If you are injured by someone else’s negligence or intentional actions, you might be able to recover compensation for your injuries by filing an insurance claim against the at-fault party’s policy. Is filing a claim simple? Will you be awarded a fair amount? The unfortunate reality is that most personal injury cases are anything but simple, and claimants often accept settlements for substantially less than they should, particularly when they lack effective legal representation.

You may wonder why choosing an Orland Park, IL personal injury lawyer to assist with your claim is worth it. The reason is that you can benefit in many ways, and the amount of money you may receive is typically far more than you would get otherwise.

What Is a Personal Injury Claim?

Most of these cases depend on being able to prove that someone else’s negligence directly contributed to your injuries and associated losses. Accidents and incidents that frequently lead to these claims include:

• Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Nursing home neglect and abuse
• Construction accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Slip-and-fall accidents
• Defective products, whether through negligence or strict liability
• Wrongful death

On the surface, these claims may appear straightforward. You may think you will just complete and submit claim forms and then receive a payment that completely covers your expenses and other losses. That misconception can be a costly mistake.

Why Is Working With a Personal Injury Lawyer Worth It?

Regardless of the kind of accident and injuries you experience, insurance companies do not want to pay your claim. They have several methods they routinely use to protect their profits, leaving you without the money you need and deserve. When you partner with a skilled attorney, we become your advocate. We have seen insurer tricks before and know how to outmaneuver them. We give you multiple advantages, such as:

• Obtaining evidence: You need evidence to support your claim, which is often only available through a detailed investigation. You may also have to prove the extent of your injuries and how they impact your quality of life. We have the resources to locate and preserve supporting evidence for your case.
• Assessing your damages: Most people do not know how to place value on the various losses they suffer from a personal injury incident. All cases are different, but you could be eligible to receive lost income, medical expenses, property damage, and various forms of pain and suffering. Insurers usually make extremely low settlement offers that do not accurately reflect your losses. A skilled lawyer can calculate how much you qualify to receive and will work tirelessly to help you secure it.
• Maximizing your compensation: Lawyers representing liable insurance companies work to reduce or deny your payout. We oppose them at every step. Our honed negotiation skills can result in an acceptable settlement offer, but we can also provide exceptional litigation services if we have to take your case to trial. Our goal is to help you recover the maximum compensation available.

As a former judge, Attorney Fotopoulos has seen many cases and knows how to handle yours effectively. Trusting us with your case can give you invaluable peace of mind.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Dedicated Orland Park, IL Personal Injury Attorney

You do not have to let insurers take advantage of you. To learn more about how Fotopoulos Law Office can assist with your personal injury matter, call us at 708-942-8400 or contact us online to schedule your free case review with our competent Will County, IL wrongful death lawyer.

Preliminary data for 2023 report 6,402 truck crashes in Illinois, an average of 17 accidents every day. Truck collisions frequently produce significant property damage and catastrophic injuries, some resulting in fatalities. If you are injured in a truck accident, you may be eligible for compensation, but you need evidence proving the truck caused your crash.

What is a truck’s black box? How can black box data support my accident claim? Your knowledgeable lawyer from Fotopoulos Law Office can answer those and other questions during your free consultation, but it is important to call as soon as possible after your collision.

What Is a Truck’s Black Box?

Officially called an event data recorder, most commercial trucks have a black box installed. Similar to mandatory electronic logging devices that track a driver’s hours of service, EDRs record various data about the truck’s and driver’s behaviors surrounding an event, such as a crash. Data recorded by an EDR includes:

• GPS location
• Speed at the time of the crash
• Whether the driver was accelerating
• Whether the driver applied brakes trying to avoid the collision and how long between braking and impact
• Truck performance and stability information
• Seatbelt usage and airbag deployment
• Steering input
• Crash force severity

Recordings are brief, typically spanning 5 seconds before the crash to a few seconds afterward. Only authorized personnel can access and edit the data, but some devices are set to automatically delete data after a specified period.

The data in a truck’s black box is often invaluable evidence if the truck is involved in a crash. Since the data is likely to be erased either automatically or manually, it is vital that you call Fotopoulos Law Office as soon as possible after your accident so we can request a copy before it disappears.

How Can Black Box Data Support My Truck Accident Claim?

