SalviSchostok&PritchardPC
- Car Accident FAQ's
- What information should I get after a car accident?
- Should I contact the police?
- Should I go to the doctor?
- Should I contact an attorney?
- Should I contact my insurance company?
- Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company? What if they call me?
- What should I do if I think the accident was at least partly my fault?
- What else should I do?
- What makes a successful claim?
- Should I keep up with my expenses related to the car accident?
- My son was riding around with his teenage friends and the driver crashed while texting on his
- Is there a time limit for a filing a lawsuit for injuries from an auto accident in Illinois?
- If the other driver was at fault in my car wreck, who is liable for paying for the damage to my car?
- If the Illinois driver who caused my accident was arrested for drunk driving, can I still seek compensation from that person and his or her insurance company?
- I was recently hit by car while walking in a Chicago crosswalk when the driver turned right on a red light. What rights do pedestrians have under Illinois law?
- I was injured when a car hit me while I was riding my bicycle on a Chicago street. The accident was the car driver's fault, but I wasn’t wearing a helmet. Can I still file a lawsuit?
- The driver’s insurance company has offered me a settlement, but it barely covers what I’ve spent on hospital bills so far. Should I take the money and sign a release?
- I was hurt in an Illinois car crash and I think I was partially to blame for the accident. Can I still be compensated for my injuries?
- How does uninsured motorist insurance work
- A member of my family was killed by a drunk driver on a Chicago highway. What legal options do we have?
Practice Area FAQ's
- Do I really have a case?
- Is it too late?
- How much will it cost?
- Has your firm ever done a case like mine?
- Will I have to go to court?
- How do I know if I need a lawyer?
Personal Injury FAQ's
- How do I know if I have a personal injury claim?
- If I have been hurt in an accident and want to file a personal injury claim, what is the first thing I should do?
- Can I still file a personal injury claim if the accident is partially my fault?
- Why do I need a lawyer if I have suffered a personal injury?
- What is a statue of limitations and how long do I have to file a personal injury claim?
- What kind of financial compensation could I expect to receive in a personal injury claim?
- If I have been hurt on someone else's property, can I file a personal injury claim?
- The claims adjustor from the insurance company wants me to provide a statement – what should I do?
- What is a slip and fall action?
- What is a ‘tort’?
Motorcycle FAQ's
- What should I check before I ride my bike?
- What type of motorcycle helmet should I buy?
- What should I do if I'm involved in a motorcycle wreck with a car or truck?
- Is it safe to ride during a storm?
- What should I do if I'm injured at a roadway construction site?
- Is there such a thing as a safe motorcycle?
- What are the most common motorcycle accidents?
- When are motorcycle accidents at their highest?
Medical Malpractice FAQ's
- What is medical malpractice?
- How do I know if I have a medical malpractice case?
- What should I do if I suspect that malpractice has occurred?
- If I have been misdiagnosed is that considered malpractice?
- Is there a statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit?
- Will I need an expert to prove that I was injured by medical malpractice?
- If I signed a waiver or consent form, have I waived my rights?
- Can I find out if my doctor has had any medical malpractice claims?
- Can I get a copy of my medical records?
- What type of settlement can I expect if I have been a victim of medical malpractice?
- My child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and I want to know if that was caused during the labor and delivery process?
- Our daughter has really not used her right hand or arm since she was born. Our pediatrician tells us that this should go away with time, but we are becoming more and more concerned. Was this result of medical negligence, and can we do anything about it?
- My wife complained to her gynecologist for more than a year about excessive discharge and bleeding. Her gynecologist assured her that Pap smears were normal and that nothing else could be done. My wife has now been diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer. Why didn’t the Pap smear show something, and what else could her gynecologist have done?
- I drove my husband to the Emergency Room with chest pain. We sat there for more than two hours before my husband was finally examined. By that time the chest pain had basically gone away, and my husband was simply told to follow up with his family doctor the following week. Unfortunately, my husband died from a heart attack before he could be seen, and our family doctor told us nothing could have been done to prevent the heart attack. Is this true?
- What is the first step in pursuing a medical malpractice claim?
- Can health care providers other than doctors commit medical malpractice?
- Can I sue my doctor for giving me the wrong medication?
- How long does it take to settle a medical malpractice case?
- I know lawyers can be expensive. How does your firm compute attorney’s fees in medical malpractice cases?
- Is medical malpractice common?
- My first doctor missed the warning signs of colon cancer, but a second doctor discovered them at my last physical. Do I have a case against the first doctor?
- Construction Accident FAQ's
- I was injured on a construction site - how do I know if I have a case?
- Who is to blame when a construction accident occurs?
- I'm a construction worker and I injured myself on the job - but I heard I can't sue because of Worker's Compensation law. Is that true?
- I just moved from another state and have a new job working construction - do the laws about construction accidents really differ from state to state?
