If you were hurt by the actions or negligent inaction of another party, you may be left with significant financial losses and painful, long-lasting injuries. Ideally, the responsible party and/or insurance company would reimburse you for these expenses, however, getting full compensation through these means is often next to impossible. Insurance companies typically try to settle for less than the injured person’s damages are actually worth and may disregard non-financial damages like pain and suffering. In many cases, bringing a personal injury claim against the at-fault party is the best way to recover compensation after a slip and fall accident, car accident, or other injury-causing incident. If you are interested in pursuing a personal injury claim, you may wonder exactly how a personal injury lawyer will benefit your case.

Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney Increases Your Chances of Success

There are many different reasons that retaining a skilled personal injury attorney will improve your chances of successfully recovering compensation. Your personal injury attorney will help you:

• Determine the Liable Parties: In many cases, determining which party is liable for an accident is not as straightforward as you may assume. For example, the party legally responsible for a truck accident may be the truck driver, the trucking company, the company that manufactured a faulty truck part, or several other parties. The party liable for a medical mistake could be the doctor himself or herself, the hospital or medical facility, or the manufacturer of a defective medical device.
• Gather Evidence to Support Your Claim: To win a personal injury lawsuit, you will need to prove that the other party’s negligence or wrongdoing caused your injuries and that you suffered damages as a result. Your attorney will help you gather evidence such as photographs, surveillance camera footage, maintenance records, event data recorder files, and medical records and use this evidence to create a strong argument against the defendant. He or she will also gather testimony from those who were witnesses to the accident as well as expert testimony from medical experts, accident reconstructionists, and other professionals.
• Reach a Settlement That Covers Your Full Damages: Without an attorney advocating on your behalf, you may settle for significantly less compensation than you are entitled to. For example, you may recover compensation for your past medical bills but not the expensive physical therapy and prescription medication you will continue to need long after the case is over. Your attorney will help you negotiate a settlement that gets you the full financial recovery you need and deserve.
• Present Your Case During Litigation: If a settlement cannot be reached through negotiations, your case may go to trial. Your attorney will represent you and your best interests thought these legal proceedings. He or she will stand by your side so that you do not have to face this intimidating and confusing process on your own.

Contact a Waukegan Personal Injury Lawyer

The accomplished Lake County personal injury attorneys at Salvi & Maher, L.L.C. have more than 85 years of collective legal experience. We have helped countless clients successfully recover compensation for a wide range of injuries. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about how we can help you, call our office today at 847-662-3303.

Airbnb is an online marketplace allowing guests to temporarily rent the homes and apartments of other individuals. Unlike a traditional bed and breakfast in which the host provides meals and housekeeping services, Airbnb hosts may never even meet the guests in person. Many people have positive experiences renting Airbnb homes during their vacation, but others find themselves staying in unsafe, unsanitary, and unwelcoming dwellings. If you or a loved one were injured while staying in an Airbnb, you may be entitled to compensation through a premises liability claim.

Airbnb Owners Have a Legal Duty to Prevent Foreseeable Injuries

According to the Illinois Premises Liability Act, property owners and managers have a legal obligation to ensure that their property is free of unreasonable hazards that present a risk of injury to lawful visitors. Individuals renting living spaces through Airbnb are also subject to premises liability laws. Although an Airbnb owner or operator may not be able to prevent injuries stemming from the guests’ own actions, he or she does have a duty to prevent injuries caused by unsafe conditions on the property. The owner or operator should ensure that the property is well-maintained, clean, and secure. Examples of Airbnb injuries that may lead to premises liability claims include:

• Slip and Fall Accidents: Damaged staircases, broken handrails, slippery surfaces, poor lighting, loose flooring, and other environmental hazards may cause a guest to slip, trip, or fall and become seriously injured.
• Infections Caused by Poor Sanitation: An Airbnb should be properly cleaned – not only for the guests’ comfort, but also to prevent the spread of disease. If a guest experiences a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection due to unsanitary conditions in the home, he or she may have a valid personal injury claim.
• Bedbugs: Bed bugs are small insects that feed on the blood of animals and humans. They often hide in mattresses and other furniture. If an Airbnb owner knew or should have known about a bed bug infestation, he or she may be liable for injuries and property damages caused by the insects.
• Intentional Violence: Sadly, some Airbnb guests have been the victims of sexual assault and other acts of violence. Victims may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.

Contact a Lake County Airbnb Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one were hurt while staying in an Airbnb, contact the talented Waukegan premises liability attorneys at Salvi & Maher, L.L.C. to discuss your legal options. Call us today at 847-662-3303 and schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. We take personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis which means that you only pay a fee if we obtain financial compensation for you.

If you are like most adults, you probably do not get as much sleep as you wish you did. Whether it is a crying infant, noisy neighbor, early morning work meeting, or other factors, getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep a night can be a challenge. However, being sleep deprived can significantly lower concentration, attention, reaction time, and cognitive functioning. Because these are the exact skills needed to drive, sleep deprivation dramatically reduces a person’s ability to safely operate a vehicle. The problem is so bad that one in five fatal car accidents are thought to involve a fatigued driver.

