Catastrophic Injury

If you or somebody you love has sustained a catastrophic injury, then you know that these injuries can change everything. A devastating injury can prevent a person from working and from living life in the same way they could before the injury.

At Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP, our Chicago catastrophic injury attorneys are dedicated to helping victims secure the compensation they deserve if they are harmed due to another's negligence.

After sustaining a serious injury caused by another person, Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP has the experience you need to recover full compensation.

• Our Chicago personal injury attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience, and we focus solely on personal injury law.
• We believe that every client deserves individualized attention for their case. Our clients always have access to their attorneys and will not be put off onto a paralegal or junior assistant.
• We take all Chicago catastrophic injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients pay no legal fees until after we secure the compensation they deserve for their claim.

• Why Is A Chicago Attorney Important for a Catastrophic Injury Case?
• What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury?
• How Do Catastrophic Injuries In Chicago Occur?
• Cost Of A Chicago Catastrophic Injury
• Is There A Time Limit To File A Claim For A Chicago Catastrophic Injury Case?

Chicago's catastrophic injury cases can become incredibly complex. A skilled personal injury lawyer will have the resources necessary to conduct a full investigation into the incident. They will:

• Obtain all evidence needed to prove liability (video surveillance, eyewitness statements, accident reports, and more).
• Work with trusted healthcare professionals to ensure the injury victim is properly evaluated and their losses are thoroughly documented.
• Negotiate with every party involved to obtain a fair settlement or take the case to trial if necessary to secure maximum compensation.

There is no single definition for “catastrophic injury” in the state of Illinois. However, these types of injuries generally include serious damage that occurs to the brain, spinal cord, or internal organs. This can also describe injuries that lead to permanent disfigurement or disability. Concerning traffic accidents, the Illinois Department of Transportation defines these injuries (A-Injuries) as ones that prevent the injured person from walking, driving, or normally continuing the activities they were capable of performing before the injury occurred. Some of the most common catastrophic injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Amputations
• Severe burns
• Soft tissue damage
• Internal organ damage
• Hypoxia (loss of oxygen to the body)

Victims who sustain these injuries will require extensive medical care. This can include multiple surgeries to repair damage as well as ongoing physical therapy and rehabilitation. Unfortunately, many catastrophic injury victims will still suffer from long-term disabilities and require ongoing care and assistance even after they receive medical treatment.

There are various ways that catastrophic injuries can occur in and around the Chicago area. At Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP, we regularly help clients who sustain these injuries in the following ways:

• Car accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Premises liability incidents
• Medical negligence incidents
• Birth injuries
• Dog bite incidents
• Children injuries
• Workplace accidents
• Electrocution incidents
• Construction site injuries

Unfortunately, many of these incidents are caused by the actions of another person or company. Anytime there is a duty of care established between a victim and another party, and that duty of care is breached, victims should be able to recover compensation if they are injured.

When determining how much compensation a victim of a catastrophic injury should receive, we will have to look at medical bills as well as many other costs a victim will ultimately incur. At Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP, we regularly help clients recover the following types of compensation:

• Coverage of all past, current, and future medical expenses related to the injury
• Lost wages and benefits as well as lost earning capacity
• Compensation for any necessary in-home case
• Costs for home or vehicle modifications to aid in mobility
• Loss of enjoyment of life damages
• Pain and suffering damages
• Possible punitive damages against the negligent party that caused the injury

The total amount of compensation awarded to victims in these cases will vary depending on the circumstances related to each particular claim. To give an example of how much a catastrophic injury could potentially cost, we can turn to data available from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC). They say that the total lifetime costs for spinal cord injury victims can range from $1,700,000 to more than $5 million, depending on the severity of the injury and the age of the victim at the time the injury occurs.

Other types of catastrophic injuries can also see medical bills and other expenses rising into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and this does not include pain and suffering damages a victim sustains.

Every state is responsible for setting a time limit for how long victims have to file civil claims after sustaining an injury. This time limit is called the statute of limitations. In Illinois, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date the injury occurs. Victims who fail to file claims against an alleged negligent party within this two-year time frame will likely lose the ability to recover any compensation for their injuries.

There are some exceptions to this two-year time frame, particularly concerning cases involving minors as well as claims made against government entities in Illinois. It is vital that victims seek legal assistance for help regarding these time limits.

If you or a loved one have sustained a serious injury that was caused by somebody else's negligent, careless, or intentional actions, seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP, our qualified and experienced team will get to work investigating every aspect of your claim in order to secure the compensation you are entitled to. Our Chicago catastrophic injury attorneys are ready to help bring you closure so you can move forward. You can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling (312) 781-1977.