. With more than 40 years of personal injury experience, we’ve helped countless clients recover fair compensation after serious crashes. Whether you were hit by a distracted driver, struck by someone running a red light, or rear-ended at a stop sign, we’re here to make sure your voice is heard and your rights are protected.
When you’ve been injured due to another driver’s negligence, you deserve a legal team that really fights for you. As experienced trial attorneys, we’re fully prepared to take your case to court if the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement. You can count on our Champaign car accident attorneys to provide knowledgeable guidance, personalized attention, and the strength to fight back.
Get a free case review today. Just call (217) 215-4166 to begin.
When Can You File a Car Accident Claim?
Illinois is a fault-based state, which means the person who caused the accident is financially responsible for the damage they caused. If you were injured in a crash because of another driver's careless, reckless, or unlawful behavior, you may be able to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim, not just an insurance settlement.
You may be able to file a claim if:
- The other driver was texting or using their phone while driving
- You were rear-ended by a speeding or inattentive driver
- A driver ran a red light or stop sign
- A drunk or drug-impaired driver caused the crash
- The other vehicle made an illegal lane change or failed to yield
- The crash involved a commercial or company vehicle
- The other driver violated traffic safety laws in any other way
If you're unsure whether you have a claim, let us review your case at no charge and explain your options.
How Do You Prove the Other Driver is at Fault?
To succeed in a car accident claim, it’s usually not enough to know the other driver caused the crash. Instead, you must prove it with evidence. At Haxel Law, our Champaign car accident attorneys understand what insurance companies look for because we have former insurance defense lawyers on our team. We know how to prepare strong, persuasive cases that outmaneuver the defense. From day one, we start collecting the facts, requesting records, speaking with witnesses, and analyzing what happened, so you don’t have to.
With decades of trial experience, we know how to present your case clearly and convincingly. Our team can identify whether the other driver was distracted, speeding, under the influence, or otherwise behaving negligently. We also work with accident reconstruction experts when needed to prove exactly what went wrong and who was at fault.
We help gather and present evidence of:
- Distracted driving (e.g., texting or phone use)
- Speeding or tailgating
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Driver fatigue or drowsiness
- Unsafe lane changes or failure to yield
- Ignoring traffic lights, stop signs, or signals
Illinois Comparative Negligence Rule for Car Accidents
Illinois uses a modified comparative negligence system to determine compensation in car accident cases. This means that even if you were partially responsible for the crash, you can still recover damages as long as you were less than 51% at fault. However, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you.
For example, if you are awarded $100,000 but found to be 20% at fault, your final compensation would be $80,000. Insurance companies often try to assign more blame to injury victims to reduce or completely avoid payouts. That’s why having an experienced trial attorney on your side is highly recommended from the start.
Compensation in a Car Accident Claim
A serious car accident can change your life in an instant, physically, emotionally, and financially. The goal of a personal injury claim is to help make you whole again by compensating you for your economic and non-economic losses. Our legal team takes the time to fully understand your injuries, your needs, and the true value of your case, so we can fight for everything owed to you.
You may be able to seek compensation for:
- Emergency, past, and future medical expenses
- Physical therapy or rehabilitation
- Lost wages and loss of future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Vehicle repairs or replacement
- Other out-of-pocket costs related to the accident
We work with medical experts, economists, and life care planners when necessary to prepare strong claims that reflect the full impact of your injuries.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim?
In most cases, Illinois law gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is called the statute of limitations, and it’s a strict deadline. If you wait too long to take legal action, your case could be dismissed by the court, even if your injuries are severe and the other driver was clearly at fault.
It’s important to understand that this is different from filing an insurance claim, too. Insurance claims are usually filed soon after the accident, but that process does not stop the clock if you also want to file an injury claim in civil court. To protect your rights and preserve key evidence, you should speak with a car accident attorney as soon as possible after a crash.
Let Us Lead the Way – Call Now
After a car accident, the last thing you need is to be overwhelmed by paperwork, insurance adjusters, or courtroom worries. At Haxel Law, we lead the way—investigating the crash, managing deadlines, and fighting for the outcome you deserve—so you can concentrate on healing, resting, and taking care of your family. Our Champaign car accident lawyers bring more than four decades of courtroom and settlement experience to every case, and we never charge a fee unless we recover compensation for you. It might not get any simpler to pursue compensation and justice after a crash!
Schedule your free consultation today by dialing (217) 215-4166. Let us fight for justice while you focus on resting.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How Much Is My PI Claim Worth?
