Chicago Personal
Injury Attorney Blog

Spinal cord injuries, even if they are relatively minor, can nevertheless greatly affect quality of life. These types of injuries, which occur when a sudden trauma damages the spinal cord tissue, interrupt the normal functioning of the spinal cord, which houses the nerve cells that transmit signals between the brain and the rest of the body. When this type of injury occurs, contact a Chicago personal injury attorney if you live in or near Illinois. Personal injury lawyers will investigate the accident and can advise you as to whether or not you should pursue a lawsuit to recover damages.

While spinal cord injuries can be caused by diseases such Spina Bifida and polio, they can also occur as the result of an accident. The types of trauma that can cause partial or complete spinal cord injuries include gun shot wounds, slip and falls and diving accidents. The number one cause of spinal cord injury, however, is trauma caused by automobile accidents. Of the approximately 7,800 new spinal cord injuries that occur every year, according the National Spinal Cord Injury Association Resource Center, 44% were caused by automobile accidents. If you are dealing with an insurance company as the result of an accident, contacting a Chicago personal injury attorney is advised.

The injuries that result from an accident can be minor or severe. “Complete” spinal cord damage leaves the injured with no ability to move or experience physical sensations below the point of injury, and both sides of the body are affected. When “incomplete” spinal cord damage occurs, there is some movement capability and/or physical sensations, and each side of the body may be affected differently. In either case, these types of injuries may be long-term or permanent, and most cannot be cured.

If you have been in an accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury, no matter how severe, it is vital to contact a Chicago personal injury attorney who specializes in such injuries in Illinois. Personal injury lawyers from your state will be able to counsel you on your rights and the statute of limitations that applies within your jurisdiction.

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When a plaintiff is awarded a large settlement in a lawsuit, they may be encouraged to accept the amount in the form of a structured settlement. A structured settlement, as opposed to a single lump sum payment, pays the amount in installments over a period of time. This is usually accomplished through the purchase of annuities.

While the structured settlement is often a smart move on the part of the plaintiff, it is always best to consult with your attorney before you sign on the dotted line. An experienced Chicago personal injury attorney will be able to advise their clients on the pros and cons of accepting the terms of a structured settlement.

One advantage to setting up a structured settlement is the possible tax benefits that may result. Depending upon the way the settlement is structured, the plaintiff may see a huge reduction in tax obligations. Another pro to accepting the structured settlement is to protect the funds for future needs. For example, if a plaintiff was injured in such a way that will require lifetime care, the money is guaranteed to be available. Minors also benefit from structured settlements, which can be disbursed for education or other expenses over time.

Illinois personal injury lawyers can also advise their plaintiffs about the disadvantages of a structured settlement. These may include the fact the money may not be available when needed. For example, if the plaintiff wants to purchase a home or car, they may be unable to do so at the time based on the terms of the structured settlement. Another consideration is that some people would do better to take a lump sum payment and invest the money themselves. There are a number of standard investments that will produce a greater long-term return than the structured settlement annuities.

Accepting or rejecting a structured settlement is a serious decision. Consult with an experienced Chicago personal injury attorney for more information on the subject if you are located in Illinois. Personal injury lawyers will take into account all the factors of your case and help you decide which type of payment would be most advantageous in your case.

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Accidents happen every day across the country, but not every accident merits filing a personal injury lawsuit. If you have recently been the victim of an accident, you may wonder whether or not you should bother to hire a lawyer and pursue any settlement that you may think you deserve. Maybe you think it would just be easier and quicker to deal directly with the insurance company of the person responsible for the accident.

If the accident is minor, often you can work directly with the at-fault individual’s insurance company. This is a quick way to resolve a case and receive compensation. It is important to remember, however, that Illinois personal injury lawyers will be able to act on your behalf to make sure that this compensation is fair.

It is advisable, if you are unsure about what your claim may be worth, to contact a Chicago personal injury attorney if you are located in Illinois. Personal injury lawyers, after a brief initial consultation, will be able to advise you on the possibility of success if a lawsuit is filed to recover damages. Remember that insurance companies have no responsibility to you as the injured to see that you receive a reasonable and fair settlement. They look at a settlement offer and transaction as business – and they have a responsibility to keep an eye on the company’s bottom line.

If the injury that resulted from the accident was serious, dealing with an insurance company on your own is most likely not the best course to take. A good Chicago personal injury attorney will be able to evaluate all the evidence of your case and tell you approximately what your claim may be worth should you be awarded damages. In addition, Illinois personal injury lawyers will navigate through the complicated waters of the legal process and be aware of your rights and of statutes that apply within your particular jurisdiction.

