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Your Cicero 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 Cook County sits in Chicago, at 50 W. Washington Street, Room 2600, Chicago, IL 60602. 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 Cicero, you are allowed to take your time understanding your options before you sign or say anything.
A quick note on what this page is: general information about Illinois injury law, written from the statutes, from a matching service that does not practice law. It is meant to help you ask good questions, not to decide your case.
Before You Hire: Questions For A Cicero Attorney
Whoever you speak to, a few answers tell you a lot:
- Your share of fault. Ask how a finding that you were partly responsible would change the numbers (735 ILCS 5/2-1116).
- The deadline. Ask the attorney to name the exact last day to file for your claim. The general limit for injury claims in Illinois is two years (735 ILCS 5/13-202).
- Limits on damages. Ask whether any rule restricts the amount you could recover in Illinois.
- Fees and costs. Ask what the fee is, when it is paid, and which expenses are deducted from a settlement.
- 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
Walkers and cyclists hurt by a vehicle should write down the location, the time of day, the lighting and the signals as soon as they can. Witnesses who stopped are valuable, so ask for their contact details before they leave.
Falls and unsafe property
Wet floors, icy steps and broken railings cause injuries that turn on how long the hazard existed and who was responsible for it. Photograph the hazard as soon as you can and report the fall to whoever runs the property.
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). You do not have to sort this out alone or quickly; an attorney can explain who is allowed to act and what the dates are.
Injured in Cicero? Get matched with an attorney now.
How Fault Is Divided
An insurer may stress your own mistakes, and in Illinois the percentage it can attach to you matters. 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 sets 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). Photographs, witness names and medical records help show where the fault lies.
Is There A Ceiling On The Award
The amount of an award in Illinois is not fixed by a general statute. What you can recover turns on the bills, the missed work and the lasting effects.
Keep every bill and record, because they carry the claim.
Time Limits To Know
A lawsuit for most injuries in Illinois must be started within 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)).
If someone died, a separate set of rules can apply (740 ILCS 180/2). The type of claim decides the date, so do not wait.
Why Policy Limits Matter
The least liability coverage an auto policy in Illinois can provide is $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 Cicero
Cicero lies in Cook County, according to Census Bureau place and county names. Cook County’s Cook County (judiciary: Circuit Cook County, District 1) circuit court is listed in Chicago, at 50 W. Washington Street, Room 2600, Chicago, IL 60602. The Illinois Department of Public Health, EMS and Trauma Program list of trauma centers names Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, in Cook County as well, as a Level I trauma center. In Cook County, the Illinois Department of Public Health, EMS and Trauma Program list of trauma centers shows Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago as a Level I trauma center. In Cook County, the Illinois Department of Public Health, EMS and Trauma Program list of trauma centers shows Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin as a Level II trauma center.
Ask every provider for your full records and an itemized bill, and keep a running list of appointments. A transfer between hospitals leaves two sets of records, so request both.
How The Intake Process Works In Cicero
The form at the top of this page is the starting point. NeedAnAttorney.net reviews your details and works to match you with an attorney in our network who may handle cases in Illinois. It costs nothing to use and does not commit you to anything.
Before the first call, collect the basics: the date, the place, names of witnesses, your medical visits and your missed work. A single folder for bills, letters and photographs saves time later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the other insurer calls me?
You can decline a recorded statement until you have advice. Saying that you want advice first is a reasonable answer. Before you sign anything, have someone review it.
Do I pay to submit the form?
No charge for sending the form. Most injury attorneys explain their fee before you decide. You decide whether to hire anyone.
Why would a local attorney matter near Cicero?
Not required, but useful. Local knowledge helps with scheduling, courts and medical providers. Ask about recent cases handled in your county.
How soon must I file a claim for an injury in Cicero?
For most injury claims, two years (735 ILCS 5/13-202). The period can be longer for a child, and a few other situations extend it too (735 ILCS 5/13-211(a)). Do not wait to ask.
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). Insurers often raise this point first. An attorney can explain how the rule fits your facts.
Does Illinois put a ceiling on pain and suffering?
The amount depends on the facts of your claim, so ask an attorney whether any rule limits it in your case. Special rules can apply to particular kinds of claims. Keep every bill, because the economic part of a claim is proved by records.
What are the minimum auto insurance limits in Illinois?
$25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $20,000 for property damage (625 ILCS 5/7-203). Several policies can apply to one crash. Before you accept a payment, check for every policy that may apply.
What should I save for my claim?
Hold on to your medical bills and records. Photographs of the scene and your injuries help. Add pay records for time off, estimates for repairs and every message from an insurer.
Help Elsewhere in Illinois
If your injury happened outside Cicero, one of these pages may fit better.