Determining the value of your claim can be complex. It can be easy to overlook many types of compensation available to you, especially without an in-depth understanding of Illinois law. Seeking legal representation is essential to identify liable parties and calculate the total damages in your claim.
While pinpointing the exact value of your claim requires a thorough case evaluation from our attorneys, you should know that you are entitled to compensation for all losses incurred in the accident, including future costs resulting from your injuries. Our firm can negotiate effectively on your behalf to pursue the full compensation available to you.
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How Long Will It Take to Resolve My Claim?
It depends. The timeframe for settling a personal injury claim will vary based on unique factors, such as whether the insurance company is willing to make a fair offer, any potential liability disputes, and whether your case goes to trial. Many claims are settled out of court, but others can take more time to resolve. However, taking longer to settle isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
While preparing for potential litigation may extend the duration of your case, it can also mean the difference between recovering maximum compensation and walking away with much less than you deserve. Our attorneys are familiar with insurance companies to pursue the fastest path to resolution without compromising the just settlement you need to focus on your recovery.
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Should I Talk to the Insurance Adjuster?After an accident, you should avoid discussing the incident with any insurance representative without your lawyer present. Having your attorney speak directly with the insurance adjuster on your behalf is typically best to protect your rights. If you do end up talking with the insurance adjuster, you only need to provide basic information, such as your name, address, and so on. Don’t share any information that may be used against you, such as apologizing or admitting fault.
Hear From Our Happy Clients
At Haxel Law, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.
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"I will definitely use Haxel Law again!"I’m so grateful for the legal assistance I received from Haxel Law. Martin is extremely knowledgeable and guided me throughout the process. I recommend Martin Haxel. He’s no nonsense and gets the job done. If needed I will definitely use Haxel Law again.- Sally B.
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"Thank you, Martin."When I got injured, I knew I was going to be out of work. I knew I was going to be struggling with my family. I was really worried about the direction my life had turned towards. If I hadn't contacted Martin Haxel. I would still be fighting to get what I deserved. What was owed to me. Mr. Haxel however, stayed with me. He told me the truth. He didn't lie, or manipulate anything. He was honest and informative. He was the hope I didn't have at that time. He struggled with me to get all of it resolved. He did it with integrity, honesty, and a sincere understanding of what I was going through. To anyone considering having Mr. Haxel represent them in similar situations...I would say, you couldn't pick a better person. He's a great lawyer. He does great work. He's a nice person with a lot of experience in this field. If there's anyone you can turn to when no one will listen or even attempt to help you do what is right...Mr. Haxel is the one. I can't say enough good things about him. Now that my case is settled thanks to his work, I'm going to miss having someone having my back. He's a good man and I hope he feels good about what he's done when he lays down to sleep and reflects on his days, weeks, months, and years. People like him, give people hope, and faith that there are good people still roaming around this crazy thing called life. Martin, thank you. You're a beast.- Chris Y.
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"Highly Recommend"Attorney Martin Haxel fought long and hard for a fair and just settlement. I recommend Haxel Law for your Work Comp case.- Karyn S.
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"No One Better"I was referred to Martin by my original attorney. My original attorney didn't want to spend the time and money to represent me because my case was going to be difficult, time-consuming, and against the City of Champaign. I am so glad that Martin was willing to take my case and see it through. If you have a "hidden injury" like me or even an obvious injury Martin will handle it very professionally and give it the attention that you deserve.- John M.
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"What a great experience!"I strongly recommend Haxel Law Firm to everyone. In fact, he has now taken on my fiance as a client. Thanks Marty for what you did for me!- David S.
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"Made Everything Easy for Me"His assistant was very pleasant and helpful as well. If he wasn't available when I called and left a message he was always prompt to respond to my messages and emails. I would highly recommend him to anyone who can use his skills!- David N.
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"Martin Truly Cares About You"I had a life-changing experience 4 years ago. Mr Haxel continually worked with the insurance company to settle the workman comp claim. Mr. Haxel was always available to call if you had any concerns and was always willing to listen to you.- Marvin S.
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"Marty was great to work with!"He kept in communication and made the process as stress-free as possible. Hopefully I never need a personal injury attorney again, but if I do, I wouldn't hesitate to hire Marty.- Kristi D.
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"Very Positive Experience Representing My Daughter"Very responsive and patient answering all my questions. I hope to never be in a situation of needing a lawyer again, but if I did, I would 100% contact Martin again.- Jim P.