Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers

Illinois injury laws

In Chicago and throughout Illinois, the Chicago personal injury attorneys at The Healy Law Firm know you must show that the parties who caused your injuries were negligent. In order to receive compensation, you must prove the following:

• The person who injured you owed you a duty of care and did not carry that out
• The person neglected to live up to the duty of care and this caused your injury
• You suffered damages

Illinois contributory negligence law stipulates that if you were careless and contributed more than 50 percent to your injury, you cannot collect on your claim against someone else. If you were careless and contributed less than 50 percent to your personal injury, the amount of damages you can collect is reduced in proportion to your personal degree of carelessness.

Illinois personal injury law also governs joint and several liability and applies when there is more than one defendant. With this injury law, each party responsible for your injury is liable for the entire amount of your damages. If one of the defendants who caused your injury cannot pay, the others must.

Illinois also has a strict liability rule which applies to product defects and holding the manufacturer of the product liable for your injuries. By law, you must prove that—

• The product was defective and unreasonably dangerous
• The product was defective when it left the manufacturer
• The product defect caused your injury

Filing an accident or injury case in Chicago

Studies show that with a qualified Chicago personal injury lawyer on your side, your ability to recover for your damages significantly increases in many types of situations such as motorcycle accidents, product liability, nursing home abuse and medical malpractice. The Healy Law Firm stands ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.

In Illinois you have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Your first steps in filing your case include—

• Immediate medical attention. You will need expert opinion and documentation on your personal injuries.
• Legal counsel. An attorney is in the best position to tell you whether you have a case. Most personal injury attorneys in Chicago work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay attorney fees unless you win. If you do have a case, your lawyer will notify the defendant that you are filing a claim.
• Keep a written record. From the moment of the accident, you should keep notes about the incident, the conditions surrounding it, and your physical and emotional state.

The Healy Law Firm—fighting for the rights of personal injury victims in Chicago

For help finding a Chicago injury attorney and why you must rely on the knowledge and experience of dedicated legal professionals, talk to one of our Chicago personal injury lawyers and call The Healy Law Firm toll free at 877-767-4591 or contact us online to schedule your free initial consultation.