Experienced Injury Attorney Serving Accident Victims in Kankakee, Bourbonnais, Manteno and Throughout Kankakee County, IL
An accident can happen in a moment. However, the effect that an accident has on your life can last forever. Even accidents that do not result in debilitating injuries can still cause significant disruptions in your life. They can also cost you tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses and lost wages. At Fotopoulos Law Office, our Kankakee County personal injury lawyer proudly represents accident victims and their families, connecting them with meaningful compensation to make them whole after everything they have been through.
Types of Kankakee County Personal Injury Cases We Handle
At Fotopoulos Law Office, Attorney John Fotopoulos has more than 20 years of experience handling a wide range of Kankakee County personal injury cases. Our firm is dedicated to seeking justice and maximum compensation for individuals and families who have suffered harm due to the negligence or wrongful acts of others. We understand that an unexpected injury can dramatically change your life, leading to medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress. Our goal is to handle the legal complexities so you can focus entirely on your recovery.
We are equipped to manage the challenges inherent in different types of personal injury law, from navigating complex insurance claims to litigating against large corporations. Regardless of the specific type of accident that caused your injuries, our Kankakee County personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights and effectively pursue a claim for compensation against the responsible party. Below is a detailed look at the core practice areas we handle.
Motor Vehicle Accidents: Protecting Drivers, Riders, and Pedestrians
Motor vehicle accidents are among the most common sources of personal injury claims in Kankakee County. Due to driver distraction, speeding, or impairment, these collisions often result in devastating injuries. We meticulously investigate the accident scene, gather witness testimony, and work with accident reconstruction experts to prove negligence and secure fair settlements.
Car Accidents
Car accidents often involve issues of distracted driving, drunk driving, or simple failure to obey traffic laws. While some car crashes result in minor damage, many lead to severe injuries such as whiplash, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Our representation includes fighting insurance companies that attempt to minimize your settlement or deny a valid claim. We calculate the true value of your case, including future medical costs and loss of earning potential, to ensure you receive comprehensive compensation.
Motorcycle Crashes, Bicycle Accidents, and Pedestrian Collisions
Individuals who are not protected by a metal frame are highly vulnerable in traffic accidents. Motorcycle crashes, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian collisions typically lead to catastrophic injuries due to the direct impact between the victim and the vehicle or the road surface. In these cases, it is crucial to establish the driver’s failure to watch for or respect the rights of the non-motorist. We work tirelessly to hold negligent drivers accountable for failing to share the road safely and respecting the immense danger they pose to vulnerable individuals.
Truck Crashes
Collisions involving large commercial vehicles, such as semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and eighteen-wheelers, present unique legal challenges. Truck crashes are often more complex than standard car accidents because they involve multiple parties—the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, and the manufacturer—and are governed by strict federal trucking regulations. Our investigation focuses not only on the driver’s negligence (like fatigue or speeding) but also on the company’s maintenance records, hiring practices, and adherence to hours-of-service rules. The severity of injuries in these massive collisions almost always necessitates long-term financial support.
Workplace and Occupational Injury Claims
While every employee is entitled to a safe work environment, accidents happen. When they do, victims may have multiple avenues for seeking financial relief beyond standard workers’ compensation.
Workplace Accidents and Third-Party Liability
In Illinois, workplace accidents are primarily covered by the Workers’ Compensation system, which provides no-fault benefits. However, if your injury was caused by a third party—meaning someone other than your employer or co-worker—you may also be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit. Examples of third parties include vendors, contractors, or manufacturers of defective equipment. Pursuing a third-party claim can secure damages like pain and suffering, which are not available through workers’ compensation, offering a much higher level of financial recovery.
Construction Injuries
Construction injuries are a specific and often severe category of workplace accidents. Construction sites are inherently dangerous, involving heavy machinery, heights, and complex safety protocols regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We handle claims related to falls from scaffolding, crane accidents, electrical injuries, and falling debris. Like general workplace accidents, construction injury claims frequently involve third-party liability against site owners, general contractors, or equipment suppliers whose negligence contributed to the hazardous conditions.
Specialized Negligence and Malpractice Cases
Our experience extends to cases where injury results from professional errors or systematic failures of care, which require specialized legal knowledge and resources to prove.