When you take the time to seek out an experienced personal injury attorney, you can rest assured that he or she will be able to evaluate the facts and investigate the claim before they recommend filing a lawsuit. A lawyer with a great deal of experience in personal injury law will not advise you to pursue a claim that does not have a chance in court. If it is determined that your case has merit, a Chicago personal injury attorney will do what they can to secure you the compensation you deserve. Furthermore, the support and expertise of a personal injury attorney will be a powerful ally against an insurance company or in court.

If you have any been injured, and have questions about your rights to collect damages, contact Illinois personal injury lawyers for a consultation. While insurance settlements can sometimes be handled without an attorney, if you want to be sure that you are receiving fair compensation, hiring an attorney may be a wise decision.

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Anyone who has spent time in one of America’s thousands of mega-stores knows that these warehouse-type retailers are full to the rafters with merchandise – literally. Because of the shelving and stocking practices of these enormous stores – thousands of lawsuits are filed each year by plaintiffs seeking compensation for injuries caused by falling merchandise. If you or someone you know has been injured by falling merchandise in Illinois, personal injury lawyers can help you determine if you are entitled to damages. A Chicago personal injury attorney will advise you as to the liability that a retailer has if you have been injured by falling merchandise. In general, regardless of your location, premises liability laws state that stores have a legal responsibility to protect shoppers from injury caused by falling items. At the same time, however, there are few regulations that govern the stocking practices of these stores. Factors that could safely secure stacked merchandise, such as railings, shrink wrap and straps are not mandated by the law.

Unfortunately, for many of these stores, marketing the “look” of their store takes precedence over the safety of the customers. Building in the customer’s mind that the “warehouse” concept of floor-to-ceiling merchandise is saving them money is a priority – while lawsuits for injuries continue to be filed in large numbers. Some of the injuries incurred are minor, but some result in brain damage, spinal injury, paralysis and coma. Illinois personal injury lawyers have even found themselves filing wrongful death lawsuits in the name of the family members of deceased individuals killed by falling merchandise.

If you have been injured by falling merchandise, first of all, seek medical care immediately, even if you do not feel that your injuries are severe. Proper medical documentation is important if the injury becomes worse or is more serious than you initially thought. If you are able, take photographs of the scene.

If you are unable to document the accident immediately, take the time after you have been treated to recall and take note of the conditions prior to the accident. Keep a notebook to jot down anything that you remember. As soon as you are able, seek out a recommendation for a reliable, experienced Chicago personal injury attorney if the accident occurred in or around Illinois. Personal injury lawyers will know where to begin as far as investigating the accident and evaluating the facts of the case.

When a store does not take measures to properly protect its customers from injuries due to falling merchandise, they are liable for damages. Contact a Chicago personal injury attorney with any questions about your case, and what compensation you may be due.

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When considering pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, many potential claimants become concerned with the cost of litigation. Most people realize that this will be an expensive process, and along with legal fees that may accrue are medical expenses and living expenses. Plaintiffs may find these impossible to pay due to lost time at work because of the injury. There are options, however. First of all, contact an experienced Chicago personal injury attorney if you live in Illinois. Personal injury lawyers in your area can help alert you to possible sources of funding while you wait for a settlement.

Many lawyers, of course, are hired on a contingent fee basis. In other words, no money is paid in attorneys fee unless a settlement is awarded, at which point the attorney receives a percentage of the money. But, as the injured waits for a fair settlement, personal expenses can add up, placing the plaintiff in a precarious financial position.

Before you seek out loans, be sure to speak with your Chicago personal injury attorney to make sure you are taking advantage of benefits due to you. For example, a workplace injury may entitle you to workers’ compensation, which may cover part or all of your medical expenses as well as any lost wages. Other possible sources of funding, if you have a disabling injury, are Social Security disability, Medicaid and/or subsidized health care plans. Again, Illinois personal injury lawyers can assist you in understanding the types of programs that these organizations offer.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident, don’t let the fear of financial difficulty stop you from getting the compensation you deserve. Contact a Chicago personal injury attorney as soon as possible. If you live in Illinois, personal injury lawyers can help you determine the best course of action to take if you need money during litigation.

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About 200,000 emergency room visits occur every year as a result of playground accidents. Some of the injuries that result from these accidents are minor, but some are serious enough to require continued treatment and rehabilitation, while still others cause long-term damage, and even death. If your child has been injured on a playground, you may question whether or not you have any legal recourse to recover damages. You may wonder who is liable for the damages. It is imperative that you contact experienced Illinois personal injury lawyers who can answer your questions and counsel you as to whether or not your claim has merit.

