Martin J. Healy Personal Injury Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Chicago personal injury laws

In Chicago and throughout Illinois, you must show that the parties who caused your Chicago 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 injury, the amount of damages you can collect is reduced in proportion to your personal degree of carelessness.

Illinois, including Chicago, personal injury law also govern joint and several liabilities and applies when there is more than one defendant. With this 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 and injury case in Chicago

Studies show that with a qualified personal injury attorney on your side, your ability to recover for your damages significantly increases. Among Chicago personal injury attorneys, The Healy 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 injuries.
• Legal counsel. A Chicago injury 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

Rely on the knowledge and experience of dedicated personal injury attorneys. To talk to one of our Chicago personal injury attorneys, call The Healy Law Firm toll free at 877-767-4591 or contact us online to schedule your free initial consultation.

The Healy Law Firm
111 West Washington Street, Suite 1425
Chicago , Illinois 60602
(312) 977-0100