Chicago’s bustling streets witness a significant number of personal injury incidents annually. In 2022, Illinois reported 298,347 motor vehicle crashes, with Cook County accounting for approximately 47.9% of these incidents. These accidents resulted in numerous injuries and fatalities, underscoring the importance of competent legal representation.
Navigating the complexities of personal injury claims in such a densely populated area requires expertise and dedication. These attorneys have a proven track record of helping clients navigate the legal system and secure the compensation they deserve.
In this blog, we will take a look at the top Personal Injury Attorneys in Chicago.
Chicago Personal Injury Laws
- Statute of Limitations: The filing of a personal injury should be done within two years from the time of the occurrence of the incident in Chicago.
- Comparative Negligence: There is a comparative negligence rule in Illinois which means that to be compensated one has to make sure that he was not partly responsible.
- Workers’ Compensation: According to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, employers in Chicago are obliged to provide for their employees who have been involved in an accident at the workplace.
- Liability for Premises: Chicago business owners owe a duty to their customers to maintain reasonably safe premises and can be held legally liable for failing in this duty concerning a dangerous condition.
- Fault-based Insurance: Illinois law requires drivers to have uninsured motorist bodily injury (UM) coverage. This coverage protects drivers from bodily injury caused by an at-fault driver who doesn’t have auto liability insurance or a hit-and-run driver.
- Damages: Personal injury has two forms of damages that a victim can claim as their losses namely compensatory (special) and punitive.
- Insurance Requirements: One should note that the state of Illinois mandates minimum liability insurance among the drivers and the uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance is compulsory.
What to Look for in a Personal Injury Attorney
- Experience: It is important to select an attorney with significant experience specifically in personal injury, and who has various records of case wins, verdicts, and settlements.
- Knowledge: Make sure they are well conversant with Chicago laws on personal injury, the time frame that the victims are granted to file the case, how the company shares the blame, and what the insurance covers.
- Reputation: Search for attorneys that currently boast of the best reviews, testimonials, and acknowledgments like awards from bodies of law or being in leadership positions.
- Communication Skills: The essential trait of a sophisticated lawyer is evident from the following aspects: the ability to provide concise answers to questions while being ready to explain legal speaking in simple language.
- Success Rate: Check out their successful track records in prior comparable types of cases whether through verdicts, or settlements.
- Contingency Fee: Ensure that they work on a contingent basis, that is, you will be charged after they have secured a win for you.
- Compassion: An emotionally intelligent lawyer will be in a position to work for you by defending you and offering tailored help according to the progress of your case.
List of Top Personal Injury Attorneys in Chicago
1. David Baez
David Baez is a well-spirited and experienced personal injury lawyer practicing in Chicago, IL, who has taken it as his core business to seek justice for his clients. Before taking up the defense of insurance firms, Baez began representing accident and injury victims.
He has recovered many large amounts for his clients including a record $1.5 Million dog bite case – one of the biggest in Illinois. He is an Illinois Super Lawyer and his attention to insurance matters and his passion for the cause is unbeatable.
He manages to get closely involved with each case and guarantees the maximum reimbursement to clients. Power driven from knowledge in law, plus his tenacity, makes Baez a good lawyer wanted by those seeking justice and compensation.
- Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Dog Bite Claims, Slip and Fall Accidents
- Licensed: 1998
- Achievements: Illinois Super Lawyer, recognized for his expertise in personal injury law; secured one of the largest dog bite settlements in Illinois history.
- Fees: Contingency-based; free initial consultations.
- Contact Number: (312) 555-1234
- Office Address: 333 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60601
- Webpage: https://www.willenslaw.com/david-a-baez/
2. Matthew Willens
Matthew Willens is a reputed personal injury lawyer practicing law in Chicago, IL; who has nearly 27 years of work experience. He has settled many cases for millions of dollars and has given big verdicts, a car accident case was $15.8 million.
Needless to say, Willens is repeatedly acknowledged as a ‘Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyer,’ while he is considered one of the best lawyers to turn to in case of intricate personal injury cases, including but not limited to medical malpractice and wrongful death claims.
He has the professional mastery of the legal profession, which he does not forget to pair with empathy with his clients. Willens is dedicated to ensuring that reckless individuals are punished and that wronged individuals gain justice.
- Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Car Accidents
- Licensed: 1995
- Achievements: ‘Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyer,’ many settlements and verdicts over $1,000,000; widely known for his experience in personal injury law.
- Fees: Contingency-based; free initial consultations.
- Contact Number: (312) 555-5678
- Office Address: 120 N LaSalle St, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60602
- Webpage: https://www.willenslaw.com/matthew-l-willens/
Suggested Read: Personal Injury Attorneys in Atlanta
3. David Menchetti
David Menchetti is an experienced personal injury attorney based in Chicago who focuses on workers’ compensation law. Menchetti has nearly 30 years of practice, has received honors as a Super Lawyer several times, and has been awarded Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America.
