What does it mean to file a personal injury claim?

Filing a personal injury claim means filing a lawsuit, or complaint, that is aimed at securing full and fair compensation for your losses caused by another’s misconduct.

Treating certain injuries such as brain damage or a spinal cord injury can cost millions of dollars. Your quality of your life can also change in many ways. Filing a personal injury lawsuit ensures that the party (or parties) responsible for your injury compensate you fully for all of your costs and losses.

You must comply with all requirements set forth in the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure to file a personal injury claim. For instance, you must file the lawsuit in a court where you or the defendant live or where the injury happened.

After a lawsuit is filed, your case may enter into settlement negotiations with the defendant and/or the defendant’s insurance company, or it may go to trial before a jury.