SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY:

 

A: There are seven types of Personal Injury:

1.  Medical Malpractice:
If a doctor's conduct falls below the standard of care and you or a loved one is injured as a result then you have been the victim of Medical Malpractice. The standard of care is a combination of what doctors in the area and around the country are doing, at the minimum, to provide adequate patient care. It is not the best care. If a doctor does not provide care and treatment that complies with the standard of care then he is negligent. If you think that you or your loved one has received less than adequate care from a hospital or doctor please contact us. There is a limited amount of time for you to bring your claim and swift action often helps to preserve evidence.

Medical Malpractice includes surgical, nursing, podiatric, nursing home and other kinds of medical negligence. We have a special concentration in representing kids who are severely physically and developmentally injured by medical complications at or near their birth. We are happy to answer any questions that you might have about this complicated area of law.

2.  Birth Injury:
Birth injuries are a subgroup of medical malpractice. Certain conditions that occur in newborn children are often the result of low oxygen levels or trauma that has occurred during either the prenatal period or at delivery. Often, conditions like cerebral palsy, paraplegia, quadriplegia, meningitis, hydroceplhalous, erbs palsy, brachial plexus palsy and developmental delays are the result of injuries to the fetus due to an easily detectable lack of oxygen or bacteria. When oxygen is cut off or the presence of bacteria is not noticed, the fetus' fragile brain can become severely damaged.

Modern medicine has developed very effective techniques to help detect and avoid the catastrophes that can potentially harm a child. When the fetus is distressed, swift action must occur. The tragedy of a brain injured infant turns into the tragedy of a brain-injured adult. We concentrate on finding ways to make sure that our brain-injured clients are taken care of for the rest of their lives.

Birth injuries are catastrophic events that affect both the child and his or her parents. If your child had a problem at birth, please call us and we will investigate the cause of his or her injury.

3.  Automobile Accidents:
Every driver on the road has an obligation to operate his or her car in a safe and reasonable manner. Both the state and city have enacted rules of the road that all drivers must follow. If you are or were injured in an automobile, truck or motorcycle accident you may be entitled to compensation. The insurance companies act very quickly to advocate the position of their insured and limit liability. They will try to fool you into thinking that they are trying to help you when they really are your adversaries. Before you agree to do anything that may limit your rights, like giving a recorded statement or signing releases, please contact us to protect your interests.

Automobile accident lawsuits often involve insurance policies and the law related to such policies. Understanding insurance law can be important in guaranteeing maximum recovery. An attorney can help you get money for your property damage, physical injuries and associated disability, related lost earnings, as well as mental and physical pain and suffering. Insurance claims adjusters may contact you and try to get you to accept a quick settlement. By retaining an attorney you can become fully aware of your legal rights and demand compensation for all of the damages allowed under law.

If you are involved in an automobile accident:

• Don't move the vehicles and stay in your car if you think you might be hurt. 
• Should the other driver attempt to leave, write down the car's license number or other characteristics of the vehicle.
• Always call the police, cooperate fully and obtain a police accident report. Be sure to tell the investigating officer if you think you might be hurt.
• Don't admit fault at the scene or without a complete investigation of the facts and circumstances.
• Identify other witnesses who saw the accident. Get their names and telephone numbers.
• Do not speak with representatives of the other driver's insurance company.
• Seek medical care if you think you might be hurt and take it easy after the accident.
• Don't let an insurance company push you around when you need to get reimbursed for your accident-related expenses and losses.

If you have been in an automobile accident and would like to speak with an attorney free of charge, call us at (312) 346-0500 for a free telephone consultation, or schedule a free in-person consultation with one of our attorneys.

4.  Wrongful Death:
Wrongful death occurs anytime someone is killed due to the negligence of someone else, a corporation, a hospital or any other party.

Family members, such as parents, spouses, kids, brothers and sisters, have a right to compensation for their loss as a result of wrongful death. Wrongful death cases are brought in addition to the case that the deceased could have brought had he/she survived. There are very strict time considerations regarding how long you have to file a wrongful death case.

If a loved one has died due to someone else's negligence, please call us at (312) 346-0500.  We will help you find the answers to the questions that you have in these most difficult times.

5.  Slip, Trip & Fall:
Property owners have to design and maintain their property in a way that is free from negligence. If you are injured as a result of a defect or dangerous condition on someone's property you may be able to recover money damages.

Please contact us for a free consultation if you have been injured as a result of a property owner's negligence.

6.  Construction Accidents:
When people are injured on construction sites they often have both workers' compensation and third party personal injury cases. We regularly represent tradesmen that are hurt or killed on construction sites. Architects and safety engineers help us review job site conditions, conduct and accidents to maximize our clients' recoveries.

7.  Product Liability:
Products must be safe for their intended use.  Companies are supposed to test their products for safety.  Often times, these tests do not reveal the truly dangerous nature of a given product.  The manufacturer of a product has the duty to provide a product that is safe for its intended use. The conduct of the user is not the primary inquiry as the manufacturer designer is strictly liable for the injuries caused by defective products it places into commerce. Medical devices, drugs, cars, food, industrial machines and any other designed or manufactured products are subject to this rule regarding product safety.

Products have to be safe. If they are unsafe and cause an injury then you may be entitled to recover damages. Please contact us at (312) 346-0500 if you or a family member has been injured by a defective product.