You must determine why and how your truck crash happened to identify the at-fault party or parties. With commercial vehicles, including tractor-trailers, several parties may be liable for your damages, such as the:

• Truck driver
• Trucking company
• Truck leasing company or owner
• Truck maintenance company
• Parts manufacturers
• Cargo loaders

Black box data can help you prove negligence on the part of one or more parties. As the basis for most personal injury cases, negligence may give you grounds to file a compensation claim. The data could show, for example:

• The driver did not steer or brake trying to avoid the collision
• The cargo shifted, causing trailer instability that may have led to the driver losing control
• The driver was speeding or driving too fast for the conditions

You need evidence to support your claim, and recovering black box data is crucial. Not just anyone can access this data, but your lawyer from Fotopoulos Law Office can.

What Damages Could I Receive After My Truck Crash?

Damages in personal injury cases reimburse or compensate victims for specific losses, such as:

• Lost income
• Property damage
• Medical and ongoing care
• Pain and suffering
• Lost enjoyment of life

Case-specific factors determine your eligible damages and amounts. Fotopoulos Law Office knows how to calculate them accurately and will work to get you the highest amount available.

Call Our Reliable Will County, IL Truck Accident Lawyer

As a retired Cook County judge, Attorney Fotopoulos has significant experience holding at-fault parties accountable for their actions. Call Fotopoulos Law Office at 708-942-8400 for your free consultation with our dedicated Orland Park, IL personal injury attorney.

Injury accidents happen every day in Illinois. These injuries may be minor, with the victim able to recover over time with appropriate medical care. On the other hand, catastrophic injuries are more severe, typically leaving victims in life-altering circumstances. Although many of these victims can obtain compensation, it is often an uphill battle to get a reasonable amount that covers all applicable losses.

Insurance companies do not like paying claims. The higher your damages, the more likely it is that these insurers will fight their obligation to pay you. Our experienced personal injury lawyer at Fotopoulos Law Office will aggressively defend your best interests, working to help you obtain a favorable settlement.

What Are Catastrophic Injuries?

Although no injury is good, some severe injuries can have permanent negative effects on your life. Examples of catastrophic injuries include:

• Compound or multiple fractures
• Burns
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Shattered joints or bones
• Facial and head injuries, including those that affect vision and hearing
• Spinal and neck injuries
• Amputations
• Permanent disfigurement

Not all wounds are physical. Victims with catastrophic injuries often see a decline in their quality of life. PTSD, depression, and anxiety may plague them, leading to them losing their ability to enjoy life. They may struggle to deal with their new reality, which may include a disability or prominent scarring.

How Can Catastrophic Injuries Occur?

Many kinds of accidents can produce extremely severe injuries. In some cases, assault or another intentional act may cause the injuries. Frequently seen accidents that may lead to catastrophic injuries include:

• Truck accidents and car crashes
• Construction accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Defective products

If your catastrophic injury happened while you were at work, you may need to file a workers’ compensation claim to receive compensation. If you are an eligible survivor of someone who lost their life after a catastrophic injury accident, you may qualify to file a wrongful death claim.

To check your eligibility to file these various claims, contact Fotopoulos Law Office now for your free consultation. There are various deadlines to file a claim, and the sooner you choose to work with us, the faster we can begin investigating your accident.

How Do Insurers Treat Catastrophic Injury Victims?

Insurance companies usually use several tricks to either reduce how much they pay or deny their liability. Without the help of a qualified attorney, you may not be able to overcome these challenges successfully. Commonly used tactics include:

• Claim denials
• Using innocent statements you make as an admission of guilt
• Making lowball settlement offers
• Accusing you of causing your own accident
• Questioning the severity of your injuries

When you partner with Fotopoulos Law Office, your legal team will communicate with insurers as your personal representative. We will also negotiate to get a reasonable settlement offer or take your case to court if necessary.

Contact Our Skilled Will County, IL Catastrophic Injuries Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one sustained a catastrophic injury, you likely do not have the time, resources, or legal knowledge to handle your accident claim effectively. Call Fotopoulos Law Office at 708-942-8400 now to speak with our experienced Orland Park, IL personal injury attorney. Your no-obligation consultation is free.

