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How Do Illinois Rules of Evidence Affect Your Injury Case?

Evidence is at the heart of all personal injury claims in Illinois and just about all states in the country. Evidence is proof that something happened and that a person committed a negligent action or crime. In fact, it is not uncommon for evidence to carry the weight of the case, making it possible for an injured individual to have the court rule in their favor by the mere presence of evidence presented. However, in order for evidence to be admissible, it must be relevant to the claim or case at hand.

Are you looking for a best personal injury attorney in Illinois? If you were hurt in a car accident, slipped and fell at work, at a mall or at a business establishment, were attacked by a neighbor’s dog, or suffered injuries due to a defective product in the state, we’re here to help. Evidence must be preserved, so it’s your responsibility to act FAST: Call us TODAY at 1 (773) 825-3547 to help us secure your evidence so you can collect compensation for your injuries. The call is absolutely FREE, and there’s no obligation for us to take on your case if you don’t like our advice after your first phone call.

Illinois Rules of Evidence

The Illinois Supreme Court passed The Rules of Evidence statute which lay out in clear legal terms what is and is not considered evidence. It is important to state here before moving forward that witness testimonies can be used as evidence as long as they is relevant to the case. For instance, if you as the would-be plaintiff allege that you fell while walking across a parking lot to get to a mall’s entrance due to cracks in the pavement, you must present evidence that clearly shows the cracks, witness statements as well as anything else such as CCTV footage of the same. Someone else falling, for instance, inside the mall, at a different date, or someone else hearing about the woman that fell at the mall from their friend, will be considered as irrelevant evidence.

Rules of Evidence and Laying The Foundation

Next, just because you present a certain piece of evidence in your personal injury lawsuit to the court doesn’t mean that you’re home free and clear. Counsel representing you must also “lay the foundation”, which is an expression used to prove that the evidence is what it said to be. This can be done, for instance, by calling forward an expert on laying asphalt or concrete to prove that the parking lot pavement was in disrepair due to poor or no maintenance at the time of your trip and fall, or a witness who has knowledge of the accident that was present at the time of the event.

Best Injury Attorneys in Illinois – Call Us Today!

Evidence tampering and elimination is common in personal injury claims in Illinois as well as across the country. Business establishments, when faced with the prospect of paying out hundreds of thousands or even millions in damages will be tempted to do anything to tamper with evidence or “make it disappear” or even dig up evidence against your person to discredit your character which can negatively affect the outcome of your case. Because of this, you want to act FAST by contacting our best injury attorneys in Chicago at 1 (773) 825-3547 so we can get our personal investigators as well as have the courts issue summons and subpoenas in order to preserve said evidence in your Illinois injury claim. The call is FREE, and we don’t get paid until we collect compensation for you or your loved ones. Thanks, and we look forward to hearing from you.