Act Quickly on Your Personal Injury ClaimThe sooner you act on your personal injury claim, the better your chances are for obtaining a fair settlement. By failing to seek damages soon after your accident, you not only run the risk of passing the 2-year-mark of the Illinois statute of limitations, but you may also damage the seriousness of your claim.
If you are injured in an accident and take too long to seek compensation, a judge or jury may think your injuries were not that severe in the first place. However, many injuries can take months to manifest. That is why it is important to document your injuries from the time of the accident and act quickly to file a personal injury claim.
Dangers of Filing a Personal Injury Claim Too LateMany lawyers will refuse to represent personal injury claims too close to when the Illinois statute of limitations expires. This is due to many reasons, including:
- there is inadequate time to investigate the claim
- parties involved (such as witnesses) may have forgotten what happened
- important evidence may have been lost or destroyed
- defendants may have changed, such as the store owners involved in a slip-and-fall accident that resulted in paralysis
Another reason lawyers are reluctant to take on personal injury claims too close to the expiration of the statute of limitations is because there is a greater chance that the case will be taken to trial. A good Chicago personal injury lawyer will try to avoid a trial because they result in additional expenses for you and often take longer to process.
How a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You
When dealing with the nuances and exceptions to Illinois statute of limitations laws, it’s best to have legal counsel on your side that knows the laws. A Chicago personal injury lawyer is your best source of guidance when it comes to filing a personal injury claim.
If you’re considering filing a personal injury claim you’ll want the help of a trusted Chicago personal injury lawyer. The Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can evaluate your case for free and begin your personal injury claim well before the Illinois statute of limitations expires. Contact us today – (312) 263-1080