Resources
Getting injured in an accident caused by someone else’s carelessness raises a number of urgent questions:
How do personal injury claims work in Illinois? What compensation might cover medical bills, lost wages, and long-term recovery costs? How do insurance companies evaluate injury claims? Why are their settlement offers so low? Why do I need a personal injury lawyer?
Our Illinois personal injury resources break down the legal process in plain language so you can make informed decisions during one of the most stressful times in your life. It’s a place to start if you need to take legal action. If you have questions or want to discuss whether you have a case, call us for a free consultation.
Jack Kennedy and Daniel Watkins, the Chicago personal injury lawyers who make up the legal team at Kennedy Watkins, represent injured people and grieving families across Chicago, Cook County, Berwyn, Cicero, Maywood, and Oak Park.
Our downtown office is at 350 N. Orleans Street, Suite 9000N, Chicago, IL 60654, in River North. If you can’t come to us, we will come to you. Call us at (312) 448-8181 or contact us online for a free consultation today.
Car Accidents
Car accidents are one of the most common causes of serious injury in Chicago and across Illinois. High-traffic corridors like the Dan Ryan Expressway, the Eisenhower Expressway, and the intersection of Cicero Avenue and Archer Avenue see crashes regularly.
Whether a collision happens during rush hour on Lake Shore Drive or on a residential street in Pilsen, the injuries can be severe, and the insurance process can be frustrating.
Start here to learn about fault, insurance disputes, deadlines, and how to protect the value of your claim.
Resources coming soon
Wrongful Death
Losing a family member to someone else’s negligence is a devastating and traumatic experience that no family should have to endure. While no amount of compensation can erase that pain, the right compensation can help ease the financial strain during an already difficult time.
Illinois wrongful death claims allow surviving spouses, children, and other dependents to seek compensation for lost income, funeral expenses, and the loss of companionship and guidance. These claims involve strict filing deadlines and complex proof requirements.
Below, you will find answers about who can file, what damages may be available, and how to hold the responsible party accountable.
Resources coming soon
Burn, Fire, and Explosion Injuries
Burns from apartment fires, gas explosions, workplace incidents, and defective products can cause lifelong pain and disfigurement. Chicago’s older housing stock, particularly in neighborhoods like Humboldt Park, Back of the Yards, and Lawndale, creates fire risks that other cities do not face at the same scale.
Burn victims often require treatment at specialized facilities like the Loyola University Medical Center Burn Center in Maywood. Here, we provide resources to explain how liability works in fire and explosion cases and what compensation may cover medical care, lost income, and lasting physical harm.
Resources coming soon
Nursing Home Injuries
Families trust nursing homes to keep their loved ones safe. When that trust is broken through neglect, abuse, or inadequate care, residents suffer injuries that may include falls, bedsores, malnutrition, and medication errors. Illinois law holds nursing facilities to specific standards of care, and families have legal options when those standards are not met.
Cook County and the surrounding suburbs are home to hundreds of licensed long-term care facilities. We cover the signs of neglect, the legal process for holding a facility accountable, and the types of compensation families may pursue.
Resources coming soon
Premises Liability
Property owners in Illinois have a legal duty to maintain safe conditions for visitors. When they fail, and someone is injured, a premises liability claim may apply. These cases cover a wide range of hazards, from broken staircases and icy sidewalks to negligent security and building code violations.
Premises liability injuries can happen anywhere – in commercial buildings in the Loop, apartment complexes in Rogers Park, and shopping centers in Berwyn and Cicero. Learn how Illinois law determines a property owner’s responsibility and what injured visitors need to build a strong claim.
Resources coming soon
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall injuries, a major group of premises liability cases, occur in grocery stores, restaurants, parking lots, apartment buildings, office buildings, private homes, and other places throughout Chicago.
In Illinois, the injured person must show that the property owner knew about the dangerous condition, or should have known, and failed to fix it. These cases often come down to evidence that disappears quickly, like surveillance footage and maintenance logs.
Chicago winters make slip and fall hazards especially common. Icy sidewalks, unsalted parking lots, and wet entryways contribute to falls across the city from November through March. Here, we walk through how fault is determined, what evidence matters most, and how to protect your right to compensation after a fall.
Resources coming soon
Dog Bite Injuries
Illinois follows a strict liability rule for dog bites. That means a dog owner can be held responsible even if the dog has never bitten anyone before. Dog bite injuries can cause permanent scarring, nerve damage, and serious infections, especially in children. Claims may also arise from dog attacks that cause knockdown injuries without a bite.
The information below covers Illinois dog bite law, what compensation may be available, and how to pursue a claim against the animal’s owner, including in highly sensitive cases where the dog is a beloved pet of a family member or friend.
Resources coming soon
Construction Accidents
Construction sites are among the most dangerous workplaces in Illinois. Falls from scaffolding, equipment malfunctions, electrocutions, and struck-by incidents cause life-altering injuries every year.
Injured workers often have claims beyond workers’ compensation, especially when a general contractor, subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner contributed to unsafe conditions.
Active construction zones along the Chicago River, in the South Loop, and throughout the western suburbs put thousands of workers at risk daily. These articles explain who may be liable, what types of claims are available, and how injured workers can seek full compensation.
Resources coming soon
Rideshare Accidents
Accidents involving Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare vehicles create complicated insurance situations. Multiple policies may apply depending on whether the driver was logged into the app, waiting for a ride request, or carrying a passenger. Determining which insurance policy covers your injuries requires a careful review of the facts.
Rideshare traffic is especially heavy near O’Hare and Midway airports, along Michigan Avenue, and in entertainment districts like Wrigleyville and the West Loop. We break down how insurance coverage works in these cases and what passengers, drivers, and other motorists need to know after a crash.
Resources coming soon
Talk to a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer at Kennedy Watkins
Personal injury cases have deadlines that staPersonal injury cases have deadlines that start running the moment an accident happens. Evidence disappears or fades quickly. Witnesses forget details. Illinois filing deadlines are strict, and missing them can end your right to compensation.
Kennedy Watkins Injury Attorneys offers free consultations. We answer our phones 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If your injuries prevent you from traveling, we will come to you, anywhere in Illinois.
Injured in Chicago? Get in touch with us today.
Call Kennedy Watkins Injury Attorneys at (312) 448-8181 to discuss your case. Your free consultation comes without pressure or obligation. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
We’re With You. On Your Side. By Your Side. Evidence disappears or fades quickly. Witnesses forget details. Illinois filing deadlines are strict, and missing them can end your right to compensation.
Kennedy Watkins Injury Attorneys offers free consultations. We answer our phones 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If your injuries prevent you from traveling, we will come to you, anywhere in Illinois.
Call Kennedy Watkins Injury Attorneys at (312) 448-8181 to discuss your case. Your free consultation comes without pressure or obligation. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
We’re With You. On Your Side. By Your Side.