Filing an Auto Insurance Claim in Illinois

Reader’s Question:

My sister got into an accident here in Illinois and she’s okay now but too bad that she still has a loan on her car. She’s got collision coverage on her auto insurance and she already filed a claim to fix her car. Now, how can she get the payment for the repairs of her car?

Adrian

Mount Prospect, IL

If your sister still has a loan on her car, the procedures for first-party claims may cause an extra headache for her. This is because her auto insurance provider in Illinois would probably write out a check to her and her lender. So this would mean that she has to visit the bank or, even more annoying, mail the check to the finance company for their signature. No one can tell how much time it will consume for your sister to get back her fixed car; however, she has to expect to do some spadework. In case the lien holder’s name is also on the check, this would cause more trouble that they would have to inspect the car for them to endorse the check. For the check to be endorsed, your sister’s anticipation may probably take weeks.

Normally, your sister has to take the car to a dealership and have them sign a statement that the car has already been fixed. She should then send through mail the body shop’s bill and pictures of the repaired car to her lien holder. The bank or the lender would approve the check and return it so that your sister could pay for the repair. In case her lender is a local bank, she it may be necessary for a bank representative to inspect the car so that they will be assured that it was fixed.

Out-Of-State DUI Conviction For Illinois Driver

Reader’s Question:

I live in Naperville, Illinois and I was just convicted for DUI in another state. My driving privileges have been removed from that state. Does my DUI conviction from another state mean that my Illinois driver’s license would be suspended?

Jerome
Naperville, IL

If you’re a resident of Naperville, Illinois, upon the receipt of the report of your DUI conviction from another state, the Illinois Secretary of State would automatically revoke your driver’s license. To avoid a license revocation, any reduction or amendment must be to an offense that would be recognized separately (that is, Reckless Driving) under the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code.

Since your out-of-state DUI case resulted in a conviction, it would usually take several weeks for the report of the conviction to reach the Illinois Secretary of State. But upon the receipt, the Secretary of State would immediately serve a Notice of Revocation upon you by mail. The revocation would be effective normally within a few days of mailing. If you no longer live in the same address listed on your driver’s license, you must change your address directly with the Secretary of State’s Drivers Services Department forthwith as official notices from the Secretary are not forwarded and your failure to actually receive the notice does not affect the validity or effective date of the revocation of your license.

Tags: driver’s license, DUI, DUI lawyer