Neck and Shoulder Pain after a Rear-End Accident in Chicago

Shoulder Injuries Lawsuit

Rear-end crashes can happen in many situations. Every time you take the wheel when driving or hop in the car as a passenger, you will be in many situations that leave you exposed to getting hit from behind. The exposure you face has nothing to do with how you drive necessarily. You are in danger of getting into a rear-end collision when you stop for a stop sign, yield while entering the highway to merge, stopping for pedestrians, and slowing for a yellow light to list a few examples.

Rear-end accidents happen when people do not pay attention to the road before them. Drivers who tailgate, follow too closely, text while driving, drive drunk or high, or simply who do not pay attention to the road are at high risk for crashing into someone from behind.

Most of the time, a rear-end accident is the fault of the motorist approaching from behind, but not always. Slowing or stopping too fast can cause a crash. Driving erratically can cause a rear-end crash, and so can road rage driving.

Perhaps whiplash and soft tissue injuries are the two injuries people involved in rear-end accidents suffer. Rear-end crashes can inflict other injuries, but soft tissue injuries seem to be the most common.

Soft tissue injuries are merely a broad category of injuries that describe wounds that concern the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin only. Even though there are no broken bones, nerve damage, or another more serious injury, soft tissue damage and whiplash are painful. Those types of injuries can take a long time to heal and require lengthy rehabilitation.

Merely describing the injuries like whiplash and soft tissue injuries does not diminish the importance of your claim. You should receive financial compensation for all losses you endure if you were hit by another person in a rear-end accident.

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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Financial Compensation for a Broken Leg in a Chicago Car Crash

Car Accident Brachial Plexus Injury Settlement Lawyers in Illinois

A broken leg is a painful and potentially devastating injury. Depending on how the bones break and which bones break, you could need repeated surgeries requiring the orthopedic surgeons to reconstruct your bones with screws, wire, and metal plates. Furthermore, you might end up with permanent damage from your injury even if the bones heal. Such a devastating injury could force you out of work while facing a pile of medical bills, lost salary, lost benefits, and future medical costs.

The human legs are at the mercy of the forces applied to it in an automobile crash. Despite how hard your leg bones are, they are no match for crushed metal. The bones of the lower leg, named the tibia and fibula, can get caught under the dashboard of a crumbling vehicle and snap. Similarly, the bones of your feet and ankles are at risk for sustaining a significant fracture in a car crash. Additionally, your kneecap, or patella, could slam into the dashboard and fracture. The femur, which is the thigh bone, can break if you are sitting at the door and a car crashes directly into you in a so-called “t-bone” accident. The bones of the hip can be broken in a t-bone crash as well.

The severity of the break depends on many factors such as the speed at which the cars collide, the health of the bones, the age of the person, previous injuries, and whether the motorist is restrained by a seatbelt. Orthopedic surgeons describe the severity of a fracture by defining with the wound is open or closed and whether the bone broke in multiple places or just one. An open fracture is sometimes described as a “compound fracture,” meaning the bone came through the skin. Orthopedic doctors will also describe leg fractures in terms of how the bone broke, such as a complete fracture, partial fracture, or a spiral fracture.

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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Illinois Car Accident Attorney Answers Questions About Damages in Auto Accident Cases

Free case analysis car accident attorney in Chicago, Illinois

If you were a victim of a severe car accident and sustained serious, long-lasting, and painful personal injuries, the chances are high that you will want the person who hurt you to pay. The feeling is natural. You want the other person to pay, that is to be punished. You want retribution, but also, you want to be made whole. Those feelings are perfectly rational. 

During our first meeting with our new client, we always field questions about how much we think a case is worth. Many variables are in play when discussing the monetary value of a case. Fortunately, we have a significant amount of experience to draw upon to help us figure out the number of damages you might win in the end.  

There are four general categories of damages for which Illinois allows a victim of negligence to recover. The four categories are medical bills, future medical payments or obligations, lost wages, and loss of future income. Those four categories of damages can provide an estimate about the special, or economic damages, you can claim in your case. These are known as actual damages. 

