What’s personal injury law in Illinois? According to the American Bar Association, personal injury law (also called tort law) protects you if you or your property is injured or harmed due to someone else’s act or failure to act. If successful, the defendant (the one who caused the injury) compensates the plaintiff (the one who suffered the losses).

Illinois personal injury cases may involve a car accident, a dog bite, or a slip and fall. Immediately after the injury, the victim may need time and help to recover. This help can include going to the doctor or contacting a personal injury lawyer. 

However, when it comes to hiring an attorney, many people will delay reaching out. Some, unfortunately, don’t reach out to an attorney until it’s too late. 

For all personal injury cases, there are strict time limits called the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit. Essentially, you only have a certain amount of time to pursue damages for your injury.

If you or a loved one recently experienced a personal injury of any sort, our attorneys at Shannon Law Group are here to help you. Give us a call anytime at (312) 578-9501, and one of our team members will be happy to speak with you. 

Keep reading to learn more about the statute of limitations in personal injury cases in Illinois. 

What Are The Statutes of Limitations on Personal Injury Cases in Illinois?

The statute of limitations for any personal injury case in the state of Illinois is plainly stated in 735 Illinois Compiled Statutes section 5/13-202. It says that any person who suffers a personal injury due to the negligence of another individual or corporation has two (2) years from the date of the initial injury to file a lawsuit. 

In short,  you have two years from the date of your injury to meet with a lawyer, hire them, and file a complaint in your case before the statute of limitations runs.

Exceptions To The Two-Year Rule

There are some exceptions to the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit. Please contact an attorney if you believe your case falls under one of the following exceptions:

• If the injured person sustains a legal disability anytime after the accident, and before the personal injury lawsuit is filed.
• If the injured person had been under a legal disability (for example, a mental illness) at the time of the accident, he or she will have two years to file the lawsuit once the disability is resolved (735 ILCS 5/13-211).
• If the injured person was under the age of 18 at the time of the underlying accident, the two-year does not start to count down until they turn 18 (735 ILCS 5/13-211). 
• If the person who caused the accident leaves the state of Illinois, and before the lawsuit could be filed, the period of absence likely won’t be counted as part of the two years (735 ILCS 5/13-208).

Injured? Contact Us Today For A Free Consultation with an Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or someone you love was seriously injured by someone else’s negligence, our compassionate personal injury lawyers are here for you. Our team can review your case and help you understand the statute of limitations at no cost to you.

Contact us today for a free consultation. Call us 24/7 at (312) 578-9501 or fill out the form on our website to get started.