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A catastrophic injury can instantly change your life forever. A catastrophic injury involves severe injury to the brain, spine, spinal cord, as well as serious burns. Additionally, an injury could be classified as catastrophic if it prevents an individual from performing any gainful work.
If you or a loved one has been severely injured as the result of someone else’s negligence, a Riverdale catastrophic injury lawyer could help you seek compensation for damages. Get in touch with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible to see how they can help you.
There are many injuries that could be classified as catastrophic including:
The most common causes of severe injuries include motor vehicle collisions, medical malpractice, construction accidents, recreational accidents, as well as slip and falls.
In order to recover damages following a catastrophic injury, one must establish that a person was injured due to the actions of another person or entity. Most often, catastrophic injury court cases involve proving that the other involved party was somehow negligent. One must establish that the wrongdoer had a duty of care towards the plaintiff, that the duty was breached, that the breach caused harm, and that the claimant incurred damages as a result of that breach of duty.
A knowledgeable catastrophic injury attorney in Riverdale could investigate the cause of the accident and collect evidence to help prove the defendant’s negligence.
According to Illinois Statutes, Chapter 735, Section 5/2-1116, the state operates under the modified comparative negligence rules. If a court determines that the injured party was partially responsible for the accident, then their damages may be reduced in proportion to their degree of fault. If a court determines that the claimant was more than 50 percent responsible for the accident, they may be ineligible to recover compensation for damages. A skilled Riverdale catastrophic injury lawyer can help explain how this law works.
In order to recover compensation for damages, the injured claimant must abide by the state’s statute of limitations. According to Illinois Statutes Chapter 735, Section 5/13-202, the injured party must file their personal injury lawsuit within two years of the date of the injury. If the claim is filed after the deadline, the injured claimant may be unable to recover compensation for damages.
A person with a catastrophic injury can recover economic damages to compensate them for their actual injuries and to pay for medical costs, temporary and permanent care, medical treatments, and lost present and future wages. An injured person could also recover non-economic damages to compensate for their pain and suffering. Finally, an injured person may be entitled to punitive damages if a court determines that intentional or extremely negligent acts caused the injury.
Immediately following an accident, it is best to seek help from an experienced Riverdale catastrophic injury lawyer. A skilled attorney could help you seek compensation for damages. Call today to schedule a consultation.