If you do have a case, a skilled Chicago personal injury attorney can help determine who is at fault for the accident. If the playground in question is at a community park, for example, the city may be responsible for any injuries that occur at the playground. Of course, if areas of the playground are not properly maintained and a predictable injury resulted, the city will most likely be found liable. But even if the child is partly to blame for the accident or if the injury was caused by another child, the city may still have some liability in the case. If, for example, a piece of playground equipment was used to cause the injury, or if the surface beneath the equipment contributed to the accident, the city may be responsible for damages. If you reside in Illinois, personal injury lawyers can advise you on the responsibilities of the city and state.

Another possible responsible party in a playground injury may be the parents of another improperly supervised child who caused the accident. Although some states limit the liability of parents in these cases, still other states would hold parents completely liable for damages caused by their child. Contact a Chicago personal injury attorney for the laws that apply within Illinois.

Personal injury lawyers will also be able to give you a general idea of what to expect settlement-wise in cases of playground injury. Often, in cases where cities are sued, recovered damages may be less than when suing a non-governmental defendant, due to the fact that the award will come from public money. Settlement offers in these cases are generally lower, regardless of whether or not the case goes to a jury. A qualified Chicago personal injury attorney will be able to give you an idea of how much your case is worth based on past similar lawsuits in the area.

As for what to do after an injury occurs, be sure to get the injured child the proper medical attention, and be sure that all of the resulting treatments are well documented. You may also want to seek witnesses, inquire as to whether other children have been injured on the equipment and check to see if the equipment has a regular maintenance and inspection schedule. If you think you may have a case, Illinois personal injury lawyers will assist you in gathering any information that is pertinent to your lawsuit.

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Your child has been invited to a birthday party at a facility that features inflated surfaces for the purpose of jumping and play. Before your child is allowed to participate, you have to sign a Waiver of Liability provided by the owner of the company. Filling an entire page are legalistic terms that make no sense to you, and your child is tugging on your shirt, begging to enter. So you sign on the dotted line.

One hour later your child is lying in pain on the floor, with a broken foot. What are your rights in this situation? You may assume that your rights were signed away on that piece of paper. But this is not always the case. What does a waiver of liability mean in a case like this one?

The answer is not a simple one, and the statutes relating to these waivers vary from state to state. It is imperative that you contact an attorney in your state, or a Chicago personal injury attorney if you live in that region of Illinois. Personal Injury lawyers will be able to advise you on the possible merits of filing a suit in these types of cases.

Of course, the owner, in this case, of the party facility has attempted to protect themselves and limit liability by making you sign a waiver of liability. This practice is becoming more and more common, especially in the realm of recreation. Activities that involve some inherent risk such as bungee jumping, amusements parks, ski slopes and the like, simply do not want to be held liable for potential physical injuries.

But just because you have signed a waiver of liability does not mean that the property owner does not have some liability in some circumstances. For example, if the company did not properly maintain the property or equipment, they may be held responsible for injury. At the facility in our example, this may include improper set up of equipment in the facility. Again, the statutes that govern these situations vary from state to state. Contact Illinois personal injury lawyers for an explanation of the language of the statutes that pertain to accidents that took place in and around Chicago. Personal injury attorneys will be able to judge whether or not your claim will hold up in a court of law, and will counsel you as to whether or not the property owner was or was not at fault.

The intention of the courts when a waiver of liability is involved in the case is to not allow a negligent property owner an easy way out when compensation is rightfully due. Owners need to take precautions to insure that their property is maintained and safe for use. But if an owner has properly maintained his or her equipment and/or facilities, a waiver of liability may indeed protect them from any liability in case of injury. If you have signed a waiver of liability and you or a loved one has been subsequently injured, you may deserve compensation.

Contact a Chicago personal injury attorney for a consultation as soon as possible. If you live in Illinois, personal injury lawyers are experienced and ready to answer your questions.

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If you have recently been injured in an accident, but are unsure if your case merits a lawsuit, be sure to take a few initial steps to prepare for a claim if and when you decide to file one. Giving notice of plans to file a lawsuit does not make you obligated to do so, but swift action can lead to a quick and fair resolution on your part. Of course, contacting a Chicago personal injury attorney will assist you in understanding your rights in the state of Illinois. Personal injury lawyers will consult with you on the merits of your case, but there are many things you can do to prepare for the initial consultation.

As you receive the necessary medical care required by your injuries in the days after your accident, it becomes increasingly important to write down what you remember of the accident. Carry a notebook and jot down details as you remember them. No detail is too small. Document time of day, where you were going, what you were doing. Write down the people who were present, and the weather. Be descriptive about your injuries. Did you hear a “pop” in your back, or feel a sharp pain, for example, write it all down. Be sure to make note of any conversations you heard, admittance of fault, or comments by witnesses. Your Illinois personal injury lawyers will be advise you on the importance of statements by witnesses and other forms of possible evidence in your case. Be sure to detail all of your medical treatments and how the accident and the resulting injury have affected your life. Of course, you will naturally mention any physical pain, but don’t forget about anxiety, psychological trauma and loss of sleep. As you recall all of the facts and symptoms of your injuries, relay them to your doctor. They will become part of your medical records and could potentially bolster your case in court.

