As you recover from injuries sustained in an accident, you may also need to prepare for filing a claim or lawsuit to obtain compensation for your medical treatment and other damages. To help you get started, Duncan Law Group provides answers to some of the most common questions about personal injury cases. This information can address some of your immediate concerns and give you an idea of what the firm can do to help you. At Duncan Law Group, the legal team’s 15-plus years of experience can be put to work for you. We are dedicated personal injury lawyers in Chicago.
In the wake of any type of accident that caused injury to your person or damage to your property, you should not hesitate to contact the firm to discuss your case. Bob Duncan has successfully recovered millions of dollars in jury verdicts and settlements and he is prepared to do the same for you. If your question wasn’t answered on this FAQ page, then Duncan Law Group would be happy to consult with you in person to further discuss the details of your case and answer any additional questions you might have.
Contact Duncan Law Group today to learn more about your unique case.
An injury claim is generally valid if you have been hurt as a result of another person’s actions or failure to act; the other party was negligent in the incident which brought about an accident or situation in which you were injured or lost a loved one. In order to prove a personal injury claim, you must show that you suffered losses or damages, that the other party was negligent, and that this negligence was the cause of your damages. Negligence generally refers to the idea that the implicated party acted in a manner that did not show reasonable care, based on what any other prudent individual would have done in similar circumstances.
Your best action is to discuss your situation with an attorney who is experienced in personal injury law, one who will be able to assess the viability of your case. Your attorney can investigate the circumstances and legal factors involved, including whether the responsible party has any means of paying compensation, such as through an auto insurance policy or with existing assets. If he or she does not, you may have a valid claim but find it difficult to collect on it.
Every case is unique, based on a number of different factors. One of the most important issues is the nature, extent, and permanence of your injuries. Other factors include how much your financial losses were or will continue to be in terms of medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. Non-economic damages are also considered in terms of pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and present and future disability. Other factors include whether you were partially at fault or how quickly you need to resolve the matter. A Chicago accident lawyer at Duncan Law Group can evaluate all of these factors to give you some idea of what to expect.
Most personal injury cases are settled out of court through a negotiated settlement with the insurance company, which is why you need a tough and dedicated attorney to act on your behalf with the insurance company representatives. In the event that the insurer refuses to pay you the amount you deserve, it may be necessary to take the case to court for a full trial. If your case does progress to this point, having an experienced trial lawyer is vital. Attorney Robert Duncan has a well-respected reputation as a skilled litigator.
No two personal injury cases are exactly alike. For this reason, a set time cannot be placed on any given personal injury lawsuit. While some personal injury lawsuits can be settled out of court in only a matter of months, others might need to go to trial which could prolong the process; some injury cases have been known to take years. The duration of your lawsuit will depend on a number of variable factors, all of which can be assessed by a Chicago personal injury lawyer at the firm to give you a better idea of what your lawsuit’s timetable might look like.
The sooner you take legal action after an injury accident, the better. Depending on the nature of your legal claim, you could be limited to a very strict set of time restrictions. The statute of limitations could significantly limit the amount of time that you have to file a claim, and failure to act within the given time period allotted for your type of case could mean the loss of ever being able to recover compensation for your accident. Therefore, act quickly and contact an attorney at the firm as soon as possible for a free consultation and review of your case.
Before speaking with your insurance company it would be wise to first discuss your situation with a qualified lawyer. In this way, you can ensure that your rights are protected and that you will not be taken advantage of by an insurance agent who might not have your best interests at heart during the conversation. Signing any type of release or disclosing certain information – even if you aren’t at fault for the accident that left you injured – could jeopardize your ability to receive compensation. It is therefore crucial that you involve an attorney in the matter in order to ensure that your rights to compensation are not compromised in any way during your communications with the insurance company.
An early settlement is a compensatory amount of money that is offered early on in the accident claim process. Oftentimes, an early settlement will reflect a much lower settlement amount than the true value of your case. This is a money-saving tactic used by insurance agents who wish to take advantage of unsuspecting persons who do not know that the value of their future costs and injuries could be much more than the amount that was offered to them in an early settlement. Before accepting any settlement amount offered by the insurance company, you should first speak to an attorney at Duncan Law Group.