An accident can alter your life in many unpleasant ways. You might have painful injuries, enormous medical bills, and various forms of property damage. You should not have to shoulder this financial, physical, and emotional burden alone. A lawyer can help you file a personal injury case so you can get fair compensation.
It may take time to recover damages, as personal injury cases tend to take a while to complete. However, there may be ways we can strategize to expedite the process. You can have a trial in a court of law before a judge and jury, or you might instead pursue a settlement or insurance claim. Whatever the case might be, we need evidence to support your claims. If we cannot sufficiently prove your damages, you may not get all the compensation you need.
Contact our personal injury attorneys with the Rhatigan Law Offices by calling (312) 578-8502 and ask about a free initial case evaluation.
How Long it Takes to Recover Compensation in a Personal Injury Case
Exactly when you receive monetary compensation is difficult to determine before starting your case. For some, compensation comes quickly. Others might have to wait a bit longer.
How long it takes to receive compensation partially depends on who is paying the claim. If you get compensation from insurance, it can take time if the insurance company pushes back on your claim. Alternatively, if the insurance company quickly agrees to cover you, you may get compensation faster.
Lawsuits often take even longer. We might spend months or even over a year preparing your case for a trial. If you win the trial, you might not receive compensation for some time after, depending on whether the defendant is ready or willing to pay.
Settlements with the defendant may help you get compensation faster, but they are not guaranteed. Additionally, settlements might involve compensation that does not cover all your damages. The size of the settlement depends on how we negotiate with the defendant.
How to Claim Damages in a Personal Injury Case in Algonquin
To get the most compensation possible, our personal injury lawyers must accurately assess your injuries and losses so that nothing is left unaccounted for.
Medical
A major factor in many plaintiffs’ cases is medical costs. You may have needed emergency treatment after an accident, and it was likely not cheap. Even minor injuries may lead to big hospital bills.
If your injuries are so severe that you need medical treatment for the foreseeable future, we can estimate how much this will cost and add it to your damages. We must carefully calculate these damages so that you are not left without any way to pay for medical care sometime in the future.
Property
Another important consideration is the cost of property damage. This may involve large property like homes or vehicles or smaller personal items like phones, computers, jewelry, and more.
Certain property damages may be extremely expensive and take a tremendous toll on your life. For example, if your vehicle was totaled in an accident, you might have to deal with expensive repairs while having to live without a car for a while.
Even small personal items can add up to high costs. Do not discount the value of anything that was damaged, and keep track of all your expenses.
Income
Injuries can affect your ability to work and get in the way of your income. If you cannot work for a while after an accident, talk to your attorney about claiming lost wages.
First, we should calculate the value of the income you have already lost since becoming injured. If you are completely unable to work, this might be a substantial sum.
Next, we should think about the income you may continue to lose after the trial is over. Your future lost earnings should be carefully estimated and added to your damages.
Emotional Turmoil
Accidents tend to inflict much emotional and mental distress on victims, and this should factor into your damages.
Being in pain for an extended time may take a serious mental and physical toll that should be accounted for. On top of that, if you cannot work or have to leave your job because of your injuries, you might be mourning the loss of a once-promising career.
Emotional distress can take many forms. You might experience depression, anxiety, deep feelings of humiliation, and a loss in the quality of your life.
Do I Have to Have a Trial if I File a Personal Injury Case in Algonquin?
When we file a personal injury case with the court, we should be prepared to go to a trial. However, trials are not always necessary, and many cases end without ever going to trial.
A trial is certainly possible, and you should discuss the pros and cons of a trial with your attorney. While trials can take more time to complete, they can lead to greater damages than other legal options. A jury may see fit to award you the full extent of your damages.
You might instead find your claims are sufficiently covered by insurance. Alternatively, you might instead work out a private settlement with the defendant.
Evidence We Need to Back Up Your Personal Injury Claims
To support your case, we need to find as much strong evidence as possible.
Some evidence may come directly from the scene of the accident. Photos, security camera videos, witness testimony, and more might be right at our fingertips. However, we must act quickly to gather everything, as evidence can disappear if we do not collect it soon enough.
We may also need medical records to prove your injuries. The defendant may dispute the severity of your injuries or argue that your injuries were not caused by the accident. Your medical records may help us prove otherwise.
Call Our Algonquin Personal Injury Attorneys for Legal Help Today
Contact our personal injury attorneys with the Rhatigan Law Offices by calling (312) 578-8502 and ask about a free initial case evaluation.
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