Injuries can happen in countless ways. Many people injure themselves due to their own clumsiness or by simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Other injuries are entirely avoidable. When injuries result from another person’s careless or reckless actions, also known as negligence, monetary compensation could be available. A dedicated attorney could help you pursue that compensation.
If you are recovering from injuries caused by a negligent person, you have the right to hold them accountable with swift legal action. If your civil case is successful, you could obtain a monetary award that pays your medical bills and compensates you for your other damages. A discussion with a Cook County personal injury lawyer could help you understand the array of compensation you might be entitled to recover.
Any injury that results in measurable damages could lead to a personal injury claim if it occurred as the result of someone else’s negligence. While this is true of relatively minor injuries, most lawsuits involve serious conditions, including catastrophic harm that results from traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, or third-degree burns.
These injuries could happen under a variety of circumstances. The most common cause of a personal injury claim is a motor vehicle collision, including commercial truck crashes, bus collisions, and motorcycle accidents. These accidents are common and often produce the most severe injuries. Other common reasons for a personal injury lawsuit in Cook County include:
During an initial consultation, a personal injury lawyer in Cook County could review every aspect of an accident. This evaluation could inform the injured party on the compensation they might recover, as well as the potential defendants that could be held accountable.
There are two ways a Cook County attorney could resolve a personal injury case in a favorable way. The first option involves securing a monetary settlement with the responsible party or their insurance company. The second option is to take the case to trial and obtain a verdict.
Most personal injury claims never go to trial. It is common for these claims to settle; and in many cases, settlements can happen early in the process. Not every settlement offer is worth accepting, however. Insurance companies will aggressively attempt to resolve a claim for less than its full value, particularly when their adjuster knows the injured party has not yet hired an attorney. Insurance carriers will offer a settlement that might seem reasonable at first but will not cover the full amount of lifetime care that the injured party needs. A personal injury attorney could review an offer to ensure that it is fair, while pushing back on any bullying tactics from the insurance company.
Settlement is not an option with every injury case. When the two sides cannot agree, a plaintiff’s best option is to file a lawsuit and move forward with a trial. If successful, the court issues a judgment in their favor that can be collected on.
Severe physical injuries can turn your life upside down in an instant. The things you took for granted, like going to work or running errands, could quickly become impossible. If you are dealing with the repercussions of an injury caused by someone else’s negligence, you have the right to hold them accountable in a court of law. Call today to learn how a Cook County personal injury lawyer could help you regain your financial security.