In the greater Chicago area, if you are injured in a traffic accident because of the negligence of another driver, retain high-quality legal counsel and call experienced Chicago personal injury attorney Joseph M. Dooley immediately. Through filing a personal injury claim, you may be able to receive reimbursement for all of your accident-related medical care, all of the wages you lost because you were injured, and all of your additional injury-related losses and expenses. From the moment an accident happens, start acting to protect yourself.
After any traffic accident, call the police. A police accident report can be key evidence in a personal injury case. Obtain the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of everyone involved in the crash – drivers, passengers, and any witnesses you can find. Be certain that you obtain the other driver’s license number, plate number, and insurance contact information.
Even if you “feel” fine after the accident, have a doctor examine you. Injuries that may not even be noticed – or that may seem insignificant – can over time become serious medical problems. Follow your doctor’s orders, and be entirely candid. Disclose your entire medical history to the doctor and any other relevant facts about your health: The most frequently-suffered injuries in traffic accidents include:
- Fractures: Some bone fractures can only be discovered when you’re examined by a doctor. What you think is only a sprain might actually be a fracture.
- Soft tissue injuries: When you wear a seat belt in a car accident, if your neck muscles are suddenly stretched too far, you can suffer a whiplash injury. Hand and chest bruises and sprains are also frequently sustained in traffic accidents.
- Traumatic brain injuries: A blow to the head could mean a brain injury; immediate medical attention is imperative if you receive a blow to the head in an accident. If a brain injury is not immediately detected, it can remain latent and emerge months later as a serious medical condition.
If you’ve been injured in a traffic accident because a car, bus, or truck driver was negligent, you must establish your medical history and treatment through medical records. If you later choose to seek reimbursement through a personal injury claim you can only prove your injuries through qualified medical testimony based on the medical records. If you don’t seek medical attention right after a traffic accident, the defendant in your lawsuit could charge that your injury happened earlier than the crash or after the crash or that you weren’t actually injured at all. When you speak to an attorney about filing a personal injury claim, that attorney will need your medical records to build a case on your behalf.
Do not sign any insurance documents before you consult with attorney Joseph M. Dooley. An insurance company may attempt to offer you a settlement amount that is far less than the amount your case is actually worth. Instead, let attorney Joseph M. Dooley handle all of the negotiating on your behalf. After a consultation with Chicago personal injury attorney Joseph M. Dooley, you’ll have a better understanding of your legal rights and options, including the option of a personal injury lawsuit.
Gathering Evidence
In the Chicago area, if you are injured in a traffic accident because of someone else’s negligent driving, you have the legal right to compensation for your medical treatment past and future, your lost wages past and future, physical and emotional pain and suffering past and future and your loss of enjoyment of life. No one is immune. You could be seriously injured in an instant, and your life could be permanently changed. If you’re injured by a negligent driver in the Chicago area and you pursue a personal injury lawsuit, you’ll need the help of an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer – attorney Joseph M. Dooley. But even with the assistance of an experienced attorney like Joseph M. Dooley, the primary responsibility for gathering the evidence about your accident will fall on you because some of the most important evidence to be gathered is only available on the day of the accident or the days immediately following before you hire your lawyer.
Begin simply by establishing the facts. It’s almost imperative to take photos of the accident site, the damaged vehicles, and your own injuries. Take the photos or have someone take them – you can’t have too many. Ensure that you can prove the date that the photographs were taken. Make and keep copies of every document related to the accident: medical bills, test results, the police accident report, and any other paperwork. You must also keep all of your appointments for medical treatment. It is important that you receive proper care for all of your injuries in a timely manner. Your medical treatment also generates the medical paperwork that your attorney will need to prove the injuries you have suffered.
Reimbursement is your right after you’ve been injured by a negligent driver in Illinois, and experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer Joseph M. Dooley – with more than 25 years of personal injury experience – knows what it takes to prevail on your behalf. Still, gathering the photographs and other pertinent documents is predominantly your own obligation because with passing time the evidence will no longer exist or will be very difficult for your attorney to obtain. If you pursue a personal injury claim after consulting with attorney Joseph Dooley, he will begin to prepare your case for trial before a jury from the moment he is hired by you. During the time that your case is being prepared for trial the opportunity may arise for an out-of-court settlement. However, if a settlement is not reached because it is an unacceptable offer which will not adequately compensate you for your injuries Joseph M. Dooley will fight vigorously for the full compensation you deserve at trial before a jury of your peers. If you are injured by a negligent driver now or in the future in the Chicago area, contact Chicago personal injury lawyer Joseph M. Dooley by email at [email protected] or call 312-219-5916 as quickly as possible.