Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer
If you suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for your losses. A Chicago personal injury lawyer can thoroughly evaluate your case and determine your legal options.
- What Types of Cases Do Personal Injury Attorneys Handle?
- Why Choose the Injury Attorneys at Levin & Perconti?
- When Should You Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?
- How Do I Prove Fault in My Chicago Personal Injury Case?
- What if I’m Partially at Fault for My Injury?
- How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Case in Chicago?
- How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me?
- What Compensation Am I Entitled for a Personal Injury?
- Does Illinois Have Caps on the Amount of Damages Received in Personal Injury Claims?
- Contact our Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys for a Free Consultation
- Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury
Personal injury lawyers work to hold the at-fault party responsible for the losses and damages incurred. The injured person often files a claim with the responsible party’s insurance company to recover damages, including lost income, medical costs, and emotional distress or pain and suffering. If the insurance company offers a low settlement or tries to deny the claim altogether, a personal injury attorney can appeal the denial, negotiate a fairer payout, or file a lawsuit to pursue maximum compensation.
Our personal injury attorneys have over 200 years of combined experience representing thousands of injured people throughout Illinois. Don’t try to navigate this difficult time alone. The legal team at Levin & Perconti is standing to provide a free case evaluation if you think you may have a case. Contact us today by calling (312) 471-0509 or visiting our contact page.
What Types of Cases Do Personal Injury Attorneys Handle?
At Levin & Perconti, our personal injury attorneys in Chicago, IL, share a commitment to helping those harmed by the negligent, careless, or wrongful actions of others. We handle all types of personal injury litigation for clients in the Chicago area and throughout Illinois.
If you’ve suffered losses or an injury after an accident or incident in one of the following categories, we want to review your case to decide how we can best help you:
- Chicago Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
- Chicago Birth Injuries
- Chicago Brain Injuries
- Chicago Medical Malpractice
- Chicago Car Accidents
- Chicago Truck Accidents
- Chicago Motorcycle Accidents
- Chicago Bicycle Accidents
- Chicago Premises Liability
- Chicago Product Liability
- Chicago Work-Related Injuries
- Chicago Sexual Abuse and Assault
- Chicago Construction Accidents
- Chicago Slip and Fall Accidents
- Chicago Wrongful Death
- Chicago Mass Shootings
Why Choose the Injury Attorneys at Levin & Perconti?
Across three decades in operation and more than 400 combined years of legal experience, our firm has built a reputation for excellent representation, compassionate service, and significant results. We’re committed to ensuring our clients get the justice they deserve, and we approach every case by putting their needs first.
Case Results
We’ve recovered more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients across multiple practice areas. Some of our notable case results include a $40 million birth injury award, a $20 million medical malpractice verdict, a $10 million car accident settlement, and a $4.1 million nursing home abuse verdict.
$17.7 million
Settlement
against a Chicago hospital in a medical malpractice lawsuit filed after a former police officer suffered a severe brain injury due to the negligence of the nursing staff
$14 million
Verdict
against a doctor and hospital for ignoring abnormal chest x-rays and thereby, substantially delaying a diagnosis of lung cancer in the patient
$10 million
Settlement
for a 5-year-old who lost a leg and half of his pelvis after being run over by a City of Chicago Fire Department truck
$6 million
Settlement
for the families of six children who passed away in an apartment fire—the children were not able to vacate the building quickly because the landlord had not installed working smoke detectors in direct violation of the Chicago Municipal Code
$4.1 million
Verdict
for an 85-year-old woman who suffered injury at a nursing home due to the mismanagement of medications
$6.5 million
Settlement
for a young girl who suffered a brain injury during birth, resulting in cerebral palsy, after physicians failed to timely perform a c-section.
Testimonials
We aim to give every client personalized, high-quality legal representation and refuse to give up until we obtain the best results possible. Our satisfied clients have praised our representation, compassion, and results in the testimonials and reviews that have provided us.
Ongoing Success & Recognition
Our dedication to winning complex cases has earned us national recognition for our work. Our accolades include being recognized among the Best Lawyers in America, being named a U.S. News Tier 1 Law Firm, winning Trial Excellence Awards from Jury Verdict Reporter, and more.
