Personal Injury Lawyer Chicago, IL
Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers in Chicago, IL, specializes in providing legal representation to individuals who have been injured or harmed due to the negligence or misconduct of others. Our practice areas include but are not limited to car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases.
At Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that an injury can take on a person and their loved ones. That is why we are committed to fighting for the rights of our clients and securing the compensation they deserve. We are dedicated to providing personalized attention and guidance throughout the legal process to ensure our clients receive the best possible outcome.
Also known as tort law, personal injury law exists to protect you or your property in case someone else’s act or failure to act causes injury or harm. A personal injury lawyer can help you receive compensation for the loss or suffering you have experienced.
Personal injury cases can range depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident. They may be accidents or mistakes, such as slipping on a wet floor where there is no sign. But they may be deliberate as well, like a robbery or mugging. If you or someone you know has suffered an injury or loss, do not hesitate to contact our team for a free consultation. If you need help figuring out if you have a case, contact Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers, where the best personal injury lawyers in Chicago, Illinois are ready to help.
Table Of Contents:
- MOST COMMON TYPES OF PERSONAL INJURY CASES
- CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY LAW STATISTICS
- CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY LAW INFOGRAPHIC
- TYPES OF PERSONAL INJURY DAMAGES AVAILABLE
- HOW CAN A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER HELP
- COST OF A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER IN CHICAGO, IL
- WHEN TO HIRE A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER
- CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY LAW FAQS
- DISPARTI LAW GROUP CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER
Chicago Personal Injury Laws
If you have suffered injuries in an accident, talk to a Chicago personal injury lawyer. When it comes to personal injury laws, Chicago, Illinois has a robust legal framework that protects the rights of individuals who have been injured due to the negligence or intentional actions of others. Understanding these laws is crucial for anyone who has suffered a personal injury in the Windy City.
Statute Of Limitations
One of the most critical aspects of personal injury law in Chicago is the statute of limitations. In Illinois, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is typically two years from the date of the injury. This means that if you’ve been injured, you have two years to file a lawsuit to seek compensation.
Comparative Negligence
Chicago follows a comparative negligence system. This means that if you are partially at fault for your injury, your compensation may be reduced proportionally. For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault for an accident, your compensation will be reduced by 20%. However, if you are found to be more than 50% at fault, you may not be eligible for any compensation.
Strict Liability
In some cases, strict liability may apply. This is often the case in product liability and dog bite cases. In these situations, the injured party does not need to prove negligence. Instead, the focus is on whether the product was defective or whether the dog’s owner was in control of the animal at the time of the attack. As a Chicago personal injury lawyer can confirm, strict liability simplifies the legal process for the injured party.
Caps On Damages
Illinois has imposed caps on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. The cap for non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases is $500,000 against healthcare providers and $1,000,000 against hospitals. However, there are no caps on non-economic damages in other personal injury cases.
Evidence And Legal Process
To succeed in a personal injury claim, you must provide evidence that the other party was negligent and that their negligence caused your injuries. This evidence may include medical records, accident reports, witness statements, and expert testimony. Personal injury cases often involve negotiation with insurance companies or litigation in court, depending on the circumstances.
If you have been hurt in an accident, schedule a consultation with a Chicago personal injury lawyer. At Disparti Law Group, we want to help you get the justice you deserve.
Most Common Types of Personal Injury Cases
Here’s a closer look at some of the most common types of personal injury cases.
Dog Bite Injuries
Dogs are often lovingly called “man’s best friend”. While this is true in most situations, dogs are still animals and may engage in aggressive behaviors such as biting. Dog bite injuries are one of the most common types of personal injury accidents to occur.
A dog may attack for several reasons. Perhaps they are of a more aggressive breed or feel threatened and want to protect their owner. Whatever the case may be, if you or someone you care about has been injured by a dog, you need to contact a personal injury attorney to see what kind of compensation you may be entitled to.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slips and falls are incredibly common injuries, as they can happen anywhere. But when does an injury become the fault of the property owner or occupant according to personal injury law? If you’ve experienced a slip or fall where reasonable care was not used to prevent such an accident, you may be entitled to compensation.
The most common causes for these injuries are wet or icy surfaces, a defective staircase, uneven ground, or other hazardous conditions. If the property owner or occupant is found to be negligent, you may have a personal injury claim.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is one of the more traumatic types of personal injuries, as you expect to be able to trust your medical professional. You may need to have all your past, present, and future medical bills taken care of by the at-fault party. You may also be entitled to damages for pain and suffering or loss of consortium due to the injuries you sustained.
Examples of a medical malpractice lawsuit may involve hernia mesh or surgical stapling procedures in which the surgeon was negligent resulting in injury or harm.
Car Accidents
Many people, even in Chicago, still drive or ride in cars fairly regularly. As such, car and other vehicle accidents are common types of personal injury cases. Car accidents can range from very mild to severe.
