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Your Springfield 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 Sangamon County sits in Springfield, at 200 South 9th Street, Springfield, IL 62701. To talk it through, send the form on this page and we will work to connect you with an attorney in our network.
An injury changes the pace of your days. Medical visits, paperwork and worry about money can crowd out everything else. If you were hurt in Springfield because of another person’s actions, this page explains how Illinois treats injury claims so you can plan your next step.
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.
What To Ask Before You Choose An Attorney In Springfield
A short list of questions can sort out who is right for you:
- 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).
- Your share of fault. Ask how a finding that you were partly responsible would change the numbers (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.
Personal Injury Types of Cases
Premises Liability
Many premises liability claims are from a property owner’s duty to maintain a property in the way that does not endanger others. There are may ways a property owner can violate this duty.
- Broken Stairs
- Unlit alleyways
- Slippery Floors
- Surfaces that are uneven
- Places to receive burns
- Places to receive chemical exposure
- Dog bites
- and other dangerous conditions
Work Place Accidents
These types of personal injury lawsuits involve more that just a employee and employer. If you feel like your place of employment was negligent in some way, you might have a claim for compensation. These types of accidents can include.
- Slip and Fall
- Unsafe working conditions
- Unmaintained equipment
- Auto Accidents
- Death
- Electrical Hazards
- Occupational illnesses like COPD, contagious diseases, and asbestosis
- personal injuries at work
Wrongful Death
When negligence leads to fatal injuries, a wrongful death suit can help the surviving family members hold the negligent company, persons, and or person accountable for what was done. A wrongful death case can involve different types of compensation from other personal injury claims. After a fatal accident, family members can ask an attorney to review what compensation the surviving loved ones may have a right to. These types of accidents can include.
- Auto Accident
- Maritime Accident
- Drowning
- Electrocution
- Falls
- Helicopter Accident
- Fire
- Firearm
- and other types of wrongful deaths
Motor Vehicle Accidents
As long as the person that was operating the vehicle that injured you was negligent in some way, you can could have a claim for compensation. This can include.
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- 18 wheeler Accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Drunk Driving
- Distracted Driving
- Aggressive Driving
- and other types of motor vehicle accidents
Injured in Springfield? Get matched with an attorney now.
How Fault Is Divided
Fault is divided by percentage in Illinois, and the dividing line sits at fifty percent. 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.
The Deadline To Sue
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). Write down the date of the injury now so the count is never in doubt.
Courts and Hospitals Near Springfield
The Census Bureau places Springfield in Sangamon County. Sangamon County’s 7th circuit court is listed in Springfield, at 200 South 9th Street, Springfield, IL 62701. The Illinois Department of Public Health, EMS and Trauma Program list of trauma centers shows HSHS St. John’s Regional Trauma Center at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield as a Level I trauma center. In Springfield, that list names Southern Illinois Trauma Center at Memorial Medical Center as a Level I trauma center.
Measured in a straight line from Springfield, the nearest Illinois acute care and critical access hospitals in the federal Hospital General Information file are St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, 1.1 miles, an acute care hospital, then Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, 1.3 miles, an acute care hospital, then Taylorville Memorial Hospital in Taylorville, 24.8 miles, a critical access hospital. St. John’s Hospital is at 800 E Carpenter St., Springfield, IL 62769.
Road distance from Springfield is longer than a straight line. Wherever you were treated, ask for the full records and an itemized bill, and keep a list of every visit.
Further down the same list are Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln (28.4 miles) and Jacksonville Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville (32.7 miles). The file lists 2 Illinois acute care and critical access hospitals within 10 miles of Springfield, 3 within 25 miles and 14 within 50 miles, all in a straight line.
The nearest places in Illinois that this site has pages for, by the same coordinates, are Chatham (8.5 miles south), Lincoln (28.8 miles northeast) and Jerseyville (59.1 miles southwest).
Where To Begin After An Injury In Springfield
Fill in the form at the top of this page. NeedAnAttorney.net reviews your details and works to match you with an attorney in our network who may handle cases in Illinois. The form is free to use, and sending it does not mean you have hired anyone.
While you wait, write down what happened and when, who saw it, what treatment you have received and how many days of work you missed. Put bills, letters and insurance messages in one folder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which nearby places does this site cover besides Springfield?
Closest by straight line are Chatham (8.5 miles south), Lincoln (28.8 miles northeast) and Jerseyville (59.1 miles southwest).
Does it cost anything to use this page to find an attorney?
No. The form is free to use. Many injury attorneys work on a contingency fee, which means they are paid from a recovery. Ask to see the fee agreement in writing before you sign.
Should I look for someone who works around Springfield?
Many people prefer it. Local knowledge helps with scheduling, courts and medical providers. Ask about recent cases handled in your county.
How many years do I have to sue after an injury in Illinois?
Most injury claims must be filed within two years (735 ILCS 5/13-202). Children and some other limited situations can have more time (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. How fault is assigned can also change the amount. Lasting effects and missed work are part of what is proved.
What is the least insurance an Illinois driver can carry?
The least an auto liability policy can provide is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, plus $20,000 for property damage (625 ILCS 5/7-203). A crash with several injured people can use up limits quickly. It helps to learn early what other coverage may exist.
What is the nearest hospital to Springfield?
On the federal list the nearest Illinois acute care or critical access hospital is St. John’s Hospital in Springfield (1.1 miles, straight line), then Memorial Medical Center in Springfield (1.3 miles) and Taylorville Memorial Hospital in Taylorville (24.8 miles). In an emergency call 911; not every hospital has an emergency room.
Serving Injured Clients Across Illinois
The same matching service covers more of Illinois. Pick the community closest to where it happened.
