Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer

Of course you didn’t plan to get hurt. Nobody wakes up in the morning and says “Today is a great day to suffer an injury and spend the afternoon talking to an insurance adjuster!” Yet here you are. You're dealing with an injury that wasn't your fault and a whole bunch of problems you didn't see coming.

Now you're getting buried in medical bills. Maybe you're missing work with a calendar full of doctor appointments. Maybe you're wondering how long this is going to hurt and whether you'll ever feel like yourself again. And somewhere in the middle of all that, an insurance company wants to have a “conversation” with you.

Here's the thing: You don't have to figure all of this out by yourself. If someone else's negligence caused your injury, you may have a personal injury claim. Chicago personal injury attorney Stephen Hoffman has been handling injury cases for more than 30 years. He can look at what happened, tell you whether you have a case, and help you decide what to do next.

You’re Injured, and It’s Personal

You got hurt. Someone else caused it. They should pay for it. Case closed, right? If only it were that easy. But getting hurt isn't enough by itself. You have to connect the dots.

Personal injury cases usually involve someone who was injured because another person or business was negligent, reckless, or otherwise responsible for what happened. You have to show what the other person did wrong, why they were responsible for your injury, and how that injury affected you.

That usually means proving four basic things: they owed you a duty to act reasonably, they failed to do so, their conduct caused your injury, and you suffered damages because of it. Those four things sound straightforward enough. Proving them is another story.

What Types of Personal Injury Cases Do We Handle?

Personal injury is a pretty big umbrella. Unfortunately, there are a lot of ways to get hurt. Some accidents are just that: accidents. Others happen because someone wasn't paying attention, didn't do what they were supposed to do, or put someone else in danger.

• Motor Vehicle Accidents: Car crashes, truck collisions, motorcycle accidents, and other motor vehicle wrecks can leave you with much more than a damaged bumper.
• Medical Malpractice: Doctors and other medical professionals are human. That doesn't mean every mistake is acceptable. When a healthcare provider's negligence causes harm, you may have a medical malpractice claim.
• Dog Bites: Cute doesn't always mean harmless. If someone's dog bites or otherwise injures you, Illinois law may give you the right to pursue compensation.
• Premises Liability: Injuries caused by dangerous conditions on another person's property.
• Product Liability: Products are supposed to do what they're supposed to do. When a defective or dangerous product causes an injury, someone may need to answer for it.

What Can You Recover After a Personal Injury?

Here's something you won't hear from every personal injury lawyer: I can't tell you that your case is worth $50,000, $500,000, or $5 million without knowing what happened. Anyone who promises you a specific number before looking at the facts is selling you something.

Your damages may include medical expenses, future medical care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage. You may also have losses that are harder to put a price on, including pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, or changes to your ability to enjoy your normal life.

Your case is yours. The amount you can recover depends on what happened, how badly you were injured, and what those injuries have cost you. There is no giant check waiting for everyone who gets hurt.

What If You Were Partly at Fault?

It would be so nice and easy if every case was black and white, one party at fault and the other is 100% the victim. This is real life, and real life is messy. Sure, you were injured, but you may have done something to contribute to those injuries. Don’t let that stop you from pursuing your claim.

In Illinois, you can be 50% at fault and still recover something. Of course, your compensation is reduced by the percentage you are at-fault. If you’re 51% or more at-fault, though, you’re barred from recovering damages.

Here’s the thing, though. The court decides the percentage of fault. That’s why it’s so important to talk to a personal injury lawyer. This is where experience matters. Stephen Hoffman has spent decades handling personal injury cases. He knows how these cases are built, how fault gets argued, and what evidence can make a difference.

What Should You Do After an Injury?

Your job is to take care of yourself. You can replace things; you can’t replace yourself. This isn’t the time to “walk it off” or power through the pain. You hire a lawyer to handle the legal stuff. Trust the doctors to handle the medical stuff.

As soon as you can, write down everything you remember about the incident. Yes, I know, it’s all so clear, and you think you’ll remember. You won’t. Our memories fail and details change over time. You need an accurate record that you can refer to later. It’ll help you stay credible and ensure your attorney knows everything that happened. Be careful what you tell the insurance company. They are not your friend.

Be careful what you post on social media. Now is not the time to be doing TikTok dance trends, telling your accident story, or showing off your injuries. Your followers aren’t the only ones watching what you post. So is the insurance company. Don’t give them something that they can use against you or your claim.

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Illinois?

Generally, you have two years. That’s it. Two years will fly by before you know it. Then, there are exceptions to the two year rule. Depending on the injury, type of incident, or parties involved, the time limit could be much shorter. When filing a personal injury claim against a government entity, you may only have one year or even months to begin the process. Sometimes, you are required to file a specific type of notice with the government before you can even file your lawsuit. Don’t assume you know the process or try to calculate the statute of limitations on your own.

If you miss the deadline, you could be barred from filing your lawsuit at all. Why risk that? Talk to a lawyer as soon as possible and give them the most time to work with. A lawyer will know the legal exceptions and intricacies that could change the statute of limitations for your case.

Time is also the enemy of evidence and memory. So the longer you wait, the harder it will be to build a strong case.

Injured? Let's Talk About It.

What starts as “I got hurt” can turn into medical records, insurance claims, lost wages, questions about fault, arguments over the extent of your injuries, and a whole lot of paperwork. That's why it helps to have someone who knows what he's looking at. Stephen Hoffman has spent more than 30 years handling personal injury and other injury-related cases in Chicago and throughout Illinois. He's tried dozens of cases in court and handled hundreds of arbitration matters, so he knows that the first version of a case isn't always the last. If you've been injured, don't guess about what your claim may be worth or try to negotiate with the insurance company by yourself.

Not sure you have a case? That's okay. That's what the consultation is for.