Illinois Personal Injury Lawyers

If you suffered injuries because of someone else’s negligence, you need good legal representation to collect damages. Contact an Illinois personal injury lawyer to find out what you can do after an accident and injury.

Experienced Illinois Personal Injury Lawyers – Patrick A. Salvi, Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard

Patrick A. Salvi founded the firm in 1982 and now focuses solely on serious personal injury cases. His team of partners and associates takes on a wide range of personal injury clients. With offices in Chicago and Waukegan, the firm reaches clients throughout northeastern Illinois. The team is dedicated to helping victims of personal injuries recover damages.

Salvi and his team draw in personal injury clients for their experience and results and for many other reasons:

  • $1.5 billion in settlements and verdicts won for clients
  • More than 260 verdicts or settlements worth more than one million dollars
  • Experience in all types of personal injuries and accidents
  • A sole focus on personal injury cases
  • Wins for clients both through settlements and litigation

Illinois Office Headquarters

Salvy, Schostok & Pritchard has an office in Waukegan, but the main office is in Chicago:

161 N. Clark Street

Suite 4700

Chicago, IL 60601

When Do I Need an Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer?

You can benefit from talking to a personal injury lawyer if you suffered injuries in the state and someone else is to blame. For instance, if you slipped and fell on ice in front of a retail store, or if the driver of another car ran a red light and hit you, a lawyer can provide invaluable advice.

Negligence in accidents that cause injuries and damages is grounds for legal action. A lawyer specializing in personal injury can look over your situation and determine if you have a case. It is especially important to contact a lawyer in these situations:

  • Someone from an insurance company has approached you to talk about the incident.
  • An insurance company adjuster offers you a settlement.
  • The insurance company refuses to pay for your injuries.
  • You suffered harm and have expenses but aren’t sure if negligence played a role.
  • You don’t understand your legal rights or options after an accident.

What to Expect When Working with Your Personal Injury Lawyer

When you first contact an Illinois personal injury lawyer, they should offer you a free initial consultation. Bring all the relevant information for your case, such as police reports, photographs of the accident or your injuries, and your medical records and bills. Avoid any lawyers charging for this visit.

In the first meeting, a lawyer will look over the information you have and determine if you have a strong enough case for a lawsuit or settlement. If you choose to hire that lawyer, they still should not request any payment. The best personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis so that you pay nothing until they win.

Personal Injury Laws in Illinois

Your lawyer will guide you through the process of taking legal action for a personal injury, but it’s useful to know some of the state laws that govern these cases before you begin:

  • Statute of Limitations. In Illinois, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. The clock starts at the time of the incident with some exceptions. You may be able to start the clock at the time you realize the incident caused injuries if you could not have reasonably discovered them sooner.[1]
  • Comparative Fault. If you are found to be at fault in the incident, the court can reduce your damages by an equivalent percentage. If your fault reaches 50%, your damages can be reduced to nothing.
  • Dog Bites. Illinois has strict liability in dog bites. This means that if someone’s dog bit you, the burden of proving their negligence and liability is low. You do not need to prove that they knew their dog was capable of biting or other aggressive behaviors.[2]
  • Damages. Unlike several states, Illinois does not cap non-economic damages. You are free to seek any amount you think is fair for intangible costs, like pain and suffering.

Work with an Illinois personal injury lawyer if you suffered injuries in the state. You may not be sure how to prove negligence and liability, but your lawyer will. They can explain your options, build a case, and make sure you recover damages.

For city-specific information, please visit the following pages:

Sources
  1. Illinois General Assembly. (n.d.). Illinois Compiled Statutes. Civil Procedure.
    Retrieved from: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=2017&ChapterID=56&SeqStart=99900000&SeqEnd=103300000
  2. Illinois Courts. (2003). Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions-Civil. 110.00 Animals.
    Retrieved from: https://courts.illinois.gov/CircuitCourt/CivilJuryInstructions/110.00.pdf