Personal injuries can impact victims’ lives in traumatic and distressing ways. Whether you were injured because of a car accident, slip and fall accident, medical malpractice, or an animal attack, the road to recovery can seem daunting in the aftermath of a personal injury.
If you were injured because of another party’s careless or reckless actions, a personal injury lawyer can help seek financial compensation for damages you incur. There are several categories of monetary damages available to personal injury plaintiffs. The damages awarded in your case will depend on a variety of circumstances surrounding your injuries.
If you were injured because of another party’s negligent acts in Streamwood, IL, get help seeking the financial compensation available to you. Contact our experienced Streamwood personal injury lawyers by calling the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502 for a free case review.
How Our Streamwood Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help
The path to compensation in personal injury lawsuits can vary from case to case. Your appropriate course of action may depend on the cause of your injuries, the extend of harm you suffered, among other factors. Fortunately, our experienced Streamwood personal injury lawyers can provide guidance and support in each of the following ways:
Filing Your Case
Several conditions must be adhered to when filing a personal injury case in Streamwood. First, under 735 I.L.C.S. 5/13-202, you will usually have two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, there are exceptions to this statute of limitations. Parents may bring claims on behalf of their injured child at any point until the victim turns 18. Furthermore, according to 735 I.L.C.S. 5/13-211, after turning 18, victims will have two years to file lawsuits pertaining to injuries that occurred while they were minors. Injured parties who do not comply with these deadlines will be unable to pursue monetary damages. Our team can help determine how the Illinois statute of limitations will apply to your case.
In addition to filing your case on time, there are several other requirements to keep in mind when filing a personal injury claim. Failure to satisfy any of the following conditions may force you to re-file your lawsuit:
- File in the right court
- Pay any required court fees
- Include necessary supporting documents
- Serve all defendants
- Ensure you are filing a complete claim
Fortunately, our attorneys can provide assistance when filing your case. You should contact our Streamwood personal injury lawyers right away after an accident, so we may begin working on your claim.
Gathering Evidence
Another crucial step to each personal injury lawsuit involves gathering evidence. Plaintiffs must present evidence that shows they sustained injuries because of defendants’ negligent actions. There are many different types of evidence that can help prove defendants were at fault or establish damages. The following are common forms of evidence used by our Streamwood personal injury lawyers:
- Physical evidence from the scene of an accident
- Photos from the scene of an accident
- Accident reports
- Surveillance footage
- Eyewitness testimony
- Personal remembrances
- Expert witness testimony
Obtaining all of the evidence required to support your claim can be a complex and frustrating task. Our Streamwood personal injury lawyers can help ease your stress by gathering the evidence necessary for your case to succeed.
Establishing Fault
Defendants and their insurance companies may attempt to gather evidence that shows a plaintiff shared a degree fault. Courts in Streamwood will follow the doctrine of modified comparative negligence when awarding damages in personal injury lawsuits. This means that damages are assigned based on percentages of fault. If a defendant was 60% responsible for an accident while you shared 40% of the blame, a defendant will only have to pay for 60% of damages caused by the accident while you will account for the remaining 40%. Therefore, by shifting blame, defendants may avoid paying the full value of plaintiffs’ cases.
Establishing fault is a crucial step to any personal injury lawsuit. Our experienced Streamwood personal injury lawyers can help establish fault by fighting insurance companies and presenting evidence in an effective manner. You should contact our team for help recovering the full value of your case.
Negotiating
Additionally, our attorneys can help when negotiating for fair compensation. Many parties will reach settlement agreements before going to trial. After reaching a settlement agreement, a defendant will pay a certain amount of compensation to a plaintiff and their case will be dismissed. If you settle early, you may recover damages sooner and save on the many costs that can accompany trying a case.
However, defendants and their insurers regularly try to settle cases for as cheaply as possible. Our Streamwood personal injury lawyers can lean on years of training and experience when negotiating for fair compensation, so you may receive a more appropriate settlement offer.
If you do not receive an adequate settlement offer, you may take your case to trial. Plaintiffs will have the chance to recover additional damages at trial. However, if you are unsuccessful at trial, you may receive little compensation for the harm you suffered. Our attorneys can assess the true value of your case, so you can more easily decide if going to trial is the right choice for you.
Trying Your Case
Lastly, if you decide to take your case to trial, our attorneys can help try your case. At trial, our team can help protect your interests and recover the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Common Causes of Personal Injuries in Streamwood, IL
There are many different forms of negligent behavior that cause personal injuries. The type of accident you suffered may influence how our attorneys approach your claim. The following are common causes of personal injuries in Streamwood, IL:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Animal attacks
- Defective products
No matter the cause of your personal injury, you should contact our Streamwood personal injury lawyers to discuss the strength of your potential case.
If You Suffered a Personal Injury in Streamwood, IL, Our Lawyers Can Help
If you were injured because of another party’s negligent conduct, seek assistance from our experienced Streamwood personal injury lawyers by calling the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502 for a free case review.
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