With about 3 million people residing in Chicago, accidents are going to happen. If you or a loved one suffers serious injuries from one of these unfortunate events, you may deserve compensation for your losses.
The process of getting that compensation involves meeting strict legal standards to prove liability and damages. When you need help with that process, The Collins Law Firm’s Chicago, IL, personal injury lawyers are here to guide you every step of the way.
Hiring a qualified attorney for your injury claim can be the difference between getting the maximum payout and not getting enough to cover your losses. Because the outcome has a direct impact on your family’s well-being, you need to trust the legal advice and assistance you receive.
Our attorneys at The Collins Law Firm have over 175 years of combined legal experience. Our founder, Shawn Collins, brings over three decades of a relentless pursuit of justice as a skilled trial lawyer. For that reason, we’ve won over $1.3 billion in verdicts and settlements.
However, we don’t just focus on money or the facts of a case – we focus on you. Our team delivers a client-centered approach and will prioritize your needs and concerns if you work with us. Each case is unique, and we’re ready to give you the personalized attention you deserve. For instance, we offer you 24/7 access to our team to ensure you have the legal support you need when you need it.
Road accidents are the most common type of injury cases, and we eagerly assist Chicago residents, workers and visitors with these claims. Thelatest datafrom the city government and the Illinois Department of Transportation highlights why motor vehicle collisions are still a risk.
In 2023, Chicago had 136 fatal road accidents involving 46 pedestrians, 10 cyclists and 80 vehicle occupants.
The good news is these numbers are down from 2022 and show an impressive 27% drop from a peak in 2021. They’re also better than the 5-year and 10-year average.
Also, while the number of total crashes is up, the number of people suffering serious injuries is down to 2,337. The leading causes of these accidents are speed and recklessness.
Certain areas are more prone to accidents. A heat map that the Chicago Department of Transportation published shows that most crashes occur in the Central Business District, particularly the Near North Side, the Loop and the Near West Side.
On the West Side, the neighborhoods of Austin, West Garfield Park, East Garfield Park and North Lawndale have a higher rate of crashes. The Greater Grand Crossing on the South Side is also susceptible to more accidents.
Specific streets with a higher number of crashes include:
In response, the city is making safety investments in these streets and intersections. Such improvements will be a step in the right direction, but they don’t compensate accident victims or their families. For that, you can turn to our team at The Collins Law Firm for help making your case and fighting for fair compensation.
Our team at The Collins Firm can help you in all areas of personal injury law. Consider the many types of cases we can take the lead on.
Motor vehicle accidents comprise the bulk of personal injury cases. We have considerable experience with these claims and can assist with car, truck, bus and motorcycle accidents. Come to us whether you were the driver or a passenger on public transportation or rideshare services. We represent pedestrians and cyclists, too.
We aren’t limited in the types of injuries that we can help you prove, including serious brain injuries or traumatic injuries to a mother or child at birth. If any type of bodily or psychological harm occurs because of someone’s negligence, please call us.
Our defective product cases sometimes involve faulty vehicle parts that caused an accident. We also tackle the complex claims for injury from chemicals in daily products, such as hair relaxers.
Other suits deal with defective drugs and medical equipment. For example, you can talk to us about concerns over an intrauterine device that broke or indications that hormonal contraception has compromised your health.
In Illinois, dog owners are held strictly liable for injuries their pets cause. If a dog has bitten or injured you, we can help you seek compensation, regardless of the animal's history. Whether you were on public property or legally on private property, you have rights, and our team is here to protect them.
Medical negligence is particularly distressing because you rightfully expect a healthcare visit to result in improved wellness, not additional harm. These cases are formidable because many facilities have robust legal teams. We’re ready to support you with the resources to fight for fair compensation.
If you suspect a loved one in a nursing home or care facility is being mistreated, you don’t have to accept this injustice. Our team can help you protect your relatives and provide restitution for them. By holding the facility accountable, we aim to prevent similar mistreatment from happening to others and ensure that vulnerable individuals receive the care they deserve.
