Injuries are a normal part of life but can also be a major disruption to a person’s life. The road to recovery might be long, painful, and expensive, and the person responsible for your injuries should be held accountable. Our team can help you get fair compensation for your injuries so you can get your life back.
Perhaps what is most confusing about personal injury claims is figuring out what is and is not a personal injury. This particular legal field is broad, and our team has worked on cases involving train and aviation accidents, auto accidents, slip-and-falls, and more. The extent of your injuries and losses forms the basis of your damages and potential compensation. Economic damages are rooted in the financial costs of your injuries, while non-economic damages are based on subjective personal experiences. In rare cases, punitive damages might also be available. We need evidence to back up your claims before you can get compensation for your damages. Finding evidence can be challenging, but your lawyer can help determine where to look.
For a free, confidential case review from our Chicago personal injury attorneys, call Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502.
Different Personal Injury Claims Our Lawyers Can Help You with in Carol Stream, IL
The thing about personal injury cases is that they might include any number of accidents and injuries. It is a very broad legal field encompassing all sorts of claims, and there are just as many laws regarding personal injury claims that may or may not apply to your case. One of the first things we must do is determine the precise nature of your claims so our personal injury attorneys can develop the most effective legal strategies possible.
Train and Aviation Accidents
You might have been hurt when catching a train or a flight. Airports and train stations can be very busy and hectic, especially during peak travel times like holidays. While devastating crashes are possible, these are less common than people realize. More common accidents involve accidents and mishaps in train stations, airports, and on planes or trains. For example, you might be injured if a flight attendant loses control of the snack cart during a bit of turbulence. Considering how heavy these carts are, being struck by one might be very painful. Alternatively, you might slip and fall on a train platform because it is old and the concrete was cracked. The train station’s failure to repair the platform should not be excused.
Auto Accidents
Accidents involving vehicles are among the most commonly filed personal injury claims. Whether you were driving your car and hit by another driver in a car, truck, or bus, you can file a claim for damages. In many cases, accidents are severe, and drivers are badly injured. It is not unusual for damages to be so significant that auto insurance does not cover all of it, and a personal injury case might be the only way to get all your damages covered.
Not all auto accidents involve two drivers. Perhaps you were struck by a vehicle while riding your bike or walking on foot. Maybe you were not driving at all. You might have been hurt in an accident while riding in a taxi or an Uber or Lyft vehicle. Whatever the circumstances are, contact an attorney for legal support.
Slip-and-Fall Accidents
While slip-and-fall accidents are often underestimated or even outright mocked, they can be extremely serious. Property owners have a duty of care to maintain their property for the safety of guests. If you slip because the floor is wet, slick, or damaged, the owner of the premises may be held liable for your injuries.
A common example of a slip-and-fall case involves freshly mopped floors and no wet-floor sign. You might be walking the aisles of a grocery store when you slip because an employee mopped up a spill but neglected to place a sign to warn customers. This might be a simple accident, but your injuries are anything but simple.
Recovering Damages in a Personal Injury Case in Carol Stream, IL
When evaluating your damages, we must account for all your losses, injuries, and costs. If certain damages are left out or unaccounted for by mistake, we might not be able to claim them when the case goes to court, and you risk losing valuable compensation.
Economic Damages
Personal injuries often involve enormous financial costs for plaintiffs. These economic damages should be carefully tracked and evaluated so that you can get back the money you lost. A major source of economic damages is medical bills. Even if your injuries are not incredibly severe, they can still be expensive. A single visit to the hospital might be more than many people can afford.
We should also consider the loss of any property. For example, your vehicle might have been totally destroyed in a car accident. Maybe you lost personal belongings in the accident. These costs should be accounted for in our damages calculations.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are related to injuries and losses that might not take a financial toll but take a psychological or emotional one. For example, your physical pain from your injuries, trauma from the accidents, embarrassment, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of your life, disfigurement, and other painful experiences might be worth much compensation. Claiming these damages can be tricky because they are highly subjective. The jury may have the final word on what these damages are worth.
Punitive Damages
Unlike the damages mentioned above, punitive damages are not intended to compensate plaintiffs for losses. Instead, these damages are meant to punish defendants, but only under very specific circumstances.
According to 735 I.L.C.S. § 5/2-1115.05(b), punitive damages must be proven by “clear and convincing evidence.” This means we must have enough evidence or proof to produce in the trier of fact (i.e., the judge or jury) a high degree of certainty regarding the truth of the allegations or claims. This is a greater degree of proof than the preponderance of the evidence required for the overall personal injury case. The evidence must show that the defendant acted with an evil motive or an outrageous and reckless indifference to the safety and rights of others.
Speak to Our Carol Stream, IL Personal Injury Attorneys About Getting Compensation
For a free, confidential case review from our personal injury attorneys, call Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502.
Resources