F.A.Q.'s
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS NURSING HOME ABUSE ATTORNEYS LEVIN & PERCONTI
The following information includes frequently asked personal injury and nursing home abuse questions. The answers stated are general in nature and are not intended to apply to every personal injury situation. Each case is different and carries its own set of circumstances which must be taken into consideration by competent legal counsel. By contacting the Chicago, Illinois personal injury Attorneys of Levin & Perconti, you can receive a personal consultation regarding your specific legal claim.
- What is Personal Injury?
- What financial compensation can I recover in a personal injury claim?
- What is Nursing Home Neglect?
- Under what circumstances can a wrongful death occur?
- Who can file a wrongful death lawsuit?
- How much does Levin & Perconti charge for personal injury/nursing home abuse counsel?
Personal Injury is any physical or mental injury to a person that results from another person’s negligence or harmful act. Personal Injury involves civil law cases as opposed to criminal law cases which involve a defendant and the State of Illinois. Personal injury often refers to bodily injury and can occur in a wide variety of ways. The following are some of the most common accidents resulting in personal injury:
- Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
- Auto Accidents
- Dangerous or Defective Product Injuries
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Aviation Accidents
- Slip and Fall Accidents/Premise Liability
- Medical Malpractice
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Birth Injuries
- Wrongful Death
What financial compensation can I recover in a personal injury claim?
Accident victims are entitled to recover monetary damages for all losses and expenses suffered from the accident. Depending upon the particular circumstances of your case, damages may include recovery for any of the following:
- Medical bills
- Lost Wages, including overtime
- Pain & Suffering
- Physical Disability
- Disfigurement
- Emotional Trauma
- Mental Disability
- Property Damage
Elder, disabled and dependent adults rely on nursing homes to provide most if not all of their daily care, which includes food, water, medicine, toileting, grooming, social and physical stimulation, as well as regularly being turned in their beds. Nursing home neglect laws encompass the federal and state governments that establish uniform standards for nursing homes to provide adequate care for the residents and ensure their protection and safety. However, because nursing homes are not sufficiently staffed, and the staff there is generally underpaid, millions of elder and dependent adults are recurrently being neglected and abused. Signs of nursing home abuse and neglect include:
- Bed sores (pressure sores, decubitus ulcers)
- Burns
- Rapid weight loss
- Unexplained bruises
- Emotional withdrawal
- Malnutrition or dehydration
- Heavy sedation
- Inability of caretakers to explain patient’s condition
In addition to his work inside the courtroom, senior partner and firm co-founder Attorney Steven M. Levin of Levin & Perconti, as well as other members of the firm, frequently address audiences around the country on nursing home neglect issues. Attorney Levin also leads high-profile educational seminars for other lawyers in an effort to increase professional awareness and understanding of these issues.
Whether it is a single incident that causes injury or recurrent neglect or abuse, the victim or his/her next of kin has a right to bring claims against the nursing home under the nursing home neglect laws. If the nursing home is found to be negligent or abusive, the victim and/or next of kin will generally be awarded monetary compensation and the nursing home could potentially lose its certification for failing to supply the expected care (leading to a loss of federal funding).
Under what circumstances can a wrongful
death occur?
Wrongful Death Law provides financial compensation to the family of a person whose death was caused by the negligent, willful, or wrongful act of another. Wrongful death cases are filed as a result of a variety of situations, including:
- Medical malpractice resulting in decedent's death
- Neglect or abuse on the part of a nursing home that results in decedent's death
- Automobile, bus, train, airplane or other common carrier fatality accident
- Occupational exposure to hazardous conditions or substances (exposure to asbestos, etc.)
- Death during a supervised activity (sports tournament, field trip, etc.)
Who can file a wrongful death lawsuit?
A wrongful death case alleges that the decedent was killed as a result of the negligence of the defendant, and that the decedent's immediate family members (often called "distributees") are entitled to monetary damages as a result of the defendant's conduct. The most common distributees are surviving spouses and children, and sometimes parents.
Pecuniary (financial) injury is the main way damages in wrongful death cases are awarded. Courts interpret "pecuniary injuries" as including the loss of support, services, lost prospect of inheritance and medical and funeral expenses. Punitive damages may also be awarded in cases of serious or malicious wrong-doing to punish the wrong-doer, and/or deter others from behaving similarly.
How much does Levin & Perconti charge for personal injury/nursing home abuse counsel?
The law firm of Levin & Perconti has very competitive prices, which fall within the range of the industry standard. We tailor fee arrangements for each client's needs. Due to the nature of law, each case is unique and we have many fee structures to accommodate each client and each client's case based upon:
- Contingency
- Retainer
- Deposits
- Set Fees
- Billable unit rates or any combination
of the above
The law firm of Levin & Perconti gives every case individual attention and will work with you to find the best rate plan. There will be no hidden costs. You will be informed of the fees for your case during your free initial consultation with your Chicago, Illinois Levin & Perconti personal injury/nursing home abuse attorney.
If you or someone you know in Chicago, Illinois, or in the surrounding counties of Illinois needs the assistance or trusted legal advice of an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer, please call the Attorneys of Levin & Perconti today at 866-822-0169, or use the contact form provided on this site to begin your free consultation with a trusted Chicago personal injury attorney.