Injuries are expensive, and having to take time off work to recover can land injured parties deeper in a financial hole. If you or a loved one were hurt in an incident that wasn’t your fault, you may be able to recover full compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and other losses by filing a personal injury lawsuit.

At Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, our experienced team of Illinois personal injury attorneys will conduct a thorough investigation into your claim so we can secure compensation for any losses caused by your injuries. Call our Chicago office at (312) 372-8822.

chicago personal injury attorneys

Our personal injury practice areas

Our firm has decades of experience helping clients who have suffered harm due to someone else’s negligence. Some of the most common cases we handle include:

This is not an all-inclusive list. If you were hurt in an incident not listed here, please call our firm so we can best assist you.

Steps to take after being hurt

Whether you’ve suffered a head injury in a slip-and-fall or a broken arm in a car crash, taking the following steps can help you preserve your physical health and your personal injury case.

1.  Find a safe place away from the source of injury

Get away from the site of the accident if you’re physically able to do so. If, for instance, something fell off a store shelf and hit you, get to another part of the store. If you were in a car or motorcycle accident, get yourself and your vehicle away from traffic.

2. Perform a self-evaluation

Take some time to do a self-check. Are you thinking clearly? Can you move your arms and legs? Do you believe you can get up, or would it be safer if you stayed where you are? Check for any apparent injuries such as broken bones, wounds, or bleeding.

3. Call 911 and ask for an ambulance and the police

Call for emergency personnel and report any apparent or suspected injuries or hazards to the dispatcher so they can send enough emergency personnel. The police will conduct an impartial investigation and will issue a final report.

4. Seek medical treatment

If the police or paramedics believe you need immediate medical attention and that you should be transported via ambulance, take their advice. Even if you don’t get transported to the hospital, you should seek medical attention right away so that you can receive a prompt diagnosis and the correct medical treatment to lead you toward the path of recovery.

Adrenaline can mask symptoms of even serious injuries for hours or even days following the incident, so you should seek medical attention as soon as you can.

5. Take notes and photos of the scene

If it’s safe to do so and you’re physically capable,  take pictures and videos of the scene, damages, and your injuries with your phone — this evidence could prove invaluable to your case. While the details are still fresh, write everything you can think of on a piece of paper or on a note on your phone.

6. Collect contact information from witnesses

Get the names, email addresses, and phone numbers of anyone who saw what happened. Don’t worry about interviewing them. That will be the job of your Chicago personal injury attorney.

7. Keep a written or digital record of your experience following the accident

The more evidence you have to back up your case, the stronger that case will be. Either write down everything you’re experiencing with your injury or make an audio recording on your phone of your experiences following your incident. This can include changes in symptoms, worsening of your injuries, or changes in your mood or behavior.

8. Speak with an attorney

Once you’re in a safe place and receiving the treatment you need, get in touch with a lawyer right away. The experienced Chicago personal injury attorneys with Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates will immediately launch an investigation to gather the facts.

Don’t miss the deadline to file your claim

Illinois has a two-year statute of limitations in most personal injury cases. This means you have two years from the date you were injured to file a lawsuit. You won’t be eligible to pursue compensation from those who caused your injury if your deadline expires.

It’s important to note that some personal injury cases have an extended deadline. Learn about exceptions to Illinois’ two-year rule.

Possible damages you can claim

In a personal injury case, “damages” are the monetary losses that you may recover via a lawsuit. In most cases, there are two primary categories of damages: economic and non-economic.

  • Economic damages. Your medical bills, lost wages, and property damage are just a few examples of economic damages. They’re easy to prove because you can show documents supporting these expenses.
  • Non-economic damages. Putting a price tag on non-economic damages, such as mental trauma, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life isn’t nearly as simple. You’ll need the help of a skilled personal injury attorney to make sure you get all the compensation you deserve.

How to find the right personal injury lawyer for your needs

Searching for an experienced lawyer who will protect your legal rights and advocate for you can seem overwhelming, but here are some helpful tips to consider when finding and choosing a lawyer, but there are resources at hand to help you.

If you know someone who recently worked with an attorney, ask them if they’d recommend that lawyer. If you don’t have anyone to ask, contact the Chicago Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service. In either scenario, it’s recommended that you read online reviews from several platforms to get a feel for what they might be like to work with.

