Herniated Discs Sustained in an Auto Accident – What Accident Victims Should Know

Shoulder Injuries Lawsuit

Back injuries are common following auto accidents.  Many victims of auto accidents may not realize that they have sustained a back injury resulting from the accident, as there are many different causes of back injuries.  However, if a person suffers back pain and other complications following an auto accident, that person should consider whether his or her back problems may be a result of the accident.

A common back injury resulting from auto accidents is a herniated disc.  Discs provide a cushion between the vertebra along the spine.  When a disc is injured, the central portion of the disc may protrude, and expose nerve tissue inside the spine.  A herniated disc can cause substantial pain, which can often radiate to other parts of the body.  

If a person herniates a disc in the cervical (upper) portion of the spine, he or she may have nerve pain or numbness and tingling in the neck, arms or hands.  On the other hand, if a person herniates a disc in the thoracic (middle) or sacral (lower) portion of the spine, he or she may have nerve pain or numbness and tingling in the legs and feet.

Many people sustain herniated discs while performing routine activities or sports.  However, a herniated disc sustained in an auto accident may be much more severe than one resulting from a routine activity or sport.  In the most severe of cases, a person may require surgical intervention.

Any person who suffers from back pain, radiating pain, nerve pain, or headaches, should seek medical treatment to determine whether an injury has been sustained and whether that injury may be the result of an auto accident.  A proper diagnosis is necessary before a person can undergo treatment.  Forms of treatment for a herniated disc include prescription medications to manage the pain and inflammation, physical therapy, cortisone and steroid injections, and surgery.

Back injuries, such as a herniated disc, can be extremely debilitating and can limit a person’s routine activities.  If a person sustains a herniated disc in an auto accident caused by another person, the injured victim may choose to pursue compensation to help alleviate the physical, emotional and financial toll associated with his or her injuries. One hospital stay or surgical procedure can cost tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.  As such, many victims consider working with an attorney to discuss legal options for seeking compensation.

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Accident & Personal Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0506.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0506
Website | Directions

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Understanding the Symptoms and Treatment for Broken Ribs Sustained in an Illinois Auto Accident

Car Accident Brachial Plexus Injury Settlement Lawyers in Illinois

All injuries resulting from an auto accident have the potential to be permanent, requiring a substantial amount of medical treatment.  Additionally, the cost of medical treatment often can reach six figures if not seven figures throughout an injured person’s lifetime.  Sustaining broken ribs in an auto accident may not seem that debilitating.  However, such an injury can certainly cause a person to incur not only physical pain, but an inability to work, and an overall adjustment to one’s daily life.

It is crucial for victims of auto accidents to know what symptoms are associated with broken ribs and what steps to take when seeking medical treatment. First and foremost, any person injured in an auto accident should consider the possibility that he or she may have sustained injuries but has not yet experienced any symptoms.  As such, seeking immediate medical treatment is essential to determine whether a person has suffered broken ribs or some other injury that may not be readily known.

Symptoms associated with broken ribs resulting from an auto accident include, but may not be limited to, the following: 

  • Pain in any part of the chest;
  • Pain while breathing;
  • Shortness of breath;
  • Pain when applying pressure to the chest or torso;
  • Headaches; and
  • Dizziness. 

The only way to determine whether a person has sustained broken ribs resulting from an auto accident is to have an x-ray performed.  An x-ray will identify the extent of broken ribs which will then help to determine a person’s course of treatment.  While treatment should ordinarily be pretty routine for an individual who has sustained broken ribs, some complications can happen.  For example, a person who sustained broken ribs may develop pneumonia resulting from breathing difficulties.  As such, prompt treatment is essential to help prevent subsequent consequences resulting from broken ribs. 

If a person sustains broken ribs in an auto accident and another person was to blame for causing the accident, the injured victim may seek compensation to account for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages, among other damages.  Hospital treatment can be extremely expensive, even for something that may seem as simple as a broken bone.  Therefore, victims of auto accidents should consult with an attorney if they are considering legal action to seek compensation.

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Accident & Personal Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0506.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0506
Website | Directions

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Ridesharing Companies Such as Lyft and Uber See a Rise in Auto Accidents

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Study Shows that Cities with Ridesharing Companies Such as Lyft and Uber See a Rise in Auto Accidents

UNITED STATES – According to an online news article published by www.capecodtoday.com, a recent study reveals that cities with ridesharing companies like Lyft and Uber are seeing an increasing number of auto accidents.

