Champaign Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were injured in an accident in Champaign, Illinois, you may have the right
to seek compensation from the person or company responsible for your injuries.
At Patel Law, PC, our Champaign personal injury lawyers represent injured people
throughout Champaign County and Central Illinois in claims involving car accidents,
truck accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, medical malpractice, wrongful
death, and other serious injuries.
Our firm has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for injured clients.
Contact Patel Law, PC to schedule a free consultation with a Champaign personal
injury lawyer and learn about your legal options.
Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Champaign, Illinois
Patel Law, PC represents clients in a wide range of Illinois personal injury cases,
including:
- Car and Auto Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Boat Accidents
- Bus Accidents
- Burn Injuries
- Catastrophic Injuries
- Defective Products
- Dog Bites
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Wrongful Death
What Compensation Can You Recover in an Illinois Personal Injury Case?
If another person’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be entitled to
compensation for your financial and personal losses. The amount of compensation
depends on the facts of your case, the severity of your injuries, available
insurance coverage, and other factors.
Damages in an Illinois personal injury case may include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future income or earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Loss of a normal life
- Property damage
In fatal accident cases, eligible family members or the estate may also be able
to pursue compensation through an Illinois wrongful death or survival claim.
What Happens If I Was Partially at Fault for an Accident in Illinois?
Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You may still recover
compensation if you were partially responsible for an accident, as long as your
share of the fault is not more than 50%.
Your compensation is reduced according to your percentage of fault. For example,
if your damages are $100,000 and you are found 20% at fault, your recovery would
generally be reduced to $80,000. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you are
generally barred from recovering damages under Illinois comparative negligence law.
How Can a Champaign Personal Injury Lawyer Help?
Insurance companies investigate claims with their own financial interests in mind.
An experienced Champaign personal injury attorney can help protect your rights
throughout the claims process.
Depending on your case, Patel Law, PC can help:
- Investigate how the accident occurred
- Identify potentially responsible parties
- Preserve photographs, video, witness statements, and other evidence
- Obtain medical records and bills
- Identify available insurance coverage
- Communicate with insurance companies and adjusters
- Evaluate your medical expenses, lost income, and other damages
- Negotiate for a fair settlement
- File a lawsuit when appropriate
Champaign, Illinois Personal Injury FAQs
How do I know if I have a personal injury case in Illinois?
You may have a personal injury claim if you were injured because of another
person’s or company’s negligence or wrongful conduct. Common claims involve car
accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle
accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, defective products, and medical
negligence.
A personal injury lawyer can review how the incident happened, determine who may
be legally responsible, identify available insurance coverage, and explain your
options for pursuing compensation.
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois?
In many Illinois personal injury cases, the general statute of limitations is
two years from the date the cause of action accrued. However, shorter deadlines,
different limitations periods, and exceptions can apply depending on the type of
case, the parties involved, and other circumstances.
Because missing the applicable deadline may prevent you from recovering
compensation, it is important to speak with an Illinois personal injury attorney
as soon as possible after an accident.
What should I do after a car accident in Champaign, Illinois?
If you are involved in a car accident, your health and safety should come first.
When possible, call the police, obtain appropriate medical attention, exchange
insurance information, photograph the vehicles and accident scene, and obtain
contact information from witnesses.
You should also keep copies of your medical bills, medical records, repair
estimates, photographs, wage-loss documentation, and communications with insurance
companies. Avoid signing releases or other insurance documents you do not
understand.
Will my insurance rates go up if a car accident was not my fault in Illinois?
Not necessarily. A not-at-fault accident does not automatically mean your auto
insurance premium will increase.
However, there is no guarantee that your premium will remain the same. Insurance
companies consider several factors when determining premiums, which may include
your driving history, claims history, location, coverage, discounts, and changes
in the insurer’s overall rates.
If another driver caused your accident, you should not avoid pursuing a legitimate
claim or using insurance coverage available to you solely because you are concerned
that your insurance premium might increase.
Should I use my own insurance if the other driver caused the accident?
In some situations, you may use coverage under your own auto insurance policy
even though another driver caused the accident. Depending on your policy and the
circumstances of the crash, available coverage may include collision coverage,
Medical Payments coverage (MedPay), uninsured motorist coverage, or underinsured
motorist coverage.
Using coverage available under your own policy does not by itself mean that you
were responsible for causing the accident.
Should I give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company?
