Chicago Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Fighting for Victims of Catastrophic Injuries in Chicago

Our team of experts fights hard for the rights of accident victims throughout Cook County and neighboring counties. Our designated Chicago catastrophic injury lawyer will aggressively negotiate with insurance companies to ensure that you get maximum compensation.

Whether you were in a car accident on the Dan Ryan Expressway or suffered a construction accident on a Mag Mile worksite, we’ll hold the at-fault party accountable for the harm they have caused. Contact our personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation.

Catastrophic Injury Settlements & Verdicts Recovered by Our Law Firm in Chicago

• $18,500,000: Sandra was hit head-on by a semi-truck, suffering devastating injuries. Our attorneys secured a settlement that will cover her future medical expenses and lost wages.
• $5,250,000: Julie was working with a circular saw in a shop class when she suffered severe injuries to her hand. Our Chicago personal injury lawyers held the manufacturer accountable for these saw defects.
• $2,800,000: George was a passenger in a sedan when the driver, who was intoxicated, smashed into a utility pole. After he passed, we assisted his family in filing a wrongful death personal injury lawsuit against the drunk driver’s insurance company.

Why Choose Chicago Injury Center

Our Super Lawyers® rated firm is widely recognized as the best in Chicago due to our 98% success rate across 5,000 successful cases. As members of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Associationand the American Association for Justice, we are firmly committed to gaining maximum compensation for personal injury claims throughout Chicago, Cook County, and Northern Illinois as a whole.

Types of Accident Cases Resulting in Catastrophic Injuries We Handle

Our catastrophic injury attorneys will hold the at-fault party accountable for cases such as:

• Car accidents
• Construction accidents
• Motorcycle crashes
• Semi-truck collisions
• Slip and fall accidents
• Mechanical failures
• Negligent security cases
• Medical malpractice
• Dog attacks

What Are the Most Common Causes of a Catastrophic Injury in Chicago?

Most personal injury cases stem from negligence by the responsible party. In personal injury law, this is defined as a failure to provide the level of care that a reasonable person would exercise in similar circumstances.

Common examples of negligence that our Chicago catastrophic injury attorneys see include:

• Drowsy, drunk, or reckless driving
• Speeding
• Inadequate security
• Construction site negligence
• Defective products
• Failure to warn
• Failure to provide reasonable medical care

What Are the Most Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries?

Some of the most common catastrophic injuries include:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Disfigurement
• Amputations
• Paralysis
• Blindness
• Hearing loss
• Occupational diseases
• Burns

What Damages Can Catastrophic Injury Victims Recover in Chicago?

A Chicago catastrophic injury lawyer will ensure that you receive all damages you are entitled to. This can include both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages compensate you for hard financial losses. These can include:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Loss of future income
• Future medical expenses
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Funeral and burial costs
• Property damage

Non-economic damages compensate you for the emotional harm done by the negligent party. This can include:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Inconvenience
• Loss of companionship
• Grief

What Is the Average Catastrophic Injury Payout in Chicago?

In Illinois, the average catastrophic injury payout is $24,057,468, with a median settlement of $15,750,000. These personal injury cases typically involve high medical bills and significant impairment, which results in higher verdicts.

Example Cases in Cook County

In 2024, a jury awarded over $41 million to a 72-year-old man who suffered a cerebral artery stroke due to medication mismanagement. His physicians failed to properly manage his warfarin prescription, a drug used to reduce the risk of blood clots. The resulting stroke cut off blood supply to the right side of his brain, and he is now paralyzed on his left side with severe cognitive defects.

Another high settlement occurred in 2022, when a jury awarded $42 million to the family of a 45-year-old engineer who died due to baclofen withdrawal. Baclofen is a drug used to treat muscle spasticity in patients with spinal cord injuries, such as multiple sclerosis.

Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Case

A catastrophic injury lawyer in Chicago helps even the playing field when negotiating with insurance companies. These multimillion-dollar firms do not want you to gain fair compensation, especially as major injuries typically result in high medical expenses that will cut into their bottom line.

Our team will thoroughly investigate your case and accurately evaluate your damages, ensuring that you receive a settlement that will cover all your needs.

Common Causes and Frequency of Accidents Causing Serious Injuries in Chicago

Two of the largest causes of severe injuries are car accidents and work accidents.

Car Accidents: In 2023, there were 101,023 motor vehicle accidents in Chicago, resulting in 249 fatalities among accident victims. Illinois saw 299,133 accidents, with over 20% resulting in injury. Nationwide, 40,901 people died in traffic accidents that year.

Workplace Accidents: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that there have been 258 fatal accidents in the Chicago North jurisdiction since 2002, while the South jurisdiction has experienced 369 fatal accidents during the same time period. In Illinois as a whole, there were 145 work-related fatalities in 2023 alone, while the US as a whole saw 5,283 fatal work injuries.

