Decatur Personal Injury Lawyer

Decatur, Illinois, home to approximately 67,000 people [1], is also home to a number of serious dangers, from car crashes to construction accidents. If you’ve been injured due to another person’s negligence, you need a highly qualified personal injury attorney on your side. 

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers has decades of experience guiding Central Illinois residents through the legal process, ensuring they receive financial support through a fair settlement. 

How Do I Know If I Have a Personal Injury Case?

A personal injury lawsuit is a legal action filed when a person suffers harm or injury due to the negligent actions of other parties. You must be able to show the other party acted in an unreasonable manner, either intentionally or unintentionally. These claims can be filed by the victim or by a family member.

Common Personal Injuries

• Broken bones
• Bruises and lacerations
• Head injuries
• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Burns
• Disfigurement
• Amputations
• Paralysis

What to Do After an Accident in Decatur, IL

• Call the Police – Call 911 and stay at the scene of the accident if it is safe to do so.
• Gather Evidence – Get everyone’s contact information at the scene, including any witnesses. Take pictures of the scene and of your injuries.
• Get Medical Help – Always seek medical care as soon as possible to ensure you do not have any life-threatening injuries. 
• Don’t Talk to Third Parties – Allow personal injury attorneys to speak to others on your behalf.
• Keep Your Paperwork – Gather together all medical reports, police reports, and insurance communications.
• Call a Decatur, Illinois, Personal Injury Lawyer – Call Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss the accident and determine next steps. 

Dealing With the Insurance Company

Insurance adjusters are trained to offer far less than you deserve, but personal injury lawyers are skilled at negotiation and will be able to show how much your case is worth.

Additionally, the insurance company will use anything you say against you. By allowing us to handle all communications, we will shield you from these manipulative tactics and preserve the integrity of your personal injury case. 

How Our Decatur Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help

• Gathering Information – We’ll get some basic details about your case during our first phone call.
• Case Evaluation – During your case evaluation, we’ll explain whether we feel you have a case and explain the next steps.
• Proving Liability – Using the information provided, we’ll identify who may be responsible.
• Claim Investigation – Our personal injury attorneys will confirm that the accident happened as you remember.
• Case Determination – Using local and federal law, we identify your case type.
• Filing a Claim – Your personal injury attorney will inform the other party we are seeking a settlement. 
• Discovery – We’ll share our claim with the other parties so they have a chance to form a rebuttal.
• Collecting Evidence – We will leverage our connections to find evidence supporting your claim.
• Negotiations and Mediation – Along with the insurance agency, we’ll negotiate a settlement that is fair and comprehensive.
• Court Representation – If we’re not able to come to an agreement with the insurance company, we will take the case to court and represent your interests. 

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

• Motorcycle Accidents – There were 39 motorcycle crashes in Decatur in 2022 [2]. Our personal injury lawyers serving Decatur, IL will fight hard to get what you deserve. 
• Truck Accidents – Because of the enormous weight of a truck, occupants of passenger vehicles are often seriously injured or even killed. 
• Car Accidents – 1,677 car accidents took place in Decatur in 2022, leaving over 400 people injured [3].
• Nursing Home Abuse – Of the five nursing homes in Decatur, two have poor ratings, endangering senior citizens [4]. 
• Wrongful Death – Decatur, IL has one of the highest violent crime rates in the US [5], leading to numerous wrongful death claims. 
• Birth Injuries – While the outcome of every birth should be joyful, a medical professional’s negligence may leave a family with tragedy and expensive medical bills. 
• Workers’ Compensation – If you were harmed in a workplace accident, our personal injury attorneys will ensure you get the maximum workers comp to which you are entitled.
• Medical Malpractice – Decatur Memorial Hospital has a Total Performance Score of only 14 [6], less than half the average of 33.9 [7], putting patients at risk for serious complications.  
• Defective Medical Devices – Dangerous medical devices may cause further suffering rather than treating conditions. 
• Dangerous Drugs – There were 912 drug recalls in 2022 [8], leaving millions at risk of dangerous drug interactions. 
• Product Liability – Faulty products, especially motor vehicles, may cause serious pain and suffering or even death to users.
• Premises Liability – If you slipped and fell due to someone else’s negligence, our slip and fall lawyers serving Decatur, IL, can help you get justice. 

Should You File a Claim After a Workplace Injury in Decatur?

You should always file a workers’ compensation claim if you are injured on the job. However, you may be able to pursue personal injury claims if another’s negligent behavior directly led to your accident. 

We’ll counsel you on which of our practice areas – personal injury or workers’ compensation – is most appropriate for the circumstances.

Damages Our Decatur Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You Recover

Economic Damages

These are for the direct financial repercussions of the accident, such as:

• Medical treatment
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning potential
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Property damage

Non-Economic Damages

This type of damage compensates the impact of the incident on your entire life, like:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Disfigurement
• Disability
• Loss of life enjoyment
• Loss of companionship

Punitive Damages

A rare form of damages, this compensates victims when it’s established the responsible party acted with malicious intent.

Compensation Awarded in Personal Injury Claims in Decatur, IL

There are no defined amounts for these cases, as it depends on a number of factors. These include:

• Severity – Those more seriously injured will generally receive larger sums.
• Extent of Damages – If you incur serious costs from treatment, you will likely receive a higher settlement.
• Amount of Insurance – The more insurance coverage available, the higher the settlement.
• Amount of Evidence – Well-documented accidents are easier to prove.
• Legal Representation – Having a lawyer at your side improves your chances of a positive outcome.  

Compensation We Have Successfully Recovered on Behalf of Personal Injury Victims

• $5,750,000 – A driver crushed while unloading at a dock.
• $5,000,000 – A patient suffered sepsis due to a retained surgical instrument.
• $1,100,000 – A nursing home patient was dropped by attendants, causing serious injuries.

Can You Get Compensation Even If You Are Partially at Fault?

Yes. Illinois uses modified comparative negligence, meaning that everyone in an accident is assigned a proportion of blame. As long as you are not more than 50% responsible, you can get a settlement, though it will be reduced proportionate to your percentage of blame. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Decatur, IL?

The Illinois statute of limitations for personal injuries is 2 years. This includes medical malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, and product liability. However, it may be longer for occupational diseases related to workers’ compensation claims.

Is a Personal Injury Attorney Worth Hiring?

How Often Do Personal Injury Cases Go To Trial?

Thankfully, only 3 to 5% of these cases go to trial. It is far more likely for the relevant insurance carrier to choose to settle with you out of court, sparing you the stress of a trial. 

Are Personal Injury Lawyers Expensive?

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning the attorneys working on your case do not get paid unless you receive a settlement. There are no upfront costs. We’ll instead deduct our legal fees from your settlement. Everything, from the free consultation to trial representation, costs our clients nothing out of pocket. 

Contact Our Decatur, IL Personal Injury Attorneys Today!

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers represents the full spectrum of personal injury cases and has earned millions for our clients with our top-notch legal services. Our attorneys will assist you with all aspects of your accident case, ensuring your rights are protected at all times.

Call us today toll-free at (888) 424-5757 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation. We look forward to serving you. 

References: [1] World Population Review, [2] Illinois Department of Transportation, [3] Illinois Department of Transportation, [4] US News and World Report, [5] Neighborhood Scout, [6] American Hospital Directory, [7] Definitive Healthcare, [8] European Pharmaceutical Review