The Effect of Sleep Deprivation on Driving Ability

By now, most people have heard about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and distracted driving. However, little attention is given to the hidden risks of fatigued driving. According to a study conducted by AAA, drivers who get one to two hours less than the recommended amount of sleep at night are twice as likely to be involved in a car accident. Divers who get three to four hours less than the recommended amount of sleep are four times more likely to be involved in a car crash. If a driver sleeps for less than 4 hours during a 24 hours period, he or she is an astounding 11.5 times likelier to be in a collision. The level of impairment caused by severe sleep deprivation is comparable to being over the legal blood alcohol (BAC) limit.

Personal Injury Claims Involving Accidents Caused by Drowsy Driving

Getting behind the wheel when you are too sleepy to drive safely puts yourself and other motorists, passengers, and pedestrians in danger. If you or a loved one were hurt in a car accident or truck accident caused by a sleep-deprived driver, you know just how dangerous drowsy driving can be. You or your loved one may have suffered severe injuries that required extensive medical treatment and time off of work. The financial losses incurred in the accident may have left you or your loved one nearly bankrupt. One option that may enable you to recover compensation for these and other damages is a car accident injury claim. Speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer to learn more.

If you have ever been in a serious motor vehicle accident, you know just how disorientating the experience can be. In the span of only a few seconds, your world is completely turned upside down. Understandably, it can be difficult to remember exactly what happened during a major car accident. This is especially true if you suffered a head injury or went into shock during the accident. Accident reconstruction is a process through which experts investigate and analyze evidence to draw conclusions about the events that led up to an accident. Personal injury attorneys often work closely with accident reconstructionists to establish what actions were taken by motorists involved in the accident and when these actions occurred.

Gathering Evidence to Support Your Claim

Proving that the defendant’s actions led to the plaintiff's injuries is often the most difficult part of winning a personal injury lawsuit. Many personal injury claims involve a great deal of “he-said-she-said.” For example, a truck driver may claim that he started braking immediately after seeing a stopped car on the road while the driver of the stopped car insists that the truck driver hit his car at full speed. An accident reconstructionist can use physical evidence such as skid marks, the location of debris, leaked vehicle fluid, and the data from the truck’s event data recorder (EDR) to determine when the truck driver applied the brakes. The accident reconstructionist may be able to show that the trucker only applied the brakes seconds before the collision occurred. Conclusions reached through accident reconstruction along with data from the truck driver’s cell phone may show that distracted driving played a major role in the collision. This is just one example of how accident reconstruction may be used to support a personal injury claim. Accident reconstructionists may also use 3-d laser scanning, computer models, and other tools to investigate exactly what happened during a car accident.

Contact a Waukegan Car Accident Lawyer

The sooner your lawyer can start gathering evidence through accident reconstruction, the better your chances of proving the responsible party’s negligence and winning your personal injury claim. Whether you were hurt in a motorcycle accident, truck accident, pedestrian accident, or another type of car accident, delaying the investigation can significantly reduce the quality of the evidence available. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a skilled Lake County personal injury attorney today. Call Salvi & Maher, L.L.C. at 847-662-3303 to get started.

Being involved in an auto accident can result in severe physical and emotional damage. However, this damage may not always be immediately evident. The trauma of a major car crash, truck accident, motorcycle accident, or pedestrian accident may put the victim in a state of shock and disorientation. The “fight or flight” hormones released in his or her body can have an analgesic effect, numbing the pain the individual feels from his or her injuries. This is why it is vital to always seek medical treatment after a car accident – even if you assume that your injuries are only minor.

Signs That You May Be More Injured Than You Realize

If you are hurt in a car accident, you may be left with injuries that require expensive ongoing medical treatment. You may need pricey hospital care, prescription medication, surgery, physical therapy, psychological counseling, or other interventions to manage the harm caused in the accident. These problems may also negatively affect your ability to earn a living. In situations such as these, a personal injury claim may enable you to recover compensation for the expenses incurred by the accident. However, a successful personal injury claim is only possible if there is documented evidence of your damages. This is why it is essential to receive prompt medical treatment if you experience symptoms such as:

• Pain in the neck, shoulders, and back: Neck and spine injuries can cause significant long term suffering. Many people who get whiplash or other neck injuries after an accident may not feel any pain at the time of the accident but then later develop serious, debilitating symptoms.
• Swelling or pain in the abdomen: Car accidents often result in damage to internal organs. If you experience pain or swelling in your abdomen after an accident, it could be a sign of internal bleeding.
• Difficulty carrying out everyday tasks, confusion, or impaired thinking: Traumatic brain injuries can cause physical symptoms such as headache, lightheadedness, and blurred vision as well as emotional and cognitive symptoms.
• Anxiety and fear: Car accidents can have profound psychological effects. If you are experiencing flashbacks, phobias, nightmares, or significant anxiety after a car accident, you may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Contact a Waukegan Car Accident Lawyer

If you were hurt in an accident involving drunk driving, distracted driving, reckless driving, or negligence, a personal injury claim may enable you to recover compensation. To learn more about your legal options following a car crash, contact Salvi & Maher, L.L.C. Schedule a free, no-obligation initial consultation with a skilled Lake County personal injury attorney by calling our office at 847-662-3303.