Catastrophic injuries can change your life in the blink of an eye and are associated with long recovery times, high medical costs, and effects that are long-lasting. However, if your injury was the result of another person’s negligence, you may be able to receive compensation for any resulting damages. With the help of a legal professional, you could determine the amount you may be entitled to and begin piecing together a case that presents your situation fairly and accurately to the courts. Contact a Lake County catastrophic injury lawyer to discuss your options. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney could advocate on your behalf and help identify effective legal strategies.
Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries
Given the broad nature of the term, catastrophic injuries can vary greatly in nature. Regardless of the specific cause, though, all involve permanent disability that can lead to severe medical bills and financial setbacks.
Common examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Brain trauma
- Coma
- Paralysis
- Burns
- Organ damage
- Amputation
No matter what kind of catastrophic injury a person has experienced, they may be entitled to financial recovery if it was due to the negligence of another person. Consulting with a Lake County catastrophic injury attorney to review the details of the case, the nature of the injury, and its potential long-term impacts is a good first step to take in the process.
Proving Fault in Catastrophic Injury Cases
When a catastrophic injury results from another person’s careless or intentional actions, the victim and their attorney must provide evidence to prove legal negligence in order to recover damages. As per 735 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/2-1116, negligence can be anything from running a red light to failing to properly care for the property. In both situations, these actions could form the basis of a personal injury case if they cause injury to another person.
For Lake County cases, the modified comparative negligence rules applicable in Illinois state that victims may not recover if they are 51 percent or more responsible for their injury. If they bear some responsibility but less than this maximum amount, their specific percentage of fault would be translated into an equivalent reduction in their total recoverable damages.
For example, if an individual had to have an arm amputation because of a condition on a negligently maintained property but also failed to take proper safety precautions themselves, they might be deemed 20 percent responsible for their injury. In this case, they would only be entitled to 80 percent of the total compensation available to them.
Catastrophic Injury from Medical Mistakes
In some cases, catastrophic injury can result from malpractice by a healthcare professional. Victims of such malpractice—or more typically a catastrophic injury lawyer in Lake County working on their behalf—must file an affidavit alongside the lawsuit that declares they have reviewed their case with a medical professional who determined there was a” reasonable or meritorious cause” to the lawsuit. Experienced legal counsel may have connections and experience with qualified medical professionals who meet all the legal requirements of a particular case.
How a Lake County Catastrophic Injury Attorney Could Help
Many catastrophic injury victims feel as though their life was split into two disparate halves, the latter of which is defined by the debilitating condition they now suffer from. However, your life does not have to be defined by an injury, especially if you can hold someone else legally liable for it. Contact a Lake County catastrophic injury lawyer today to begin your fight for compensation.
