Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.

In a personal injury case, you are entitled to compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. These damages may include: -Past and future medical treatment costs arising from the injury -Lost income/wages -Pain and suffering compensation -Emotional distress damages

Anyone who owed you a legal duty and fell short of fulfilling that obligation can be held responsible for your resulting injuries. For example: -A driver can be held responsible for causing an accident because he or she was drunk or distracted while driving -A manufacturer can be held responsible for producing a dangerous product -A doctor is liable if the physician made a mistake no reasonable professional would have made, or medical malpractice. If you are harmed by an individual who is working at the time, that person’s employer may also be held responsible for causing your injuries. Employers often have more money to compensate you for injuries, so if an employer can be held responsible for an injury, it is advisable to pursue this type of claim.

To protect your legal rights, you must document all injuries and losses. You must also gather evidence to prove that the defendant’s actions caused your harm. Calling the police right after an accident and taking pictures at the scene are good steps to take to provide invaluable information on the cause of your injury. Detailed medical records and information on missed work are also important evidence. Finally, hiring an attorney is one of the most important things to do to protect your rights. For instance, at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we provide free initial consultations. You can schedule one by simply calling us or contacting us online. We use these consultations to learn more about the facts of your case and to help you understand your legal options. If we take on your case, we can then provide legal assistance that includes: -Making sure your claim is filed on time. -Protecting your rights when dealing with insurance companies. -Fighting to seek the compensation you

Proving negligence essentially involves establishing how a person’s careless conduct caused you to suffer injuries. Different standards will apply in different situations. Typically, the behavior of a defendant is compared with what an average hypothetical reasonable person would have done in the same situation. For example: Would a reasonable person send a text message while driving a car? In specific types of personal injury claims, such as medical malpractice cases, there is a different standard used to judge negligence. The doctor’s behavior is compared not just to that of a hypothetical reasonable person but to that of a reasonable physician with a similar background. If an action or omission is clearly unreasonable and careless, it is not necessary to specifically prove negligence. The negligence is self-evident.

Filing a personal injury claim means filing a lawsuit, or complaint, that is aimed at securing full and fair compensation for your losses caused by another’s misconduct. Treating certain injuries such as brain damage or a spinal cord injury can cost millions of dollars. Your quality of your life can also change in many ways. Filing a personal injury lawsuit ensures that the party (or parties) responsible for your injury compensate you fully for all of your costs and losses. You must comply with all requirements set forth in the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure to file a personal injury claim. For instance, you must file the lawsuit in a court where you or the defendant live or where the injury happened. After a lawsuit is filed, your case may enter into settlement negotiations with the defendant and/or the defendant’s insurance company, or it may go to trial before a jury.

Thank you for reaching out to our firm. We do our best to respond to all inquiries within 24 hours. We hope to be able to assist you with your matter. Kind regards, Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.