You should be cautious before giving a recorded statement to another driver’s
insurance company. An adjuster may ask detailed questions about how the accident
occurred, your injuries, your medical treatment, and your prior medical history.
Consider speaking with a personal injury attorney before providing a recorded
statement or signing an authorization, release, or other insurance document.
What should I bring to my first meeting with a personal injury lawyer?
Bring whatever information you already have relating to your accident. Helpful
documents may include:
- Police or accident reports
- Photographs and videos
- Medical records and bills
- Auto and health insurance information
- Letters, emails, or text messages from insurance companies
- Witness names and contact information
- Vehicle repair estimates
- Documentation of lost wages
Do not delay contacting an attorney simply because you do not have every
document. Additional records can often be obtained during the investigation of
your claim.
How much is my Illinois personal injury case worth?
There is no standard settlement amount for a personal injury case. The value of
your claim depends on factors such as the severity and duration of your injuries,
medical expenses, lost wages, future medical needs, pain and suffering, disability,
disfigurement, available insurance coverage, and whether fault is disputed.
A personal injury attorney can provide a more meaningful evaluation after
reviewing the facts, insurance coverage, medical treatment, and evidence in your
specific case.
Do I need a personal injury lawyer after an accident?
Not every accident requires an attorney. However, speaking with a lawyer may be
particularly helpful when you suffered significant injuries, have substantial
medical bills, lost income, face disputed liability, are dealing with multiple
insurance companies, have an uninsured or underinsured driver claim, or believe
an insurance company is undervaluing your claim.
What is negligence in an Illinois personal injury case?
Negligence generally means failing to exercise the level of reasonable care that
a person should use under the circumstances. In a personal injury case, an injured
person generally must establish that the defendant owed a legal duty, breached
that duty, and caused injuries and damages as a result.
What happens if someone dies because of an accident?
When a person dies because of injuries caused by another person’s negligence,
the circumstances may support an Illinois wrongful death claim, a survival claim,
or both. The parties who may bring those claims and the damages that may be
recoverable depend on Illinois law and the specific circumstances of the case.
Families dealing with a fatal accident should speak with an Illinois wrongful
death attorney promptly because legal deadlines may apply.
What if I signed an insurance settlement or release shortly after an accident?
Signing a settlement or release does not necessarily mean that there are no legal options available. In some circumstances, an Illinois court may be asked to set aside a release based on issues such as mistake of fact, unconscionability, undue haste, fraud, or other circumstances surrounding how the release was obtained.
This can be especially important when a release was signed shortly after an accident, before the injured person understood the nature and extent of the injuries or had an opportunity to obtain medical treatment or legal advice.
If you signed a release or accepted an early settlement after an accident and later discovered that your injuries were more serious than you initially believed, an attorney can review the release and the circumstances surrounding the settlement to determine whether you may have additional legal options.
Can I reopen a personal injury claim after signing a settlement release in Illinois?
It depends. A signed release generally has important legal consequences, but there are circumstances in which the validity or enforceability of a release may be challenged. Factors may include how soon after the accident the release was signed, whether the full extent of the injuries was known, whether the injured person had received medical evaluation, what information was provided by the insurance company, and the specific language of the release.
Because these cases are highly fact-specific, anyone who believes they settled an injury claim before understanding the seriousness of their injuries should have the settlement documents reviewed by an Illinois personal injury attorney.
Medical Malpractice FAQs
What is medical malpractice?
Medical malpractice generally occurs when a health care professional fails to
meet the applicable standard of care and that failure causes injury to a patient.
Medical malpractice claims can involve physicians, nurses, hospitals, clinics,
and other health care providers.
Does an unsuccessful surgery automatically mean medical malpractice occurred?
No. An unexpected or unsuccessful medical result does not automatically establish
medical negligence. A medical malpractice claim generally requires evidence that
the health care provider failed to meet the applicable standard of care and that
the failure caused an injury.
What is informed consent?
Informed consent generally involves providing a patient with appropriate
information about a proposed treatment or procedure, including material risks,
benefits, and alternatives, so that the patient can make an informed decision
about whether to proceed.
Contact a Champaign Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence in Champaign, Urbana,
Champaign County, or elsewhere in Central Illinois, Patel Law, PC can evaluate
your case and explain your legal options.
Our personal injury attorneys handle claims involving car accidents, truck
accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip
and falls, dog bites, catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice, and wrongful
death.
Contact Patel Law, PC today to schedule a free consultation with a Champaign
personal injury lawyer.
