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When you reach out to a healthcare provider for help with a medical concern or condition, you trust that they will do everything they can to help you. In some cases, you’re trusting them with your life.

Unfortunately, healthcare providers are not immune to human error—and it can cost people. When a medical professional makes a mistake, in some cases they can be held accountable through a medical malpractice lawsuit.

If you believe you have been a victim of medical malpractice, you may be wondering if you can seek compensation for more than just your added medical expenses.

Pain and suffering is one of the most impactful damages a person can endure and should be considered as such when your personal injury lawyer calculates the value of your claim. Continue reading to learn more about how to sue a doctor for pain and suffering.

Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Against a Doctor

In order for any medical malpractice lawsuit against a doctor to be successful, your lawyer will need to be able to show, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that the physician in question breached their duty of care to the patient.

Your lawyer will first need to show that the doctor had a medical duty to you (the patient)—meaning a doctor/patient relationship had been established.

From there, your lawyer will work to prove that the doctor breached the duty of care by making a mistake or decision that caused your injury or illness. Any mistake or decision that another healthcare provider of similar training, education, and experience would not have made could show a breach in the medical standard of care and therefore could be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor.

Suing for Pain and Suffering

Although you might be aware that you can seek compensation for your economic (or financially based) losses, you might be unsure whether you can be compensated for non-financial issues stemming from the situation. One of the more commonly sought after damages in a medical malpractice claim is pain and suffering.

This describes both the physical pain and suffering the patient endured as a result of the injury or illness they sustained at the hands of their healthcare provider. Despite the fact that physical pain and suffering has no explicit monetary value and is difficult to quantify, the impact on the patient’s life is often undeniable.

For this reason, your lawyer will ensure that your pain and suffering is taken into consideration when calculating the value of your medical malpractice claim. If you have questions about how much you could be awarded if your lawsuit is successful, discuss them with your attorney.

Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Illinois

If you have endured considerable pain and suffering due to the injuries you sustained at the hands of a doctor, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Get in touch with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer at Lane Brown, LLC by phone at 312-332-1400 or through the convenient contact form below to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.

Victims of medical malpractice have a long road ahead of them. Physical recovery is challenging, but the serious financial worries and emotional trauma can make the recovery process even more difficult.

When you have an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer on your side, you can focus on your healing while they handle the legalities of your case. 

One of the most common questions survivors have is, “Who is responsible for what’s happened?” There are many parties who could have played a part in causing your injury or illness. 

But in many medical malpractice cases, hospitals are also named as liable parties. Below, we go into further detail about when hospitals can be held accountable for medical malpractice and the common types of cases seen in civil court. 

When Hospitals Are Liable for Medical Malpractice

Hospitals can be partially at fault for several types of medical malpractice. This is because hospitals employ the staff that work at the hospital, which are then responsible for the actions of their health care providers. 

Many physicians and healthcare providers are independent contractors. Even if the hospital does not directly employ the health care provider in question, you may still be able to pursue a claim against the hospital. 

But health care providers aren’t the only responsibility the hospitals have to their patients. They must also have the necessary medical equipment and supplies, have proper medical and safety procedures in place, and fulfill other patient needs. Whenever this standard of care is breached, the hospital can be found liable. 

Common Types of Medical Malpractice Hospitals Can Be Liable For

It doesn’t matter what type of medical error was made; if a hospital employs the negligent health care provider in question, or if they are otherwise culpable for the medical malpractice that occurred, you could hold them accountable in civil court. 

With that being said, there are some types of medical errors that occur more frequently than others. Some more commonly seen types of medical malpractice that result in claims against a hospital include:

• Anesthesia errors
• Birth injuries
• Maternal birth injuries
• Misdiagnosis
• Failure to treat
• Failure to provide follow-up care
• Surgical errors
• Delayed diagnosis
• Medical product liability 
• Medication errors
• Infection

These are only a few of the different ways a person can become a victim of medical malpractice. If you have been injured or fallen ill due to another type of medical mistake, you may still be entitled to financial compensation.

Only after examining the individual details of your case will your medical malpractice lawyer be able to determine whether the hospital should be sued as part of your medical malpractice lawsuit. 

Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Chicago

If you have reason to believe that you have been a victim of medical malpractice and are interested in learning more about whether suing the hospital is an option for you, contact a qualified Chicago medical malpractice lawyer at Lane Brown, LLC. 

Call us at 312-332-1400 or reach us through the quick contact form below when you are ready to schedule your free consultation.

