Charles Joseph Gale's Legal Cases (7)

Car accident

$100,000 for Pedestrian Hit by Vehicle

Oct 18, 2013

OUTCOME: $100,000.00

Our office recovered $100,000.00 for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle while crossing the street. The 38 year old male pedestrian had the right-of way while crossing the street. He was in the cross-wal ... k and crossing with the walk signal. The vehicle was traveling with a green light, making a left turn. This type of incident happens all too often, the driver and the pedestrian both having the green light. Needless to say, the insurance carrier denied all liability and refused to pay. Suit was filed. Even in simple cases like this, the insurance carrier will try to blame the pedestrian. After all, the vehicle had the green light. Didn’t the pedestrian see the left turning vehicle? Was the pedestrian running? Was his vision obscured? Was his attention distracted? Did he enter the street without having enough time to cross? Pedestrians struck by vehicles can expect the insurance carrier to dispute liability. And, even if successful, the insurance carrier will try to minimize the injuries. After all, there were no broken bones, no cuts, no bleeding, no stitches and no concussion. All x-rays were normal. Actually, there were injuries, serious injuries that x-rays will not show. In this case, the pedestrian sustained torn ligaments to his knee. This will not show up on x-ray. After extensive litigation, we were able to recover $100,000.00 for the pedestrian who “was at fault” and “sustained no injuries.” If you or a loved one are the victim of an auto/pedestrian incident, call the Law Offices of Charles J. Gale for a free consultation. If we do not recover, there is no charge.

Personal injury

$450,000 for Injuries sustained in apartment fire

Aug 16, 2013

OUTCOME: Large Settlement

Our client received a settlement of $450,000.00 for personal injuries from an apartment fire. The cause or origin of the apartment fire was in dispute. This is not unusual for many fires, in this case, ... an apartment fire. That is, many times no one knows with reasonable certainty how or where the fire started. The cause of an apartment fire could be faulty electrical wiring. Or, the fire may have started in another unit. Whatever the case, the occupants of the building need to be warned so that they can protect themselves. The warning device for apartment building fires are smoke detectors. In this case, there was evidence that the smoke detectors were not operating properly. This was enough to prove liability of the building owner and/or management company for the personal injuries sustained from an apartment fire. Most local jurisdictions require smoke detectors inside the individual units and in the common hallways of all apartment buildings. The reason for the smoke detectors is obvious. To prevent needless personal injuries from an apartment fire. The landlord has the responsibility to make sure the smoke detectors are in working order. The tenant has the responsibility to change the batteries after the first year. The landlord has the responsibility to make sure the hallway smoke detectors are functioning at all times. If they are not, the landlord can be liable for the personal injuries sustained from an apartment fire. This is true even if the fire began in the tenants own unit. Because fires can destroy almost all of the evidence necessary to preserve your case, it is necessary that an attorney be retained immediately after an apartment fire. Witnesses to the fire will need to be interviewed. Did they hear the smoke detectors? Did the fire department personnel hear the smoke detectors? Did the witnesses see the origin of the fire? Where was the location? Were there electrical issues with the building? Was power frequently going out? Our office has experience in dealing with personal injuries from an apartment fire and related issues. If you are involved in a fire and have sustained personal injuries from an apartment fire, call our office. Phone number (312) 372-0300.

Personal injury

$1,000,000 for failure to Obtain Parental Censent for Birth Control

Aug 06, 2013

OUTCOME: $1,000,000 Settlement

RECENT SETTLEMENTS! PARENTAL CONSENT FOR BIRTH CONTROL PILLS We just recently settled another case for $1,000,000.00 involving the need for parental consent for birth control pills. Briefly, our clien ... ts' 17 year old daughter died from the side effects of taking birth control pills. The claim was not against the physician, but against the school who gave the pills to our clients' daughter. The birth control pills were provided by the daughters' high school without the mother’s parental consent or knowledge. The mother had no idea her daughter was taking birth control pills. The daughter had a medical history that the school was not aware of, nor did they make any attempt to discover. Later, our clients' daughter started having side effects from the birth control pills. The mother, not knowing that her daughter was on birth control pills, thought nothing of what appeared to be a simple illness. But, to a person on birth control pills, the symptoms were a sign of serious danger, especially to a person with her daughters' medical history. In this case, what appeared to be harmless side-effects, turned out to be fatal. The school never wanted to admit fault or liability for providing birth control pills without parental consent. This required us to file suit against the school and litigate the case until we were successful.