The University of Chicago and Rice University in Houston conducted a study concerning ridesharing companies, such as Lyft and Uber, and the prevalence of auto accidents.  The study reveals that there has been a 3% increase in the number of fatal auto accidents after the introduction of ridesharing vehicles into the transportation industry.

The study notes that there are a significant number of benefits associated with ridesharing services, making it easier for individuals to obtain transportation at any given time day or night.  However, there are also many costs associated with the ridesharing industry.  For example, the loss of human life resulting from ridesharing auto accidents is substantial, having an estimated impact of a loss of $10 billion on the economy, if applying the United States Department of Transportation’s numerical value of human life.

Another significant change in the transportation industry following the introduction of ridesharing companies like Lyft and Uber is that taxis and other similar transportation companies are no longer as prevalent.  Before ridesharing companies entered the transportation industry, people would utilize taxis or other paid transportation services as well as get a ride from family members or friends.  Ridesharing companies have changed the industry in a way where many people look to these companies before considering hiring a taxi, another paid transportation service, or seeking a ride from family members and friends.

Illinois Personal Injury Lawsuits Involving Ridesharing Companies

Personal injury lawsuits involving injuries and deaths resulting from ridesharing accidents have become extremely tricky as drivers of ridesharing vehicles are not considered employees.  The ridesharing companies do not own the vehicles that drivers are operating.  As such, if an injured person or the representative of a deceased victim chooses to pursue legal action, assessing liability may be difficult.

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Accident & Personal Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0506.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0506
Website | Directions

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Common Causes of Head-On Collisions in Chicago and Throughout Illinois

Chicago Accident Law Lawyers

Head-on collisions result in some of the most severe auto accidents, frequently leading to catastrophic injuries that often are fatal.  Head-on collisions happen for a variety of reasons, and while there are common causes of all auto accidents, each accident is unique.  

Examples of common causes of head-on collisions include, among others, the following: 

  • Inattentive driving, such as texting or using a social media application on the phone;
  • Falling asleep at the wheel or driving while tired;
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including prescription medication;
  • Suffering from a spontaneous medical event, such as a seizure, heart attack, stroke, or any other medical event that may cause impairment;
  • Vehicular failure, such as tire blowouts, or brake failure, among others;
  • Speeding; 
  • Poor weather conditions; and
  • Low visibility if driving at night.

If a person survives his or her injuries following a head-on collision, he or she may still have life-altering consequences that lead to an inability to work, the need for continuous medical treatment, and the emotional harm that often coincides with permanent physical injuries.

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Accident & Personal Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0506.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0506
Website | Directions

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Things to Avoid When Filing an Accident Insurance Claim in Illinois

Call 312-422-0506 if injured in an accident.

Insurance companies will look for every edge possible to keep their costs down. Insurance adjusters, who place value on claims based on objective criteria such as the way the accident happened, the cost of your medical bills, and how much money you lost because you were out of work, will often make low offers to settle because they will not consider your pain and suffering. Insurance adjusters will also try to blame you for causing the accident, or at least play a role in creating the accident, and will also argue that the injuries you suffered are not as extensive as you claim. There are appropriate steps to take, and pitfalls to avoid, to make your claim stronger to receive the most compensation possible. 

First, you must call the police to report the crash as soon as possible. You must take care of yourself and any other person around who was hurt in the accident and ask the police for medical assistance if necessary. The police will start an investigation into the accident by taking statements and maybe taking photos as well. The police investigation will be more extensive if criminal activity was involved or if someone was severely hurt. You or a family member should obtain a copy of the report as soon as practicable.

You should document the scene as carefully as possible. Use your cellphone camera to capture the scene as soon as you can. Also, you must ask for medical assistance if you think you were hurt. Some injuries do not appear until well after the crash because your adrenaline has subsided. Seek treatment if you feel anything is wrong. Lastly, you must report the accident as soon as possible to your insurance company and keep a close accounting of all of your medical losses and economic losses as well.

Our firm’s vast experience handling car accident cases in Illinois gives us some insight on what not to do. First, do not admit guilt or express regret about the crash to anyone because your words will be used against you later even though you were merely being friendly. Do not do anything to make matters worse. Make sure you attend your medical appointments and do everything required of you to regain your health. Also, you must never give a sworn statement or sign anything, including accepting a settlement, until consulting an attorney. 

