Car Accidents

Northern Illinois

Car Accident Attorneys

If you’ve been hurt in a car crash in Rockford, Algonquin, or anywhere in northern Illinois, you deserve more than an automated response. You deserve Rob or Keith Shindler on the line, ready to fight for you from day one.

Why Choose Shindler & Shindler

When you hire Shindler & Shindler for your car accident claim, you get two courtroom-tested brothers who skip the canned scripts, and dive straight into solving your problem.

Born and raised in the region we practice in, Rob and Keith pair deep local insight with the hard-won trial skills you’d expect from a big Chicago firm, minus the bureaucracy. You never write a check up front and we don’t get paid unless you do, keeping everyone laser-focused on one goal: the maximum recovery your case allows.

Case Results

$12M

Railroad Worker

Railroad worker who was permanently injured after not being provided proper protective equipment.

$850K

Injured Illinois Truck Driver

Injured Illinois truck driver in an accident in TN and hit by an Iowa licensed driver.

$650k

Injured Worker

Our Car Accident Case Types

Distracted-Driving Crashes

Texting, scrolling, or fiddling with onboard navigation can turn a three-second glance away from the road into a 60-mph impact. If the at-fault driver claims “eyes on the road,” we match time-stamped data to crash timing and show the jury the truth. Common signs of distraction are sudden lane drifts, late braking, and lack of skid marks. Key evidence tends to be phone metadata, in-car telemetry, dash-cam video, and witness statements.

Hit-and-Run Collisions

When the other driver flees, the case isn’t over—it just changes gears. If the vehicle can’t be located, we open an uninsured-motorist (UM) claim against your own policy. Our goal is twofold: identify the driver whenever possible and make sure your UM carrier pays full value in the meantime.

Rideshare Accidents (Uber & Lyft)

App-based drivers are covered by a $1 million commercial policy—but only when the ride is “active.” We dig into trip logs and GPS pings to prove the driver was logged in or had a passenger, triggering the higher coverage limit. We also explore liability against the rideshare company for negligent driver screening or platform malfunctions that contributed to the crash.
Tip: Screenshot your ride status or receipt if you can; it confirms the trip phase and insurance tier.

Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Claims

More Illinois drivers than you think carry no insurance—or not enough to cover a serious injury. When that happens, your UM/UIM coverage steps in. Insurers sometimes play hardball even with their own customers, arguing that medical bills are “excessive” or injuries “pre-existing.” We counter with complete medical documentation, future-care projections, and, when necessary, arbitration or litigation to force fair payment.

Multi-Vehicle Pileups

Chain-reaction crashes on I-90 or Route 31 involve complex fault apportionment and multiple insurance carriers. We reconstruct the sequence vehicle by vehicle, using black-box data, crash-scene mapping, and expert testimony to show who initiated the first impact and how each subsequent strike compounded your injuries. With several policies on the table, we layer claims to reach the maximum combined recovery, often far beyond what a single driver’s policy could provide.

Key Illinois Car Accident Laws You Need to Know

At Fault State

Illinois holds the person who caused the crash responsible for damages. We’ll prove fault—whether it’s a distracted teen, a sleepy delivery driver, or a rideshare operator—to get you full compensation.

Two-Year Deadline

You generally have two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit. Miss it, and your claim’s gone. We file fast, protecting your rights from day one.

Modified Comparative Negligence

If you share fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of blame, but only if it’s under 51%. We fight to minimize your fault and maximize your payout.

Do I Have a Car-Accident Case?

To win compensation after a crash, we must show that another party was negligent. In Illinois that means proving several elements, each one like a link in a chain. Here’s what they are and how we establish them:

Duty of Care

Every licensed driver owes a legal duty to operate a vehicle safely and follow traffic laws on roads like Randall Road, I-90, or your own subdivision street.

Breach of Duty

A breach occurs when that driver breaks the rules: running a red light, texting while driving, tailgating, or speeding through a construction zone.

Causation

The reckless act must be the direct cause of your injuries. It’s not enough that a driver was careless—we must tie that carelessness to your broken arm, herniated disc, or PTSD.

Damages

Finally, we need proof of real losses: medical bills, lost paychecks, future rehab costs, pain, anxiety, or the way your life has changed since the crash.

What If I’m Partly at Fault?

Illinois follows a modified comparative-fault rule. If you’re 50 percent or less responsible, you can still recover money, it’sjust that your award is simply reduced by your share of fault. Go over 50 percent and the claim dies. Our job is to push your fault percentage as low as the facts allow, using scene measurements, timing analyses, and expert testimony to counter blame-shifting by the other side.

Bottom Line: If another driver broke the rules, that breach hurt you, and you have real losses to show for it, you have a case, and Shindler & Shindler will build it from the ground up. Call us today for a free, no-obligation review.

Who May Be Held Liable?

Other Drivers: Reckless, drunk, or distracted operators.
Employers: When work-related drivers cause crashes.
Manufacturers: Defective brakes, airbags, or electronic systems.
Government Entities: Poorly maintained roads or missing signage.

We leave no stone unturned to identify every responsible party.

Where Car Accidents Happen in Northern Illinois

Whether it’s a fender-bender on Randall Road or a pileup on Route 31, common crash hot-spots include:

Randall Road at County Line Road
Algonquin Road near Crystal Lake
I-90 Tollway Entrances/Exits

If your crash occurred anywhere in these areas—or anywhere else—call us now.

Ready to Get Started?

The clock is ticking on evidence preservation and legal deadlines. Don’t risk your claim to voicemail. Contact Shindler & Shindler today for a free consultation and speak directly with the attorneys who will fight for every dollar you deserve.

Client Testimonials

My family and I are very grateful to have found Robert as our lawyer in my brother’s case. He was there all the time for any question. He’s a very friendly person, and the thing we’re most grateful for is that he speaks Spanish, which just adds a plus.

Rob is a great lawyer; he explained his strategy for my case and made me feel less stressed about the situation I’m in. He is courteous and understanding, and always available for any questions or concerns I have. I have recommended him to others and will continue to do so.

Rob Shindler is a great lawyer and an even better person. He fought hard for me and got me everything I deserved. I could not possibly recommend him higher. You will not go wrong with his firm..thank you again for everything, Rob.