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What Happens In An Illinois Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?

We are experienced Illinois attorneys who will talk to you for free about your medical malpractice case. For a free case review, please contact us at 312-346-5320.

Medical malpractice lawsuits in Illinois are highly complex, emotionally taxing, and strictly regulated by state law. Because medical errors involve complicated clinical data and aggressive insurance defense teams, these cases require an immense amount of strategic preparation.

While every injury claim is unique, understanding the standard timeline helps set realistic expectations for your legal journey.

Quick Summary: Timeline of an Illinois Malpractice Case

  • Statute of Limitations: You generally have two years from the date you discovered the injury to file a lawsuit in Illinois.
  • Pre-Suit Investigation: Gathering and reviewing medical records usually takes 6 to 12 months before a lawsuit can even be drafted.
  • The Litigation Phase: Once filed in court, a case typically takes 24 to 28 months to reach a jury trial or final settlement conference.

Step 1: Evaluating the Medical Negligence

To build a viable medical malpractice lawsuit in Illinois, you must establish that a healthcare provider breached the professional “standard of care” and directly caused your injury.

It is vital to separate a simple poor medical outcome from actionable medical negligence.

  • What is NOT malpractice: An unpreventable side effect, a known complication of a procedure (such as an accidental colon puncture during a colonoscopy), or rude bedside manner.
  • What CAN BE malpractice: A delayed diagnosis of cancer, surgical errors on the wrong body part, severe nerve damage due to improper surgical technique, or medication overdoses.

Furthermore, because these lawsuits are incredibly expensive to litigate, the physical and financial harm to the patient must be severe and life-altering to make a lawsuit viable.

Step 2: Selecting an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer

While hundreds of law firms advertise for personal injury, only a small handful of elite firms in Illinois possess the deep financial resources and trial experience required to defeat major hospital systems.

During your initial consultation, an expert malpractice attorney will:

  1. Review the facts of your medical treatment to find obvious legal hurdles or defenses.
  2. Sign a contingency fee agreement, ensuring you pay nothing out-of-pocket unless they win your case.

Step 3: The Pre-Suit Investigation and Medical Review

This is the most critical stage. Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/2-622) demands that a medical malpractice lawsuit include an affidavit confirming your case has merit.

To secure this medical validation, your legal team will launch an intensive review process:

  • Medical Record Retrieval: Your firm will audit and analyze potentially tens of thousands of pages of medical charts, labs, and imaging.
  • In-House Nursing Audit: Elite law firms utilize in-house nurse consultants to quickly pinpoint charting discrepancies or signs of medical cover-ups.
  • Independent Expert Review: Your records will be sent to an outside, board-certified physician practicing in the exact same specialty as the defendant provider. If a botched spinal surgery occurred, an independent orthopedic or neurosurgeon must sign an affidavit confirming that the care violated accepted medical standards.

This process routinely takes 6 to 12 months. This is why you should never wait until the last minute of your two-year statute of limitations to contact an attorney.

Step 4: Filing the Lawsuit and the Discovery Phase

Once the certificate of merit is secured, the formal complaint is filed in court. The case then enters the Discovery Phase, where both sides exchange evidence:

  • Written Discovery: Both parties exchange written interrogatories (questions) and requests for documents.
  • Oral Depositions: Under oath, lawyers question the plaintiff, the defendant doctors, nurses, eye-witnesses, and hired medical experts.
  • Damages Assessment: Your attorney may hire economic experts to calculate lost wages, future medical costs, life-care plans, or produce “day-in-the-life” impact videos to demonstrate the depth of your suffering to a jury.

Due to scheduling with multiple defendants and medical professionals, this phase can keep a case in court for more than two years before a trial date is set.

Step 5: Settlement, Mediation, or Trial

Medical malpractice insurance companies rarely settle early. They will wait until depositions conclude to weigh their likelihood of winning at trial.

Formal Mediation

As the trial date nears, both parties usually meet with an independent mediator—frequently a retired judge—to explore a fair settlement value. If a settlement is reached here, the case avoids trial.

The Courtroom Trial

If mediation fails, the lawsuit proceeds to trial, lasting anywhere from two to four weeks. Hired experts testify, evidence is argued, and a 12-person jury decides the verdict.

Post-Settlement Hurdles: Liens and Probate

Winning a verdict or agreeing to a settlement does not mean a check is issued immediately. Two critical factors can extend the timeline by months:

  • Probate Court Approval: If the lawsuit involves a wrongful death, a minor child, or an incapacitated adult, the settlement must pass through probate court to protect the distribution of the money.
  • Lien Resolutions: Health insurance companies or hospitals often place liens on your settlement to claw back money they spent on your care. Your attorney must negotiate these liens down to maximize the actual cash that lands in your pocket—a process that can take several months.

Connect With an Elite Illinois Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you or a family member suffered severe injury due to hospital errors or medical mistakes, time is working against you.

Contact us for a free, completely confidential case review at (312) 346-5320. We will thoroughly evaluate your options and connect you with the best medical trial attorney for your unique situation. We will give you the same guidance we would to a family member or friend.

Can AI Tell You What Your Illinois Personal Injury Case Is Worth?

We are experienced attorneys who will talk to you for free. If you would like to speak with a lawyer, please contact us at 312-346-5320.

Use of AI tools like ChatGPT is so common now for people looking for Illinois legal advice that I expect some day we are going to see a legal malpractice lawsuit against an AI company. We have already seen similar suits on behalf of families whose loved ones killed themselves in part based on AI guidance.

The problem is that AI does not actually think. It can regurgitate information it is aware of in a confident manner. It is almost like sports radio where someone yells and acts confident so people believe it. That is not to say it is never right, but the problem is that it is often wrong.

A recent caller to our office started off by telling me, “I am very smart and make over a million dollars a year. I have been involved in a car accident case for three years and I want you to help verify something for me. AI told me what my case is worth, but my lawyer tells me that is wrong and the best offer I can get is $50,000. That is ten times less what AI told me I should get. Can I sue my lawyer or file a bad faith lawsuit against the insurance company?

The Problem With Someone Who Takes Legal Advice From AI

I knew this call was going south when the person led off by telling me how smart they are and how much money they make.

This is the truth about relying on ChatGPT or another product for legal advice. The chances they will get it wrong are so great, that you will always have to wonder what it got wrong and what you are missing. That is if you are being honest with yourself. I say that for a few reasons including:

  • AI lacks nuance – By that I mean that every day I get calls from people who want to discuss one legal issue, but in talking to them I realize they have not thought about something else that could solve their problem.
  • AI can’t have the full picture – You can tell it your version of events, but surely are not going to give it the version that the opposing party will tell. So you are getting the advice you want to hear versus what the true situation is. Also, AI does not know who the Judge is, the opposing lawyer’s motivations or other external factors that affect the outcome of a case.
  • AI does not have real world experience – In the car accident example above, part of the reason the caller was getting only $50,000 had to do with negotiating medical liens. How that works varies from state to state, case to case and based on who the medical providers are. If you haven’t dealt with that in actuality you can’t help someone. A machine can not comprehend all of the possible scenarios.
  • AI does not think or reason – What it does is spit out a sentence based on information it is given. It often hallucinates and makes up case law and it is geared toward telling you what you want to hear.

So Is All AI Terrible?

That is not to say AI does not have useful functions. It can summarize text, help you craft a vacation plan or even get you started on drafting a letter. The summary might take the place of actual thinking. The vacation plan might be great or might miss out on things you would find out on your own, but it essentially acts as a search engine which is what it is. The drafting of the letter is great, especially if you lack creativity or are crunched for time.

But you are fooling yourselves if you think it is intelligent. You can not put a bunch of words into a machine and rely on it to regurgitate something that you can rely on to handle a complicated matter. It can give solid, generic summaries of cases, but not actual legal guidance.

And it certainly can not accurately tell you what your case is worth. If you rely on it to do so, you are either going to be disappointed with the outcome or end up settling for too little money because AI lacked the nuance or information to figure out that your case is actually worth so much more.

Who Are The Top Rated Personal Injury Lawyers In Chicago?

When a loved one suffers a catastrophic injury in a car accident, your immediate instinct is to seek out the absolute best legal representation possible. But if you open a browser and search for the “top-rated personal injury lawyers in Chicago,” you are instantly flooded with thousands of identical, commercialized results.

The reality is that there is no single “best” lawyer. Instead, your goal should be finding the premier attorney for your specific type of injury claim.

Warning Signs: 4 Legal Red Flags to Avoid

When filtering through Chicago personal injury law firms, immediately eliminate candidates displaying these red flags:

  • The Generalist (“Dabbler”): Avoid firms that juggle injury claims alongside divorce, criminal defense, or real estate law. You need a dedicated specialist.
  • Ambulance Chasers: Stay away from firms that buy police records to text, call, or mail you unsolicited materials right after a crash. This behavior violates legal ethics rules.
  • Out-of-State TV Marketing Agencies: Many firms heavily advertised on local Chicago television networks are national marketing operations with no local partners who actually try cases in Cook County courtrooms.
  • Unreasonable Fees: The standard contingency fee in Illinois is one-third (33.3%) of the recovery. Walk away from any lawyer asking for 40% or more upfront for a straightforward claim.

1. Look for a Proven Track Record in Your Specific Niche

Most personal injury attorneys can handle a basic fender-bender. However, if your claim involves a semi-truck accident, a commercial slip-and-fall, an aviation disaster, structural building defects, or institutional abuse, you need specialized experience.

The firm you choose should have successfully handled dozens—if not hundreds—of cases identical to yours so they are never learning on your dime.

2. Match the Law Firm to the Insurance Policy Limits

A major factor in matching a client to the ideal Chicago injury firm is evaluating the available insurance policy limits and the type of defendant involved.

High-Value Commercial Claims

If you suffer a catastrophic, life-altering injury caused by a corporate entity or commercial trucking company, millions of dollars are typically on the line.