Illinois law recognizes compensatory damages as well. Compensatory damages are difficult to quantify with any certainty. Compensatory damages like pain, suffering, and emotional distress are hard to categorize because the injury is so personal. There could be an objective amount of damage like bills from visiting a therapist, but those bills do not explain how you cannot sleep at night because you are in that much pain, the mental anguish you feel because you can no longer pick up your child, or how you regard your life as less meaningful after your accident.

There is one additional category of damages that typically do not arise in the average negligence case but are important to learn about just in case your claim falls into this limited category. Punitive damages, also called exemplary damages, as the name implies, are designed as punishment. They are intended to hurt the defendant. They are not available for a “straight negligence” claim, but you might be eligible if the other driver was intoxicated or drove recklessly.

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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When is the Proper Time to Engage an Illinois Accident Attorney?

Chicago Auto Accident Lawyers

You should contact an Illinois car accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident. Doing so will help you understand your rights, your legal obligations, and help you avoid common pitfalls unrepresented claimants encounter. If you take the wrong action in the aftermath of an accident, say the wrong thing, or try to handle matters without involving an attorney, then you are asking for trouble. 

There is a frequent objection to the advice that you should consult a lawyer immediately. Money is an issue. You could be out of work after your accident. Worse yet, you might be stuck in a hospital bed or recuperating in a rehabilitation facility after an accident. The last thing you are considering is paying for a lawyer’s consultation. Not every lawyer offers free consultations, but our firm does. Talk with a lawyer who will give you the time to explain your situation without having to pay for it. You can use that free meeting to understand more about your rights, how a strong case is assembled, and how you might be able to protect your family in this tumultuous and uncertain time.

Human nature dictates that we endeavor to learn about the end, while we are still at the beginning. Consequently, most people want to know how much they are going to win with a settlement, and when will the settlement day arrive. If you are healed and only have medical bills that amount up to $1,000.00, then you might not get anything because PIP or other insurance will cover your losses. However, if you have several thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost wages, other expenses, along with long-lasting injuries, your claim could be worth a whole lot more. 

There is one key factor in calculating damages that people seem to forget. Insurance companies love to blame the victim for their losses. Insurance companies will try to work through your losses and say that they are from a pre-existing injury or that you were the reason the accident happened in the first instance. A lawyer who knows how to handle difficult claims adjusters will fight for you and hope you realize the largest settlement sum possible.

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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Property Damage in Illinois Car Wreck Cases

Chicago Accident Law Lawyers

You have the right under Illinois law to recover money as compensation for the damage to your automobile if you were in an accident. Ironically, there is a common misconception that damage awards are only limited to personal injuries in Illinois car wrecks. That is not true. If you were involved in an auto collision and that collision was the fault of the other driver, then you have the right to recover for repairs to your vehicle or the replacement value of your automobile if it is totaled. The replacement value is typically 70% of the cost of the vehicle.

Insurance companies cut costs wherever they can. You have the right to have new parts installed on your car rather than used parts or secondary parts that mimic the original. Some insurance companies have substituted so-called “knock-off” parts for the genuine parts approved by your vehicle manufacturer. Using knock-off parts devalues your car and potentially does not return your car to the full state of worth it was in at the time of the crash. 

Diminished value of your car is a benefit of which most people are unaware. You have the right to compensation for the difference between the estimated value of your vehicle before the crash and the fair market value of the car after it is repaired. If you were to trade your car in to a dealership, you would not receive as much for it as if the car was up damaged. Thus, you lost money, and therefore, you should receive the difference in value. Sometimes the difference in value could be thousands of dollars depending on how extensive the crash was and the nature of the repairs.

There are other property damage losses you can claim in an Illinois car accident. Any after-market additions you made to the vehicle that enhances the value of the car can be claimed in the total value of the loss. Additionally, you can claim the value of the damaged or destroyed property that was in the car when the crash happened. For example, if you carried your golf clubs in the trunk and they were damaged in a rear-end collision, then you are eligible to receive the replacement value of your clubs.

