Were you injured by someone else’s negligence? If you’re suffering and it wasn’t your fault, a Chicago personal injury lawyer from Thomas Law Offices will help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
We provide completely free case consultations to injury victims in Chicago, Cook County, and the surrounding areas.
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Personal Injury Cases Our Chicago Law Office Handles
In the eyes of the law, personal injuries cover a range of injuries that may occur to someone’s physical body, emotional health, or reputation. If another person’s negligent, reckless, or wrongful actions were the cause of your injuries, you may be owed compensation for your related losses.
Every lawyer at our Chicago law office is equipped to handle a wide variety of personal injury cases, including:
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Boat Accidents
- Electric Scooter Accidents
- Uber and Lyft Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Birth Injuries
- Nursing Home Abuse
- Brain Injuries
- Construction Accidents
- Product Liability
- Slip and Falls
- Premises Liability
- Negligent Security
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Wrongful Death
- Sexual Assault
- And More
No matter what you’re going through, we’re here to help. As experienced trial lawyers with a track record of fighting and winning for clients nationwide, we are prepared to handle even the most complex of cases.
When Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
You are not required to hire or work with a lawyer when filing a personal injury claim. However, it is important to know what you are up against. In most cases, injury claims and lawsuits are filed against the at-fault party’s insurer rather than the at-fault party themselves.
Insurance companies are formidable opponents who have all the time and money in the world to fight your claim. When they handle your claim, they’ll have their own team of lawyers on their side.
You deserve to be fairly represented in every interaction you have with the insurance company. So while the best time to hire a personal injury lawyer was right after you were hurt, the second best time is now.
Still not sure if your case requires the guidance of a Chicago personal injury lawyer? You may need a lawyer if:
- You currently can’t work or you missed any amount of work after your injury.
- You’re unable to work in the same capacity as you once did.
- You’ve received medical bills for care or treatment related to your injuries.
- You need weeks, months, or years of costly medical care.
- You’re behind on bills like rent, mortgage, car payments, or utilities.
- You’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- You’re not sure what compensation you’re entitled to.
- You’re worried the insurance company isn’t treating you fairly.
The most important thing a lawyer can do for you is give you peace of mind. If you’re struggling with any part of the personal injury claim process, working with an experienced attorney will give you the space and time you need to focus on your recovery while we handle the legal side of things.
What Compensation Can I Get for My Personal Injury?
Illinois state law entitles injury victims to compensation for both economic and noneconomic damages. These are also known as actual damages or compensatory damages.
Economic damages refer to your verifiable financial losses. While every personal injury case is different, these can include:
- Lost current and future wages
- Loss of benefits
- Loss of earning potential
- Medical bills (including those for mental health services)
- Property damage
- Domestic services (including cleaning services and childcare)
It is important to carefully document all financial losses you have incurred since the onset of your injury. Keep all receipts, invoices, and bills. Your personal injury attorney will use this information when calculating how much your claim is worth.
Noneconomic damages refer to nontangible losses, and may include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment in life
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship or consortium
- Disfigurement or disability
Insurance companies are notorious for trying to limit noneconomic damages in settlements. If you don’t have the backing of an experienced personal injury lawyer, you could be missing out on compensation that is vital to your recovery.
Why Choose Thomas Law Offices
At Thomas Law Offices, our legal team distinguishes themselves by taking a radical approach to personal injury law—we put our clients first.
Since our founding, every lawyer on our team has dedicated themselves to being compassionate, tireless, and unrelenting legal representatives for people who are going through some of the worst times of their lives. Whether we’re working with someone who suffered a preventable injury or representing a family who needlessly lost a loved one, we give our all to each and every case.
We know that just being good lawyers isn’t enough. By giving back to our community, engaging in educational efforts, protecting access to high quality senior care, and defending our clients’ rights to fair trial by jury, we can impact real and lasting change.
Establishing Liability for Personal Injury Cases
You were injured, and you know it wasn’t your fault. So how do you prove that?
The evidence we rely on when establishing liability for personal injury cases will vary depending on the type of claim we are handling. For example, accident reports are key pieces of evidence in most car accident cases. Security footage frequently comes into play during slip and fall claims.
Other types of evidence that may be used to establish liability in personal injury cases include:
- Medical records
- Eyewitness testimony
- Dashcam footage
- Testimony from accident reconstruction experts or health care professionals
- Photographs or videos
- Bank statements (documenting lost wages)
- Proof of paid time off (PTO) requests
Proving Negligence
When we collect, analyze, and present evidence during a personal injury case or lawsuit, we do so with the intention of proving negligence.
There are four elements that must be met for a person’s actions to meet the legal definition of negligence. These are:
- That the at-fault person owed you a duty of care.
- That the at-fault person violated or failed to meet their duty of care.
- Your injuries were caused by the breach of duty of care.
- You suffered verifiable damages as a result of your injuries.
You must prove that each one of the above elements is present in your case.
