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Illinois Personal Injury Lawyers That Speak Spanish

When someone reaches out to us looking for help with a personal injury case in Illinois, our top priority is connecting them with the right attorney for their specific situation. Many lawyers advertise that they handle personal injury matters, but only a select number consistently deliver strong results and high-quality client service—especially in cases involving serious injuries or wrongful death.

Personal injury cases can involve everything from car crashes and truck accidents to slip-and-falls, construction injuries, or product liability claims. No matter the cause, these cases are often aggressively fought by the insurance companies who don’t want to make big settlements. That’s why having a proven, experienced attorney on your side can make all the difference.

Part of our role in making a strong referral is to understand what happened in your accident, who may be legally responsible, the extent of your injuries, and any unique issues involved. We also take time to learn what matters most to you. For some people, location is a concern. The good news is that with today’s technology and how personal injury firms operate, it’s rare that you’d need to travel far—or at all—to work with a top-notch lawyer.

Another common concern we hear from clients is about language. Many people want to make sure they can communicate clearly with their attorney without relying on a friend or family member to translate. That’s totally understandable. If you need a Spanish-speaking lawyer, for example, we work with elite personal injury firms in the Chicago area and across Illinois that have Spanish-speaking attorneys and staff.

You shouldn’t have to sacrifice quality just to feel comfortable—and thankfully, you don’t have to. The lawyers we recommend are not only successful in court and skilled in negotiations, but also experienced in working with clients from all backgrounds. They’ll take the time to explain the process, answer your questions, and make sure you feel supported.

If you have a personal injury case you’d like to discuss, contact us. We can help you understand your options, and if it makes sense, point you to a lawyer who fits your needs. There’s no cost for the consultation.

Cuando alguien nos contacta buscando ayuda con un caso de lesiones personales en Illinois, nuestra prioridad es conectarlo con el abogado adecuado para su situación específica. Muchos abogados se anuncian como expertos en lesiones personales, pero solo unos pocos ofrecen constantemente resultados sólidos y un servicio al cliente de alta calidad, especialmente en casos de lesiones graves o muerte por negligencia.

Los casos de lesiones personales pueden abarcar desde accidentes automovilísticos y de camión hasta resbalones y caídas, lesiones en la construcción o reclamos por responsabilidad del producto. Sin importar la causa, estos casos suelen ser disputados agresivamente por las compañías de seguros, que no están dispuestas a ofrecer grandes compensaciones. Por eso, contar con un abogado con experiencia y trayectoria de su lado puede marcar la diferencia.

Parte de nuestra función para obtener una buena recomendación es comprender qué sucedió en su accidente, quién podría ser legalmente responsable, la gravedad de sus lesiones y cualquier problema particular involucrado. También nos tomamos el tiempo para comprender lo que más le importa. Para algunas personas, la ubicación es una preocupación. La buena noticia es que con la tecnología actual y la forma en que operan las firmas de lesiones personales, es raro que necesites viajar lejos, o incluso viajar, para trabajar con un abogado de primer nivel.

Otra preocupación común que escuchamos de nuestros clientes es el idioma. Muchas personas desean comunicarse claramente con su abogado sin depender de un amigo o familiar que les traduzca. Es totalmente comprensible. Si necesita un abogado que hable español, por ejemplo, trabajamos con firmas de lesiones personales de élite en el área de Chicago y en todo Illinois que cuentan con abogados y personal hispanohablante.

No debería tener que sacrificar la calidad solo para sentirse cómodo, y afortunadamente, no tiene por qué hacerlo. Los abogados que recomendamos no solo tienen éxito en los tribunales y son hábiles en las negociaciones, sino que también tienen experiencia trabajando con clientes de todos los orígenes. Se tomarán el tiempo para explicar el proceso, responder a sus preguntas y asegurarse de que se sienta apoyado.

Si tiene un caso de lesiones personales que le gustaría discutir, contáctenos. Podemos ayudarle a comprender sus opciones y, si le conviene, recomendarle un abogado que se ajuste a sus necesidades. La consulta es gratuita.

See also: Best Spanish Speaking Medical Malpractice Lawyers In Chicago

Big Myth About Illinois Trip And Fall Lawsuits

Although they are some of the toughest cases to win, we love helping people find the best Illinois trip and fall attorney (or slip and fall) for their case. We’ve had multiple case wins for six and seven figures including a recent one where a client tripped and fell in a mall and recovered $1,100,000 for a back injury.

But these really are hard cases to win. There’s a big myth that if you get hurt on someone else’s property they are liable. That is simply not true.

That people believe this was made clear to me from a recent caller. He was at a gas station and put the pump hose in his car to get some gas. He wanted to wash his windshield too, so he attempted to step over the hose, but tripped and fell forward, breaking his wrist.

He called me and wanted to sue the gas station for his injury. I let him know we couldn’t help because the gas station hadn’t done anything wrong. He then replied to me with:

Well then how is it that if someone trips over their own shoelaces on my driveway and gets hurt that I can get sued?

I let him know that’s not a thing either even though apparently his insurance agent convinced him to get a bigger policy with this lie.

To sue anyone successfully for a trip and fall or slip and fall in Illinois, you have to prove negligence. The gas station wasn’t negligent because he stepped over a hose and fell. He wouldn’t be negligent if someone tripped over their own shoelaces and got hurt.

There is negligence when a property has a hidden defect like a hole covered with leaves. Or if you trip on stairs and there’s no railing to catch yourself. Or a pipe is coming from the ground and you can’t see it because it’s too dark. Or a lot of other reasons.

Negligence is the key. If you prove it you win. If you can’t prove it you have no case. It’s difficult at times because often when you fall, you are in so much pain that you don’t take a moment to find out what caused the fall. So to the extent you can after a fall or as soon as possible thereafter, look around and take pictures.

And while you have two years to sue from when these accidents happen in most situations, the need to prove negligence is why it’s incredibly important to get with an attorney who knows what they are doing ASAP. A delay could be the difference between winning and losing.

If you’d like to speak to one of our lawyers for free to have your case evaluated and get a referral to an elite premises liability lawyer in Illinois, please call us at 312-346-5320.

Illinois Medical Malpractice And Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is a serious and aggressive form of intestinal cancer, and its early detection and treatment are vital. When diagnosed at an early stage, patients have the best chance for survival and optimal health outcomes. Early-stage colon cancer, when treated appropriately, typically poses minimal long-term risks. And the good news is that if your doctor is competent, it can and will be caught early.

Routine screenings are crucial for diagnosing colon cancer. Some patients may show symptoms, while others may not. One common screening method is a colonoscopy, which involves the insertion of a tube with a camera into the rectum while the patient is under anesthesia. This procedure allows doctors to examine the colon for any polyps or unusual findings. If any abnormalities are found, a tissue sample can be collected for further testing.