For these cases, you need a high-powered firm with a long pattern of seven-, eight-, and nine-figure trial verdicts. Insurance companies know which firms are willing to turn down a mediocre $1 million settlement offer to secure a $10 million award at trial.

Modest-Value Policy Limits

If your case has a maximum potential value of $100,000 due to individual insurance policy limits, a massive corporate trial firm isn’t the right fit.

Instead, you want a boutique, highly attentive attorney who will ruthlessly negotiate down your medical liens and dedicate their energy to maximizing the exact dollar amount that lands in your pocket at the end of the day.

3. Don’t Fall for Superficial “Top Lawyer” Badges

When assessing a firm’s authority, be careful about where you look for validation:

  • Paid Legal Awards: Most online “Top Attorney” digital badges or plaque awards are marketing operations. Experienced lawyers do not factor paid badges into their professional assessments.
  • Misleading Settlement Metrics: A website boasting a “$1,000,000 win” looks impressive out of context. But if that specific client’s case was realistically worth $5,000,000, that settlement actually represents a massive loss. Look for a consistent, historical pattern of high-tier results rather than single, flashy numbers.

4. Evaluate Experience, Staff Longevity, and Future Stability

The premier personal injury firms in Illinois are concentrated right here in Chicago. When we evaluate a firm for a complex case that might take years to resolve, we look deeply under the hood:

  • The 10-Year Experience Rule: We avoid recommending lawyers with under a decade of trial experience so they aren’t treating your recovery as a learning curve.
  • Firm Transitions and Retirement Planning: We keep a close ear to the ground regarding unannounced partner retirements, firm fractures, or health issues that could derail your case halfway through litigation.
  • Accessibility and Support: A top-tier firm should adapt to you. Whether that means providing multi-lingual support staff or arranging video conferences via Zoom and home visits, you should never have to travel long distances just to speak face-to-face with your advocate.

Get a Free, Independent Case Evaluation Today

Since 2001, we have helped over 500,000 people navigate the legal system and find the ideal attorney for their exact circumstances. No law firm pays us to recommend them. Our advice is entirely objective, independent, and tailored to your story.

Call us 24/7 at (312) 346-5320 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.

StubHub Is Screwing People On World Cup Tickets

The idea of StubHub and other ticketing sites is great. I remember going to Wrigley Field in my 20’s without tickets and there being a guy holding what looked like 100 tickets selling them outside a ticket broker’s office. Buying them was the ultimate low information activity and felt a little sketchy.

Buying on resell sites feels better because you can compare prices, know what seats you are getting and never have to talk to the seller. That sounds great even if at times you end up having to spend way more than you want to in order to get in to the event.

The World Cup is here and FIFA is charging insane prices for these games. It appears a lot of people bought tickets with the hope of selling them for more money and they were right. There are rumors that FIFA actually gave a lot of their inventory to re-sell sites too. Getting into the US game this Friday will cost you more than a Final Four or World Series ticket. Yay capitalism.

The problem with the World Cup is that the only place to get guaranteed tickets is from the FIFA re-sale site. Their site sucks. It is not user friendly at all and you have to pay a 15% fee whether you are buying or selling.

So a lot of people are going to sites like Stubhub for tickets. Many of them do it because they promote a “fan guarantee” that if your seller does not deliver tickets they will get you comparable or better tickets. The problem with that is it never seems to happen and their fine print allows them to simply just refund you. Of course that does not happen usually until the last minute. This happened to me last year when trying to purchase tickets for a concert. I could not get a refund until an hour before the event started.

But the problem with the World Cup sounds insane. Here is a sample of complaints I’ve seen lately.

And here is one where a buyer had to get on a flight without tickets being delivered. Do you want to go to Houston in June without being there for an event? Neither do I.

There are hundreds of other horror stories with Stubhub and it’s not unique to the World Cup. A good friend had hockey playoff tickets until he did not. No replacement tickets given. And there’s this one below from the NCAA tournament.

So What Can You Do About Stubhub Screwing You Over?

What is your recourse if this happens to you. This person has an idea that will never happen.

I’m beyond sympathetic, but the reality is that when you sign up for Stubhub or these other ticketing sites, you agree to their terms of service. As part of that, you agree, whether you realize or not, to resolve all disputes via arbitration and waive your right to be a part of a class action lawsuit.

This is gross, but not unique to them. In fact, most companies you deal with have these clauses. Plainly speaking, suing as a consumer on a class action basis is often impossible.

There ought to be a law that prevents these clauses, but the truth is that the republicans in the Bush administration made it happen and democrats haven’t done anything about it when they have gotten power. It is the number one way that companies get away with nonsense. And it prevents them from fixing problems or actually having a real “fan protect” guarantee.

So if you are looking for tickets, it is buyer beware! And that includes any thought about suing Stubhub if things go sideways.

Illinois Divorce When There Is A Business – Ten Things To Know

This post is inspired by a conversation I had with a friend in another state who was asking my opinion about their divorce. I could not give them legal advice as we only help with Illinois divorce cases. But what they were going through is relevant to anyone in Illinois who is going through a divorce involving a business.

In this case, it is a husband who is a doctor and a wife who gave up her career to support him for over 20 years, including working at the practice he founded after they got married along with raising the kids. I thought it would be helpful to talk about what legal advice I would give if you are the spouse who owns the business as well as if you were the supporting spouse.

So in no particular order, here are key things to know if you are going through a divorce with a business in Illinois. These are tips to not only help you find the best divorce lawyer possible, but also to understand how these cases actually work.

  1. When was the business started – The first thing an Illinois divorce attorney will look at is was the business started. If it was before the marriage, then it is likely not a marital asset. The earnings will be relevant for other reasons, but your spouse would not have an ownership claim. On the other hand, if it was started after you got married, then it is a marital asset.
  2. What happens when you join an existing business after you got married? – This is really common. Think of a lawyer becoming a partner in a law firm or a doctor joining an established medical practice. What is relevant is the date you became an owner in that business. If you were married then, it’s a marital asset.
  3. Not every attorney can handle a divorce with a business – While some businesses are small and do not have a lot of assets if any, if it is a successful business, you need an attorney in your corner who is experienced with forensic accounting. That means they know how to evaluate what a business is worth as well as expert accountants who can assist in the process. If your attorney has not handled dozens of similar cases it could cost you a lot of money, potentially millions.
  4. Compensation is usually given for your spouse’s ownership in the business you work at – The easiest example to think of is the spouse of an attorney at a big Chicago law firm. Let’s say a forensic accountant determines that attorney’s partnership share is worth $3,000,000. That means the other spouse can claim an interest of $1,500,000.00. There are various ways this could work out, but it is common for the non-working spouse to get paid either via a loan or being given other marital assets. For example, if you live in a $2,000,000 house that is paid off, each spouse would have a million dollar interest. Waiving rights to the home could help compensate the value of the business.
  5. None of this takes away from other Illinois divorce issues – If you have been a stay at home mom (or dad) for the marriage and gave up a career, you are likely entitled to maintenance benefits (commonly thought of as alimony). Even if you get paid your ownership percentage in the business, you can still receive compensation for the lifestyle you have grown accustomed to. In other words, if a doctor making seven figures wants to get a trophy wife they can, but the first wife will not lose out completely. They will be entitled to a percentage of ongoing income in most cases. There is also child support and division of other assets.
  6. If one spouse makes much more than the other, that spouse will likely have to pay for both lawyers – This is to prevent the person who makes more money bullying their spouse financially. So if your spouse has a car dealership and you have never worked or if you make significantly less than they do, most likely a divorce Judge would order them to pay your attorney fees too. This is usually the first motion your lawyer will file.
  7. Neither of you is the Judge – Bullying is really common in Illinois divorces and seems to happen even more so when there is a business involved. It could be one spouse saying that the other can’t see the kids. It could be the bread winner threatening their spouse financially or even trying to cut off access to bank accounts. Courts do not look kindly on this type of behavior. Court is also your solution to stop the bullying. The best thing I can tell you is do not take legal advice from your spouse. They may tell you what is going to happen to try and intimidate you, but a strong attorney can level the playing field and protect you.
  8. These divorces can take longer than ones without a business– That is because the key factor is valuing what a business is worth. Sometimes there are people who do not keep honest financial records and hide cash. Other times we might be waiting for a development that could drastically increase or decrease what the business is worth. Think of a company that has a patent for a new medicine and they are trying to bring it to market. Or a brand new restaurant or other startup. Those businesses might explode and be worth a lot or they might go bankrupt.
  9. Too many attorneys overcharge in these cases– Illinois divorces involving a business can be complex. The attorneys who are truly experienced with this usually have a high hourly rate. That is legitimate. What is not legit is some of them try to use these cases as cash registers and drastically overbill their clients. Maybe they bill for research that is not really needed. They will assign multiple attorneys to show up at court when only one is required. They will charge you for reviewing an email or having a phone call in an amount much greater than the time it actually took. I have heard of lawyers billing for thinking about a case! My strong advice is that you should closely monitor the bill and demand monthly itemized statements. Do not get too far down the road where you suddenly owe $100,000 and feel like the true value is less than half of that.
  10. All of these case issues are negotiable – When you hire an Illinois divorce lawyer, they should talk to you about your goals. Some people care about child custody over everything else. Others want to get the case done quickly so they can move out of state. Some prioritize the value of a business. Talk to your attorney about what is important to you so they can work to meet as many of your goals as possible. They can not change the law, but if they understand what matters to you, they can work to get you the best outcome attainable.

We have helped tens of thousands of people who are going through divorce in Illinois. Our service based out of Chicago and we have a network of top, experienced family law attorneys in Cook County, Lake, DuPage, Kane, McHenry and Will Counties. If your case is there and you would like a free, confidential consultation, please contact us at 312-346-5320 any time.

How To Pick An Illinois Medical Malpractice Lawyer

One of the most common questions we get is how to pick an Illinois medical malpractice lawyer. We are attorneys who will talk to you for free and recommend who we think the best lawyer is for your case. If you would like a free, confidential case review, please contact us at 312-346-5320. We help all over Illinois. People say that our service is like having a lawyer in the family.