Things to consider when choosing a personal injury lawyer

Experience

Experience is crucial in personal injury cases where deadlines must be met throughout the process. From the very start of your case, everything must be requested properly and timely – one wrong move could have a negative impact on your case. During your consultation, ask the lawyer:

  1. How many years of experience do they have in personal injury law?
  2. How many cases have they handled similar to yours?
  3. The extent of their trial experience–how many cases settle and how many go to trial?
  4. If they have any special accreditations or certifications within a specialty of personal injury law.
  5. If they’ve received any awards in the legal community.

 Track record

Although an attorney might call themselves “experienced”, that doesn’t mean they have a good track record of success. You should ask about the following:

  1. Do they consistently recover multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for their clients?
  2. Have they won any awards or been recognized for their settlements and verdicts?

Communication

You need an attorney you can trust — trust is founded on good communication. This includes being open and honest with one another and being responsive to calls and emails. Ask the attorney how often they communicate with clients, if they have support staff available to assist and answer questions, and if they’ll receive regular case updates.

We’ll fight the insurance company to get you full compensation

It’s likely that the person or entity responsible for your injury will have an insurance policy. Insurance companies fight hard to protect their profits and present a formidable opposition to block your claim.

The attorneys with Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates have a long track record of defeating huge insurance corporations and earning full compensation on behalf of our clients. Nothing is more important than the interests of our clients. We fight to ensure our client’s rights and interests are protected every step of the way.

Parties who may be liable for your injury

These are just a few of the parties that may be responsible for the accident that led to your suffering:

  • A negligent car or truck driver
  • The manufacturer of a defective product
  • The owner of a property where a slip-and-fall accident occurred
  • A negligent trucking company
  • A medical professional who committed malpractice

How our Chicago personal injury attorneys prove liability

The Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys with Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates prove liability by thoroughly investigating accidents. We gather the proof needed to determine who is to blame and then pursue them for compensation.

Personal injury lawsuit process

Although every case is different, the following is a very brief look at what to expect when you file a personal injury lawsuit.

1. Legal consultation

First, you speak with an attorney to determine if you want them to represent you. You’ll explain what happened and how you were hurt, then the lawyer will give you a general idea of the strengths and weaknesses of your case.

2. Accident investigation

Once you choose an attorney, they’ll immediately launch an investigation to determine the facts of the case and to identify all liable parties.

3. Serve demand for compensation or file a lawsuit

After determining all potentially liable parties, your lawyer will send them demand letters that clearly spell out the compensation you deserve. If they don’t want to reasonably negotiate or fail to respond, your attorney will file a complaint to begin your personal injury lawsuit.

4. Negotiation

Your attorney will then negotiate with the insurers representing the at-fault parties. Most cases result in a settlement and don’t go to trial.

5. Take the case to trial

If the defendant refuses to settle, your case will go to trial where both sides will present their arguments, evidence, and testimony, and a jury will decide how much compensation you may receive.

Why it’s important to visit the doctor

You need to see a doctor immediately to find out how badly you’re hurt and what kind of treatment is required. Although your health is very important, seeing a medical professional is also important for your case.

If you don’t, the insurance company could claim you’re not actually hurt or your injury was caused by an unrelated event. If they’re successful, you won’t be able to obtain the compensation you deserve.

Cost of hiring a Chicago personal injury lawyer

At Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, we understand that victims who’ve been injured due to the negligence of others are often placed into precarious financial situations. This is particularly true if an injury victim has lost their job and cannot work while they recover.

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys take these cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that we will not charge any upfront or out-of-pocket costs related to your case. We only collect legal fees after we secure the compensation our clients deserve through a favorable settlement or verdict.

If we don’t win, you don’t pay. It is as simple as that.

Why hire Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates

You won’t find a team of Chicago personal injury attorneys who are more passionate – or more effective – than the lawyers with Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates. We’re ready to put our skills and knowledge to work for you.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers are here to help

If you or somebody you love has sustained an injury caused by the careless or negligent actions of another person, contact an attorney as soon as possible. At Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, our skilled and experienced team is ready to conduct a full investigation into your case. We aren’t afraid to go up against aggressive insurance carriers and at-fault parties.

When you need a Chicago personal injury attorney, please call (312) 372-8822.