If someone in your family has suffered severe injuries and financial hardship as a result of someone else’s negligence, you are probably wondering if you should file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for your losses. Yet, like many people, you may hesitate to contact a personal injury lawyer about your situation for reasons such as:
- You believe the insurance company should handle everything.
- You feel intimidated by the legal system.
- You can see yourself in the other person’s shoes, and you do not want to cause problems for them.
- You do not have the energy to deal with a lawsuit while you are in the midst of dealing with serious medical and financial issues.
If you find yourself in this situation, here are some helpful things to know:1. You Have to Act Quickly to Protect Your Family for the Long-Term
Second, each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. Your lawsuit usually must be filed in the state where the injury occurred, not the state where you live. For most personal injury cases in Illinois, you must file your lawsuit within two years of the incident that caused the injury (735 ILCS 5/13-202).
2. It Will Be Easier If You Prepare Before You Call
Before you contact an attorney, write down a summary of your case, including:
- The cause of injury, such as a car crash or dog bite. Be prepared to provide additional details that demonstrate the other person’s negligence, such as police reports indicating the other person was drunk driving or that the dog had bitten people before.
- The date and location of the incident.
- The type of injuries, such as cuts, broken bones, paralysis, brain damage, etc.
- Whether full recovery is expected, or whether there is some type of permanent damage such as loss of mobility, mental or psychological damage, or chronic pain.
- How long the injured person was unable to work as a result of the incident, and whether they will have long-term income loss and/or incremental healthcare expenses as a result of their injuries.
Once you have these basic facts on paper, you will feel more confident and ready to make that first call to an attorney.Consult a Rolling Meadows Personal Injury Attorney
If you are wondering whether you should file a personal injury lawsuit, consult an experienced Palatine personal injury lawyer. The attorneys of Drost, Gilbert, Andrew & Apicella, LLC will determine the best legal strategy for your case and fight aggressively to see that you are compensated for your loss. Contact us at 847-934-6000 to schedule a no-cost, no obligation consultation.
About the Author: Attorney Ken Apicella is a founding partner of DGAA focusing in the areas of personal injury, employment, insurance coverage disputes, and civil litigation. Ken earned his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 1999. He has been named a SuperLawyers Rising Star and a Forty Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch. Ken has written and lectured for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and regularly serves as a moderator at Northwest Suburban Bar Association's Continuing Legal Education seminars.
Sources:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=2017&ChapterID=56&SeqStart=99900000&SeqEnd=103300000
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