Each case is different, so there is no clear-cut answer when it comes to how long it will take to settle your Chicago personal injury case. Some cases can be settled in a few days or weeks while others stretch out over months.
Factors that affect how long it takes to settle include the severity of your injuries, the complexity of the case, and the willingness of both sides to agree on a settlement. A lawyer with experience handling personal injuries can evaluate your Cook County case and give you a better idea of how long it will take to settle yours and how much it is worth.
Common Types of Personal Injury Cases
Not everyone who sustains an injury has a personal injury case. Valid cases contain these elements:
- Duty of care: An outside party had an obligation to keep you safe or prevent you from being put at risk of harm. Whether someone owes you a duty of care depends on the situation. For example, a doctor has a duty of care to his patients, drivers have a duty of care to other drivers, and property owners have a duty of care to visitors.
- Violation of duty: The other party violated that duty of care with careless or reckless behavior known as negligence. What constitutes negligence depends on the situation. Our lawyer will listen to the details of your case to see if the other party was negligent.
- Causation: The other party’s negligence directly caused your injuries, such that you would not be injured were it not for their behavior.
- Damages: Not only did the other party’s negligence cause your injuries but your injuries can be compensated financially. The legal term for this compensation is damages and may include losses such as your medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and more.
We handle many types of personal injury cases, including:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Construction accidents
- Nursing home abuse
- Wrongful death
- Medical malpractice
Damages Available in a Personal Injury Case
Our lawyer can help you estimate the value of your damages. You may be able to recover these damages:
Damages in a Personal Injury Case
You may be entitled to damages for:
- Medical expenses such as ambulance bills, emergency room treatment, diagnostic imaging, surgery, therapy, and more
- Loss of income for unpaid time off work now and in the future
- Property damage if your vehicle required repair or replacement
- Pain and suffering such as depression, anxiety, chronic pain, disfigurement, disability, and more
Damages in a Wrongful Death Case
If you lost a family member because of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to:
- Funeral and burial expenses such as cremation, embalming, casket, memorial service, flowers, and more
- Medical expenses for treatment your loved one received before he passed away
- Loss of financial support for the income and other benefits your loved one provided
- Loss of household support for chores, household maintenance, childcare, and other services your loved one provided
- Loss of relationship for the loss of a parental or spousal relationship
- Pain and suffering experienced by the surviving family members
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You
Personal injury cases are complex, and you may not know what to do or how to get started. Our lawyer can walk you through each step of the process of seeking damages from the at-fault party. We can:
- Look for evidence of negligence: We will investigate your accident and gather evidence that the other party’s careless behavior caused your injuries.
- Estimate your damages: We will use your past wage statements, medical bills and records, expert testimony, and more to estimate how much your case is worth.
- Negotiate a settlement: Our estimate of your damages will be a starting point for negotiations with the other party’s insurance company. We will negotiate an out-of-court settlement that gives you fair compensation.
- File a lawsuit: Most of the time, it is best for both sides to settle out of court. When that doesn’t work out, however, we will sue the at-fault party and seek compensation in court.
Time Limits for a Chicago Personal Injury Case
Illinois limits how much time you have to seek damages in a personal injury case. These laws may affect you:
- 735 ILCS 5/13-202 sets the statute of limitations for personal injury at two years
- 740 ILCS 180/2 sets the statute of limitations for wrongful death at two years
These laws mean that you generally have two years from the date of your accident or two years from the date your loved one passed away to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. If you wait any longer, you forfeit your right to sue, so act quickly. Our lawyer can help you determine when the clock starts for your specific situation.
The Kryder Law Group, LLC Is Ready to Help You
Our personal injury lawyer serving Chicago can let you know how long it will take to settle your case and will walk you through the process of seeking damages. You may be entitled to damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.
Call The Kryder Law Group, LLC today at (312) 223-1700 for a free case review. Our attorneys work on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we win your case.
(312) 223-1700 