Mount Prospect Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers

Mount Prospect Personal Injury Lawyers

Our Mount Prospect personal injury lawyers have lived and worked in the local area for years and know it well. For those who want to live in a suburb that’s close to downtown (about 20 miles away) and the airport (about four miles away), Mount Prospect is a fantastic choice. With about 55,000 residents, the village of Mount Prospect offers a small-town feel while simultaneously offering access to entertainment and business.

In addition to its proximity to downtown, Mount Prospect is also known as a village with award-winning school districts and therefore is a desirable place for families to live. Like many villages and towns throughout Illinois, Mount Prospect also has its fair share of parks and recreation activities. The Village Hall, located on Emerson Street, is a community hub.

At SJ Injury Law, our Mount Prospect personal injury lawyers have had the opportunity to work with Mount Prospect residents over the years and know how special this village and its people are. If you have been seriously injured and have questions about the claims process or your rights, don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly for your free consultation. We are here for you.

Our Personal Injury Practice Areas in Mount Prospect

If you’ve been injured, we want you to know that we are here for you. While we know that your case is unique and that no two cases are exactly alike, we want to reassure you that we have experience working on cases like yours. Our personal injury practice areas include:

• Auto accidents. By far the leading cause of injury and death in our state, auto accidents would never occur but for the negligence of one of the parties involved. Our lawyers work on a wide range of auto accident case types, including truck and commercial vehicle accidents, pedestrian accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, and more.
• Slip and fall accidents. While most people have experienced a minor slip, trip, or fall at some point in their life, a serious slip and fall accident can have devastating consequences. If a slip and fall is caused by a dangerous condition on a property–a hazard that should have been repaired–then the property owner can be held liable for the damages that result.
• Construction accidents. The construction injury has an unfortunately high rate of workplace accidents and injuries. While most construction workers who are injured on the job will maintain the right to file a workers’ compensation claim for damages, sometimes, there is a cause of action for a third-party liability claim. A third-party liability claim is a personal injury claim that’s brought against someone outside of the workplace whose negligence caused the accident/injuries.
• Wrongful death. No one expects to lose a loved one in an accident. Yet deadly motor vehicle accidents, slip and falls, workplace accidents, and other accident types happen. If you have lost a loved one unexpectedly due to another’s negligence, you maintain the right to bring forth a wrongful death claim for damages. Our lawyers can support you every step of the way.
• Nursing home injuries. When you make the decision to place a loved one inside of a nursing home, you are doing so with the expectation that they will receive the highest possible level of care; you never expect that they will be neglected, let alone abused. If your loved one has suffered harm as a result of nursing home neglect or abuse, our experienced personal injury lawyers can advocate for your family.

The Elements of a Personal Injury Claim

A personal injury claim is a type of civil suit wherein a plaintiff seeks to hold a defendant liable and to recover damages from the defendant as such. When you have been injured due to another’s negligence, you can file a claim against that party and seek damages, or monetary compensation. In most cases, the defendant’s liability insurance provider is who will ultimately pay a claim, should the claim be successful.

A successful personal injury suit rests on being able to prove four elements.

1. Duty. The first element that a plaintiff has the burden of proving in a personal injury case is duty of care. To be more specific, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care. In many cases, this is implied. For example, all drivers on the road owe others a duty to operate their vehicles in a manner that is reasonably safe and lawful. In some cases, though, duty must be established. For example, in a premises liability claim, the plaintiff may need to prove that the property owner (defendant) owed them a duty of care to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition, as the plaintiff was on the property lawfully.
2. Breach of duty. The second thing that a plaintiff must prove is that the defendant breached the duty of care owed to the plaintiff. Most of the time in personal injury cases, the duty is breached due to the defendant’s negligence, or failure to exercise the same degree of care that a person of ordinary prudence would exercise in the same situation. Examples of negligence vary from case to case but could be anything from speeding to failing to repair a hazardous condition and more.
3. Causation. The third element of a personal injury claim is causation. Causation means proving that your accident and injuries would not have occurred but for the defendant’s actions. For example, sure–you may have evidence that you were in a crash, and that the defendant was speeding. But can you prove that the defendant’s speeding was the proximate cause of your accident, or, could the accident have occurred without the defendant’s actions? If you can’t prove causation, you don’t have a case.
4. Damages. Finally, the fourth element that you’ll need to prove is that of damages. Proving damages means proving that you’ve actually suffered harm as a result of the accident, including economic and non-economic harm. Types of damages that are common in a personal injury claim include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage costs, and psychological injury.

How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Mount Prospect?

If you have been injured, it’s smart to head over to the Cook County clerk’s office (located in Rolling Meadows, IL) sooner rather than later if you plan to file a lawsuit. That’s because all personal injury claims in the state must be filed within two years of the date of the accident, as found in 735 ILCS 5/13-202. This means that if you wait longer than two years from the date of your accident and injuries to file your claim, you’ll be permanently barred from recovery.

Keep in mind, however, that most personal injury claims do not end in a lawsuit; instead, the majority of claims are settled out of court through negotiations. Typically, the process will begin with hiring a lawyer and issuing a demand letter against the at-fault party’s insurer. Only if a settlement cannot be reached will a plaintiff typically take action to file a civil lawsuit with the court.

How Our Mount Prospect Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help

When you hire our Mount Prospect personal injury attorneys, you can count on us to work hard for you. One reason to choose our team is that we are familiar with Mt. Prospect and have developed relationships with police officers, judges, and others in the village and county over the years. We also know the location of courthouses and other important places where documents need to be filed. We also have partnered with local experts, who we are happy to call on as needed to build your claim.

Our process will begin with an investigation into your case to determine how the accident occurred and who should be held liable. We can bring in accident reconstruction experts, forensic experts, product design experts, and others to help us build your claim and prove liability.

Next, we’ll calculate the full value of your economic and non-economic damages. Again, we will work with doctors, psychiatrists, and financial experts to determine the value of your case.

Once we know what your case is worth and who should be held liable, we’ll issue a demand letter against the at-fault party’s insurance company. Usually, the insurance company will respond with a counter-offer; often, this offer is much lower than we believe our client deserves. This will kick-start the negotiations process, which can take multiple weeks or months to settle.

If a claim is highly disputed and a settlement cannot be reached, our lawyers can represent you in filing a lawsuit. We have trial experience and a track record of success.

Call Our Mount Prospect Personal Injury Lawyers Directly Today

Being severely injured is scary, and filing a personal injury claim can be emotional and overwhelming. When you have suffered severe loss and your future is on the line, choose to work with a skilled and passionate Mount Prospect personal injury attorney who has the experience and the reputation that you deserve. When you work with us, we’ll make sure your case gets the attention both you and it deserve. Reach us today by phone at 847-434-3555 or online for your free case consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis.