A serious brain injury in Joliet, IL, can turn your life upside down in an instant. Even after the pain and shock subside, a harsh reality can set in. Everyday tasks that once seemed simple to you now become difficult or even impossible to perform. Circumstances like these are undeniably tragic.
When the accident that injured you was caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, however, a tragedy becomes an outrage. In the midst of all of your turmoil–physical, emotional, psychological, financial, and social–there is one constant you can rely on.
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys is filled with seasoned Joliet brain injury lawyers who will fight for your rights every step of the way. Our law firm can also help you if you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, a Joliet nursing home abuse, a premises liability case, a Joliet workplace accident, or any other type of accident.
Contact or call us at (815) 726-1616 today to schedule a free initial consultation.
How Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help You With Your Brain Injury Case in Joliet
Here at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, we’re not playing around. We are a dedicated Joliet personal injury law firm that is willing to stand by your side, lace up our gloves, and fight until you receive the justice you deserve. As one of Joliet’s most successful brain injury law firms, we have earned a long track record of success at trial by handling the most complex and high-value catastrophic injury claims.
Ironically, it is our stellar track record of success at trial that makes opposing parties nervous about taking us to trial. Consequently, they become much friendlier towards settlement, which is fine with us. The results speak for themselves, as we have won dozens of six- and seven-figure settlements for our clients. Opposing parties don’t like us very much, and we don’t blame them.
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys will guide you to justice every step of the way. Following is a list of just a few of the ways our Joliet personal injury attorneys can help you:
- Conducting a thorough investigation of your claim and the accident or misconduct that caused your brain injury;
- Collecting and analyzing critical evidence such as medical records, police reports, eyewitness statements, photographs and videos, photographs, physical evidence, and more;
- Consulting with Joliet and Chicago experts, perhaps including medical expert witnesses;
- Preparing defenses against possible counterclaims;
- Negotiating with the insurance company (and perhaps your healthcare provider) on your behalf;
- Filing a lawsuit if necessary (this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll go to trial);
- Conducting the pretrial discovery evidence-gathering process;
- Preparing expert witnesses for use in settlement negotiations and (possibly) trial;
- Going to trial for you if necessary; and
- Filing an appeal if necessary.
Remember that very few personal injury claims go to trial. Nevertheless, the best way to avoid a trial is to prepare carefully for one. Once the opposing party realizes you can win at trial, they will almost certainly settle. Contact us today in Joliet, Illinois, to set up your free case review.
What Exactly Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when the head suffers a blow or a piercing injury. In a boxing match, for example, the object of the game is to knock out your opponent. Alternatively, you might get hit by a falling object or suffer a pierced skull with a direct brain injury. In other words, TBIs come in many different shapes and sizes.
With respect to the difference between a TBI and an ordinary head injury, all TBIs are head injuries, but not all head injuries are TBIs. TBIs tend to be more serious, and they involve brain damage. The term “TBI” does not apply to:
- Congenital brain injuries;
- Degenerative brain injuries;
- Strokes; and
- Brain injuries caused by birth trauma.
Most (but not all) personal injury claims involving head injuries qualify as TBI. When not otherwise specified, all references to brain injury herein refer to TBI.
How Common are Traumatic Brain Injuries?
According to the Brain Trauma Foundation, every year, 2.5 million new TBI cases, 50,000 of which result in death and 80,000 of which cause permanent disability. Falls cause nearly 30% of TBIs, while vehicle accidents cause another 20%.
What Are Some of the Common Symptoms of Brain Injury?
Following are some of the red flags you need to look out for after a head injury:
- Balance problems;
- Behavioral or mood changes;
- Blurry vision;
- Change in sleep habits;
- Confusion, restlessness, or agitation;
- Convulsions or seizures;
- Dilation of the pupils;
- Dizziness and lightheadedness;
- Headaches;
- Impairment of memory, concentration, attention, or thinking;
- Lethargy;
- Loss of consciousness (not always);
- Loss of coordination;
- Mood swings;
- Paralysis;
- Persistent headaches;
- Slurred speech and impaired language skills;
- Tinnitus; (ringing in the ears);
- Trouble waking from sleep;
- Vomiting or nausea; and
- Weakness or numbness in the extremities.
Not every brain injury victim experiences all or even most of these symptoms.
What Kinds of Accidents Most Frequently Cause Brain Injuries in Joliet, IL?
An abbreviated list such as the one below cannot do justice to all of the possible causes of brain injury. It can, however, give you a general idea of how these accidents typically happen.
- Slip and fall accidents, especially at construction sites;
- Motorcycle accidents;
- Pedestrian accidents;
- Bicycle accidents;
- Truck accidents;
- Car accidents; and
- Medical malpractice.
There are many other possible but lesser-known causes of TBI. For example, a pitcher might hit you with a baseball.
What Is the Statute of Limitations Deadline for Filing a Brain Injury Lawsuit?
The statute of limitations sets the deadline by which you must either file a lawsuit or forever hold your peace. If you miss the deadline, you will also lose any bargaining leverage you might have possessed. In Illinois, the general personal injury statute of limitations is two years.
Certain narrow exceptions apply. The best way to confirm the statute of limitations for your specific case is to contact an experienced personal injury attorney.
How Does Comparative Fault Work in Joliet, Illinois?
The opposing party might claim that the accident that caused your brain injury was partly your fault. You might have slipped on a wet floor, for example, while you were intoxicated.
Under Illinois comparative fault law, you can only recover damages if you were less than 50% at fault. Even if you were less than 50% at fault, you would lose damages in exact proportion to your percentage of fault. Hiring a lawyer can help you respond to allegations of shared blame effectively.
What Kind of Compensation Is Available to You After a Brain Injury in Joliet?
The exact amount of compensation available to you depends on the specific facts of your case. Illinois, however, does recognize three types of damages that you might recover:
- Economic damages represent tangible losses such as medical expenses and lost earnings;
- Non-economic damages represent intangible losses for pain and suffering, disability, and more.;
- Punitive damages punish the defendant for particularly outrageous behavior, even though the money still goes to you. Courts do not like to award punitive damages, even to victims who otherwise win their claim.
It’s not enough to “win.” Did you win $100 or $100,000? A lawyer can greatly influence your total compensation. Brain injuries often require six- and seven-figure sums for compensation.
Contact Our Joliet Brain Injury Lawyers for a Free Initial Consultation
Don’t ever worry that you cannot afford a lawyer. Yes, you can afford Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, at least if your claim is strong – we charge no upfront fees. Our legal fees come at the end of your case after we have won. Under our contingency fee system, these fees amount to a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
In the unlikely event that we don’t win your case, your attorney’s fees will amount to precisely $0.00. That’s how confident we are of winning. Schedule a free initial consultation today so you can speak with a Joliet brain injury attorney about your case.