Personal Injury Attorneys – Live weblog
May 16th, 2012
After you are injured in an auto accident, an attorney can look out for your best interest while pursuing maximum compensation for your injuries. Although you can file a claim on your own, insurance companies tend to offer unfair and inadequate settlements when an attorney is not involved.
Even if the accident was not your fault, you will still have to face the consequences of a serious injury, including:
- Missed work
- Lost income
- Medical bills
- Physical pain
- Emotional suffering
When you deal with the insurance company on your own, you will most likely be offered a paltry sum that doesn’t come close to covering your expenses. Also, if the person who caused the accident is an uninsured or underinsured driver, an attorney can help you determine sources of compensation other than the driver’s insurance. If you have automobile insurance, you can make an uninsured motorist claim.
At Harvey L. Walner & Associates, our attorneys do more than just pursue a check. We support your full recovery by helping you find the medical care you need, and by providing attentive and personalized legal service.
If you have been in an auto accident in Chicago or the surrounding areas, please contact the experienced Chicago auto accident attorneys at Harvey L. Walner & Associates, Ltd., to schedule a free consultation.
Posted in Auto Accident | Comments Off
April 11th, 2012
Knowing what to do after an auto accident is critical to your safety. If you are seriously injured, taking the proper steps better ensures you will be compensated for your injury.
After an accident, you should seek medical attention. Even if you feel okay, you may have suffered an injury that is not immediately apparent. A thorough medical examination creates a record of how the accident affected your physical wellbeing.
During this time, you will probably be contacted by the other driver’s insurance company. Do not discuss your injuries or the facts of the accident.
As soon as possible, you should contact our attorneys at Harvey L. Walner & Associates. We can investigate your accident and determine who is at fault for your injury. You have a right to pursue compensation if the other driver was negligent and caused your injury as a result. In some cases, a driver is not at fault at all. The malfunctioning or faulty components of a defective vehicle can lead to catastrophic auto accidents and injuries.
Our experienced attorneys will listen to the details of your case free of charge and inform you of appropriate next steps.
If you have been in an auto accident in Chicago, please contact the experienced auto accident attorneys at Harvey L. Walner & Associates to schedule a free consultation.
Posted in Auto Accident | Comments Off
March 19th, 2012
The suddenness of an auto accident can be disorienting, but taking the proper steps after a car accident better ensures your safety and your legal interests.
After an auto accident, do:
- Call 911.
- Remain at the scene until the police complete their report.
- Keep your communication with the other driver to a minimum.
- Seek medical attention.
- Collect information about the other driver, including contact information, driver’s license number, license plate number and insurance company information.
- Give your contact information to the other driver.
- Take pictures of the location, injuries and car
- Write down details of the accident, including position of the vehicles involved, weather and time of day, and names and contact information of witnesses.
- Notify your insurance company of the auto accident.
- Keep any records of medical treatment, property damage or other documentation of the accident.
Part of knowing what to do after a car accident is knowing what not to do. After an accident:
- Do not leave the scene of the accident.
- Do not admit fault or apologize for the accident.
- Do not discuss the accident unnecessarily with the other people involved.
- Do not accept payment from the other driver.
- Do not agree to an insurance settlement before meeting with our attorneys.
- Do not sign any documents except for the police report.
Taking these steps better ensures your ability to file a personal injury claim in the event you are injured as a result of the other driver’s negligence.
If you have been injured in an auto accident, please contact the experienced Chicago auto accident attorneys at Harvey L. Walner & Associates, Ltd., to schedule a free initial consultation.
Posted in Auto Accident | No Comments »
March 7th, 2012
In the case of against Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago bus accident attorneys at Harvey L. Walner & Associates, Ltd. achieved a $222,000 jury verdict for a client who suffered serious injuries to his lower back in a rear-end bus accident. Our client had stopped at a red light in a Chicago intersection when a city bus rear-ended his vehicle.
Many victims of rear-end accidents suffer lower back injuries, but because our client was struck by a bus, his injuries were more severe. He not only sustained a herniated disc at his L5-21 vertebrae, but also a tear in his left rotator cuff. Our client underwent extensive physical therapy and epidural injections to control the high level of pain he was experiencing, and he will also need surgery to repair the herniated disc.
