A personal injury lawsuit can occur whenever someone has been injured because of another party’s negligence. Accordingly, you may be entitled to financial compensation if you were injured because of someone else’s careless or intentional conduct. However, the process for recovering damages can be long and complicated.
Our Joliet personal injury lawyers can provide assistance with all aspects of your personal injury lawsuit. You will likely face opposition from defendants’ insurance companies when pursuing a claim. Our experienced attorneys can ease your stress by filing your case, gathering evidence, and communicating with insurance companies on your behalf.
If you have been injured because of another party’s negligent conduct, get help recovering the compensation you deserve by calling the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502 for a free case review.
Elements of Personal Injury Lawsuits in Joliet, IL
There are four elements that plaintiffs must satisfy before proceeding with a personal injury claim in Joliet.
Duty
First, plaintiffs must prove that a defendant had a duty of care to act a certain way under specific circumstances. Duties of care can be established either through laws or legal precedent. Different duties of care will apply to defendants depending on the circumstances of a case. For example, in a car accident case, motorists are expected to abide by traffic laws and use reasonable care when operating their vehicles on public roads. Our Joliet personal injury lawyers can help potential plaintiffs determine which duty of care applies to their case.
Breach
Second, plaintiffs must establish that defendants breached a duty of care. A breach of duty simply refers to situations where a defendant’s conduct failed to meet an applicable standard of care. For example, a driver who causes a car accident by running a red light has breached a duty of care to follow traffic laws. This element can be satisfied through a defendant’s negligent actions or failure to act.
Causation
Next, personal injury plaintiffs must establish a causal link between a defendant’s negligent conduct and the damages sought. In other words, plaintiffs must prove that a defendant’s actions caused or contributed to their injuries. This element can be satisfied through a wide range of evidence. The assistance of our experienced Joliet personal injury lawyers can be highly beneficial when establishing a link between a defendant’s negligence and your injuries.
Damages
Finally, plaintiffs in personal injury lawsuits must prove that damages were incurred. Some damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and property damages may be easy to account for. However, other damages stemming from personal injuries can be harder to establish, such as physical pain and emotional distress. Our Joliet personal injury lawyers can help you fight for the full extent of damages suffered because of a personal injury.
Paying for a Personal Injury Lawyer in Joliet, IL
The guidance and support of our experienced Joliet personal injury lawyers can be extremely valuable when pursuing a personal injury claim. However, many personal injury victims may question if they can afford a lawyer. The fees charged by many lawyers can be intimidating and seem out of reach for victims.
Fortunately, our Joliet personal injury lawyers are permitted to work on what is called a contingency fee basis. This means that our lawyers will only get paid if we recover compensation for our clients. Our personal injury clients are permitted to pay their attorney’s fees with a portion of the damages won in their case. Therefore, clients are able to enlist the services of our attorneys without expensive retainers or hourly fees.
Damages Available in Personal Injury Lawsuits in Joliet, IL
Some injuries will never fully heal, buy monetary compensation is often the best option available to aid victims’ recovery. Accordingly, there are multiple categories of damages available to personal injury plaintiffs in Joliet. Some damages may be easier to prove than others. Our Joliet personal injury lawyers can help you recover any of the following damages suffered because of another party’s negligence:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are those that are easier to account for after an accident. Examples of economic losses include medical expenses, lost wages, and property damages incurred because of an accident. Negligent parties can be held liable for any economic damages they cause.
Non-economic Damages
While non-economic losses may be harder to quantify, they can be potentially devastating for victims. Non-economic damages seek to compensate victims for the physical pain and emotional anguish they suffer because of an injury. A wide range of evidence may be used to establish non-economic damages.
Punitive Damages
In rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded where a defendant’s conduct goes beyond mere negligence and consists of gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing. Punitive damages serve to punish individuals and disincentivize their conduct.
Time Limit to File Personal Injury Lawsuits in Joliet, IL
States impose time limits on filing lawsuits through their statutes of limitations. In Joliet, plaintiffs will have two years from the date of an injury to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Statutes of limitations ensure that lawsuits can be dealt with in a timely manner. Furthermore, as time passes, facts surrounding a case can become stale or unclear. Witnesses and other parties may forget crucial details surrounding an accident. Requiring lawsuits to be filed in a timely manner ensures the evidence required to support a claim will be fresh and discoverable.
Accordingly, you should contact our Joliet personal injury lawyers as soon as possible if you wish to file a claim. Waiting to file a claim could affect your ability to recover compensation.
Common Types of Personal Injury Cases in Joliet, IL
There are numerous forms of negligent conduct that can cause injuries. Accordingly, personal injury lawsuits can come in many forms. The legal analyses that apply to your case can depend on the type of accident that occurred. The following are common types of personal injury cases frequently handled by our Joliet personal injury lawyers:
- Car accident cases
- Motorcycle accident cases
- Bicycle accident cases
- Pedestrian accident cases
- Defective or dangerous product cases
- Slip and fall cases
- Construction accident cases
- Medical malpractice cases
- Animal attack cases
If You Were Injured Because of Another Party’s Negligence in Joliet, IL, Our Lawyers Can Help
If you have been injured because of another party’s negligence, seek assistance from experienced Joliet personal injury lawyers by calling the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502 for a free case review.
Resources