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Your Collinsville Personal Injury Attorney
The short answer. In Illinois most injury claims must be filed within two years (735 ILCS 5/13-202). The trial court for Madison County sits in Edwardsville, at 155 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025. To talk it through, send the form on this page and we will work to connect you with an attorney in our network.
Recovering from an injury is hard enough without legal confusion on top of it. If someone else’s carelessness hurt you in Collinsville, you are allowed to take your time understanding your options before you sign or say anything.
Nothing on this page is legal advice, and NeedAnAttorney.net is not a law firm. It is a service that connects injured people with attorneys. The rules described here are quoted or summarized from Illinois’s own statutes so that you can check them yourself.
Questions Worth Asking In Collinsville
Bring these to your first call, whoever it is with:
- The date. Ask for the specific last day to file in your case. The general rule is two years (735 ILCS 5/13-202).
- If you were partly to blame. Ask what happens to your award if a jury finds you share the blame (735 ILCS 5/2-1116).
- Limits on damages. Ask whether any rule restricts the amount you could recover in Illinois.
- The money terms. Ask how fees are calculated and which costs come out of a recovery.
- The people. Ask who will be in touch with you and how quickly they return calls.
Injury Claims People Ask About
Vehicle crashes
Vehicle injuries start with the same few steps: medical care first, then photographs of the scene, names and numbers of anyone who saw it, the other driver’s insurance information and any estimates for repairs.
Pedestrian and bicycle injuries
A collision on foot or on a bicycle is easy to dispute afterward. Record where it happened, what the road and signals were like, and who saw it, and keep any damaged clothing, helmet or equipment.
Falls and unsafe property
Falls on someone else’s property usually depend on what the owner knew or should have known about the hazard. Photograph the spot before it changes, report the fall in writing, and keep the shoes you were wearing.
Wrongful death
If a loved one died because of another person’s wrongful act or omission, a different set of rules applies. A wrongful death claim follows its own rules in Illinois; ask an attorney which date applies (740 ILCS 180/2). This is a hard moment to decide anything, and an attorney can walk you through the steps without hurrying you.
Injured in Collinsville? Get matched with an attorney now.
Sharing Blame And Your Claim
Illinois lets you recover while your share of the fault is not greater than the other side’s. The source is 735 ILCS 5/2-1116.
You can recover if your share of the fault is 50 percent or less, and your award is reduced by your share; above 50 percent the claim is barred (735 ILCS 5/2-1116). Insurers often press this point first, so keep notes about how the injury happened.
Limits On What You Can Recover
Illinois does not put a general statutory ceiling on damages for an injury. What you can recover turns on the bills, the missed work and the lasting effects.
Ask an attorney which special rules, if any, reach your case.
When The Clock Starts And Stops
Illinois allows two years to file most injury claims (735 ILCS 5/13-202). Extra time can be available for a child and in some other limited situations (735 ILCS 5/13-211(a)).
If someone died, a separate set of rules can apply (740 ILCS 180/2). Ask in your first conversation which date applies to your claim.
Insurance Limits To Know
The minimum liability limits for a driver in Illinois are $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for injury to two or more people in one accident and $20,000 for property damage (625 ILCS 5/7-203).
A crash with several injured people can use up those limits quickly. If your bills pass that limit, it helps to know early what other coverage may exist, including your own policy.
Courts and Hospitals Near Collinsville
The Census Bureau lists Collinsville in more than one county: Madison County and St. Clair County. For Madison County, the Illinois court directory shows the 3rd circuit court in Edwardsville, at 155 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025. For St. Clair County, the Illinois court directory shows the 20th circuit court in Belleville, at 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220. In Madison County, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital General Information file lists Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton as an acute care hospital with emergency services. In St. Clair County, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital General Information file lists Touchette Regional Hospital Inc in Centreville as an acute care hospital with emergency services.
Keep copies of everything the hospital or clinic gives you, ask for an itemized bill, and note each appointment as it happens. If you moved between facilities, collect the records from each one.
Taking The First Step From Collinsville
Use the form at the top of the page to tell us what happened. NeedAnAttorney.net reviews your details and works to match you with an attorney in our network who may handle cases in Illinois. There is no charge to submit it, and submitting it does not hire anyone.
Until someone calls, make a simple record: what happened, the date and time, names of anyone who saw it, the treatment you have had, and the days you missed from work. Keep every bill and letter in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost anything to use this page to find an attorney?
No. The form is free to use. Many injury matters are handled on a contingency basis. Ask how costs are handled as well as the fee.
Can I expect a quick settlement?
There is no fixed time. Many claims wait until treatment has finished so the full cost is known. A lawsuit takes longer than a settlement.
How long do I have to file an injury lawsuit in Illinois?
For most injury claims, two years (735 ILCS 5/13-202). Extra time can be available for a child and in some other limited situations (735 ILCS 5/13-211(a)). An early start protects the evidence.
Does Illinois bar me from recovering if I share the blame?
The rule: you can recover if your share of the fault is 50 percent or less, and your award is reduced by your share; above 50 percent the claim is barred (735 ILCS 5/2-1116). How the facts are described matters from the start. Details from the day of the accident can matter.
Is there a ceiling on what I can recover for pain and suffering?
The amount is shown by the medical records and the proof of your losses; ask an attorney whether any limit applies to your facts. Medical bills and lost income are handled separately from pain and suffering. An attorney can tell you which rules apply to your facts.
How much insurance does the other driver have to have?
At least $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for injury to two or more people in one accident and $20,000 for property damage (625 ILCS 5/7-203). Those figures are floors, not a measure of what a claim is worth. Ask an attorney to check every policy that may apply.
Which bills and records will an attorney ask for?
Start with the medical records and the bills. Pictures of the scene and the injuries show what words cannot. Keep proof of missed pay, repair estimates and all messages from insurers.
Do I have to give the other insurer a recorded statement?
Not right away. You can ask for questions in writing. An attorney can speak to the insurer for you.
Help Elsewhere in Illinois
If your injury happened outside Collinsville, one of these pages may fit better.