When a medical mistake results in a devastating injury or the loss of a loved one, your life changes in an instant. Choosing the right legal advocate is the most critical decision you will make toward securing your future recovery.

Unlike standard auto accidents or workers’ compensation claims, medical malpractice litigation is exceptionally expensive, time-intensive, and complex.

Quick Checklist: Core Requirements of a Malpractice Firm

To maximize your chances of a successful recovery, only hire an Illinois firm that meets these five strict benchmarks:

  • Massive Case Results: A proven history of at least ten medical malpractice settlements or verdicts exceeding seven figures ($1M+).
  • Multi-Attorney Rosters: A minimum staff of three dedicated litigators—ideally 10 or more—to ensure your case has adequate team support during multi-week trials.
  • Deep Financial Resources: The firm must be fully capable of advancing $100,000 to $200,000 in upfront case litigation costs to cover expert witness fees and medical record reviews.
  • 15+ Years of Lead Experience: The primary attorney managing your filing should have at least 15 years of specialized medical litigation experience.
  • Strict In-State Footprint: The firm must be physically based in Illinois and regularly try cases before local Illinois judges.

Part 1: Does Your Case Meet the Legal Threshold for Medical Malpractice?

Before evaluating attorneys, it is essential to determine whether your experience meets the rigid legal definitions required to bring a claim in Illinois.

1. Severe, Permanent Damages are Mandatory

Because medical lawsuit expenses routinely reach hundreds of thousands of dollars, law firms must look for claims involving catastrophic injuries. Sadly, if a patient makes a full, rapid recovery from a medical error, the financial cost of proving the case in court will often outweigh the potential settlement value.

2. Proving Professional Negligence vs. A Bad Outcome

Under Illinois civil law, an unexpected or poor medical outcome is not automatic proof of negligence.

  • Known Surgical Risks: Certain complications, such as an accidental bowel perforation during a colonoscopy or acquiring a hospital-born infection, are recognized risks of treatment. These situations generally only become actionable malpractice if the medical provider failed to diagnose and treat the complication in a reasonable timeframe.
  • Pre-Existing Trajectories: If the injury would have naturally occurred due to your underlying illness or pre-existing medical condition regardless of the doctor’s actions, a legal claim cannot be sustained.

Part 2: Critical Metrics for Vetting a Chicago Malpractice Attorney

If you have a viable claim, use these structural criteria to screen prospective law firms:

Look for Specific Niche Experience

Illinois law requires an outside, independent medical expert in the same specialty as the defendant to review your charts and sign a certificate of merit confirming negligence occurred.

An elite malpractice firm will already have deep connections with top-tier national medical experts. If you are dealing with a complex failed spinal fusion, you want a firm that has repeatedly litigated back surgery errors. Their familiarity with the unique clinical nuances provides massive leverage during settlement negotiations.

Verify Trial Readiness and Courtroom Performance

Insurance defense teams track which personal injury lawyers are afraid of the courtroom. If a law firm continuously avoids trials, insurance companies will offer significantly smaller settlements. Ensure your prospective firm has a clear history of taking medical lawsuits all the way to a jury verdict when necessary.

Assess the Age and Future Outlook of the Trial Team

Medical malpractice lawsuits frequently take three to five years to resolve. A common hidden risk is hiring a brilliant, highly reputable solo practitioner who is nearing retirement age. If the primary attorney on your complaint is 75 today, consider whether they will have the physical stamina to run a grueling four-week trial when they are 80. Look for firm structures that pair veteran leaders with highly aggressive trial lawyers in their 40s and 50s.

We Help You Identify the Top 10 Malpractice Firms in Illinois

Out of the hundreds of law firms marketing themselves across Illinois, our ongoing data shows that approximately ten elite firms consistently secure the highest-tier payouts year over year.

Because law firm partnerships change, partners retire, and certain firms specialize in specific clinical niches (such as birth injuries vs. surgical errors), we do not publish a generic static list. We evaluate your specific accident details in real time to match you with the exact right advocate for this moment.

No attorney pays us for a recommendation. We provide direct, honest, and completely objective legal guidance—just as we would for a close friend or family member.

Call us 24/7 at (312) 346-5320 for a free, confidential consultation.

Injuries Out Of The Country At Resorts

We are experienced attorneys who will talk to you for free. Please call us any time at 800-517-1614.

There was a very tragic and sad accident at a luxury Nicaraguan resort earlier this year. A resort-owned vehicle with over 20 people in it crashed and caused multiple injuries, including killing one woman.

While this type of tragedy is somewhat rare, it does happen. What is even more common is people going on an overseas trip and having an accident of some sort. The question is, can you get an injury attorney in the United States to help you? The answer is it depends.

The Key Factor In Out Of The Country Personal Injury Claims

The reality is that laws in other countries are different than in the US. The average monthly salary in a place like Nicargua is $300-$400 which is probably less than one night’s hotel stay at most of the high end resorts there. As a result, even in a major injury case like this one, you can not expect to sue in Nicaragua and get something that fairly compensates you. They have probably never had a multi-million dollar settlement in that country.

So if you are a victim of negligence and injured, the key factor is can you find a way to sue in the United States? If so, you can likely bring a lawsuit here.

In this case, the hotel where this happened is part of a world wide luxury resort brand. They have hotels in many countries. Their US headquarters are in California and their operations center in the US is in Chicago on Wacker Drive.

In other words the victims and their families can make a great argument that a lawsuit can be filed in Illinois. That is huge and could change the value of some of these claims by tens of millions of dollars.

In this case, it appears that all of the negligence is tied to the resort. It was not a Marriott Hotel, but that is another example of a hotel chain that is all over the world. It is very reasonable to argue that you trusted the brand, so even if the negligence happened overseas, that trust and their activities in the US serve as a basis for bringing the case here.

The situation would likely be different if it was a tour operator of some sort that caused the crash. If they have no affiliation with the hotel, then it is harder to hold the hotel responsible. But even then, if the hotel was cross promoting with them, that could potentially give you a reason to sue in the United States.

For example, I was in Costa Rica and the concierge at our hotel was able to book a zipline tour and have us pay our bill through the hotel. That would likely be enough to make a sound argument that the hotel was in part responsible for any accident. On the other hand, if you walk into town and get hurt at a local restaurant, your options would likely be limited to the laws of that country.

The Bottom Line

While it sounds morbid to say, if you are going to get hurt from someone else’s negligence, you are much better served and protected if you can find a way to bring a lawsuit in the United States. The simple reality is that cases are worth more here.

There are very few law firms who have experience with international cases like this. Your run of the mill car accident attorney is not likely the right attorney to hire for a situation like this. You need a bigger injury firm that has a track record and if needed can afford to send investigators to the foreign country to gather evidence.

There are not very many law firms in the country with a real track record of complex injury cases like this. It is not typically the type of attorney you see on TV. It is the firms that lawyers would hire if it happened to them.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured out of the country at a hotel, on a cruise ship or in another place, we promise to give you the same guidance we would to a family member or friend. Call us at 800-517-1614 to speak to an attorney for free. We will give you a case review and if appropriate, recommend a top firm that can help you get financial justice for what happened.

Best Illinois Work Injury Attorneys For Neck Injuries

Neck injuries at work are incredibly disruptive, painful, and complex to treat. Whether your injury happened in a split second or developed gradually over several years, recovering from cervical spine damage often takes much longer than employers or insurance adjusters expect.

If your injury is work-related, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act protects you. You should never have to pay out-of-pocket for your medical care, nor should you be left without income while you are physically unable to work.

What Workers’ Comp Benefits Cover For Neck Injuries

If your neck injury is connected to your job, you are legally entitled to three primary benefits in Illinois:

  • 100% Medical Coverage: Complete payment for all necessary medical care, including specialist visits, diagnostic imaging, injections, physical therapy, and surgery. There are no deductibles or copays.
  • Temporary Total Disability (TTD): Tax-free wage replacement equal to two-thirds (66.7%) of your average weekly wage if a doctor takes you off work or places you on restrictions your employer cannot accommodate.
  • Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): A lump-sum financial settlement reflecting any permanent physical limitations or loss of use caused by the injury once your medical care is complete.

Part 1: Common Types of Job-Related Neck Injuries

Cervical injuries range from minor soft-tissue sprains to permanent, life-altering neurological damage. Understanding your specific medical diagnosis is vital to calculating the long-term value of your workers’ comp claim.

Herniated Discs and Nerve Impingement

The cervical spine contains delicate discs that cushion your vertebrae. High-impact accidents or intense strain can cause a disc to rupture or bulge. Radiculopathy—pain, numbness, or a shooting electrical sensation traveling down your shoulder and arm—is a major warning sign that a herniated disc is compressing a nerve root. If left untreated, severe nerve impingement can lead to permanent muscle weakness, loss of coordination, or paralysis.

Diagnostics and Treatment Pathways

To accurately diagnose a cervical spine injury, an insurance doctor cannot rely on standard X-rays alone. Your legal team must ensure the insurance company authorizes a cervical MRI scan, which provides clear images of soft tissues, nerves, and spinal discs.

Depending on the MRI results, medical treatment typically progresses through these stages:

  1. Conservative Care: Targeted physical therapy, structured rest, and anti-inflammatory medications.
  2. Pain Management: Cervical epidural steroid injections designed to reduce localized nerve inflammation and severe pain.
  3. Surgical Intervention: If conservative measures fail, an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon may need to perform an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or a total disc replacement to stabilize the spine.

Part 2: How Do Workplace Neck Injuries Occur?

While certain high-risk industries naturally see more spinal damage, neck injuries can happen in virtually any work environment in Illinois.

