Lake County Personal Injury Lawyer

A personal injury can be costly, painful, and frustrating. When someone else was the cause of the injury, you could recover some financial compensation for medical costs, lost income, and other losses. A Lake County personal injury lawyer is an essential ally to achieve a successful claim and maximize the compensation you receive in a settlement.

After an injury, it is important that you rest and let your body recover. It can be hard to do this with monthly financial requirements, costly hospital transportation, surgery, and prescriptions, all while also losing income. A personal injury claim can limit this financial distress, letting you take the time you need to heal. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get the necessary settlement on your own. You need to find an attorney who understands personal injury cases like yours.

Connolly Injury Law: Representing Personal Injury Victims

For many personal injury claims, you file them with an insurance provider. These companies have significant resources, and their only goal is to protect their bottom line. Insurance companies do not discuss these claims with injured parties the same way they do with attorneys. Attorneys are able to deal with insurance tactics head-on and get you the compensation you deserve.

At Connolly Injury Law, we have worked in personal injury for nearly 15 years. We understand how much these claims are worth and how to negotiate to get that fair settlement. Although we work off our significant experience, we remain aware that every case is unique. We use our resources to investigate accidents, value claims, and fight for your interests. Our team works with you to understand your needs and unique situation.

What Is Required to Prove Liability in Personal Injury Claims?

A personal injury claim can be filed against someone, even if they did not intend to cause you harm. Most claims are filed under the theory of negligence, although some are based on intentional misconduct or malice. To prove that someone is liable for your damages, you must demonstrate the following:

1. The party owed you a duty of care to behave reasonably.
2. The party breached this duty of care through negligence or intentional misconduct.
3. This breach of duty was the direct cause of the accident, incident, or injury.
4. You sustained recognizable and compensable damages as a result.

You must prove all these elements to hold the party liable.

Damages Available in a Personal Injury Claim

Once you prove a party to be the at-fault party, you are entitled to compensation for all the damages you sustained in the accident. These include:

• Past and expected medical costs
• Lost income
• Lost earning potential
• Property damages
• Noneconomic damages, including pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life

In rare cases, a personal injury claim can also recover punitive damages. These are applicable if the at-fault party’s conduct is determined to be malicious or shows reckless indifference to human life and safety.

Common Personal Injury Claims We Manage

Because of the variety of causes and types of personal injuries, you need to find an attorney with skill and experience in cases like yours. Different types of accidents require different investigation methods, and different types of injuries have different medical complications in later years. An attorney with experience understands these differences and can more effectively represent your claim.

At Connolly Injury Law, our team has worked on many personal injury claims. These include, but are not limited to:

Auto Accidents

An auto accident is one of the most common forms of personal injury. When you are in a car accident, you file a car insurance claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. If the driver has no insurance or not enough to cover your damages, you may need to file with your own insurance provider or file a civil personal injury claim. An attorney can help you review your options and how you can obtain the highest settlement.

Motorcycle Accidents

When motorcyclists are involved in collisions, they often suffer severe injuries due to the lack of impact protection on motorcycles. When a motorcyclist is injured or killed in an accident, a personal injury or wrongful death claim can hold the at-fault party liable.

Nursing Home Abuse

The staff at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are entrusted with the safety and care of the residents. When staff fail to uphold this duty, they can be held liable. Staff may be negligent when caring for residents, or they may be abusing them. Residents or their family members can file a claim against the responsible parties.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice cases are hard to investigate and prove, and it is important that you work with an attorney with experience in this field. Medical negligence and malpractice occur when a provider fails to act with a professional standard of care for their patients. This can cause severe injuries due to surgical mistakes, medication errors, or lack of diagnoses.

Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians are often severely and catastrophically injured when they are involved in motor vehicle accidents. When the accident is caused by a driver or third-party negligence, an injured party can file a claim.

Scooter Accidents

Scooter accident claims can be complicated and due to the lack of regulation, accidents are unfortunately frequent. You need an attorney with a legal understanding of personal transportation, vehicle, and pedestrian laws and regulations and how they interact.

Serious Injuries

Serious injuries are those that have a long-term physical, emotional, and psychological impact on your life. These claims have exceptionally high settlements, and it’s essential that your attorney understands how to calculate long-term treatment and care for these injuries.

Premises Liability and Slip and Fall Accidents

Property owners are responsible for addressing hazards on their premises in a reasonable amount of time. If they do not, and someone is injured, the owner is liable for those injuries. If you were injured on public or private premises due to a hazard, you may be able to file a claim.

Truck Accidents

Truck accidents are complicated for several reasons. Due to the size, weight, and speed of commercial vehicles, they often cause significantly more damage. This results in serious injuries and often fatalities. They are also complicated because there are many more parties who could be at fault, including several third-party companies.

Rideshare Accidents

These include accidents involving Uber and Lyft vehicles. Rideshare accidents may operate like a standard motor vehicle collision, or injured parties may file with the insurance provider of the rideshare company. It’s important to find an attorney who understands rideshare accidents.

Wrongful Death

In some cases, individuals involved in accidents or other injuries caused by negligence do not survive their injuries. If that happens, their surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim. This will never replace what a family lost, but it can hold the at-fault party accountable and provide a family with some financial stability.

FAQs

Q: How Do You Find the Right Personal Injury Attorney in Illinois?

A: When looking for a personal injury attorney, there are several things you want to consider, including:

1. Their experience in personal injury law
2. Their experience regarding your unique accident or injury
3. Their professional reputation
4. Their willingness to take a negotiation to trial if negotiations are not in your favor
5. What reviews online and from past clients say about their abilities and success
6. Their fees and pricing for personal injury cases
7. If they are communicative and responsive
8. Whether you feel comfortable in a consultation, our first meeting
9. If you feel that you can trust them with your case

Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Cases?

A: The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Illinois is typically two years from the date the injury was sustained. There are some exceptions under the discovery rule that extend this statute of limitations, but this typically only applies to cases like medical malpractice claims, where an injured party has no cause to believe that they were injured.

Medical malpractice claims, even if the injuries are not instantly discovered, can only be filed four years from the date of the injury. If you do not file a claim by the applicable deadline, you lose out on compensation.

Q: Can You Sue for Emotional Distress in Illinois?

A: Yes, you can sue for emotional distress in Illinois, but it typically must be in connection with a physical injury or other tangible loss. There are cases in Illinois where an injured party can recover noneconomic damages, like emotional trauma, if they haven’t suffered physical harm, but these are unique cases. Your attorney can help you determine if your case includes emotional distress damages and if you have a viable claim with only those damages.

Q: Is a Personal Injury Settlement Taxable in Illinois?

A: Typically, personal injury settlements are not taxable in Illinois, as they are considered compensation for damages and not income. However, there are different types of damages, and some of them are taxable. Compensatory damages, including economic and noneconomic damages, are not taxable.

However, if your case includes punitive damages, they may be taxable. These damages do not compensate for a loss but seek to punish the at-fault party for grossly negligent conduct. If it is subject to federal income tax, it is also subject to Illinois state income tax.

Negotiating Your Personal Injury Settlement in Lake County

When you have a personal injury claim, contact Connolly Injury Law. Our team has the experience and professional resources to handle your claim efficiently and fight for your interests.