Serious injuries can arise at any time and in virtually any circumstance, and when your life is suddenly thrown off track by an injury that is somebody else’s fault, you may have legal recourse to collect the compensation you need if you cannot work in the capacity that you once did.
Our team at The Kryder Law Group can help if you have been personally injured or have lost a loved one and want to pursue financial damages from responsible parties. Call our firm to discuss your case with a Park Forest personal injury lawyer.
No Two Personal Injury Claims Are the Same
Serious personal injuries can and do arise from a variety of different scenarios. Our Park Forest personal injury attorneys handle cases that include (but are not limited to):
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Dog bites
- Medical malpractice
- Defective products
- Slip and fall injuries
- Trip and fall injuries
- Construction accidents
- Workers’ compensation
- Wrongful death
If you have been injured or lost a loved one due and believe that someone’s negligence was the cause or main contributing factor, we want to hear from you. We may be able to help you craft a case in pursuit of financial damages for your losses.
What a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Do for You
The state of Illinois typically imposes a statute of limitations on your ability to sue a negligent party. For personal injury claims in Park Forest, that window is generally two years from the date on which your or your loved one’s accident occurred.
A lawyer can help ensure that you file all necessary paperwork in a timely fashion so that you remain eligible for the compensation that you are entitled to. In addition, our team will:
- Come to you to discuss how your injuries or your loved one’s death occurred, and who you believe is at fault.
- Consult medical professionals regarding your injuries and obtain documentation for use at trial or settlement negotiations.
- Collect all evidence of the accident and/or the circumstances that caused your injuries, including video, photographs, and police reports.
- Interview eyewitnesses, particularly those who can attest that the liable party contributed to your injuries in some way.
- Initiate legal proceedings and handle all legal responsibilities required to pursue compensation on your behalf.
- Handle all correspondence with the defendant’s legal team, including negotiation of any settlement they may offer.
- Ensure that your rights are protected from our initial meeting through the completion of a judgment or settlement.
A lawyer can shoulder the legal burden of pursuing the damages you require while you focus completely on your recovery.
Proving Fault in Your Personal Injury Case
One of the primary responsibilities of your Park Forest injury lawyer will be to prove in court that the defendant in your case somehow caused your losses. We will aim to do this through a four-step process that includes:
1.) Establishing that the defendant in your case owed you a duty of care
Whether your case involves a motor vehicle accident, a premises liability claim, or any other circumstance that warrants a personal injury claim, odds are that the defendant owed you a duty of care. Illinois state law mandates that nobody put others at an unreasonable level of risk. This is referred to as one’s duty of care.
2.) Showing that the defendant breached their duty of care to you
A breach of duty of care can take several different forms—a driver tailgating or a landlord who allows his building to fall into disrepair are two examples—and these dangerous acts often constitute a breach of the duty of care statute.
3.) Establishing that the breach caused your injuries
For example, if a motorist was speeding and therefore could not brake in time to avoid colliding with your car, we could show that the initial breach of care directly caused your injuries.
4.) Calculating and lobbying the court for damages
At this point, we will calculate the sum of the losses you have incurred because of the defendant’s negligent actions and ask that the court assign you damages to be paid by the defendant.
If your case is successful, you could be entitled to damages that compensate you for your losses.
Damages You May Be Awarded in a Personal Injury Claim
If a jury finds in your favor or you reach a settlement with the defendant, you may collect personal injury compensation for your losses. Each case is different, but damages awarded could cover:
- Emergency transportation for injuries sustained in the accident.
- The cost of any emergency medical care you required.
- The cost of your hospital stay in the wake of the accident.
- Any ongoing rehabilitation required because of your injuries and the cost of transportation to rehab appointments.
- The cost of any scans, tests, surgeries, or other procedures required because of the accident.
Beyond medical bills, you may incur indirect losses that you could be compensated for. These may include:
- Diminished earning capacity
- Lost wages
- Long-term disability
- Pain and suffering
It is important to reiterate that each case is different, and the damages you could be awarded will depend directly on the circumstances of your case and the evidence against the defendant.
Do Not Wait to Call a Park Forest Personal Injury Attorney
You must be mindful of the statute of limitations on personal injury claims in Illinois. Although there may be exceptions to the two-year window to bring legal action, it is important to call an accident lawyer and get your personal injury lawsuit started as soon as possible. The sooner you call, the sooner you may be able to collect any damages you may be owed.
Call our team today to discuss the specifics of your case and how we may be able to help. Our Park Forest personal injury lawyers want to hear from you regardless of the time that has passed since you or your loved one’s accident.
(312) 223-1700