  • Acute Traumatic Events: Sudden accidents, such as a construction site fall, a slip on an icy loading dock, or a motor vehicle crash while driving a company vehicle (resulting in severe whiplash).
  • Repetitive Trauma Claims: Gradual injuries caused by months or years of repetitive lifting, overhead reaching, or maintaining awkward postures. This includes factory workers, delivery drivers, and healthcare professionals who regularly lift patients.
  • Office and Desk Ergonomics: Sedentary office workers can suffer valid, compensable neck strain from poor workstation setups, cradling telephone receivers, or wearing heavy headsets for long hours without ergonomic relief.

Part 3: Navigating a Contested Workers’ Comp Insurance Claim

Because neck injuries—particularly those requiring steroid injections or spinal surgery—are incredibly expensive, insurance companies routinely look for reasons to deny these claims.

Common Insurance Tactics Used to Deny Claims

  • The “Pre-Existing Condition” Defense: Insurance adjusters will search your historical medical records for any mention of arthritis, degenerative disc disease (DDD), or minor neck pain from years ago to claim your current injury is not work-related. Under Illinois law, an employer is fully responsible if work duties aggravated, accelerated, or accelerated a pre-existing condition.
  • Delayed Diagnostics: Insurance companies frequently use a process called “utilization review” to deny or delay authorizing a vital cervical MRI, attempting to force you into cheaper, less effective treatments while your condition worsens.
  • Independent Medical Examinations (IME): The insurance provider may send you to a doctor they hand-pick and pay for. These IME doctors frequently write reports claiming your neck pain is just a simple muscle strain that requires no further medical treatment or time off work.

Why You Need a Specialized Illinois Workers’ Comp Attorney

Navigating the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission alone while managing a severe spinal injury puts you at an extreme disadvantage.

We operate entirely on a contingency fee structure. This means you pay absolutely nothing out-of-pocket, and we only collect a fee if we successfully secure financial compensation or a lump-sum settlement for you.

While you focus on your medical recovery, your legal team will manage the heavy lifting: intercepting calls from insurance adjusters, forcing the authorization of necessary medical treatments, ensuring your TTD checks arrive on time, and positioning your case for a maximum lump-sum settlement.

Connect with us 24/7 via our online chat form, or call us directly at (312) 346-5320 for a free, completely confidential case evaluation.

Illinois Failure to Diagnose Prostate Cancer – Law Overview

Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in men, and early detection is the key to successful treatment. Unfortunately, not every patient gets the timely diagnosis they need. When doctors miss warning signs or fail to follow basic medical guidelines, a failure to diagnose prostate cancer can become life-changing — and in many cases, life-threatening.

Since 2001, IllinoisLawyers.com has helped Illinois residents get free legal guidance and referrals to the best failure to diagnose cancer attorney. If you have a malpractice claim, contact Illinois Lawyers today at 312-346-5320 or 800-517-1614 for a free, confidential consultation, or fill out our contact form.

What Happens in a Failure to Diagnose Prostate Cancer Case?

Failure to diagnose prostate cancer in Illinois can lead to serious harm. Patients may file medical malpractice claims when doctors delay diagnosis, misread PSA tests, or ignore screening guidelines, causing the cancer to worsen and treatment costs to rise.

A prostate cancer lawsuit may be filed if:

  • A doctor dismisses urinary symptoms
  • A PSA test comes back elevated, and no further testing is ordered
  • A biopsy is misread
  • A referral to a urologist is delayed or not done
  • Abnormal findings are overlooked in the chart

Learn more about how long a medical malpractice case takes in Illinois.

The Medicine: How Prostate Cancer Should Be Diagnosed

Doctors have well-established tools to detect prostate cancer early. A competent provider should:

  • Ask about urinary symptoms (hesitancy, weak stream, dribbling)
  • Consider risk factors like age, family history, and race
  • Order a PSA blood test when appropriate
  • Follow up on abnormal PSA results
  • Refer the patient to a urologist within a reasonable timeframe
  • Order imaging or a biopsy if cancer is suspected

Most failure to diagnose prostate cancer cases occur because a healthcare provider failed to follow one of these basic steps.

When a Missed Diagnosis Becomes Medical Malpractice

Why it’s a malpractice issue:

  • Early detection saves lives: Prostate cancer survival rates drop significantly if it’s not caught early. Once prostate cancer spreads — especially to lymph nodes or bone — treatment becomes more difficult, more expensive, and far less successful. That’s why delayed diagnosis cases often lead to higher failure to diagnose lawsuit settlement amounts.
  • Negligence: This can involve ignoring symptoms, ordering inadequate tests (like failing to check PSA levels), misreading scans, or delaying referrals for biopsies.

Breach of Duty: Doctors must provide care meeting the accepted standard, and failing to diagnose treatable cancer when signs exist is a breach.

This is where having the right failure to diagnose cancer attorney matters. These cases are complex, expensive, and evidence-heavy. Many firms simply do not have the experience or financial ability to handle them. We know who does.

What Damages Can You Recover in Illinois?

A failure to diagnose malpractice lawsuit may compensate you for:

Economic Damages

  • Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy
  • Ongoing monitoring and follow-up care
  • Lost wages or reduced earning ability
  • Travel costs for treatment

Non-Economic Damages

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of normal life
  • Loss of companionship

The severity of the delay, the stage of cancer at diagnosis, and the impact on your life heavily influence potential failure to diagnose lawsuit settlement amounts.

When You Should Call a Lawyer Immediately

You should reach out if:

  • Your prostate cancer was diagnosed at Stage 3 or Stage 4
  • Your PSA was elevated in the past, but nothing was done
  • Your doctor ignored urinary symptoms
  • A biopsy was misread
  • You lost the chance for less aggressive treatment
  • Your cancer spread during delays

Even if you’re unsure whether malpractice occurred, a quick phone call can give you clarity.

We talk to you the same way we’d talk to a friend or family member — honestly, directly, and without pressure.

Other Key Things To Know

Some other important factors to be aware of:

  • Time is of the essence. You have to sue within two years of when you knew malpractice occurred, but can not go back farther than four years to sue.
  • We are typically looking for a delay of at least six months or more.
  • Every attorney we recommend works on a contingency basis which means there is no fee unless you win the case.

How IllinoisLawyers.com Helps You

We are Illinois attorneys who:

  • Give free, confidential advice
  • Match you with the best lawyers for your exact situation
  • Know which firms win prostate cancer misdiagnosis cases
  • Treat every caller with respect and honesty

A failure to diagnose prostate cancer is one of the most devastating types of medical malpractice because timely testing makes such a massive difference in survival. If a doctor’s mistake allowed your cancer to progress, you deserve answers — and possibly compensation.

Call IllinoisLawyers.com anytime at 312-346-5320 or 800-517-1614 for free guidance. No appointments. No pressure. Just real help from real Illinois lawyers.

When Your Boss Wants To Hug Or Kiss You. Or Worse

TL/DR – If your boss tries to kiss you, hug or have sex with you, it is against the law and likely a lawsuit. Call us at 312-346-5320 for help anywhere in Illinois. No fee unless you win the case.

When you go to work, it is to make money and hopefully progress in life. Almost everyone I have ever met just wants to do a good job and be rewarded for working hard.

What people do not want is for some creep to make them feel uncomfortable. And they certainly do not want to feel like their job security depends on giving that creep what they want.

If you are being sexually harassed, it can come in a variety of forms. This includes:

  • Lewd comments
  • Unwanted touching
  • Being asked for hugs
  • Unwanted kissing
  • Being coerced into sexual activity
  • Forcible assault

None of this should happen to you. If it does, the first thing you should do, after getting to a safe spot, is report the bad behavior to your employer. In order to have a lawsuit against your employer, they generally have to be aware of the bad behavior and given a chance to correct it.

Generally speaking, you can not sue an employer in Illinois for something a co-worker does if the employer is not aware of it and given a chance to correct the problem. Correction can mean firing that person, suspending them or taking other steps to make sure it does not happen again.

If the employer does not correct the problem or prevent it from happening again, that is when you likely have a lawsuit. Of course, sometimes it is the owner or someone else in charge who is doing the bad deed so there is nobody to report to. Other times the employer is already aware that an employee is doing bad things. In those cases, you can usually sue right away.

In a recent case, an Oak Brook police officer did some pretty gross things. This includes allegedly:

  • Sending love notes and demanding to receive love notes back
  • Repeatedly touching genitalia and other body parts over the clothes
  • Stopping someone from leaving his office
  • Making comments about the personal lives of women in the office and their sexual activity
  • Taking a woman on extended coffee runs and parking the car and groping her
  • Stating that promotions were dependent on having sex with him
  • Retaliating when he learned of complaints
  • Unholstering his gun in an attempt to intimidate

It got worse as apparently another male co-worker joined in and when the problems were reported, nothing was done about it. The case recently settled for $2 million. That is a very large number, but almost does not feel large enough. This type of behavior is simply gross.

What the best Illinois employment lawyers look for in assessing these cases, aside from the notification requirements, is does the case meet the legal standard. That standard includes:

Is the behavior so severe or pervasive as to alter the conditions of employment. In other words, would a reasonable outside person look at this and see that the behavior was wrong and it affected you. Sometimes that is a one time offense and other times it is minor things that are going on all of the time.

Most people would think that your boss saying, “I like your sweater, it looks nice” is not a big deal. But if they said that and added something like, “It would look nicer off of you” that it was inappropriate behavior. That happening once is one time too many, but not in of itself a lawsuit. That happening repeatedly over a period of time and the employer saying something like, “Oh, you know he is kidding, he jokes with everyone” would likely make it a case.

Every case is different. What we promise is that we will listen to you in confidence, give you an honest legal opinion, and if appropriate, refer you to a law firm that has a track record of winning these cases. We love holding bad people accountable. There is never a fee unless the case is successful.

If you would like a free case review with an experienced attorney, call us any time at 312-346-5320. We cover all of Illinois.

When The Police In Illinois Want To Question You

In the last month I have been contacted by multiple people who have received phone calls from detectives asking them to come in for questioning. The most recent involved a case in Chicago where someone is suspected of rape years ago and in Lake County where the Waukegan police want to ask someone about involvement in a burglary.

