No one plans on getting injured. However, negligence by other people cannot always be avoided.
If you have been injured by another person’s carelessness, our team can help you get justice for your losses. You will likely have several options to recover compensation, which our team can help you explore. When it is clear that insurance will not be enough, our lawyers can prepare a lawsuit so you get coverage for the damages you suffered. With our team’s considerable experience, there is virtually no claim that we cannot help you with. We will quickly know who to sue and for what damages after reviewing your claim.
For a free case assessment with our personal injury attorneys, call Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502.
Personal Injury Practice Areas Our Attorneys Commonly Handle in Berwyn, IL
Our experienced firm has spent decades helping victims recover compensation in numerous types of personal injury claims. Perhaps you need help filing a claim after a car accident or are having trouble with a much more complicated case, like after being injured at work or on the train. Either way, our personal injury attorneys can identify those responsible for your injuries and calculate the damages they owe you. The following are the most common accident claims we handle in Berwyn:
Standard Vehicle Accidents
Lawsuits for car accidents are arguably the most common types our team handles. The majority of them are straightforward, with our lawyers gathering and exchanging some evidence before negotiating a settlement. In fact, most of these lawsuits settle before a trial is necessary. However, our attorneys will be prepared to fight your case in court if the other driver’s insurance company refuses to pay what you deserve. We might also need to go to trial to determine fault in more complex cases involving multiple drivers.
Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Our team can also help you if you were injured by a commercial driver. These cases are typically more challenging than regular car collision claims but offer more chances to recover compensation. This is because we can usually sue the driver who hit you and their employer under the legal principle of “vicarious liability.” If the driver is considered a standard employee and was executing their job duties when they caused the accident, the employer can be held liable even if they were not directly negligent.
However, you might have trouble if you need to file a lawsuit against a commercial driver who is classified as an independent contractor. Vicarious liability will not apply if the driver is an independent contractor, so the employer will likely be shielded from a lawsuit. Uber rideshare and Amazon truck drivers are common examples of independent contractors. While you might not be able to sue these companies, our team can help you explore potential insurance options and who we can file your lawsuit against.
Train and Bus Accidents
Berwyn is a suburb of Chicago, so countless residents here rely on Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) trains and buses every day. As such, accidents on CTA vehicles and facilities are common.
However, the CTA is a publicly-operated company, so there are additional rules when suing a government agency. You typically have less time to file a claim against the CTA, as short as a year. You also need to give them notice before filing a claim, which will need to detail the accident you are suing for and the compensation you will be seeking.
Slip and Fall Accidents
If you were injured on another person’s property in a slip and fall accident, we can help you sue the property owner. Property owners have a duty to keep their premises safe. This includes acknowledging known dangers and making routine inspections for unknown ones.
Slip and fall accidents are common in businesses like convenience stores and restaurants. They can also result in injuries far worse than people think, including traumatic head injuries and devastating knee injuries. We can sue either the business owner or the property manager, depending on who had a duty to keep the location safe. We can also file a claim against an individual if you were injured in someone’s home.
Workplace and Construction Accidents
Workplace accidents are common, but recovering compensation for them is often confusing. Our team can help determine if Workers’ Compensation is the best route to get your damages covered or if filing a lawsuit is a better option. It will depend on who is responsible for your injuries. Fortunately, you can usually claim Workers’ Compensation benefits regardless of who caused the accident since it is a type of “no-fault” insurance. So, if you caused your workplace accident or a coworker, you can get compensation without having to prove fault.
However, you might need to file a lawsuit if you want to recover compensation for damages Workers’ Compensation does not cover. You can only go around Workers’ Compensation in a few situations to file a lawsuit, such as when your employer intentionally causes your accident or when an independent third party injures you.
This is a common issue in construction accidents, where numerous parties operate on one site. Our team understands the intricate nature of these cases and can help you determine who to sue for your injuries. Depending on the accident, we might file a claim against a subcontractor, general contractor, or construction equipment manufacturer.
Nursing Home Abuse
Our team takes immense pride in fighting for our most vulnerable individuals living in nursing homes. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is common, as many of these residents have little protection from predatory practices.
In some cases, they are physically abused by nursing home staff or other residents. Other times, residents are emotionally abused, such as being bullied or deprived of privacy.
Nursing home residents are also prime targets for financial abuse. Financial abuse could come from within the home, such as if staff are directly stealing from them or having funds sent to their bank accounts. Other financial predators will make contact with residents through phony emails and phone calls. If you suspect you or a family member is a victim of nursing home abuse, our team can help you get justice.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice occurs in countless ways and can cause immense damage. Perhaps your doctor failed to diagnose you properly, causing you to have to undergo a new series of examinations and testing to discover the actual problem. In other cases, your doctor might have prescribed a medication known to cause adverse reactions or did not inform you fully of the treatment to get your informed consent. We can help prove where the malpractice occurred.
Our Berwyn, IL Personal Injury Attorneys Are Here to Help You
Our personal injury lawyers at Rhatigan Law Offices can provide you with a free case review when you call (312) 578-8502.
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