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Personal Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0506.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0506
Website | Directions

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Building Your auto Accident Injury Case for Trial May Help You Avoid Court

Do accident lawsuits go to court or trial?

Your pain and suffering from a car accident in Chicago are a game to insurance companies. Insurance adjusters know that they can settle a case quickly for little money or hold out in the long term and play a game of “chicken” with you to see how long you will wait before accepting their offer out of desperation. Therefore, preparing your case from the start as if it must go to trial is inevitable will help persuade the insurance company that you deserve a just offer to settle your claim before even setting foot in court.

Insurance company claims adjusters will review your claim when the file arrives on their desk and form an impression about the case. Then, they will analyze your file to see the cost of your medical bills and how much money you lost because you were out of work. Those figures are not set in stone and will likely increase depending on the nature of your injuries and the length of your recuperation. Notwithstanding, the insurance company will rely on a computer program to determine the value of your case. The insurance adjuster, who owes the insurance company a duty of loyalty as an employee, will try his or her best to reduce the insurance company’s costs.

Building your case as though you must bring your claim to trial can help you avoid going to court. Documenting the scene thoroughly, taking photographs, collecting all police reports, hiring an auto accident reconstruction expert or obtaining a copy of the reconstruction report filed by police, obtaining all medical reports, estimating future medical expenses, lost wage reports, tax returns, and witness statements will prove to the insurance company that you are ready for trial. Your preparedness should demonstrate to the insurance adjuster that your claim is worth more than his or her computer system says it is and offer you a reasonable and just settlement amount. 

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Accident Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0506.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0506
Website | Directions

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Why an Experienced Attorney Helps You Get the Recovery You Should

Chicago Accident Law Lawyers

Many people love to be a do-it-yourselfer. They will take on any challenge instead of calling a plumber to fix a leaking faucet, or a carpenter to build a deck, for example, because doing so saves them money. The only money they need to spend is on tools and materials. The rest is paid for by sweat equity. But just as you would not try to diagnose and treat your illness alone if you were not a doctor, you should not try to negotiate with an insurance company after a car accident. You stand to lose much more in the long run if you decide to handle your car accident claim personally rather than allowing a car accident lawyer with the expertise, savvy, and insight gained after decades of successfully negotiating car accident claims handle your case.

Negotiations with insurance adjusters can be difficult. Adjusters have voluminous resources at their disposal, which helps them place a dollar amount on your claim, and they hold all of the power in the negotiations because they have all of the money. In essence, a simple algorithm provides adjusters with a dollar amount the insurance industry places on your injuries. The calculations are based on objective criteria. Therefore, an insurance adjuster’s computer program will not account for the pain and suffering you endured because of another’s negligence. 

Adjusters can use other tactics to drive the value of your accident claim down like trying to blame you for causing the wreck or offering a quick settlement before you even understand the full extent of your injuries. 

Hiring a Chicago personal injury lawyer with years of experience successfully negotiating with difficult insurance adjusters will give you the advantage you need to maximize your personal injury settlement. Your experienced Chicago car crash lawyer will not settle before knowing the full extent of your injuries, economic losses, and pain and suffering. Furthermore, your Chicago car wreck attorney will push the limits of the settlement negotiations by countering insurance adjusters’ arguments and will take the case to court if the insurance company refuses to offer you a just settlement. 

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Car Accident Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0506.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0506
Website | Directions

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How Do You Know it’s the Right Time to Get a Lawyer in an Illinois Car Accident Case?

Do accident lawsuits go to court or trial?

Injured victims may believe that they can handle their insurance claim personally. However, trying to do so is foolhardy. Indeed, anyone can argue with an insurance company over what they believe is right and just. Notwithstanding, insurance companies have methods of delaying claims when it benefits them or paying claims quickly, although for pennies on the dollar when that method suits them. What people do not realize until they are knee deep in negotiations with an insurance company, is that the insurer holds all of the power. The accident victim is virtually powerless unless he or she hires a savvy, experienced, and knowledgeable Chicago accident attorney to take over.

The benefits of having an accident attorney represent you in negotiations with an insurance adjuster or insurance company defense lawyer far outweigh the risks. A Chicago lawyer with extensive experience fighting for injured victims will know and understand procedural and substantive law thoroughly. Meaning, the experienced accident attorney from Chicago will understand the subtleties of Illinois law and when to argue the law if doing so benefits you. Furthermore, your lawyer will know when to file your case in court, so you do not lose because you missed the statute of limitations.