Keep good records of your conversations after the accident, whether with the people involved, with insurance adjuster or with your doctor. Notate when and where the conversations took place and include a brief summary of what was discussed.

Write down what the accident has cost you, financially, psychologically and/or socially. Did you miss out on a family event, a job opportunity, vacation or regular work hours? Many of these losses are compensated for when a personal injury lawsuit is settled. If you question whether a loss is valid or not, ask your Chicago personal injury attorney if you are filing in the state of Illinois. Personal injury lawyers are familiar with what may or may not be claimed as a loss in a lawsuit and can help you build a strong case that will get you the compensation you deserve.

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When a personal injury lawsuit is filed, the amount of damages due the plaintiff is based on many different factors. The formulas used to figure compensation for concrete fees like medical expenses is easy to determine, but the cost of damages such as pain and suffering and loss of future earning is more difficult to establish. If you have questions about the monetary value of your claim, the best move is to contact a Chicago personal injury attorney if you live in that region of Illinois. Personal injury lawyers in your state will be able to determine precedents for personal injury settlements if you live outside of Illinois.

When an insurance company sets out to determine the worth of your personal injury claim, they generally use a set formula. Although the instances of each claim may make for special circumstances, these formulas are adhered to as much as possible. The formula used stems from the actual medical expenses incurred. This base figure is used to add up how much the plaintiff is owed for general, non-monetary damages, including pain and suffering.

Another important factor of the insurance company’s formula that may affect the amount of compensation of a settlement is called percentage of fault. If you file a claim knowing that you had no fault, the compensation amount will not drop. If you were somewhat at fault for the accident, the amount of money owed will drop by a percentage based on what part you played in the accident.

What you need to know, as a possible plaintiff, is what kind of expenses you are entitled to from your defendant’s insurance company. Remember that your Chicago personal injury attorney will be able to give you more detailed information on all of these different aspects of your claim.

The expenses generally covered by compensation awarded from a personal injury lawsuit include medical care and medical related expenses, cost of a physical disability or disfigurement, emotional damage and property damages, among other things. If you think that your accident entitles you to compensation for these things, contact Illinois personal injury lawyers in or around Chicago. Personal injury attorneys can help determine the value of your injuries and help you pursue a lawsuit in order to recover these damages.

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If you have been injured in a car accident, you may be wondering whether or not you have the right to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. In many cases, it is worth contacting a Chicago personal injury attorney to see if your case has merit. Although many car accidents that involve minor injuries can be handled by the driver’s insurance companies, a personal injury lawsuit may sometimes be the only way to receive fair compensation for losses in a car wreck. If you live in Illinois, personal injury lawyers can help you determine whether or not you have a case.

One of the most important things to do after a car accident in which you have been injured is to seek medical treatment. Documented medical records will be important to any potential lawsuit. Also, it is important not to admit fault at the scene of the accident. If you feel that you may have caused the accident, remember that you do not know all of the facts of the accident, i.e. road conditions, condition of the other driver(s), etc. You may find out that other factors contributed to the accident and had nothing to do with your driving. Be sure to make statements only to the police and relay only the facts of the accident.

Whether you received injuries as a driver or as a passenger in an automobile accident, once you have received medical attention for your injuries, this is the time to contact one of many experienced Illinois personal injury lawyers. A knowledgeable attorney will be able to answer your questions and ascertain whether or not you have a case based on whom or what caused the accident.

For example, if the accident and resulting injury was caused by driver error, the at-fault driver will likely be considered liable for damages. Driver error, the most common cause of automobile accidents, can often be attributed to dangerous behaviors such as following too closely, failure to yield right of way, unsafe passing and excessive speeding. Since accidents of this type occur often in big cities, a Chicago personal injury attorney can readily give advice about seeking damages from a reckless driver. Other common causes of car accidents are intoxication or driver distractions such as dialing a cell phone.

Accidents are not always directly caused by distracted or reckless drivers, however. Sometimes road conditions such as poor road design, debris on the road, poorly placed barricades or road signs contribute to accidents, possibly placing liability on the governmental agency responsible for the road. Illinois personal injury lawyers can also help if the accident was caused by a vehicle defect. If this is the case, it is possible that the manufacturer will be held responsible for any damages that resulted in the accident and injury.

There are many different reasons that car accidents occur, but if you have been injured on the road as a result of someone else’s negligence, you have rights under the law. You deserve to be compensated for losses such as medical expenses, loss of wages, and pain and suffering. Contact a Chicago personal injury attorney with questions about pursuing a lawsuit and recouping damages from your accident today.

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