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Paralysis is a significant injury that could change your entire way of life, including how you eat, move, sleep and more. In addition, any degree of paralysis injury could cause you to need life-long—and typically expensive—medical care.
If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury due to the negligence of another person, a Dolton paralysis injury lawyer could work on your behalf to hold them liable in court. A knowledgeable catastrophic injury attorney could investigate the circumstances of the incident that paralyzed you, gather evidence of negligence, and argue your case in private settlement negotiation or in front of a civil court.
In a legal context, “damages” represent the losses or inconveniences a civil plaintiff may have suffered following an accident. In order for them to recover compensation for damages, the plaintiff’s attorney would need to prove that the defendant breached their duty of care to the plaintiff and that the breach of care is the direct cause of the plaintiff’s injuries. In a paralysis case, this often includes spinal cord damage.
There are two main types of damages that a skilled Dolton paralysis attorney may be able to recover for on behalf of an injured plaintiff. Economic damages have a specific monetary value and typically include lost wages, hospital bills, nursing care, prescriptions, medical equipment such as home modification and wheelchairs, and surgery costs.
Non-economic damages do not have a clear monetary value and address more subjective losses such as:
In certain cases, a burn injury victim may also be eligible to recoup punitive damages. According to 735 Illinois Compiled Statutes §5/2-1207, punitive damages are used only in cases in which the defendant caused the plaintiff’s injuries and damages intentionally or recklessly. These damages are meant expressly as a punishment for past behavior and a deterrent for future reckless behavior by both the defendant and others.
Some states set a limit to the amount of certain types of compensation a civil plaintiff may be able to recover from the defendant. However, a 2010 Illinois Supreme Court decision found damage caps to be unconstitutional.
As such, there are no economic or non-economic caps on paralysis claims in the State of Illinois. A skilled paralysis injury lawyer in Dolton could determine what type of damages an injured individual may be eligible to recover and help them pursue full compensation for those damages in court.
Paralysis injuries often take away the freedom and privacy that every individual enjoys due to the life-long medical care victims must receive. There is no price tag for this freedom, and unfortunately, no sum of money that could restore the victim to their previously healthy and independent state.
However, a compassionate Dolton paralysis injury lawyer could work to help you recover compensation for medical care and other expenses you may incur as a result of someone else’s careless or reckless behavior. Whether your injury happened due to a car accident, a fall, or even a medical error, speak to a seasoned attorney today to get started on your case.