 Thorough and complete preparation of your case is another benefit of hiring an attorney. Most pro se, meaning by themselves, litigants do not understand how to prove a case in court. People uninitiated with the law cannot know what evidence is required to win, how evidence must be presented in court, and, equally as necessary, what evidence, such as hearsay, may not be admitted at trial. Laws of evidence in Illinois are complex and complicated. Even the most seasoned trial lawyers study the rules of evidence so they can persuade a judge to allow the jury to consider relevant evidence as well as keep out damning evidence.

Without a lawyer’s expertise and unbridled dedication to your cause, you could lose out on the compensation you should receive.

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Accident Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0506.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0506
Website | Directions

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Why Should I Retain a Car Accident Attorney?

Chicago Accident Law Lawyers

Many people know that personal injury lawyers in Chicago and across Illinois take cases on a contingency fee arrangement. The most common contingency fee arrangement, which is a contract between you and your lawyer, only allows for a lawyer to receive payment on the case if the lawyer recovers money for you through a settlement or a judgment after winning at trial. Some lawyers use a graduated fee schedule, meaning that the lawyer will take a more significant percentage of winnings depending on how much work goes into the case. In other words, the lawyer’s fee will be lower if the case settles without going to court, but if the case must go to trial, then the attorney could take a more significant amount. This arrangement must be clearly outlined in writing and appearing in plain language in a document which you and your lawyer must sign.

Many law firms will take a case on a standard one-third fee. In other words, your lawyer will receive one-third of whatever you win as payment for his or her services. However, you do not pay anything if you lose your case. Thus, the contingency is whether the lawyer can collect a settlement or judgment for his or her client. 

This arrangement works out best for both the injured party and the lawyer in a personal injury case. The injured victim benefits because she or he has no obligation to pay any money out-of-pocket for a lawyer. Of course, after a serious accident, the victim most likely will struggle to pay his or her monthly bills, let alone paying the added cost for an attorney’s services. The attorney benefits because the harder the lawyer works for the client, then the client may receive a larger settlement. 

Trying to haggle with an insurance company without a lawyer is not the way to make more money from a settlement. Insurance companies will undercut your claim while making you believe you are getting a good deal when in reality, a lawyer could get you thousands more because a Chicago personal injury lawyer knows how the game is played.

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Auto Accident Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0506.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0506
Website | Directions

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Bad Faith Insurance Practices in Chicago

Call 312-422-0506 if injured in an accident.

Insurance coverage permeates every part of our lives. There is no getting around it unless you are super rich and can self-insure every facet of your life. Having insurance is smart and required by law in some circumstances like auto insurance. Your insurance company wants your business, meaning that they want to sign you up for as much coverage as possible. They are happy to take the money you pay in premiums and invest it along with the money other customers pay in premiums so they can generate huge revenues. Paying claims, whether it is to indemnify you in a first-party claim or a third-party claim cuts deep into insurance companies’ bottom lines and affects revenue. Therefore, they have a tremendous incentive to pay as little as they can. 

Insurance companies are bound by law to deal with claimants in good faith. This vague notion of good faith is the only real legal obligation insurance companies must follow. When acting in good faith, insurance companies cannot refuse to pay a claim that is valid or contest a valid claim. Insurance company representatives may not intentionally misstate the law to you, and they cannot lawfully delay payments. Despite the legal obligation insurance companies owe claimants, insurance company representatives will not deal in good faith all of the time.

Delaying payments, for whatever reason, is known as “Unreasonable and Vexatious Delay” in Illinois law. Insurance companies commit acts of bad faith in many circumstances. Some of those circumstances include a first-party claim when an injured person asks their insurance company to pay for their loss. First-party claims can arise when, for example, a business owner seeks indemnification for a loss from his or her insurance company, or an uninsured motorist crashes into and injures another. First-party claims also pertain to homeowners’ insurance, medical, and disability insurance as well.

Insurance companies must treat you in good faith if you are a third-party claimant as well. So, if you were hurt in a car crash or fell in a supermarket, the insurance companies hired by the people who injured you may not be unreasonable or vexatious and delay paying your claim. 

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Personal Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at (312) 422-0506.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 422-0506
Website | Directions

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