Accidents happen every day in Buffalo Grove, and many of them are preventable. When negligence causes an injury, the victim should not have to carry the financial and emotional burden alone. Personal injury law in Illinois is designed to give victims a path toward recovery, but the process can be complicated, especially when insurance companies fight to minimize payouts.
At SJ Injury Law, we fight for individuals and families in Buffalo Grove and surrounding communities who have suffered harm in auto accidents, construction site injuries, nursing home neglect, workplace incidents, and many other devastating circumstances.
Whether your injury occurred on Dundee Road during a traffic collision, at a local shopping center because of unsafe property conditions, or in a nursing facility where your loved one was mistreated, our firm is ready to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Buffalo Grove is a thriving suburb with a mix of busy residential streets, shopping areas, and high-traffic commuter routes. Unfortunately, this also creates risk. Dundee Road and Buffalo Grove Road are two of the most notorious corridors for traffic crashes, especially during peak commuting hours. Pedestrians and bicyclists also face risks near schools, parks, and intersections that lack adequate safety measures.
Slip and fall accidents frequently occur at retail spaces such as The Grove Shopping Center or in restaurants and grocery stores where wet floors or cluttered aisles are not promptly addressed. In residential communities and apartment complexes, icy walkways, broken stairways, or poorly maintained parking lots often lead to severe falls.
Nursing home abuse and neglect remain an ongoing concern in long-term care facilities throughout the region, as does workplace safety in construction and industrial environments. The people of Buffalo Grove deserve to live, work, and shop safely. When property owners, employers, or corporations fail to uphold their responsibilities, injury victims should not bear the costs of those failures.
Personal injury cases from Buffalo Grove are typically filed in Cook County or Lake County, depending on the location of the accident. Cases from this area may proceed through the Rolling Meadows Courthouse in Cook County or the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan. Knowledge of these venues, their filing rules, and local judges can make a meaningful difference in how a case progresses.
When injuries occur, victims are often treated at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, or Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. The medical records from these facilities often form the backbone of a claim, establishing the extent of injuries and the need for ongoing care.
Personal injury claims in Illinois are governed by strict legal standards. The Illinois statute of limitations (735 ILCS 5/13-202) generally gives victims two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline can permanently bar recovery.
Illinois also applies modified comparative negligence (735 ILCS 5/2-1116). This rule allows victims to recover damages if they are less than 51 percent at fault, but reduces recovery by their percentage of fault. This means insurance companies often try to exaggerate a victim’s role in the accident to reduce payouts.
Depending on the type of case, different statutes may apply:
Understanding which laws apply to your case and how they interact is one of the most important reasons to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
At SJ Injury Law, we represent victims in nearly every type of personal injury case, including:
Auto Accidents – Car crashes, distracted driving accidents, rear-end collisions, and T-bone crashes on roads like Dundee and Buffalo Grove Road.
Truck Accidents – Collisions with semi-trucks and commercial vehicles often cause catastrophic injuries.
Motorcycle Accidents – High-impact crashes that leave riders with serious injuries or permanent disability.
Wrongful Death Claims – Supporting families who have lost loved ones due to another party’s negligence or misconduct.
Dog Bite Injuries – Holding negligent dog owners accountable for injuries caused by dangerous animals.
Construction and Workplace Accidents – Falls, machinery injuries, and dangerous conditions on job sites; third-party claims in addition to workers’ compensation.
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect – Protecting vulnerable residents who have suffered from falls, neglect, bedsores, or abuse.
Workers’ Compensation Claims – Assisting employees in securing benefits after workplace accidents and ensuring employers meet their obligations.
Slip and Fall Claims – Injuries caused by spills, defective staircases, icy parking lots, or poor property maintenance.
Our firm also handles catastrophic injury cases, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and cases involving permanent disability. Whatever the cause, if negligence played a role in your injuries, we are prepared to fight for you.
The types of injuries suffered in personal injury cases vary widely, but what they all share is the potential to disrupt lives. Even what seems like a minor accident can result in complications that affect a person’s ability to work, care for their family, and enjoy daily life. In Buffalo Grove, we regularly see injury victims who require weeks, months, or even years of medical treatment and rehabilitation after an accident caused by negligence.
Head and Brain Injuries – One of the most serious consequences of car accidents, falls, and construction site incidents is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI can range from a concussion to severe brain damage. Victims often experience memory loss, difficulty concentrating, headaches, dizziness, or long-term cognitive impairment. These injuries may not always be visible at the time of the accident, which is why medical evaluation is so critical.
Spinal Cord Injuries – Damage to the spine can result in chronic pain, nerve damage, or partial to complete paralysis. Victims of spinal cord injuries often face lifelong challenges that require ongoing medical care, adaptive equipment, and changes to their homes and vehicles. These claims frequently involve high damages because of the long-term impact on quality of life and earning ability.