A Chicago personal injury lawyer from Thomas Law Offices can gather evidence, contextualize its meaning, and present it in a clear and indisputable way on your behalf.
What if I Was Partially at Fault for My Injuries?
Your right to file a personal injury claim and how much compensation you are entitled to recover may hinge on your total percentage of fault. In Illinois, the concept of comparative negligence (also called contributory fault) allows for both parties to have played a role in an accident or injury, while still acknowledging the rights of the victim.
Under 735 ILCS 5/2-116, victims are still entitled to recover compensation so long as they are less than 50% at fault.
This means that you can still pursue legal action even if you made a minor error while behind the wheel of your car, visiting another person’s property, or at work. Unfortunately, it is also a legal concept that we know insurance companies exploit.
If an insurance company can artificially inflate your percentage of responsibility to more than 50%, you’ll lose out on all rights to recovery. And even if they can’t surpass the 50% threshold, increasing your fault by even 10% means big savings for them. That’s because your final award or settlement will be proportionately reduced by your percentage of fault.
How Long Do You Have To File a Personal Injury Claim in the State of Illinois?
Every state has the right to set limits known as statute of limitations that dictate how much time you have to file a personal injury claim.
The statute of limitation can be different depending on the exact type of claim you are filing. For example, you have two years from the date of the collision to file a car accident claim. Medical malpractice claims also have a two-year statute of limitations, although the clock can begin ticking from the date the malpractice took place or the date at which you should have reasonably discovered it.
There is even less time to file a personal injury claim involving a government entity. In most cases, the statute of limitations on these claims is limited to one year.
Exceptions to the statute of limitations may apply in limited circumstances. Don’t count on an exception extending your right to take legal action—contact Thomas Law Offices to learn about the statute of limitations that applies to your case.
How a Team of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help Me
You’re hurt, bills are piling up, and you don’t know where to turn for help. At Thomas Law Offices, we are proud to serve and represent injury victims in the Chicagoland area.
In everything that we do, we prioritize the needs of our clients. We are sensitive to both the short and long-term needs of those we represent, and we work diligently to secure closure and full compensation.
When you choose to work with the legal team at Thomas Law Offices, you’ll have someone on your side 24/7. An attorney from our personal injury law firm can:
- Provide you with a free consultation to determine whether you may have legal standing to file a claim and whether we are the right fit for you.
- Collect evidence and build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
- Take over all communications with the insurance company so that you can focus on what matters most—your recovery.
We always strive to reach an out-of-court settlement by aggressively negotiating with the insurance company. We also refuse to be caught off guard, which is why even when we anticipate a settlement, we spend time preparing for the possibility of going to court should negotiations break down.
Thomas Law Offices Provides Free Consultations
You’re already dealing with enough as it is. Whether another driver hit your car or you slipped and fell on someone else’s property, you don’t need anything else on your plate.
That’s why we offer completely free informational meetings to injury victims and their families. You can schedule your own free consultation by calling our law office or filling out our online intake form.
Providing Unrivaled Representation to Personal Injury Victims in the Chicago Area
Whether you were in a car accident while taking I-90 to O’Hare International Airport, slipped and fell while shopping at Woodfield Mall, or were bit by someone else’s dog at Millenium Park, we are here for you.
The personal injury team of Thomas Law Offices represents clients across all of Chicagoland, including in:
- Aurora
- Buffalo Grove
- Calumet City
- Dolton
- Evanston
- Hinsdale
- Naperville
- Oak Park
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Every law firm handles their legal fees differently. At Thomas Law Offices, we proudly take many cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that we do not collect any legal fees unless we win your case. You might also know this as a “no win, no fee” case.
Upon successful completion of your personal injury claim, our legal fees are paid as a small percentage of the overall settlement or award.
Our Results Speak Louder Than Words
We know that actions speak louder than words, and we believe that our results speak for themselves:
- $1.75 million – Wrongful Death Semi-Truck Accident Settlement
- $2.2 million – Nursing Home Negligence for Wrongful Discharge Award
- $3.65 million – Child Sexual Abuse by Police Officers Settlement
- $3.65 million – Wrongful Death Car Crash Settlement
- $5 million – Wrongful Death Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Verdict
- $15.5 million – Consumer Protection Settlement
- $18 million – Railroad Car Explosion Settlement
- $19.3 million – Negligent Security Award
We have proven our dedication to our clients time and time again. And if given the chance, we will put the same knowledge, background, and investigative resources behind your case.
Speak With a Personal Injury Lawyer From Thomas Law Offices Today
An injury has upended your life, and Thomas Law Offices is prepared to help you put it back on track. We will fight for the compensation that you are rightfully owed, and we won’t back down until we’re sure that we’ve secured the best possible outcome in your case.
To schedule your free consultation, contact us online or by phone.
Thomas Law Offices – Chicago, Illinois Office Address
30 N. LaSalle Street Suite 4020 B
Chicago, IL 60602