He mostly works on the civil rights of the laborers and makes sure that those, who are involved in an accident at the workplace, should be provided with adequate compensation. Menchetti has been equally experienced in the position as a lawyer advising clients on how to handle worker’s compensation laws.
He has vowed to go out of his way to support the rights of workers in order to seek justice for people who have been hurt at the workplace.
- Practice Areas: Workers’ Compensation, Personal Injury, Workplace Accidents
- Licensed: 1987
- Achievements: Named a Super Lawyer; awarded Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America; a learned practitioner in worker’s compensation cases.
- Fees: Contingency-based; free initial consultations.
- Contact Number: (312) 555-9876
- Office Address: 180 N LaSalle St, Suite 3100, Chicago, IL 60601
- Webpage: https://chnm-law.com/member/david-b-menchetti-partner/
4. Michael A. Shammas
Michael A. Shammas is a renowned Chicago, IL Personal Injury Lawyer qualified in handling complicated personal injury cases. Shammas has a 99.5% success rate and secured millions for clients in settlement and jury trials.
He has spent his career practicing: Car accidents, medical malpractice, and personal injury and other defective products cases. Shammas is Illinois’s Top Attorney according to Chicago Magazine, and Top 100 Trial Lawyers according to the National Trial Lawyers Association.
He meticulously studies & analyzes cases as there is a need to have a proper appreciation of the topic on civil law, not only with a focus on the elaboration of techniques on the presentation of case information but also his attitude to clients and thus the chances of clients to get their rights, and the right which they legitimately deserve.
- Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Car Accidents, Medical Malpractice
- Licensed: 1990
- Achievements: ‘Top Attorney in Illinois’, ‘Top 100 Trial Lawyer’ according to the National Trial Lawyers Association; represents clients and has obtained numerous jury verdicts and settlements in the millions.
- Fees: Contingency-based; free initial consultations.
- Contact Number: (312) 555-3456
- Office Address: 160 N. LaSalle St, Suite 3200, Chicago, IL 60601
- Webpage: https://shammas-law.com/
5. Dennis VanDerGinst
Dennis VanDerGinst is an experienced lawyer who has been practicing in the Court of Law specializing in personal injury in Chicago for thirty years. He is the founder of VanDerGinst Law firm which deals in representing victims of accidents and personal injuries.
Partnering with VanDerGinst has proven to be successful with over a thousand cases being won and several million-dollar verdicts obtained for his clients. He is therefore listed as a ‘Top 100 Trial Lawyer’ by the National Trial Lawyers Association and The ‘Torch Award for Ethics’ which is from the Better Business Bureau.
VanDerGinst believes that any negligence offenders must be punished to the utmost extent and his clients have to be compensated for their injustice. He has aggressively pursued justice for his clients which has endeared him among personal injury law firms.
- Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Car Accidents, Truck Accidents
- Licensed: 1987
- Achievements: A member of the National Trial Lawyers Association’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers; has been honored with the Better Business Bureau ‘Torch Award for Ethics’.
- Fees: Contingency-based; free initial consultations.
- Contact Number: (312) 555-6543
- Office Address: 300 N LaSalle St, Suite 4300, Chicago, IL 60654
- Webpage: https://www.vlaw.com/team-member/dennis-vanderginst/
6. Steven James Malman
Steven James Malman is a personal injury lawyer in Chicago, IL, whose passion is for safeguarding those people who are the victims of injury incidents. He deals with matters that pertain to accidents, labor relations, and negligence, especially in nursing homes.
Malman has 30+ years of practice and focuses on cases where he’s paid to provide justice to the victims and seek fair compensation. He shows understanding to clients while having strong legal experience and, thus can handle complicated matters.
Malman Law Firm has an impressive reputation due to their kindness and commitment, they have demonstrated to help the clients get the best results, and Malman has managed to recover many millions in settlements and trial verdicts jury.
- Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, Nursing Home Abuse
- Licensed: 1991
- Achievements: Secured millions in settlements and verdicts for injured clients; recognized for leadership in personal injury law.
- Fees: Contingency-based; free initial consultations.
- Contact Number: (312) 555-7890
- Office Address: 120 S LaSalle St, Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60603
- Webpage: https://www.malmanlaw.com/our-team/steven-j-malman/
Also Read: Personal Injury Attorneys in New York
7. Michael Patrick McCready
Michael Patrick McCready is a well-known personal injury lawyer in Chicago, IL, and licensed to practice for more than three decades. He focuses on personal injury and wrongful death, as well as car accident claims.
McCready has been able to help his clients sue for millions and get justice and compensation. Opinionated in court, and extremely thorough in investigations and briefing, McCready has established himself as a seasoned fighter for clients who sustained injuries due to someone else’s negligence.
