Illinois Injury Law Blog

I have recently noticed a trend with new case calls that seems to be happening more and more often. Calls will come in from individuals seeking assistance from a lawyer with a personal injury claim, be it from an auto accident injury, slip and fall case, or work injury, where the potential client has attempted to resolve the matter on their own and is nearing the Statute of Limitations deadline with no resolution of their claim. I have had clients call as close to the Statute deadline as the day before it is about to run.

In these cases, often, the clients relay that they have attempted to get a lawyer in the recent past but have been told that because the statute deadline is so close the lawyer is unable to help them with their case. While injury cases are considerably more difficult when our back is against the wall for a statute deadline, it does not preclude us from assisting you with your personal injury case. Because the client has attempted to resolve the matter on their own, many attorney's shy away from these claims as sworn statements have been given without the protection of a lawyer present, diagrams and photos have been exchanged between the client and the insurance company, and some medical records have already been furnished in an effort to get an offer.

Anyone injured due to someone else's negligence should consult a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. The sooner you have procured protection for your own rights in the claim the better your standing will be when it comes to settlement, as throughout the course of the claim your interests have been monitored to portray your claim in the best light.

Trying to resolve a claim or procure a settlement on your own does not preclude you from being able to hire an attorney later in the process, however waiting until the last minute before hiring a lawyer may prove costly to your case. To ensure that no damage is done to your case before a lawsuit must be filed, you should at least consult with an attorney immediately following the injury so as not to harm the potential for recovery at a later date.

Posted by Kris Briggs | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Handbook , Slip and Fall

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I would like to think that I can procure a recovery for one of my clients no matter what the personal injury, however there are certain instances where the evidence is just too stacked against you. Take, for example, the claim of a Florida woman claiming injuries sustained in a slip and fall accident at a grocery store. After making a slip and fall claim against the store for injuries, the store owner watch the surveillance tape, only to find that the substance the woman fell in had been placed on the floor purposely by the alleged victim herself!

Unfortunately in this business there are those that will try to take advantage of the system. In nearly all cases, the fraudulent claim will never see the light of day. When individuals try to scam the system with these claims, it takes much away from those who do suffer serious injuries as a result of someone else's negligence. Each year I get hundreds of calls from people who have slipped or fallen in a grocery store and have legitimate claims, serious injury can result from these types of incidents and it is my job to make sure that my clients receive the compensation they are entitled to. When fraudulent claims are brought though, it puts a black mark on the entire industry. Fortunately, this woman's attempt to garner recovery should be unsuccessful.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident or another premises liability matter, you should consult an attorney as soon as possible. Often the property owners do have video evidence of the instance that resulted in your injury and you will want your attorney to ensure that your rights are protected and the proper care is taken to secure the evidence of your injury.

Posted by Kris Briggs | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Handbook , Slip and Fall

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