When Should You Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?
Any severe injury or dispute with an insurance company requires legal representation. Finding a personal injury lawyer near you can allow you to focus on recovering from your injuries instead of attempting to navigate the complexities of the legal system on your own. An experienced attorney will handle insurance negotiations for you, fighting for fair compensation and refusing lowball offers.
It’s always best to seek representation immediately after suffering an injury. Evidence will become less reliable and harder to find the longer you wait, potentially weakening your case. Our Chicago personal injury attorneys are available today for a free case evaluation.
How Do I Prove Fault in My Chicago Personal Injury Case?
Under Chicago law, a person can be at fault for any action or omission that’s negligent, reckless, willful, or wanton.
To assert a personal injury claim in Illinois, you and your injury attorney must establish fault, meaning you must meet the burden of proof or “preponderance of the evidence” in a personal injury case before the burden to rebut the claims shifts to the defendant. In short, you have to prove the following elements:
- Duty: The defendant owed you a duty of care or had a responsibility to you.
- Breach: The defendant breached their duty or failed to act reasonably.
- Injuries: The defendant’s breach was the actual cause of your injuries.
- Losses: You suffered a loss due to your injuries, whether economic or non-economic.
What if I’m Partially at Fault for My Injury?
Illinois follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule to determine fault or shared responsibility in personal injury cases. Under this rule, you cannot recover compensation for your damages if the court decides you’re more than 50 percent responsible for the accident. You can recover damages if you are 50 percent or less at fault. However, your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your share of the fault.
Never admit fault after an accident or incident causing injuries or losses. Even if you believe you’re at fault, it’s always best to speak with an attorney before taking any action. A Chicago personal injury lawyer can help assess your percentage of responsibility and determine your legal options and how to proceed for the best possible outcome.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Case in Chicago?
The deadline for filing a personal lawsuit in Chicago can vary, depending on the nature of the case and the circumstances. If you’ve been injured, we encourage you to contact a Chicago personal injury attorney as soon as possible so they can help you meet the relevant deadlines.
The statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in Illinois is generally two years. The two-year limit for personal injury claims runs from the date of the accident or the discovery of the injury or from the date the injured person should’ve reasonably made its discovery.
For wrongful death cases, the two-year limit begins to run on the date of the person’s death.
Exceptions to Illinois' Statutes of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims
There are some exceptions to the normal Illinois statute of limitation laws. These include the following:
- Minors in medical malpractice cases: If the malpractice victim is under 18, the statute of limitations allows for filings up to eight years after the medical treatment date. However, a lawsuit cannot be filed later than the individual’s 22nd birthday for the claim to be valid.
- Legally incapacitated individuals: If a person lacks the legal capacity to sue, the statute of limitations pauses until their capacity is restored.
- Medical malpractice cases involving fraudulent concealment: Injured patients have up to five years to file a claim if the health care provider attempts to hide or cover up the negligence causing the harm.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me?
A personal injury lawyer near you can help you build the strongest case to maximize your compensation. They’ll investigate, collect the available evidence, consult with expert witnesses, and devise a compelling legal argument supported by the facts to help convince the insurance company or jury that you deserve compensation for your damages.
At Levin & Perconti, we recognize that accidents and injuries often happen due to preventable negligence. That’s why we’ve worked hard to develop tried-and-true legal strategies to help victims recover maximum compensation for their damages. We strive to make our clients whole again and deter future negligence or wrongdoing on the defendant’s part. We never settle for less than fair compensation and are not afraid to take cases to trial.
You don’t have to take Don’t take our word for it. Many of our clients have shared their satisfaction, like this personal injury client, who left an online review:
“I have never been involved in litigation before, so it was a new experience. Due to the sensitive nature of the case, at times, the process was frustrating, but the legal team of Jaime Koziol and Danielle Downey treated us with compassion and understanding. They worked hard to ensure we received the best possible outcome. We appreciate the quality service provided.” – Cheryl H., Google
What Compensation Am I Entitled for a Personal Injury?