Personal injury

$47,000 Settlement for trip and fall exiting elevator

Aug 02, 2013

OUTCOME: $47,000 Settlement

A sixty-four year old woman sustained a personal injury from a trip and fall while exiting an elevator. This happened in a common downtown office building. The floor of the elevator was uneven due to a ... malfunction. When the elevator door opened, our client proceeded to exit the elevator. However, the elevator and the floor were not even. When our client stepped out of the elevator, she tripped on the uneven floor. This type of incident happens all too often, causing needless injuries and suffering. In this particular case, our office was able to obtain $47,000.00 settlement. Further, our client's personal injury from the trip and fall while exiting an elevator was settled without the need for costly and time consuming litigation. Personal injuries from a trip and falls while exiting an elevator can happen anytime, anywhere. Trip and falls exiting elevators are becoming more and more common. The cause of this is usually improper maintenance. Almost everyone has experienced an elevator stopping an inch or two above or below the floor. And, if you are not extremely alert, you may experience a personal injury from a trip and fall while exiting the elevator. If you or someone you know trips and fall while exiting an elevator, you should know that you may have the right to collect compensation for your injuries. Many times the elevator in question is not being properly maintained. Worse, sometimes the building management is actually aware that the elevator is malfunctioning. If you should sustain a personal injury from a trip and fall while exiting an elevator, let us know so you can recover your rightful compensation. If you sustain a personal injury from a trip and fall while exiting an elevator, take these steps. File an incident report with the building management immediately. Document the cause of the trip and fall. Go to the hospital or doctor the same day. Take pictures of your injuries. If possible, take pictures of the malfunctioning elevator. And, call our office as soon as possible. Remember, a personal injury from a trip and fall while exiting an elevator can be extremely traumatic. Serious and long-lasting injuries can result. And, substantial medical bills can be incurred. Do not wait to make your claim. If you sustain a personal injury from a trip and fall while exiting an elevator, call us immediately.

Personal injury

$475,000 for Nursing Home Malpractice

Jul 25, 2013

OUTCOME: $475,000 Settlement

Our office successfully recovered $475,000 for nursing home abuse that resulted in the wrongful death of a seventy-seven year old nursing home resident. The facts of the case are tragic. In this case, ... the resident was beaten to death by his room-mate. The nursing home naturally denied all responsibility for the acts of the assaulting resident. But our office was able to prove that the nursing home was not only complicit, but that they themselves were guilty of nursing home abuse that resulted in the wrongful death of our client. An investigation in the facts of the occurrence revealed that the room-mate was mentally deranged. This fact was known to the nursing home (and hidden from us). The mentally deranged room-mate was potentially dangerous and belonged in a psych ward. The room-mate was twenty years younger than the resident. The pairing of a seventy-seven year old individual with a room-mate twenty years younger was questionable and in this case highly inappropriate. With these facts, and others, we were able to prove that the nursing home was responsible for the death of our client. Nursing home residents suffer abuse in many different ways. Most of the time, the neglect is hidden. Rarely is the abuse obvious. The resident many times will not be able to tell you of the abuse. Or, the nursing home employees will deny the abuse. The nursing home records will always show excellent care provided to the resident. However, the resident will show signs of abuse through the deterioration of his health and possibly, eventual death. The resident may not be getting his medication. The resident may not be fed properly. The resident might not be supervised properly. Nursing home malpractice most of the time only becomes apparent indirectly. Nursing Home malpractice has many tell-tale signs. Those signs are an increasingly unhealthy resident. The resident will show malnutrition, infections, dehydration, unexplained injuries, pressure ulcers, rapid weight loss, falls and fractures, abrupt changes in behavior. This list goes on and on. Once you begin to suspect malpractice, you must now prove it. Suspecting there is nursing home malpractice and proving it are two entirely different concepts. The medical records will show excellent care provided to the resident. The records will show faithful and timely bed turning, adherence to scrupulous medication schedules, excellent feeding and nutrition, constant supervision, and appropriate and attentive care. The nursing home will provide other reasons for the decline in the health of the resident. The resident has prior medical conditions. The resident is old. The resident refuses to eat. The resident is uncooperative. The resident was not careful. The list goes on and on. If you believe your loved one may be a victim of nursing home malpractice, call our office immediately. Charles J. Gale has over thirty years of experience in prosecuting claims of nursing home malpractice. Call (312) 372-0300. There is no fee for the consultation. There is no fee at all unless we win and we recover.