Alternative screening options include CT scans or virtual colonoscopies, which are less invasive and create detailed images of the colon. Another option is Cologuard, where patients send a fecal sample to a lab to test for abnormal cells. Your doctor should be recommending these procedures to you sometime between when you turn 45-50 (with 45 being the newer standard). They should do it earlier if you are making complaints like terrible stomach pain or blood in your stools.

While these screening methods are generally effective, there are instances where misdiagnoses occur. Sometimes, a doctor may overlook a patient’s colon cancer or incorrectly diagnose them with a different colorectal issue. In other cases, a necessary colonoscopy may not be ordered, particularly if the patient has a family history of colon cancer or exhibits potential cancer symptoms.

Delayed treatment or misdiagnosis can severely impact patient outcomes. Such errors can result in patients facing a quicker decline, increased suffering, or even premature death due to colon cancer that could have been caught earlier. When the delay has been six months or more, that could potentially be a lawsuit and is certainly a case we’d want to investigate.

If you or a loved one has experienced a failure to diagnose or a misdiagnosis related to colon cancer, it may warrant a medical malpractice claim. I encourage you to reach out for a free, confidential evaluation of your situation. If you have a valid case, we can recommend a trusted attorney—someone we would suggest to our own family or friends. Remember, Illinois medical malpractice attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means there’s no fee unless they win your case.

Time is of the essence and if you wait too long, you could lose your right to sue. Call us any time at 312-346-5320 for a free case review. We cover all of Illinois.

Big Reason Your Illinois Divorce Costs So Much And Is Taking So Long

Nobody goes into marriage wanting to get divorced. And if you have to get a divorce lawyer in Illinois someday, you will want things to go quickly and amicably if possible. Nobody wants to get divorced, have it take many years and cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Unfortunately this does happen. It usually occurs because there are a lot of contentious case issues. You might be fighting over the value of a business, custody, visitation schedules or other marital assets like a 401k, bank accounts, houses, etc.

Other times a delay happens that is completely out of your control and sucks. There’s one big reason that happens in Illinois divorces and it’s shocking and shameful.

That reason is because your spouse’s attorney drags the case on. Sometimes they do it to try to milk a case for all that it’s worth. Sometimes they do it because they are lazy or incompetent. Sometimes they just have too much work to do and choose which cases to prioritize.

There’s one infamous Chicago divorce lawyer who does this a lot and a few firms that like to run up large bills in general. But this one in particular is awful. In fact, in a recent case we consulted on, a caller had a mostly uncontested Cook County divorce and we estimated the fee would be $2500.

We connected the caller with a lawyer who wanted to help. But once he learned that this scummy lawyer was representing the spouse, he said the case would likely cost $15,000. That’s because that gross attorney never returns phone calls, files tons of wasteful motions and continuously drags his feet.

So what should be a simple case is now a difficult one. And this caller has to come up with extra money to get the case started. It’s all very unfair.

Of course it could be your attorney who is dragging things out without need. There’s no way to know for sure if they will do that when you hire them. That’s one reason people come to us. We would never recommend those types of attorneys.

If you notice that the attorney you hired is delaying your case, you should confront them on it and fire them if you don’t get a good answer. Divorce cases can take years, but if you know you and your spouse agree on everything, it should go quickly.

We have helped thousands of people get through an Illinois divorce as painlessly as possible. If you have a case in the Chicagoland area and would like a referral to a great Illinois divorce attorney, please call us any time at 312-346-5320.

When Your Illinois Lawyer Misses The Statute Of Limitations

I got a call recently from a woman who had hired a family friend to handle a car accident case. I looked up the lawyer, and it turns out that their regular practice is handling divorce and traffic cases, as well as some estate planning. But likely seeing $$$ dollar signs, the attorney signed up their friend for a personal injury case. Some friend.

As you might be able to guess, the lawyer didn’t know what he was doing, and he failed to file the lawsuit within the two-year time limit for doing so. There’s no way around that Illinois statute of limitations rule. Once it’s missed, it’s over.

The caller was hoping that she could now get the right type of lawyer because her “friend” admitted it was not a case he’d handled before. It was her belief that a Judge would hear that the missed deadline wasn’t her fault in any way and give her a break. Unfortunately that’s not how this works.

You are stuck with the mistakes your attorney makes. “Surely there must be something that can be done,” she said to me. The answer is, yes, there is. You have to sue your lawyer for legal malpractice.

Suing a lawyer is like suing a doctor. You have to show that they violated the standard of care and caused you a harm. In this case, the standard of care was to file a lawsuit within two years of the accident date. The harm is that she can no longer recover from the other party. She isn’t happy about it, but if she wants compensation, she has to sue her lawyer friend. The money will be paid out of his malpractice insurance. That’s what it’s there for.

This is what you do when a lawyer makes a mistake. It’s the same if they miss a deadline in a filed case that causes you harm. For example, we’ve helped in cases where clients lost their rights to marital property like a pension because their attorney didn’t turn paperwork in on time.

There are a lot of lawyers like this one who take on cases they shouldn’t. They act in their own best interests, not that of their clients. A lot of them will withdraw before the time to sue is up if they can’t settle the case out of court. That actually is allowed even if it leaves you scrambling at the last minute to try and find a new attorney. If they notify you about the statute of limitations before that time passes, it typically isn’t a malpractice case even if it’s unethical.

We have helped hundreds of people with Illinois legal malpractice lawsuits and would be happy to discuss a possible case with you. Call us any time at 312-346-5320 to speak with an attorney for free.

What Is The Opposing Party Telling Their Attorney About You

I’ve talked to over 500,000 people about their Illinois legal issues since 2001, and one thing has never happened.

That one thing is that nobody has ever called me and told me what a piece of crap they are, and how the person on the other side of the case is much better than them. At least nobody volunteers that at the get-go. As lawyers, we always hear a story from a potential client that paints them and their case in the best light.

That’s alright and understandable. We are strangers when you call us, and it’s not within human nature to be that vulnerable right away.

I’ve gotten pretty good at putting most people at ease, and sometimes that leads to them disclosing things that are legally relevant in evaluating their case. Other times we ask direct probing questions about the case facts. Having evaluated so many cases, we usually know the right questions to ask.

One question that I love to ask that really helps me in some cases, especially family law and partnership disputes, is what is the opposing party telling their attorney about you?

This isn’t me asking them to tell me how awful they are, it’s a chance for them to project what someone else will say, which is often the truth. And it is really a good question for almost every area of law. I’ve used it on work comp cases, custody cases, and even claims for life insurance benefits.

As lawyers, we don’t worry as much about what someone else might say. We don’t assume they are telling the truth or lying. What we don’t want to have happen is to be surprised with information. Preparation and knowledge is a really big part about getting the best result possible for a client.

Unfortunately some clients lie. In one case, a family law attorney I know asked her client if he ever does drugs. He made clear that he doesn’t and never had. This was an important question because there was a tough child custody battle going on. She prepared for an important court hearing with the belief her client never has done drugs.

At the hearing the opposing attorney played a video which showed that not only was he doing drugs, he was snorting cocaine in front of his young children. This after he swore up and down he didn’t do anything beyond drink socially. Needless to say, this guy lost custody and the relationship between him and his client was broken.

You aren’t expected to have a “perfect” story. Everyone has flaws and very few cases are completely clean. If you got hit by someone who ran a red light, don’t deny that you were also going ten miles over the limit. If your life insurance claim was rejected, don’t conceal the fact that you knowingly didn’t disclose a history of heart trouble. If you get arrested for a burglary, don’t give your attorney some fake alibi.

No lawyer can guarantee a result. But we can promise that if a surprise happens it makes the chances of winning worse. Had the family law lawyer I know been aware of the cocaine use, she could have offered an explanation. She could have gotten her client into rehab or an evaluation with a drug counselor. She could have gotten drug test results during the 60 days before the hearing. It would still be a bad situation, but there would at least be a chance.

This is why any good lawyer will go over your testimony before you give a deposition or testify at trial. We don’t want surprises. We don’t want you to be perfect, just truthful. And if you lie, you stop even the best lawyer from being able to do their job for you.

Illinois Lawsuits For Cameras In The Bathroom And Other Places

I think we’ve all seen a James Bond movie or something similar where a room is “bugged” by the enemy. They are spying through tiny audio or video recorders hidden in a lamp or pen, for example.

Unfortunately, this scenario happens in real life too. In real life, however, the spying is usually not about getting government secrets. It’s typically about recording someone undressing or being naked. It’s a gross and awful invasion of privacy, to have someone hide a camera and record you without your awareness and permission. It’s incredibly violating.

Not only is this gross and morally wrong, but it is also illegal. We’ve seen examples of unlawful surveillance in hotels, fitness center locker rooms, public restrooms, store changing rooms and places of employment among other places.

We have a track record of suing for this successfully. What a successful lawsuit often comes down to is, is there a good defendant? What we mean by that is, if we sue the person who set up the camera and is doing the recording, will we be able to get money from them if a judge rules in our favor?

You could win a lawsuit against a scumbag who does this in a public restroom at a city park, but they may not have the money to pay the judgement.

However, if a hotel janitor does this to hotel guests, the hotel can be held responsible in addition to the janitor. The janitor may not have the money as an individual, but the hotel chain will. Similarly, if your co-worker does this to you, your employer could be liable.

The facts still need to be on your side and you have to prove every element of your case, but if the defendant doesn’t have any money they won’t be held responsible civilly. It still could be a criminal case as these are criminal actions to record someone in this manner.

When there is a good defendant to sue, these cases can be lucrative. Recently, a jury awarded $2.78 million to a live-in nanny. Her employer was a family and the father of the family, plahced a camera in the smoke detector in her bedroom and recorded her. The recordings captured her nude, dressing and undressing, and sleeping. The jury awarded the nanny with $780,000 for emotional distress and $2 million in punitive damages. In this situation, the person behind the crime is a fast-food chicken mogul and was wealthy enough to pay what the jury awarded the nanny. No word yet as to whether or not he got arrested as well.

If your privacy has been invaded by someone illegally recording you, contact us at 312-346-5320 for a free, confidential consultation with a lawyer. These claims are handled on a contingency basis which means there is no fee unless the lawsuit is successful.

16 Illinois Hospitals To Avoid

We have been involved in hundreds of Illinois medical malpractice lawsuits and helping people find the best lawyer for their case.

You see a lot of patterns over 24 years. Some hospitals seem to be worse than others. An organization that tracks hospital safety came up with a list and ranked Illinois the 20th safest place to go to the hospital in the country. They grade every hospital and look at things like hand washing, falls that take place and deaths that seem preventable. They look for positive steps to like one hospital using a wand after surgeries to make sure a sponge hasn’t been left inside of you.

Over 100 Illinois hospitals were graded. You can see the full list of grades here. 15 hospitals got a D grade and one got an F. It looks like you should avoid:

  • CGH in Sterling
  • Community First Medical Center in Chicago
  • Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City
  • Genesis Medical Center in Silvis
  • HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield
  • Insight Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago
  • Javon Bea Hospital in Rockton
  • OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center in Dixon
  • Roseland Community Hospital in Chicago
  • Springfield Memorial Hospital in Springfield
  • SSM Good Samaritan in Mt. Vernon
  • Unity Point Trinity in Moline
  • Unity Point Trinity in Rock Island
  • Weiss Memorial in Chicago
  • West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park

And the one Illinois hospital to get an F grade

  • HSHS St. Mary’s in Decatur

Some thoughts on this list. I’ve seen a huge uptick in calls from potential medical malpractice victims of Trinity in the Quad Cities in the last year so that tracks. And I’ve heard bad things happening at all of the Chicago area hospitals so that makes sense. This list also reflects how it can be hard to get good medical care at rural hospitals.

But I also note that the list gave an A to St. Bernard’s Hospital in Chicago. I’ve heard many horror stories about care at that place with one attorney telling me that they wouldn’t take their dog there. And while I know Northwestern and University of Chicago have some great doctors, they both got A’s even though they are the two hospitals we get the most calls about possible medical malpractice lawsuits. Both places have had big verdicts and settlements against them in the last few years.

In other words, I’d take this list with a grain of salt. Look at the reports as to why they are considered safe or not safe. But in my experience, the best way to get a good result at a hospital is to be an advocate for yourself or a family member. In other words, if a room is dirty, let them know. If you have questions, ask them. If someone is a fall risk or has an allergy, make sure it’s crystal clear. If something is bothering you, don’t wait to bring it up.

This doesn’t guarantee a good outcome, but it certainly increases your chances of one. It shouldn’t work that way, but it does.

And if you have any questions about Illinois medical malpractice law, please call us any time at 312-346-5320.

Suing Your Doctor Or Lawyer In Illinois After Consensual Sex

We have helped hundreds of people who have been the victims of sexual abuse in Illinois. Most of those people have been forcibly raped or assaulted in some way. Whatever acts occurred were not consensual in any way.

It’s also possible to have a sexual abuse lawsuit when the sex is consensual. In fact, we have helped people sue a lot of Illinois doctors and lawyers who were sleeping with their patients or clients. but not raping them.

How can you sue a lawyer or doctor in Illinois for consensual sex?

The answer is that if your doctor is actively treating your or your attorney is actively representing you, they have a balance of power over you. In other words, even if it appears consensual, they can manipulate or control you in an unethical way.

So if you are a criminal defense attorney and sleep with your client, there could be at least an appearance that they won’t do the best job for you if you refute their advances or break it off.

The same goes for doctors. It’s most common with psychologists, but it can happen with any medical practitioner. It’s most gross with psychologists as you are talking to them for help which makes you vulnerable with them. We’ve also seen this with plastic surgeons and OBGYN’s.

