As the title suggests, a personal injury lawyer is a lawyer who helps clients receive compensation when they or a loved one has sustained an injury. This makes personal injury a very broad category under the law, and you might not know when to call a personal injury lawyer, as they can be known as a different type of lawyer. Here are six reasons to call a personal injury lawyer in Chicago.
1: Workers’ Compensation Claims
All workplaces must carry workers’ compensation insurance if one of their employees gets injured on the job. This type of insurance pays for medical bills, lost wages, and even funeral expenses if necessary— as long as the worker was injured through no fault. Workers’ compensation insurance doesn’t apply if the employee was injured because of their negligence.
However, even when workers are injured as a result of the negligence of the company, many employers aren’t willing to pay in full or at all. This is where a personal injury lawyer specializing in workers’ compensation can be helpful.
2: Product Liability
When products don’t work the way they were created to and end up causing harm to consumers, the companies and manufacturers are held responsible. When products harm people on a large scale, this is a mass tort or class action lawsuit. Examples of defective products include:
- Automobiles
- Baby formula
- Chemical hair relaxers
- Dangerous drugs (e.g., Tylenol, Zantac, etc.)
- Medical devices (e.g., CPAP machines, cochlear implants, hernia mesh, etc.)
- Paraquat/Roundup weed killer
A personal injury lawyer specializing in product liability can help if a product harms you.
3: Premises Liability
If you get hurt on a public or private (as long as you’re not trespassing) property, the property owner can be held responsible depending on how you were injured. Examples of premises liability include:
- Accidental drownings
- Chemical exposure
- Dog and other animal bites
- Fire safety violations
- Inadequate security
- Slips and falls
These conditions can cause mild injuries but can also cause more serious injuries such as infections, burn injuries, fractures and broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). If you’re injured on someone’s property and believe negligence was involved, a personal injury lawyer specializing in premises liability can help.
4: Motor Vehicle Accidents
Most personal injury lawyers are known for specializing in motor vehicle (passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, public transportation, etc.) accidents, and this is likely because these are the most common accidents in the United States. While Illinois doesn’t have the most motor vehicle accidents, they still happen frequently. Reasons for motor vehicle accidents include:
- Distracted driving (e.g., texting, etc.)
- Impaired driving (e.g., drunk, fatigued, etc.)
- Reckless driving (e.g., speeding, etc.)
A personal injury lawyer can help you no matter what type of motor vehicle accident you were in, as long as the accident caused property damage and/or bodily injury.
5: Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice occurs when medical staff and even the medical facility are responsible for injuries associated with hospital stays, doctor’s visits, and other situations related to a clinical setting. Examples of medical malpractice include:
- Anesthesia errors
- Diagnostic errors
- Emergency room errors
- Hospital falls
- Injuries during childbirth
- Misdiagnosis
- Nursing home neglect
- Pharmacy errors
- Surgical errors
A personal injury lawyer specializing in medical malpractice can help if you believe you or a loved one have been a victim. Just keep in mind that the statute of limitation in Illinois is two years after the date of discovery.
6: Abuse
Abuse and assault can come in many forms (e.g., verbal, sexual, physical, financial, emotional, etc.). It can also happen in many places. While most people may think of abuse happening in the home (which it can), it can also happen in multiple places and organizations, such as:
- Boarding schools and college campuses
- Churches
- Daycares and afterschool/summer programs
- Foster homes
- Nursing homes
Even abuse that isn’t physical in any way can have lasting negative impacts on the victim. A personal injury lawyer who specializes in abuse can help victims receive justice.
Any of these injuries can result in someone’s untimely death, known as “wrongful death,” since death could have been prevented. Most personal injury lawyers also specialize in wrongful death, regardless of the cause. However, when hiring a personal injury lawyer, it’s important to ensure that he or she specializes in your injury to get the best outcome.