Medical Malpractice
When a healthcare professional or facility deviates from the accepted standard of care, leading to patient harm, it may constitute medical malpractice. These cases are notoriously difficult and require extensive expert testimony to establish the breach of duty and the resulting injury. We handle claims involving surgical errors, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, birth injuries, and medication errors. Our firm works with a network of respected medical experts to build a compelling case that proves your injury was a direct result of the negligent medical treatment.
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Our elderly loved ones deserve dignity and competent care. When a facility fails to provide that care, resulting in nursing home abuse and neglect, legal action is necessary. We represent victims and their families in cases involving bedsores, malnutrition, dehydration, falls, medication errors, and physical or emotional abuse. These lawsuits not only seek compensation for the victim’s pain and suffering but also aim to hold facilities accountable, preventing future mistreatment and ensuring higher standards of care.
Product Liability
Manufacturers have a duty to ensure that the products they sell are safe for consumer use. Product liability claims arise when an individual is injured by a defective product. These defects typically fall into three categories: a design defect (the entire line is unsafe), a manufacturing defect (an error in production), or a failure to warn (inadequate instructions or missing safety labels). We take on major manufacturers to fight for consumers injured by faulty auto parts, defective medical devices, dangerous children’s toys, and unsafe machinery.
Catastrophic Injury and Wrongful Death
The most tragic cases we handle involve injuries that are fatal. In these situations, the focus shifts to providing long-term support for the surviving family members.
Wrongful Death
When negligence or a wrongful act results in a fatality, the victim’s estate may pursue a wrongful death claim. No amount of money can replace a loved one, but this legal action can provide crucial financial security for the family left behind. Wrongful death claims seek compensation for funeral expenses, medical bills incurred before death, the loss of the decedent’s future income and benefits, and the family’s loss of companionship and emotional support. We handle these delicate and complex cases with the utmost compassion and dedication, fighting to protect the legacy and rights of the deceased.
Our Commitment to Kankakee County
For over two decades, Attorney John Fotopoulos has been committed to serving the Kankakee County community, fighting for victims in courtrooms and at the negotiation table. We pride ourselves on personalized service, ensuring every client feels heard and supported throughout the entire legal process. If you or a family member has been injured due to another party’s carelessness, don’t wait. The Illinois statute of limitations imposes strict deadlines on when a personal injury claim can be filed, so prompt action is essential to preserving your right to compensation. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your specific case and learn how we can help you start the path toward recovery.
Damages in Illinois Personal Injury Cases
At Fotopoulos Law Office, we understand how an accident can affect your life. Even accidents that may not immediately appear to be serious can cause unforeseen medical issues down the road. For this reason, it is imperative that you work with a Kankakee County personal injury attorney who is capable of identifying the full extent of your damages. That way, at the end of your case, you can rest assured that there will not be any unexpected expenses that were not covered by your damages award.
Of course, every personal injury lawsuit is unique, and damages can vary widely. However, in general, Illinois courts permit injury victims to recover compensation for their damages. These include economic damages, which consist of out-of-pocket expenses that you incurred as a result of the accident. They also include money that you would have earned but could not due to your injuries. The most common economic damages in Kankakee County personal injury claims include compensation for the following:
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Decrease in earning capacity
- Modifications to a home to accommodate a disability
- Property damage
Proving economic damages typically requires an accident victim to present documentation of the expenses or lost income they suffered because of the accident. For example, your Kankakee County personal injury lawyer may gather and submit all your medical bills, paychecks from before and after your injury, work records, and receipts.
Non-economic damages refer to the emotional and psychological toll that an accident took on your life. While non-economic damages are harder to value, they are just as important as economic damages—if not more so. Non-economic damages may include compensation for your:
- Pain and suffering
- Disability or disfigurement
- Decreased ability to enjoy your life
Proving non-economic damages can be more challenging than establishing economic damages, because accidents impact everyone’s life differently. In other words, non-economic damages are subjective, and they require an attorney to tell a compelling story about how the accident impacted your life.
Speak with a Kankakee County Personal Injury Attorney
If you were recently involved in a motor vehicle collision, workplace accident, slip and fall, or any other type of preventable accident, Fotopoulos Law Office is here to help. As a former judge, Attorney John Fotopoulos has an impressive understanding of the legal principles that govern these cases as well as what it takes to be a successful litigator. During your free consultation, we will explain the recovery process, answer any questions you may have, and provide you with an honest assessment of your case. If you decide to pursue a claim, we will not bill you unless we can recover compensation on your behalf. To learn more, contact us at 708-942-8400.