Under Illinois law, injury victims can receive both economic and non-economic damages in personal injury cases. Monetary damages are actual, measurable financial losses you’ve incurred because of your injuries. Non-economic damages are types of harm, such as pain and suffering, that don’t have a specific dollar amount assigned to them.
Economic damages include the following:
- Past and future medical bills, including follow-up doctor’s office visits, diagnostic tests, prescription medication, physical therapy, mobility aids, surgeries, and more
- Mental health treatment costs, including expenses to treat PTSD, anxiety, depression, or any other mental health condition stemming from your injury
- Lost wages
- Future lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Household services
Non-economic damages include the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Humiliation and reputation damage
- Disfigurement or disability
In addition to the above damages, personal injury victims can sometimes seek punitive damages. These damages are awarded by a court of law not to compensate injured plaintiffs but to punish defendants whose conduct is considered grossly negligent or intentional. However, punitive damages do not always apply in medical malpractice cases.
In rare cases, a jury may award punitive damages when the defendant has acted intentionally or with “a conscious indifference to the rights and safety of others.” An example of such behavior is drunk driving. Additionally, organizations such as nursing homes, pharmaceutical companies, and product manufacturers can be held accountable for failing to ensure the safety of residents and consumers, putting profits over people.
Does Illinois Have Caps on the Amount of Damages Received in Personal Injury Claims?
Illinois currently has no laws imposing damage caps on personal injury compensation. In 2005, Illinois did set a limit on non-economic damages. However, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned that law in 2010, ruling it was unconstitutional. The Court ruled that decisions regarding damages should be the purview of judges and juries.
Contact our Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys for a Free Consultation
Being injured because of someone else’s negligence can be devastating, regardless of whether it occurred on the road, because of a defective product, or at the hands of a trusted medical provider. Our Chicago personal injury lawyers can help you fight back and win the compensation you deserve.
We can help you determine whether you have a viable case and discuss your legal options risk-free. You won’t pay us anything unless we win your case. Contact us online or call (312) 332-2872 today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury
display:none;
Accordion Content
What Is a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury claim is a demand for compensation made by someone harmed by another’s negligence. If the responsible party or their insurance company refuses to agree to a fair settlement, an injury victim can file a lawsuit to pursue their claim in court.
How Do I Know How Much My Case Is Worth?
Every personal injury case has a different value based on the unique circumstances involved. Factors like the nature and extent of your injuries, the type of accident, the extent of the defendant’s wrongdoing, the strength of the evidence, the impacts on the victim’s life, and who was responsible can all influence the size of your potential award.
How Long Will My Personal Injury Case Take?
Every case is unique. Depending on the situation and how complicated the details are, your case can take anywhere from a few months to more than a year to resolve. Our Chicago personal injury lawyers can analyze your case and estimate how long it might take.
What Is the Process of Filing a Claim for Injuries?
First, your attorney will build a strong case by investigating and gathering evidence, such as medical records, bills, photographs, video, police reports, and other relevant information. They will then notify the responsible party and their insurance company and begin settlement negotiations.
Do I Have to Go to Court to Settle an Illinois Personal Injury Claim?
If the insurance company refuses to agree to a fair settlement, your attorney may take your case to court to fight for the compensation you deserve. Most resolve before trial, but our attorneys aren’t afraid to fight for you in court if necessary.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Chicago?
Hiring our Chicago personal injury attorneys doesn’t cost anything upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we get paid a percentage of your award. You won’t owe us anything unless and until we win your case.
Legally Reviewed by
Jaime Koziol Delaney
Contact Us
- Free Consultation
- (312) 332-2872
"*" indicates required fields
Notable Results
VERDICT
on behalf of an 85-year-old woman injured in a nursing home when her medications were mismanaged.
SETTLEMENT
for the family of a 32-year-old woman who was killed when their pick-up truck was rear-ended by a semi-truck.
Settlement
settlement to the family of a baby who suffered permanent brain damage as a result of a doctor’s negligence.
Our Office
325 N LaSalle Dr Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60654
312-332-2872
