No one expects to get injured, but it can turn your life upside down if tragedy strikes. Whether driving to Pelican Harbor or hurt while riding your bike, accidents can leave you physically and financially suffering. Under Illinois law, you’re entitled to compensation when someone’s negligence hurts you.
You can file an insurance claim on your own, but you have a better chance of a successful case by working with the Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. We’ll fight for an equitable outcome after reckless acts hurt you. We’re the Illinois personal injury lawyers ready to hear your case. We’ll fight for your compensation. We’ve helped clients recover millions.
Call (312) 236-2900 to schedule your free consultation.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Under Illinois law, you can pursue compensation from the at-fault party if their negligent or reckless behavior caused damages or injuries. Car accidents are a typical example of personal injury claims, but there are other accidents you can seek recovery for. A dog might have attacked you, or you could have slipped and injured yourself at the Fiesta Market.
Our personal injury attorneys with Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. can help with your:
- Car accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Dog bites
- Truck accidents
- Neck and back injuries
- Pedestrian accidents
- Rideshare accidents
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Motorcycle accidents
- Wrongful death
What Are Illinois’ Personal Injury Laws?
Under Illinois law, you could be entitled to a personal injury claim after someone harms you or your property. Several laws explain when you can file a claim and how much your claim is worth. Our Illinois personal injury lawyers will be able to discuss your Bolingbrook case details to help you calculate your possible compensation.
How Does Negligence Affect My Personal Injury Case?
To win your case and earn compensation, you must show that the at-fault party caused your injuries or damages through negligence. Your case relies on your lawyer’s ability to prove the liable party’s fault. Legally, negligence means someone was expected to uphold a duty of care, but if they didn’t, someone else got injured. Your attorney must prove the elements of a negligence case to win compensation.
The Elements of Negligence
There are four parts to every negligence claim. To win your claim, your lawyer must show that the other party:
- Had a duty to act carefully
- They breached that duty
- They contributed to the accident that hurt you
- Those injuries created losses
For context, drivers need to follow the rules of the road. If you’re driving on Church Street and someone drives against traffic and hits you head-on, you will probably have severe injuries and significant damage. The other driver should not have been moving against the flow of traffic on a one-way street, so they’re largely at fault for your losses.
Injuries Caused by Personal Injury Accidents
Although some accidents will cause similar injuries, your case will be unique to your kind of injury. You could have more than one injury, too. Each will need to be examined for your insurance claim.
Some examples of injuries include:
Compensation Available in Bolingbrook Personal Injury Claims
Settlements for personal injury claims differ based on each case. You can pursue non-economic and economic damages under Illinois personal injury law.
Your monetary losses, also known as economic damages, are out-of-pocket expenses. These are usually easier to calculate, especially with good record-keeping. You can pursue compensation for your past and future expenses. That includes your medical bills, lost wages, or property damage.
Non-economic losses can be challenging to determine because they are conceptual damages. They result from your monetary losses. You might seek damages for your mental anguish, post-traumatic stress disorder, or a loss of consortium after the accident.
What Factors Influence My Illinois Insurance Claim?
You need to keep anything that might reduce or eliminate your claim to compensation after an injury accident. Illinois has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. That means you have a two-year deadline to file a claim, starting from the day of your accident.
You could experience hurdles if the defendant argues you share fault for your accident. Your payout could be reduced based on the idea of comparative negligence. If the defendant proves your actions added to your injuries, any settlement will be reduced by the same proportion of blame.
So, if you were using your cell phone when the driver from the example above drove the wrong way, there might be an argument that you shared blame for the accident. They can show you weren’t paying attention while driving, and you should have reacted to their mistake.
They’ll say that you have some of the blame for any injuries or damages you received. If you won $500,000 in a settlement but the jury decided you were 10% at fault for the accident, you would receive $450,000. You can still pursue compensation if you share less than 50% of the blame. Beyond 50% shared fault, state law says you are not entitled to recover damages.
What Are My Next Steps After an Accident?
The aftermath of an accident can be stressful. In the moments after an injury accident, you should remember to take some crucial steps to ensure the best chance at securing compensation.
- Get medical treatment — you need a professional’s evaluation of your injuries. It’s critical for your health and supports your insurance claim. If you aren’t taken from the accident scene, schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
- Notify Your Insurance — you need to contact your insurer and the at-fault party’s insurer of your intent to file a claim. This will start the claims process.
- Contact an Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer — when you’ve been hurt in Bolingbrook, you need help from a seasoned personal injury lawyer. They can help with your needs and ensure you’re on the road to recovery.
How Can I Prove My Claim?
Even if your case seems clear-cut, you must prove that the at-fault party caused your damages or losses. You need evidence and a cohesive argument. You can start working on your case after the accident.
You can use police reports, incident reports, photos, videos, or expert testimony. Your attorneys can help uncover possible leads and find anything that might dispute your claim.
Do I Need an Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer?
It is possible to file a claim on your own after a Bolingbrook accident, like if you were hurt by a city crew in Community Park. You shouldn’t have to deal with the stress of fighting insurance companies alone.
You might not be able to return to work, and if you’ve been injured, you’ll just keep getting more bills. If your injuries are severe, you may be unable to return to your role from before the accident. An experienced attorney can help you build a case and search for every damage you can recover.
Not only will your attorney be able to work with the at-fault party’s insurer, but they will also use their knowledge of Illinois tort claims to ensure you’re fighting for the maximum compensation possible. They can search through your case, and help you establish your path to recovery. They can find the flimsy points in the defendant’s case, and they’ll handle negotiations for you. Your lawyer should care about your health and your case, seeing you as more than a payout.
Call Our Illinois Personal Injury Lawyers Now
If you’re hurt in Bolingbrook because of someone’s negligence, you deserve the representation you need to help you recover your damages. At Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., we know that accidents are traumatic, and the aftermath can be confusing, if not unnerving. We’re ready to fight for you to ensure your claim is heard and that you have all your legal bases covered.
Our seasoned personal injury lawyers have successfully recovered millions in compensation for our clients. We use a “no win, no fee,” policy, meaning you don’t pay if we don’t win your case. If you’ve been hurt in Bolingbrook, use our experience. Call (312) 236-2900 or complete our form for a free consultation.