For all sorts of professionals, there are ethical guidelines about your behavior. Right at the top of the list is that you can’t sleep with your clients.

There’s not an exception because it’s consensual or you both really want it. If you and your attorney want to get together, they should fire you as a client before anything happens. I’ve actually seen that happen in a lot of divorce cases where a lawyer and client get emotionally close. Even in that case, it’s in my opinion inappropriate for them to start a relationship with you. But it’s definitely a lawsuit if they do and continue to represent you.

And if you and your doctor want to date or sleep together, they should fire you as a patient first. And just like with a lawyer, this means that they should make sure you have new representation before anything happens. And for both professions, the new representation should not be in the same practice or firm.

If you have any questions about this or were in any sort of sexual relationship with a licensed professional who you also hired, we’d love to speak to you for free and in confidence. Call us at 312-346-5320 any time.

100 Illinois Workers Compensation Issues

We talk to 5-10 injured Illinois workers every single day. Since we started in 2001, we have proudly helped tens of thousands of injured workers. I thought it would be interesting to list various scenarios we’ve heard so far in 2025. The lesson is that a lot of injuries are common, and workers get hurt in all sorts of ways.

Here are 100 examples. There are repeats of fact patterns as we listed them in the order they were received. If you want to speak with a lawyer for FREE, call us any time at 312-346-5320.

