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Illinois Personal Injury Overview
Personal injury law involves civil claims in which an individual is injured through the negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct of another person, a company, or property owner. A personal injury lawsuit may arise from physical or emotional injuries. Personal injury law compensates individuals injured as a result of another’s negligence or intentional misconduct. Personal injury laws vary from state to state. If you believe you have a personal injury claim, you should contact a personal injury lawyer in Illinois to evaluate your claim.
Click here for more information about Personal Injury law in Illinois.
Illinoi follows a system using the modified comparative negligence – 51% rule. In states following a modified comparative fault – 51% rule, an injured party can only recover if it is determined that his or her fault in causing the injury does not reach 51%. If the injured party was 50% or less at fault, he or she may still recover damages. However, if a plaintiff’s fault reaches 51%, he or she recovers nothing. In other words, a plaintiff may have caused half of the accident and still recover damages from the court, but if it is found that the plaintiff’s fault was responsible for more than half of the accident, that plaintiff is barred from receiving any damages determined by the court. Here, as in a pure comparative negligence state, a plaintiff’s recovery is reduced by the degree of his or her fault. For example, if Debbie sued Dave for damages she suffered in a car accident involving their vehicles, and Debbie was 51% at fault, Debbie would not recover anything from Dave. If, however, Debbie was 40% at fault, she could recover damages, but the damage award would be reduced by her portion of the fault in causing the injury. Therefore, a finding that Debbie suffered $10,000 in damages would result in Debbie receiving an award reduced by 40%, or a final award of $6,000.
Click here to read about contributory vs. comparative negligence.
A statute of limitations is a type of law that restricts the period of time that a person may initiate legal proceedings. Time limits can vary depending on the type of case and the state where the particular cause of action occurred. To learn more about statutes of limitations, read our Statute of Limitations page. To see a state by state comparison chart for the personal injury statute of limitations for each state, read our Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Actions page.
Illinois Statutes of Limitations
In Illinois, the courts follow a modified joint and several liability approach in entering judgment against multiple defendants. If it is determined that a defendant is less than 25% liable, that defendant is subject to several liability regarding non-medical damages. As such, that defendant is responsible for his or her portion of the damages. Regarding medical damages, all defendants are jointly and severally liable for the plaintiff’s past and future related medical expenses. Defendants in medical malpractice actions are subject to joint and several liability for all damages.
Click here for more about Joint and Several Liability.
One of the best ways to research personal injury lawyers in Illinois is to contact courts in IL and ask them for information about the personal injury attorneys who utilize their legal facilities when they bring personal injury cases to court. We have compiled a list below of some courts in Illinois to get you started:
Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Illinois
Supreme Court Building
Springfield, IL 62701
217-782-2035
Courts of Appeals
Appellate Court of Illinois – First District
160 North LaSalle St.
Chicago, IL 60601
312-793-5600
Appellate Court of Illinois – Second District
Appellate Court Building
55 Symphony Way
Elgin, IL 60120
847-695-3750
Appellate Court of Illinois – Third District
1004 Columbus Street
Ottawa, IL 61350
815-434-5050
Appellate Court of Illinois- Fourth District
201 West Monroe Street
P.O. Box 19206
Springfield, IL 62794-9206
217-782-2586
Appellate Court of Illinois – Fifth District
14th & Main Street
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864
618-242-3120
Circuit Courts
Circuit Court of Cook County
50 W. Washington, Room 1001
Chicago, IL 60602-1305
312-603-5030
1st Judicial Circuit Court – Alexander County
2000 Washington
Cairo, IL 62914-1717
618-734-0107
1st Judicial Circuit Court – Jackson County
10th & Walnut
P.O. Box 730
Murphysboro, IL 62966-0730
618-687-7300
1st Judicial Circuit Court – Johnson County
Courthouse Square
P.O. Box 517
Vienna, IL 62995-0517
618-658-4751
1st Judicial Circuit Court – Massac County
Superman Square, P.O. Box 152
Metropolis, IL 62960-1882
618-524-5011
1st Judicial Circuit Court – Pope County
Main Street, P.O. Box 438
Golconda, IL 62938-0502
618-683-3941
1st Judicial Circuit Court – Pulaski County
500 Illinois Ave, PO Box 88
Mound City, IL 62963-0088
618-748-9300
1st Judicial Circuit Court – Saline County
10 East Poplar
Harrisburg, IL 62946-1553
618-253-5096
1st Judicial Circuit Court – Union County
309 W. Market St., Room 101
Jonesboro, IL 62952-0360
618-833-5913
1st Judicial Circuit Court – Williamson County
200 West Jefferson
Marion, IL 62959-2494
618-997-1301
2nd Judicial Circuit Court – Crawford County
Court Street, P.O. Box 655
Robinson, IL 62454-0655
618-544-3512
2nd Judicial Circuit Court – Edwards County
50 E. Main Street
Albion, IL 62806-1262
618-445-2016
2nd Judicial Circuit Court – Franklin County
On the Square, P.O. Box 485
Benton, IL 62812-2264
618-439-2011
2nd Judicial Circuit Court – Gallatin County
Lincoln Boulevard, P.O. Box 249
Shawneetown, IL 62984-0249
618-269-3140
2nd Judicial Circuit Court – Hamilton County
100 S. Jackson Street
McLeansboro, IL 62859-1490
618-643-3224
2nd Judicial Circuit Court – Hardin County
Main & Market
P.O. Box 308
Elizabethtown, IL 62931-0308
618-287-2735
2nd Judicial Circuit Court – Jefferson County
10th and Broadway, Box 1266
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864-1266
618-244-8007
2nd Judicial Circuit Court – Lawrence County
1100 State Street
Lawrenceville, IL 62439-2390
618-943-2815
2nd Judicial Circuit Court – Richland County
103 W. Main St., #21
Olney, IL 62450-2170
618-392-2151
2nd Judicial Circuit Court – Wabash County
401 Market
P.O. Drawer 997
Mt. Carmel, IL 62863
618-262-5362
2nd Judicial Circuit Court – Wayne County
301 East Main Street
P.O. Box 96
Fairfield, IL 62837-0096
618-842-7684
2nd Judicial Circuit Court – White County
301 East Main Street
P.O. Box 310
Carmi, IL 62821-0310
618-382-2321
3rd Judicial Circuit Court – Bond County
200 West College
Greenville, IL 62246-1057
618-664-3208
3rd Judicial Circuit Court – Madison County
P155 N. Main
Edwardsville, IL 62025-1955
618-692-6240
4th Judicial Circuit Court – Christian County
On the Square, Box 617
Taylorville, IL 62568-0617
4th Judicial Circuit Court – Clay County
111 Chestnut, P.O. Box 100
Louisville, IL 62858-0100
618-665-3523
4th Judicial Circuit Court – Clinton County
850 Fairfax
Carlyle, IL 62231-0407
618-594-2415
4th Judicial Circuit Court – Effingham County
100 E. Jefferson, #101
P.O. Box 586
Effingham, IL 62401-0586
217-342-4065
4th Judicial Circuit Court – Fayette County
221 South Seventh
Vandalia, IL 62471-2755
618-283-5009
4th Judicial Circuit Court – Jasper County
100 West Jourdan
Newton, IL 62448-1973
618-783-2524
4th Judicial Circuit Court – Marion County
100 Main
P.O. Box 130
Salem, IL 62881-0130
618-548-3856
4th Judicial Circuit Court – Montgomery County
120 N. Main Street, Box C
Hillsboro, IL 62049-0210
217-532-9546
4th Judicial Circuit Court – Shelby County
P.O. Box 469
Shelbyville, IL 62565-0469
217-774-4212
5th Judicial Circuit Court – Clark County
501 Archer Avenue, Box 187
Marshall, IL 62441-0187
217-826-2811
5th Judicial Circuit Court – Coles County
6th and Jackson, Box 48
Charleston, IL 61920-0048
217-348-0516
5th Judicial Circuit Court – Cumberland County
Courthouse Square, Box 145
Toledo, IL 62468-0145
217-849-3601
5th Judicial Circuit Court – Edgar County
115 West Court Street
Paris, IL 61944-1739
217-466-7447
5th Judicial Circuit Court – Vermilion County
7 North Vermilion Street
Danville, IL 61832-5806
217-554-7730
6th Judicial Circuit Court – Champaign County
101 East Main Street
Urbana, IL 61801-2736
217-384-3725
6th Judicial Circuit Court – DeWitt County
201 W. Washington Street
Clinton, IL 61727-0439
217-935-2195
6th Judicial Circuit Court – Douglas County
401 South Center
P.O. Box 50
Tuscola, IL 61953-0050
217-253-2352
6th Judicial Circuit Court – Macon County
253 East Wood Street
Decatur, IL 62523-1489
217-424-1454
6th Judicial Circuit Court – Moultrie County
10 South Main Street, Suite 7
Sullivan, IL 61951-1969
217-728-4622
6th Judicial Circuit Court – Piatt County
101 W. Washington Street
Monticello, IL 61856-0288
217-762-4966
7th Judicial Circuit Court- Green County
519 North Main Street
Carrollton, IL 62016-1093
217-942-3421
7th Judicial Circuit Court – Jersey County
201 West Pearl
Jerseyville, IL 62052-1852
618-498-5571
7th Judicial Circuit Court – Macoupin County
201 East Main Street
Carlinville, IL 62626-1824
217-854-3211
7th Judicial Circuit Court – Morgan County
300 West State St., Box 1120
Jacksonville, IL 62650-1165
217-243-5419
7th Judicial Circuit Court – Sangamon County
200 South 9th Street, Rm. 405
Springfield, IL 62701-1299
217-753-6674
7th Judicial Circuit Court – Scott County
35 East Market St.
Winchester, IL 62694-1216
217-742-5217
8th Judicial Circuit Court – Adams County
521 Vermont Street
Quincy, IL 62301-2934
217-277-2100
8th Judicial Circuit Court – Brown County
#1 Court Street
Mt. Sterling, IL 62353-1233
217-773-2713
8th Judicial Circuit Court – Calhoun County
Main & County Roads
Hardin, IL 62047-0486
618-576-2451
8th Judicial Circuit Court – Cass County
P.O. Box 203
Virginia, IL 62691-0203
217-452-7225
8th Judicial Circuit Court – Mason County
125 N. Plum
Havana, IL 62644-0377
309-543-6619
8th Judicial Circuit Court – Menard County
P.O. Box 466
Petersburg, IL 62675-0466
217-632-2615
8th Judicial Circuit Court – Pike County
100 East Washington
Pittsfield, IL 62363-1497
217-285-6612
8th Judicial Circuit Court – Schuyler County
Lafayette & Congress
P.O. Box 80
Rushville, IL 62681-0189
217-322-4633
9th Judicial Circuit Court – Fulton County
100 North Main Street
P.O. Box 152
Lewistown, IL 61542-0152
309-547-3041
9th Judicial Circuit Court – Hancock County
Courthouse Square, Box 189
Carthage, IL 62321-0189
217-357-2616
9th Judicial Circuit Court – Henderson County
4th & Warren
Box 546
Oquawka, IL 61469-0546
309-867-3121
9th Judicial Circuit Court – Knox County
200 South Cherry Street
Galesburg, IL 61401-4912
309-343-3121
9th Judicial Circuit Court – McDonough County
#1 Courthouse Square
P.O. Box 348
Macomb, IL 61455-0348
309-837-4889
9th Judicial Circuit Court – Warren County
100 West Broadway
Monmouth, IL 61462-1795
309-734-5179
10th Judicial Circuit Court – Marshall County
122 N. Prairie
P.O. Box 328
Lacon, IL 61540-0328
309-246-6435
10th Judicial Circuit Court – Peoria County
324 Main St., Rm. G22
Peoria, IL 61602-1319
309-672-6989
10th Judicial Circuit Court – Putnam County
120 North 4th Street
Hennepin, IL 61327-0207
815-925-7016
10th Judicial Circuit Court – Stark County
130 Main Street, Box 426
Toulon, IL 61483-0426
309-286-5941
10th Judicial Circuit Court – Tazewell County
342 Court Street
Pekin, IL 61554-0069
309-477-2214
11th Judicial Circuit Court – Ford County
200 West State, Box 80
Paxton, IL 60957-0080
217-379-2641
11th Judicial Circuit Court – Livingston County
112 West Madison Street
Pontiac, IL 61764-0320
815-844-2602
11th Judicial Circuit Court – Logan County
601 Broadway
P.O. Box 158
Lincoln, IL 62656-0158
217-735-2376
11th Judicial Circuit Court – McLean County
104 West Front Street, Room 404
Bloomington, IL 61702-2400
309-888-5324
11th Judicial Circuit Court – Woodford County
115 North Main Street
P.O. Box 284
Eureka, IL 61530-0284
309-467-3312
12th Judicial Circuit Court – Will County
14 W. Jefferson Street, Suite 212
Joliet, IL 60432-4399
815-727-8585
13th Judicial Circuit Court – Bureau County
700 South Main Street
Princeton, IL 61356-2037
815-872-2001
13th Judicial Circuit Court – Grundy County
111 E. Washington Street, Room 30
Morris, IL 60450-0707
815-941-3258
13th Judicial Circuit Court – LaSalle County
119 W. Madison
Ottawa, IL 61350-0617
815-434-8671
14th Judicial Circuit Court – Henry County
307 West Center Street
Cambridge, IL 61238
309-937-3572
14th Judicial Circuit Court – Mercer County
100 Southeast 3rd Street
P.O. Box 175
Aledo, IL 61231-0175
309-582-7122
14th Judicial Circuit Court – Rock Island County
210 15th Street, Box 5230
Rock Island, IL 61201-5230
309-786-4451
14th Judicial Circuit Court – Whiteside County
200 East Knox Street
Morrison, IL 61270-2819
815-772-5188
15th Judicial Circuit Court – Carroll County
301 North Main St.
Mt. Carroll, IL 61053-0032
815-244-0230
15th Judicial Circuit Court – Jo Daviess County
330 North Bench Street
Galena, IL 61036-1828
815-777-0037
15th Judicial Circuit Court – Lee County
309 S. Galena, Box 325
Dixon, IL 61021-0325
815-284-5234
15th Judicial Circuit Court – Ogle County
106 S. 5th, Suite 300
Oregon, IL 61061-0337
815-732-3201
15th Judicial Circuit Court – Stephenson County
15 North Galena Street
Freeport, IL 61032-0785
815-235-8266
16th Judicial Circuit Court – DeKalb County
133 West State Street
Sycamore, IL 60178-1416
815-895-7131
16th Judicial Circuit Court – Kane County
540 S. Randall Road
St. Charles, IL 60174
630-232-3413
16th Judicial Circuit Court – Kendall County
807 W. John Street
P.O. Box M
Yorkville, IL 60560-0259
630-553-4183
17th Judicial Circuit Court – Boone County
601 North Main, #303
Belvidere, IL 61008-2644
815-544-0371
17th Judicial Circuit Court – Winnebago County
400 West State Street
Rockford, IL 61101-1221
815-987-5464
18th Judicial Circuit Court – DuPage County
505 N. County Farm Rd
Wheaton, IL 60189-0707
630-407-8700
19th Judicial Circuit Court – Lake County
18 North County Street
Waukegan, IL 60085-4340
847-377-3380
19th Judicial Circuit Court – McHenry County
2200 North Seminary Avenue
Woodstock, IL 60098-2837
815-334-4000
20th Judicial Circuit Court – Monroe County
100 S. Main Street, Room 115
Waterloo, IL 62298-1322
618-939-8681
20th Judicial Circuit Court – Perry County
Courthouse Square, Box 219
Pinckneyville, IL 62274-0219
618-357-6726
20th Judicial Circuit Court – Randolph County
#1 Taylor Street, Room 302
Chester, IL 62233-0329
618-826-3116
20th Judicial Circuit Court – St. Clair County
10 Public Square
Belleville, IL 62220-1623
618-277-6832
20th Judicial Circuit Court – Washington County
101 E. St. Louis Street
Nashville, IL 62263-1100
618-327-4800
21st Judicial Circuit Court – Iroquois County
550 South Tenth Street
Watseka, IL 60970-1810
815-432-6950
21st Judicial Circuit Court – Kankakee County
450 East Court Street
Kankakee, IL 60901-3917
815-937-2905
