ILLINOIS PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS
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Will County Personal Injury Lawyer
Curcio & Casciato has proudly served the greater Chicago area since 1957.
If you live in Will County and you have suffered serious injuries due to someone else’s negligence, our attorneys will fight for you to receive the maximum compensation. For over 60 years, we’ve represented individuals suffering from motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice incidents, workplace injuries, animal bites, and much more. If you’ve lost a loved one due to a wrongful death incident, our compassionate attorneys will make sure those responsible are held liable for the pain and suffering they have caused. When you or a loved one suffers a serious injury, you want experienced personal injury attorneys on your side. We will fight for you to receive the maximum compensation that you deserve. Call Curcio & Casciato at 312-321-1111 to schedule a free consultation today.
Personal Injury Law Overview
Personal injury law, otherwise known as tort law, is an action caused by a civil wrongful act that harms someone and causes a person to suffer a loss. Those responsible for the tortious act can be held legally liable for their actions. When determining a personal injury case, the key is establishing negligence, which is the failure to exercise reasonable care. During the case, the attorney must prove that the negligent acts of another person caused harm or loss to their client and that they are entitled to damages to compensate for their injuries or losses. When you choose Curcio & Casciato, an experienced attorney will advocate for your rights and for you to receive fair compensation.
The most common personal injury cases are motor vehicle accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice cases, product liability claims, and wrongful death cases.
The goal for any personal injury case is for the injured parties to receive compensation from the responsible parties to cover any injuries or losses they sustained. Personal injury laws can differ from state to state, so it’s important to have an experienced personal injury attorney represent you that is familiar with the local laws. If you have been seriously injured due to another’s negligence in Will County, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to evaluate your case.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents are the most common personal injury cases. They include car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents, which can all result in catastrophic injury.
According to 2020 motor vehicle statistics, over 246,000 crashes occurred that year. Over 50,000 of those crashes resulted in injuries, while more than 1,000 resulted in death.
Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Over 2.3 million drivers and passengers went to the emergency departments in 2009 as a result of a motor vehicle accident injury. The following are the most common injuries caused by a motor vehicle accident:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Skull or facial fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash
- Partial or complete paralysis
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Nerve damage
- One or more amputations
- Road rash, bruising, and lacerations
- Loss of fetus
- Wrongful death
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional treats a patient negligently, causing major injury, illness, or death. Unfortunately, when someone receives any medical treatment, there is always the possibility that medical negligence can happen. The standards and regulations vary from state to state and are complex, so it’s important to have a knowledgeable attorney representing your case. Medical malpractice cases cover a wide range of the medical community. They can include birth injuries, diagnostic errors, medical device errors, medication errors, plastic surgery malpractice, chiropractor malpractice, nursing home negligence, and more.
You could have a personal injury case if you suffered injuries or lost a loved one due to medical malpractice. Call Curcio & Casciato at 312-321-1111 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced medical malpractice attorney.
Birth Injuries
Birth injuries are preventable injuries that occur during the birthing process and are caused by the doctor’s negligence. Despite the advances in medical technology, birth injuries can still happen. These birth injuries can result in the child’s cognitive impairment or developmental delay. The most common types of birth injuries that our Will County personal injury lawyers litigate include cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, meconium aspiration syndrome, umbilical cord prolapse, shoulder dystocia, and more.
Nursing Home Negligence
When you place your loved one in a nursing home, you expect them to receive the utmost level of care. Unfortunately, nursing homes today are increasingly overpopulated and understaffed, which causes nursing home abuse and negligence. In light of this, Congress created the Nursing Home Reform Act in 1987, which established a Resident’s Bill of Rights to protect nursing home residents and ensure that they receive the highest quality of care, resulting in and maintaining their “highest practicable” physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. Thanks to the Nursing Home Reform Act, nursing facilities that receive Medicaid and Medicare payments for long-term care patients can only receive these payments if they are certified by the state to comply with this act substantially. The state of Illinois also enacted legislation to protect nursing home residents. When your loved one has suffered due to nursing home negligence, you’re looking for compassionate legal representation. Our nursing home abuse and bed sore lawyers are ready to help you and your family during this difficult time.
Workplace Injuries
In 2010, over 4,500 American employees were killed on the job, while millions more sustained nonfatal injuries. While everyone has the right to work in a safe environment, workplace injuries happen often. If you’re injured in the workplace, you can file a worker’s compensation claim to receive compensation. Most companies would rather settle out of court, so it’s important for you to have an experienced workplace injury attorney ready to fight for your rights. You could be entitled to damages, including lost wages, medical expenses, and more. If you’ve been hurt at work, schedule a free consultation with the Will County personal injury attorneys to learn more about filing your personal injury claim.
Construction Site Accidents
Construction sites are dangerous work environments that can injure workers and visitors. These sites are filled with hazards like power tools, partially built structures, scaffolding, ladders, lifts, heavy machinery, cranes, trucks, and rotating crews. When you’ve been involved in a construction site accident, the attorneys at Curcio & Casciato will investigate your claim and ensure you receive full and fair compensation for your injuries. Call our office at 312-321-1111 to schedule a free consultation.