None of these people have been arrested. Yet. They all had the same question.

What should I do?

The Number One Thing To Do If Chicago Police Or Anyone Else Wants To Question You

If the police in Chicago, Waukegan, Wheaton or wherever want to talk to you, there is one thing every Illinois criminal defense attorney will tell you to do. In the words of the Black Eyed Peas

That is right. Shut up. Do not say anything. Do not talk at all.

Should You Not Talk To The Police If You Are Innocent?

Do not talk to the police if you are innocent either. Do you think that innocent people don’t ever get arrested? Happens all of the time. It shouldn’t, but it does. The police are not looking out for you and can certainly twist your words around. And in extreme cases, they get people to confess to things they have never done. That sounds crazy, but there are many people who have been freed after evidence shows that the police kept them up for a long period of time and then coerced them into confessing something they were innocent of.

Anything you say can and will be use against you. And some crooked cops take that to an extreme. And some honest cops can misinterpret what you are saying.

Beyond that, I have been told stories by “innocent” people who, if they repeated that story to law enforcement, would be arrested. It is usually someone who thinks they are acting in self defense or unknowingly committed a crime like retail theft or trespass.

What Do I Do If The Police Want To Meet?

Doing nothing is not a great idea in most cases. You still need to shut up and not talk to them. You can even shut up and dance.

The best way to protect yourself is to get an attorney to contact the police for you and see what they want. They can answer any questions the police have and accompany you to a meeting if needed.

Anything a lawyer you hire says can not be used against you. And an experienced Illinois criminal defense attorney knows what not to say and how to answer questions. They will protect you.

The person being investigated for possible rape who called me really did not want to spend money on an attorney. The point of getting one now is that it can help prevent you from being arrested at all. It might cost $1,500 up front to get a top lawyer to speak to the police for you. But if you get arrested and prosecuted for a felony, that would cost you ten times that amount. And of course if you get convicted, you are probably going to jail and in the case of this person, they would be labeled a sex offender.

The best thing you can do after keeping your mouth shut it to get someone who knows what they are doing to advocate for you. If you do have information that shows you are innocent, having an attorney present it will put you at no risk and greatly increase your chances of success.

It is certainly scary getting this type of phone call from the cops. If you are not scared, you are not taking it seriously. But the good news is that the right attorney can give you the best chance of the best possible outcome.

If you would like to know who we as lawyers would hire if the police wanted to talk to us, give us a call at 312-346-5320. All calls are confidential. We were learn about your case and give you unbiased advice as to what the next proper steps are.

Winning Trucking Crash Cases Just Got Easier. And More Valuable

Breaking News: The United States Supreme Court just issued a monumental, unanimous decision that completely reshapes how commercial semi-truck accident lawsuits are handled across America.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a collision involving a tractor-trailer, this ruling drastically increases your chances of securing full financial recovery. For the first time, injury victims are legally permitted to bring state-law negligent hiring claims directly against third-party freight brokers if they contract an unsafe trucking company that subsequently causes an accident.

Key Takeaways: The New Freight Broker Liability Rules

  • End of Federal Immunity: Freight brokers can no longer shield themselves behind the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA) to escape personal injury claims.
  • Access to Corporate Capital: Suing the broker unlocks massive corporate insurance policies and assets, bypassing the minimal insurance limits carried by independent truck drivers.
  • Higher Settlement Values: Cases previously capped at $1 million due to limited truck insurance can now recover tens of millions of dollars for catastrophic injuries or wrongful death.

The FAAA Safety Exception: Why This Ruling Changes Everything

Historically, if an unsafe commercial truck caused a catastrophic crash, freight brokers like C.H. Robinson, TQL (Total Quality Logistics), and others aggressively argued that federal law exempted them from state-level personal injury lawsuits. They claimed the FAAA completely preempted any local negligence claims.

The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision effectively ends that defense. Under the new interpretation of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA), negligent hiring falls squarely under a state’s safety exception.

This means that if a broker acts recklessly by assigning cargo to a shipping carrier they know—or should know—has a documented history of federal safety violations, hours-of-service infractions, or poorly maintained fleets, the broker shares direct liability for the crash.

Why This Maximizes the Value of Catastrophic Trucking Lawsuits

This landmark ruling is a major win for consumers and commercial truck accident victims for two critical reasons:

1. Bypassing Shady Trucking Companies with Minimal Insurance

Many fly-by-night trucking companies operate on thin margins and carry minimal liability insurance policies—often capped at the federal minimum of $750,000. If an accident results in a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, or wrongful death, that minimum policy cannot cover a fraction of the lifelong medical bills and lost earning capacity.

2. Targeting Multi-Billion-Dollar Defendants

By establishing a direct path to sue the freight broker, your legal team can target massive corporations with vast resources. For example, a dominant freight broker like C.H. Robinson has an estimated corporate valuation of $18 billion. If a jury awards a multi-million-dollar trial judgment or settlement, you are no longer limited by a small driver’s policy—you can collect the full, true value of your damages.

Proving Broker Negligence: What a Successful Lawsuit Requires

While this Supreme Court ruling opens the courthouse doors, winning a freight broker negligence lawsuit is not an automatic slam dunk. To secure a successful verdict or high-tier settlement, your legal team must systematically prove the broker failed in their professional duty.

This complex litigation requires:

  • Immediate Accident Reconstruction: Your attorney must instantly deploy an accident reconstruction specialist to the crash scene to download black box data, preserve logbooks, and map skid marks before the trucking company destroys the evidence.
  • FMCSA Safety Record Audits: Your lawyers must subpoena the broker’s internal vetting data to prove they ignored the carrier’s negative safety rankings in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) database.
  • Proving Cause: Establishing a direct line showing that the broker’s failure to vet the carrier directly resulted in an unsafe driver operating on public roads.

Vetting the Right Attorney for a Commercial Trucking Claim

Only an elite handful of nationwide trial law firms possess the financial capital and specialized federal litigation experience required to win catastrophic trucking lawsuits against corporate defense networks.

When we evaluate an attorney or firm to handle a complex freight broker claim, we analyze seven rigid metrics:

  1. Jurisdictional Experience: Does the attorney regularly practice in federal courts or the specific state where the crash occurred?
  2. Injury Severity Matching: The trial strategy required for a traumatic brain injury or trucking death is entirely different than a broken bone. Your firm must match the medical depth of your damages.
  3. Liability Flexibility: We connect clients with aggressive firms that have successfully won cases even when the victim was initially ticketed or blamed by police at the scene.
  4. Personalized and Diverse Staffing: We verify if you require a firm with multi-lingual capabilities (such as Spanish-speaking attorneys) or professionals willing to travel directly to your home or hospital room.
  5. Immediate Lead Trial Availability: If a firm’s top partner is trapped in a month-long trial elsewhere, we identify equally elite firms with immediate availability to protect your evidence.
  6. Evidence Preservation Speed: The timeline matters. We assess how quickly a firm can deploy a response team to secure physical evidence before it disappears.
  7. Fair Contingency Fee Structures: Every attorney we recommend works on a strict contingency fee basis (no fee unless you win). We screen out exploitative firms trying to charge 40% to 45% upfront, matching you only with premier firms capped at a standard one-third (33.3%) or less.

Get a Free, Independent Case Review

We treat everyone who reaches out to us like a close friend or family member. We are not a marketing mill; we actively monitor national trial verdicts and court results daily to know exactly which attorneys are winning catastrophic trucking accident lawsuits.

Call us 24/7 in complete confidence at (312) 346-5320 or toll-free at (800) 517-1614 for a free consultation. Or go to our contact us page. We will thoroughly analyze your accident details and point you to the premier trial advocates for your specific situation.

A Jewish Medical Malpractice Lawyer In Chicago

We are experienced lawyers who will help you find the best attorney for your case. Call us at 312-346-5320 for a free case review any time.

I’m Jewish. I am also a lawyer in Illinois. I do not know if I “look” or “sound” Jewish, so when people call me looking for a recommendation for an attorney, maybe they assume they can talk a certain way.

Of the thousands of people I talk to every year, some will ask me if I know any good Jewish attorneys. The question is almost never asked by someone who is actually Jewish. Just last month, someone called me and said they want to hire a Jewish medical malpractice lawyer in Chicago.

Whenever this happens, my immediate response is to say something like, “Why do you care what religion a lawyer is?” Here are some of the responses I have received:

  • I have heard they are better attorneys.
  • They are known for being aggressive.
  • They really like money so they can get me the most for my case.
  • They fight dirty.
  • Jewish people stick together and most of the Judges are Jewish.
  • They are great negotiators.

These responses range from naive all the way to anti-semetic. If someone seems just naive, I am happy to help them. If they are anti-semetic, that is not somebody I want to get involved with.

A lot of people are just ignorant. I grew up in Northbrook which is a pretty Jewish suburb. It was not until I got to college that I met people who had never met a Jewish person before. So while I will blame someone for being a bigot, I do not blame them for being ignorant. It is not your fault if you are a victim of how you were raised and have not been exposed to other people.

That said, I do tell people that their comments are offensive and try to have a calm discussion to explain why. It is important to have this discussion and let people know these are offensive stereotypes. It is no different than any other awful stereotype about any other religion, race or gender.

The reality is that there are amazing Jewish lawyers, so-so Jewish lawyers and terrible ones. The same goes for black, Irish, Christian, Asian, Hispanic or any other group of people. I have seen lawyers go above and beyond to get amazing results and I have seen lawyers who steal from their clients or do not fight for them. Race, religion, gender, etc. is not a predictor of success.

This is way different than saying you want a Russian car accident lawyer because you speak Russian or a female lawyer because you have been sexually assaulted and that would make you more comfortable.

The bottom line is that we will listen to what your case is about and discuss any personal needs that you have. After that we will always recommend an attorney that is the best fit for your situation and gives you a chance at the best possible outcome.