Our client missed four months of work because of restrictions after his accident, and his upcoming surgery will force him to miss even more time. The Illinois jury that evaluated our client’s injury included both past and future damages in his $222,000 verdict, including:
- $89,500 for medical expenses
- $70,000 for physical and emotional pain and suffering
- $45,000 for loss of normal life
- $17,000 for lost wages and time off work
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) initially denied liability for the bus accident, presenting evidence that our client had made a “sudden stop.” However, as the jury rightly determined, since our client was stopped at a red light, it stands to reason that the CTA bus driver should have anticipated the sudden stop and avoided a collision.
If you have been injured in a Chicago bus accident, you can trust our Chicago personal injury lawyers at Harvey L. Walner & Associates, Ltd. to pursue the justice and fair compensation you deserve. Please contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Posted in Auto Accident | Comments Off
February 13th, 2012
An injury sustained because of someone else’s carelessness is the basis of a personal injury claim. In legal terms, the carelessness that caused your injury is called “negligence.” Someone’s act of negligence can be devastating to the life of you and your family.
Elements that must be present in a personal injury claim include:
- You suffered an injury.
- Someone else’s negligence caused your injury.
- Your injury caused you harm or certain losses.
An injury alone is not enough to show personal injury; you must have suffered some sort of loss or harm from your injuries. The compensation awarded for these losses is called “damages.” These losses usually include:
- Lost income
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of normal life
If you think you may have a personal injury claim, the next step is to contact the personal injury attorneys at Harvey L. Walner & Associates to schedule a consultation. During your consultation, we will listen to the details of your case and determine whether you should move forward with a personal injury claim. This consultation is free of charge; in fact, we do not get paid until you get paid.
To find out if you have a personal injury claim in Illinois, please contact the experienced Chicago personal injury lawyers at Harvey L. Walner & Associates to schedule a consultation.
Posted in Personal Injury | Comments Off
January 30th, 2012
At Harvey L. Walner & Associates, Ltd., our personal injury attorneys have the experience, dedication, talent and resources necessary to pursue compensation for your injury and support your full recovery.
A few of the reasons you should choose our firm include:
- Experienced, talented personal injury attorneys.
- Personalized, attentive legal service.
- Dedication to helping you get back on track.
Experience is an important part of your attorney’s ability to handle your case. At our firm, our attorneys have decades of experience in personal injury. We utilize this experience to pursue the most beneficial outcome to your case. We are experienced in getting the most out of settlements, as well as litigating cases when necessary.
A definitive feature of our firm is personal service. We are attentive to your needs and inquiries, and always return your phone calls. We will do whatever is in our power to ensure you receive proper medical care, transportation and anything else you may need while recovering from your injury.
When you receive a settlement or judgment check, we can help you maximize the benefit of your compensation. We can assist you in finding a financial advisor who can help you plan the best way to get the most out of the money you received.
If you are looking for a Chicago personal injury attorney, please contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Harvey L. Walner & Associates, Ltd., to schedule a free initial consultation.
Posted in Personal Injury | Comments Off
December 21st, 2011
Personal injuries can range from broken bones to the most devastating and life-changing of injuries. Common types of personal injury include:
- Brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Head injury
- Neck injury
- Back injury
- Paralysis
- Amputation
- Blindness
- Burns
In addition to these physical injuries, personal injury cases sometimes include emotional or mental harm. When you are facing missed work, lost income, and physical pain or disfigurement, you may also suffer depression, anxiety, emotional distress and mental anguish.
When caused by someone else’s negligence, these injuries can become the grounds for a personal injury claim. Common sources of personal injury include:
After suffering because of someone else’s actions – or failure to act – you deserve.
If you have been injured by someone else’s negligence, please contact the experienced Chicago personal injury lawyers at Harvey L. Walner & Associates, Ltd., to schedule a free initial consultation.
Posted in Personal Injury | No Comments »
March 28th, 2011
Any action for personal injury or death against a physician or hospital must be filed within two years from the date the claimant knew or reasonably should have known of the injury. 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. Section 5/13-212. However, in no instance, may a claimant bring an action more than four years after the date on which the alleged act or omission occurred.
Posted in Medical Malpractice | No Comments »
March 9th, 2011
If you are involved in an automobile accident, immediately call the police. The police will talk to all parties and get necessary information (insurance info) to make a police report. You then must notify your insurance company within 24 hours and advise them of the details, i.e. damage to your vehicle, time, place, etc. If you are injured as a result of the accident, go directly to the emergency room for treatment.
Posted in Auto Accident | No Comments »
February 23rd, 2011
The typical attorney fee for personal injury cases in Illinois is 1/3 of the total settlement, or 33%. If the case goes to trial, the fee then goes to 40%.
Posted in Personal Injury | No Comments »
