Are you dealing with the aftermath of a serious injury in Chicago, IL? Perhaps a careless driver hit you, or you slipped and fell on a slick floor at the grocery store. Maybe your neighbor’s dog bit you, or a doctor misdiagnosed an illness. Regardless of the specific circumstances, if you’ve been hurt because of something someone else did, you could be owed compensation for what you’ve suffered—including your medical bills, lost wages, physical pain, and emotional suffering. Let the Chicago personal injury lawyers with Wallace Miller help you demand it. Call (312) 261-6193 or contact us online for a free consultation.

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For a free consultation with one of our experienced and dedicated personal injury lawyers, call Wallace Miller at (312) 261-6193 today.

Understanding Personal Injury Claims in Chicago, IL

In Illinois, personal injury law is based on a simple concept: someone who hurts another person is legally responsible for the consequences. In other words, if you can prove that someone else is at fault for your injuries, you can hold them liable for your:

Medical bills
Property damage
Lost wages
Pain and suffering
Diminished quality of life

Perhaps unsurprisingly, though, this simple concept becomes far more complicated in practice. Here are a few things you should know about the legal landscape in Illinois regarding personal injuries and how that landscape can affect your claim.

If you suffered injuries or lost a family member in any accident due to someone else’s negligent actions, do not hesitate to contact Wallace Miller. Our personal injury lawyers have decades of experience handling these cases and holding individuals and companies accountable for their wrongdoing.

Establishing Liability in Illinois

In Illinois, you can establish liability on a number of legal concepts. The three most common are as follows:

Negligence: Negligence is the most common basis for liability, in which you must prove that the defendant injured you by failing to act with reasonable care. For example, a motorist who failed to check their blind spot before changing lanes did not exercise reasonable care. They would be liable if they collided with a car next to them.
Strict Liability: Strict liability only applies to specific situations, most commonly defective products and dog bites. In strict liability, you do not have to show that the defendant was careless. You just need to show that the action occurred.
Intentional Torts: On the other hand, intentional torts require you to prove that the defendant deliberately acted to harm you, such as in cases of assault.

Comparative Negligence in Illinois

Illinois adheres to a modified comparative negligence rule in personal injury cases. This legal doctrine allows you to recover compensation even if you are partially at fault for your injuries. If your case goes to court, the judge or jury will review the evidence and assess you a percentage of fault. If that share of fault is not more than 50%, it will still award you compensation, though it will also reduce the amount of compensation you can recover in proportion to that fault. However, if the court finds you more than 50% responsible for the accident, you cannot recover any compensation at all. Personal injury lawyers train to minimize their clients’ percentage of fault and maximize the compensation they can recover.

Statute of Limitations in Illinois

The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Illinois is generally two years from the date of the injury. If you attempt to file a lawsuit outside this period, the court will likely dismiss your case as untimely. However, there are exceptions that could extend or shorten this timeline. For example, Illinois law provides a discovery rule for injuries that might not be immediately apparent. This rule extends the filing period to two years from the date you discovered or should have discovered your injury. Still, time is of the essence in pursuing your rights, so there’s no time to waste in contacting an attorney.

Common Causes of Injuries and Fatalities in Personal Injury Cases

When results matter, so does your choice in a personal injury firm. You need to be able to trust your Chicago personal injury lawyer to do whatever it takes to get you the money you deserve. Here are six reasons to select Wallace Miller for your case:

We’ll stand strong for your story.
We deliver groundbreaking results for our clients.
We focus on open communication.
We give back to the community.
We will not charge you a fee unless we win your case.
We’ll go the distance in pursuit of the results you deserve.

Need more reasons? Our attorneys are members of prestigious, members-only organizations, including Best Lawyers, Leading Lawyers, and Super Lawyers, as well as National Trial Lawyers and the American Association for Justice.

Why Choose Wallace Miller?

Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer image 3 Wallace Miller has the skills, resources, and experience to handle a wide range of personal injury cases. Here are a few of the types of claims we can help you with.

Burn Injuries

Burn injuries can result from a variety of sources, such as fire, scalding liquids, electrical sources, and chemical exposure. These injuries can range from minor burns to severe, life-threatening conditions that require extensive medical treatment and could lead to long-term physical and emotional impacts.

Car Accidents

Car accidents result in more than 5 million medically consulted injuries nationwide every year. Closer to home, car accidents injure about nine people every hour in Illinois. Car accidents often leave victims with spinal cord injuries (SCIs), traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), broken bones, severe lacerations, and other life-altering injuries.

