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Mt. Vernon Personal Injury Lawyers
Mt. Vernon sits at the crossroads of Interstate 57 and Interstate 64, making it one of the busiest traffic corridors in Southern Illinois. That location means more trucks, more vehicles, and more chances for serious accidents. If you or someone you love has been hurt, a Chicago abogado de lesiones personales at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg can help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve. Our firm serves injury victims throughout Illinois, including those in Jefferson County and the surrounding communities.
Table of Contents
- Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Mt. Vernon
- Illinois Personal Injury Laws That Apply to Your Case
- What Compensation Can You Recover After a Mt. Vernon Accident?
- Why Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Serves Mt. Vernon Injury Victims
- Steps to Take After a Personal Injury Accident in Mt. Vernon
- FAQs About Mt. Vernon Personal Injury Claims
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Mt. Vernon
Mt. Vernon sees a wide range of serious accidents every year. The Mt. Vernon Fire Department responded to over 438 incidents in December 2025 alone, with roughly 70% of those calls tied to rescue and emergency medical services. That volume reflects just how often people in this community need help after an unexpected injury.
At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, we handle the full range of injury claims that arise in and around Mt. Vernon. Car accidents on I-57 and I-64 are among the most common. These two major interstates carry heavy commercial truck traffic daily, and collisions at those high speeds often cause life-altering injuries. We also represent people hurt in motorcycle crashes, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents throughout Jefferson County.
Slip and fall accidents on poorly maintained sidewalks, parking lots, and commercial properties are another common source of claims. Under the Illinois Premises Liability Act (740 ILCS 130), property owners have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe. When they fail, and someone gets hurt, there may be a viable claim for damages.
Dog bite injuries, workplace accidents, construction site injuries, and wrongful death cases all fall within the scope of what our firm handles. Whether the accident happened near the Jefferson County Courthouse on Courthouse Square, along Broadway Street, or out on a rural county road, the legal principles that govern your case are the same. You have rights. The question is whether you act on them in time.
If you were injured in a workplace accident, your case may involve both a workers’ compensation claim and a separate civil lawsuit against a third party. These situations require careful handling, and our team can walk you through both paths.
Illinois Personal Injury Laws That Apply to Your Case
Illinois law gives most personal injury victims two years to file a lawsuit. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, that clock starts on the date of your injury. Miss that deadline, and the court will dismiss your case, no matter how strong the evidence is. Two years sounds like a long time, but evidence disappears, witnesses move away, and medical records become harder to obtain. Acting early is always better.
There are important exceptions to the two-year rule. If you were injured by a city, county, or other local government entity, the Illinois Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act (745 ILCS 10/8-101) cuts that window to just one year. If the injured person was a minor at the time of the accident, the clock does not start running until they turn 18, per 735 ILCS 5/13-211. Wrongful death claims follow a separate timeline under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180/2), giving families two years from the date of death, not the date of the underlying accident.
Illinois also follows a modified comparative fault rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. This means you can still recover damages even if you were partly at fault for the accident, as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50%. However, your total recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. So if a jury finds you 20% responsible, your award is reduced by 20%.
When multiple defendants share fault for your injuries, Illinois law under 735 ILCS 5/2-1117 determines how liability is divided. Any defendant found at least 25% at fault is jointly and severally liable for all damages. Any defendant found less than 25% at fault is only severally liable for damages beyond past and future medical costs. These rules directly affect how much money you can recover and from whom.
Understanding how these statutes interact with your specific facts is not something you should attempt alone. A Joliet personal injury lawyer or one of our Chicago-based attorneys can review your case and give you a clear picture of where you stand.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Mt. Vernon Accident?
Personal injury compensation in Illinois falls into two broad categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover the financial losses you can measure, like medical bills, future treatment costs, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. Non-economic damages cover the harms that are harder to put a number on, like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
In a serious accident, these numbers add up fast. A car crash on I-64 near the Casey’s General Store interchange, for example, might result in emergency room care, surgery, months of physical therapy, and time away from work. Each of those losses is recoverable if someone else’s negligence caused the crash.
In wrongful death cases, the Illinois Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180/2) allows the personal representative of the deceased to bring a claim on behalf of surviving family members. Recoverable damages include pecuniary losses, grief, sorrow, and mental suffering. In certain cases, punitive damages may also be available, though not in medical or legal malpractice actions.
If your injury happened at work, the situation becomes more layered. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305) generally limits your ability to sue your employer directly. However, if a third party, such as a negligent driver, a product manufacturer, or a subcontractor, caused your injury, you may have a separate civil claim in addition to your workers’ compensation benefits. Under 820 ILCS 305, your employer may have an interest in any third-party recovery, so it is important to coordinate both claims properly.