Dangerous and Defective Products
Product manufacturers are held to a strict liability standard, meaning that the injured person does not need to prove negligence or intentional wrongdoing by the manufacturer. Showing that the product is defective, which resulted in injury, is sufficient enough to win a case. If you’ve been injured due to using a dangerous or defective product, you could have a claim against the product manufacturer or distributors. Our legal team at Curcio & Casciato has represented victims of dangerous and defective products for years, and we will help you do the same.
Defective Drugs
When your doctor prescribes a drug, you trust that it will help you feel better, not worse. Sometimes pharmaceutical companies withhold information about a drug’s side effects to push it through and get approval from the FDA. Just because the FDA has approved a drug does not guarantee its safety. When pharmaceutical companies fail to disclose the harmful side effects of their drugs, causing individuals to become sick, they can face personal injury lawsuits and be forced to legally compensate those harmed. If you’ve been injured from a prescription drug, facing large pharmaceutical companies alone can be scary. Let the Will County personal injury attorneys take on the fight for you. Contact Curcio & Casciato to schedule a free consultation.
Slips, Falls, and Other Premises Liability
If you’ve slipped and fallen on someone else’s property, they could be held legally responsible for your injuries. The legal obligation of a property owner and occupiers to prevent injuries is considered premises liability. The most common causes of premises liability claims are slip and fall injuries on an uneven floor, stairs, ice, spilled liquid, or debris. If you’ve fallen on someone’s property and were injured, our attorneys can evaluate your claim to determine the best course of action.
Animal Bites
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year, approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs, half of them children. While few died due to their injuries, one in five dog bites requires medical attention.
In 2012, over 27,000 dog bite victims underwent reconstructive surgery. In addition to dogs, other animals have been known to attack both children and adults, sometimes causing infection. These include domestic (cats, ferrets, birds) and undomesticated (large cats and reptiles) typically found in the wild but sometimes owned by people as house pets.
Railroad Accidents
Despite trains being one of the oldest and safest forms of transportation, crashes and employee-related accidents occur frequently, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of seriously injured each year. Human error, mechanical malfunction, improper operating procedures, inadequate safety devices, and negligence can cause these accidents.
Railroad Employee Accidents
Railroad workers are prone to accidents at work due to the dangerous nature of trains. Because of this, Congress passed the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) in 1908 to protect railroad employees injured on the job. Railroad workers hurt at work should file a FELA lawsuit instead of a personal injury lawsuit. Those that file a FELA claim are more likely to receive 100% of their lost wages as opposed to 80% with a personal injury claim. A FELA claim will also cover damages for pain and suffering.
Wrongful Death
You could have a personal injury case if you’ve lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence. Wrongful death can occur from a medical malpractice incident, car accident, or any other type of occurrence that would be considered a personal injury claim. Sadly, no amount of compensation will bring your loved one back, but receiving fair compensation can help the family members pay for burial expenses, medical bills, lost wages, and more. Our compassionate team of lawyers in Will County will handle your cases so that you can focus on grieving the loss of a loved one.
Assault and Battery
Assault and battery offenses fall under criminal and civil law, meaning the offender can be held criminally and/or civilly liable. Assault is defined as the attempt to physically harm a person, and battery is the actual infliction of harm. Assault and battery are treated as separate offenses in the civil context. Considered “intentional torts,” assault and battery differ from typical personal injury cases because the offender intended to cause harm. More common personal injury cases require the injured to prove negligence.
Toxic Exposure and Poisoning
When someone’s negligence leads to the toxic exposure or poisoning of another, this falls under a personal injury claim. The effects of toxic exposure are often permanent, and the victim is unaware that their illnesses were directly related to that exposure.
A common example of a toxic exposure claim is mesothelioma, an illness caused by long-term exposure to asbestos.
Community Exposure
A dangerous chemical can cause those living near to become ill or even result in life-threatening injuries. The 2000 feature film Erin Brockovich starring Julia Roberts, is the best example of community exposure. This movie brought to light the lawsuit against the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. This company was responsible for polluting the drinking water of the entire town of Hinkley, California, resulting in an incredibly high cancer rate among the residents. This case resulted in the largest settlement ever paid by a direct action lawsuit in United States history. To learn more about dangerous pollutants in drinking water, contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
Workplace Exposure
Certain occupations run a higher risk of their workers being exposed to toxic chemicals. Those working in industries such as photo developing, fabrication, hospital work, airline work, mechanical repairs, and construction are more vulnerable to toxic exposure.
What are Common Damages for a Personal Injury Claim?
When filing a personal injury claim, you want an experienced team of attorneys on your side. The Will County attorneys at Curcio & Casciato will provide aggressive legal representation no matter the severity of the injury. If you’ve been injured due to another’s negligence, you could be entitled to compensation for the following damages:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future rehabilitation bills
- Caregiving bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional and mental distress
- Counseling expenses
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent scarring, disfigurement, and disability
- Funeral and burial expenses if the personal injury resulted in wrongful death
Call a Will County Personal Injury Lawyer at Curcio & Casciato Today
For over 60 years, the attorneys at Curcio & Casciato have represented victims of personal injury claims, helping them receive the maximum amount of compensation. If you’ve been injured in Will County due to someone else’s negligence, our attorneys are here to help. Let us take on the legal fight so that you can focus on recovering. Call the Will County personal injury lawyers at the Curcio & Casciato to schedule a free consultation at 312-321-1111.