Auto Accident Head Injury Lawyer

Fighting for Victims Suffering From Head and Brain Trauma After Car Crashes

Head injuries are among the most catastrophic consequences of an auto accident. In Illinois, thousands of drivers and passengers suffer concussions, traumatic brain injuries, and long-term cognitive impairment every year due to negligent driving. A single blow to the head in a car crash can permanently change how a person thinks, feels, and functions. These cases require not only medical understanding but also legal precision to ensure the victim receives full compensation for what can be a lifetime of loss.

At SJ Injury Law, we represent individuals and families throughout Illinois who have suffered head and brain injuries from car crashes, truck collisions, and other roadway accidents. Our firm’s mission is to ensure your future care, financial stability, and dignity are protected. 

Attorney Keith Shindler and our team have recovered more than $155 million for injury victims across Illinois and Wisconsin. We know what it takes to hold negligent drivers, corporations, and insurance companies accountable when brain injuries upend a person’s life.

Understanding Head and Brain Injuries After an Auto Accident

When a vehicle suddenly stops, even at moderate speed, the brain continues moving inside the skull, striking bone and tissue. This causes chemical and structural damage that can last for years or forever. 

Common head injuries in Illinois car accidents include:

• Concussions – Often dismissed as “minor,” concussions can cause headaches, fatigue, irritability, and concentration problems lasting months.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) – Moderate to severe TBIs result in cognitive decline, memory loss, mood changes, and sometimes permanent disability.
• Diffuse Axonal Injury – Common in high-speed or rollover collisions, where the brain’s nerve fibers are torn by rapid deceleration.
• Contusions and Hematomas – Bruising or bleeding inside the skull can lead to swelling that puts pressure on the brain, sometimes requiring surgery.
• Skull Fractures – Blunt-force impacts can fracture the skull, leading to infection, nerve damage, and chronic headaches.
• Penetrating Head Injuries – Flying debris or shattered glass can penetrate the skull, causing focal brain damage.

Because these injuries often evolve over time, early symptoms such as confusion, dizziness, or memory lapses may worsen in the days that follow. Our attorneys ensure clients are evaluated by neurologists, neuropsychologists, and rehabilitation specialists to document the full impact and build a comprehensive damages claim.

Common Causes of Head Injuries in Car Crashes

Head injuries occur in all kinds of Illinois motor vehicle collisions, but certain crash types carry a higher risk:

• Rear-end collisions – Sudden whiplash and acceleration/deceleration forces drive the brain against the skull.
• Side-impact or T-bone crashes – The unprotected side of a vehicle allows direct head contact with windows or pillars.
• Head-on collisions – Forceful impacts that often cause severe brain trauma or death.
• Rollover accidents – Roof collapses and multiple impacts frequently cause skull fractures.
• Truck accidents – Larger commercial vehicles generate enormous kinetic energy, which amplifies the severity of brain injuries.
• Pedestrian and bicycle collisions – The head often absorbs the majority of the impact against a vehicle or pavement.

Negligence, such as distracted driving, speeding, impairment, or fatigue, is behind most of these crashes. When another driver’s choices cause such injuries, Illinois law allows full financial recovery through civil claims.

Illinois Laws Protecting Head Injury Victims

Several Illinois statutes protect auto accident victims suffering head injuries:

• 735 ILCS 5/13-202 – Two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims.
• 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 – Comparative negligence rule—damages are reduced by your share of fault and barred if you are more than 50% at fault.
• 625 ILCS 5 (Illinois Vehicle Code) – Governs traffic conduct, including speeding, failure to yield, and distracted driving, which often serve as the basis for proving negligence.
• 740 ILCS 180 (Wrongful Death Act) – Allows families of fatal head-injury victims to pursue compensation for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and loss of companionship.

Understanding these laws ensures victims file timely claims and receive fair compensation for lifelong impairments.

Local Hospitals and Treatment Centers for Head Injuries

Illinois residents suffering serious head injuries after auto accidents are often transported to trauma centers such as Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, or Rush University Medical Center and Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. 

Many victims also receive rehabilitation through facilities such as Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton or the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in downtown Chicago.

Medical documentation from these facilities forms the foundation of every brain injury case, helping prove severity, prognosis, and long-term care needs.