An investigation into claims that Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based products, including its popular baby powder line, might cause cancer, the multinational company has agreed to pay a $700 million settlement. The products in question had been sold for over a century, but the investigation was a result of significant complaints that contrary to the company’s statements and marketing over the years, the products were not safe for consumption, the company was aware of the dangers, and purposely hid this information from the public while continuing to market the products. While the company didn’t confess to any wrongdoing and maintained that all its products were safe to use it did agree to pay out this enormous settlement. If you have used this or another product and you are concerned you might have been harmed, contact an experienced Will County, IL product liability lawyer who can explain your options.

What Are Product Liability Cases?

There is an entire category of law known as personal injury, which generally covers damages people suffer as a result of someone else’s negligence. A major subcategory of personal injury law is product liability. In these cases, the plaintiff does not need to prove that the other person or party was negligent but instead that the defendant sold a product that posed an unreasonable danger to the public.

There is a statute of limitations for product liability claims. Even if you have a strong case demonstrating the other party’s fault for your injury or damage, you need to file your suit within two years after the injury. Otherwise, you will lose your chance.

There are certain ways around this statute of limitations. For example, there is the Discover Rule, which states that the two-year period begins only once you have discovered the injury. This can help in situations where the use of a certain product causes an injury, but you are not aware of the injury until later.

In a democracy like America, where citizens can assume there is reason to have faith in the authorities to ensure their general safety, it can be shocking and overwhelming to be lawfully sold a product that turns out to be harmful to you. If, for example, you are a generally healthy person who receives a cancer diagnosis, and you later discover this cancer is linked to a product you used, you will likely feel justifiably angry and will want the company behind the product to pay not only as a way to punish those responsible but also to receive help to cover the costs of all your medical bills and time spent out of work as a result. That is where a dedicated personal injury attorney can help.

Schedule a Free Consultation with an Orland Park, IL Product Liability Attorney

If you have reason to believe that you were harmed by using a product, speak with a qualified Will County, IL product liability lawyer. At Fotopoulos Law Office, we are passionate about getting justice for our clients and holding accountable whoever is responsible for their injuries. Call us at 708-942-8400 to schedule a free consultation.

Public transportation is a convenient and cost-effective way to travel, whether commuting to work or exploring the city. However, public transportation accidents involving buses or trains can occur, leaving you with serious injuries and mounting medical expenses. An Illinois lawyer can help you understand your rights and the steps you should take.

Seek Medical Attention

If you sustain an injury in a public transportation accident, seek medical attention immediately. Even if your injuries seem minor, have a medical professional evaluate your condition. Some injuries, such as concussions or internal bleeding, may not be immediately apparent. Prompt medical care ensures your well-being and creates a record of your injuries, which can be valuable evidence in a potential legal case.

Report the Accident

Notify the driver, conductor, or another official representative of the public transportation company about the accident as soon as possible. Get a copy of the accident report, which should include details such as the date, time, location, and a brief description of the incident. Gather their names and contact information if there are witnesses, as their testimony may be crucial in supporting your claim.

Document Your Injuries and Expenses

Keep a detailed record of your injuries and any expenses related to the accident. This may include:

• Medical bills and receipts
• Lost wages because of time off work for recovery
• Photographs of your injuries
• A journal detailing your pain, emotional distress, and how the injuries have affected your daily life
• This documentation will help establish the extent of your damages and support your compensation claim

Understand the Statute of Limitations

In Illinois, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims against public entities, such as public transportation authorities, is typically one year from the accident. This means you must file a formal claim within this timeframe, or you may lose your right to seek compensation. However, an attorney can help with certain exceptions, or notice requirements may apply depending on the specific public entity involved.

Be Cautious When Dealing with Insurance Companies

After the accident, representatives from the public transportation company’s insurance provider may contact you. While accepting a quick settlement offer may be tempting, you must remain cautious. Insurance companies often seek to minimize their financial liability and may offer a settlement that fails to fully compensate you for your injuries and losses. Before accepting any settlement or providing a recorded statement, collaborate with your attorney to ensure they protect your rights.

Contact a Will County, IL Personal Injury Lawyer

Experiencing an injury from a public transportation accident can be distressing and challenging. It is crucial to seek immediate medical care, report the incident, record your injuries and related costs, and engage with a knowledgeable Orland Park, IL personal injury lawyer to protect your rights and seek potential compensation. Call Fotopoulos Law Office at 708-942-8400 for a free consultation with a retired judge who knows what it takes to increase your chances of a successful case.