The Definitive Illinois Workers’ Compensation Guide

If you’ve been hurt at work in Illinois, you probably have a lot of questions. This guide answers those questions and more in plain English. Here are 50 things every Illinois worker should know.What are your rights? Will you get paid while you’re out? Do you need a lawyer? If there is something we did not answer or you want a FREE case review, call us any time at 312-346-5320 to be connected to a lawyer right away.

The Basics Of Illinois Workers’ Compensation Law

  1. Illinois requires employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance. If you work in Illinois, your employer is legally required to have workers’ comp coverage. This means you have rights even if your employer acts like you don’t. It is a felony for them not to have insurance.
  2. Workers’ comp covers injuries that happen because of your job. If you were hurt while doing your job, or while doing something related to your job, you are likely covered. This includes injuries in the workplace, on a job site, in a company vehicle, or even off-site if you were working at the time.
  3. You don’t have to prove your employer was negligent. Unlike a personal injury lawsuit, workers’ comp is a “no-fault” system. You don’t need to show that your employer did something wrong, just that you were injured at work.
  4. Workers’ comp covers both accidents and repetitive injuries. A one-time accident (like a fall) and a slow-developing injury (like carpal tunnel from years of repetitive motion) are both covered. If your job contributed to your condition, you have a claim.
  5. Illinois workers’ comp is handled by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC). The IWCC is the state agency that oversees all workers’ comp claims, hearings, and disputes in Illinois.

Reporting Your Injury

  1. You must report your injury to your employer. Illinois law requires you to notify your employer of a work injury within 45 days. However, you should report it as soon as possible.
  2. Always report in writing. Even if you tell your supervisor verbally, follow it up in writing with a text, email, or written incident report.
  3. Don’t downplay your injury when you report it. Be honest and thorough when describing what happened and what hurts. If you minimize it at the start and symptoms worsen, the insurance company may argue the injury isn’t work-related. Do not embellish either. Just tell the truth.
  4. Your employer cannot legally fire you for filing a workers’ comp claim. Retaliation for filing a workers’ comp claim is illegal in Illinois. If your employer fires or harasses you after you file, you may have another legal claim against them.
  5. Missing the reporting deadline can end your case. The legal window is 45 days but waiting that long is risky. The sooner you report your injury, the harder it is for an employer or insurer to dispute your claim.

Medical Treatment For Illinois Work Related Injuries

  1. Your employer (or their insurance company) has the right to choose your IME doctor. In Illinois, the employer gets to send you to an Independent Medical Examination physician. You must see their designated doctor, at least initially.
  2. All reasonable and necessary medical treatment must be covered. The insurance company must pay for all medical care related to your work injury. This includes doctor visits, surgery, physical therapy, prescriptions, and medical equipment. You do not need health insurance if it is a job injury. Work comp covers everything and you are covered from day 1 on the job.
  3. You can get a second opinion. Illinois law allows you to seek a second medical opinion, usually at the expense of the insurance company. If the second opinion differs significantly, it can be used to support your claim.
  4. Keep records of every medical appointment. Document every doctor visit, treatment, prescription, and out-of-pocket expense related to your injury. These records are critical to your claim.
  5. Don’t skip or delay treatment. Gaps in medical treatment give insurance companies ammunition to argue you aren’t as injured as you claim. Follow your doctor’s recommendations.

Wage Benefits And Illinois Work Comp

  1. You can receive benefits for time you miss from work. If your injury keeps you from working, you are entitled to Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits which is typically two-thirds of your average weekly wage.
  2. TTD benefits are tax-free. Unlike regular wages, Illinois workers’ comp wage benefits are not subject to federal or state income tax.
  3. Your average weekly wage is calculated over the 52 weeks before your injury. This calculation can be complex, especially if your hours varied. An attorney can make sure this number is calculated correctly, and it directly affects how much you receive. Often workers get underpaid because they worked less than 52 weeks and the insurance company does not calculate based on how much work they really did. A good lawyer can fix this.
  4. There are caps on weekly benefits. Illinois sets a maximum weekly benefit amount that is adjusted each year. In some cases, this cap can limit what you receive. Understanding this is important when evaluating if you are being paid correctly.
  5. Partial disability benefits are available if you can work but earn less than before. If you return to work in a lower capacity and earn less than before or part time only, you may qualify for Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits to help make up the difference.

Settlements And Other Payments

  1. You may be entitled to a disability award. If your injury results in a lasting impairment, you may be entitled to Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) or Permanent Total Disability (PTD) benefits.
  2. Illinois uses a “schedule” for certain body part injuries. Illinois law assigns a specific number of weeks of benefits for the loss of (or loss of use of) specific body parts (e.g., a hand, a finger, an eye, a leg). These are called “scheduled injuries.”
  3. The bigger your injury, the more likely it is worth. But it ultimately comes down to your recovery, how much you earn, your age and what defenses there are to your claim.
  4. If you have permanent restrictions that greatly affects your case value. In the least it will make your case worth more. If you can not work your old job anymore and have to take a lesser paying job, you can get paid 2/3 the difference until you are 65. This is called a wage differential.
  5. Permanent Total Disability (PTD) is available for the most severe injuries. If you are completely unable to return to any type of work because of your injury, you may be entitled to lifelong PTD benefits.

The Illinois Work Comp Claims Process

  1. Filing a claim with the IWCC protects your rights. Formally filing an Application for Adjustment of Claim with the IWCC puts your case on record and protects your legal deadlines.
  2. There is a time limit for filing. Generally, you have 3 years from your injury (or 2 years from your last benefit payment, whichever is later) to file a claim. Miss this deadline and you may lose your rights entirely.
  3. Most cases settle without a trial. The majority of Illinois workers’ comp cases are resolved through negotiated settlements, and having an attorney dramatically improves the settlement you can negotiate as well as the speed of getting there.
  4. If there’s a dispute, an arbitrator hears your case. If your claim is contested, an IWCC arbitrator will hear the evidence and issue a decision. This is less formal than a court trial but still a legal proceeding with a court reporter.
  5. An aggressive lawyer is needed to get you a hearing on a disputed case. Before you can go to trial, typically there needs to be a deposition of your doctor and the IME doctor. Lazy lawyers can cause cases to take many months more than they should.

Insurance Company Tactics

  1. The insurance company is not on your side. The workers’ comp insurance company works for your employer, not for you. Their goal is to pay out as little as possible on your claim. Never assume they have your best interests at heart.
  2. They may ask you to give a recorded statement. Insurance adjusters often ask injured workers to give a recorded statement early in the process. You are not required to do this, and doing so can seriously damage your claim. No Illinois work comp lawyer we know would let a client do this.
  3. They may send an investigator to watch you. Insurance companies sometimes hire private investigators to photograph or video injured workers. Be honest about your limitations. Exaggerating your injury is fraud, but the insurer denying a real injury is also fraud.
  4. A quick settlement offer is often a low-ball offer. If the insurance company offers you a fast settlement right after your injury, it’s usually well below what your case is actually worth. They want to close the case and end your medical care before you should. It is in their best interests, not yours.
  5. Insurance companies will try to get all of your medical records. They will likely send you a broad medical authorization form. You do not have to sign that. They only have a right to records that relate to your injury.

Why You Need An Attorney

  1. Workers’ comp law in Illinois is complicated and the stakes are high. Illinois workers’ comp involves specific deadlines, legal standards, and procedural rules. A single mistake can cost you tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars or your entire claim.
  2. Attorneys level the playing field. Your employer has an experienced insurance company and defense attorneys working to minimize your claim. Having your own attorney ensures someone is fighting in your corner with equal expertise.
  3. An attorney can maximize your settlement. Studies consistently show that injured workers represented by attorneys receive significantly higher settlements than those who go it alone. An attorney knows what your case is truly worth.
  4. Workers’ comp attorneys in Illinois work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront. Your attorney only gets paid if you win or settle your case. That fee is capped at 20% of what they recover and usually only applies to a settlement or trial result.
  5. There is no financial risk to hiring an attorney. Because workers’ comp lawyers work on contingency, you have nothing to lose by getting legal representation. If your attorney doesn’t recover money for you, you owe them nothing.
  6. An attorney handles the paperwork and deadlines for you. Missing a filing deadline or submitting incorrect forms can derail your claim. Your attorney manages all of this so you can focus on recovering.
  7. Attorneys can connect you with the right medical experts. Experienced workers’ comp attorneys often work with doctors who understand how to properly evaluate and document work injuries in ways that hold up in legal proceedings.
  8. If your claim is denied or delayed, an attorney is essential. A denial is not the end of the road but fighting it without legal representation is very difficult. An attorney knows how to challenge a denial and build a winning case. They will also file a 19(b) petition to get your case as heard as soon as possible.
  9. Your attorney can spot third-party claims you might miss. Sometimes a work injury involves a third party like a negligent driver, a defective piece of equipment, or a property owner. Your attorney can identify these additional claims, which can result in significantly more compensation. Sometimes those cases are worth millions.

General Info To Know

  1. Pre-existing conditions don’t disqualify you. If your job aggravated, accelerated, or combined with a pre-existing condition to cause your current disability, you still have a valid workers’ comp claim in Illinois.
  2. Repetitive trauma injuries are covered. Conditions like tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, hearing loss, and back problems that develop over time due to the nature of your work are covered in Illinois.
  3. Mental health conditions can be covered. Illinois workers’ comp can cover psychological conditions (such as PTSD or severe anxiety) that develop as a direct result of a traumatic work incident. Unless there was also a physical incident involved, the mental injury must come from a one time, severe and shocking event like being robbed at gun point, seeing someone get killed, etc.
  4. Death benefits are available for families of workers killed on the job. If a worker dies from a work-related injury or illness, their surviving spouse and dependents are entitled to death benefits and burial expense reimbursement under Illinois law. Weekly benefits are similar to someone who is permanently disabled and can last for 25 years.
  5. Independent contractors may still have work comp rights. Just because your employer calls you an independent contractor doesn’t necessarily mean you are one under the law. Misclassification is common — an attorney can help determine if you’re actually entitled to workers’ comp benefits in Illinois.
  6. Settling your case is permanent, so get it right. Once you sign a settlement agreement in Illinois and it is approved, it is typically final. You generally cannot go back and ask for more money later. This is why having experienced legal representation before you settle is so important.

