Orland Park Personal Injury Lawyers

The moments after a serious accident can feel like a blur of confusion, pain, and overwhelming stress. One second, life is normal; the next, you are facing hospital visits, mounting medical bills, and an uncertain future. The disruption caused by a significant injury affects not only the person who was hurt but their entire family. You may be unable to work, care for your loved ones, or participate in the activities you once enjoyed. The financial and emotional weight can be immense.

At SFG Law Firm, our attorneys John Fotopoulos, Olivia Schwartz, and Kristina Green understand the devastating impact a personal injury can have. We have dedicated our careers to representing individuals and families throughout Orland Park, Joliet, Chicago, and the surrounding communities who have been harmed by the negligence of others.

We recognize the profound financial burdens that accompany serious injuries, and we are committed to helping you pursue the full and fair compensation necessary to protect your family and begin the process of rebuilding your life.

What Qualifies as a Personal Injury Claim in Illinois?

A personal injury claim arises when one person suffers harm from an accident or injury, and another person or entity might be legally responsible for that harm. The core of most personal injury cases is the legal concept of negligence.

Negligence does not mean that someone intended to cause harm. Instead, it means they failed to act with the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would have exercised under the same circumstances. For example, a driver who runs a red light while texting is acting negligently. If that action causes a crash that injures someone, the driver can be held liable for the resulting damages. A personal injury lawsuit provides a legal path for the injured victim to seek a financial recovery to cover their losses.

What Types of Personal Injury Cases Do You Handle?

Accidents can happen anywhere, from the busy intersections of Chicago to quiet streets in Elmhurst. While some incidents are unavoidable, many are the direct result of careless or reckless behavior. Our attorneys are equipped to handle a broad spectrum of personal injury matters across Cook, Will, and Kankakee Counties.

• Traffic Accidents: Thousands of people are injured on Illinois roadways each year. We represent victims of car crashes, commercial truck collisions, motorcycle wrecks, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle crashes.
• Construction-Related Accidents: Construction sites are inherently dangerous environments. We assist workers and site visitors who have suffered catastrophic injuries or wrongful death due to safety violations, equipment failure, or other hazards.
• Slip-and-Fall Accidents (Premises Liability): Property owners have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe. When they fail to address hazards like wet floors, icy sidewalks, or poor lighting, they can be held liable for injuries that result from a slip or trip and fall.
• Medical Malpractice: Healthcare professionals must adhere to an accepted standard of care. When they make negligent errors—such as surgical mistakes, birth injuries, misdiagnoses, or medication errors—we work to hold them accountable for the harm caused to patients.
• Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse: Families trust nursing homes to provide compassionate care for their elderly loved ones. We address injuries caused by understaffing, neglect, physical or emotional abuse, and other forms of negligence within long-term care facilities.
• Defective and Dangerous Products: Companies that design, manufacture, and sell consumer products can be held financially liable when their poorly designed or defective products cause injury. We help victims pursue compensation under Illinois’ product liability laws.
• Dog Bites and Animal Attacks: An animal attack can cause severe physical and emotional trauma. Under the Illinois Animal Control Act, pet owners are often held strictly liable for injuries caused by their animals. We thoroughly investigate these incidents to build a strong case for recovery.
• Wrongful Death: Losing a loved one is the most painful experience a family can endure. When that loss is caused by another party’s negligence, a wrongful death claim can provide a measure of financial stability and justice for the surviving family members.

What Kinds of Injuries Can Lead to a Claim?

A personal injury accident can cause a wide array of physical and psychological harm. Our firm has experience advocating for clients who have suffered many different types of traumatic injuries, including:

• Catastrophic Injuries: Serious and severe injuries can arise type of personal injury case permanent disabilities or other long-term health issues. Catastrophic injuries can have a devastating impact on victims and their families, and they can have long-term or permanent physical, emotional, and financial consequences.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Resulting from a blow to the head in a fall or vehicle crash, TBIs can cause permanent cognitive impairment, memory loss, and personality changes.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can lead to partial or complete paralysis (paraplegia or quadriplegia), fundamentally altering a person’s life and requiring lifelong medical care.
• Fractures and Broken Bones: While some fractures heal with time, severe breaks may require surgery and lead to chronic pain, arthritis, or permanent impairment.
• Whiplash and Soft Tissue Injuries: Common in rear-end collisions, damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons can cause chronic pain and limited mobility that requires extensive physical therapy.
• Burns and Disfigurement: Severe burns often demand multiple surgeries and can leave victims with permanent scarring and significant emotional trauma.
• Internal Organ Damage: These life-threatening injuries may not be immediately apparent after an accident but can require emergency surgery and lead to long-term health complications.
• Loss of Limb/Amputation: A life-altering injury that requires extensive rehabilitation, prosthetic fittings, and a complete adjustment to daily living.
• Injuries from Sexual Assault: Victims of sexual assault can suffer a wide range of injuries, both physical and emotional, which having devasting and lasting effects.

What Compensation Can Be Recovered in an Orland Park Injury Claim?