Many different damages can be collected in car accident cases. It is always important to have a lawyer on your side, rather than just accepting the first settlement you are offered. Insurance agents are notorious for offering small settlement amounts to try to make the problem go away.
Other personal injury claims related to or involving car accidents include:
Product Liability
If a person purchases an item that is meant to work one way and then ends up injuring the consumer, they may have a product liability case. It is important to determine whether the item was being used properly and if this has happened to others.
Take, for example, the case in which defective 3M earplugs were issued to active-duty military members and veterans, causing some to suffer hearing loss and tinnitus. Or you may have heard of the personal injury claims against some brands of hair relaxers that have been linked to certain types of cancers.
If you or someone you know has experienced harm or injury due to a defective or hazardous product, one of the many personal injury lawyers at Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers will be happy to look over your case to determine if it is worth pursuing.
Wrongful Death
One of the hardest parts of personal injury law is dealing with wrongful death cases. This is difficult because those who are seeking compensation are also trying to grieve the loss of a loved one.
Even if it feels impossible to even begin thinking about seeking compensation, keep in mind that your lawyer needs to have time to collect evidence, file paperwork, and ensure that you do not miss the statute of limitations for filing. An experienced personal injury lawyer will understand the sensitivity of the situation and will never push you past your limits while still working hard to make your case.
Chicago Personal Injury Law Statistics
According to the National Floor Safety Institute, slips and falls are the #1 cause of occupational injury in those aged 55+ and the #1 cause of workers’ comp claims. Slip and fall accident cases are one type of personal injury. These are accidents involving someone slipping, tripping, or falling on someone else’s property.
This can happen due to unsafe or hazardous conditions, like a wet floor or uneven pavement on a sidewalk. The injuries resulting from these accidents can be severe and include head injuries, broken bones, and even spinal cord damage.
If you’ve been injured in a slip-and-fall accident, you may be able to pursue a legal case against the owner of the property to recover damages. You might be able to be reimbursed for things like lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. It’s important to seek legal advice in these cases, reach out to our experienced personal injury lawyers today.
Chicago Personal Injury Law Infographic
Types Of Personal Injury Damages Available
Personal injury lawsuits are complex, involving various categories of damages awarded to compensate the victim. These damages are broadly classified into three categories: economic, non-economic, and punitive damages, each addressing different aspects of the victim’s loss and suffering.
Economic Damages: These are tangible, quantifiable financial losses incurred by the victim. Common examples include:
- Lost Wages: Compensation for income lost due to the injury, encompassing both current and future earnings impacted by the injury.
- Medical Expenses: Costs for medical treatment, both immediate and long-term, including surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and any ongoing medical care.
- Out-of-Pocket Costs: Expenses such as rent, groceries, and transportation that the victim has had to bear because of the injury.
- Legal Fees: Costs incurred for legal representation in the lawsuit.
- Property Damage: Compensation for any damage to the victim’s property as a result of the incident leading to the injury.
Non-Economic Damages
These damages are less tangible and more subjective, reflecting the personal and emotional impact of the injury on the victim’s life. They include:
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and discomfort experienced due to the injury.
- Emotional Distress: This covers mental anguish, including conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.
- Disfigurement: Compensation for any permanent physical changes to the victim’s appearance, such as scars or loss of limbs.
- Impairment: Compensation for loss of bodily functions, such as sight, hearing, or mobility.
- Quality of Life: Compensation for the deterioration in the victim’s quality of life, including challenges in maintaining relationships, employment difficulties, and loss of reputation.
The amount of compensation awarded in a personal injury case depends on factors such as the severity of the injury, circumstances leading to the injury, and its long-term effects on the victim’s life. An experienced personal injury lawyer can be instrumental in navigating these complexities and ensuring fair compensation for the victim’s suffering
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are awarded in very unique cases. In personal injury law, punitive damages are meant to punish the at-fault party when they are more than negligent and intentionally or knowingly cause harm. These cases can often fall under the purview of a mass tort, a civil lawsuit that involves many personal injury victims seeking compensation from the same defendant.
Mass tort cases may involve:
- defective drugs.
- plane, boat, train, or bus crashes.
- fraudulent business practices that stole from innocent people or customers.
- environmental disasters caused by the negligence of a business or company.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help?
There are many ways that your attorney will be able to assist you with your case. For starters, they can help you gather the necessary evidence you will need and can ensure that your claim is filed properly. Most importantly, they will fight on your behalf to ensure that you receive the proper justice and fair compensation you deserve.
They will often ask questions concerning how the injury happened, why it happened, who was involved, the amount of damage that was done, and whether the physical or mental suffering from the individual has been greater. This aids in refining the case and narrowing it down.
