Personal injury

To get answers to frequent questions about personal injury, please select one of the links below.

• What should I do if I am injured?
• How long do I have to file a suit?
• What kinds of compensation can I receive?
• How much compensation can I receive?
• What can I do before contacting an attorney that will be of assistance to an attorney I later decide to hire?

What should I do if I am injured?

The most important thing that you can do if you have been injured is to immediately seek appropriate medical attention.

As soon as reasonably possible, it is important to contact an attorney to ensure that you are not contacted by any representatives of insurance companies, to ensure that any critical evidence is preserved and important witnesses are identified.

How long do I have to file a suit?

Generally, personal injury suits must be brought within two years of the date of the injury. However, suits against a governmental entity must generally be brought within one year of the date of injury.

The time frame may be longer in some instances, but, without knowing the detailed circumstances of your injury, an attorney may not be able to determine exactly when your claim must be brought.

You should contact an attorney as soon as possible after the injury has occurred to help ensure you claim can be brought within the required time period. Bringing a claim as quickly as possible also helps to ensure that the faded memories of those involved do not hinder your claim.

What kinds of compensation can I receive?

Generally, personal injury plaintiffs are entitled to seek the following damages if

applicable:

• Past lost wages
• Future lost wages
• Past medical expenses
• Future medical expenses
• Past pain and suffering
• Future pain and suffering
• Aggravation of pre-existing injuries
• Disability
• Disfigurement
• Loss of normal life
• Emotional distress

How much compensation can I receive ?

The amount of compensation an individual is entitled to receive depends entirely on the circumstances of his or her case. These circumstances including medical or other expenses incurred, the extent and permanency of the injuries suffered, the amount of lost wages involved, the severity of any pain and suffering the individual endured, and a variety of other factors that may be involved.

Generally, however, the more medical and other expenses involved, and the more severe and permanent the injuries you have suffered are, the more you are entitled to recover.

What can I do before contacting an attorney that will be of assistance to an attorney I later decide to hire?

The most helpful thing you can do in the time between the occurrence of an injury and the initial contact with an attorney is to maintain accurate and detailed records of any and all of the following that apply to you:

• Lost wages incurred
• Medical treatment received
• Medical expenses paid or due
• Medical and/or other symptoms related to your injury, such as chronic pain
• Property damage and repairs, such as damage to your automobile
• Any and all conversations you have with anyone involved in the negligent event or accident
• Any photographs of injuries received and property damage done, or of the scene of the accident

For more information about personal injury and our other law practice areas, please call us at (630) 232-6333 or fill out our contact form.