- My father fell from a scaffolding while on the job - can he sue?
- My daughter was injured because a construction worker on a nearby site wasn't careful - who would we sue in this case?
- What's OSHA?
- I was injured on a construction site, but I'll get benefits from Worker's Compensation - so why do I need a lawyer?
- How much can I expect to receive in a construction accident settlement?
- After my accident on a construction site, I've had to seek counseling - could I include the cost of that in my claim?
Premises Liability FAQ's
- I slipped on a broken jar in the grocery store and fell, breaking my wrist. The store says their clean-up crew had no chance to wipe up the glass before I slipped, so they are not responsible. Is this true?
- I was attacked in a shopping mall parking lot. Can I sue the owners for my bills?
- I recently talked with a friend about my premises liability case, who said I will need an expert witness. Do I really need an expert witness to prove my case?
- A friend slipped in my living room, suffering a serious injury. I do have premises liability insurance, but I don't believe his accident was my fault - what should I do?
- I recently suffered from a slip and fall accident, and I don't know if I really have a case. What should I do before I see an attorney?
- I was injured when a faulty light fixture fell on me at a restaurant and have been contacted by their insurance company - what should I do?
- I was injured at an outdoor event - and the property owner has already offered to pay for my injuries. Why do I need an attorney?
- How long do I have to file a claim?
- How much money can I expect to receive if I file a claim?
- Are governmental agencies exempt from premises liability lawsuits?
Product Liability FAQ's
- What is product liability?
- How do I prove a product is defective?
- Do I need a lawyer in a product defect case?
- If I am seriously injured by an appliance that is more than two years old, is the product too old for me to file a claim?
- Our brand-new lawnmower backfired and injured me. Who do I sue for damages?
- If a manufacturer doesn`t label its product correctly and I suffer an injury as a result, do I have a case?
- What other kinds of product defects are there?
- Is there a federal product defect law?
- What does "strict liability" mean?
- I was injured by a defective kitchen appliance - my injuries weren`t that bad, so I don`t know if I really want to sue the manufacturer. Why should I bring a claim?
Dog Bite Injury FAQ's
- My son was attacked on the sidewalk in front of our house by a neighbor`s pit bull, who escaped from a fenced yard. Do we have a case?
- My daughter was bitten by a relative`s Doberman Pinscher. Are owners of "aggressive" breeds of dogs automatically held more liable when their pets attack?
- I heard that a dog`s first bite is "free". Does this mean a dog owner is not legally responsible for the first person his dog bites?
- What`s the first thing I should do if I am bitten by a neighborhood dog?
- I was bitten by a dog, but I don`t know who the owner is - how can I find identify him or her?
- I was recently bitten by a dog and I`m receiving treatment for my injuries, but I don`t know yet how serious they are. Should I wait to contact an attorney?
- My friend suggested I get a medical report from a plastic surgeon - but I`m not sure I will need plastic surgery for my injuries. Is this really necessary?
- When a neighbor s dog attacked me, I wasn`t badly injured but I feel the animal is a hazard to the community. I want to advise my neighborhood association about the dog - can a lawyer help me do this?
- Why do I really need an attorney to help if I was bitten by a dog?
- I was bitten by a dog - and I want to make sure it doesn`t bite anyone else, but I hate to think I will be responsible for having it put down. If I notify the authorities and hire an attorney, what will happen to the animal?
Nursing Home Neglect FAQ's
- I'm concerned about the care my mother is receiving in her nursing home. What can I do?
- Who do I make a report to? You will need to submit your report to the state health department.
- Is there a special format for reports or complaints? No, but you should include all of the following information in written form:
- Can an attorney help me resolve the situation?
- What constitutes abuse or neglect?
- How can I find a good nursing home?
- Are there any reports or information I can request from the home before I make my decision?
- The nursing home director suggested I shouldn’t visit my mother too soon after she moves into the facility or it might affect my mother’s adjustment to her new home. Does this seem right?
- My mother has Alzheimer’s – but the nursing home she lived in currently doesn't have any special care options or facilities for patients with her condition. Do I need a special home for her?
- My father-in-law recently passed away; and I feel that his nursing home may not have taken adequate care of him, which could have led to his death. What should I do?
- My mother fell in a nursing home a few months ago. She was 75-years-old at the time and suffered a badly broken hip. Unfortunately, she later passed away from surgery complications. It seems to me that the broken hip may have lead to her death. Are falls common and can they lead to more serious problems?
- A few days ago I noticed that my grand-father has a bedsore on his leg. He looks extremely uncomfortable. A nursing home aid told me that bedsores are a common problem, can be treated, and that I shouldn’t be worried. Should I be concerned?
- My father has bad bruising on his chest and arms. My wife and I suspect that he may be the victim of abuse, but don’t know this for sure and would hate to make false accusations. We’re scared for his safety. What should we do?
