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Personal Injury
Workplace Accidents
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Wrongful Death
Construction Accidents
Medical Malpractice
Drunk Driver Accidents
Aviation Accidents
Pedestrian Accidents
Slip and Fall Accidents
Animal Attacks
Nursing Home Abuse
Dram Shop/Liquor Liability
Products Liability
Serious/Catastrophic Injuries
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Personal Injury - An Overview
Personal injury claims and lawsuits are filed by people (or their next of kin) who have been injured or killed because of the wrongful conduct of some other person or entity. The injury may be either physical or emotional, and it may be in the form of a sickness or disease. Some of the most common types of personal injury claims are:
- motor vehicle accidents
- construction accidents
- medical malpractice
- slip and fall accidents
- animal attacks
- product liability
- nursing home abuse and neglect
- Dram shop (liquor establishment) liability
Some less common personal injury claims are based on toxic chemicals, asbestos, defamation, assault and battery, malicious prosecution, false arrest, and legal malpractice.
If a personal injury claim can't be settled without litigation, a civil lawsuit is filed, usually in state court. Civil actions seek monetary damages only, as opposed to criminal cases, in which a court may punish a defendant in different ways, or cases involving ongoing conduct where a court can compel a party to do something (or refrain from doing something).
Workers' compensation claims are an administrative remedy and are entirely separate from personal injury claims. Some accidents may result in both a personal injury claim and a workers' compensation claim. There is no double recovery, however, because the workers' compensation insurance carrier will be entitled to be reimbursed for benefits it paid from the proceeds of the personal injury case. We encourage you to visit our dedicated workers' compensation site for more information.
When someone is determined to be legally responsible, or liable, for causing an injury to someone else, he or she can be made to pay compensatory damages. Compensatory damages attempt to put an injured person in the position he or she would have been in had the injury not occurred and may include medical expenses (past and future), pain and suffering, lost wages (past and future), loss of a normal life, and loss of society. In some cases, punitive damages may also be awarded to punish the defendant if his or her conduct was not just negligent but reckless or intentional.
A personal injury can be severe and life-altering. You may have a long and difficult recovery period. At a time when you should be focused on your recovery, many issues may suddenly demand your attention, including:
- obtaining the proper medical care
- getting your medical bills paid
- coping with a loss of income while you are unable to work
- coping with a loss of mobility, function, or the ability to conduct your normal daily activities
- obtaining fair compensation for your property damage
- attending traffic court hearings
- resolving insurance issues
- addressing issues with your employer
To guide and assist you through the labyrinth of issues you must confront at this difficult time, Drake & Collopy, P.C. offers our exclusive Legal Concierge ServicesSM. These services truly distinguish Drake & Collopy from other personal injury attorneys. We encourage you to read more about these services.
Drake & Collopy, P.C. has successfully handled nearly every type of personal injury case and has recovered millions of dollars in judgments and settlements for our clients and and their families.
If you or a family member has suffered a personal injury, rest assured that Drake & Collopy, P.C. has the experience and knowledge in personal injury litigation to give your claim the best chance for success. Contact us online or call us at 312.345.0220, or toll free at 1.888.372.5355, for more information or to schedule a free consultation.
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