Our firm also handles cases involving occupational diseases under the Illinois Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act (820 ILCS 310). When a worker develops a serious illness tied to workplace exposure and the workers’ compensation system no longer covers the claim due to a repose period, the law still preserves certain civil rights of action. These cases require a thorough review of the facts, and we are here to help.
Why Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Serves Mt. Vernon Injury Victims
Briskman Briskman & Greenberg is a Chicago-based personal injury firm with a long history of representing injured people across Illinois. Our main office is located at 205 W Randolph St., Suite 925, Chicago, IL 60606. We represent clients on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. You should be aware, however, that clients may still be responsible for certain case costs and expenses, so we encourage you to discuss the full fee arrangement with us before moving forward.
We take cases throughout Illinois, including communities in Southern Illinois like Mt. Vernon. Whether your accident involved a commercial truck on I-57, a slip and fall at a local business near the Mt. Vernon Marketplace, or a dog bite on a residential street, our team can investigate your claim, gather evidence, and build a strong case on your behalf.
We also serve clients in other Illinois communities and beyond. If you are looking for a Gurnee personal injury lawyer or need representation in Indiana, our firm handles cases in those regions too. For clients in Indiana, we work alongside our team handling cases as an Indianapolis personal injury lawyer, including situations involving dog bites where an Indianapolis dog bite attorney can provide guidance specific to Indiana law.
Every case is different. Past results in other cases do not guarantee a similar outcome in yours. What we can promise is that we will treat your case seriously, communicate with you honestly, and work hard to protect your interests. Call us at (312) 222-0010 to speak with our team about what happened to you.
Steps to Take After a Personal Injury Accident in Mt. Vernon
The actions you take in the hours and days after an accident can have a significant impact on your claim. First, get medical attention right away, even if you feel okay. Some injuries, like traumatic brain injuries or internal bleeding, do not always show immediate symptoms. A medical record created close to the time of your accident is important evidence that connects your injuries to the event.
If you can do so safely, document the scene. Take photos of the vehicles, the road conditions, any visible injuries, and any hazards that contributed to the accident. If there were witnesses near the intersection of Route 15 and 42nd Street, or wherever your accident occurred, try to get their names and contact information before they leave.
Report the accident to the appropriate authorities. For a car accident, that means calling the police and getting a copy of the report. For a workplace injury, report it to your employer right away and follow the procedures required under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305). Failing to report a workplace injury promptly can affect your ability to recover benefits.
Be careful about what you say to insurance adjusters. Insurance companies often contact injured people quickly, sometimes within hours of an accident. Their goal is to resolve the claim for as little as possible. Do not give a recorded statement or accept a settlement offer before speaking with an attorney. What seems like a fair offer early on may not cover your future medical costs or lost income.
Póngase en contacto con Chicago abogado de lesiones personales at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg as soon as possible. The sooner we can begin preserving evidence and building your case, the better your position will be. Call us at (312) 222-0010. Our team is ready to listen.
FAQs About Mt. Vernon Personal Injury Claims
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Mt. Vernon, Illinois?
For most personal injury cases, Illinois law gives you two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit, under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. If your claim involves a city, county, or other local government entity, that window shrinks to one year under the Illinois Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act (745 ILCS 10/8-101). Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180/2). Missing any of these deadlines means losing your right to recover, so contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident.
Can I still recover damages if I was partly at fault for my accident?
Yes, in most cases. Illinois follows a modified comparative fault system under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. As long as your share of fault is 50% or less, you can still recover compensation. Your total damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 30% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would recover $70,000. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover anything under Illinois law.
What if my injury happened at work? Do I still have a personal injury claim?
It depends on the circumstances. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305) generally limits your ability to sue your employer directly, but it does not prevent you from filing a civil lawsuit against a third party who caused your injury. For example, if a delivery truck driver caused your workplace accident, you may have a workers’ compensation claim against your employer and a separate personal injury claim against the driver or their employer. These two claims can run at the same time, but they must be coordinated carefully to protect your full recovery.
What types of damages can I recover in an Illinois personal injury case?
Illinois allows injured people to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical bills, future medical costs, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In wrongful death cases, the Illinois Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180/2) also allows recovery for grief, sorrow, and mental suffering experienced by surviving family members. Punitive damages may be available in certain cases involving especially reckless conduct, though they are not available in medical or legal malpractice actions.
Do I have to go to court to resolve my personal injury case in Mt. Vernon?
Not necessarily. Many personal injury cases settle before trial through negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company. However, not every settlement offer is fair, and some cases do require litigation to achieve a just result. Having an attorney represent you throughout the process, whether in settlement talks or in the courtroom at the Jefferson County Courthouse, puts you in a much stronger position. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg prepares every case as if it will go to trial, which often leads to better outcomes even in cases that ultimately settle. Call us at (312) 222-0010 to discuss your options.
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