Consult With an Illinois Workers’ Comp Attorney

If you’ve been injured at work, contact us at 312-346-5320 to get a referral to an experienced Illinois workers’ compensation attorney. We cover all of Illinois and will only recommend attorneys who we would also suggest to family members or friends.

Illinois Work Comp – Can I Sue The Insurance Company?

We provide free legal guidance and attorney referrals on Illinois workers’ compensation claims. We are lawyers who will give you the same guidance we would give to a friend who reached out for us to help.

Usually when someone calls me on a case where they already have an attorney, it is because the lawyer is not doing a good job for them. We will go over what has been done, what should be done and if it makes sense to stick with them or not.

I got that type of call recently and thought the lawyer was going to be a bad one because the first thing the injured worker said to me was:

Can I sue the insurance company?

That is the type of thing a good Illinois workers’ compensation attorney would go over with their client, so I thought it was another scenario where they had a bad one. Fortunately that was not the case.

The reason this worker wanted to sue the insurance company is because his benefits have been delayed. In his mind, there is no reason for the delay and the insurance company is just playing games. Sadly, that happens all of the time. It has been more than four months since he has received a TTD check and the surgery he needs has not been approved. You can get why he is angry.

The bad news is that you can not sue an insurance company in an Illinois workers’ compensation case. Bad faith laws do not apply there. That is because these cases are not lawsuits, but rather administrative claims for benefits. All disputes have to be resolved through the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.

The good news is that if your work comp benefits are unreasonably denied, you can file for what is called “penalties and fees” at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. These penalties can be significant, including up to 50% for what medical care they are not providing and $10,000 for delayed TTD benefits. They also can get hit for your attorney fees over this.

In other words, you can not sue, but you can still penalize them and get compensation from them if they are acting in an unreasonable way. That means they have no basis for not paying your benefits.

Back to the lawyer. We searched and they had done everything correctly. They filed a petition for immediate hearing when the benefits were cut off. That forces the insurance company to respond as to why benefits are being denied. When they can not give a good reason, that is when the penalties and fees motion comes into play.

In fact, his lawyer had filed that motion. Normally a case like this would have gone to hearing by now. To do that, you usually need to take the deposition of your doctor before that happens. You would also need to take a deposition of the insurance company doctor if they sent you to one.

Unfortunately for this worker, his doctor only takes one deposition a week and the waiting time to get on the schedule can be six months. So his lawyer’s hands are tied. The deposition is scheduled so I told him that there would be no benefit in getting a new firm.

Illinois work comp laws generally favor the worker. Insurance companies can make the process difficult and that can be frustrating. The good news is that there are remedies to solve that frustration. Your job is to get a good attorney for your case or get a new one if they are not doing their job.

If you would like our help in finding a great Illinois workers’ compensation lawyer, please contact us any time for free at 312-346-5320.

When To Hire An Illinois Workers’ Compensation Attorney

We love doing live chats with people. You can do one now, and you will chat with an actual Illinois attorney. Or call us for a free consultation at 312-346-5320 for help anywhere in Illinois.

If you are injured on the job in Illinois, your immediate focus should be on physical healing. However, the complex legal realities of the insurance system often force workers to ask a difficult question: When is the right time to hire a workers’ compensation attorney, or do I even need one at all?

Minor, single-visit workplace injuries might not require formal legal representation, but serious injuries demand an experienced advocate to protect your long-term health and financial stability.

6 Signs It’s Time to Hire an Illinois Work Injury Lawyer

If your claim involves any of the following scenarios, you should secure legal representation immediately to avoid losing your statutory benefits:

  • Serious or Long-Term Injuries: Your injury requires surgery, a concussion evaluation, an MRI, or months of extensive physical therapy.
  • The Insurance Company Asks for a Recorded Statement: This is a clear indicator that the adjuster is actively fishing for reasons to deny your claim.
  • A Nurse Case Manager is Assigned to Your File: These nurses are paid by the insurance carrier—not you—and frequently attempt to interfere with your doctor’s prescribed treatment plan.
  • Employer Hostility or Payment Delays: Your company delays processing your tax-free weekly wage checks or pressures you to ignore your physician’s restrictions and return to light-duty work prematurely.
  • Steering Medical Care: The insurance adjuster attempts to restrict your choice of physician or forces you to see a doctor of their choosing.
  • You’re Facing an Independent Medical Examination (IME): The insurance company exercises its right to send you to a hand-picked doctor to write an adverse report cutting off your medical care.

The Hidden Dangers of Handling an Illinois Claim Alone

Many injured workers assume they can manage their claims independently if the insurance adjuster seems pleasant. However, operating without a formal case on file opens you up to critical vulnerabilities:

1. Zero Protection From Medical Collection Agencies

If an insurance company delays or refuses to pay your hospital bills, those providers will eventually send your account to debt collectors, damaging your credit score. Under Illinois law, hospitals and clinics are legally forbidden from sending you to collections if you have a formal application for adjustment of claim officially on file with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC).

2. No Immediate Access to an IWCC Arbitrator

If your treatment is suddenly cut off or your checks stop, you cannot simply call a judge. Without an active docket number on file, it can take months to clear the administrative hurdles necessary to get your emergency medical dispute heard before an IWCC Arbitrator. Filing early guarantees immediate courtroom access if the insurance company turns hostile.

3. Critical Strategy Mistakes That Destroy Case Value

In workers’ compensation law, what you don’t know can severely hurt your financial recovery. Simple, unguided actions—such as quitting your job out of frustration, failing to mention a secondary symptom (like a concussion) during an initial ER visit, or falling victim to insurance company video surveillance—can strip your case of its ultimate settlement value.

Why Hiring a Work Injury Attorney Early Costs Exactly the Same

A common misconception among injured workers is that waiting to hire a lawyer saves them money. In Illinois, this is mathematically false.

Hiring on Day 1:  [  20% of Final Settlement  ] -> Full Security Blanket & Admin Management
Hiring on Day 300: [  20% of Final Settlement  ] -> You Did All The Stressful Early Work Alone

Attorney fees for Illinois workers’ compensation claims are strictly capped by state statute at 20% of the final lump-sum settlement or award. Whether you bring an elite lawyer onto your case on day one or day three hundred, the percentage remains identical.

By retaining counsel early, you gain an immediate legal security blanket. Your attorney manages all adjuster phone calls, blocks illegal contact from nurse case managers, secures immediate mileage reimbursement checks, and ultimately negotiates a much larger lump-sum recovery than an unrepresented individual could ever achieve alone.

Get a Free, Independent Legal Evaluation Today

Since 2001, we have helped over half a million injured workers navigate the complexities of Illinois employment and insurance law. We are not a corporate marketing mill. Our consultation is completely free, 100% confidential, and carries zero commitment.

Call us 24/7 at (312) 346-5320 or initiate an anonymous live chat right on our homepage to ask your questions to a licensed attorney. We can recommend an experienced work injury attorney who has a track record of success.

Honest, Free Advice From A Chicago Lawyer

Illinois lawyers in general are not taught a ton about running a business. As a result I know a lot of very good attorneys who are terrible at running a law firm.

Knowing how to run a business isn’t a requirement for opening a law firm. So many attorney just wing it and go with what they know. One of the common statements about running a business is, “The customer is always right.” It may be controversial, but that’s a terrible way to run a law firm.

The reality is that the customer is often wrong. If a lawyer isn’t willing to tell you that you are wrong and why, they are doing you a disservice.

For example, we will get a call from people telling me that they want a medical malpractice lawyer and then tell us facts that make clear there’s no case. Maybe the time limit for suing has passed or what happened to them is a known risk or they haven’t suffered any physical harm, but want to sue because something bad could have happened.

We take the approach that a lawyer should be very direct and honest. That includes telling people that don’t have a case that they don’t and why we think that. That doesn’t stop anyone from seeking a second opinion, but at least they’ve gotten the truth.

Some people love and appreciate directness. A lot of people just want to know if they have a case and can accept the truth even if it seems unfair. Other people don’t appreciate it. I get that, but to us being direct is the only way to be.

The alternative is to lie to the customer. A lot of lawyers will tell you that you have a great case, but they are too busy to take it on. Or they will come up with some other excuse that gives you false hope. To me that is much worse than being direct even if it upsets someone to be told that there’s nothing that can be done.

You come to an attorney because they have knowledge and expertise about the law. We try to be as nice as we can be, but if we don’t use our knowledge, honestly, it’s bad for you. So we encourage people to accept that they could be wrong when they think that they have a case.

Final thought. We make money if you have a great case. We want you to have a great case. If there’s any way we can help you be in the right legally, we will do whatever we can to make that happen. And fortunately many people do have good cases and we’ve been able to help tens of thousands of them.

Illinois CILA Injury and Abuse Lawsuits

In Illinois, a lot of adults with developmental, intellectual, or physical disabilities live in places called Community Integrated Living Arrangements, or CILAs. CILAs are small group homes or apartments in the community where residents get support from staff instead of living in institutions or large facilities. The whole idea behind a CILA is independence — giving people a chance to live more freely but still getting help with things like meals, medication, transportation, or personal care.

When CILAs work the way they should, they can be wonderful. Residents can form friendships, build life skills, and enjoy a higher level of dignity and inclusion. But unfortunately, not every CILA lives up to that ideal. Some residents experience abuse and neglect.

What Does Abuse and Neglect in a CILA Look Like?

