"just makes me double-check I've got my dash cam running every time I hit the road now."
That's exactly how I felt after my first fender-bender here. Coming from Michigan, I assumed the insurance process would be straightforward, but it turned into a lengthy back-and-forth over minor details. Now, even driving my classic Mustang—which rarely leaves the garage—I find myself triple-checking the dash cam before heading out. Makes me wonder if these complicated procedures genuinely improve road safety or just add unnecessary stress...
I totally get the frustration with Illinois insurance rules. When I moved here from Wisconsin, I thought I'd seen it all—until I had my first minor accident in Chicago traffic. It was just a small scrape, nothing major, but the claims process turned into a full-blown investigation. They wanted photos from every angle, detailed statements, and even asked if I had dash cam footage (which I didn't at the time). Honestly, it felt like they were treating it like some kind of criminal case rather than a simple fender-bender.
After that experience, I finally caved and got myself a dash cam. At first, it felt a bit paranoid—like, am I really going to need this? But sure enough, about six months later, someone backed into me in a parking lot and tried to claim I'd rear-ended them. Thankfully, the footage cleared things up pretty quickly. Without it, I'm sure I'd have been stuck in another endless back-and-forth.
I think part of the complexity comes from how Illinois handles fault determination compared to other states. They're pretty meticulous about assigning percentages of fault here, which can drag out even minor claims. On one hand, it's good because it ensures fairness; on the other hand... yeah, it definitely adds stress and paperwork.
Still not convinced all these hoops actually make roads safer though. Seems more like they're just covering their bases legally rather than genuinely improving driving habits or safety standards. Either way, my dash cam stays on now—lesson learned the hard way.
Dash cams are definitely worth it, especially if you're driving something classic or restored. Illinois rules can be a headache, but detailed evidence really helps. Curious, anyone had issues insuring older cars here? Feels like another layer of complexity sometimes...
Totally agree about dash cams, they've saved me more than once around Chicago traffic. About insuring older cars—yeah, Illinois can be tricky. I drive an '89 BMW and had some headaches initially. Regular insurers either quoted me crazy high or wouldn't cover it fully because of its age. Ended up going with specialty classic car insurance, which surprisingly wasn't as complicated as I expected. They actually understood the value and condition better, so coverage was fairer and cheaper overall.
One thing though: mileage limits can be annoying if you commute daily like me. Had to negotiate a bit to get a reasonable allowance. Still, it's worth checking out specialty insurers if regular companies give you trouble. Saved me a lot of hassle in the end...
Good call on specialty insurers, they're usually a solid bet for older cars. But be careful with those mileage limits—if you're commuting daily, you might accidentally go over without realizing it, and that can cause headaches if you ever need to file a claim. I'd suggest tracking your mileage closely for a month or two to get a realistic idea of your usage, then talk to your insurer again. Sometimes they'll adjust your policy if you have clear data to back it up.
