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No one ever expects to be involved in a catastrophic accident, but when it happens, the results can be life-changing for everyone involved. If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury, a compassionate Oak Lawn catastrophic injury lawyer could help your family as you begin your road to recovery. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney today for a consultation.
A catastrophic injury typically involves a severe injury to an important organ or body part that potentially could have been fatal. Any serious injury to someone’s brain, spine, or skull may be considered a catastrophic injury. An injury that leads to the amputation of a body part could also be considered catastrophic.
There are many kinds of catastrophic injury accidents that occur in Oak Lawn. Of course, one of the most common types of accidents that causes catastrophic injuries is serious motor vehicle accidents. Other types of catastrophic accidents that occur in Oak Lawn include but are not limited to:
However severe a victim’s catastrophic injuries are, a skilled Oak Lawn catastrophic injury lawyer could help.
No matter what type of injury a person experiences, the losses and damages a family faces following a catastrophic injury are nearly always staggering. Medical bills can be all-consuming for families of catastrophic injury victims since even the best insurance plans do not always cover services fully. A mere fraction of a medical bill for a complicated surgery or stay in an intensive care unit is often too much for a family to handle on their own.
In addition, after a person is released from the hospital, they are likely to need long-term care in one way or another whether that means at home nursing care, moving to a rehabilitation facility, undergoing physical therapy, or attending psychological therapy to cope with the life changes and post-traumatic stress brought on by a catastrophic injury.
When a person is injured in an accident due to the reckless actions of another, they could hold the responsible party accountable in court. In many situations, there may be more than one party who could bear responsibility for the injured claimant’s damages.
The most obvious defendant is the party directly responsible for the injury. These can include drivers of cars, violent criminals, and negligent medical practitioners. However, it may also benefit people to evaluate whether third-parties may also share liability. For example, employers are responsible for the actions of their employees while they are on the clock. It may also be possible to hold a property owner liable for criminal acts that occur on their land if they did not provide proper lighting or security. An experienced Oak Lawn catastrophic injury attorney could help to identify all liable parties and to pursue them for fair compensation.
Illinois operates under the so-called modified comparative negligence law. This means that victims who are found to have contributed to their own injuries may have their damage recovery amount reduced by the portion of fault they contributed to their own accident. If the victim is more than 50 percent responsible, they could be barred altogether.
An experienced Oak Lawn catastrophic injury attorney in Illinois could work with individuals to combat any accusations of comparative fault by the responsible party’s defense team.
Following an accident, if the injured party wishes to hold the negligent party accountable in court, they must abide by the statute of limitations. Under 735 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/13-202, the statute of limitations in most catastrophic injury cases is two years. However, there may be exceptions to the deadline. For example, the deadline may be extended or reduced if the defendant is a government entity, if the injury was the result of medical malpractice or an intentional act of violence. A catastrophic injury attorney in Oak Lawn could help to ensure compliance with the State’s statute of limitations.
No matter the circumstances that led to your catastrophic injury, or if you are concerned that you may have contributed a large portion of the fault in causing the accident that led to your catastrophic injuries, a dedicated Oak Lawn catastrophic injury lawyer could help you decide how best to proceed with a personal injury claim. Reach out to a seasoned and dedicated attorney today to learn how a legal professional could help you recover damages following your accident.
By: Imelda B
Title: Kind and compassionate
Everyone at the office from the intake who answers the phone and all the attorneys, especially Ray, my attorney, are so kind and compassionate! I am so grateful that he is representing me and taking care of this nightmare!