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Streamwood Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
A spinal cord injury can change your life in a single moment. Whether it happened on I-90 near Streamwood, in a warehouse off Barrington Road, or at a construction site along Route 59, the physical, emotional, and financial toll can be overwhelming. If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, Illinois law gives you the right to pursue compensation. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg is a Chicago personal injury lawyer firm that has represented seriously injured people throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, including Streamwood and the surrounding Cook County communities.
Table of Contents
- How Spinal Cord Injuries Happen in the Streamwood Area
- Illinois Law and Your Right to Compensation
- The Deadline to File Your Claim in Illinois
- What Damages Can a Streamwood Spinal Cord Injury Victim Recover?
- Why Choose Briskman Briskman & Greenberg for Your Streamwood Spinal Cord Injury Case
- FAQs About Streamwood Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers
How Spinal Cord Injuries Happen in the Streamwood Area
Streamwood sits in Cook County, bordered by Hoffman Estates, Bartlett, and Hanover Park. Residents travel daily on busy corridors like Barrington Road, Irving Park Road, and the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90). Those roads carry heavy traffic, and serious crashes happen with real consequences. Motor vehicle crashes rank first as the leading cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries, accounting for 38% of all cases reported to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center since 2015, followed by falls at 32%.
In Streamwood, spinal cord injuries can result from rear-end crashes on Barrington Road, truck accidents on Route 59, pedestrian accidents near Streamwood Oaks Park, or slip and fall incidents in local shopping centers. Construction workers near the many commercial developments along Schaumburg Road also face serious fall risks. Workplace injuries, motorcycle accidents, and even swimming pool accidents can damage the spine in ways that produce permanent, life-altering consequences.
The most frequent injury levels are C4 and C5, followed by C6, T12, and L1. Overall, about 55% of traumatic spinal cord injuries are cervical injuries resulting in tetraplegia, while 45% result in paraplegia. These are not minor injuries. They require emergency hospitalization, surgery, long-term rehabilitation, and often lifelong care. Understanding where and how these injuries occur is the first step toward building a strong legal claim.
Illinois Law and Your Right to Compensation
Illinois law allows spinal cord injury victims to pursue compensation when another party’s negligence caused the harm. Under the Illinois modified comparative fault rule, codified at 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, you can recover damages as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50% of the cause of the injury. If you bear some responsibility, your damages are reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault. If a jury finds you more than 50% at fault, you are barred from recovery entirely.
This matters in real cases. Imagine a driver running a red light at the intersection of Barrington Road and Schaumburg Road who strikes your vehicle and causes a cervical spine injury. The defense might argue you were speeding. If the jury finds you 20% at fault and awards $1,000,000 in damages, you would receive $800,000 under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. The law still protects you, but the defense will look for any way to shift blame. Having skilled legal representation means someone is fighting back against those tactics.
Compensation in a spinal cord injury case can include medical expenses, future care costs, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. For workers injured on the job, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305) provides a separate avenue for benefits, including compensation for permanent total disability and medical treatment. Both civil claims and workers’ compensation claims may apply depending on how the injury occurred. An attorney can help you identify every available source of recovery.
The Deadline to File Your Claim in Illinois
Time is a critical factor in any spinal cord injury case. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the standard statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Illinois is two years from the date of the injury. Miss that deadline, and the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, regardless of how serious your injuries are or how clear the other party’s fault may be.
There are limited exceptions. If the injured person was a minor at the time of the incident, the clock generally does not start until their 18th birthday. If a government entity, such as a municipality or public transit authority, was involved, the deadline can be as short as one year under the Illinois Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act (745 ILCS 10/8-101), with a notice requirement that may apply even sooner.
Two years sounds like a long time when you are still in the hospital or in rehabilitation. It is not. Building a spinal cord injury case requires gathering medical records, accident reconstruction evidence, expert witness opinions, and documentation of your future care needs. Waiting too long puts all of that at risk. Evidence disappears. Witnesses move or forget details. Insurance companies use delay to their advantage. If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury in Streamwood, call Briskman Briskman & Greenberg at (312) 222-0010 as soon as possible to protect your rights.
What Damages Can a Streamwood Spinal Cord Injury Victim Recover?
Spinal cord injuries are among the most costly injuries a person can sustain. Indirect costs such as losses in wages, fringe benefits, and productivity averaged $95,309 per year in 2024 dollars for spinal cord injury survivors. That figure does not include direct medical costs, which can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars in the first year alone, and ongoing costs that continue for decades.