After having suffered from traumatizing sexual abuse, you may struggle to cope and pick up the pieces of your life. Unfortunately, the recovery ahead will be a long one. But if you hope to regain control and hold your abuser and other liable parties accountable, you may have legal options.

When you’re still struggling physically, emotionally, and financially, the thought of pursuing a lawsuit can be overwhelming. With a dedicated Chicago personal injury lawyer by your side, you can focus on your recovery while we work tirelessly to help you get through these trying times. Continue reading to learn more about how to file a sexual abuse lawsuit in Illinois. 

Your Legal Representation 

Before you can move forward with your civil claim, it may be in your best interests to contact an attorney to represent you. Although having legal representation is not required, when you are already dealing with so much, having an advocate could make all the difference. 

Civil claims are different from any criminal charges your abuser and other liable parties may face for the abuse you’ve endured. In criminal cases, the state’s prosecuting attorney brings criminal charges against the accused, generally seeking prison or jail time. In order to be successful, the prosecutor must establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

However, in civil sexual abuse claims in Chicago, your lawyer will file a civil lawsuit against those responsible for your sexual abuse. Here, we’ll advocate for your right to financial restitution for the suffering inflicted on you by the liable party. Our burden of proof is based on a preponderance of the evidence, a much lower burden than criminal cases.

Your civil claim is not dependent upon the state’s prosecuting attorney pursuing criminal charges, nor the outcome of a trial, should there be one. However, if your abuser is found guilty in criminal court, that could help your civil claim against them.  

Building a Strong Lawsuit

If you hope to get justice for what has happened to you, you must be prepared to go through the various ways your life has been affected by the abuse you endured. Some losses you may be able to recover in your sexual abuse claim include:

• Mental health counseling costs
• Other related medical expenses and equipment 
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium
• Diminished quality of life
• Lost income and earning potential
• Scarring or disfigurement 
• Reputational damage
• Loss of household services

Although no amount of compensation will make up for what you’ve been through, it can go a long way in helping you get through these difficult times.

Get Help from a Lawyer

This traumatic time in your life doesn’t have to define you. Take your power back and get the justice you deserve. Contact a compassionate sexual abuse lawyer at Lane Brown, LLC to discuss your legal options for financial recovery. 

Contact us by calling 312-332-1400 or through the online contact form included at the bottom of this page when you are ready to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. 

As a driver in Chicago, you know that you require an active auto insurance policy before operating your vehicle. But after an accident, you may be unsure of what to expect from the insurance company, what their obligations are, or whether your policy limits will be enough to cover your losses. For this reason, we have provided more information below regarding the car insurance claims process below. 

Illinois Car Accident Laws

Knowing what to do after being involved in a car accident in Chicago is critical, but one of the most important details to know is what part your auto insurance will play in your case.

Illinois is a fault state for car accidents. This means that if you are involved in a car accident and someone else is responsible for causing the accident, you will file a claim with the liable party’s auto insurer. In many cases, the insurance company will provide the injury victim with an injury settlement that meets their needs. 

However, insurance companies are also for-profit, and by settling your claim, they lose money. The insurance adjuster will look for any reason they can find to reduce that amount. If this happens, and your Chicago car accident lawyer is unable to get them to settle fairly, heading to court may be your next best option. 

It’s also important to know that the insurance company is obligated to settle only up to the maximum limits of the insured’s auto insurance policy. If the policy limits are not enough to cover your losses in full, pursuing a civil claim against the liable party could be the only way to recover maximum compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. 

Car Insurance Requirements in Illinois

In order to be in compliance with Illinois auto insurance laws, you’ll need to have the following types and amounts of coverage:

• $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage
• $20,000 in property damage liability coverage
• $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident in uninsured motorist bodily injury liability coverage

These are the state minimums. Many drivers opt into higher coverage policies. The higher your coverage, the more protection you personally have if you are ever found responsible for causing a Chicago car accident. 

Unfortunately, if the person liable for your accident has the minimum coverage, and your losses exceed 25/50/20 as described above, you’ll have to pursue civil action in order to secure the compensation you deserve. 

Get in Touch with a Car Accident Lawyer in Chicago

Although the car accident claims process can be overwhelming and, at times, disheartening, by understanding what to expect, you’ll always be one step ahead and ready to overcome any obstacles that may arise.

When you are ready to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation, call a reputable Chicago car accident lawyer at Lane Brown, LLC for help handling the insurance company. We can be reached by phone at 312-332-1400 or through the quick contact form below.

