The main responsibility of personal injury lawyers is to provide legal representation to individuals who have been injured in an accident. This area of the legal profession – known as tort law – includes both negligent and intentional acts that lead to the injury of another person. The personal injury attorney’s ultimate objective is to secure financial compensation for the injuries their client has suffered.
Types of Personal Injury Cases
There are many kinds of personal injuries for which you can claim just compensation, and some of the more common include, to name only a few:
As An Accident Victim, What You Should Do
If you’ve been in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, it’s really important to know what to do next to keep yourself safe and protect your rights. First, make sure you and anyone else involved are safe and call for help if there are any injuries. Then, even if it’s just a small bump, call the police to report the accident because their report is really important if you need to tell your side of the story later.
Next, swap information with the other driver—get their name, phone number, and insurance details. Use your phone to take pictures of the accident scene, the vehicles, and any damage. These photos can be very helpful later on.
It’s also smart to look around to see if any people saw what happened; their information might be useful too.
After the accident, even if you feel okay, it’s a good idea to visit a doctor. Sometimes, injuries from accidents can take a while to show up. Tell your insurance company about the accident, but be careful about what you say and try not to admit fault initially.
Contact a Rockford Personal Injury Attorney
Last but not least, think about talking to a personal injury lawyer, especially if you’re hurt or there’s a lot of damage. A personal injury lawyer can help ensure you’re treated fairly, provide guidance on what you should do, and help you get money to cover your medical bills or any damage. Remember, getting the right help and advice early on can make a big difference in how things turn out.
To be more specific, here are some of the ways the Rockford personal injury lawyers at Crosby & Crosby can assist you after you’ve been injured:
- Gathering evidence: A personal injury lawyer will compile evidence related to the plaintiff’s claim. This work could include finding witnesses and securing their statements regarding the incident, as well as collecting medical reports, records, bills, employment records, and accident reports to help determine who was responsible for the accident, as well as the compensation to which the plaintiff is entitled.
- Conducting discovery: Discovery may involve sending interrogatives to the defendant asking for information, and it can also involve deposing witnesses and experts.
- Sending demand letters: After thoroughly investigating a case, your personal injury lawyer may send a letter to the defendant’s insurance company stating the facts of the case and demanding payment for the damages caused by the defendant.
- Negotiating with insurance companies: In addition to demanding compensation for the damages caused by the defendant, the personal injury lawyers at Crosby & Crosby may also handle all communications between you, the plaintiff, and the defendant’s insurance company. One objective is to prevent you from doing anything to compromise your claim for damages.
- Preparing pleadings: If the insurance company refuses to make a fair offer to settle the case, we may submit a complaint to the defendant. This complaint states the amount of damages you’re seeking, and the defendant usually has 30 days after receiving the complaint to respond to it.
- Representing you at trial: If an out-of-court settlement cannot be reached, we will provide representation in court to make sure your case is fully explained and fairly adjudicated.
Out-of-Court Settlements
If possible, it is always preferable to reach a fair settlement with an insurance company. If your case involves an injury to your body, the settlement will be primarily based on the severity of the injury, the length of your treatment, and the impact the injury has had on your life. Clients with minimal injuries should expect their cases to be resolved for a relatively low amount of money, even if there is extensive property damage.
Similarly, if your injuries are more difficult to measure, clients should keep their expectations in check. As an example, a psychological injury is much more difficult to quantify in terms of money than a physical injury – not to mention, it is much more difficult to prove this kind of injury.
If you are unfortunate enough to have suffered a physical injury in an accident through no fault of your own, you will likely be entitled to compensation. While no amount of money can repair the physical damage you’ve suffered, settling your case for a sum that can help you deal with the injury you’ve suffered may allow you to move on with your life.
Taking a case to trial can be a long and difficult road, and if a settlement is reasonable, expect your attorney to recommend it.
Crosby & Crosby – Personal Injury Attorneys in Rockford, IL
From this summation of personal injury law, you can see that if you have been injured in an accident in Illinois you may be faced with a host of questions and issues, including the payment of medical bills and recovery of lost wages, to name only two.
To make your way through these issues and receive the compensation to which you are justly entitled, you need expert legal representation, and that is exactly what you get when you contact the law firm of Crosby & Crosby for assistance.
In the area of personal injury law, our firm has successfully assisted numerous clients in obtaining the rightful compensation they deserve. The experienced, caring personal injury attorneys at Crosby & Crosby are dedicated to protecting your legal rights and providing the compassionate care and support your case deserves.
If you have been injured in an accident, we urge you not to delay. Contact the personal injury law firm of Crosby & Crosby today at 815-367-6432 to schedule your initial free consultation, and allow us to provide our expert legal advice regarding your injury claim.