Criminal courts seek to punish wrongdoers in sexual assault cases, but these trials rarely ever provide financial compensation for survivors who may cope with lifelong emotional trauma. We offer compassionate and confidential representation to help survivors get financial restitution.
Property owners and tenants have the responsibility to keep their locations safe for visitors and customers. If you slip, trip, fall or get hurt in some other way from a hazard in a public or private location, discuss the details with us to uncover your options for seeking justice.
If an accident or attack results in the death of a loved one, you may be able to take legal action. We handle these cases with the utmost care and sensitivity.
The Collins Law Firm has extensive experience with environmental hazard cases, including:
Environmental cases can be complex and highly technical, so you have to consider the legal firepower the defense may have. When you need attorneys who are ready to go to the mat for your rights after you’ve been injured by environmental hazards, reach out to our team at The Collins Law Firm.
You might think you have a straightforward case and can handle it without a lawyer, but that mindset can be risky.
As the plaintiff, you bear the burden of proving the defendant's liability and negligence. Presenting a strong case requires meeting technical requirements and managing extensive paperwork. Even when you are sure you’re 100% in the right, a simple mistake could harm your case.
You also have to handle these challenges while recovering from your injuries, often against experienced insurance companies or defense law firms. Instead of taking on these challenges alone or accepting a low offer, contact us for a free consultation. We will review your case and help you understand your options.
Each state sets a statute of limitations for how long plaintiffs have to bring personal injury lawsuits. In Illinois, you have two years from the date of the accident to file your claim. If the case is against a government entity, you only have one year.
However, your claim might fall under one of the exceptions to this rule. For example, sometimes the clock starts on the day you discover the harm. This guideline is likely to apply in cases of environmental harm when you don’t discover the effects of contamination until months or years later.
No matter the situation, it is best to act quickly. Promptly preparing your case helps you collect as much evidence as you can to build a stronger argument.
Are you worried about the cost of hiring a lawyer? Fortunately, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means you only pay if we win your case, with our fee coming from a percentage of the settlement or jury award.
Like many other reputable firms around the country, our fee ranges from 33 ⅓% but could go up to 40%. This depends on the work required and whether the case goes to trial.
However, we won’t spring any surprises on you. We explain the terms up front and put them in writing. Then, we do all we can to get you much more than you would typically recover on your own. Remember, you pay nothing if we don’t win your case.
A settlement is usually the quickest and most cost-effective way to resolve your case. Trials require more time, paperwork and rules to follow, which is why we generally have to charge a slightly higher fee for claims that go to court.
Many times, we build such a strong case that the defense or insurance company is willing to settle out of court for a fair value. Rest assured that we won’t default to settlement as the easy way to complete your case. We are fully ready to go to trial if an offer is unfair and we believe we can get a better deal through litigation.
To recover compensation, we need to prove the following:
Damages may include medical bills, lost income and emotional distress. Fortunately, Illinois does not impose limits on the damages you can claim.
The modified comparative negligence standard that Illinois follows means you may be able to recover compensation as long as you are less than 50% at fault for your injuries. If you are partly at fault, the court or insurance company will reduce your compensation by the percentage of fault you bear.
As a result, the other side typically looks for any way possible to prove you had more of the blame for the accident. With our help, you can fight against these accusations and any attempts to minimize your damages.
Damages are either economic, noneconomic or punitive. Economic damages are financial losses that you must prove with bills and estimates. Pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements and work agreements can verify how much income you lost because of your injuries.
Noneconomic damages are subjective intangible losses, such as pain and suffering. They are difficult to assess, but we understand how to help you pursue the highest possible payout.
Punitive damages are less likely but possible when a defendant is extremely negligent. Wrongful death, environmental harm and professional malpractice are some cases that may involve punitive damages.
Accidents are unavoidable, but you shouldn’t have to bear the burden of someone else’s carelessness. Get ready to fight for justice by contacting our team at The Collins Law Firm. We want to help you explore all your options for financial recovery.
Photo by Neal Kharawala on Unsplash
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