If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover several types of damages to compensate you for your losses. These damages are generally categorized into three types:

Economic Damages

These are tangible, calculable financial losses directly resulting from the injury. They include:

• Medical expenses (past, current, and future)
• Lost wages and income
• Diminished future earning capacity
• Costs of rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Property damage
• Expenses for medical equipment or home modifications

Non-Economic Damages

These damages compensate for intangible losses that do not have a specific price tag but significantly impact your quality of life. They include:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Disfigurement and permanent scarring
• Loss of consortium (damage to a marital relationship)

Punitive Damages

In rare cases where the defendant’s conduct was exceptionally reckless, malicious, or intentional, Illinois courts may award punitive damages. These are not intended to compensate the victim but rather to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future.

What Factors Can Affect the Value of My Personal Injury Case?

Every personal injury case is unique, and several key factors can influence the amount of compensation you may ultimately receive. Insurance companies and attorneys carefully evaluate these elements when assessing a claim’s value.

1. The Severity of the Injury: The extent and long-term impact of your injuries are paramount. Catastrophic injuries that require lifelong care, such as a TBI or paralysis, will command a much higher value than injuries from which a full recovery is expected.
2. Impact on Earning Capacity: Your ability to work and earn a living is a major consideration. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your job or force you into a lower-paying field, you may be compensated for lost future earnings. This calculation considers your age, profession, and pre-injury income.
3. Illinois’ Modified Comparative Negligence Rule: Illinois law dictates that your compensation can be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 10% at fault for an accident, your final award will be reduced by 10%. Importantly, you cannot recover any damages if you are found to be more than 50% at fault.
4. Available Insurance Policy Limits: The at-fault party’s insurance coverage often creates a practical cap on the amount of compensation you can recover. Our attorneys work to identify all available insurance policies, including umbrella policies or coverage from other at-fault parties, to maximize your potential recovery.
5. The Quality of Your Evidence: A strong, well-documented case is essential. Powerful evidence includes comprehensive medical records, police reports, witness statements, expert testimony, and clear documentation of all your financial losses.

How Is Liability Proven in an Illinois Personal Injury Claim?

To succeed in a personal injury claim, you and your attorney must prove four essential elements. A failure to establish any one of these elements can prevent you from recovering compensation.

• Duty of Care: You must first show that the defendant (the at-fault party) owed you a legal duty of care. This is an obligation to act in a way that avoids causing foreseeable harm to others. For instance, all drivers in Glen Ellyn have a duty to obey traffic laws, and business owners in Joliet have a duty to keep their floors free of hazards.
• Breach of Duty: Next, you must prove that the defendant breached this duty through a negligent act or a failure to act. This could be a driver speeding, a doctor deviating from the standard of medical care, or a property manager failing to fix a broken handrail.
• Causation: The defendant’s breach of duty must be the direct and proximate cause of your injuries. You must demonstrate that “but for” the defendant’s actions, you would not have been harmed. Medical records and expert testimony are often used to draw a clear line between the negligent act and the injuries you sustained.
• Damages: Finally, you must prove that you suffered actual, compensable losses as a result of the injuries. This is demonstrated through medical bills, records of lost wages, and testimony regarding your pain and suffering.

Our legal team will immediately begin a thorough investigation to gather and preserve the evidence needed to prove each of these elements and build a compelling case on your behalf.

What Are the First Steps to Take After an Accident in Orland Park?

The actions you take in the minutes and days after an accident are vital for protecting both your health and your legal rights.

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention: Your health is the top priority. Call 911 if necessary. Even if you feel fine, it is important to be evaluated by a medical professional. Some serious injuries, like concussions or internal bleeding, do not have immediate symptoms. Seeking prompt medical care also creates an official record linking your injuries to the accident. Excellent care is available at facilities like UChicago Medicine Orland Park, Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, and Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
2. Report the Incident: If you were in a car crash, call the police. An official police report is a critical piece of evidence. If you were injured on someone’s property, report the incident to the manager or owner and ensure an incident report is filed.
3. Document Everything: Use your phone to take pictures and videos of the accident scene, your injuries, property damage, and any relevant conditions like weather or lighting.
4. Gather Information: Collect names, contact information, and insurance details from all parties involved. If there were witnesses, get their names and phone numbers as well.
5. Do Not Admit Fault: Avoid apologizing or making any statements about who was at fault. Stick to the facts when speaking with police or property owners.
6. Be Cautious with Insurance Adjusters: The at-fault party’s insurance adjuster may contact you quickly. Their goal is to minimize the value of your claim. Politely decline to give a recorded statement or sign any documents until you have spoken with an attorney.
7. Contact a Personal Injury Attorney: The legal process can be complex and difficult to navigate on your own, especially while you are recovering. Consulting with a knowledgeable attorney ensures your rights are protected from the very beginning.

Dedicated Guidance for Injury Victims in Orland Park and Chicagoland

At SFG Law Firm, we are more than just legal representatives; we are advocates who are sensitive to your needs and dedicated to your recovery. Our attorneys take the time to listen to your story and understand the profound ways your injuries have affected your life. This allows us to build a comprehensive legal strategy tailored to securing the resources you need to move forward. While we will always explore the possibility of a fair and timely settlement, our primary commitment is to your well-being, and we are always prepared to take a case to trial if that is what it takes to achieve justice.

If you or a family member has been injured, you do not have to face this challenge alone. Let us handle the legal complexities so you can focus on healing. Call us today at 708-942-8400 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation and case assessment.

We serve clients in Orland Park, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Joliet, Chicago, Tinley Park, Oak Forest, Mokena, Will County, Cook County, Kankakee County, and the surrounding areas.