Frequently-Asked-Questions-Personal-Injury

1. What must be proven to recover damages under the law?

Any person who has been injured or lost a loved-one as a result of the wrongful act of another may be entitled to compensation. The wrongful act that causes an injury or death need not be intentional. The law also protects those who have been injured by the negligence of another. “Negligence” means that the person causing the injury did or failed to do something a reasonable person would or would not have done under similar circumstances. In other words, if the person who caused the injury acted unreasonably and created an unreasonable risk of harm, that person can be subject to liability for the injuries he caused.

2. What are examples of personal injury cases?

The law may provide compensation to an injured person or to the family of someone killed by the wrongful conduct of another no matter how that injury was caused. Some examples include: automobile and trucking accidents, railroad crossing accidents, dangerous and defective products such as punch presses, milling machines, saws, tools or drugs, construction accidents, electrocution, burns, medical, hospital or nursing home negligence or malpractice, and other professional negligence.

3. What compensation does the law provide for those who have been injured?

Once a jury determines that a person has been injured as a result of the wrongful conduct of another, the jury is asked to compensate that person for: past and future medical and hospital bills, past and future wage loss or loss of earning capacity, disfigurement, disability or loss of a normal life, and past and future physical and mental pain and suffering. In a wrongful death case, the family of the person killed may be entitled to compensation for the loss of financial support that the decedent would have provided, as well as compensation for the loss of the love, companionship and affection of the deceased. Under a recent change in Illinois law, a family will also be able to seek compensation for their grief.

We work with nationally ranked experts, such as economists, life-care planners, physicians and others to prove that our clients are entitled to the greatest amount of compensation that the law allows.

4. What should I do if I think I may have a case?

You need to speak to a lawyer qualified and experienced in personal injury cases as soon as possible. There are time limits under the law within which a personal injury case must be filed. All rights can be lost if suit is not filed within these time limits.

You also need to gather as much information as you can about how the injury occurred, who might be responsible, where the injuries sustained in the accident were treated, and the bills for that treatment. Bring this information, such as accident or police reports, medical records, or bills when you come to consult with us. This information will help us investigate your potential case.

5. How much does it cost to hire a lawyer to represent me or my family in a personal injury case?

There is no charge for an initial consultation. If we take on your case, we receive a fee based on a percentage of the amount recovered. There is no fee if there is no recovery. We are also reimbursed from any recovery for the costs we advance to prosecute the case.

6. What do I do if the insurance company insuring the person or entity that caused my injury contacts me?

You have an obligation under your own insurance policy to cooperate in the investigation or defense of any potential claim. This means that if your insurance company wants to take a statement from you or wants to obtain information, you should comply with its request. However, you have no obligation to cooperate with the insurance company for the person or entity you believe might be responsible for your injury. This means that you should not provide any information or give any statements to the insurance company for the person or entity who might be responsible for your injuries until you have first spoken with us.