Illinois Personal Injury Lawyers

Injured by someone else? Don’t fall victim to the insurance company’s unscrupulous ways.

At Martay Law Office, our Illinois personal injury lawyers have helped thousands of people throughout Illinois secure millions of dollars through settlements and verdicts. Let us help you file a personal injury lawsuit and recover compensation to pay for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages. 

• 100+ Years of Experience

• 97% Success Rate

• FREE Legal Advice

• No Recovery, No Fee

• If You Can’t Come to Us, We’ll Come to You

Call Martay Law Office today at 312-372-9022 or fill out our online form to schedule your free, no obligation case evaluation.

GET A FREE CASE REVIEW

 

How Our Law Firm Can Help You After an Injury

When you hire our personal injury attorneys, you’ll get honest answers and straightforward legal advice to help you make the most of your injury case. 

What sets us apart from other personal injury lawyers in Illinois?

Evidence Collection

Gathering and presenting admissible evidence are some of the most important parts of a personal injury case. Our attorneys uncover details other lawyers often miss. We conduct our own investigations. We hire expert witnesses and accident reconstruction specialists. Most of all, we know how to present important evidence to the court to help you win your case.

Ability to Negotiate

Insurance adjusters and the legal teams they work with have one goal in mind – to pay out as little as possible when they settle injury claims.  Our injury lawyers are trained negotiators. We aren’t afraid to stand up to big name insurers. We know how to maximize your compensation. 

Legal Strategies

Our lawyers know that personal injury claims are not one-size-fits-all in Illinois. When we take on your case, we’ll construct a legal strategy that is in line with your goals, protects your best interests, and ensures that you receive full and fair compensation. 

Litigation Experience

Our attorneys prepare every case we handle as if it’s going to trial. We know how to navigate court procedures, effectively present personal injury cases, and advocate for our clients when going to trial is inevitable.

Call Martay Law Office today at 312-372-9022 or fill out our online form to schedule your free, no obligation case evaluation.  

What Is a Personal Injury?

Simply put, a personal injury is a civil wrong for which the courts may award money damages to the victim. In other words, if you are injured through the negligent or intentional actions of another party, you may be entitled to recover financial compensation for your losses. Damages that are often awarded in personal injury lawsuits include:

• Lost wages and future earning capacity
• Medical expenses (past and future costs for treatments, medications, and equipment)
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress

 

What Is the Personal Injury Claims Process in Illinois?

If you suffered injuries in an accident, your wellbeing is priority. Seek medical attention right away. Even if you don’t think you require medical care, it is best to be examined to provide documentation supporting your personal injury claim. Once your condition is stable, you should take the following steps to start the personal injury claims process.

Gather Evidence

To prove liability for the accident, you should gather evidence at the scene if you are able. This can include photos of the accident scene and the surrounding area, witness testimony and contact information, medical bills or receipts for treatments, and the clothes you were wearing. If a police report has been filed, a copy should be requested. If you were unable to work due to injuries, gather pay stubs to show the amount of wages you lost. Any repair bills for property damage related to the accident should also be kept.

Hire an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

A personal injury law firm can help victims recover financial compensation from the responsible party. It is best to consult an injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident has taken place. In Illinois, you can generally only file a personal injury claim up to two years after the date of the accident or discovery of an associated injury. There are some exceptions to this statute of limitations, which an experienced personal injury lawyer can go over after reviewing your claim. 

After reviewing your accident case, your personal injury attorney will:

• Review the initial settlement offer from the insurance company to make sure that all costs have been included in the offered amount. 
• Negotiate with the insurer on your behalf.
• Interview witnesses, and gather and review evidence to prepare your case for trial if negotiations are unsuccessful. 

File a Lawsuit

If the insurance company or the responsible party won’t pay the entire costs of the accident or injury, a complaint can be brought against the responsible party. Prior to filing a lawsuit, a demand letter that outlines the injuries and damages can be sent to see if the defendant will settle out of court. The complaint and summons will be filed with the appropriate court and served upon any and all defendants that are responsible. 

Discovery

Before a trial can take place, both sides will go through discovery. This allows either attorney to request information from the other party. This may include depositions and written interrogatories, as well as requests for documents and evidence. During this pre-trial process, your attorney may also file motions and respond to motions filed by the defendant. The discovery process allows both sides to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their case.

Expert Testimony

Your attorney may hire an expert witness if testimony is necessary to support your case. This may include medical experts or accident reconstruction experts. Expert witnesses can help outline to a judge or jury standard procedures or how an accident took place. This might also include how the situation would have been handled by others under similar circumstances.

Settlement Agreement Negotiations

Before going to trial, the parties will have an opportunity to negotiate a settlement agreement. This offer will include all types of damages that are eligible in the claim that may be awarded by the court. The last opportunity for the defendant to settle will be after evidence has been presented at court and prior to the verdict.

Trial

A trial is when both sides of the case will present their evidence to a judge and jury. Once the evidence has been presented and all testimonies have been heard, a verdict will be decided. If damages are awarded to the plaintiff, the defendant will be obligated to pay the required amount. An appeal can be filed if the plaintiff or the defendant does not agree with the outcome.

How Do Personal Injuries Happen?

Personal injuries and the lawsuits that follow are often the result of motor vehicle accidents, but they can be caused by dangerous property conditions, defective products, and even intentional acts. 