  1. A worker at a big shipping company has to have annual hearing exams and has lost hearing due to it being such a loud environment.
  2. A delivery driver hurt his leg and returned to work with restrictions. Those restrictions aren’t being followed which is making the injury worse.
  3. Laborer at a huge company smashed his hand when he was ordered to do work he hadn’t trained on and wasn’t given proper safety procedures.
  4. A RN has PTSD and an arm injury after being attacked by a patient.
  5. We were called by a guy who tore his ACL and went to the hospital. He wanted to leave as he was in pain and had seen the doctor. His employer sid he had to stay until he was drug tested. By the time he called us it had been three hours and he wanted to know if he could leave.
  6. A woman with a back injury at work was at home when she had a shooting pain in her back that caused her to lose her balance and fall, resulting in a broken arm.
  7. A caller wanted to switch work comp attorneys since his lawyer was rude to him and often didn’t call back.
  8. A delivery driver was injury when a customer backed their car into her.
  9. City worker injured his back when a chair broke. He delayed seeing a doctor for three weeks so his case was denied.
  10. Injured worker wanted to switch lawyers because they felt they were being pressured into taking a low settlement.
  11. Spanish speaker was told they weren’t allowed to file for work comp because they hadn’t been on the job long enough (that’s not a thing).
  12. Truck driver who was paid as a 1099 was injured while making a delivery for a Chicago area trucking outfit that calls all of their drivers 1099’s. They have control over him so he should be classified as an employee.
  13. Another 1099 truck driver (there are so many who get misclassified) tore his labrum when he slipped off the truck.
  14. Woman works from home for a school and types all day and has carpal tunnel.
  15. Worker got a settlement offer without a lawyer and wanted to see if it was a good offer. We determined she’d need a future surgery which made the case worth a lot more money.
  16. Material handler is on their feet 8-10 hours a day and has to wear steel toed boots. They’ve developed plantar fasciitis.
  17. Amazon worker has work restrictions and says the company is making her sit at the plant all day and do nothing.
  18. Cashier was robbed at gun point and has severe PTSD which is being fought because she treated for a separate psychological issue two years ago.
  19. Guy who types all day was told he has carpal tunnel, but can’t get an EMG, the test used to prove carpal tunnel, for over four months.
  20. A worker who fell off a ladder and has a brain injury was seeking help because his TTD checks are always late.
  21. Woman fell at work and hit her head. She was diagnosed with a concussion. A week later her shoulder started to hurt. She has a torn rotator cuff. The insurance company is disputing the shoulder injury part of the case.
  22. A Coca Cola worker hurt their back while lifting materials.
  23. A CNA hurt her arm on three separate occasions while lifting patients.
  24. An Amazon worker who wears special shoes and pulls pallets has plantar fasciiitis.
  25. A guy with a neck injury has been treating for over six months, but had his benefits cut off after a IME.
  26. An injured worker applied for short term disability benefits and called us for that. Didn’t know that work comp was a thing and we helped him get those benefits.
  27. Special education teacher has a leg injury after a student threw a chair at her.
  28. A caller wanted to know what the new PPD and TTD rates are for 2025.
  29. Factory worker hurt his back. His boss said, “I don’t care what the law says, we aren’t turning this into our work comp insurance.”
  30. A different factory worker says his boss told him to lie and say he was hurt at home, with a promise they’d pay his bills. We see that type of lie all the time.
  31. A custodian hurt his knee but was having trouble getting benefits because he’s essentially illiterate so he can’t fill out the paper work in the way the insurance company is requiring.
  32. A RN hurt her back when she fell on a floor that was soaked in urine from a patient’s catheter bag being punctured.
  33. IT worker broke his foot, had surgery and then got fired.
  34. A security officer at his school hurt himself breaking up a student fight.
  35. An executive at a company broke his leg while taking clients out to dinner when he stepped in a pot hole.
  36. Cashier at Sam’s Club for over ten years reached out to ask how to prove that their carpal tunnel is work related.
  37. A business man hurt his shoulder on the job and wanted to switch lawyers because his did not communicate. He had to take money out of his 401k since his TTD checks were late.
  38. Teacher had to go to the district office for a work meeting and got into a car accident on the way back.
  39. A downstate mechanic wanted to have a lawyer on the case before he went to the IME the insurance company requested.
  40. Work comp insurance company told a worker they’d cover everything, but they won’t return phone calls from his PT facility so he can’t get treatment.
  41. McDonald’s manager had a slip and fall from what he thinks was a greasy floor and hurt his elbow.
  42. A suburban machine assembly worker has been doing the same job for years and has been diagnosed with DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis.
  43. A woman works on copy machines including repairs and deliveries. She has a shoulder injury that she and her doctor believe is from overuse.
  44. A flight attendant fell from turbulence and broke their hip.
  45. Construction worker with a herniated disc had his case denied due to a pre-existing condition even though his orthopedic doctor was in his corner.
  46. A guy had shoulder surgery after a work injury, but called because the insurance company is refusing to make a settlement offer.
  47. A refugee with a work visa was told that only citizens are eligible for Illinois workers comp benefits. This of course isn’t true.
  48. A business traveler went to the Netherlands for work. Couldn’t get a car out of the airport so they walked two miles to their hotel and somehow tore a meniscus doing so.
  49. Airport shuttle driver blew out his shoulder while helping a passenger with their luggage. The case was denied since he didn’t go to the doctor for a week.
  50. Injured worker wants to switch attorneys because their TTD keeps starting and stopping and they don’t feel like their lawyer is doing anything about it.
  51. FedEx driver out of Illinois was hit by a car making a deliver in Missouri.
  52. Welder in central Illinois tore his labrum, likely due to so much overhead work.
  53. Home health aide took a client to the bathroom. The aide wears a gait belt. The client pulled on that to try to help lift herself off the toilet which caused the care worker to fall.
  54. A guy who was hurt three years ago and has seven arm surgeries called us because he was back at work on restrictions and the company doctor was saying he should be good as new by now.
  55. IDOC guard hurt his hip breaking up a fight.
  56. Worker with a back injury wanted a second medical opinion and wanted to make sure they did it the right way so they didn’t get stuck with the bills.
  57. A Granite City nurse felt the adjuster was blowing her off as she’s waited over a month to find out if her claim was approved.
  58. An Amazon worker wanted to get a new lawyer because the lawyer she hired had her sign an overly broad medical release form.
  59. In one of my favorite calls, a woman wanted a new lawyer because she realized that the attorney she hired is full of it. That’s because he lists a “Top 10 lawyer in the nation” award on his website and she learned that is just an award that anyone who is willing to pay for it can get.
  60. A woman fell and fractured her elbow. When she tried to see her orthopedic doctor the insurance company insisted she instead go to an urgent care.
  61. Butcher tore his rotator cuff from repetitive use of his right arm.
  62. Worker fell and hurt her knee. The employer made her stay for four more hours since there was nobody available to cover her shift.
  63. Mechanic got a hernia while lifting an engine.
  64. Steel fell on the foot of the person who called us. All x-rays are normal, but he’s still in terrible pain and nobody knows why.
  65. A streets and sanitation worker hurt his back filling a pothole.
  66. A grocery store worker “wrenched her body” when she fell in the freezer.
  67. Guy hurt his back at work and when he returned after missing two months they cut his wages and hours.
  68. A landscaper had over 50 stitches on his leg after he was cut with a blade.
  69. A woman hurt her knee at work. Had an injection because the company doctor suggested it and now she feels worse.
  70. Walmart worker has a back injury with a surgery recommendation. They don’t want the surgery, but are not able to get approved for a second opinion.
  71. Belleville worker has a back injury and wants a lawyer because the insurance company said he has to let a nurse case manager attend the appointments. This is not true.
  72. A machinist caught his hand in a machine and had to have surgery.
  73. Warehouse worker saw a co-worker get run over by a forklift and got PTSD.
  74. Worker hurt his back and hip and then took a vacation with his girlfriend. She posted pictures on Instagram so now the employer is questioning if he’s really hurt.
  75. A caller was hurt at work twice. The first one he didn’t report because he was scared he’d lose his job. The second he did and went to the ER. Now two years later he discovered that bill isn’t paid.
  76. Temp agency worker fractured his foot and doesn’t want to do the light duty work he’s been assigned.
  77. City worker was shoveling snow and tore a muscle in his shoulder and hurt his elbow.
  78. Machinist was diagnosed with a shoulder injury, but it turns out it’s a neck injury. The insurance company denied the case because his initial complaints were to the shoulder.
  79. A secretary was fired for leaving her desk to go to the bathroom. She thinks it’s really because she was hurt at work and now wants help with the work comp case.
  80. A drug and alcohol counselor was attacked at a facility due to there not being enough staff/security.
  81. A Michigan worker was hurt in Illinois two years ago and filed a case there. He just learned he could file a case here and is doing so because the benefits are much better.
  82. A counselor at a prison fell and hurt her back.
  83. A worker hurt her elbow at her job and then quit. She’s been on a new job for four months and the elbow is feeling much worse.
  84. A nurse was injured on the job and working on light duty. She got suspended for poor service and wanted to know if she should get paid while off work since she’s on work restrictions. The answer is yes.
  85. A doctor hit his head and has been off a year. Felt it’s time to get a lawyer.
  86. A 7-11 worker went outside for a smoke break and slipped on ice, breaking her ankle.
  87. Delivery company worker was attacked by a co-worker who felt they weren’t pulling their weight.
  88. A University employee was required to park in a certain parking garage that is just for employees and broke her wrist when she tripped over a curb she couldn’t see because it was dark.
  89. Deli worker lacerated his hand and was referred to a specialist for a nerve injury. Can’t get a call back to get this treatment approved.
  90. A warehouse worker tore his rotator cuff. His case is under investigation because he hurt the same shoulder in the military about ten years ago.
  91. A manager at a fast food restaurant was back at work following treatment for a non work injury. A week into his return he slipped because the ice machine wasn’t working and broke his elbow.
  92. A concrete cutter was hurt lifting a slab and is in terrible pain. His doctor said he shouldn’t do that type of work any more.
  93. Caller fell off a roof and hurt his shoulder from trying to grab a tree branch on the way down in order to slow his fall.
  94. A carpenter shot himself in the hand with a nail gun. His boss says he shouldn’t get work comp since it was his fault. That’s not the law.
  95. An injured worker has a lawyer but wants to switch because every month he’s told they are going to court and then nothing happens. Says it’s been this way for 11 months.
  96. Woman called for her fiance who was in the hospital. The truck he was driving flipped over after it blew a tire.
  97. A construction worker’s boss made him work at his home and he fell off a ladder while doing that.
  98. A nanny was walking the kids to school when one fell down and dragged her down with them causing a knee injury.
  99. A City worker with a back injury says “I hired one of those billboard guys which was a huge mistake. They are so busy and I can never get a lawyer on the phone. I want a new one.”
  100. A contractor for a big delivery company tore his Achilles while running from a dog.

We were able to help almost all of these callers which is the best part of this job. Please call us any time for a free consultation.

See also: Does Your Illinois Attorney Hate His Job?

Stroke Lawsuit Attorneys In Illinois

We are experienced Illinois lawyers. Contact us at 312-346-5320 for a free consultation about medical malpractice lawsuits.

When you’re having a medical emergency, every second counts. Having a delay in care can lead to serious or life-changing consequences. One of the scariest situations is when a doctor or hospital doesn’t recognize the signs of a stroke. A stroke is a true medical emergency, and if it’s not caught and treated right away, it can cause permanent brain damage, problems with walking or speaking, or even death. If something like this happened to you or a loved one, you may have a case for medical malpractice.

A stroke happens when blood can’t get to the brain like it’s supposed to. This cuts off oxygen and can start damaging brain cells quickly. There are two main kinds of strokes. One is called a hemorrhagic stroke, which happens when there’s bleeding in the brain. The other kind is an ischemic stroke, which happens when a blood vessel to the brain gets blocked. An ischemic stroke is more common. It can happen as you are going about your daily life or during a medical procedure.

Some of the warning signs of a stroke include sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body), trouble speaking or understanding others, confusion, vision problems, dizziness, trouble walking, or a really bad headache that comes out of nowhere.

