If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury, you know first-hand how disabling and life-changing these conditions can be. Catastrophic injuries can be caused by motor vehicle accidents, contact sports, slip and fall accidents, and even intentional acts of violence.
Receiving a catastrophic injury can be a horrific experience, especially if someone else is at fault. Fortunately, though, there is help available in the form of a dedicated personal injury attorney. Consulting with an experienced Bolingbrook catastrophic injury lawyer may be the first step to seeking justice for yourself or for a family member. En Español.
Understanding Catastrophic Injuries
Injuries can occur in any area of the body. Most of them heal quickly and do not have any lasting effects. Some injuries, however, especially those that involve the brain or spinal cord, can be extremely debilitation and life-altering. These types of injuries are referred to as catastrophic injuries and can include:
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Head injuries, including skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries and whiplash
- Internal injuries causing organ damage
- Multiple debilitating fractures
- Severe burns
- Accidental amputations
These types of injuries may get better or worse over time. In some cases, their long-term effects can be difficult to predict.
Compensation for Damages
Almost all catastrophic injuries come with an extremely high price tag. Victims typically need some level of constant medical and personal care for the rest of their lives. Some catastrophic injuries may require special equipment and can often leave the person unable to work. The injured person may even face a loss of enjoyment of life and loss of companionship.
When attempting to reach a fair settlement or enjoin a jury to award an injury victim monetary compensation, all of these factors can be taken into consideration. Due to their high expense and all-encompassing factors, awards and settlements for catastrophic injuries can often be quite high. A Bolingbrook catastrophic injury lawyer could help a victim recover damages after their accident.
Comparative Fault State
In accordance with 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, Illinois is a comparative fault state. This means that when a personal injury case is brought to court, the jury may be asked to assign a percentage of fault to the plaintiff and defendant. If the plaintiff is found to have some fault for their own injuries, their award would be reduced by the percentage of fault they were assigned.
A Bolingbrook catastrophic injury lawyer could consult with individuals to help assess if they may be assigned some fault in their own catastrophic injury. So long as a catastrophic injury victim in Illinois bears less than 50 percent of the fault for their accident, they can still recover at least some compensation.
Let a Bolingbrook Catastrophic Injury Attorney Provide Assistance
After a catastrophic injury, there are many details to attend to. Contacting a skilled and compassionate Bolingbrook catastrophic injury lawyer could be the first step towards handling those details effectively and potentially getting compensated for your severe damages.
An experienced attorney may also be able to help you bear some of the stresses you are facing, such as communicating with medical billing companies and securing medical records. Call today to find out how a lawyer could help after you or a loved one has sustained a catastrophic injury.
