Our Lawyers
Des Plaines Personal Injury Lawyers
If you live or work in Des Plaines, you know how busy this community can be. Sitting just northwest of Chicago, near O’Hare International Airport and the busy interchange of I-90 and I-294, Des Plaines sees heavy traffic, active construction zones, and crowded commercial areas every single day. When accidents happen here, the injuries can be serious. Medical bills pile up. You miss work. And suddenly, you are dealing with insurance companies that are more focused on saving money than helping you recover. That is where the team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg comes in. We are a Chicago personal injury lawyer firm that has been fighting for injured people across the Chicago area for years. If you were hurt in Des Plaines, we want to help you understand your rights and your options.
Table of Contents
- Common Types of Personal Injury Cases in Des Plaines
- Illinois Law and Your Right to Compensation
- Understanding Illinois Deadlines: Do Not Wait Too Long
- How Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Can Help Des Plaines Injury Victims
- What to Do After a Personal Injury in Des Plaines
- FAQs About Des Plaines Personal Injury Lawyers
Common Types of Personal Injury Cases in Des Plaines
Des Plaines is a city that never really slows down. The Tri-State Tollway runs right through the area. Mannheim Road and Golf Road are major commercial corridors packed with retail shops, restaurants, and warehouses. The Des Plaines River Trail draws cyclists and pedestrians year-round. With all of this activity, accidents happen across a wide range of settings.
Car and truck accidents are among the most common cases we handle. Rear-end crashes, intersection collisions, and highway accidents on I-90 all lead to serious injuries like broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal damage. Pedestrian accidents are also a real concern near O’Hare and along busy surface streets. Slip-and-fall accidents at local businesses, parking lots, and apartment complexes are another frequent source of injury claims.
Dog bites are more common than many people realize. Illinois has a strict liability dog bite law, which means an owner can be held responsible even if their dog has never bitten anyone before. Workplace injuries and construction site accidents also generate personal injury claims, especially in areas with active development near the River Road and Oakton Street corridors.
Wrongful death cases are the most heartbreaking. Under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180/1), when a person’s death is caused by the wrongful act or negligence of another party, the surviving family members have the right to pursue a civil lawsuit. The law makes clear that the party who would have been liable for a non-fatal injury remains liable even when that injury causes death. If your family has lost someone in a preventable accident in Des Plaines, you have legal options. Our team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg is ready to listen and help you figure out your next steps.
We also handle cases involving defective products, nursing home abuse, and medical malpractice. No matter what type of injury you suffered, the core question is always the same: did someone else’s negligence cause your harm? If the answer is yes, you may be entitled to compensation.
Illinois Law and Your Right to Compensation
Illinois personal injury law gives injured people a strong foundation for seeking compensation. But the rules can be complicated, and understanding them matters. One of the most important laws to know is the modified comparative fault rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. This law says that you can still recover damages even if you were partly at fault for the accident, as long as your share of fault is 50% or less. However, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found to be more than 50% responsible, you cannot recover anything at all.
For example, imagine you were hit by a car while crossing a street in Des Plaines. A jury finds that the driver was 80% at fault and you were 20% at fault for crossing slightly outside the crosswalk. Under Illinois law, you would still recover, but your damages would be reduced by 20%. This is why how fault is assigned matters so much, and why having a skilled attorney on your side is critical.
Illinois also has rules about joint and several liability under 735 ILCS 5/2-1117. When multiple defendants are found liable, all defendants are jointly and severally liable for your past and future medical expenses. For other damages, a defendant who is found to be 25% or more at fault is jointly and severally liable for all other damages too. A defendant whose fault is less than 25% is only severally liable for those other damages. This matters in multi-party accidents, like a crash involving multiple vehicles or a premises liability case with more than one responsible party.
The Illinois Premises Liability Act (740 ILCS 130) also governs many injury cases in Des Plaines. Property owners have a duty of care to people who enter their property. When they fail to maintain safe conditions, they can be held responsible for injuries that result. If you slipped on an icy sidewalk outside a Des Plaines strip mall, or fell in a poorly lit parking garage, the property owner may owe you compensation.
Understanding Illinois Deadlines: Do Not Wait Too Long
One of the most important things to know after a personal injury in Des Plaines is that you have a limited time to take legal action. In Illinois, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is governed by 735 ILCS 5/13-202, which states that actions for personal injury must be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrued. That two-year clock typically starts on the date of your injury.
Miss that deadline and you lose your right to sue, no matter how strong your case is. Once this period expires, you lose your legal right to seek compensation through the court system, regardless of how strong your case might have been. That is a hard reality, and it is why acting quickly is so important.
There are some exceptions worth knowing about. The Illinois Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act (745 ILCS 10/1-101) provides special protections to government entities and employees. Under this act, you generally have just one year to file a claim against a city, county, school district, or other local government body. So if you were hurt on a public sidewalk near the Des Plaines Metra station or in a city-owned park, your window to act may be even shorter.
