An unexpected injury can change your routine in an instant. Whether it happens on someone else’s property, at work, while driving, or in a public setting, the steps you take right after the incident can directly affect your recovery and your ability to pursue a personal injury claim.

What to Know for a Successful Personal Injury Claim

You were hurt in an accident. Now you’re entering the world of personal injury claims.

You know a personal injury settlement can change your life for the better. But this is unfamiliar territory for you.

The lawyers at Schiro & Themer work with this system all the time.

We want to take some of the mystery out of it. So on this page we’ve gathered definitions of the most common personal injury terms you’ll hear.

If you were hurt in a car accident or big truck accident, you’re probably wondering, “How much is my case really worth?”

There’s no easy answer, but the thing that mostly decides exactly what your case is worth are any damages. Damages can include:

Hurt On the Job, But Your Employer Says It Isn’t Their Problem?

If you get hurt in the course of your job and you’re an employee, your employer owes you Workers’ Compensation benefits to help you recover and financially survive.

If you’re not an employee but an independent contractor, they’re off the hook.

It sounds simple, but some employers try to skirt their responsibility by illegally misclassifying you as an independent contractor when you’re actually an employee.

YOU DESERVE PROTECTION FOR DANGEROUS WORK

As you well know, some jobs are just more dangerous than others.

That’s why the State of Illinois instituted the Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act – to protect you if you work a job with a high risk for certain kinds of diseases.

This law helps you collect Workers’ Compensation benefits for job-related diseases including: