Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys Who Know What Your Case Is Worth
In most cases, Illinois gives you two years to file a personal injury claim — but exceptions can shorten or extend that window depending on the circumstances, and insurance companies start building their defense the day the accident happens. If you were hurt because of someone else's negligence, the time to get informed is now, not later.
We Handle Every Type of Personal Injury Case in Chicago and Will County
We Handle Every Type of Personal Injury Case in Chicago and Will County
Car accidents. Motorcycle crashes. Truck collisions. Construction site injuries. Slip and falls. If negligence caused your injury, we've handled a case like yours before — across Chicago, Cook County, and Will County.
Each case type carries its own legal complexities, liability questions, and insurance dynamics. That's why each practice area below has its own dedicated page covering what you need to know.
Car Accidents
The most common personal injury cases in Illinois — and among the most aggressively defended by insurance carriers. We know the tactics they use and how to counter them.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists face unique bias in insurance negotiations and at trial. We've spent 20 years fighting that bias on behalf of Chicago riders.
Truck Accidents
Commercial truck crashes involve federal regulations, multiple liable parties, and carriers with large legal teams. We level the field.
Construction Accidents
Illinois construction injury cases often involve workers' compensation, third-party liability, and OSHA violations simultaneously. We handle the full picture.
Slip and Fall
Property owners in Illinois have a legal duty to maintain safe conditions. When they fail, and you're hurt, that failure has a dollar value. We prove it.
What Illinois Law Says About Your Personal Injury Claim
Illinois personal injury law is state-specific in ways that matter — and the details can determine whether you recover full compensation or nothing at all.
The statute of limitations isn't always two years.
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, most personal injury victims in Illinois have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit — but that deadline isn't fixed for everyone. Claims against a government entity can require formal notice in as little as one year. Cases involving a minor or someone legally incapacitated may have a different starting point entirely. And some injuries aren't discovered right away, which can shift when the clock actually starts.
Miss your actual deadline and you lose your right to recover, regardless of how strong your case is. Even when two years does apply, it isn't as much time as it sounds — not when medical records need to be gathered, witnesses located, and liability established before a single demand letter goes out.
What damages you can recover.
Illinois law allows personal injury victims to pursue compensation for medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. There is no cap on compensatory damages in most personal injury cases in Illinois. What you can recover depends on what we can prove — which is exactly what a free consultation is designed to establish.
Illinois comparative fault rules.
Under Illinois's modified comparative negligence standard, you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident — as long as your share of fault is less than 51 percent. If you're found 30 percent at fault, your recovery is reduced by 30 percent. You are not barred from recovering. Insurance companies routinely try to inflate your percentage of fault to reduce what they owe. We counter that directly.

Results That Reflect 20 Years of Chicago Personal Injury Work
We don't take cases we don't believe in. When we do take a case, we build it to win.
- $1,850,000 — Product Liability
- $1,760,000 — Auto Accident
- $565,000 — Truck Accident
- $500,000 — Workers' Compensation
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case turns on its own facts. What these numbers reflect is a consistent approach: thorough preparation, honest case valuation, and a firm that doesn't fold when an insurer pushes back.
You Work Directly With Jim Coyne — Not a Paralegal
At most large personal injury firms, the attorney you meet at intake is not the attorney handling your case. Your file moves to a paralegal or junior associate, and you hear from the named partner when it's time to sign the settlement.
That's not how we work. At Coyne Reinke Law, you have direct access to Jim Coyne throughout your case — from the first consultation through resolution. Twenty years of Chicago personal injury experience, applied directly to your situation. No hand-off. No intermediary.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Cases in Illinois
How do I know if I have a personal injury case in Illinois?
If someone else's negligence caused your injury — a distracted driver, a property owner who ignored a hazard, a trucking company that cut corners on maintenance — you likely have a viable claim. The clearest way to find out is a free consultation. We'll review what happened, assess liability, and give you a straight answer about whether and how to proceed.
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois?
Most personal injury claims in Illinois must be filed within two years of the injury date under the state statute of limitations. Certain exceptions apply — including cases involving minors or claims against government entities, which carry shorter deadlines. Don't assume you know which rule applies to your situation. Contact us early.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
You can still recover under Illinois law as long as you are found less than 51 percent at fault. Your compensation is reduced proportionally by your share of fault. Insurance adjusters routinely try to assign you more fault than is warranted to reduce their payout. Having an attorney in your corner changes that dynamic.
What does a personal injury attorney in Chicago cost?
We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront and nothing out of pocket during the case. Our fee comes as a percentage of the settlement or verdict only if we recover for you. If we don't win, you don't owe us a fee.
How much is my personal injury case worth in Illinois?
That depends on your medical expenses, lost income, the severity of your injuries, and the strength of liability evidence. Illinois law does not cap compensatory damages in most personal injury cases, which means the ceiling is determined by what we can prove — not an arbitrary limit. A free consultation gives you a realistic range based on the actual facts of your case.
Does Coyne Reinke Law handle cases outside of Chicago?
Yes. We represent clients throughout Cook County and Will County, including communities in the southwest suburbs. If you're searching for a personal injury lawyer in the Chicago metro area, we likely serve your community.
Talk to a Chicago Personal Injury Attorney Before the Clock Runs Out
The consultation is free. The information you get from it isn't. If you were hurt in an accident anywhere in Chicago or Will County, call us at (312) 855-0840 or submit your information below and we'll be in touch the same day.
