Villa Park Train Accident Attorneys

While train accidents are less common than wrecks on the road, an on-rails mishap can leave victims suffering potentially life-threatening injuries. Filing a personal injury claim can help you obtain the funds you need to get your life back on track. However, going up against the railway company and their insurer can be a daunting prospect. Our Villa Park train accident attorneys are here to help level the playing field. With decades of collective experience handling personal injury claims, we have the knowledge and resources necessary to succeed during settlement negotiations or trial. Dial 1-800-GO-HARRIS to get started. Your initial consultation is free.

Signs You Might Have a Strong Train Accident Case

If you hire a skilled personal injury lawyer from HPIL, he or she can help handle the logistics of your case so you can turn your attention to other matters. Our legal team will know which evidence to collect to help prove liability, causation, and damages, and may consult with expert witnesses and other specialists to estimate the value of your losses and build your claim. However, there are still steps you can take to protect your claim and avoid disputes, such as:

• Seek Immediate Medical Treatment: If it doesn’t look like you’ve suffered any serious injuries, you may not think it’s necessary to schedule a doctor’s visit. However, regardless of your condition, you should always seek medical attention after an accident. Not only can a prompt diagnosis ensure that any underlying issues do not go undiagnosed, but you will also reduce the risks of facing disputes from the insurance company and other opposing parties. If, for instance, you delay treatment, the claims adjuster may assert that your injuries can’t be serious as you didn’t need urgent care.
• Always Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions: Whether you’ve been told to book time off work to let your injuries heal or perform daily stretches, you should always follow your doctor’s orders. Deviating from your treatment plan could cause your injuries to worsen. It could also lead to disputes over failure to mitigate damages. As a claimant, you have a responsibility to take sufficient steps to ensure you don’t incur additional damages. If it emerges that you deliberately went against your healthcare provider’s instructions, the insurer or another opposing party may assert that you were negligent. In such situations, your financial award may be reduced.
• Keep Track of Your Damages: From receipts and invoices documenting your repairs costs to your official medical records, you should compile all information regarding your accident-related expenses. These documents are essential to proving your damages and estimating a fair settlement for your losses.
• Let Your Lawyer Oversee Dialogue with the Insurer: Communicating with the claims adjuster directly could be detrimental to your claim as your comments could be misrepresented or taken out of context to disputes other evidence in your case. At HPIL, we can handle all correspondence with the insurer so that you don’t unwittingly say something that might compromise your case.

Common Types of Damages in a Train Accident Claim

A catastrophic injury can have far-reaching consequences, putting immense strain on your financial, emotional, and physical well-being. Fortunately, filing a personal injury claim can help you get access to the funds you need to pay for medical care and cover your other expenses. You may already be aware that a claim can account for medical costs and repair bills. However, these expenses are just the tip of the iceberg. Based on the circumstances of the accident, you may also be entitled to compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, and many other types of losses. Below are the three main categories of damages typically available to plaintiffs in a personal injury case:

• Economic Damages: These are expenses you’ve incurred as a direct result of the accident and your injuries. This can include the cost of both past and future medical treatment, repair bills, home modifications, alternative transportation, childcare, and even lost earnings.
• Non-Economic Damages: A serious injury won’t just put a dent in your finances, it can also take a toll on your emotional well-being. Some victims of train accidents experience significant pain and suffering which makes it difficult to enjoy life. Additionally, their injuries may limit them in several ways, such as preventing them from tackling household chores, engaging in physical activity, or earning a living. Your attorney can review your claim to determine whether you have a strong case for non-economic damages. While there are no receipts for these psychological symptoms, our lawyers have many methods for calculating fair compensation. For instance, we may multiply your medical bills by a number between 1.5 and 5—based on the severity of your injuries—to approximate a reasonable amount.
• Punitive Damages: While the damages listed above exist to compensate injury victims for their losses, a punitive damages award serves as a punishment for the at-fault party to discourage others from engaging in similar behavior. To win a punitive damages award, your attorney will need to convince a judge or jury that the defendant’s actions were extremely reckless or egregious.

Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS to Connect with a Villa Park Train Accident Attorney

A train accident can derail your life in an instant, leaving you to foot the bill for someone else’s mistakes. Our attorneys are here to help. We can assist with filing your claim, estimating a fair settlement, and representing you and your family throughout proceedings. Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS or go HERE to pencil in your free initial consultation.