When someone is injured in an accident that wasn’t their fault, it can completely change the course of their life. They may need to take time off of work in order to recover. In extreme cases, the victim might not be able to return to work. There are also all of the medical bills to contend with that add to the financial distress. If you need assistance in seeking compensation for your losses after an injury accident, a Joliet personal injury lawyer in our law office can help.
Whether you’re filing a claim with an insurance company or filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party, the process can be complex, which is why it’s important to have a personal injury attorney guide you through the process each step of the way. At Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP, we’re more than happy to take the lead with the settlement negotiations so you can focus on healing instead of worrying about how to proceed in a legal case.
If you want to better understand if you have a claim worth pursuing, legal remedies available to you, and more about the compensation you may be eligible to receive, reach out to our Joliet injury law firm to schedule an initial consultation with one of our attorneys. We’re ready to help.
Understanding What Qualifies as a Personal Injuries in Illinois
Personal injury cases fall under civil tort law. The term “tort” refers to a wrongful act that causes harm. Generally, the responsibility falls on a plaintiff to prove negligence occurred.
In Illinois, negligence is described as a situation where someone owes another person a duty of care but breaches that responsibility that they owe another individual. Illinois law allows victims to hold at-fault or liable parties liable for their injuries in situations where they’re able to show that they violated the duty of care they owed another individual.
Thus, if someone else has caused you harm, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Be sure to get in contact with our law firm to discuss your injury incident in Joliet and see if you have a valid reason to pursue legal action under Illinois law.
Injury Cases We Handle
Some of the most common personal injury cases we handle include the following:
Car Crashes and Truck Wrecks
Auto accidents happen on a daily basis in Will and Kendall Counties. Data from the Illinois Department of Transportation shows that there were 298,347 crashes across the state in 2022. Of that number, 20% involved injuries
Serious car accidents, especially those that happen at high speeds or involve multiple vehicles, or truck-involved crashes, can lead to extensive property damage and injuries. Most motor vehicle collisions result from human error and reckless driving—which is why many wreck victims have the right to file a personal injury claim.
Nursing Home Abuse
Abusive treatment in nursing homes is far more widespread than many people realize. Unfortunately, even staff at well-reviewed facilities abuse or neglect residents. The Illinois Department of Public Health publishes quarterly reports on nursing home violations.
If you have a loved one in a long-term care facility and you believe they are being harmed by staff members or other residents, a personal injury attorney can not only help point you in the right direction of safety but also assist you in determining if there are grounds for a claim.
Medical Malpractice
Long-term care facilities are not the only places where negligence takes place. Any doctor, nurse, or other health care professional can deviate from the standard of care they owe their patients and seriously harm them. Oftentimes, medical malpractice occurs when patients are being diagnosed, administered medications, during childbirth, or while being placed under general anesthesia, or being operated on.
Workers’ Compensation
If you’ve been injured on the job, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Filing a claim could be a challenge. One minor misstep with the documentation can result in a denial. An experienced Joliet personal injury lawyer can not only assist you in filing a claim but also help you gather the necessary evidence to pursue an appeal if there’s a denial. As with any case, our injury lawyers can evaluate your situation and ensure you receive the maximum award you’re entitled to.
Wrongful Death
If you’ve lost a loved one due to someone’s negligence, your family could file a wrongful death claim. We understand how challenging it can be to lose a loved one under any circumstances, but the unexpected loss of a family member has the potential to result in serious financial problems as well. Filing a wrongful death claim in Will County has the potential to secure your financial future so you can focus on supporting your family without worrying about debt and unexpected bills.
No matter whether you or your close family member suffered injuries or, unfortunately, lost their life in one of the ways described above or another one, be sure to get in touch with a personal injury lawyer in our Joliet office. We’ll discuss what happened and what rights our state’s laws bestow upon you under those specific circumstances. Your initial meeting with an injury attorney in our office is free, so be sure to reach out for help now.
What To Know About Personal Injury Laws in Illinois
Personal injury laws vary by state, so it’s important to understand the rights and obligations that apply to your claim. Any attorney you work with here at Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP will have a comprehensive understanding of the laws and will be sure to explain them to you in a way that makes sense.
For starters, you’ll want to ensure you file your claim within the existing statute of limitations, which refers to how long a plaintiff has to take legal action following an accident that results in injuries or death. In Illinois, personal injury claims are subject to a two-year time limit. That filing deadline starts on the day of the accident. If you file within the two-year period, the “clock” stops, and you can take your time to pursue the case with the support of the attorney.
It’s also important to note that Illinois is a comparative negligence state. This means that a plaintiff’s compensation can be reduced by the percentage of the fault. In the event the plaintiff is found to be over 50% at fault, they will be unable to recover any amount of compensation for their losses.
If you’re overwhelmed with trying to understand how Illinois’ personal injury laws apply to your claim, reach out to one of our attorneys. We can help explain the laws and provide you with guidance to decide the best course of action to seek fair compensation for your losses.
Understanding Your Eligibility for Compensation in a Will or Kendall County Injury Case
Depending on your accident, you could be eligible for different types of compensation, including economic, noneconomic damages, and, in rare instances, punitive damages. To calculate the value of your claim, your Joilet personal injury lawyer will add up all calculable damages, place a value on any subjective suffering, and determine if gross negligence occurred.
Understanding What Economic Damages Are
Economic damages are measurable because they stem from actual financial losses. Some examples of these easily quantifiable losses include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Loss of earning capacity
Making Sense of What Noneconomic Damages Are
Noneconomic damages are harder to calculate because they are based on losses like the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
What Punitive Damages Are
Punitive damages are different in that they are not intended to compensate the accident victim for their out-of-pocket expenses associated with their personal injury incident in Joliet. Instead, they are used to punish the negligent party and discourage others from committing similar acts in the future.
Punitive damages do not apply to the majority of personal injury claims, but your attorney will explain what will happen if they apply to yours.
While some states impose damage caps that limit how much any one person can recover—especially for noneconomic damages, Illinois isn’t one of them. In fact, there are no damage caps in most situations—as the Illinois Supreme Court previously deemed limiters on how much victims can recover in situations like this unconstitutional.
How a Joliet Personal Injury Lawyer Helps Hurt Individuals Like You
Our area has its fair share of exciting activities to engage so there’s always something to do. While there are a lot of positives associated with this, it comes with downsides, too. Our city isn’t immune to injury accidents.
While not every injury incident is an example of negligence or intentional harm which may allow you to take legal action, many are. Thus, if you live in Joliet and have been harmed or if you’ve been involved in an incident in the city where you sustained injuries, you may have a personal injury case.
Sustaining injuries in an accident that wasn’t your fault can be hard to cope with. Fortunately, a Joliet personal injury lawyer can evaluate your situation, determine if there are grounds for filing a claim, and, if so, help you pursue compensation for your losses.
Because every personal injury claim situation is different, some claims take longer to settle than others. There’s also the possibility of needing to file a lawsuit in the event reaching a fair settlement isn’t a possibility.
To maximize your chances of receiving full compensation, contact us at Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP as soon as possible after your accident. We will provide you with a no-obligation, free initial consultation to discuss your potential case with one of our injury attorneys.
If we take on your case, we’ll provide you with the legal guidance and representation you need to move past your accident and get your life back in order.
