At Ridge & Downes we take pride in our ability to successfully represent injured people in a wide range of personal injury claims. We help our clients navigate both the complex bureaucracies of insurance companies as well as the court system.

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Personal injury lawsuits (often called Third Party Suits) are filed by a person, or their representative, when an accident or incident is due to the negligence, at least in part, of another party.  The injuries sustained can be either physical, emotional or a combination of both and can arise from a variety of different types of conduct on the part of the party involved. The most common personal injury cases involve automobile accidents, slip and fall cases, medical malpractice cases, product liability cases and assault and battery cases.  A personal injury claim may arise from a work injury where a co-worker or someone other than the employer is responsible for the accident.

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In order to be successful in a personal injury action, you must first show that you have been harmed in some way by the action or inaction of a third party.  The harm caused can be physical, emotional or financial, or it can be a combination of all of the above. 

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The critical issue in many personal injury cases is the concept of “Negligence” and this is established on what has been termed the “reasonable person standard.”  A person will be deemed negligent if they fail to act like an “ordinary reasonable person” would have acted in the same situation.  The determination of whether or not a person has acted as a reasonable person and met this standard is one that is often times resolved by a jury after presentation of all the facts, evidence and argument at a trial. 

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It is important to remember that the party from which you seek to recover must be financially viable. There is little point in pursuing a personal injury case against a person of no financial means or without insurance. We will be able to assist you in determining this information at the outset of a case.

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The compensation that an injured person may be entitled to in a personal injury suit includes lost wages, past and future medical expenses, monetary compensatory damages for both physical and emotional pain and suffering, damages for disfigurement and scarring and out of pocket expenses including travel expenses to and from medical appointments.  Sometimes an injured person’s spouse or partner may also be entitled to compensation called consortium damages.  Its intention is to compensate the person closest to the injured party for the loss of that person’s companionship or services.

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Punitive damages may be awarded when a negligent party’s conduct is considered by a court or a jury to be particularly reckless or intentionally negligent. A court or jury may determine that the particular Defendant(s) should be additionally punished by paying an amount of money over and above the Plaintiff’s actual damages.  This type of damage is often used in cases when a court wants to send a message and deter other people from engaging in the type of conduct engaged in by the Defendant.

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When an accident results in any personal injury, you deserve to know that you have the most competent and dedicated professionals representing your interests. Ridge & Downes will provide a free consultation to answer any questions you may have regarding your accident.

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There is No Fee Until You Receive Compensation

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If you're ready to protect yourself and your loved ones, call us today for a free, confidential consultation.

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Call us at 312.372.8282 or fill out our Contact Form.