Where Do Catastrophic Accidents Occur Most Often in Chicago?

While accidents can occur anywhere, these personal injury cases are more prevalent in specific locations.

Highways and Expressways: The Chicago Skyway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, Dan Ryan Expressway, Stevenson Expressway, and Kennedy Expressway see thousands of motor vehicle accidents per year.

Construction Areas: Worksites with heavy machinery are more prone to accidents, such as workers repairing bridges or CTA rails.

Hospitals: An injury caused by negligent doctors is called medical malpractice. Hospitals like Stroger Memorial or Advocate Masonic Hospitals may fail to treat patients, resulting in serious injury or death.

Retail Establishments: Large retail establishments, such as Water Tower Place, may fail to implement necessary safety precautions, leading to tragic accidents.

Private Property: Shooting, dog bite, and slip and fall accident victims may have been on private property, leading to premises liability claims.

Illinois Laws and Statutes of Limitations Governing Your Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit

In Illinois, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party (735 ILCS 5/13-202). Those who were minors at the time of the accident have the statute of limitations tolled, or paused, until they turn 18, after which they will have two years to file. If an adult is filing on behalf of a minor dependent, the statute of limitations remains the same.

You may also have additional time if it was not obvious that your injuries were caused by another party, called the delayed discovery rule. For example, if you suffered a herniated disc due to a work injury, but this was not immediately apparent, you have two years from the time that you should have reasonably discovered the connection between the prior accident and your injury.

Illinois personal injury law does not place a cap on non-economic damages due to Lebron v. Gottlieb, meaning that accident victims can receive high verdicts from the at-fault party.

Who Is Legally Liable for Catastrophic Injuries in Illinois?

An injury lawyer in Chicago will thoroughly review your case to identify all liable parties. This can include the following individuals and organizations.

Negligent Party: The individual who directly caused your injuries is typically the first defendant. This could be a truck driver, construction worker, doctor, landlord, or private citizen.

Company: If the negligent person was working for their employer at the time of the accident, then their company may be liable under vicarious liability.

Manufacturers: In some cases, defective products cause injuries. For example, a defective punch press may cause an amputation. The manufacturer can be held responsible under product liability.

Government Agencies: If you were injured on municipal property, it may be possible to hold a city department responsible.

Common Defenses in Chicago Catastrophic Injury Cases

Our skilled injury lawyers fight hard for accident victims, shielding them from these common defenses.

Contributory Negligence: The defendant may claim you were primarily responsible for your injuries and therefore should not earn compensation. We will use evidence to demonstrate the other party’s liability.

Assumption of Risk: This means that you were aware of the potential dangers associated with the activity, but we’ll demonstrate that you could not have reasonably expected a catastrophic outcome.

Pre-Existing Conditions: Sometimes, the insurance company will insist that you already had a medical condition before the accident, but we’ll use medical records to prove otherwise.

How to Strengthen Your Chicago Personal Injury Case

Report the Accident: Call 911 and request that the Chicago Police Department and EMS be sent to your location. Try not to move any more than necessary.

Go to the Hospital Immediately: Many catastrophic injury victims may not immediately realize that they’ve been seriously hurt. Always get medical attention as soon as possible by visiting the closest emergency room, such as Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Document the Accident Scene: Take photos and videos of the scene and of your injuries. Get witness information for those who saw the accident.

Collect Evidence: Keep your medical records, bills, and insurance statements. Preserve any property you were wearing at the time, like clothing.

Do Not Speak to Insurance: Insurance adjusters will do everything possible to keep you from gaining compensation. Never speak to third parties without our Chicago catastrophic injury lawyers present.

Contact a Chicago Catastrophic Accident Attorney: We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that your attorney’s fees are deducted from a settlement. There is no cost to our initial consultations.

How a Chicago Catastrophic Injury Lawyer from Our Personal Injury Law Firm Can Help

Our top-rated attorneys will guide you through the entire legal process, ensuring that you have the best chance of a successful case. You can expect comprehensive assistance with the following tasks.

Case Valuation: During your complimentary consultation, we’ll assess the potential value of your case.

Investigation: Our Illinois personal injury lawyers will identify liable parties and serve them with notices.

Gathering Evidence: We will gather information like medical records, surveillance footage, expert testimony, and witness statements.

Filing Claims: Our team will file the proper complaints with the Circuit Court of Cook County and write demand letters to the insurance agency.

Negotiation: We aggressively represent accident victims in negotiations, ensuring they receive the highest possible settlement.

Trial Representation: While many cases settle out of court, it is sometimes necessary to file a lawsuit. We’ll share your story in front of a judge and jury.

Consult Top-Rated Chicago Catastrophic Injury Attorneys Near You!

These cases often result in complicated personal injury claims that require top-rated expertise. With our Chicago catastrophic injury attorneys, you’ll receive award-winning legal representation on a contingency fee basis. Contact us today for a free consultation.