Orthopedic Injuries – Broken bones, fractures, and joint injuries are extremely common in auto accidents, slip and falls, and workplace incidents. While some fractures heal in a matter of weeks, others require surgeries, metal plates, or screws, and can lead to permanent mobility issues.
Soft Tissue and Internal Injuries – Torn ligaments, muscle damage, and whiplash injuries may not be immediately obvious but can cause lasting pain and reduced function. Internal injuries, such as organ damage or internal bleeding, are especially dangerous because symptoms may not appear until the condition is life-threatening.
Burns and Scarring – In construction accidents, workplace explosions, or vehicle crashes, burn injuries are tragically common. Severe burns often require skin grafts, result in disfiguring scars, and create lifelong pain. Beyond the physical damage, these injuries cause significant emotional distress.
Amputations and Crush Injuries – Industrial accidents, truck collisions, and construction site incidents sometimes lead to catastrophic injuries where a limb is crushed or amputated. Victims not only face enormous medical costs but also must adapt to life with prosthetics and permanent disability.
Psychological Trauma – Physical injuries are only one part of the equation. Many victims suffer from emotional harm, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. These conditions can be just as disabling as physical injuries and should be included in a full personal injury claim.
Each of these injuries highlights why personal injury cases in Buffalo Grove must be taken seriously. The costs go far beyond the emergency room visit — they include rehabilitation, lost wages, reduced earning potential, home modifications, and long-term care. At SJ Injury Law, we ensure that every aspect of an injury, both visible and invisible, is documented and presented to maximize compensation for our clients.
A personal injury claim moves through several phases. It begins with an investigation, during which evidence, such as police reports, witness statements, photographs, and medical records, is collected. Attorneys may also secure surveillance footage in slip-and-fall cases or black box data in truck accidents.
The next stage is filing the claim through insurance channels or directly in court. Cook County and Lake County each have their own filing rules, and a knowledgeable lawyer ensures the claim is properly filed to avoid dismissal.
Negotiation follows, during which insurance companies often attempt to minimize payouts by disputing liability or downplaying the extent of injuries. Our firm utilizes evidence, expert testimony, and robust legal arguments to demand full compensation.
If settlement negotiations fail, the case proceeds to litigation. Discovery, depositions, and motion practice help develop the case, and if necessary, a jury will decide liability and damages at trial.
The claim concludes with a resolution, either through settlement or verdict, covering damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
In Buffalo Grove, as across Illinois, personal injury cases can be complicated by comparative negligence arguments, procedural rules, and aggressive defense strategies. Victims without attorneys face an uphill battle against well-funded insurance carriers and corporate defendants.
At SJ Injury Law, we build cases from the ground up. We secure expert witnesses in accident reconstruction, medicine, and economics to ensure every aspect of liability and damages is proven.
We anticipate defenses such as the “open and obvious” doctrine in premises liability claims, comparative negligence in traffic accidents, and disputes over causation in medical malpractice cases. We also handle procedural complexities, such as meeting filing deadlines, presenting evidence under Illinois Rules of Evidence, and preparing jury instructions in wrongful death trials.
This comprehensive approach provides our clients with the best possible opportunity to secure fair compensation.
You generally have two years under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, but certain claims, such as those involving medical malpractice or minors, may have different deadlines.
Victims may recover medical expenses, lost wages, future earning losses, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, and loss of normal life. Wrongful death cases may also include funeral costs and loss of companionship.
Yes. Illinois law allows recovery if you are less than 51 percent at fault. Your percentage of responsibility will reduce your recovery.
Workers’ compensation provides benefits regardless of fault, but limits recovery to medical bills and wage loss. Personal injury claims, such as those against negligent third parties, can provide much greater compensation for pain, suffering, and other damages.
Many cases settle before trial, but our firm prepares every claim as if it will go before a jury. This ensures we are ready for any outcome and strengthens your negotiating position.
Attorney Keith Shindler has helped clients recover more than $155 million in settlements and verdicts across Illinois and Wisconsin. With offices in Schaumburg and Milwaukee, our firm is uniquely positioned to serve Buffalo Grove residents with both local insight and regional reach.
We prepare every case for trial, which often strengthens our negotiation position. Insurance companies are aware of our reputation for thorough case development, which often translates into better settlement offers for our clients.
Most importantly, we put people first. Our clients are never treated as case numbers. We provide direct communication, compassionate support, and a commitment to securing justice for every client. Our motto says it best – Let Us Help You Claim Your Justice®! We are also proud to serve Spanish-speaking clients. Se Habla Español.
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If you or a loved one has been injured in Buffalo Grove, the time to act is now. Illinois law limits how long you have to file a claim, and evidence can disappear quickly. Let SJ Injury Law fight for your rights and secure the compensation you deserve. Call 847-434-3555 to receive your free consultation. Se Habla Español.