Cost of a Personal Injury Lawyer in Chicago, IL
Some people might be reluctant to contact personal injury lawyers due to costs. However, when it comes to personal injury cases, a lawyer will work off a contingency fee. This means is that instead of being paid hourly and/or with a retainer fee, your personal injury attorney will instead be awarded a percentage of the final settlement or court award.
The advantage of having a contingency fee means you will not have to pay any upfront costs. At Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers, we win or it’s free. A good place to start is to set up your free case review today.
When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
It is crucial to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as you are injured so that you do not miss the statute of limitations for filing personal injury claims in Chicago, IL. Personal injury cases are usually complex, so if you attempt to handle your case alone, you likely will not get as large of a settlement compared to someone who hires a lawyer. You also may need to have someone go to the scene of the accident while it is still fresh to collect evidence.
Personal injury lawyers offer constant legal advice and guidance throughout the duration of your case. Your lawyer may also know the judge presiding over your case and will be familiar with their track record and what they may find reasonable. Finally, personal injury lawyers can speak to other parties on your behalf, saving you time and energy so you can heal and recover from your incident.
Considering most personal injury lawyers work on contingency fees, it’s virtually risk-free to hire someone. Do not delay in reaching out to a Chicago personal injury lawyer.
Chicago Personal Injury Law FAQs
WHY CONTACT A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER FROM DISPARTI LAW GROUP?
According to the Trial Lawyer Magazine, Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers in Chicago, IL is “one of the most influential law firms in America.” With one of our personal injury lawyers at your side, you can rest easy knowing that they can work on all of the tasks of your case, such as collecting evidence, building your case, preparing your argument, and everything else related to the claims process.
Larry wins or it’s free. An initial consultation is also free, which means that it absolutely cannot hurt to contact someone. This way, you can have a professional look at the details that surround your case and determine whether it is worth pursuing. Your lawyer will also be able to come up with the correct amount in compensation to seek from the at-fault party.
WHAT COMPENSATION CAN I BE ENTITLED TO?
If you decide to file a claim with the help of a personal injury lawyer, you may be able to claim various types of damages. The damages you can claim are economic damages and non-economic damages, but in special cases, you can even be awarded punitive damages. You may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, medical bills, property damage, and more.
CAN I RECOVER COMPENSATION IF I DIDN’T SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION?
Many clients who meet with a lawyer that practices personal injury ask if it is still possible to recover compensation if they did not immediately seek medical attention following their accident. While it makes your case much more complicated, it is still possible to obtain compensation. However, do not expect your amount to be high.
You may be eligible to receive a portion of the compensation you would otherwise be entitled to. The insurance company may be skeptical of your claim, so they might use your lack of immediate action as an excuse to give you a lower amount of no compensation at all.
WHAT TO DO IF I’M OFFERED A SETTLEMENT?
When the insurance company offers you a settlement on your case it may seem like a time to celebrate. However, you should always scrutinize their offer. While an offer may sound attractive on paper, there is a good chance that it will not cover all your necessary costs and expenses–present and future.
Unfortunately, sometimes insurance companies will try to undercut a victim upon the first offer. Consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney will help you determine if their offer is realistic. If it isn’t, your lawyer will be able to help negotiate a better offer.
WILL MY CASE GO TO TRIAL?
Another question that clients ask personal injury attorneys is whether their case will need to go to trial. The majority of personal injury cases do not go to trial. They are mostly settled out of court because both parties can reach a satisfactory agreement.
If your case needs to go to trial, it will usually be because the insurance company does not want to cooperate, or they are not responsive. A highly qualified and skilled personal injury lawyer based in Chicago, IL like one from Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers will determine a specific defense strategy if your case does need to go to trial.
Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer
Contact Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers Personal Injury Lawyers Today
It never hurts to contact a personal injury lawyer about your case. Not only can your lawyer help you get much more compensation, but it is typically completely risk-free to hire someone, as personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that your lawyer will get a previously agreed-upon percentage of your winnings. An initial consultation is also free, which means that it absolutely cannot hurt to contact someone.
This way, you can have a professional look at the details that surround your case and determine whether it is worth pursuing. Your lawyer will also be able to come up with the correct amount to seek compensation. This can be difficult, as you want to make sure that you get all of the compensation you deserve. This includes any medical costs that you have already paid, any property damage that occurred, as well as the future bills that you may need to pay.
Your lawyer will also likely know the judge presiding over your case and will be familiar with their track record and what they may find reasonable. Your lawyer can also speak to other parties on your behalf, which means that there could be a potential of settling outside of court. Reach out to a lawyer from Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers today to learn more.
It is crucial to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as you are injured so that you do not miss the statute of limitations for filing in your state. You also may need to have someone go to the scene of the accident while it is still fresh to collect evidence. Do not hesitate to reach out to a lawyer to set up a consultation right away. Your lawyer will be on your side and help you best prepare for collecting the compensation you deserve.