Personal Injury Law
Personal injuries occur every day. Unfortunately, the results can be life-altering, leaving victims with long-lasting consequences and costly medical expenses.
Each personal injury attorney at Mertes & Mertes, P.C. is committed to helping people who have been injured because of another’s actions or negligence. We fight to help victims and their loved ones hold wrongdoers accountable and obtain the compensation they are entitled to under the law.
Types of Personal Injury Lawsuits
Personal injury cases fall under a legal category called torts. Tort cases come in many different forms, but generally fall into one of four main categories:
Accidents
Accidental injuries are caused by the wrongdoer’s negligence. The most common type of personal injury case, this category includes:
- Car, truck, motorcycle and other types of automobile accidents
- Workplace Injuries
- Medical malpractice
- Birth injuries
Intentional Acts
While most torts relate to accidents, injuries resulting from certain types of intentional acts are considered personal injuries, too. One example is nursing home abuse. Tortious assault and battery, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress also fall under this category.
Defective Products
You may also need a personal injury lawyer if you were harmed by a dangerous or defective product. Companies that manufacture products can be held responsible when their products harm consumers.
Defamation
Personal injury laws also cover situations where an individual is harmed because others make derogatory or defamatory statements, harming the victim’s reputation.
Personal Injury Case Basics
Every personal injury case is different, but they all start with someone suffering some type of injury.
When you hire a personal injury lawyer, your attorney will work to establish your legal case, proving that the person or company breached a legal duty owed to you, resulting in personal harm. In the case of physical injuries, your case will involve medical documentation showing the extent of your injuries.
In many situations, defendants choose to settle personal injury cases outside of court. Your attorney can help you understand whether it’s advisable to accept an out-of-court settlement or to litigate the matter. If settlement isn’t on the table, your personal injury lawyer will represent you in court, fighting to show the defendant is liable for your injuries.
Common Claims and Defenses
The most common types of claims in tort law are negligence, intentional acts and strict liability. Negligence involves someone breaching duty of care and intentional acts are deliberate actions that resulted in harm, but strict liability is different.
When a court holds someone strictly liable, the defendant may be responsible for the plaintiff’s injuries even if the defendant took all reasonable precautions to avoid causing injuries. This is the case when the defendant’s actions, such as demolishing a structure, are inherently dangerous, no matter how much care is taken by the defendant.
Defendants may try to claim they should not be held liable because the plaintiff wasn’t careful enough or the injured person assumed the risk by engaging in the activity that resulted in harm. Your personal injury attorney can help you rebut these types of defenses, building the strongest possible case based on the facts and circumstances surrounding your injuries.
Get Started With Mertes & Mertes, P.C.
The skilled personal injury lawyers at Mertes & Mertes, P.C have years of experience investigating and handling a wide array of personal injury matters. We are dedicated to fighting for victims’ rights — and do so with tenacity and compassion.
When we accept a personal injury case, we work tirelessly to obtain compensatory and sometimes even punitive damages for our client. We represent the injured. We relentlessly pursue justice for the pain, suffering, income loss and anguish our clients suffer from others’ negligent or intentional acts.
In personal injury matters, time is of the essence. To learn more about why we are the personal injury lawyer Illinois residents turn to time and time again, contact us online or call us today at 815-626-1500.
DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact Mertes & Mertes, P.C. for advice on any legal matter.