Because strokes can get worse fast, getting help right away is critical. There are treatments, like clot-busting drugs or surgery, that can make a huge difference. Getting the right care quickly might mean the difference between making a strong recovery or living with serious disabilities or worse, death.

Unfortunately, strokes are still missed way too often by medical professionals. This happens more with younger people, or when someone doesn’t show the “typical” symptoms, or when they don’t have the usual stroke risk factors. Some of the biggest mistakes doctors make include brushing off symptoms like dizziness or headaches as something minor like migraines or anxiety. In other cases, they don’t order the right tests, like a CT scan or MRI, or they wait too long to give treatment. Sometimes doctors rush through an exam and miss the signs altogether.

If you or someone you care about had a stroke in Illinois and the doctors didn’t catch it or treated it too late, we want to help. You don’t pay anything to start a case, and we’ll make sure one of the best firms in the state reviews your situation. These cases can be worth millions of dollars because of the lifelong care stroke victims may need. Call us any time at 312-346-5320. We help people all over Illinois.

10 Reasons To Call Our Illinois Lawyers

We have been helping people find the best Illinois lawyer for their case for 24 years. We also give free legal guidance. Here are 10 reasons we have been successful and why we are unique.

  1. We will talk to you in a way you can understand. We minimize the lawyer jargon and try to be as clear as possible with our assessment of your situation. Our attorneys’ talk like regular people and don’t beat around the bush.
  2. If you don’t need a lawyer, we will tell you. It may be too early for you to hire a lawyer, or maybe you won’t need one, period. Maybe you don’t have a good case. We do not want you to waste your money and will not lead you on.
  3. We have been in business for over 24 years. We are very experienced in assessing people’s legal situations and pointing them in the right direction. You are in good hands.
  4. You can reach us in a variety of ways and fast. You can do an online chat, you can call us, or you can fill out our contact form and we will call you. If you want us to contact you at a particular time tomorrow, for example, we can do that. Our service is convenient and built for your preferences. Every day people are shocked at how quickly they can connect with a lawyer.
  5. We believe in the attorneys we recommend. If we give you a referral, that means we are directing you to an experienced, reputable attorney who is attentive to their clients and will give you the best chance of success. We have confidence in them, and we would make the some recommendation if a friend or family member was in the same situation.
  6. Our service is free! We will share our legal knowledge and attorney referrals with you at no cost. Again, we do not want you to waste your money. There is no catch.
  7. Everything you tell us in confidential. There is no reason to be nervous or embarrassed. Over the past 20+ years, we have heard it all. We value your privacy and rights.
  8. Take this item off of your “to do” list. Contacting us is the first, easy step in making progress towards your goal. Maybe it’s a work injury and the insurance company is hassling you. Maybe you are the victim of medical malpractice. The longer you wait, the more difficult your situation may become. We don’t want you to miss the statute of limitations.
  9. We can help you right the ship. If you are not happy with your current lawyer, we can likely help you find someone to take over your case. We recommend lawyers who are responsive, experienced, and focused on their clients’ needs. We don’t want you to “settle” with a subpar lawyer.
  10. There is no pressure or sales tactic. If we refer you to a law firm, there is no obligation, to hire that attorney. We just tell you what we would recommend to a friend or family member in the same position as you. Ultimately what happens is up to you.

We love helping people. Feel free to call us any time at 312-346-5320.

Illinois Work Comp And Lost Wages

A reader of our blog asked us the following:

I was hurt on the job and have a back injury. I’ve been off work for three weeks now. When do I start getting paid work comp benefits. I have bills!

This is a really common situation. The answer is that you should get paid within the first two weeks of missed time. Under Illinois workers’ compensation law, benefits start on the 4th calendar day of missed work. Once you miss 14 calendar days, you get those first three days back too.

It’s important to remember, calendar days is not actual work days missed. In other words, if you get hurt on a Thursday, miss work on Friday and Monday, but are back to work on Tuesday, you are still owed for the one calendar missed even though you don’t work on the weekend. These lost time payments are called temporary total disability or TTD benefits.

Insurance companies will often delay payment of TTD benefits like they did in the above example. It often happens for bogus reasons such as them saying they are still investigating, need more information, are waiting on medical records or for no reason at all. They can’t just not pay until they feel like it.

Unfortunately they will delay or deny benefits to put pressure on you. In longer term injuries with a lot of missed time, some checks will be late or “lost” or they’ll refuse to do things which can result in you being paid quickly such as direct deposit.

The only efficient way to push back if this happens is to hire an attorney and have them file a 19b petition as well as a petition for penalties and fees. The first petition gets your case before an Arbitrator much faster than it could otherwise. The second punishes the insurance company for their unreasonable delay in making the payments that they owe you.

And it is unreasonable and unlawful for them not to pay you if a doctor takes you off work for a work injury and they don’t have any actual evidence to counter that. Fortunately, Illinois work comp laws are really strong and there is a good way to push back. Beyond that, getting an attorney who knows what they are doing helps stop any other nonsense you might not be aware of such as them talking directly to your doctor.

If you have been hurt on the job in Illinois and have any questions or want an attorney referral, please fill out our contact form or call us to speak with a lawyer for free at 312-346-5320.

Have You Been To A Telsa Takedown Protest?

If so, we’d like to speak to you for free and in confidence at 312-346-5320. A lawyer we know is interested in bringing a class action against Elon Musk for his response to the protests. Attendees in Chicago are preferred, but could be from anywhere. Please reach out if you were there. Thanks!

Ask A Chicago Lawyer Anything

For 24 years now we’ve been giving people free Illinois legal guidance and attorney referrals. While I can’t always guarantee you’ll like what I have to say, I can promise that you can ask me legal questions and I will tell you the truth. Here are some good ones that we’ve received over the last few months. If you have any questions, give us a call at 312-346-5320 or fill out our contact form.

I’m a convicted felon. My mom died and left everything in her estate to me, and then me the executor. Am I still allowed to be the executor?

In Illinois, felons are not allowed to be the executor of an estate. Hopefully a backup executor was named.

Does not being married matter when it comes to child custody? My ex is saying since we weren’t married I have no rights.

Marriage has nothing to do with Illinois custody laws. Custody is based on the best interests of the child. That relates to safety, health, education, the impact a parent can and does make, your background and many other things. Whether or not you were ever married never comes up in court on these cases, at least not in a legally relevant way.

What is a rule to show cause?

A rule to show cause is an order by a Judge in a case, requiring one of the parties to explain to the Court why a motion or request by the opposing party should not be granted. For example, if you haven’t paid your child support and the other party to the case wants you held in contempt of court (which could mean you’d go to jail, lose your driver’s license or have another punishment), a rule to show cause gives you a chance to justify or explain your side of the story. It’s a serious issue and one you’d typically want to have a lawyer deal with.

Can I be fired by text without reason?