Types of Personal Injury Cases in Illinois

Auto Accidents

Thousands of car accidents occur in Illinois each year, often resulting in injury or even death. Various factors contribute to car accidents, and numerous parties can be held liable. If more than one party causes your pain, each individual can be held liable for his or her role in the accident. A personal injury attorney can review your claim to see which defendants should be included in the claim to maximize financial compensation.

Slip and Falls

Slip and fall accidents may occur when individuals encounter unsafe conditions on someone else’s property. Common causes for slip and falls include wet floors, icy sidewalks, uneven surfaces, or poorly maintained flooring. Victims may suffer sprains, fractures, or head injuries. These injuries may impact the victim’s physical well-being and quality of life. Establishing liability in slip and fall cases involves proving that the property owner was negligent in maintaining safe property conditions for guests and workers. 

Animal Attacks

Animal attacks can lead to severe injuries and result in personal injury claims. The most common animal attacks involve aggressive dogs. Victims of animal attacks may suffer from bites, scratches, and possible infection if the wounds are left untreated. Victims need to establish that they were lawfully on the property or in a public place when the attack occurred. In such cases, the victim should document the incident, seek medical treatment, and report the attack to local authorities.

Workplace Accidents

The most common workplace accidents include slip and falls, machinery accidents, and exposure to hazardous substances. In many cases, third-party personal injury lawsuits and workers’ compensation cases go hand in hand. For instance, if your work-related injuries were caused by malfunctioning equipment, you may be able to recover damages through a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury claim simultaneously. 

Product Liability

Product liability cases involve injuries caused by defective or dangerous products. Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers can all be held liable in a personal injury case for producing or selling products that harm consumers. The three main types of product defects which lead to liability claims include: design defects, manufacturing defects, or marketing defects. For a case to be successful, the injured party must demonstrate that the product was unreasonably dangerous and caused harm during its intended use.

Common Types of Personal Injuries

Personal injuries may be physical or psychological. They can take months, or even years to heal. In some cases, victims never fully recover. Sometimes, people are so severely injured that they become permanently disabled and unable to work.  These victims may also be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits to help them make ends meet.

Some of the most common types of personal injuries in Illinois include:

Neck and Back Injuries

The most common neck and back injuries from accidents include whiplash, strains, and sprains. More severe neck and back injuries can include herniated discs, spinal fractures, and spinal cord injuries. These injuries may cause chronic pain, impacts on mobility, and long-term disability that may leave a victim unable to work at his or her prior ability. After an accident, you should immediately seek medical treatment, even for minor neck or back pain.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) can have lifelong impacts on victim’s lives. Mild head injuries, such as concussions, may lead to headaches and temporary cognitive difficulties. More severe injuries, like TBIs, can cause either long-term or permanent impairments that affect memory, motor skills, speech, and the victim’s emotional well-being. Victims may also experience personality changes and mood swings, which may impact their relationships with friends and family.

Amputations

Accident victims may have to have an amputation, the surgical removal of a limb or body-part, due to complications that arise during treatment of their injuries. Around 18% of accidents may result in a traumatic amputation, which is when a limb or body-part is severed during the accident.  Amputees may face significant physical and emotional challenges, including pain management, rehabilitation, and adapting to a new way of life.

Severe Burns

Burn injuries can cause excruciating pain and scarring, often damaging multiple layers of skin. The severity of a burn is measured in degrees. First degree burns are the least severe, as only the first layer of skin is damaged. Third degree burns, on the other hand, may cause permanent disfigurement to the burn victim. Medical treatment, including skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries, may be necessary. Severe burn victims often require rehabilitation to regain mobility and function. Accident victims that suffer from burns frequently experience emotional and psychological distress due to the life-altering nature of their injuries.

Cuts and Puncture Wounds

Some of the most common injuries in personal injury and workplace accidents are cuts and puncture wounds. Cuts occur when sharp objects penetrate the skin, while puncture wounds result from pointed objects like nails. Minor cuts may only require cleaning and bandaging, but deep or large cuts may need stitches to promote proper healing and to help minimize scarring. Puncture wounds may become infected due to bacteria that can be trapped beneath the skin if left untreated.

No matter what type of injury you may have suffered during an accident, if it has impacted your quality of life and another party was liable, you should not be left to pay your expenses. Our injury lawyers will guide you through the legal process and help you obtain the money you need to restore your financial future through personal injury lawsuits, workers’ compensation claims, and SSDI benefits.

If you were injured in Illinois, our injury lawyers will guide you through the legal system and help you obtain the money you need to restore your future through personal injury lawsuits, workers’ compensation claims, and SSDI benefits. 

 

Why Hire Our Personal Injury Lawyers?

 At Martay Law Office, we don’t believe in boasting about our law firm or making empty promises. We believe in delivering results. 

Here is what our attorneys won’t do. 

• We won’t ask for money upfront. When you hire our team, we’ll shoulder the financial burden of investigating your case and pursuing damages through negotiation or litigation. 

• We won’t leave you hanging. When you have questions or concerns about your case, our team will promptly provide you with answers. If we’re not immediately available to speak with you, we’ll return your messages or calls within 24 hours. 

• We won’t mislead you. When you speak with our lawyers, you’ll get honest, straightforward answers. We’ll never make promises we can’t keep about the amount of money you’ll receive or the outcome of your case. Rather than mislead our clients, we would prefer to surpass your expectations. 

• We won’t pressure you to make decisions that are not in your best interest. The wellbeing of our clients remains our priority for the duration of your case. We’ll never try to talk you into accepting a fast settlement unless we believe doing so is the right choice for you.