How Do Illinois Personal Injury Cases Work?
The most famous American personal injury cases often make news headlines for enormous settlements under circumstances that some people, without knowing the full story, may see as ridiculous. However, personal injury lawsuits remain a crucial lifeline for allowing people wronged by the dangerous, careless, or negligent actions of someone else to recover essential compensation that can cover anything from medical expenses to lost life quality.
If you have been in a serious accident and suffered injuries for which someone else is responsible, you likely have questions about how personal injury cases work. Read this brief overview and then contact an experienced Illinois personal injury attorney.
Overview of the Personal Injury Case Process
The first thing most people do is contact at least one personal injury attorney to schedule a consultation and get an idea of what their options are. Although it may be tempting to try to handle your case yourself, an attorney has the experience and skill necessary to let you know whether you are getting a fair deal and whether you could fight harder for something better.
Once an attorney has been chosen, he or she will conduct a comprehensive investigation of your case, including any injuries or other harm you suffered. An attorney may review police reports, medical records, video evidence, and other information, so this process can take some time.
Your attorney will then begin the process of negotiating a fair settlement. Depending on your goals, the extent of your injuries, and how hard the responsible party fights your claims, you may want to settle, or you may want to take the case to trial.
If you decide to go to trial, each side will investigate the evidence that the other side has. They can send each other questions and prepare witnesses for the trial. Depending on the specifics of your case, the trial itself may take between a day and several weeks. The preparation and investigation periods can take much longer.
How Do I Know if I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you have been in any kind of accident or incident in which you got hurt through no fault of your own - and even if you are worried you may have been partly at fault - it is worth discussing your situation with a personal injury attorney. There are time limits involved in personal injury claims, so making a decision and starting the process is important before the statute of limitations runs out. When in doubt, consult an attorney - in the worst-case scenario, you do not utilize their services.
Contact a Proactive Will County Personal Injury Lawyer
After a serious accident, the last thing you may want to do is file a lawsuit and deal with further hassles. But at Michael J. Lichner - Will County Personal Injury Lawyer, we do everything we can to handle your case in a way that allows you to focus on healing and moving forward. Let our hardworking Plainfield, IL personal injury lawyers manage your legal stress and work towards recovering the just compensation to which you are entitled. Call us now at 815-730-1977 to schedule your free consultation however is easiest for you - online, by phone, or in person.
Source:
https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2375&ChapterID=67