Personal injury

$200,000 for Dog Attack on Minor

Jul 12, 2013

OUTCOME: $200,000 Settlement

A two-year old child was attacked by a pit bull while playing on the stairs in her apartment building. The child was being supervised by her mother. Without any warning or provocation, the dog simply a ... ttacked the child. The mother does not know why. The dog, a pit bull, also lived on the premises and was familiar with the child. At the result of the dog attack, the child was scratched on the face. The dog attack resulted in three 1 cm lacerations. The lacerations may result in permanent scarring. As the result of the dog attack, our office obtained a settlement in the amount of $200,000.00. Dog attacks have unfortunately become very common. The injuries sustained from a dog attack can be serious. Sometimes the injuries are life-threatening. Dog attacks that result in scars can result in substantial settlements. Regardless of the extent of injuries, you have a right to compensation for a dog attack that is unprovoked. In this case, we obtained a settlement in the amount of $200,000.00. The injuries were not life threatening but they did leave small, possibly permanent scars. As with all scars, the location of the scar is the most important factor. Dog attacks that leave scars on the face are the worst. Even small scars on the face from a dog attack can result in very substantial settlements. Dog attacks can result in injuries other than scars. Dog attacks can cause nerve damage, muscle damage, ligament damage and psychological damage. The Dog attack injuries can be permanent. In almost all cases, dog attack injuries will result in injuries that will result in substantial medical bills. Sometimes dog attacks can result in injuries in the attempt to flee the dog. You can sustain injuries even if the dog does not bite you. Your attempt to run, flee, or escape can result in injuries. Dog attacks that cause these injuries are also compensable. If you or your loved ones have been involved in a dog attack, you may have the right to compensation. If you did not provoke the dog, you almost certainly have the right to compensation. The amount of the recovery for the dog attack will depend upon the injuries. But because most dog attacks almost always result in injuries, the amount of the recovery can be substantial. If you are involved in a dog attack, seek medical attention immediately. Be sure to file a police report. And call our office as soon as possible.

Personal injury

$65,000 Settlement from fall in Cemetery

Jul 05, 2013

OUTCOME: $65,000 Settlement

Our client, a 62 year old woman visiting her husband at the cemetery, had a fall while walking in the cemetery caused by the uneven ground. The ground had been dug up earlier for burial sites but the e ... mployees of the cemetery did not properly compact the dirt, leaving a large hole which our client stepped in. The law allows recovery against landowners who create a dangerous condition on their property. In this case, the fall while walking in the cemetery was caused by the uneven ground, a dangerous condition that was created by the cemetery. And, because the condition was both unreasonably dangerous and created by the cemetery, the cemetery was legally liable and therefore responsible for the injuries and damages of our client. To be successful in a case like this, we need to prove that the fall while walking in the cemetery was caused by a condition created by the cemetery. Simply proving that the ground is uneven is not sufficient to prove a case. We needed to prove that the uneven ground was actually created by the cemetery. To do this, we needed to document and preserve the conditions at the exact area of the fall immediately after the fall. To document the scene, we take pictures of the freshly disturbed ground and the contrast with immediate area. An examination of the area, preserved with pictures, will show that the area had been freshly dug up, in this case, by the cemetery employees. When presented with this clear and incontrovertible evidence, the cemetery had to concede that our client's fall walking in the cemetery was in fact caused by a condition that they in fact created. The result was a $65,000.00 recovery for our client. If you have a fall while walking in the cemetery while visiting your loved ones, call our office immediately so we can get the same recovery for you!

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