While we try our best to avoid it, people suffer personal injuries every day in Elmhurst. When someone else is responsible for the damages from an accident, you deserve to be compensated.
Our lawyers have been litigating cases in Elmhurst for decades and can help you recover compensation, no matter how you suffered your injuries. Elmhurst is a busy suburb of Chicago, so there is no shortage of ways of getting injured. Many cases we handle are for car accidents, but we can also help if you were injured while riding the train or at a station. Importantly, we will determine each party who played a role in your accident and ensure they are included in your lawsuit. Our team is standing by, so contact us as soon as possible to file your case before time runs out.
Call the Rhatigan Law Offices today at (312) 578-8502 for a free case assessment with our Chicago personal injury lawyers.
Starting a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Elmhurst, IL
It is natural to take time to consider the pros and cons of filing a lawsuit before initiating one. Still, very good reasons exist for not waiting to take legal action. First, you only have so much time to file a lawsuit in Elmhurst for personal injuries. According to 735 I.L.C.S. § 13-202, injury victims only have two years to file their claims in court. If your lawsuit is not filed by the two-year anniversary of your accident, the court will decline to hear your case, and you will be out the compensation you need.
Under § 5/13-211(a), more time will be allowed if the victim is younger than 18 or under a legal disability at the time of the accident. The statute of limitations will not run until the victim turns 18 or the disability is removed. After that, they will have the general two years to file their lawsuits.
The other reason to start your lawsuit as soon as possible is that it allows our personal injury attorneys to gather the evidence before it is lost and while witnesses’ memories of the accident are still fresh. You might already have some of this evidence in your possession, like medical records or pictures from the accident scene. Fortunately, all the evidence you need to recover compensation does not need to be gathered before filing your complaint in court. We just need enough evidence to demonstrate that your lawsuit is valid.
The rest of the evidence we will use can be collected after the court accepts your lawsuit and we proceed to “discovery.” During this time, we can obtain evidence and testimony from the defendant and witnesses while gathering medical records from your providers. We can assess your damages and negotiate a settlement with the other side with this evidence.
Unlike movies and TV, most cases do not end in a dramatic trial. The majority are settled well before that. However, if we cannot recover what you deserve in a settlement, we will have all the evidence prepared for the courtroom.
Common Cases Our Personal Injury Lawyers Handle in Elmhurst, IL
Because personal injuries can occur in numerous ways, you want a firm with experience and the ability to handle a wide variety of claims. The type of accident you were injured in will significantly impact the law and what strategies we use to recover damages. The following are the most common reasons our team files lawsuits in Elmhurst:
Car Accidents
As a suburb or nearby Chicago and subject to its traffic, car accidents in Elmhurst are common. I-290 and I-294 also converge here, further increasing the chances of being involved in a collision. While you might try to save money by handling a claim alone, insurance companies have ways of pressuring you into accepting a low settlement when they know you do not have legal counsel. Working with our team is the best way to ensure you are treated fairly, and settlement offers actually cover your current and future losses.
In most cases, we will file your lawsuit simultaneously with your insurance claim. If we cannot settle the claim during negotiations, we will get a court date to argue the case to the judge or jury.
Train Accidents
Because Elmhurst is so close to Chicago, many people here use the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) trains for their daily commute. Unfortunately, the CTA does not always take the best care of its trains or stations, so accidents often occur. In some cases, victims are injured by careless train operators who brake too fast or when doors malfunction and close too soon. Many other accidents happen in train stations because the CTA fails to inspect or warn riders of dangerous conditions in the station, like snow piled up on the platform.
If your injuries occurred on CTA property, we can help you with the additional challenges you must meet. Because the CTA is a publicly operated government entity, you generally have less time to file a lawsuit against it and must notify it before doing so.
Aviation Accidents
While not as common, our team can also help if you have been injured in an aviation accident. The Chicago O’Hare International Airport is one of the busiest in the world and is located next to Elmhurst. With the number of planes flying overhead here daily, you might have reason to sue someone in the aviation industry.
Perhaps you or your property was struck by debris or other projectiles coming from a plane. Our team has the knowledge to investigate these complex claims and determine if a mechanical failure, pilot error, or air traffic controllers contributed to the accident. If the aviation accident resulted in the death of a loved one, we can file a wrongful death lawsuit against those responsible.
Contact Our Elmhurst, IL Personal Injury Attorneys Immediately for Help with Your Case
For a free case review with our personal injury attorneys, contact the Rhatigan Law Offices by calling (312) 578-8502.
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