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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Calculating Lost Earnings After Illinois Car Wrecks

At Fault Driver Has No Insurance

Not every physical injury heals, but with medicine, rehabilitation, and time, physical wounds will repair themselves. On the other hand, money does not replenish itself. We all have a window of time in which we can work. For some, that window is longer than others but is finite none-the-less. Therefore, not being able to work because of a car accident in Illinois caused by someone else deprives you of the right to earn as much money in your lifetime as you can. 

Some unlucky people are permanently deprived of working ever again after an accident. Those unfortunate people did nothing but be in the wrong place. Yet, they unfairly suffer the consequences of another driver’s carelessness. Some of those people who were grievously injured might be able to return to work in a limited capacity while others might never get back to work again. 

Loss of income has a greater implication that just the wages you lost in the aftermath of your Illinois car accident. Lost income means losses of other benefits in addition to a lost salary. Lost vacation time, used sick time, missed opportunity to contribute to 401(k) plans, pension plans, paying for healthcare insurance, and other employee benefits. 

There is another component to lost wages for which an injured plaintiff must account to realize full compensation for damages. Lost ability to earn is the compensation you could earn in the future but be deprived of that chance, either partially or completely, because of the accident.

Possible lost earnings are difficult to calculate. Several factors play into consideration, such as your professional background, education, training, the severity of the injuries, and loss of bodily function as it relates to job retraining. Your standard of living and the area in which you live will also play a role in calculating your lost earning potential. 

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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Settlement Timeline for Illinois Car Accidents

Chicago Auto Accident Lawyers

A very small percentage of accident claims ever go to trial in Illinois. The parties often resolve the case by a settlement at some time during the proceedings. Many claims never reach the trial stage because of a settlement. However, there is never a set timeline for any case to settle.

Settling your claim with a third-party insurance company takes patience, understanding, and fortitude. Some cases settle faster than others. The speed with which a case reaches settlement often depends on how egregious the third-party actions were and the severity of the injuries you suffered. Therefore, you cannot compare your case to another’s if your case does not settle as fast as someone else’s case. They are as diverse from one another as you are from that other person.

You must bear in mind that insurance companies will not settle with you for the amount you want simply because you were hurt in an accident. In other words, you must convince them that you deserve the settlement you have demanded. Otherwise, the insurance company will not take you seriously, and it could affect how the insurer deals with you. If you demand $1 million in a settlement but only had back pain that completely healed after a month of treatment and you only missed work for two days, then the insurance company is not likely to see you as a real victim. On the other hand, for example, if you missed a year out of work, spent six months in traction, needed several surgeries to repair the damage and might need more in the future, coupled with the harsh reality that you will never walk right again, then your claim is not as easily dismissed. 

There is another issue that can delay settlement. Limitation of insurance companies’ liability often forces lawyers to search elsewhere for insurance proceeds. If the person who hit you only had the statutory minimum of $20,000.00 and your medical bills were well over that, your lawyer might need to file a first-party claim with your insurance company or investigate to see if liability could attach elsewhere. 

Just before the second anniversary of your accident, you must file a case in court if you have not settled. You might push your case to trial if the insurance company is not dealing with you fairly. However, courts encourage parties to work out their differences without resorting to a trial, and most cases do settle.

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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Illinois Auto Accident Insurance Claim Procedure

Chicago Accident Law Lawyers

Filing a claim to recover damages for personal injuries after an Illinois car accident can be a daunting procedure. Insurance companies like it that way because they can save money when people become frustrated with the process. They find that settling quickly is sometimes in their best interests, while at other times, dragging the case out is the best course of action. In short, the insurance company will do what is in its best interest rather than yours unless they are forced to do otherwise. In the end, however, most cases settle and never go to court. 

The insurance claim procedure in Illinois begins immediately after an accident. The injured person should inform his or her insurer as soon as possible. Additionally, the injured person, or someone like a lawyer working with that person, should obtain a copy of the police report. The other party’s insurance information should be listed in the report. You should have an attorney contact the other party’s insurance company and file a third-party claim.