We get a version of this question every week. The answer is yes. Is it classless to fire someone by text? Probably unless it’s a safety issue. Is it legal? Also yes. Your employer doesn’t owe you, legally speaking, any professionalism in their behavior. And they can fire you for any reason unless it’s an illegal one such as terminating you for your race, religion, getting hurt at work or something else protected under the law.

My car got stolen off the street in Chicago. Can I sue the City for not doing anything about the high crime rate?

That would not be a successful lawsuit. In general, nobody is responsible for the criminal acts of other parties. And the City isn’t liable just because it happened in Chicago or they aren’t as aggressive as some people want them to be when it comes to crime.

We hope this advice helps. Please reach out to us any time if you need anything.


Illinois Wage Theft Tricks To Look Out For

I’ve always paid my employees for all of the work that they do as does any good employer. Of course not every Illinois employer works that way or treats their employees well. We’ve seen a handful of wage theft issues lately and thought it would be helpful to know what some employers are doing so you can look out for them.

A recent caller had a situation we see a lot and the best response is to sue on a class action basis to stop it. His employer will round up 15 minutes if you clocked in early and other times round down when you clocked out. Over a year it cost him hundreds of hours of pay. This is blatant wage theft and completely illegal. You should be paid for every minute you are working which means every minute you are on the clock or doing off the clock work.

Speaking of which, there a shocking number of companies who ask people to work off the clock. That’s not cool or legal. It’s most common in restaurants and bars. Maybe you show up and they ask you to help move a table or clean something before you clock in. Maybe after you clock out they notice something that needs assistance. It’s not legal. We see this a lot with all sorts of nurses too. If you walk into the building and a resident needs help getting from their chair to their room, it’s not easy to say no.

A different type of wage theft is assuming that you are taking a 30-60 minute meal break every day and not paying you for that time when you actually work. With some employers it’s as shameful as them requiring you to skip lunch because they are too busy. When that happens, you should get paid. This is another one where nurses get burned as well as factory/warehouse workers and others.

And the biggest one we see is tip theft. So many stores have computers that allow you to tip at checkout. Those tips shouldn’t be going to managers or owners. That is your money. They illegally take it all of the time. One store we looked into was taking the tips and using them for employee parties and gifts. They might have felt that they were doing something nice, but they in reality were stealing the workers’ money.

Not paying workers is theft. People don’t look at it the same as when someone shoplifts from a store, but it’s exactly the same thing. They’d certainly get you in trouble if you committed time card fraud. They shouldn’t get away with it when it’s them who are the thieves. And the general public should be more outraged by this as it happens all of the time, even at huge corporations making millions or billions of dollars a year.

The good news is that if you bring a lawsuit for this wage theft, you can sometimes get up to three times what you are owed and your lawyer fees paid. We’ve been able to help a lot of people and would love to help you as well. Please call us any time at 312-346-5320 to speak with a lawyer for free.

What Is A Good Personal Injury Settlement?

In just about every Illinois injury case we get contacted about, the top question on everyone’s mind at some point is “What is my case worth?” We hear that a lot in the beginning of a case and can’t answer that as we don’t know what your ultimate recovery will be. And of course we hear these questions later on and usually can give a better answer.

A client recently asked a different version of this question by saying, “What would be a good settlement for this case?”

That’s a great question. The answer requires an understanding of how these cases work in reality.

The first thing to know is that just because a friend or someone else got a certain dollar amount for a certain injury, that case has no bearing on yours as every case is factually different.

There are three big factors that play a role in what a case is worth. The first is what are the facts and how much liability do you bear versus the other person. If you get rear-ended at a stop light, it would seem like you have no fault. But if it’s dark out and you didn’t have your lights on, you could have some fault. If you are 30% at fault for an accident, a $100,000 case becomes worth $70,000. In every case you can bet the insurance company is trying to put as much blame on you as possible even when it seems ludicrous. Giving you even just 10% fault saves them money.

The second factor is damages. The more serious you are hurt, the more a case is likely worth. Someone who has to miss six months of work will have more damages than someone who misses none. Someone who breaks there leg and just gets a cast will have a case worth less than someone who needs surgery. And the higher your medical bills, the more often the case is worth more.

But it’s the third factor that often ultimately determines what a case is worth. That is how much insurance is available to go after in this case? The reality is that if you are hit by a city bus or a semi truck and suffer a serious injury, that case will be worth way more than if you get hit by a teenager who has a $30,000 insurance policy. Even if you have a half a million in bills, the chances of collecting any more than the insurance policy are almost none unless the person who hit you is somehow worth a lot of money or there is someone else to sue.

This all can be very unfair. Some cases that would be worth millions end up being worth just thousands. Medical liens can eat up all of that if you don’t have a good lawyer advocating for you to reduce them.

There are other factors too that you wouldn’t think about. The value of a catastrophic case with a lot of insurance – or if you are going against a big company, no limit on insurance – is worth more in the hands of some law firms than others. In other words, one firm might get $2 million on a case where a better, more experienced firm could get $5 million.

Some firms are just more experienced and better at this than others. In one case we got involved with, a small firm was telling someone to take a $100,000 settlement, telling them that is all that’s available. We got them to a more experienced firm who discovered there was an additional $1 million insurance policy.

Overall the answer is that the goal should be to get the most that a case can be worth. We can help you find the right Illinois injury attorney to make that happen. If you’d like a free consultation, please call us at 312-346-5320.

5 Lies Illinois Attorneys Will Tell You

Out of fear of being sued for legal malpractice, trying to get rid of a case they don’t want or general cowardice, Illinois attorneys will lie to potential and existing clients. These aren’t done maliciously or because they are bad people, but often for financial reasons.

For 24 years now of helping people find the right lawyer for their case, I’ve always told people the truth even when that meant explaining why I can’t help. A lot of these people come to me after talking to other attorneys. They share what they are told and it’s often clearly a lie. Here are five fibs I hear a lot.

  1. You have a great case, but I’m just too busy right now to take it on.

Attorneys like to make money. If you have a great case, they will make time for it. If an attorney tells you they are too busy, they are giving you false hope and sending you off to call a bunch of other attorneys letting you think you have a great case when you don’t.

It’s easier for the attorney to take that approach and tell a lie, rather than to be honest and tell the person something they don’t want to hear or explain why you don’t have a case.

Even though people might not like what I tell them, I truly am trying to help. Some people appreciate being told the truth, but many others just can’t handle the truth. Would you rather have an attorney give you the hard truth or give you false hope and have you waste your time searching for a lawyer who isn’t “too busy?” Either way, if you call back the “too busy” attorney and tell them you have a new case involving a relative who was killed by a semi truck, I promise you that they will suddenly have all of the time in the world.

  1. I can tell you what your case is worth even though your accident just happened.

This is just not possible. There are too many variables, especially in the initial consultation, for an attorney to tell you what your case is worth. Even after the important facts in the case have been gathered, an attorney can’t predict exactly what settlement offer the defense will make, if the case will go to trial, what treatment you will have or what evidence may pop up.. And just because they got a huge settlement for someone with a case like yours doesn’t mean that you will get the same settlement.  

