Illinois Personal Injury Legal Questions

I do not see that you can post enough information on a site like this for an attorney to give you guidance. In a consultation, an attorney would be able to engage in a conversation with you about the background of the event and then consider the insurance company's documents and basis for denial. More likely than not, you need an attorney to fight the claim promptly.... Read Answer

You were right on in sensing that you should not have the conversation without advice of counsel! There are far too many injured workers who do not have that sense. That said, don't get worked up, arrange a consultation, secure representation and leave it up to a professional to deal with the insurance company. You would have been jeopardizing your case had you tried to speak with the representative and, at the end of the conversation, likely would have heard the same result (after arming them with your words).... Read Answer

A permanency award is based on a formula which combines the extent of your disability, the body part injured and your rate of pay, offset by payments you have already received. But: you should get some advice as to whether the schedule award is your best option. Depending on your situation, you may be better off getting disability payments and having your medical expenses taken care of... Read Answer

You certainly can ask, but I wonder whether you should. It may be a better course to get an opinion from another dentist about what happened and then see an attorney that concentrates in dental malpractice work to determine if what occurred was simply a risk in the procedure or a consequence of negligence. If it was simply a risk, then perhaps requesting the dentist to address it is not a bad idea, although then there is also no reason that the dentist would feel compelled to do so. The fact that the dentist has not been working with you to correct the problem leads one to wonder. An attorney investigating the claim will be able to secure your records and make a claim for the funds you will need for further treatment, compensation for long-term damage, if any, additional pain and suffering, etc. There are only a few attorneys out there that can be recommended for dental malpractice claims.... Read Answer

Gather copies of your chart from the dentist and any other health care providers, and your medical bills. Schedule an appointment with an experienced personal injury lawyer and ask him or her to evaluate the case. Consider also lost wages (or lost vacation time), the permanency of any injury, the extent of your pain, any pleasurable activities you may have lost temporarily or permanently.... Read Answer

I am very sorry for your loss. Yes, a lawyer can help you with a wrongful death action, and I strongly suggest you consult a personal injury/products liability lawyer promptly. Statutes of limitation vary from state to state, so you should also check on that question. In some states the wrongful death statute states a priority as to who has the right to sue for a wrongful death. It could be the estate (which can be created for that purpose), a surviving parent, possibly others. So find a skilled lawyer soon. And I hope this tragedy will be the last you ever experience.... Read Answer

Your question provides limited information. Even if it provided more information, however, it would not be possible or appropriate to give an estimation without an examination of the medical records and the evidence concerning liability. Also, while your post is listed under personal injury, I am wondering if you may have suffered this injury on the job, making it a workers' compensation claim, which would then be impacted by your pay history. In either event, you are best served having an attorney acting in your interest from the earliest possible point in the case. Arrange a consultation. Gather the records you have available. If there was an accident of some sort, if it is possible to do so, photo the scene, vehicles, etc. Do not speak with adjusters without advice of counsel. Continue recommended treatment.... Read Answer

Yes, you have a claim to consider. Usually, it is not possible to give a response on medical malpractice questions within the scope of a site like this one. Medical malpractice cases are involved. After a consultation, you will be helped through an investigation to evaluate the claim (obtain records, obtain a required expert opinion, etc.). An important question would be whether much of the treatment and time would have been the same regardless any omission. I suggest you refrain from discussing the case and arrange a consultation as soon as you are able. If it applies, continue to follow medical advice. Bring those records and invoices you have available to the consultation.... Read Answer

Yes, you have a claim to consider. After a consultation, you will be helped through an investigation to evaluate the claim (obtain records, obtain a required expert opinion, etc.). I suggest you refrain from discussing the case and arrange a consultation as soon as you are able. If it applies, continue to follow medical advice. Bring those records and invoices you have available to the consultation.... Read Answer

You have a workers' compensation claim and a third-party claim. There would be rights of offset between the two. Continue medical care, keep your records assembled, photo the scene of the accident and the vehicles if you are able, photo any visible injuries from time to time. Arrange representation before giving any further statements.... Read Answer

Are you suing for personal injury or are you suing for medical malpractice? You can discuss evidence of damages with your lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer, you are just plain foolish and you are doing yourselves a grave disservice. I cannot emphasize that last point strongly enough: I have been practicing law for 30 years now and I don't take med-mal cases because they are so difficult, expensive and time consuming. I know a lawyer who does take such cases, he turns down many more than he takes, it is not uncommon for him to lay out $50,000 in expenses, he'll put a thousand hours work into it and even then he figures he only has a 50/50 shot. That's how difficult these cases are. So if you have a lawyer like that, then trust him/her to get the job done. If not, then you might as well just hit yourself in the head with a brick for all the chance at success you will have.... Read Answer

If it's a work-related accident, then Worker's Comp should pay. You mention that "a court date has not yet been set". If you are referring to a comp board hearing, that tells me that the carrier is contesting the issue of whether the injuries were from a job-related activity If you have health insurance, then you can put the bills on that and the comp carrier can pay them back. Otherwise, the medical providers will just have to wait.... Read Answer

Well that depends on a # of factors, such as the nature of the claim, the liability facts, the extent of damages, whether damages are continuing, etc. My suggestion would be to get a free consultation (on the phone or in person) with a local personal injury attorney that regularly handles the type of case you may have. They can explore more of the details with you, let you know how the law is trending in your kind of case and in your jurisdiction, and give you a possible range of results that may occur if you present the claim. Good luck.... Read Answer

I think I answered this question a day or two back. You can probably sue the bus company. If it owned by a municipality, there are special conditions you must meet, and one of them is filing a Claim and Notice of Claim (and serving it on the wrondoer) within 120 days of the accident. Find a good personal injury lawyer to help you. Good Luck.... Read Answer