In a personal injury lawsuit, recoverable damages typically fall into two categories. Economic damages cover things you can calculate with a number: past and future medical bills, rehabilitation costs, home modification expenses, assistive equipment, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. Non-economic damages cover the human side of your loss: physical pain, emotional suffering, loss of independence, and the impact on your relationships and daily life.
For workers injured on the job, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305) provides specific scheduled benefits for permanent disabilities. For example, under 820 ILCS 305, a workplace injury resulting in permanent total disability entitles the injured worker to ongoing weekly compensation. Injuries that result in partial disability are evaluated using criteria that include the level of physical impairment, the worker’s occupation, age, and future earning capacity, as outlined in 820 ILCS 305/8.1b. In some cases, parties may reach a compromise lump sum settlement under 820 ILCS 305/10.1, which is prorated over the worker’s life expectancy with approval from an arbitrator or the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.
Every spinal cord injury case is different. The value of your claim depends on the facts of your accident, the severity of your injury, your age, your occupation, and the strength of the evidence. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg can review your situation and give you an honest assessment of what your claim may be worth.
Why Choose Briskman Briskman & Greenberg for Your Streamwood Spinal Cord Injury Case
Briskman Briskman & Greenberg has served injured clients in the Chicago area for decades. The firm handles serious personal injury cases, including those involving catastrophic injuries like spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, and wrongful death. The attorneys at the firm understand what it takes to build a strong case, deal with insurance companies, and fight for fair compensation in Illinois courts, including at the Daley Center in downtown Chicago where many Cook County civil cases are litigated.
The firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless compensation is recovered in your case. You should be aware, however, that clients may still be responsible for certain case costs and expenses. The firm will clearly explain the fee arrangement and any potential costs during your free initial consultation so there are no surprises.
Approximately 18,482 new traumatic spinal cord injuries occur each year in the United States, and males account for about 78% of new cases since 2015. Behind every one of those numbers is a real person whose life was turned upside down. If that person is you or someone you love, you deserve a legal team that takes your case seriously. The attorneys at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg are committed to treating every client with the attention and respect their situation demands.
If you suffered a spinal cord injury in Streamwood or anywhere in the greater Chicago area, do not wait. Call Briskman Briskman & Greenberg at (312) 222-0010 to schedule a free consultation. The firm’s office is located at 29 S. LaSalle St., Suite 1010, Chicago, IL 60603. You can also reach the firm online through the contact form at briskmanandbriskman.com. Speaking with an attorney costs you nothing, and it could make all the difference in protecting your future.
FAQs About Streamwood Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers
How long do I have to file a spinal cord injury lawsuit in Illinois?
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois. If a government entity is involved, the deadline may be as short as one year under 745 ILCS 10/8-101, and a notice requirement may apply within six months of the incident. Because these deadlines are strict, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible after your injury.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault for my accident?
Yes, in many situations. Illinois follows a modified comparative fault rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. You can recover damages as long as your share of fault is 50% or less. Your total compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 25% at fault and your damages total $500,000, you would receive $375,000. If your fault exceeds 50%, you cannot recover anything under Illinois law.
What if my spinal cord injury happened at work in Streamwood?
If your injury occurred on the job, you may have a claim under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305). Workers’ compensation provides benefits for medical treatment, temporary total disability, and permanent disability regardless of fault. In some cases, if a third party other than your employer contributed to your injury, such as a negligent contractor or equipment manufacturer, you may also have a separate personal injury claim. An attorney can help you evaluate both options.
What types of compensation can I recover in a spinal cord injury case?
In a personal injury lawsuit, you can seek economic damages such as past and future medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. You can also seek non-economic damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of independence, and loss of enjoyment of life. The specific amount depends on the facts of your case, the severity of your injury, and the evidence available. No attorney can guarantee a specific outcome, and past results do not predict future ones.
Do I need a lawyer for a spinal cord injury claim in Illinois?
You are not legally required to hire an attorney, but spinal cord injury cases are among the most complex personal injury claims. They involve significant medical evidence, expert witnesses, long-term cost projections, and aggressive insurance company tactics. An experienced attorney can help you gather evidence, meet all legal deadlines, and negotiate or litigate for the full value of your claim. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg offers free consultations and handles cases on a contingency fee basis. Call (312) 222-0010 to discuss your situation at no cost.
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