Park Ridge

 

Injuries may result from a number of different types of accidents, including car crashes, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, slip and falls, boating accidents, the use of faulty products, and workplace accidents.

 

 

Most personal injury lawsuits are rooted in the theory of negligence. Negligence occurs when a person causes an injury or death by failing to exercise reasonable care in their actions. Reasonable care is defined as how a prudent person would act in the same or a similar situation. In order to establish negligence, the plaintiff must show that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty to use reasonable care, the defendant breached this duty, the defendant’s breach was a direct cause of the plaintiff’s resulting harm, and the plaintiff sustained damages. Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence doctrine, under which fault is relatively apportioned to each party involved. This means that if a plaintiff was 20 percent at fault for the accident, their total award will be reduced by 20 percent. However, if a plaintiff was 50 percent or more to blame for the accident, they will be barred from recovering anything at all.

 

If negligence is established, a plaintiff may be able to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are intended to compensate the injured party and typically include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, property damage, and lost wages. Non-economic damages are awarded for non-pecuniary losses, such as scarring, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and disability. The exact amount of damages that a plaintiff will be entitled to receive will depend on the specific circumstances of the case.

 

If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of someone else, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party. Under Illinois law, a wrongful death takes place when a person dies due to the wrongful act or neglect of another person. The Illinois Wrongful Death Act allows certain surviving family members of victims to pursue financial compensation through a civil lawsuit.

 

 

If you have been injured or become ill on the job, you may be able to receive benefits through workers’ compensation. If the injury or illness occurred on the job, there is a high likelihood that it will be covered by this system. Workers’ compensation benefits generally cover medical bills, lost wages, and disability. The one exception to this in Illinois is if you were intoxicated while at work. Typically, an injured worker will file a workers’ compensation claim through their employer and then fill out a formal claim. Workers’ compensation claims are not always as straightforward as they seem, however, which is why consulting an attorney may be vital.

 

 

If you or your loved one has been injured in an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, we can help. At Therman Law Offices, our Park Ridge personal injury attorneys understand how to navigate through these types of claims and advocate for our clients in each phase of the process. We also are ready to assist injured employees who are seeking a workers’ compensation lawyer to help them pursue benefits. To set up a free consultation to discuss your legal matter in more detail, call us at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.