Dog Bites

Dog bites can lead to serious injuries, particularly in children and older adults. They often require immediate medical attention to prevent infections and treat wounds. Illinois law makes dog owners or handlers strictly liable for dog bites in most cases.

Cases We Handle

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Nursing home abuse and neglect encompass a range of wrongful acts, including physical, emotional, and financial abuse, as well as neglect of basic care needs. Victims and their families can pursue legal action to address harm and hold responsible parties accountable.

Premises Liability

Property owners and occupiers must inspect their premises and keep them safe from hazards. Failure to address those hazards or warn lawful visitors of their presence can make those parties liable for resulting injuries.

Rideshare Accident Lawsuits

Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft are ubiquitous on Chicago streets, but their drivers do not receive any more training than the average motorist. As such, these companies must carry substantial insurance policies that cover their drivers under certain conditions. Depending on the circumstances, these policies provide up to $1 million in liability coverage.

Slip-and-Falls

Slip and fall accidents are common premises liability claims that occur when a property owner’s negligence leads to dangerous conditions, resulting in injury. Common injuries include broken bones, head injuries, and spinal cord damage.

Cases We Handle

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) result from a blow or jolt to the head that disrupts normal brain function, ranging from mild concussions to severe brain damage. These injuries can have lasting effects on cognitive, physical, and emotional health.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can be devastating, often resulting from traffic accidents or falls, and may lead to partial or complete paralysis. These injuries require significant medical treatment and may impact every aspect of a person’s life, including their ability to work and care for themselves.

Worksite Injuries

Worksite injuries encompass a range of incidents from falls to machinery accidents, often requiring comprehensive medical attention and potentially leading to long-term disability. Injured employees may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits and can also pursue third-party claims against at-fault parties other than their employer.

Wrongful Death

Some accidents prove fatal. In these tragic circumstances, the deceased’s survivors can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault parties. Doing so allows them to seek compensation for loss of financial support, love and affection, and instruction/education, as well as their pain and suffering.

Truck Accidents

Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds—about 20 times the size of a passenger vehicle. That means they do serious damage in the event of a collision with one of these smaller vehicles. Truck accident victims often face life-altering injuries, and the complex nature of the trucking industry can make it hard to pursue fair compensation without legal guidance.

Cases We Handle

Motorcycle Accidents

The exposed position of motorcyclists puts them at heightened risk of serious injuries in the event of an accident. Worse, insurance companies often try to blame them for their own injuries, relying on stereotypes of bikers as reckless thrill-seekers. Injured motorcyclists often need experienced legal representation to fight these tactics and secure fair compensation.

Bicycle Accidents

Bicyclists often suffer serious injuries when they’re hit by larger, heavier, and more powerful motor vehicles. Victims may pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, and more.

Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents typically occur when drivers fail to yield right of way, leading to injuries that can be severe due to the unprotected nature of pedestrians. Victims may be entitled to compensation for medical costs, lost income, and other related expenses.

Medical Malpractice

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals must treat their patients in accordance with medically accepted standards. When they fail to meet this obligation, injured patients can hold healthcare professionals liable for medical malpractice. Common examples of medical malpractice include misdiagnosis, surgical errors, and incorrectly prescribed medications.

Cases We Handle

Below, you’ll find the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

Can I Still Recover Compensation If I’m Partially to Blame for My Injuries?

Yes. Illinois allows you to recover compensation as long as you aren’t more than 50 percent to blame for your injuries. However, a court will reduce your compensation in proportion to your share of the blame.

How Long Do I Have to File My Claim?

Illinois’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims is two years. While there are certain situations that could extend or shorten this deadline, do not assume these apply to your case. Instead, speak with a lawyer about your case as soon as you can.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means their payment is contingent on their ability to recover compensation. If they do not win your case, you do not have to pay them. If they do win, they take their fee from an agreed-upon portion of your recovery.

Do I Really Need a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer?

Yes. Insurance companies and defense attorneys know how to limit liability and avoid paying injured parties fairly. Without legal protection, you are at risk of recovering far less than you deserve. At the very least, you should speak with a lawyer about your case during a free consultation.

What Should I Bring to My Initial Consultation?

The more information you can provide to your prospective attorney, the more advise they can give you about your case. Try to bring photographs of the scene if you have them, as well as your medical bills and treatment notes. Write down everything you remember about the accident while your memory is fresh and bring it with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you sustained an injury or lost a loved one in an accident due to someone’s negligence, call Wallace Miller for your free consultation at (312) 261-6193

Contact Us

At Wallace Miller, our personal injury lawyers know the uphill battle you face. We are ready to take over your case so you can focus on healing. Our team will provide the guidance you need and remain by your side until the end.