Your attorney will send updated information to the third-party insurer periodically as you progress through medical treatment and recovery. The length of time required for a full recovery, if a full and complete recovery is possible. This is the time for your lawyer to identify expert witnesses, if the lawyer deems them necessary in your case, to discuss the long-term effects of your accident.

When all medical bills are in, and the losses from your employment along with other damages have been calculated, then a settlement demand can be made. If there is no settlement forthcoming, or Illinois’ two-year statute of limitations is about to run, your lawyer will file a pleading, called a complaint, in court. Once the case is in court, the process of formal discovery begins as the case winds its way through an overcrowded court system.

It is best to remember that settlement can happen at any time, even if your case is in court. The parties are free to continue to negotiate. Also, they can go to mediation or arbitration to settle the case without waiting for a trial date.

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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Liability in Illinois for a Multi-Vehicle Wreck

Illinois Car accident law firms

Victims injured in a multi-vehicle crash in Illinois can bring a legal claim against all drivers who contributed to causing the accident. Figuring out which driver is the most responsible for generating the collision is not the primary concern of the plaintiff necessarily. Instead, identifying all liable drivers and their insurance carries is the essential consideration in a multi-car crash in Illinois. The drivers who somehow caused the accident have the opportunity to fight it out among themselves who is the most culpable.

A driver accused of causing a multi-car pile-up can turn the tables against all of the other drivers, including the plaintiff by blaming everyone else for causing the crash. Unless one driver emerges as the one who obviously caused the collision, then each driver will point an accusatory finger at all of the others. Sorting this out can be challenging even for the savviest and experienced Illinois multi-vehicle accident attorneys.

The question of which driver is at fault for a chain reaction crash in Illinois will be determined by the application of Illinois’ rules of negligence. Negligence is the legal term for carelessness. Carelessness, or negligence, is determined by the existence of a duty of care. Duty of care essentially means that the person accused of being negligent had an affirmative obligation to behave according to specific legal and societal standards. In Illinois, as elsewhere in the U.S., each driver has the affirmative duty of care to drive safely and not cause an accident. Therefore, determining who caused an accident comes down to identifying which driver breached Illinois obligation to drive safely.

The fault will be apportioned to each driver according to how careless they were at the time the crash occurred. That rule applies to the plaintiff as well. Contributory negligence in Illinois could reduce the amount of a financial award won by the plaintiff or eliminate it altogether if the plaintiff was 50% or more at fault for putting the accident in motion. 

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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Brain Lacerations in Illinois Car Accidents

What does a personal injury lawyer charge in legal fees?

The forces inflicted upon the body in a motor vehicle crash can cause unspeakable injuries. There is no predicting what will happen to the occupants of a vehicle when a car collides with another vehicle or other hard objects like a tree or a wall. Wearing a safety belt and riding in a vehicle with modern technology that deploys airbags is no guarantee that the car accident victim will not sustain a traumatic brain injury. The same is true for a pedestrian, motorcycle rider, or bicycle rider if they are struck by a car. Even using all of the protective gear and safety measures available cannot guarantee the accident victim will not sustain a head injury.

Traumatic brain injury describes a large number of potential injuries inflicted upon the human brain, including lacerations. Brain lacerations are a cutting or a tearing injury to the brain matter and membranes surrounding it. Physicians describe brain lacerations as focal injuries because brain lacerations occur at the site of the injury or the focal point of the contact between the skull and a hard object. 

Brain lacerations occur when the victim suffers a sharp, direct strike to the head. Imaging will show that a contusion and skull fracture are also present at the site of a brain laceration. Notwithstanding, a brain laceration could occur in the absence of a skull fracture. 

Brain lacerations are commonly located in the frontal lobe and the temporal lobes. The brain tissue gets stretched and pulled and then essentially rips. Interestingly, the tearing away of brain tissue along with membranes can sometimes go undiagnosed. Sometimes this injury might seem like a headache or a mild concussion and experience no loss of consciousness. Brain bleeds are hazardous medical conditions. Therefore, it is vital to get checked out if you suspect that you injured your head in an accident. The treating physician should order diagnostic imaging to understand what injuries the victim sustained. 

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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