Building a Head Injury Case Under Illinois Law

Head injury cases are among the most complex in personal injury law because the damage is often invisible and disputed by insurers. Our attorneys use a multi-step approach designed to prove both liability and damages clearly:

• Investigation and Evidence Preservation – We gather police reports, photographs, black box data, witness statements, and any available dashcam or surveillance footage.
• Medical and Expert Evaluation – We coordinate evaluations by neurologists, neuropsychologists, and life-care planners to document physical, cognitive, and behavioral changes.
• Economic Analysis – We work with economists to project lifetime medical costs, lost earning potential, and necessary home or vehicle modifications.
• Negotiation with Insurers – We present detailed evidence linking the crash to the brain injury, forcing insurers to recognize the full scope of damages.
• Litigation and Trial Preparation – When negotiations fail, we file suit, take depositions of treating doctors, and present compelling testimony to juries.

Every case is prepared for trial from the start, giving our clients leverage at every negotiation table.

Damages Recoverable Head Injury Claims

Because brain injuries affect nearly every aspect of life, Illinois law allows victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages, including:

• Medical Costs – Emergency care, hospital bills, surgeries, medications, follow-up appointments, and long-term rehabilitation.
• Future Care Costs – Ongoing therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, assistive devices, or in-home care for permanent disability.
• Lost Wages and Earning Capacity – Compensation for missed work and future income loss due to cognitive or physical limitations.
• Pain and Suffering – Chronic headaches, sensory sensitivity, and emotional distress caused by the injury.
• Loss of Normal Life – The inability to perform daily activities, hobbies, or social interactions as before the crash.
• Disfigurement and Scarring – When head trauma leaves visible scars or surgical marks.
• Loss of Consortium – Compensation to spouses for loss of companionship or intimacy.
• Wrongful Death Damages – Funeral costs, lost household income, and loss of companionship when a head injury proves fatal.

Our firm works with life-care planners and financial experts to ensure no future expense or non-economic harm is overlooked.

Why Victims of Head Injuries Need Skilled Legal Representation

Head injury cases demand more than routine claim handling. Insurance companies often deny or minimize brain injury claims by arguing that the symptoms are psychological or unrelated to the accident. These cases require attorneys who can interpret complex medical records, cross-examine defense doctors, and demonstrate the real-world consequences of cognitive impairment.

At SJ Injury Law, we handle these cases on a daily basis. We understand how to present medical imaging (CT scans, MRIs, DTI tests) alongside credible medical testimony to prove brain injury, even when scans appear normal. We also prepare lay testimony from family, friends, and coworkers who can describe the client’s changes in behavior, speech, or personality—to make the impact undeniable.

Our team anticipates and effectively counters the most common insurance defenses, including claims of pre-existing conditions, lack of objective findings, or minimal property damage. We build every case for maximum recovery, not minimal settlements.

Why Choose SJ Injury Law

Attorney Keith Shindler has helped injured clients recover more than $155 million across Illinois and Wisconsin. We have decades of experience handling catastrophic injury cases involving brain and spinal trauma, wrongful death, and permanent disability.

What sets SJ Injury Law apart is our total commitment to clients’ futures. We:

• Work directly with you and your family—no call centers, no endless waiting.
• Prepare every case as if it will be tried before a jury.
• Retain top neurologists, economists, and accident reconstruction specialists.
• Understand how Illinois courts evaluate medical evidence and damages.
• Communicate in both English and Spanish. Se Habla Español.

Our motto reflects our mission – Let Us Help You Claim Your Justice®!

Frequently Asked Questions About Head Injury Cases in Illinois

How Long Do I Have To File A Brain Injury Lawsuit In Illinois?

You generally have two years from the date of the crash (735 ILCS 5/13-202). However, earlier notice may be required if a government vehicle or employee was involved.

Can I Recover If I Was Partly At Fault?

Yes, as long as you are not more than 50% responsible. Your damages will be reduced in proportion to your share of fault (735 ILCS 5/2-1116).

What If My CT Or MRI Scan Was Normal?

Many brain injuries do not appear on standard imaging. Neuropsychological testing, DTI scans, and clinical evaluations can still prove cognitive impairment. Our firm collaborates with specialists who possess this expertise.

What Damages Can My Family Recover If The Injury Is Fatal?

Under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act, surviving family members may recover funeral expenses, lost financial support, and compensation for the loss of companionship and guidance.

Will I Have To Testify In Court?

Most cases settle, but we prepare every client thoroughly for the possibility of trial. Testimony from victims, doctors, and loved ones often powerfully demonstrates how life has changed.