  1. I guarantee that if you hire me, you’ll win your case. We have a 99% success rate.

Again, this is not possible to guarantee a win. First of all, the definition of “winning” and “success” is subjective and varies. In the vast majority of civil cases, there is no clear-cut winner or loser. Two people could have the exact same injury for example, and one person might consider a $50,000 settlement a success, while the other might have higher expectations and consider that settlement a failure.

My service does not guarantee success, but I do guarantee that I only refer cases to attorneys that I would send a family member or friend to. Those lawyers are narrowly focused in what they do and have a great track record. But anyone who guarantees you anything is just trying to sell to you.

  1. For sure I can handle your case (even though they focus on a different area of law)! 

Unfortunately, some attorneys see dollar signs and take on cases that they aren’t experienced enough to handle well. A divorce attorney, for example, might get a call from a former client who was severely injured in a car accident. They technically can represent that client, but it would not be in the client’s best interest. The attorney should refer them to a law firm that focuses on personal injury cases and has demonstrated a track record of success. They think it won’t be a lot of work, but often mess up. We’ve sued a bunch of lawyers over the years for screwing up cases they never should have handled in the first place.

The key benefit of our referral service is getting you to the best attorney for your specific situation.

5. I will be your attorney.

This one sounds like a weird lie, but it happens all of the time. You think you are hiring the main partner at a firm, but you never get to talk to them. It turns out that their paralegal, secretary or a junior lawyer is doing all of the work and is your only point of contact. There’s nothing wrong about working as a team. But if the attorney you think you are hiring is never involved and knows nothing about your case, that’s a huge red flag to me. Sadly that happens a lot. I know one lawyer who advertises a lot and puts his name all over billboards, but doesn’t get involved in the day to day handling of his cases. He’s a marketer, not an attorney.

When we recommend an attorney to you, they will be your main lawyer and main contact.

As always if you have any questions or want a free consultation, call us any time at 312-346-5320.

See also: Does Your Illinois Attorney Only Have Three Seconds For You

Ten Things To Know About Illinois Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Since 2001, we have helped hundreds of people who are victims of sexual abuse in Illinois. For a free, confidential consultation with an attorney, call us at 312-346-5320. We cover all of Illinois.

We have been proud to help so many victims of sexual abuse and assault get justice by suing their attacker. There are a lot of misconceptions about this area of law. Here are ten things you should know.

  1. Victims have two options. They can pursue criminal charges and they can sue the scumbag that harmed them for monetary damages. That may also include going after their employer if it was a situation like a teacher or doctor who violated you.
  2. To pursue criminal charges, you call the police. They and the State’s Attorney of the county where it happened are the ones that can bring a criminal case.
  3. Private lawyers are the ones that bring civil lawsuits. That is why people come to us as we have a track record of success in helping people.
  4. It isn’t required that you file criminal charges, but it can certainly enhance your case both with your credibility and gathering of evidence.
  5. Whether or not a civil lawsuit makes sense often comes down to does the defendant have anything. Suing a 16 year old for rape likely wouldn’t result in getting anything from them even if you get a judgment. You still have to be able to collect. On the other hand, if the rape occurred because their parents supplied alcohol, you’d be able to sue the parents and would have a much better shot. We always go through who possible defendants could be when we evaluate your case.
  6. Illinois lawsuits for sexual abuse are handled on a contingency basis. That means your lawyer won’t get paid unless you make a recovery. If you do, the attorney will receive a percentage of what the settlement or judgment is, usually 1/3. If nothing is recovered, you owe nothing.
  7. There is no set formula for determining damages in these cases. Generally speaking, the worse the act, the more a case is worth. In other words, a violent rape with penetration would likely be worth more than a lawsuit for someone rubbing you through your clothes. Both are wrong of course. Some things we look at in making a case include: Are there any hospital bills for an injury; Do you have therapy bills?; Did the assault cause any pain and suffering?; How has this experience impacted your life?; Do you have any documented PTSD?
  8. A big concern a lot of clients have is will they have to see their attacker in court? The answer is it depends. If the case goes to trial then you will. If it does not then you can likely avoid them. People also want to know if they can remain anonymous. Most of these lawsuits are filed that way, although there’s no guarantee it will stay that way.
  9. Sexual abuse sadly occurs in a lot of trusted settings like schools, churches, day cares, hospitals and rehab centers. It also occurs often on the job. If that happens, you may have a lawsuit against the attacker and possibly a workers’ compensation claim against your employer. If the employer knew that this person was prone to this type of behavior, you may be able to sue them as well.
  10. Aside from compensating you, the goal of any sexual abuse lawsuit in Illinois is to prevent the same type of behavior from happening in the future. Lawsuits are a great way of doing that as it can discourage the bad person and also put others on notice to look out for them.

We are very sensitive to these cases and promise to treat you with compassion and be the strongest advocate possible for you. If you’d like to discuss a possible case, please call us any time at 312-346-5320.

Your Non-Lawyer Friends Mean Well, But ….

There is so much information out there on the internet, in movies, on social media and elsewhere. A lot of it is presented by people who talk like they are experts, but don’t really know what they are talking about. This tweet sums up how I feel about it.

Now a lot of people who will give you advice mean well or honestly think they know what they are talking about. Sometimes they actually do whether it’s because they are smart or just got lucky.

But I beg you not to take legal advice from your non-attorney friends. It’s no different than not taking medical advice from non-doctors.

For one caller to my office, not heeding this advice has turned her life upside down.

The father of her child lives out west. They were never married and have never been to court for custody. He’s always come to Illinois for visits. Now that the child is older, he wanted to spend a month with them in the summer, but in his home which is near the Pacific Ocean.

She asked a couple of friends what they thought, and the one she trusts the most told her it’s not a problem as long as he puts in writing when he’ll return the child. So that’s what she did.

After the month was up he didn’t return the child. A couple of weeks after that, he filed for custody in his home state. She’s been looking for Illinois custody attorneys because another friend told her that even if we are licensed here, we can help anywhere. This was mistake number two.

I told her the harsh reality that she has to deal with the court in this other state and that despite what her friends said, she needs to get a lawyer out there too. The bad advice she got delayed her two weeks more while she looked in IL for help.

I hear stories like this every week. One family lost out on a likely mid-seven-figure medical malpractice lawsuit because a cousin assured them they had up to five years to file a lawsuit. They waited too long, and the statute of limitations passed.

One reason why we started our free Illinois legal guidance and lawyer referral website is so people can get the help they need and honest answers with minimal obstacles in their way.

And it doesn’t have to be through us. You owe it to yourself to reach out to a lawyer. And if cost is a worry, we are free and most law firms will give a free consultation.

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