Wrongful death claims also have their own deadline. You must file wrongful death lawsuits within two years, according to 740 ILCS 180/2. For cases involving minors or people under a legal disability, the rules are different and the clock may not start running right away. But you should never assume you have more time than you do. Contact Briskman Briskman & Greenberg as soon as possible after an injury. The sooner we get involved, the better we can protect your rights and preserve evidence.
Workers’ compensation cases also have their own timelines and rules. Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305), injured workers have the right to pursue compensation for workplace injuries. In some situations involving occupational diseases under the Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act (820 ILCS 310), employees also have the right to bring civil actions when compensation benefits would be barred by a period of repose. These are complex areas of law where having an experienced attorney makes a real difference.
How Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Can Help Des Plaines Injury Victims
At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, we handle personal injury cases throughout the Chicago area, including Des Plaines and the surrounding suburbs. We know the local roads, the local courts, and the local insurance company tactics. The Daley Center in downtown Chicago and the Cook County Circuit Court are both familiar territory for our team. We have handled cases involving accidents on the Tri-State Tollway, on Rand Road, and throughout the communities that make up the northwest suburbs.
We work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we recover money for you. There is no risk in calling us and finding out what your case is worth. Our team will review the facts, explain your legal rights, and tell you honestly what we think your options are.
We also serve clients throughout the broader region. If you are in Lake County, our Gurnee personal injury lawyer team handles cases there as well. We also represent injury victims in Will County through our Joliet personal injury lawyer practice. And if you or a family member was injured in Indiana, our Indianapolis personal injury lawyer team is ready to help, including cases involving our Indianapolis dog bite attorney practice.
What can you recover in a personal injury case? Compensation can include medical bills (past and future), lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members can seek damages for the loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and funeral expenses. Every case is different, but our goal is always the same: to get you every dollar you deserve.
Do not let the insurance company pressure you into a quick, lowball settlement. Call us first. We will make sure you understand the full value of your claim before you make any decisions.
What to Do After a Personal Injury in Des Plaines
The steps you take right after an accident can have a big impact on your case. Here is what we recommend if you are hurt in Des Plaines or anywhere in the Chicago area.
First, get medical attention right away. Even if you feel okay, some injuries like concussions and internal bleeding do not show symptoms immediately. Seeing a doctor creates a medical record that connects your injuries to the accident. That record is crucial evidence in your case.
Second, report the accident. If it was a car crash, call the police. If it was a slip and fall at a business, report it to the manager and ask for a written incident report. If it was a workplace injury, report it to your employer as required under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305).
Third, gather evidence while you can. Take photos of the scene, your injuries, and any property damage. Get the names and contact information of witnesses. If the accident happened near a recognizable location like the Des Plaines Theatre or along the Prairie Stone Business Park corridor, note that too. Details matter.
Fourth, do not talk to the other party’s insurance company without legal advice. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. Anything you say can be used to reduce your claim. Let our team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg handle those conversations on your behalf.
Fifth, contact a Chicago personal injury attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you have legal representation, the better your chances of building a strong case. Evidence disappears. Witnesses move away. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. Time is not on your side, but we are.
Briskman Briskman & Greenberg offers free consultations. There is no obligation, and no fee unless we win. Call us today and let us help you take the first step toward recovering what you have lost.
FAQs About Des Plaines Personal Injury Lawyers
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois?
In most cases, you have two years from the date of your injury under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. However, if your claim involves a government entity, you may only have one year. Wrongful death claims must also be filed within two years under 740 ILCS 180/2. Missing these deadlines means losing your right to sue, so contact an attorney right away.
What if I was partly at fault for my accident in Des Plaines?
You can still recover compensation under Illinois’s modified comparative fault rule (735 ILCS 5/2-1116), as long as you are not more than 50% at fault. Your damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault. So if you were 20% at fault and your total damages are $100,000, you would recover $80,000. An attorney can help you fight to keep your fault percentage as low as possible.
What types of damages can I recover in a personal injury case?
You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, future lost income, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members can seek damages for loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and funeral costs. The specific damages available depend on the facts of your case, which is why a legal review is so important.
Does Briskman Briskman & Greenberg handle cases outside of Chicago?
Yes. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg handles personal injury cases throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, including Des Plaines and the surrounding suburbs. The firm also has teams serving clients in Gurnee, Joliet, and Indianapolis. If you were injured anywhere in the region, contact the firm to find out how they can help you.
What does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg?
Briskman Briskman & Greenberg works on a contingency fee basis. That means there is no upfront cost to you. You pay nothing unless the firm recovers money on your behalf. This arrangement allows injured people to access quality legal representation regardless of their financial situation. Call today for a free consultation to discuss your case.
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