Abuse in a CILA can take different forms. Sometimes it’s obvious, like physical harm. Other times, it’s harder to see, like emotional cruelty, neglect, or even financial exploitation. Here are just a few examples of what that might look like:

• Physical abuse: The staff slaps, hits, pushes, or uses inappropriate force on residents.
• Emotional or verbal abuse: The staff insults, yells at, threatens, or degrades residents.
• Sexual abuse: The staff takes advantage of a resident who can’t consent or makes unwanted sexual advances.
• Neglect: The staff does not do their job. They don’t provide meals or medications, or they don’t help the residents with their medical or hygiene needs.
• Financial harm: The staff steals money, pressures resident to sign documents, or misuses their benefits.

Some residents may not be able to communicate about the abuse clearly, or they might be scared to speak up. This means that family members and friends need to be on the lookout for this.

Signs That Something Might Be Wrong

If you have a loved one in a CILA, trust your gut. You may be the first person to notice when something isn’t right. Keep an eye out for:

• Unexplained bruises, cuts, or broken bones, especially if there’s no logical explanation for them.
• Sudden behavior changes, like fear, anxiety, withdrawal, or aggressive actions.
• Poor hygiene or dirty living conditions.
• Noticeable weight loss or constant hunger.
• Missing funds or personal items of value.
• Discomfort around certain staff members.

Taking Legal Action Against Negligent CILAs

Abuse or neglect in a CILA isn’t just morally wrong — it’s against the law. Families have the right to sue a CILA if their staff are abusive and/or neglect their loved one. Experienced attorneys who handle these types of cases know how to investigate what happened, collect evidence, and demand justice for victims.

There have been big legal victories for families in Illinois. For example, one case resulted in a $1.6 million award for the family of a woman who died after multiple falls in her group home. Another brought a $2 million judgment for the death of a resident who choked due to a lack of supervision. These cases send a clear message: CILA providers who fail to protect their residents will be held responsible.

If you think that a loved one has been abused or neglected in a CILA, the sooner you act, the better. Talking with an experienced attorney can help protect your loved one and may prevent others from being hurt in the future. Contact us today so we can connect you with a trusted law firm that will fight for your family member. Contact us at 312-346-5320 for help everywhere in Illinois.

FIFA Is Screwing People With The World Cup

First off, I do not remember who was Mayor when Chicago said thanks, but no thanks, to hosting the World Cup, but whoever that was made the right call.

I am the biggest soccer fan I know. I played it (poorly) for about 20 years. I have coached it on and off for over 30 years. I have been a referee for almost a decade. I have been a MLS season ticket holder. I have seen the USMNT play in around 20 matches. I watch EPL religously even if my club (Tottenham) is a disaster.

I have been looking forward to the 2026 World Cup since it was announced. I graduated college in 1994 and drove around the country seeing matches. I planned on doing the same this year with my wife and kids.

I knew tickets would be expensive, but did not anticipate how much FIFA would try to gouge fans. But that is not all they have done to screw people over. Let us count the ways that FIFA and others are taking advantage of people.

  1. The prices are ridiculous. A single game ticket for some of the matches costs more than a season ticket for most clubs, including some of the biggest ones in Europe. Even for undesirable games, the get in price for a decent seat is over $400. For a US game, a seat behind the goal, which isn’t a great view, can run over $2,000. If you want to go to the final as a family of four, it will cost you more than a year of college tuition.
  2. You do not even know where you are sitting. FIFA broke down tickets to four categories, with category 1 being the most expensive and category 4 the “cheapest.” Category 4 tickets are very limited and are the worst seats at the venue. Category 3 tickets are not much better. Category 1 tickets are theoretically the best, but could be at midfield, behind the goal, in the corner, etc. You do not get to pick out your seats. Can you imagine spending over $1,000 for a ticket and not knowing if you have a good seat or not? Insane.
  3. You might not get the Category you paid for. People are reporting that they bought category two tickets, but got placed in seats that were on the category three map when they committed to them.
  4. They have been holding back tickets so they can charge even more. FIFA held a lottery for tickets. The goal was not to sell all of them, but instead to see how much interest there was. This resulted in people who want to buy tickets being shut out, only for new lotteries to happen with higher prices. In some cases that is hundreds or thousands of dollars more.
  5. Want to drive to a game? Parking prices are insane. Most of the venues for the World Cup are not as public transit friendly as Chicago would be. Somehow FIFA has secured parking lots not just at the stadiums, but in surrounding areas. Parking your car in Los Angeles could cost you $250 or more and it might be a mile walk to the stadium. Parking in Houston will be around $175. It is similar for Miami and prices are expected to go up.
  6. Want to take a train? Hopefully not in Boston. Apparently there is a special train to get to games at Foxboro Stadium which is in the Boston suburbs. For Patriots games, they charge $20. For a World Cup game it is $80 a person! That is $320 for a family of four. New Jersey is charging people $100 reportedly to take the train back to NYC’s Penn Station. That is a ticket that normally costs $12.90.
  7. They sold tickets for your favorite team where you only pay if your team makes the match with a hidden catch. If you are a fan of the US, England, Argentina, Spain or anyone else, you can buy tickets for their games in later rounds and only pay if the game happens. So you can take a crap shoot that the US makes the final for example. The problem is that the fine print says two things that promotional material did not make clear. First, they charged your credit card which means you are basically giving FIFA an interest free loan for six months. Two, you do not get a full refund, but instead they hold back a $50 processing fee. So most people who do this are paying $50 for nothing. And how much do you want to bet that refunds are not timely processed.
  8. Traveling for the World Cup. I hope you have a friend to stay with. I really wanted to go to Seattle to see the US play Australia. I started looking for hotels last summer. Rooms were not being released to the public like normal. Months went by and when I finally found rooms released, they were double or triple normal prices at almost every place. For the finals, some Hilton hotel rooms are asking thousands per night. The good news is that I have heard/read that many of these hotels are struggling to get reservations.
  9. Even if you do not care about soccer, this World Cup is screwing you. In Canada, matches are expected to cost tax payers over CDN $1 Billion. These costs have gone from an estimated $45 million for Toronto to now an estimated $380 million. The US is hosting way more matches and FIFA is not giving that ticket money to cover the costs of operating their event. FEMA has distributed $625 million so far to help fray security costs. Again, thank you to whoever in Chicago decided against taking part in this.
  10. Looking to buy on resale? Good luck! FIFA is running their own version of StubHub and have created a resale market. It would not surprise me if they have listed some of the tickets themselves instead of offering them to the public. They are also charging buyers and sellers a 15% fee. Capitalism baby!
  11. They just created a new tier of seats. When you bought seats originally, they certainly gave the impression that tier 1 seats could be the first few rows. They just announced a new Category 1 front seat option. Those seats that cost over $2,700 to see the first US game in LA are now over $4,100 if you want to sit in one of the first few rows! Of course people who paid the already insane prices back in the fall thought that they had a chance at those prime seats. It was all a big scam.
  12. They appear to be selling data. I applied for tickets in Seattle. Next thing I know, I’m getting emails from the Seattle Kraken about buying hockey tickets from them.

There Ought To Be A Law

When FIFA awarded the World Cup to North America, FIFA stated that tickets would be around $60 and affordable for most fans. Instead they are gorging people and expect to reap around $11 billion in revenue. And for context, costs for the World Cup in 2018 and 2022 were nowhere near this much and it is expected to be way cheaper to attend in 2030 when it is mostly in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

There ought to be a law that protects consumers when these events are awarded. Organizations need to commit to pricing levels for match attendance, parking and other items. If you say it will be affordable for the average fan, it has to be that way.

And when it comes to the resale market, it is illegal in Mexico to charge more than face value on the ticket. How about if you are using our tax payer funded money for security and tax payer funded stadiums, that there is a law that you can not host a resale site that charges more than face value for the ticket? My guess is a lot of these tickets have been bought up by scalpers. That would not happen if they could not sell on the FIFA site for profit.

This World Cup has created so many bad feelings and pissed off so many people. I will be enjoying it from my living room and taking my money and enthusiasm to Europe in 2030. I am willing to bet that all in it will still be cheaper and I won’t have to pay 80 Euros to use public transit.

And when it comes to dynamic pricing, why is that a thing? There at least should be full disclosure as to how many seats are being sold at a time and what inventory is available. Most if not all of these games are being played in publicly funded stadiums. The public has a right to know these things.

Big Reason For A Rise In Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

A good friend of mine is an emergency room doctor. About ten years ago he told me that his employment situation was going to change. That is because his medical practice group was being bought out by a private equity company.

This was a surprise to me. I just assumed that he was an employee of the hospital that he worked at. It turns out that he and the other ER doctors had a private contract to provide services to the hospital. So they could be bought. After the purchase they all had to continue working for an hourly wage for a certain period of time.

Since then, private equity groups have been not just buying up medical practice groups, but entire hospitals as well. In fact around 500 hospitals are now owned by private equity groups. That is around 1 in 10 of private hospitals in the United States.

When this happens, these facilities are focused on profit for their shareholders above all else. That makes going to one of these facilities more dangerous for their patients in my opinion. There was an article last year about this issue. Here are some horror stories mentioned:

  • A 39-year-old woman died after giving birth because a vendor had repossessed equipment needed to stop her internal bleeding.
  • Patients died in hallways.
  • Patients died waiting in line for service.
  • Board meetings centered on profits and cost cutting with little to no discussion on patient experience or quality of care.
  • Multiple hospitals closed, greatly limiting health care options in poor and rural communities.

These types of stories are common and probably going to get worse. I am a big believer in universal health care as it is cheaper for consumers, even with tax increases. It also provides a greater opportunity for better health outcomes. Unfortunately that will not happen any time soon.

Sadly, while many of these ventures have been very profitable, it does not appear that the hundreds of millions are going to improve facilities and patient care, but instead to reward shareholders.

As a potential patient, I highly recommend that you determine who actually owns the hospital you are going to and what costs have been cut that can hurt outcomes. The same goes for stand alone urgent cares. Many of those are owned by groups whose primary goal is to make money and not save lives.

And if you have been injured in any medical facility and want a free case review, please call us at 312-346-5320 to speak with an attorney.

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