Editorial disclosure: This website is owned and operated by Phillips Law Offices. The firms listed on this site are selected and described by the site’s editors, not by an independent third-party rating service. Phillips Law Offices is featured prominently as the site’s owner.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most devastating injuries a person can suffer. The brain controls everything we do, including our thoughts, movements, emotions, and personality. When the brain is damaged, the effects can be permanent and life-altering, affecting not only the victim but their entire family.
Brain injuries can result from car accidents, falls, workplace incidents, sports injuries, assaults, and medical malpractice. The costs of treating and living with a TBI can reach millions of dollars over a lifetime. Victims need experienced lawyers who understand brain injuries and can fight for full compensation. This guide highlights a brain injury and TBI lawyer in Chicago.
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury occurs when an external force causes brain dysfunction. According to the CDC, TBIs are a major cause of death and disability in the United States.
Types of Brain Injuries
- Concussion – The most common TBI, caused by a blow or jolt to the head
- Contusion – Bruising of the brain tissue
- Coup-contrecoup – Injuries on both sides of the brain from impact and rebound
- Diffuse axonal injury – Widespread damage from rotational forces
- Penetrating injury – Object piercing the skull and brain
- Anoxic/hypoxic brain injury – Damage from oxygen deprivation
- Intracranial hemorrhage – Bleeding in or around the brain
Severity Classifications
- Mild TBI (concussion) – Brief loss of consciousness, confusion, headaches
- Moderate TBI – Extended unconsciousness, significant cognitive effects
- Severe TBI – Extended coma, permanent disability, or death
Common Causes of Brain Injuries
- Motor vehicle accidents – Car, truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian crashes
- Falls – Slip and fall accidents, falls from heights
- Workplace accidents – Construction, industrial, and falling object injuries
- Sports injuries – Football, hockey, soccer, boxing, and recreational activities
- Assaults – Physical attacks and violent crimes
- Medical malpractice – Surgical errors, anesthesia mistakes, birth injuries
- Defective products – Equipment failures, helmet defects
Symptoms of Brain Injuries
Physical Symptoms
- Headaches and migraines
- Dizziness and balance problems
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue and sleep disturbances
- Seizures
- Sensory problems (vision, hearing, smell)
- Motor difficulties and paralysis
Cognitive Symptoms
- Memory problems
- Difficulty concentrating
- Confusion and disorientation
- Slowed thinking and processing
- Language and communication difficulties
Emotional and Behavioral Changes
- Personality changes
- Depression and anxiety
- Irritability and mood swings
- Impulsivity and poor judgment
- Social difficulties
Long-Term Effects of TBI
Many brain injury victims face permanent disabilities:
- Chronic cognitive impairment
- Inability to work or reduced earning capacity
- Need for ongoing medical care and rehabilitation
- Requirement for 24-hour care in severe cases
- Increased risk of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia
- Shortened life expectancy
- Strained family relationships
Lifetime Cost of Brain Injuries
According to the Brain Injury Association of America, the lifetime costs of treating a severe TBI can exceed $3 million, including:
- Emergency and acute medical care
- Rehabilitation (physical, occupational, speech therapy)
- Long-term care and assistance
- Adaptive equipment and home modifications
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Psychological treatment
Why TBI Cases Require Specialized Attorneys
- Understanding the medical complexities of brain injuries
- Working with neurologists, neuropsychologists, and rehabilitation specialists
- Accurately projecting lifetime care costs
- Proving cognitive and emotional damages that aren’t visible
- Handling defense tactics that minimize brain injury severity
- Securing compensation that addresses lifetime needs
How to Compare Firms
There is no objective ranking of the “best” injury lawyer in Chicago, and you should be sceptical of any list that claims otherwise — including lists published by law firms themselves. What does exist is a set of questions that reliably separate a firm that will do the work from one that will not. Ask each firm you speak to:
- Who will actually handle my file? The lawyer in the advertisement is often not the lawyer doing the work. Ask for the name of the person who will run your case and how often you will hear from them.
- How many cases like mine have you taken to trial? Settlement value is influenced by whether the other side believes you will try the case. A firm that never tries cases negotiates from a weaker position.
- What is your fee, and what happens to costs if we lose? Contingency fees are standard, usually around one third. Case costs — filing fees, expert witnesses, medical records — are a separate question, and you should get a clear written answer about who pays them if the case does not succeed.
- What is my deadline? A firm that cannot tell you which limitations period applies to your specific facts is not the right firm. Some Illinois deadlines are one year, not two.
- What is this case realistically worth, and why? Be wary of a number promised at the first meeting, before anyone has reviewed your medical records.
Where Phillips Law Offices Fits
A disclosure, because it matters when you are weighing this advice: this guide is published by Phillips Law Offices, and we are one of the firms you could hire. We have handled Illinois injury cases since 1945 and we work on contingency, so there is no fee unless we recover for you. You should still do exactly what this guide recommends and speak to more than one firm before signing anything. Most reputable firms, ours included, offer a free consultation precisely so you can compare.
If you want to talk it through, call (312) 346-4262 or request a free case review. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome; every case depends on its own facts.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
- Emergency and acute medical care
- Rehabilitation (physical, occupational, cognitive, speech therapy)
- Future medical costs (often lifelong)
- In-home care and assistance
- Adaptive equipment and home modifications
- Lost wages and lifetime earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Cognitive and emotional damages
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium for family members
- Wrongful death damages
Illinois Brain Injury Law
Statute of Limitations
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, personal injury claims must be filed within two years.
Comparative Negligence
Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Official Resources
- CDC Traumatic Brain Injury Information
- Brain Injury Association of America
- NIH NINDS – Traumatic Brain Injury
- 735 ILCS 5/13-202 – Statute of Limitations
- Illinois Courts
Fighting for Brain Injury Victims
Traumatic brain injuries change lives forever. Victims and their families face enormous medical costs, lost income, and profound emotional challenges. They deserve attorneys who understand brain injuries and will fight for full compensation.
Firms like Phillips Law Offices lead with experience, medical knowledge, and dedication to TBI victims. Contact an experienced brain injury lawyer today.
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