One of the most devastating types of injuries you can face after an accident are those affecting the brain. This is the most complex organ in the human body, and even the slightest damage can result in catastrophic consequences. Recovering from such an injury physically, emotionally, and financially is sure to be no easy feat.

Thankfully, with the help of a qualified personal injury lawyer in Chicago, you could hold the person or persons who are responsible for your brain injuries accountable for their negligence. Continue reading to learn more about some of the different types of accidents that are known for causing brain injuries and the losses you may be able to recover in your Chicago brain injury claim.

Accidents That Can Cause Brain Injuries

There are many different types of accidents that, under the worst circumstances, have the potential to cause traumatic brain damage. Some of the types of accidents often seen in civil court include:

• Car accidents
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Slip-and-fall accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Dog attacks
• Defective product accidents
• Premises liability accidents
• Work injuries

These are just a few of the different ways you could suffer a serious brain injury. If you have been injured in another type of accident that was not listed above, you may still be entitled to financial compensation. Reach out to a Chicago brain injury lawyer to discuss your legal options.

Compensation for Victims of Traumatic Brain Damage

In order for brain injury survivors to be awarded compensation for their suffering, they will need to be able to prove to the court that another party is responsible for causing their brain injury.

Your Chicago brain injury lawyer will work to build a case against whoever is found to be liable, seeking full restitution for your losses. This should include compensation for both financial and non-financial losses, some of which include:

• Diminished earning capacity
• Medical expenses and equipment
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of income
• Loss of companionship and love
• Property damages
• Loss of household services
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Reputational damage

You may also be entitled to an award of punitive damages. These are only awarded in cases where the court chooses to punish the liable party for abhorrent or egregious behavior by awarding damages above and beyond the value of the victim’s claim.

Your brain injury lawyer in Chicago will take a careful look at the various ways your life has been impacted by the accident to ensure that no loss goes unaccounted for when calculating the value of your claim.

Get Help from a Chicago Brain Injury Lawyer

You don’t have to try to go through this challenging time alone. Get help recovering the compensation you need to rebuild your life. When you are ready to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation, call a respected Chicago brain injury lawyer at Lane Brown, LLC. We can be reached by phone at 312-332-1400 or through the convenient contact form at the bottom of this page.

Many individuals who suffer from injuries or illnesses related to or caused by medical malpractice are often unaware that they may have the right to compensation. This is partly because they aren’t even aware of the fact that they were victims of malpractice. 

For this reason, we have provided more information below regarding some of the ways you can recognize medical malpractice when it happens to you in Chicago, Illinois. Continue reading to learn more about what the medical standard of care is and some of the more common types of medical malpractice.

A Breach in the Medical Duty of Care

In order for a medical malpractice claim to be successful in Illinois, you will need to be able to prove that there has been a breach in the medical duty of care. Before we move any further, it’s important that you understand what the duty of care is and how it works. 

Every medical professional is held to a high standard of care. This standard of care is breached when a serious mistake has been made. However, in the medical industry, accidents do sometimes happen to even the most seasoned professionals.

For this reason, the medical duty of care can only be considered breached when a mistake is made that another healthcare provider of similar training, experience, and education would not have made. As long as there has been a breach in the standard of care, the victim should have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. 

Common Types of Medical Malpractice

Now that you know what constitutes a medical malpractice lawsuit, it’s time to take a look at some of the common types of medical malpractice claims. There are countless different ways that healthcare providers can make mistakes that deserve to be taken to court. But some happen more frequently than others, including: 

• Medication errors
• Birth injuries
• Failure to provide follow-up care
• Surgical errors
• Failure to diagnosis
• Misdiagnosis 
• Anesthesia errors

It is important to keep in mind that when your healthcare provider is discussing the risks of a certain treatment with you, this is known as informed consent. It is not a way to excuse the healthcare provider from making medical mistakes. Risks of a particular treatment and medical errors are two completely different things and should not be confused.

It is equally as important that you carefully review your medical records in great detail, especially after becoming further injured or ill in the care of a medical professional. 

It would not be surprising for a healthcare provider to fail to inform you that they had made a mistake, and they may even try to excuse their error as a side effect or risk. Have your medical malpractice lawyer in Chicago closely examine the details of your case to determine whether malpractice has occurred.

Get Help from a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Chicago

If you or someone you love has been a victim of malpractice and you are interested in discussing your legal options, contact a qualified Chicago medical malpractice lawyer at Lane Brown, LLC. You can give our office a call at 312-332-1400 or reach us through the convenient contact form provided below.