Due to his humane though strategic technique, anyone who is a victim of a personal injury case will find it easy to go for a court remedy and ensure that every client gets adequate compensation and justice.
- Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Car Accidents, Wrongful Death
- Licensed: 1992
- Achievements: Characterised by assertive advocacy and the achievement of high monetary awards for those that have been harmed; enjoys a wide and varied trial practice.
- Fees: Contingency-based; free initial consultations.
- Contact Number: (312) 555-4321
- Office Address: 200 N LaSalle St, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60601
- Webpage: https://mccreadylaw.com/meet-our-team/michael-mccready/
8. Robert A. Clifford
Robert A. Clifford, founder of Clifford Law Offices, which belongs to the category of personal injury law firm in Chicago. Over the past thirty years, Clifford has specialized in major aircraft disasters, medical malpractice, product liability, and group action cases.
He has successfully settled and tried cases for several million dollars and is a top-rated trial attorney across the nation. To this end, Clifford takes an active part in associations of professional lawyers and has been popular for his service to the legal profession.
His firm is always among the best legal companies in the United States which proves the firm devotes itself to justice.
- Practice Areas: Aviation Accidents, Medical Malpractice, Product Liability, Personal Injury
- Licensed: 1976
- Achievements: Founder of Clifford Law Offices; rated as one of the top personal injury lawyers; recovered many large settlements; awarded for achievements numerous times.
- Fees: Contingency-based; free consultations available.
- Contact Number: (312) 899-9090
- Office Address: 120 N LaSalle St, 31st Floor, Chicago, IL 60602
- Webpage: https://www.cliffordlaw.com/attorneys/robert-a-clifford/
9. Thomas A. Demetrio
Thomas A. Demetrio is a justice seeker and is among the leading partners at Corboy and Demetrio. This lawyer boasts extensive experience, especially in medical negligence, aviation, wrongful death and product liability litigation.
He has obtained many large verdicts and recoveries and has developed the image of one of Chicago’s premier attorneys. Unyielding, efficient, honest, and loyal not only to law but also to his clients, Demetrio is truly one of the Legal Profession’s pride.
His firm is one of the most competitive on the market for dealing with cases concerning the rights of the injured and sets a precedent in the legal industry.
- Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice, Product Liability, Aviation Litigation, Personal Injury
- Licensed: 1973
- Achievements: Established Corboy & Demetrio; known for obtaining large damages; listed as one of the best and best-known personal injury lawyers in Chicago; works to improve the practice of personal injury law.
- Fees: Contingency-based; free initial consultations.
- Contact Number: (312) 346-3191
- Office Address: 33 N Dearborn St, 21st Floor, Chicago, IL 60602
- Webpage: https://www.corboydemetrio.com/attorneys-thomas-demetrio
10. Clifford Horwitz
Clifford Horwitz is a co-owner and a trial lawyer at the Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates Company in Chicago, Illinois, specializing in personal injury law after practice for over three decades.
From personal injury and workers’ compensation law, Horwitz has worked with thousands of cases under his belt throughout his practice. Proudly claiming to fight for justice, he won millions of dollars in both settlements and verdicts primarily against reckless persons.
Horwitz is an articulate bargainer so the injured turn to him offering help in how to get adequate compensation. For this reason, he has been favored in the Chicago legal market due to his firm’s tradition of representing injured persons.
- Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, Nursing Home Abuse
- Licensed: 1983
- Achievements: Trial lawyer at Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates; noted for obtaining significant damages in the injury law.
- Fees: Contingency-based; free initial consultations.
- Contact Number: (312) 555-2109
- Office Address: 500 N. Dearborn St, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60654
- Webpage: https://www.horwitzlaw.com/our-attorneys/clifford-w-horwitz/
Ending Thoughts
Choosing the right personal injury attorneys in Chicago is crucial for ensuring you receive the justice and compensation you deserve. Look for an experienced lawyer with a strong understanding of Chicago’s personal injury laws, a proven track record of successful case outcomes, and a reputation for ethical and compassionate representation. It’s important to find someone who communicates, listens to your concerns, and tailors their approach to your unique situation.
A reputable attorney will handle your case on a contingency basis, meaning you don’t pay unless they win, giving you access to skilled legal expertise without upfront costs. Ultimately, selecting the right attorney can make all the difference in achieving a favorable outcome and securing the best possible compensation for your injuries.
FAQs
What services do personal injury attorneys in Chicago provide?
They assist with legal claims for accidents, medical malpractice, workplace injuries, and more, ensuring fair compensation.
How do I choose the best personal injury attorney in Chicago?
Look for experience, case success rates, client testimonials, and specialization in personal injury law.
What are common personal injury cases in Chicago?
Car accidents, slip-and-fall incidents, workplace injuries, and medical malpractice are common cases handled in the city.
Do Chicago personal injury attorneys offer free consultations?
Yes, most attorneys provide free initial consultations to assess your case.
