You should not have to suffer because of someone else’s poor choices. If you were recently injured in an accident, the person who caused the accident should be held responsible and made to cover your damages. This is no easy feat, and our legal team can help you get the justice you deserve.
First, you should talk to your lawyer about what kind of personal injury claim you have. How your accident happened may determine who is responsible and how we prove it. Construction accidents, injuries at work, and nursing home injuries are just a few examples of personal injury cases our team has worked on. Whatever your claims are, you have a limited time to file them. Plaintiffs typically only have 2 years to submit their cases in court. Before filing the case, we need evidence backing up your claims. Evidence from the accident scene, testimony, and more can help us build your case.
Get started with a free initial case assessment from our personal injury lawyers when you call the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502.
Determining What Kind of Personal Injury Claim You Have in Quincy, IL
There is no single kind of personal injury claim. This area of law is known for encompassing a vast array of accidents and injuries. As such, working with an attorney who knows how the law applies to your specific circumstances is important. Below are a few examples of the cases our legal team has worked on and can help you with.
Construction-Related Accidents
If you work on a construction site, you likely encounter risky situations every day. Unfortunately, even when construction workers take reasonable precautions, accidents can still happen, often because of someone else’s negligence. Maybe your employer failed to make sure the job site was safe. Maybe you were provided faulty tools that malfunctioned and injured you. Maybe you were given inadequate safety gear. Once you have received medical attention for your injuries, contact an attorney for help getting fair compensation.
Workplace Injuries
Maybe you were hurt while you were working. First, our personal injury attorneys should determine where and how your accident happened and whether your employer should be held responsible. If you were on the clock and at your normal place of business (e.g., in your office), your employer might be held liable. Even if you were not in your normal place of business, but you were performing normal job duties, your employer might still be responsible. Many people travel for work or work from multiple locations, so determining a normal place of business might be trickier.
Injuries in Nursing Homes
If you have a loved one who is older or in poor health, they might live in a nursing home or other long-term care facility. While many such facilities do their best to care for residents, others are less caring. Abuse and neglect in nursing homes are not uncommon, and the signs are not always easy to spot. If you believe your loved one was injured because of abuse or neglect in a nursing home, contact an attorney for help immediately. Not only is this situation grounds for a civil case, but abusers might also face criminal charges.
How Soon Should You File a Personal Injury Case in Quincy, IL?
One thing that injured victims sometimes overlook is how much time they have to file a personal injury case. Of course, you need time to prepare your case, and filing a case immediately after an accident is pretty difficult. While it is normal for plaintiffs to wait a while before submitting their case to the courts, it is important to avoid taking too much time.
The statute of limitations is a law that imposes a strict time limit, also called a limitation period, on plaintiffs. According to 735 I.L.C.S. § 5/13-202, plaintiffs in Illinois have only 2 years from the day of the accident to file their personal injury case. If the 2-year limitation period closes and nothing has been filed, you might lose your right to file the cause of action, and compensation might be forever out of your reach.
It is common for some plaintiffs to take their time to prepare their case. Others might encounter delays due to circumstances beyond their control. If time is running out, talk to your lawyer about tolling the limitation period. When the limitation period is tolled, the clock counting down your time is paused. Tolling is often available in cases where plaintiffs were minors when they were injured or experienced legal disabilities.
According to § 5/13-211(a), the limitation period may be tolled until a minor turns 18, giving them until age 20 to file. Suppose you were under a legal disability, which might be a mental condition that prevents you from filing the case or understanding your rights. In that case, the limitation period is tolled until the disability is lifted.
However, there are limits on how long the limitation period may be tolled. Under subsection (b) of the law mentioned above, the limitation period may not be tolled for more than 10 years due to a legal disability.
How to Support Your Personal Injury Case in Quincy, IL
While you might know the truth of what happened to you and how the defendant is responsible, we need more than just your word to prove it. We need as much evidence as we can possibly find. Much evidence comes from the area where the accident happened. For example, in a case involving workplace injuries, we should check for security cameras or ask coworkers to testify as witnesses. If you were in a car accident, take pictures of the accident scene, including vehicles, people, and the surrounding area.
Testimonial evidence is also crucial in many cases. If we cannot support your case with solid physical evidence, we can still build a strong case based on witness testimony. The more witnesses who can back up your claims, the stronger your case may be. Your testimony might also be incredibly important. You were at the center of the accident and have a unique perspective that should be shared in court.
Speak to Our Quincy, IL Personal Injury Attorneys for Help with Your Case
Get started with a free initial case assessment from our personal injury lawyers when you call the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502.
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