Personal Injury Litigation Attorney Auto Accidents Lawyer Elgin Illinois Family Law Workers Compensation Real Estate litigation law lawyer attorney

My knowledge, experience and training are supported by my aggressive and proactive style. I have represented individuals and businesses in Elgin, Illinois and throughout the northwest suburbs of Chicago in a wide array practice areas.

Please click on any of the following practice area to learn more about the exceptional services I provide:

Every client and every case is important to me. I welcome questions and feedback from my clients and I strive for your complete satisfaction. Contact me today to find out how I can put my experience to work for you.

I represent individuals who have been seriously injured and the families of individuals who have died because of the negligent or intentional behavior of another. I focus my personal injury and wrongful death practice in the following areas:

Victims of personal injury are entitled to financial compensation for their medical and property expenses, incidental costs caused by the accident, and may be entitled to additional damages to cover future expenses, pain and suffering, or other issues.

My fee is "contingent" in personal injury cases; I earn a fee only if you get paid. The contingency fee system enables injured individuals and families who cannot afford to pay on an hourly rate basis to have an attorney. The fee agreement will be carefully explained to you before you retain me.

While car accidents comprise a significant portion of personal injury and wrongful death claims, it would be wrong to think that they are always simple to resolve. I understand not just the "rules of the road" and the special duties imposed on commercial and public carriers, but also the complex scientific and engineering principles often necessary to unravel just how an accident occurred on the roadways of Illinois and who was at fault. I understand the medicine needed to evaluate what complaints, as well as the economic and accounting principles needed to evaluate losses. I handle motor vehicle accident cases involving:

When cases can be optimally resolved, through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or other Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods, I can aid in achieving the best result. When cases must be tried, I recognize that and can tap into my extensive experience in the courtroom. Whatever the practical or legal issues that arise out of a car accident, I are prepared to address them in order to maximize my client's recovery.

Lawsuits arising from an accident involving a semi or 18-wheeler involve a complicated group of laws and large amounts of evidence. Because the trucking industry is heavily regulated, an accident involving a truck is significantly more complex than an automobile accident case. Frequently, an action can be brought against both the driver and the insurance company. Consequently, you need a lawyer who has the experience and specialized knowledge to lead the investigation into the cause of the accident and to help you collect the maximum amount allowed under the law. I have extensive experience in representing the victims of accidents involving trucks. My years of practice have resulted in my access to innumerable experts in a variety of specialty areas related to trucking and transportation litigation. This access and expertise enhances my ability to maximize a recovery for my clients.

I have experience representing individuals who have been injured as a result of an unsafe product that was designed, manufactured, sold, and/or furnished by a person or company. I have represented individuals injured by asbestos, apparel, alcoholic beverages, firearms, food and agricultural products, machinery and tools, medical products and devices, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products, recreational products, and tobacco.

Many dog owners will not take the necessary minimal steps to train and supervise their dogs to prevent them from attacking innocent people, and especially children. Dogs, particularly some breeds, including Pit Bulls, can, and often do, cause serious, permanent and extremely painful physical and emotional injuries. In most circumstances, a dog owner will be financially liable for all of the personal injury their dog causes.

If you have been injured at work, you may think that the only legal action you can bring against your employer or co-workers is a claim for workers' compensation. Unfortunately, workers ' compensation payments are often low, usually are limited in duration, and do not necessarily provide any form of lump sum payment. Additionally, compensation for pain and suffering or losses to family members is generally not allowed.

You may also have a claim against a "third party," such as the manufacturer of unsafe equipment, the owner of the premises where the injury occurred (if different from your employer), or against another company whose employee caused the injury.

These third party personal injury cases can be brought in addition to a workers' compensation case. Unlike a workers' compensation case, however, third party actions can include recovery for pain and suffering and future damages. In addition to your workers' compensation claims, I will investigate whether you have a right to recover from any third parties for your on the job injury.

Premises Liability cases arise from injuries occurring in residential and commercial buildings, shopping centers and parking facilities, hotels and casinos, amusement parks, airports, healthcare facilities, nightclubs and bars, as well as universities and public schools. The general rule of law is that the owner or operator of the premises has a duty to keep the premises in reasonably safe condition or at least warn customers of a dangerous condition of which the owner or operator caused, knows about, or should know about. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured as a result of dangerous premises then you may have the right to file a legal action.

I represent employees who are injured on the job in workers' compensation claims for lost wages and medical treatment expenses against private industry, Federal, and state and local government employers and their workers' compensation insurers. I handle issues dealing with defenses, fraud, subrogation, and appeals. There are often complex legal issues involved in workers' compensation claims regarding proximate causation, statutes of limitation, requirements for receiving different types of disability compensation, and intervening injuries. If you have been injured at work, it makes sense to contact a lawyer who knows the laws, knows the workers' compensation system and strives to protect injured workers from unfair employers.

My fee is "contingent"; I earn a fee only if you get paid. The contingency fee system enables injured workers who cannot afford to pay on an hourly rate basis to have an attorney. The fee agreement will be carefully explained to you before you retain me. I understand that a workers' compensation claim can add an incredible amount of stress to any person's life. My goal is to put you at ease and ensure that your claim is handled in the most expeditious and hassle-free way possible.

My knowledge, experience and training in family law are supported by my aggressive and proactive style. I also believe in reasonableness and cooperation, however, and adjust my representation to suit the needs of any particular client. I assist clients in all aspects of family law, including, but not limited to:

I represent both commercial clients and individuals in all proceedings and transactions that deal with real property, including purchase and sale, construction, mortgages and foreclosures, leases, zoning, title examinations, quiet title actions, closings, and management.

My knowledge, experience and training in litigation, trial and appeals are supported by my aggressive and proactive style I have represented individuals and businesses in a wide variety of disputes, including those involving:

Litigation is governed by specialized rules of civil procedure and evidence. Success in litigation can be attributed a combination of an attorney's fearless pursuit of a client's objectives and the accurate application of statutes, regulations and case law. In fact, knowing the law and the type of evidence necessary to support a the client's position must be accompanied by a clear understanding as to how to find that evidence before trial and get it to the judge or jury.

I keep the possibility of trial in mind during the entire litigation process, but also believe that, in most instances, a negotiated settlement is superior to a resolution reached at trial by a judge or jury. Because the trial process is governed by rules of evidence, procedure and court imposed deadlines, litigation can be a costly endeavor, both financially, in terms of money and time, and emotions. Because of my twenty-seven years of litigation experience, I can be trusted to propose a litigation strategy that will be in your best interest.

The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.

Copyright © 2008 by James P. Leahy. All rights reserved. You may reproduce materials available at this site for your own personal use and for non-commercial distribution. All copies must include this copyright statement.