Accidents and injuries are inevitabilities of life. Nobody goes through life completely unscathed. While some accidents are just that, accidents, others are not. If someone is responsible for causing the accident that injured you, you might be able to have them held liable in a personal injury lawsuit. For many, a personal injury case is necessary to get fair financial compensation so they can afford to cover the costs of the accident.
Personal injury law represents a very broad field and includes a whole host of accidents and injuries. Some common injuries our team has handled include slip and falls, car crashes, and work-related accidents. The nature of your claim will undoubtedly influence what kind of evidence we need to prove your case in court. Photos, videos, physical objects, and witness testimony are common pieces of evidence. We must also carefully determine the extent of your damage and what fair compensation might be worth. Getting started sooner rather than later may help you better prepare for the various legal hurdles to come.
Start your case with a free, private case review from our personal injury attorneys by calling the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502.
Typical Examples of Personal Injury Cases in Mount Pleasant, IL
As mentioned earlier, personal injury cases are some of our legal system’s most commonly filed claims. They represent a broad range of accidents and injuries, and it is important to work with a lawyer with experience with claims like yours. It is wise to meet with our personal injury lawyers soon, as your time to file your case is limited. Under 735 I.L.C.S. § 5/13-202, plaintiffs have only 2 years from the day their accidents happened to file their cases in court.
Slip and Fall Injuries
A classic example of a personal injury case is a slip and fall accident. Maybe you were walking through a store and slipped on a wet floor that had just been mopped. Maybe you were in a restaurant and slipped in a spilled drink that nobody bothered to clean up. While these kinds of accidents often seem trivial at first, they can involve severe and painful injuries. The person who owns the property where your accident happened may be liable for your injuries.
Vehicle Accidents
Car accidents are perhaps some of the most frequently filed personal injury cases. If you have never been in a car accident before, you probably know somebody who has. Some common causes of vehicle crashes include high rates of speed, distracted or inattentive drivers, and poor weather conditions. It can be tricky to sort these cases out, especially when multiple drivers blame each other for the accident. In cases involving more serious crashes, damages might be quite high.
Accidents at Work
People are injured at their place of work all the time. How you might be injured depends on the nature of your job and your work environment. Factor workers might be injured by malfunctioning machinery. Officer workers might be badly hurt if they fall down the stairs in their office. Talk to your lawyer about suing your employer for your damages. Often, these injuries stem from unsafe work environments created or exacerbated by negligent employers.
Evidence We Can Use to Prove Your Personal Injury Claims in Mount Prospect, IL
What kind of evidence we need to back up your case will depend heavily on the nature of your accident. While some accidents might involve a lot of evidence, others might involve much less, making our work more difficult. Even so, strong cases have been built on minimal yet powerful evidence.
We should consider whether there is any evidence from the accident scene. For example, suppose you recorded photos and videos of the accident, the people present, your injuries, and anything else that seemed important. In that case, we might be able to use these recordings as evidence in court. They often come in handy when the defendant tries to dispute how the accident happened. Your photos from the accident scene might be enough to prove them wrong.
If physical objects were involved in the accident, we should collect them as evidence. For example, if you were injured at work because of a defective tool you used as part of your job, we need the defective tool. We should also have it inspected to understand the extent of the defect and how it caused the accident.
If other people were around when you were hurt, we should figure out who they are and see if they will testify as witnesses. This might be easy if you exchanged information with them at the scene. However, if you did not, we might have to investigate for ourselves to find them.
If your injuries are called into question, we can use your medical records to prove the extent and severity of your injuries. You have a right to see your own medical records, so obtaining them should not be a major hassle. We likely do not need your complete medical history, and our attorneys can help you obtain copies of your records.
Possible Legal Hurdles to Overcome in Your Mount Prospect, IL Personal Injury Case
Lawsuits are known for being frustrating endeavors. Plaintiffs often feel as if they are constantly taking one step forward before taking two steps back. We need to be prepared for certain legal hurdles that are likely to come up in your case. If we are prepared, we are more capable of overcoming them and getting you the compensation you deserve.
It is possible that we will have to deal with a lack of evidence supporting your claims. This is not an unusual problem, as evidence is known for being somewhat fleeting. If we do not collect it quickly, it is likely to disappear.
We should also be prepared for the defendant to claim that you somehow caused your own accident or exacerbated your injuries. In such a case, rules of comparative negligence under 735 I.L.C.S. § 5/2-1116(c) may apply. Under these rules, if a court deems the plaintiff to be partially responsible for the accident, the court may reduce the plaintiff’s damages. If the plaintiff is deemed more than 50% responsible, they may be barred from recovery.
Speak to Our Mount Prospect, IL Personal Injury Attorneys Today
Start your case with a free, private case review from our personal injury attorneys by calling the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502.
Resources