Chicago Catastrophic Injury Attorney
Compassionate Support for Victims of Serious Injuries
When a person suffers an injury—whether it’s minor or serious—in an accident, the healing process can take either weeks or months to make a full recovery. However, there are injuries that are catastrophic in nature that can have a long-lasting or permanent impact on a victim’s life.
Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries You Should Know
There are a wide variety of injuries that can be life-changing. Some of the most common catastrophic injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Loss of limbs
- Extensive burns
- Disfigurement
- Multiple broken bones
- Complex fractures
If you have sustained a catastrophic injury caused by a negligent party in Illinois, our Chicago catastrophic accident attorneys at Leonard Law Group is dedicated to helping you recover the financial compensation you deserve. With more than two decades of legal experience, we have helped our clients obtain more than $1,000,000,000 in awards, settlements, and verdicts on their behalf. We can investigate the accident, gather evidence, seek professional assistance from field experts, and maximize your award.
Contact our catastrophic injury attorneys today at (312) 487-2513 to let us help you maximize your entitled compensation.
Understanding Catastrophic Injuries: What You Need to Know
A catastrophic injury is defined as a permanent injury or illness that a victim must live with for the rest of his/her life. While personal injuries can be serious in nature, they are often temporary.
Key Causes of Catastrophic Injuries in Chicago
The following are the most common causes of catastrophic injuries:
- Car and motorcycle accidents – Since motorcyclists are only protected by a helmet and padded clothing, a collision with a passenger vehicle can result in riders suffering catastrophic injuries.
- Car and truck accidents – Due to the massive size and weight of commercial semi-trucks, big rigs, and tractor-trailers in comparison with a passenger vehicle, occupants in a car can suffer catastrophic injuries when a truck crashes into them.
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents – Pedestrians and cyclists don’t have adequate protection when they are struck by a vehicle.
- Dangerous products – From inherently dangerous toys to faulty tools, these products can cause catastrophic injuries.
- Dangerous property conditions – Whether it’s a tripping hazard to falling objects, dangerous conditions on public or private premises can also lead to catastrophic injuries.
Local Insights on Serious Injuries in Chicago
In the bustling city of Chicago, serious injuries can occur in a variety of settings, from the busy streets of the Loop to the serene parks of Lincoln Park. Understanding the local landscape is crucial for victims seeking justice and compensation. The Chicago Department of Transportation and the Chicago Police Department are vital resources for accident reports and safety initiatives, which can be essential in building your case.
Residents often face unique challenges when dealing with serious injuries. The high volume of traffic, especially in areas like Wicker Park and River North, increases the risk of accidents. Additionally, the prevalence of construction sites throughout the city can lead to hazardous conditions that contribute to serious injuries. Victims may find themselves navigating complex insurance claims and medical bills, which can be overwhelming without proper support.
Moreover, the emotional and financial toll of a serious injury can be significant. Many individuals in Chicago rely on public transportation or their vehicles to commute, and a serious injury can disrupt their daily lives and livelihoods. Our team understands these pain points and is here to help you navigate the legal process while you focus on your recovery.
Whether you are in the heart of downtown or the outskirts of the city, we are committed to providing compassionate support tailored to the needs of Chicago residents. If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury due to someone else's negligence, reach out to us for guidance and assistance in pursuing the compensation you deserve.
Looking to the Future for Catastrophic Damages
As our lawyers can tell you from our years of experience, a crucial component of any catastrophic injury claim is the correct calculation of damages. Immediately after a serious accident that causes significant injuries, the amount of damages will already be extensive, such as the costs associated with emergency medical treatment and the destruction of your property. Yet the worst damages and highest costs are likely not yet experienced.
Catastrophic injuries will follow the survivor around for years, if not the rest of their life. All the while, the lasting injury will cause complications, each with their own costs. In order to accurately demand damages for our catastrophic injury clients, we need to consider how those costs will look far into the future, not just what has already been experienced. Using our extensive legal experience, we can calculate and pursue those damages on your behalf.
Extended or lasting damages caused by a catastrophic injury may include:
- Lifelong rehabilitation: Physical, speech, and occupational therapies can help someone mitigate or reduce the lingering consequences of a catastrophic injury. For example, weekly physical therapy can help with chronic pain and mobility limitations in patients who suffered a spinal cord injury. The cost of going to therapy each week or month for years and years can add up quickly, though.
- Lessened earning potential: A serious injury that forever limits someone can also significantly lessen how much they can earn in their career field. For example, careers that require frequent physical labor could become limited or impossible for someone who suffered multiple broken bones in a car accident, forcing them to take sedentary work that pays less than the role they really wanted. The gap between what you do earn after your accident and what you could have earned had it never occurred can be bridged with a successful injury claim.
- Lifestyle modifications: Catastrophic injury survivors often need to change their day-to-day lives because of their injuries. For example, someone who must use a wheelchair to get around due to a paralyzing injury will need to modify their home to accommodate themselves. When they move to a new home in the future, they will also need to deal with such accommodations and complications then.
- Shortened life expectancy: Some catastrophic injuries can dramatically lessen the survivor’s life expectancy, such as many types of brain injuries. The grief of knowing that you may have lost years of a happy, healthy life because of someone else’s mistakes can be factored into your future damages as a form of noneconomic damage.
Contact us at (312) 487-2513 for more information about our legal services.
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Attorney J. Leonard and his team were a pleasure to work with.
“Attorney J. Leonard and his team were a pleasure to work with. They were highly professional and excellent communicators. They were also extremely knowledgeable about my case. I wouldn't hesitate to refer him to others.”