Struck at the Stadium - Chicago Blackhawk Fan Injured
When
you have been the victim of careless behavior
and suffer injury,
the law provides recourse for you by allowing lawsuits for personal injury. A recent post published in the
Chicago Sun Times illustrates the use of personal injury litigation when a party believes that
another is responsible. The post discusses the matter of Patricia Higgins, a
Chicago Blackhawks fan who received an injury after attending Game 1 of the
2013 Stanley Cup Finals. She had attended the game with her daughter, sitting
in section 115. Although there was a safety net in front of her area, the
doctor from Burr Ridge was struck in the face by a wayward puck.
As a result,
Dr. Higgins had a 1 ½-inch gash that went from the bridge of her nose to her
right eyebrow. The injury required her to receive stitches. At the time of the
incident, Dr. Higgins suffered a concussion, and asserted that she still was
experiencing flashes of light in her vision was unable to smell or taste. A
month after the injury, a Park Ridge businessman, who also attended the match,
presented the puck to Dr. Higgins. She is claiming in her lawsuit that the
United Center, the stadium where the Blackhawks play, was careless and
negligent in the installation and maintenance of the nets. She also stated that
the United Center should have maintained and inspected the safety nets so that
they could have prevented potential injuries to spectators. The doctor alleges
that due to her injuries, she has “sustained
injuries, suffered pain, lost wages and medical bills, and will continue to
suffer such damages in the future.”
The Statute of Limitations in Personal Injury Law
When reading about the case, a primary question may be, some
may wonder why Dr. Higgins is bringing a personal injury claim a year after the
injury occurred. Her legal representative can do so because there is a statute
of limitations for claims involving personal injury. The statute of limitation
is a period of time in which a legal party can bring forward a claim. Once the
statute of limitations expires, it is very difficult to bring forward a claim
without some type of mitigating factor, and even in that case, it may still be
a task to do so.
In the state of Illinois, people can find information
regarding personal injury matters in the Code of Civil
Procedure (735 ILCS 5/13-202). Section 13-202 states that to bring a
claim for personal injury, a party must file their claim within two years.
Thus, if you bring a claim after the two-year period, your claim will most
likely be denied. However, even in that case, it is still in your best interest
to speak with an attorney, as an attorney is more familiar with the law and
there may be other avenues through which you can bring forward a claim. For
example, Illinois law establishes (Sec. 13-202.2) that for personal injury
based on childhood sexual abuse, a party can bring a claim within 20 years of
the trauma.
If you have questions regarding personal injury litigation in the greater Chicago area, you should contact Allegretti & Associates. We have a solid reputation in the field of personal injury law, and can help you recover the compensation that you deserve.
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