Rock Island Personal Injury Lawyer
If you suffered significant injuries that were caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering through a personal injury claim. Because there is a limited amount of time to sue for personal injuries in Illinois, it’s vital that you consult with a Rock Island personal injury lawyer at Strong Law Offices as soon as possible.
If you settle your claim without an experienced personal injury attorney on your side, or you fail to take legal action in time, you could leave hundreds of thousands of dollars in the pockets of the at-fault party and the insurance company.
Were you hurt due to someone else’s negligence? Contact the personal injury lawyers at Strong law for consultation at (309) 688-5297
Our Personal Injury Lawyers Get Results
Your financial future is on the line after a serious accident. Between the medical expenses and lost wages you’re facing, and then healing from the injuries you sustained, you have a lot on your plate. Don’t trust your recovery to just any Rock Island personal injury lawyer. It’s time to get Strong.At Strong Law Offices, our law firm gets results. We have been helping injury victims like you recover after motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, dog bite injuries, slips and falls, and other types of accidents for more than 25 years. We’ve won millions of dollars in financial recovery for our clients. Let our personal injury law firm get you maximum compensation.
What Does a Rock Island, IL Personal Injury Lawyer Do?
Personal injury lawyers help injured clients recover monetary compensation under what is known as tort law. Tort law covers civil litigation involving personal injuries caused by intentional acts and negligence. Negligence is the carelessness of one party that causes an injury to another that could have been avoided. Unlike a criminal case, which can result in jail time or fines, tort law focuses on the financial compensation that the at-fault party pays to the victim he or she injured. The negligent act may be done by a business, employer, or a person, such as a driver in a car accident.
Types of cases that personal injury attorneys might represent include:
Accident injuries are not just physical. They can manifest as psychological injuries as well. A personal injury claim considers the emotional distress caused, or the suffering that the victim might have felt.
Common Injuries Personal Injury Lawyers May See
Rock Island, IL personal injury lawyers see a variety of injuries that range from minor to severe. Car accidents are the leading cause of personal injury lawsuits, but victims can recover damages for any type of incident that is caused by someone else and leads to an injury.
Common injuries our law firm sees include:
Neck Injuries
The most common neck injury is whiplash, which can affect the ability to do everyday tasks. When the neck is injured, long term damage can be sustained. Neck pain can last a long time, even when temporary, and can impact the injured party’s ability to work.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI’s)
Brain injuries can be some of the most severe injuries that are sustained during an accident. The most common head injury that often requires medical care is a concussion. Traumatic brain injuries can leave a victim permanently disabled.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries occur when damage to the spinal cord causes a loss of function, mobility, or feeling. Even if the injury doesn’t sever the spinal cord, the damage may impact the victim’s mobility and function. Spinal cord injuries can lead to persistent tingling, chronic pain, and paralysis.
Fractures
Broken bones are common in personal injury cases as well. Some are closed fractures that stay under the skin, while others are compound fractures that break through the skin. Fractures most often happen in the arm, legs, or ribs, when a victim braces for impact or hits the steering wheel or dash.
Were You Injured in Rock Island?
The steps victims take after suffering serious injuries in a car crash, slip and fall, or other incident that was caused by someone else play an important role in their physical well-being, as well as in their ability to recover fair compensation in personal injury claims and lawsuits.
To make sure your health and your rights are protected, our Rock Island County personal injury attorneys recommend that you:
- Remain calm. Assess any injuries that might need immediate medical care, and call 9-1-1 to get emergency medical responders on the way.
- If the accident occurs on the road or another dangerous location, move to a safe place if you are able.
- If your condition is stable, get photographs of the accident scene and the surrounding area. For injuries that occurred at a business or on someone else’s property, you should take photos of the conditions that might have caused the accident. These photos can help demonstrate the negligence of the property owner.
- See a doctor for a medical evaluation, even if you don’t think your injuries are serious. Some internal injuries, like organ damage, internal bleeding, and traumatic brain injuries may not be readily apparent. Seeking medical treatment right away can help save your life. Make sure to go to any follow-up appointments, and keep copies of any medical documentation.
- Don’t talk about your accident. While you will need to provide factual information about your identity to the police and the insurance company, don’t go into details about what happened. Don’t post anything on social media. Don’t provide your opinion about what happened. Most of all, don’t apologize.
- Contact a Rock Island, IL personal injury attorney right away. Your lawyer will listen to your story, investigate what happened, identify liable parties, and help you file your injury claim. Without an experienced injury attorney on your side, your rights and your financial recovery are in jeopardy.
The at-fault party and the insurance company will have legal representation on their side, and you should too. With a free consultation and no upfront attorney fees, you have nothing to lose by contacting our personal injury attorneys.
Damages Available in a Rock Island Personal Injury Case
The damages that are available in a Rock Island personal injury case will depend on various factors. Damages are the financial compensation that can be awarded if the injured party wins the case, or it is settled out of court. Compensation is not just for the direct medical expenses that occur because of an accident. Psychological effects of the accident are also taken into consideration when a final amount is awarded. Our experienced personal injury attorneys will evaluate your case to determine what damages may be available in your case.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are direct financial costs that are associated with the personal injury claim. Examples are current and future medical bills. Lost wages for the time missed from work, as well as possible missed opportunities due to the accident, are also considered when calculating economic damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are not as easily calculated as economic damages because they are not tied to a set monetary value. Non-economic damages include, but aren’t limited to, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of life, and scarring.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are only awarded when the responsible party is found to have been grossly negligent or his or her actions were found to be done with malicious intent. These damages are intended to discourage the responsible party from repeating his or her actions and causing another accident or injury.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Claims
Do I Need to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you were hurt due to the negligence of an individual or business, hiring a personal injury attorney is one of the smartest decisions you can make. A lawyer will protect your rights and help you recover maximum compensation from the at fault party. An experienced personal injury lawyer will identify liable parties, negotiate with the insurance company, and file a personal injury lawsuit if necessary.
What Is the Statute of Limitations on a Personal Injury Case in Rock Island, IL?
Typically, a party has two years to file his or her personal injury case in Illinois. This timeframe is known as the statute of limitations. Some exceptions might shorten or extend the timeframe, however. Contacting a personal injury lawyer in Rock Island right away helps ensure you make the deadline to take legal action.
What Happens If I’m Partially at Fault for the Accident?
In Illinois, you can still recover compensation in a personal injury lawsuit if as long as you are found to be less than 50% responsible for the accident. This is known as the contributory threshold. If your lawsuit is successful, your award will be reduced in proportion to the role you played in causing the accident.
You might be interested in these personal injury resources:
- WHAT ARE THIRD-PARTY INSURANCE CLAIMS?
- HOW TO PROVE FAULT AFTER A DUI ACCIDENT IN ILLINOIS
- HOW TO FILE A LAWSUIT FOR CHRONIC PAIN SYNDROME