Most of us take our ability to use our arms and legs for granted. Someone who has suffered paralysis after an accident knows just how precious this ability is. Paraplegia, quadriplegia, and other forms of paralysis are often the result of spine injuries suffered in a collision, slip and fall accident, or other type of accident. Some paralysis victims can still retain some control over the affected body parts, others are completely paralyzed. Their muscles may become flaccid and unusable or tight with painful spasms. Whatever the specifics of the condition, paralysis affects every aspect of a person’s life.

Legal Options for Paralysis Victims in Winnebago County

Per Illinois law, individuals who are injured by the actions of another party may be able to bring a personal injury claim and seek financial compensation. Money could never make up for the loss of your hand, foot, arm, or leg, however, it may relieve some of the financial burden caused by the accident. Many paralysis victims are left with massive medical bills and other expenses. They may be unable to work either temporarily or permanently. Many are never able to enjoy the same hobbies and activities they could before the accident.

If you or a loved one suffered temporary or permanent paralysis in an accident, you may be able to take legal action and recover financial compensation.  The liable party may be an individual such as a drunk driver, a commercial business such as a trucking company, a property owner, or another party. For car accidents, the party who is ultimately responsible for compensating the victim is a car insurance company. Unfortunately, insurance companies are notoriously difficult to deal with. The insurance company or other at-fault party may try to avoid taking responsibility for the accident or offer an unreasonably low payout. A personal injury lawyer can help you gather the evidence needed to build a compelling claim and act as your legal advocate during settlement negotiations, communications with the at-fault party, or any legal proceedings.  

Burns are some of the most agonizing injuries a person can suffer. If you or a loved one were the victim of a serious burn, you know just how awful these injuries can be. Many burn victims require significant medical treatment including surgery such as skin grafts. They may also require hospitalization and weeks or months of recovery. The financial and non-financial expenses associated with a serious burn injury can be staggering. Fortunately, a personal injury claim may be one way to recoup compensation for these and other losses.

Holding the Liable Party Accountable for a Burn Injury

A successful personal injury claim is possible when a party’s carelessness or wrongdoing causes someone else to be injured and sustain damages. Some examples of situations involving burn injuries that may justify a personal injury lawsuit include:

• The owner of a nightclub fails to provide adequate exit signage causing patrons to suffer avoidable burns during a fire
• A negligent driver causes a tanker truck accident in which someone is badly burned
• Manufacturing defects cause a container containing corrosive chemicals to leak onto a worker
• A property owner fails to install adequate smoke detectors, causing a tenant burns in an apartment fire

A personal injury lawsuit can help you hold a negligent individual or company liable for the party’s role in causing your burn injuries.

Our brains control everything from speaking and moving to information processing and memory. Damage caused by a traumatic brain injury can affect every aspect of a sufferer’s life. If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident, work accident, or other incident caused by another party’s recklessness or intentional malice, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit. You could be compensated for the damages, or losses, that you experienced because of the injury.

Compensation for Medical Treatment in a Traumatic Brain Injury Case

Acquired traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur when an object punctures the skull and directly injures the brain or, more commonly, when the brain strikes the inside of the skull. About half of severe TBI sufferers require surgery and many more require hospital treatment and other medical care. Most medical interventions cannot repair the brain damage that has already occurred, but it may prevent further damage. The medical costs incurred by a severe TBI can be astronomical. A personal injury case may allow a sufferer to recover costs related to:

• Surgery
• X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and other imaging tests
• Blood tests
• Speech therapy
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Vocational counseling
• Psychological treatments
• In-home medical care
• Nursing care
• Hospitalization
• Appointments with physiatrists and other specialists  
• Medications
• Other medical needs

Lost Income and Missed Work  

Often, a large contributor to the financial burden created by a traumatic brain injury is the injured person’s lost income. Your TBI may have required you to miss work or the injury may have permanently reduced your ability to work. You may need to change careers, work fewer hours, or take on a less demanding workload because of the TBI. You may be able to recover compensation for your lost wages and the impairment to your earning capacity via a personal injury lawsuit.  

Burns are often terribly painful and can lead to lifelong, disfiguring scars. If you or a loved one suffered a burn injury because of another party’s negligent or irresponsible actions, you may be interested in bringing a lawsuit against the negligent party. A personal injury claim is a legal action that you can take to both hold the negligent party accountable and pursue compensation for your damages. You could be entitled to compensation for economic damages like medical bills and lost income as well as the non-economic damages incurred by your burn injury.

Bringing a Successful Burn Injury Claim

If you are like many people, you may not be sure what it takes to win a personal injury claim and successfully recover compensation for your damages. Most personal injury claims are founded upon an allegation of negligence. There are four major elements in a burn injury claim based on negligence.

• The defendant, or the person or organization against who you are bringing the claim, owed you a legal duty. For example, product manufacturers have a legal duty to meet certain standards when it comes to flammability and overall product safety. Motorists have a legal duty to drive lawfully and responsibly. Landlords have a legal duty to ensure their properties are equipped with smoke detectors and fire escapes.
• The defendant breached the duty. This breach of duty may have involved negligent or careless actions as well as negligent inaction.
• Your burn injuries were caused by the defendant’s breach of duty. Establishing the causal connection between your injuries and the defendant’s actions is crucial to winning your claim.
• You suffered damages, or financial harm, as a result of your burn injuries.

Types of Damages You May Be Entitled to Collect

Burns are not only some of the most painful injuries a person may sustain but they are also often one of the most costly injuries. Your burn injuries may have required extensive medical treatment including wound care, surgery, skin grafts, and more. The costs associated with these treatments may be considerable. Through your injury claim, you may be entitled to compensation for your past and future medical expenses caused by your burns. You may also be entitled to compensation for your lost wages caused by missed work and any impairment to your earning capacity. Recoverable non-economic damages may include physical pain, mental suffering, reduced enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and more.

In workplaces nationwide, workers are required to use various chemicals and other materials in order to perform their jobs properly. While many chemicals are fairly safe, others often present severe dangers, including the ability to cause serious burns. If you have suffered a chemical burn while on the job or while visiting an industrial or construction site, seek treatment immediately and learn about your rights to possible compensation.

Breaking Down a Chemical Burn

Chemicals that can seriously burn a person are usually strong acids or bases. Some such chemicals are found in most homes and may include ammonia, chlorine bleach, and drain cleaning liquids and gels. In manufacturing and industrial settings, however, there are many more chemicals that are often used for a wide range of applications. These chemicals are usually even more concentrated—and therefore more dangerous—than their household counterparts.

When a caustic or corrosive chemical makes contact with your skin, the substance could start to eat away at your flesh. The severity of the burn depends on several factors, including the type of chemical, its concentration, and how long it stays in contact with your skin. The least serious type of chemical burn is called a “superficial injury” as it only damages the top layer of skin. A “dermal injury” or “partial thickness” burn refers to damage to the second layer, called the dermis. The most serious type of chemical burn is a “full-thickness injury” and damages the top and second layers of skin, as well as the tissue underneath, including muscle and fat.